How to permanently widen FOV

[denizen78]

This method is for those who, like me, simply wish to set a normal first-person shooter field of view in Halo2-Vista, to enjoy a huge improvement over the original. For years now, Bungie has consistently frustrated people's intelligence by ignoring truckloads of complaints and the most basic common sense on Halo's FOV issue. Sickened by this, I worked on a method which has been tested and works perfectly in H2V, and seemingly in Halo PC as well.



The short version:

• replace all occurrences of 'AA619C3F' with 'CDCCCC3F' in all SP .MAP files.

The detailed version:

• before you do any editing, make sure to BACKUP your entire Halo2\maps directory
• get a decent hex editor (I used hex workshop)
• open your Halo2\maps directory
• for every one of the single player maps (the ones whose filename starts with numbers) do the following:
  
  • open the .MAP file with hex workshop
  • choose replace in the edit menu
  • in the type box choose: hex values
  • in the 'Find' field type: AA619C3F
  • in the 'Replace' field type: CDCCCC3F, a 32-bit float value which translates into a decent FOV of 1.6 instead of the default 1.22. Use other float values if you prefer.
  • make sure to replace all occurences
  • save the file
  • close the file
  
  
• do the exact same procedure for these two other files: single_player_shared.map, shared.map
• you're done, launch the game and enjoy a permanent non-debilitating FOV in Halo2 Vista

Note: due to new FOV, wielded weapons appear slightly oversized.

Edit:
For me, modding this game really pumped some new life into it. I never thought I'd enjoy it so much. I just finished a run through the entire game, for the first time in a PRISTINE fanboy joy. And without the endlessly looping music which I killed using the Gravemind editor, the game's dramatic atmosphere can finally emerge, and in quite a few places. A huge thanks to lone wolf, for his support, T1xAnton, for his guidance, and grimdoomer for his Gravemind editor, without which this would not have been possible.

[Con]

Does this work with MP maps too? If people wished to change the FOV in their maps, this would be a great way.

[Choking Victim]

I don't know if this is such a good idea, there could be multiple instances of AA619C3F in the map file. How do you know the one you're changing is in the mc's meta? It's much safer to get the mc bipeds meta offset from gravemind or another app and look for any AA619C3F instances there.

[denizen78]

I understand your concern. Despite replacing all occurrences here, the game has been working flawlessly so far. Besides, whenever I tried changing any of the bipd tags using Gravemind, the game stopped working.

[Caboose O'Malley]

Just tried this out, works great!
Thanks mate

[Pyong Kawaguchi]

Someone learned from me ^.^
yayz

[hozer]

This method is for those who, like me, wish to permanently set a standard first-person shooter FOV in Halo2-Vista, in order to enjoy a better single player experience. It has been tested and works perfectly in H2V, and seemingly in Halo PC as well.



The short version:

• replace all occurrences of 'AA619C3F' with 'CDCCCC3F' in all SP .MAP files.

The detailed version:

• before you do any editing, make sure to BACKUP your entire Halo2\maps directory
• get a decent hex editor (I used hex workshop)
• open your Halo2\maps directory
• for every one of the single player maps (the ones whose filename starts with numbers) do the following:
  • open the .MAP file with hex workshop
  • choose replace in the edit menu
  • in the type box choose: hex values
  • in the 'Find' field type: AA619C3F
  • in the 'Replace' field type: CDCCCC3F, a 32-bit float value which translates into a decent FOV of 1.6 instead of the default 1.22. Use other float values if you prefer.
  • make sure to replace all occurences
  • save the file
  • close the file
• do the exact same procedure for these two other files: single_player_shared.map, shared.map
• you're done, launch the game and enjoy a permanent non-debilitating FOV in Halo2 Vista

Note: due to new FOV, wielded weapons appear slightly oversized.

Edit:
For me, modding this game really pumped some new life into it. I never thought I'd enjoy it so much. I just finished a run through the entire game, for the first time in a PRISTINE fanboy joy. And without the looping music, the game's dramatic atmosphere emerges at last. A huge thanks to lone wolf, for his support, T1xAnton, for his guidance, and grimdoomer for his Gravemind editor, without which this would not have been possible.

Is there any way to zip all of the maps up that you moded for us to download?

[Syuusuke]

Does this work with MP maps too? If people wished to change the FOV in their maps, this would be a great way.

Yes it does on CE only, but you can't modify the existing maps because, well you know why =) That little check with the files matching up before joining.

So you can mod regular Halo's MP maps and play on any server.

[Patrickssj6]

Korn, explain why does this work...Why is the Rum Checksum gone??!

[Syuusuke]

What it's still there, I couldn't join any CE server with my modded BG.

I meant regular Halo PC, the non-CE one, pattywhack.