backtop

Print 70 comment(s) - last by oTAL.. on Jul 18 at 9:09 AM
UT3 will release on the PC and PS3 later this year, but Xbox 360 gamers will have to wait until 2008

Epic Games made a big splash after announcing that its popular Gears of War video game will be coming to the PC -- but that wasn't the only big announcement Epic had for gamers during E3.

The company also announced that Unreal Tournament 3 will be released in November as an exclusive for the Sony PlayStation 3 and PC.  Even though UT 3 will be released on for the Microsoft Xbox 360 in "early 2008," the release date difference may help Sony sell additional PlayStation 3 game consoles.

During an interview with GameSpot, Mark Rein said the PS3 and PC will be the first to get it because "the PS3 and PC version of the games are compatible, because Sony has an open-source platform."

"There's nothing sinister about it," Rein added, hoping gamers didn't begin to think Sony offered Epic monetary compensation to get the UT 3 exclusive.

Utilizing the powerful Unreal Engine 3, gamers will have to fight battles in the original first-person shooter tournament-style of gameplay which gamers are familiar with.

Visit the official Unreal Tournament 3 web site to see the trailer and additional screen shots.

Comments     Threshold


This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled
Hmmmm.... I can smell fish....
By Kyorin on 7/12/2007 8:37:11 AM , Rating: 2
Obviously I have no facts to back this up and therefore its just my opinion, but the reasoning behind this release schedule is baffling in the extreme... Surely the 360 and PC versions are developed on very similar DirectX development kits... I would think that it is likely Epic are getting some kind of incentive for this.




RE: Hmmmm.... I can smell fish....
By Gul Westfale on 7/12/2007 8:42:44 AM , Rating: 5
i don't care, since i will be buying the only true version, and that would be the PC version. imagine playing UT with a gamepad hahahahaa


RE: Hmmmm.... I can smell fish....
By someguy123 on 7/12/2007 8:44:23 AM , Rating: 4
imagine playing ANY fps on a gamepad. at the same time, consoles will continue to have the best graphics for mainstream gamers and a wider variety of games so it's a fair trade off honestly.


RE: Hmmmm.... I can smell fish....
By Kyorin on 7/12/2007 9:01:59 AM , Rating: 1
Gears of War plays quite well on the console, I would think that to make it work properly on the PC, the mouse control (assuming MS don't force everyone to get a 360 controller) will have to be made sluggish somehow, otherwise the quick mouse response you would normally have in UT etc. would make the game way too easy.


RE: Hmmmm.... I can smell fish....
By ultimaone on 7/12/2007 9:32:27 AM , Rating: 2
actually i find consoles "easier" since you just have
to get the crosshair in the general area of the target
to hit it

or like in halo there was a "target area" crosshair and if any part of the target was in it, you hit it, which on the pc just doesn't happen...


RE: Hmmmm.... I can smell fish....
By Alpha4 on 7/12/2007 3:35:18 PM , Rating: 4
Thats because most console FPS's have auto-aim enabled by default. Developers are aware that analog thumb-pad controls aren't as precise so they have to add it, but I find it detracts from the experience somewhat compared to Mouse & Keyboard.

As an analogy I like to suggest thinking of a game scene as a puzzle or a grid. Like you said gamepad users are required to line up the crosshair within a general area comparable to larger grid squares or puzzle pieces, while more advanced users would opt for tighter grids or smaller puzzle pieces for freedom of movement and heightened challenge.


By Captain Orgazmo on 7/12/2007 4:30:50 PM , Rating: 2
I remember when fps games were keyboard only... Wolfenstein 3D, Doom, etc. You only had to aim in the direction and the up/down aim was auto... The best shooting game of all time though is duck hunt for original nintendo of course.. can't beat holding a roscoe and blasting fowl.


By Future145 on 7/12/2007 7:42:44 PM , Rating: 2
i read in article in a magazine where and epic developer said the difference in M/K and pad are minimal. He says that when they were testing the PC version, the control developer snuck on with the 360 controller and started owning the M/Kers. It was in Offical xbox mag.


