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Section Rules - Halo 3 Modding Q&A

Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 12:36 pm
by Veegie
  • As always, universal rules apply here.
  • No questions about modding your 360. Those go to Xbox-Scene.
  • No Live modding, TDATA modding, or cheating discussion, at all.
  • Illegal stuff won't be tolerated. No questions about getting the maps or whatever.
  • Don't make a topic asking when modding will be possible, or any form of such a question. There is no set date. Follow the developments. Do not make threads or posts asking.
  • Don't make a topic asking how to modify your console, get the maps, or anything like that. Go to Xbox-Scene. The information you desire is there.
  • Don't make a topic asking how to mod. You (Average [99% of] members) can't mod yet. Be patient. Either get involved with the modding itself, or wait. Don't make a thread requesting people feed you information when you fail to look into it yourself.
Note: Asset extraction, prohibited from the beta, is now permitted. Feel free to post renders, tools, etc.

You cannot mod.
You cannot play mods on the console.
You cannot extract models, bitmaps, or sounds.
You cannot resign maps.

If you have a problem with someone not releasing information or tools about modding, tell them in a PM. Be aware your PMs are just as subject to the site rules as your posts are, you have no authority to flame and whatnot in a PM. If you have an issue with someone, take it up with that person, not the entire site.


Any topic/post created with the intent of asking questions pertaining to anything answered in this topic will receive a 1 day RC.

"I saw this guy modding where you take a few steps and fall to your death and die!"
He/She did not mod. He cannot mod. It is a networking issue.

"Is there anyway to get the Bungie only armor (Recon/"Bungie" EOD Flaming Head body perm) on a non XBL enabled profile? "
Not without modifying your .xex and successfully running it. The only way to get it would be to modify a saved film, which would only allow your player to have it for a recording of a previously recorded game. Nothing more.

"How do I mod Halo 3?"
You cannot. User-generated content (films, forge maps, screenshots) can be accessed via XSATA. Upon modifying a CON file, you must resign it.
Map files can only be modified and successfully run on XeXDK. This only because it allows you to modify the .xex and disable the previously mentioned 'security measures'. To access user-generated content with XSATA, you must navigate to the Content\[Profile ID]\4D5307E6\00000001 folder, within you will find said files.

"How can I get a Xbox 360 devkit?"
Officially, you must become a licensed developer and purchase one from Microsoft.

"What can you modify in films/screenshots/usermaps(forge maps)?"
Usermaps essentially store "what is manually placed by the user, and what is it".

If an object is not in that map file, it cannot be swapped via the method used to modify usermaps.
Saved films contain all appearance information for all players in the game, all movements, and the complete usermap and gametype files.

"Hey this guy was modding and he [...]"
Unless his name is Anthony, Veegie, Detox, Shade, or Kornman, he was not modding.

"So why don't you guys release your tools?! Stop being so greedy! Why would tools ruin the community?!"
Releasing the applications would be pointless in its current state. Anything that the community outside of the previously-mentioned individuals could help do has already been completed. There would be no way for those users to test any possible 'new-findings' and no benefit for them besides curiosity being fed. Make your own if you're that impatient. We did.

"So why are you guys even making applications/plugins?"
Because once Xbox 360 modding matures and users will be able to run unsigned code on a once-retail Xbox 360, we will have a goldmine of resources to get you all started in the right direction.

"Is it possible to mod halo 3 so you can have over 100 custom content items on one account?"
No.

"How do I get Halo 3 files onto my computer so I can mod them?"
www.Xbox-Scene.com has numerous tutorials.
If you are looking for the downloadable content maps, you can find them in the content\0000000000000000\4D5307E6\00000002 folder on your Xbox 360 hard drive.

"How do I get auto aim?"
Banned.

"Can you release a .map resigner?"
There is no such thing, and never will be. It is impossible. Simply that.

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Have any questions that haven't been answered in this topic, or Halo 3 modding in general? Ask here!

Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 1:36 pm
by SPARTAN-OMEGA
May sound nooby but...

Will there ever be a mod for the forge system like, lets say, in the forge pallet on Valhalla instead of radio towers being on the list, we would spawn a tree

Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 1:50 pm
by unknownv2
SPARTAN-OMEGA wrote:May sound nooby but...

