Microsoft KB Archive/942628

= Xbox 360: How to use the Forge in Halo 3 =

Article ID: 942628

Article Last Modified on 9/24/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Xbox
 * Microsoft XBox 360 Video Game System

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SUMMARY
This article describes how to use the Forge in Halo 3.



Player and Editor modes
The Forge is a multiplayer editor in Halo 3. When the Forge loads, it may seem strangely familiar.

You start off in Player mode, where you have the same controls and abilities as a regular player. You can move around freely, shoot whatever catches your eye, and use objects as you want. If you brought friends with you, you can get right down to business and shoot them!

But that is not what brought you in to the Forge.

If you press Up on the D-pad, the Heads Up Display (HUD) changes to Editor mode. In this mode, you assume the role of a monitor. A monitor has been described as a free flying ball of omnipotence that has controls that are similar to the free camera in Saved Films. Press the Start button to view the control reference for Editor mode.

Unlike the well-known monitor &quot;343 Guilty Spark,&quot; you are still vulnerable to damage. But it takes a steady shot to hit a moving monitor. Evasive maneuvers will serve you as well as a gun would. But there is a bit more to Editor mode than just dodging bullets.

It has been said that Editor mode is where the magic happens.

Object manipulation
The key aspect of the Forge is object manipulation. And the key to object manipulation is your crosshairs, which are centered in the screen like any other weapon crosshairs.

All object manipulation is performed in Editor mode, so make sure that you are in that mode. If you are not in Editor more, press Up on the D-pad.

Grab and move objects
First, fly close to an object, such as a vehicle or a gun. Position your crosshairs over it. If the object is editable, your crosshairs will turn green, and a small hand icon will appear. This tells you that the object can be edited. This is why you use Editor mode.

With your crosshairs on an object, press A. The small hand icon will close. You are now holding the object. If you move, the object will move with you. To release an object that you are holding, press A again. The object will be released and remain in that location.

Tip You may notice a small blue shape that moves together with an object that you move. This grenade-sized object represents the starting location for the object. It is the precise location where the object will spawn or respawn, as appropriate.

Rotate objects
When you move objects, you might merely want to change their orientation. Doing this is simple, but it does take a bit of practice.

To rotate an object, grab it. While you are holding it, squeeze the right trigger. When you do this, your thumbsticks will change from moving you around to rotating the object.

Moving the right thumbstick left or right spins the object like a top. Moving up and down rolls it like a hamster wheel.

Moving the left thumbstick left and right rotates the object like a steering wheel. Moving up and down pushes the object farther away or closer. This is useful when you are working with large objects or with very small ones. Adept users can also use this technique to fling objects around.

When the object is rotated to the orientation that you want, release the right trigger. Set the object down when you have finished.

Create objects
No amount of movement or rotation can turn a warthog into a scorpion. But if you point your cursor at empty area and then press X, you can access the Object Palette to replace or create an object.

Every map has its own palette of objects that are carefully assembled by Bungie in accordance to mystical principles of balance and memory limitations. There are seven such palettes, and you can cycle among them by using the left and right bumpers.

For example, view the second palette, Vehicles. Use the left stick or D-pad to select Mongoose from the list, and then press A. A mongoose appears, already in your grasp and ready to be put wherever you want.

Delete objects
To delete an object, position your crosshairs over the object, and then press Y. The object is deleted.

Save a map
Object manipulation is very useful, and ultimately you will want to save your map to make use of it.

To save a map, press Start to view the Forge menu. Select Save As New Map. The keyboard appears, and you can name your masterpiece. Remember, correct spelling and capitalization is a sign of fine craftsmanship.

Select Done, and your map is saved to the storage location of your choice.

To use maps in custom games
The real action is in custom games. To play on your map in a custom game, visit the Custom Game lobby. If you came straight from the Forge, your map should already be selected and ready. If it is not selected, select a map. You will find your new map filed under the built-in version on which your revised version was based.

To share a map
You might want to share your refined map with your friends. As soon as your map is saved and you are in a lobby, press Start to view the menu. On the Media tab, select File Share. This is where you can share files of different types for other users to download. In addition to map variants, you can share saved films, game variants, or screenshots. Best of all, the files are save on Bungie hardened servers and can be downloaded even after you turn off your Xbox console.

To share a map, select an empty slot to upload your map into. Then, select the map that you want to upload. Map variants are small files and should upload very quickly.

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