By Hydrofirex on 7/12/2007 11:27:16 PM , Rating: 1
quote:
consoles will continue to have the best graphics for mainstream gamers


I don't even know why you would think that when I can make relatively any computer as adequate a gaming machine as any console for an additional $150 video card. Basically as long as you own any reasonably modern PC you can add gaming functionality better than any console for cheaper.

HfX


RE: Hmmmm.... I can smell fish....
By Mithan on 7/14/2007 9:22:26 AM , Rating: 2
Playing FPS's on a gamepad isn't that bad at all.


RE: Hmmmm.... I can smell fish....
By SLI on 7/12/2007 8:51:34 AM , Rating: 4
Indeed. CELL is completely different than X86 and even RISC processors. John Carmak has noted on many ocassions that the xbox 360 toolset is exemplary and very easy to port PC code. This sediment is echoed across the industry. Cell is not bad by any means. It's simply much more DIFFICULT to program than the other, more well known (and understood) CPU technologies.

Translation = SONY is likely at least helping foot the bill for the PS3 port.


RE: Hmmmm.... I can smell fish....
By Denigrate on 7/12/07, Rating: -1
RE: Hmmmm.... I can smell fish....
By Messudieh on 7/12/07, Rating: -1
RE: Hmmmm.... I can smell fish....
By philsworth on 7/12/2007 10:31:15 AM , Rating: 5
The PC (Windows, Mac and Linux) versions are all being developed in OpenGL therefore PS3 get it at the same time they do because it is also OpenGL. They need to build a DirectX renderer for Xbox. That is what is meant by "open platform", OpenGL.

Translation = Your spurious speculation does not support your conclusion and the reason for the timed exclusive should be taken at face value.


RE: Hmmmm.... I can smell fish....
By Kyorin on 7/12/2007 10:37:36 AM , Rating: 5
Point taken. Like I said I had no hard facts, and your argument seems perfectly feasible.


By omnicronx on 7/12/2007 11:00:16 AM , Rating: 2
go read the Unreal 3 engine information. I could be totally wrong but the way i understand it is as a person so nicely quoted below
quote:
The Unreal Engine has always supported both 3D API through the use of rendering driver.


I clearly states supported API's: OpenGL, DX9/10

example:
http://www.devmaster.net/engines/engine_details.ph...


By wallijonn on 7/12/2007 2:45:04 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
The PC (Windows, Mac and Linux) versions are all being developed in OpenGL therefore PS3 get it at the same time they do because it is also OpenGL. They need to build a DirectX renderer for Xbox. That is what is meant by "open platform", OpenGL.


That is great news for us PC gamers that don't want to go Vista.

quote:
the PS3 and PC will be the first to get it because "the PS3 and PC version of the games are compatible, because Sony has an open-source platform."


You'd think that the XB360 would have an OpenGL layer already available (ICD).

This is probably the only time anyone will use the words "Sony" and "open source" in the same sentence.


By Hydrofirex on 7/12/2007 11:30:00 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Cell is not bad by any means. It's simply much more DIFFICULT to program than the other


This contradicts what programmers are reporting now that they are working with the chip... I wonder if you've ever programmed for the cell or if this is just what yo originally heard.

HfX


RE: Hmmmm.... I can smell fish....
By Carl B on 7/12/2007 9:13:12 AM , Rating: 2
The PS3 supports mouse and keyboard, and UT3 will make use of such on the console.


RE: Hmmmm.... I can smell fish....
By omnicronx on 7/12/2007 9:30:58 AM , Rating: 1
ya well so did the dreamcast, but i used it once and never again because how many people have a desk in their living room where their console is kept to put them on.
gets quite old very quick hunching over a tiny coffee table.. and talk about the back pain.


RE: Hmmmm.... I can smell fish....
By philsworth on 7/12/2007 10:00:13 AM , Rating: 2
How many people are stupid enough to risk repetitive strain injuries using a keyboard and mouse while hunching over a tiny coffee table? So far I only know of one person who has done that, YOU.

I hardly see lack of comfort while playing a game as an insurmountable deal breaking problem. You are in your own home you can play it upside down in your underwear if that is most comfortable for you.

The system requirements are unlikely to state tiny coffee tables as necessary.


RE: Hmmmm.... I can smell fish....
By omnicronx on 7/12/07, Rating: 0
RE: Hmmmm.... I can smell fish....
By drakanious on 7/12/2007 10:18:41 AM , Rating: 2
Just get a piece of wood (I use an old cabinent door) and play laptop-style.


RE: Hmmmm.... I can smell fish....
By philsworth on 7/12/2007 10:37:36 AM , Rating: 2
It wasn't a serious suggestion as anyone intelligent could easily tell.

Also I didn't say anything about using mice in mid air.

The point I am trying to make is you can have any set up you want when it comes to being comfortable when playing games.


RE: Hmmmm.... I can smell fish....
By omnicronx on 7/12/07, Rating: 0
RE: Hmmmm.... I can smell fish....
By philsworth on 7/12/2007 11:20:42 AM , Rating: 2
Good point, well made.

You think a desk is necessary, I think sitting on the floor with coffee table is ok.

To be perfectly fair to your point, if you were playing for prolonged periods of time you will definitely have much less chance or wrecking yourself sitting at a desk.

The rub is, playing this game with a mouse and a keyboard on the PS3/XBOX360 will likely be exactly the same as doing so with a PC but while your PC sits on a desk probably in an office the console is in your main living area.

Maybe a day will come when we all plug our high powered consoles into their own screen in a similar set up to a PC or maybe different peripherals will ascend for playing these types of games.

You can sort of see theses things happening already with the Wii and HDMI enabled screens etc.


RE: Hmmmm.... I can smell fish....
By omnicronx on 7/12/2007 11:41:52 AM , Rating: 1
exactly.. well put..

this actually got me thinking of a new way to do this though.. taking almost a TV diner tray but with the legs, just wood balancing pieces coming out from either side so you could support it with your legs.
Gonna go home and try to make me one =D


RE: Hmmmm.... I can smell fish....
By philsworth on 7/12/2007 11:50:47 AM , Rating: 2
Don't forget to patent it....


By omnicronx on 7/12/2007 2:23:54 PM , Rating: 2
heh of course the day i whine about not being able to use a mouse while sitting down dt comes along.. as usual
http://www.dailytech.com/Logitech+Announces+Hand+G...

kinda cool though =D
*shakes fist*


RE: Hmmmm.... I can smell fish....
By HrilL on 7/12/2007 9:29:45 AM , Rating: 5
I don't think so seeing how epic probably coded it in openGL since the ps3 code is very similar to openGL. And then it would make sense that it would take longer to port from openGL to DirectX... rather then openGL to openGL. That is what they are saying by open source code. So it must be openGL or close to it...


RE: Hmmmm.... I can smell fish....
By Chudilo on 7/12/2007 10:18:40 AM , Rating: 2
Gee if what you say is true and EPIC really did code the game in OpenGL. I'd be psyched. That would mean that it could be easily ported to Linux and ran natively. A double screwy for MS. It'll definitely give Vista a run for the money. I bet ppl will be crying over frame rates on Vista over Ubuntu.

But something tells me that Sony is not an open source supporter. :) and thus it's only doing this to permit user created content.


RE: Hmmmm.... I can smell fish....
By JimFear on 7/13/2007 10:47:52 AM , Rating: 2
I hear Sony are looking at releasing a home dev kit based on linux :)

And they're using PSGL which is based on OpenGL and C++ I believe, hell its a step up from ASM with the PS2!

Also Epic don't want to charge for addon maps or mods, MS want total control over XBox Live whereas Sony are being open with PSN and are allowing PC mods and free map packs to run on the PS3 version. That's what they mean by open I suppose.


RE: Hmmmm.... I can smell fish....
By keitaro on 7/12/2007 10:32:32 AM , Rating: 2
If Epic kept the same philosophy in coding their engine, there's little to worry about whether it's OpenGL or DirectX. The Unreal Engine has always supported both 3D API through the use of rendering driver. I'm sure if this same system was used, it's a matter of setting whichever driver to the default and be done with it.

I don't think that it's much of a problem for Epic to code with either 3D API, be it OpenGL or Direct3D. They have already developed the engine mostly for PC architecture but they have already done most of the porting works to allow the engine to function on Cell architecture. For that, it's safe to say that both the OpenGL and Direct3D driver backends are already complete and the only thing that Epic really have to do is test the engine on both platforms for any bugs.


