Project Cartographer: Playing Campaign in 4:3, Cutsceens Don't Play in Widescreen

[antarctico]

I've got a slightly retro setup using a giant, honkin' 22" CRT monitor, and I have been playing campaign in 4:3. My cutsceens are not popping into wide screen (meaning 16:9 with black bars top and bottom) like they would playing Halo in 4:3 on the Xbox 360 or Halo Custom Edition on the PC. My cutsceens are zoomed in to fill my full screen, and the sides are cut off. It has been a few years since I played Halo 2 Vista, so I don't remember if this is "normal" when playing in 4:3, or if this is an issue with Project Cartographer. Any help/feedback would be really appreciated!

 

[Arnav]

The letterboxes for cutsceens don't appear on higher resolutions (16:9). I don't remember after which ones though, cause I play on mostly 640*480 or 800*600. On these two resolutions I can confirm that letterboxes appear.
What resolution are you running?
Restart the game in 800*600 in windowed mode, and maximise the game using
_windows key_ + _Up Arrow_ once you login to main menu.
Then switch to borderless full-screen using one of the function keys. Its either F7 or F8. Use F2 which will show you the keybindings for that.
******
Let me know your results.

 

[pumacens]

Project Cartographer is not designed to play Campaing yet. Either you play online, or with your Original Halo 2 game you play Campaign. Its better to have to separare installation of Halo 2. One with project cartographer and your original.

 

[antarctico]

What resolution are you running?
Restart the game in 800*600 in windowed mode, and maximise the game using
_windows key_ + _Up Arrow_ once you login to main menu.
Then switch to borderless full-screen using one of the function keys. Its either F7 or F8. Use F2 which will show you the keybindings for that.
******
Let me know your results.

I played around with my resolution, and found this was the root of the problem. I was playing at 1920x1440, which is high enough to require Project Cartographer's High Resolution Fix so my menu button text is displayed without being truncated. I dropped the resolution at fullscreen down to 1600x1200, and my cutsceens played in widescreen as they should. My Previous CRT did not run higher than 1600x1200, so I did not have this issue on my last play through. Thanks for the suggestion!

It would be nice if Project Cartographer had a high resolution fix for cutsceens at resolutions beyond 1600x1200 in 4:3, but I think my situation is likely fairly unique!

 

[Arnav]

Glad it worked now for you!
I strongly believe this problem is inherent to the game itself; on MCC this problem reverses, the letterboxes are present only on non 4:3 FOVs.
See this comparison guide to OG Xbox and H2 vista. This is the same thing I recommended earlier which might help you out in the future.

Letterbox effect in cinematic cut scenes only appear when the game is rendered in a 4:3 resolution.

• Though if the game is set to a 4:3 resolution and then the resolution is increased through external means then the bars will still function just fine while having a higher resolution.

Comparison of H2V and OG Xbox Halo 2
******

 

[antarctico]

Glad it worked now for you!
I strongly believe this problem is inherent to the game itself; on MCC this problem reverses, the letterboxes are present only on non 4:3 FOVs.
See this comparison guide to OG Xbox and H2 vista. This is the same thing I recommended earlier which might help you out in the future.

Comparison of H2V and OG Xbox Halo 2
******

I was all fired up about MCC until it got released as a buggy, unfinished mess. Also, the dubious model/texture/lighting changes by 343 really leave me unenthusiastic. I think I will, for the time being, continue to enjoy my classic Halo experience divided between my PC and Xbox 360. I will say, I am proud that I learned how to not suck with an Xbox controller in Halo after being only a keyboard and mouse guy on the PC. And, thanks for the H2V OG Xbox Halo 2 link. That's some very interesting, crazy stuff!