Head Water is a Halo: Custom Edition multiplayer level. Designed around the environment of the Halo: Combat Evolved campaign level Halo, it is set thousands of feet up on a cliff face. The main function of this region on Halo's surface is to circulate the water supply of the ring. Hence the name, Head Water is the source of Halo's water. Throughout the ring wold you will find Thousands of these exposed pumping stations that help support Halo's infrastructure.
A wide view of Head Waters cliff side route.
There are two main reasons for the creation of this map. The first was to experiment with the ground shader. The ground bitmap featured in Head Water was the first that I have made using alpha channels and dual detail maps. The basic function of an alpha channel (at least in Halo: Custom Edition) is to make certain parts of a texture transparent. In this case, using two detail maps, one detail map is displayed on the white portions and the second on the black. Grey, or other mixed shades of black and white would display a mix between the two detail maps.
The ground shader used for Head Water.Head water, in a way, was design around an object. The basic environmental features were based of Halo, but the second reason this map was made was because I had made a piece of scenery that I wanted to put into a map. It sounds silly, but in all honosty, it is one of the main reasons. Before developement, I had expiremented with three of four different types of trees. For the longest time I wanted to make a tree scenery file. Eventually, a tall red cedar tree was completed. From there, I deigned Head Water with the mind set of using the red cedar.
The red cedar as seen in Head Water.Over all, I was very happy with the final product of Head Water. The map itself is simple, but it looks good and has a fair amount of detail.
If you want to play this map, it is available for download here.
If you want to play this map, it is available for download here.