By omnicronx on 7/12/2007 10:36:10 AM , Rating: 2
bingo, id rate you higher if i could.
ut3 engine makes use of both api's


RE: Hmmmm.... I can smell fish....
By FITCamaro on 7/12/2007 11:06:16 AM , Rating: 2
But with what you say, then the 360 version shouldn't really be taking any more time since the DX codepath should easily port to the 360.

I have a feeling the extra time is more to add Xbox Live features.


By omnicronx on 7/12/2007 11:35:56 AM , Rating: 2
You are probably right, it just seems a bit fishy though you know? It is just such a big release, you would just think Microsoft would have helped with the xbox live functionality to get it out on time if this was the case.

It would not surprise me one bit if behind the scenes, Sony is paying a bunch of money for an exclusive after Microsoft stole the GTA series from under them and actually bought out exclusive content (extra missions maybe?) that will be released at a later date.


RE: Hmmmm.... I can smell fish....
By Rockaholic on 7/12/2007 9:31:00 AM , Rating: 4
Im going out on a limb here but this is what my guess is.

By open platform i think they are talking about the PS3's 'open' ability to connect to the net and public UT servers to play online.

The Xbox 360 on the other hand is 'closed' as in it will only work with Xbox live with Microsoft hosted servers.


By omnicronx on 7/12/2007 9:42:59 AM , Rating: 2
i think you are probably right. The UT3 engine works with both OPENGL and DX9/10 API's so this has nothing to do with it, if anything it would have been easier to port the actual code to 360 as its so close to PC.


RE: Hmmmm.... I can smell fish....
By FITCamaro on 7/12/2007 11:03:40 AM , Rating: 2
Not completely true. Final Fantasy XI does not have seperate servers for Xbox 360 players. You have to go through Xbox Live to log in, but the servers you're connecting to are the same as PC and PS2 players use.

So it is possible for games to use servers outside of the Xbox Live network. The extra time is probably for Epic to make the necessary changes to bypass the Xbox Live network servers.

Don't fault Xbox Live though. It's an awesome service with insane value. $45-50 for a year to 13 months of service to play any and every 360 game with online capability is great. Thats a monthly fee of $3.46 assuming paying $45 for 13 months (off newegg.com with shipping). Plus all the other features of Xbox Live that are available.


By Rockaholic on 7/12/2007 12:34:45 PM , Rating: 3
well compare that with buying the new UT for PC, or PS3, and being able to play it online 24/7 completely FREE, like all FPS games have typically been in the past.

all of a sudden xbox live doesn't look like such a great deal.

im all for the services microsoft provides through live being covered under that charge, but they should also allow playing on public free servers for the games that support it.


By philsworth on 7/12/2007 9:42:26 AM , Rating: 2
Does UT not use either DirectX(Xbox) or OpenGL (PS3)?


By thebrown13 on 7/12/2007 10:03:28 AM , Rating: 2
Yep. The PC and 360 versions can be developed at the same time and with minimal pain with XNA. The PS3... lol.


By NoSoftwarePatents on 7/12/2007 12:50:11 PM , Rating: 2
Linux and Apple versions will be available, as was the case in prior releases. This is not a DirectX-only game...

http://forums.epicgames.com/showpost.php?p=2489069...


RE: Hmmmm.... I can smell fish....
By Martimus on 7/12/2007 3:03:26 PM , Rating: 3
It is probably delayed on the 360 to keep it from competing with Halo 3.


RE: Hmmmm.... I can smell fish....
By IGoodwin on 7/12/2007 4:59:44 PM , Rating: 2
Perhapse the later release on the XBox 360 is because there is a version withiut a hard disk. The PS3 and PC versions could be patched, so release on those first, then release a 360 version with the inevitable fixes applied.


By FITCamaro on 7/13/2007 6:53:26 AM , Rating: 1
Uh....plenty of 360 games get small patches.


OPEN SOURCE MORONS!
By Tallroc on 7/12/2007 10:53:55 AM , Rating: 5
Are you people all brain dead? Do you even know what open source means? UT is primarily an online game, what Mark means by open source is that PC and PS3 players will be able to compete online together and have any additional content to download for free, IE mods and additional maps. This is NOT possible with XBOX live or Windows Live because it is a propriety online model (you pay to play), there for the reason for the delay. Which he said!! No money under the table you XBOX and M$ fan boys. Also, Epic has a history of taking care of its consumers, IE UT2004's Directors cut expansion for FREE, + all the FREE mods. M$ want to charge you money for content that should be free. No money under the table , if anything M$ wants to bleed your gaming money dry by charging you hard earned money for content that historically has always and should be free. Morons....