Will there ever be a mod for the forge system like, lets say, in the forge pallet on Valhalla instead of radio towers being on the list, we would spawn a tree
No. The only way would be to do it outside the game, with a program like the Forge Engineer, and resign the usermap.

Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 1:56 pm
by SPARTAN-OMEGA
Thats what I thought, but I went ahead and asked, thank you

Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:21 pm
by Aumaan Anubis
1. Will modding Halo 3 ever be public-knowledge? In other words, to mod Halo 3, will a normal user be forced to go through the whole process that you five did(making applications, finding keys, etc.) to mod Halo 3? Or, are you going to release the information, so that's its an easier process than what you five when through?
(I'm not asking 'when' it's possible, I'm asking 'Will' it be publicly possible)

2. I remember that one of the issues with releasing a certain application, or something different, was that the map could be resaved and credit could be stolen. Someone(I believe it was you, Veegie) stated that you were working on a way to watermark the maps, so that credit could never be completely successfully stolen. How is the progess in that aspect?

Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:28 pm
by unknownv2
1. Anthony will probably never release the information because of the nature of a CON resigner.

Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:36 pm
by Anthony
Once there is a way to run unsigned code on the Xbox 360 there will be some tools made public, but until then theres no point.

Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:47 pm
by latinomodder
I can mod halo 3, I just feel like being on that list...

Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:57 pm
by antszy101
I'm just curious, but how much more map protection did Bungie put on the retail Halo 3 as opposed to the beta? I only ask because Model and Bitmap extraction was possible from the beta in a matter of weeks.
I'm not saying hurry up or anything, I just want to know why its so much harder for the retail version...

Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 3:12 pm
by Anthony
latinomodder wrote:I can mod halo 3, I just feel like being on that list...
Yes, but you just leached off someone else's tools, you didn't actually do any research...
antszy101 wrote:I'm just curious, but how much more map protection did Bungie put on the retail Halo 3 as opposed to the beta? I only ask because Model and Bitmap extraction was possible from the beta in a matter of weeks.
I'm not saying hurry up or anything, I just want to know why its so much harder for the retail version...
There is no protection on raw data, its just compressed. In the beta there was no compression so you could just simple copy it out of the map. In the retail game it is actually compressed and we have not found a way to decompress it yet.

Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 3:38 pm
by Veegie
Aumaan Anubis wrote:2. I remember that one of the issues with releasing a certain application, or something different, was that the map could be resaved and credit could be stolen. Someone(I believe it was you, Veegie) stated that you were working on a way to watermark the maps, so that credit could never be completely successfully stolen. How is the progess in that aspect?
Despite credit being an issue, Bungie has specifically told Anthony that these things "really shouldn't get out".
Purpose for said tool is null and void.

Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 3:43 pm
by Aumaan Anubis
Does that also limit Anthony from releasing information, modified usermaps, or applications?

Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 4:10 pm
by Veegie
Aumaan Anubis wrote:Does that also limit Anthony from releasing information, modified usermaps, or applications?
Pointless(read topic). Yes. Pointless(read topic).

Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 4:18 pm
by Aumaan Anubis
I've read the topic.

And I'm assuming that it's pointless because only the handful of you can mod.

But released information and applications could serve to help those that are attempting to do what you have already done. I'm asking because my only possible assumptions is that, either, you haven't thought of that possibility, or that you wouldn't encourage others to do so, and I'm almost positive that that isn't true.

Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 5:22 pm
by skyliner99
i know xbox-scene is a little more fit for this but i will go ahead and ask anyway :lol:

well...how close are we to running a custom kernal, i know linux has happened, but is there any ETA on homebrew or in this case public mods...

thanks :P

Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 5:23 pm
by Tural
skyliner99 wrote:is there any ETA on homebrew
No.

Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 5:24 pm
by Ghostlypickel
I know Anthony wanted to try and run homebrew. I was even going to give him my old 360 but couldn't. :cry:

Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 5:27 pm
by skyliner99
Tural wrote:
skyliner99 wrote:is there any ETA on homebrew
No.
well, then in an even broader statement, (in your opinion) will homebrew ever be possible like xbox1

thanks again...

Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 5:27 pm
by Tural
Likely.

Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 5:41 pm
by Supermodder911
Ghostlypickel wrote:I know Anthony wanted to try and run homebrew. I was even going to give him my old 360 but couldn't. :cry:
What does that have to do with this topic? :roll: