While I haven’t got around to making a car of my own yet (trust me, your eyes are ultimately grateful that I haven’t spent too much time in the livery editor), a bunch of folks from the Bungie community have been crafting beautiful, in some cases simple, in others intricate Halo-themed designs using Forza 2’s editor.
Originally, there were only going to be three prizemobiles handed out, but I caved and begged Che for some bonus treats because I had to include a fourth car. Before the grand reveal, a few notes on how the livery editor in Forza 2 works, so the images below can punch you in the face with the correct amount of velocity.
Designers often start with a car like the Mini Cooper (I’m told, I didn’t get much further than placing a single hexagon on the hood of a Volkswagen Golf), because the roof is a large virtual canvas to work with. Shapes are placed on top of one another in various layers eventually forming shapes and images like those you are about to see. The following images are not scanned in, nor drawn free-hand – instead they are the product of hours of work, work that is placing shapes on top of one another and adjusting their colors to make these small shapes into a single, complete image.
Seenfromplanes did a supremely realistic mock-up of three images from the Halo trilogy, electing to put a different version of the Master Chief on different parts of the car. The Halo 3-version of the Master Chief covers the hood, while on either door the Master Chief appears in either his Mark V armor from Halo: Combat Evolved or his relatively unscathed Mark VI armor from the beginning of Halo 2.
While not focusing on things like a real time reflecting visor, or the angle an assault rifle round would eject from the rifle, that doesn’t make ManKitten120’s car any less impressive. He, and several others, created automobiles inspired by the medals in Halo 2/3, his car was inspired by the Killtacular (that has been renamed Overkill in Halo 3). More than the excellent medal placement throughout the car, the lines of color he placed throughout the side and the car take a classic car and make it look “from the future.”
OxeSutebe’s Aston Martin (more images at his blog) combines realism and style. The cruiser feels grim, foreboding all in dark blacks, blues and greys. Over the hood something huge opens up, light pouring into the heavens – the hood boasts the “3” from the third Halo installment. Along the sides, we see the Forerunner structure and the Chief’s helmet, reflecting light off of it – while the back of the car boasts Banshees zooming over a horizon. It’s a pretty breathtaking automobile.
Finally, Ayo Jube’s multiplayer-adjusted version of the Master Chief puts the Spartan on a variety of color schemes. Ayo Jube also did an equally excellent campaign inspired Master Chief with the fallen tether in the background, but the multiplayer-themed car was made of a different, group-based variety of win.
Thanks to everyone who took time to make a Halo-themed automobile. Unfortunately we couldn't dole out goodies to everyone and our minds were sufficiently blown by far more entries than we could chose. Each of the four winners should send me (lukems) a PM on Bungie.net and we'll go forward with getting you a reward.