RE: OPEN SOURCE MORONS!
By deeznuts on 7/12/2007 1:14:16 PM , Rating: 2
Ding ding ding we have a winner. It's also a big Frack You to MS for making them charge for content, remember Reign and Microsoft had a little war of words around that time, making people believe Epic was going to release GeOW2 on PS3, which of course isn't possible because of existing contracts I believe.

Also, KB/M vs. Controller, of course KB/M is better, but have you guys seen the Spitfish FragFX? Looks pretty dang good:
http://gear.ign.com/articles/799/799262p1.html


RE: OPEN SOURCE MORONS!
By omnicronx on 7/12/2007 1:55:06 PM , Rating: 1
This is all good and dandy except it does not explain one bit why Microsoft would release it at a later date. How does Free mod, Free expansion etc etc have anything to do about when the game is going to be released. If epic wanted all of that to be free, they could force it upon Microsoft and make it a free download on xboxlive(everyone has access to marketplace with xbox silver). So even if Microsoft wanted to charge money for it what does this have to do with the release date.. nothing, its coming out eventually so unless they are not releasing the game until the first set of expansions or maps are released for pc and ps3 and they intend to include them on the 360 version i see no reason why there would be a delay.

If epic was forcing an open source model, the game would not be released on the 360 in general. I am not saying you are wrong as the article plainly states its an issue with open source gaming, but it just does not make sense to me or i am missing something, anyone else have any thoughts??


RE: OPEN SOURCE MORONS!
By oTAL on 7/18/2007 9:09:11 AM , Rating: 2
While your comment does present a valid point, you should have remembered to take your pills before posting.


Didn't we already have a Unreal Tournament 3?
By Flunk on 7/12/2007 9:27:06 AM , Rating: 2
Let's see:

Unreal Tournament
Unreal Tournament 2003
Unreal Tournament 2004

Oh yeah, so why isn't this Unreal Tournament 4?




By HrilL on 7/12/2007 9:32:28 AM , Rating: 2
because no one ever really played 2k3 I guess. I don't really know why it is not. I like this naming scheme better then the year one. just my thoughts.


By GreenEnvt on 7/12/2007 9:37:49 AM , Rating: 3
Unreal Tournament = 0
Unreal Tournament 2003 = 1
Unreal Tournament 2004 = 2

:)


By xsilver on 7/12/2007 9:39:24 AM , Rating: 2
because UT04 was more of a UT03 Redux than anything else.

(read: same engine, same game feel, etc.)

hopefully this will bring back the crisp feel of the original UT which IMO was one of the better games made in the last 10 years.


Nice graphics!
By RussianSensation on 7/12/2007 11:14:09 AM , Rating: 2
It'll be quite an accomplishment imo to have PS3 with its 7950GTs roughly equivalent graphics card to play this game smoothly. I am guessing on the PC we'd need GeForce 9 to run this smoothly?




RE: Nice graphics!
By Munkles on 7/12/2007 11:40:21 AM , Rating: 2
Console hardware goes a LOT farther than PC hardware because its being coded specifically for THAT system down to the nity gritty to dig out the best performance.

Its the way it always has been and always will be. When developers can stop worrying about the hundreds of graphics cards, mobo's, cpu's, and memory configurations you will see much better ROI on the PC hardware.


RE: Nice graphics!
By dubldwn on 7/12/2007 1:07:00 PM , Rating: 2
Yeah, that's easy to say, but the developer actually has to make that happen. It's not a foregone conclusion. FEAR and Oblivion didn't run any better on the console than they did on the PC with a 79**.


RE: Nice graphics!
By omnicronx on 7/12/2007 1:39:31 PM , Rating: 3
That statement is only true at the time of the consoles release, Xbox 360 does not even have real DX10 support.
Computer technology has already surpassed that of the 360 and the ps3 depending on how many thousands of dollars you want to shell out.

