IGN: We hear Sandbox is a big map. How big are we talking here?
Lars Bakken: Internally it's what we consider to be a medium to large sized map. In terms of a Forge-based map, it's huge though. It's not as big as Avalanche, for example, but let's just say that people who felt confined in Foundry are going to be very happy.
IGN: What will the default layout for the first floor of Sandbox look like? What kind of gameplay is it best suited for?
Bakken: The default layout is exactly what you've seen in the screenshots. There is a base-like structure on each side of the map, and then multiple cover points laid out in a symmetrical fashion. It's really well suited for Team Slayer, Multi Flag, and Territories. The main vehicles featured are Warthog, Chopper and Mongoose and the default power weapons are rocket launchers and detached missile pods to help balance out the vehicles. Vehicle balance was important in this map, we wanted people to use the vehicles and feel powerful, but not too powerful.
IGN: What new Forge items are being added for use with this map?
Bakken: On top of just about every kind of building block (we hope) you could ever want, there are some cool new goodies too. We have tunnels now, different sized door frames (like ones that are crouch height), and some extra things that we can't talk about yet. One of our favorites though has to be the "Kill Ball." It's essentially a big sphere that kills anything that is foolish enough to enter. Justin Hayward, our art director, was able to cook up a red and blue dynamic light object that will allow players to place them around the map to differentiate bases easier.
IGN: What will the Forge budget be for Sandbox?
Bakken: We were able to play with the numbers a bit and the starting budget is $510 with everything placed on the map you see in the screens. Here's a tip though, there are only so many objects the game allows you to place, so you can still run out of objects before the budget limit is reached. So, for all the hardcore forgers out there, it would be wise to use all the existing objects in the level where possible before you go creating more new ones. You'll get the most out of the map that way.
IGN: Are there any new wacky custom game types that have sprung up in the testing of Sandbox?
Bakken: Well, there is this one gametype we played a lot. It has a flag at each base, and you try to capture your enemy's flag and
get this, you try to bring it back to your own base to score! Hahahaha
Seriously though, nothing on the scope of Grifball or Rocket Race came out of the map while we were testing, but we imagine our fans will come up with some very cool things.
IGN: Which matchmaking playlists will Sandbox, Assembly, and Orbital eventually be incorporated into?
Bakken: When Halo Wars ships, there'll be a 4v4 playlist called Team Mythic that features only the Mythic map pack. After the maps hit Marketplace, we'll start off with some focused Mythic offerings in addition to requiring them in Rumble Pit, Social Team DLC, Social Big Team, Team SWAT and Team Snipers, and optional in pretty much every other hopper. They will not be present in Social Slayer, Social Skirmish, or MLG (unless MLG decides to add variants to their playlist). Double EXP weekends will be updated to feature Mythic after they hit Marketplace. As always we'll continue to monitor how things are going and update the playlists as needed. We're also hoping to see a nice influx of high quality Sandbox variants that will eventually make their way into matchmaking as well.
IGN: What was the inspiration for each of the three new maps?
Bakken: Each one comes from an initial idea of what kind of map we need. We needed some smaller symmetric team game maps, so that's where Assembly came from. We wanted another small asymmetric map, which is where Orbital comes from. And finally we really wanted to give players some crazy new options to mess around with in Forge, and that's where Sandbox came from. In fact, internally we called Sandbox the Forge ++ map, before we settled on the Sandbox name.
IGN: What gaps in the Halo 3 map library do these three fill?
Bakken: Each map fills up areas that fans have been asking for and we ourselves knew we needed. They wanted a new outdoor Forge map, which is Sandbox. They wanted a new small FFA map, which is how Assembly came to be, and they wanted a new small team map which is where Orbital came from. We feel good that these three maps will help fill out the existing roster quite well.
IGN: How long will those who don't pick up the Collector's Edition of Halo Wars have to wait before they can buy the map pack? How much will the pack cost?
Brian Jarrard: The maps will eventually arrive on Live Marketplace as a standalone download for 800 points. Exactly when that will happen is still being finalized.
IGN: Will any new achievements be added with the Mythic Map Pack?
Bakken: Yeah, there are some pretty neat ones that are Mythic map specific. Two of the maps have a weapon-specific achievement, and Sandbox has a Forge specific achievement. Then there are some other ones that are neat for fans, but I don't want to spoil those. I think they have something to do with skulls?
IGN: How much longer will new maps continue to be made for Halo 3? Have resources been shifted to Halo 3: ODST or is there yet more to come?
Jarrard: We haven't actually been working on new maps for quite a while aside from some final testing and preparations for release. These days, we've got a smaller team that's focused on finishing the ODST campaign and all that it entails while the rest of the studio continues making progress on other, larger, secret projects. Once the Mythic maps are released this Spring, fans will still be able to look forward to a few more exclusive new maps that will be included in the Halo 3: ODST release later this Fall.
Overall though, we are viewing the ODST campaign and the included multiplayer maps as the final exclamation point in our ongoing efforts to extend the Halo 3 experience. We're really grateful to our fans for standing by Halo 3 for so long and continuing to show us such strong support. It's been a great ride thus far and but it's not quite over yet. With the wide open possibilities of Sandbox and Forge, two additional solid maps and some new achievements, players will hopefully find plenty of ways to keep having fun with Halo 3 before we unleash ODST later this Fall.
Be sure to check back with IGN on Monday, February 9 for our exclusive look at more of the flexible Sandbox map.