Q: What kind of things do Windows gamers expect from a game that aren't currently in Halo 2?

A: Windows gamers have come to expect HD quality visuals. Using content of this resolution everywhere in game wasn't possible on the last generation of consoles. The next generation of PC hardware opens up exciting avenues for us in this space.  Also, user content creation is much simpler to do on PC platforms, so we are going to be working hard to bring a great content creation solution (think map editor) to Halo 2 Vista that will allow the Halo community to express their creativity

Q: Folks often think of a port as a simple task, but it usually has its own unique challenges. Can you describe the technical and intellectual hurdles of a project like Halo 2 Vista?

A: First, we don't think of the project as a port; we think of it as the Windows Vista version of Halo 2. Technically we have to do things like upgrade the shaders to the latest version, implement content streaming from the DVD, hone the multiplayer experience, support both the Xbox 360 controller and keyboard/mouse control, and make sure the game runs on multiple hardware configurations.

Halo 2 was designed for a fixed hardware platform, and that means the game creators could optimize for that in their code and with their content, squeezing every little bit of power out of the hardware. There are many hardware-specific extensions on the Xbox console, and a game such as Halo 2 uses many of them to pack top-notch gameplay and visuals into a very small set of resources. Even though current PC hardware is much more powerful, it has many configurations, and the same optimizations are not always possible. We must take this very specific implementation and make it general without sacrificing quality or performance; that can be a difficult task. Windows Vista simplifies this for PC developers; that is one of the main reasons we have chosen to go with a Vista-only implementation. We are not willing to sacrifice quality and game play for our gamers

Console and PC controls are obviously different; one has a standard game pad and the other has a myriad of input devices. For our gamers who enjoy the console style of play we are going to ensure that the Xbox 360 controller is available; for those hard core keyboard and mice folks we will be working hard to make sure the game feels balanced to you as well.