The Forge and the Theater are two of the best additions
to the Halo series in Halo 3. Both of which are accesible
in the main menu, or you can switch to the "lobby"
of your choice from any other lobby.
Basically, the forge is an object editor in multiplayer
maps and the theater is a place where you can watch
previous campaign levels or multiplayer matches.
Forge
In forge, you can delete most objects and place map-appropriate
objects. (By map-appropriate, I mean that not all maps
feature every single item, weapon etc...there are limitations.)
You are also able to place spawn points for any team,
edit the placement of goals (flags, etc).
You are able to save any edited maps and load them
later, share them with friends and even play custom
games with your friends over Xbox Live or System Link.
The forge and custom game lobbies (two seperate lobbies)
work together. Forge designs the map while the custom
game variant designs the rules. All you have to do to
make the perfect gametype is to make and save your custom
game of choice, and make and save your map variant of
choice. Confusing? Bah...you'll get used to it very
quickly.
There is a maximum amount of each item you can place
on a map, and there is also a budget for each map. If
you place X amount of objects on a map and the budget
reaches to where you only have $10 left, you can only
place one or more objects that does not surpass $10.
Deleting previously set objects will lower your budget
as well.
Despite the few limitations, forge is my personal favorite
addition and great fun when you get used to it.
Theater
The theater is a place, (as stated above) where you
are able to load up any previous multiplayer match or
campaign level played. All you simply do is go to the
theater lobby, select your film and load it up. Twenty
five of your most recent flims will be automatically
saved, however, you are also able to save films and
put them into your theater library.
There are limitations while watching a film of campaign
that do not apply to multiplayer. While watching a film
of multiplayer, you are able to rewind and record clips.
This is not available in campaign.
In both campaign and multiplayer, you are allowed to
fast forward, pause, activate slo-motion, take screen
shots and free roam the camera to get the best angle
for that best screen shot.
If connected to Xbox Live and if you have an account
at www.bungie.net with that account connected to your
Xbox Live gamertag, screen shots will automatically
be saved to your profile at bungie.net.
Please note that saved films is nothing more than a
saved recording of the game data, therefore it can only
be played back inside the game, and nowhere else (such
as your computer).
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