Although you are perfectly right, historically console developers do not have to worry about other things using its resources as the only thing running is the game. This is the reason the xbox was able to have graphics surpassing that what a p3 700 with a gf3(which is what an xbox was) could do. So to a point yes consoles are optimized for gamings thus they can take advantage of the extra resources.

on the other hand I give it a year before DX10 games on a good gaming machine far surpass the graphical quality of the 2 big consoles


6th sense...
By Eurasianman on 7/12/2007 9:09:19 AM , Rating: 2
My 6th sense detects money under the table...

Last I remember, XBOX 360 has been out over a year compared to Playstation 3 and game producers were complaining that the PS3 architecture was quite complex when compared to the XBXO 360. So how in the h3ll is the game coming on out PS3 before XBOX 360?! Once again, refer to the sixth sense... *coughmoneyslippingunderthetablecough*

Just my $.02




RE: 6th sense...
By DingieM on 7/12/2007 9:22:55 AM , Rating: 2
It could be that they have some hands full on developing GoW2 for the Xbox360...
It is inevitable it will be released on the MS console


RE: 6th sense...
By luigionlsd on 7/12/2007 9:35:21 AM , Rating: 2
More than the development architecture being "open-source", I think Epic is referring to the PS3's online setup as open-source. We all know how closed MS likes to keep Live (no user created content, which is what UT thrives on), and the PS Network welcomes it with open arms. Epic mentioned that mods created "for the PC version" will also be compatible with the PS3 version, too. Can't wait to play this on PC and pwn the PS3 kids!!!


RE: 6th sense...
By peritusONE on 7/12/2007 12:14:29 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Epic mentioned that mods created "for the PC version" will also be compatible with the PS3 version, too. Can't wait to play this on PC and pwn the PS3 kids!!!

Just because mods are interchangable does not mean cross-platform multiplayer is a given. I highly doubt that will happen, but if it did, Microsoft would have to rethink their plan of their Windows Live initiative (i.e. charging for it).


"Ex-clusive?"
By niknik on 7/12/2007 9:28:33 AM , Rating: 2
I still remember the time where "exclusive" meant *exclusive*.

What kind of PS3 exclusivity is this, when you can play it on the PC and on the 360 - albeit at a slightly later date?

I guess marketing is all that matters these days... <sigh>




RE: "Ex-clusive?"
By philsworth on 7/12/2007 10:04:57 AM , Rating: 2
Do you remember when "timed exlusive" meant "exclusive"? No I don't remember either because it never has.

There has been no secret that this is a "timed exclusive" and no implication that is an exclusive.


XBOX 360 - Mouse?
By philsworth on 7/12/2007 10:16:42 AM , Rating: 2
Can the XBOX 360 use a mouse?

You can probably play a game like this with a game pad, but all the skill might go out of it. I think that a lack of mouse-like precision would seriously detract from the core gameplay.




RE: XBOX 360 - Mouse?
By jmke on 7/12/2007 10:50:25 AM , Rating: 2
XBOX 360 has keyboard/mouse support
http://xbox.gamespy.com/articles/565/565000p1.html


By pekingu on 7/12/2007 11:11:23 AM , Rating: 2
i think that all nintendo must do is to rerelease the best by far episode of the saga, ut99, add a refined control using wiimote and nunchuk and they r done, ut series have been worse and worse since then thank to the stupid self called pro gamers whinning cause they wanted a game as balanced as the uberboring quake. ut was no longer a fun game since then unless u played insta, or some mod. so why not returning to the beginning with the best and a new control scheme.




CONQUER!
By Fubar0606 on 7/12/2007 2:04:11 PM , Rating: 2
I AGREE! the PS3's Cell Processor, not necessarily a bad thing I mean it is very powerful.. but it does make developing games an annoyance if u plan to sell on multiple platforms, that is what id said even though they will develop games for the PS3..




art vs. geek
By GlassHouse69 on 7/12/07, Rating: -1
"If you can find a PS3 anywhere in North America that's been on shelves for more than five minutes, I'll give you 1,200 bucks for it." -- SCEA President Jack Tretton











botimage
Copyright 2012 DailyTech LLC. - RSS Feed | Advertise | About Us | Ethics | FAQ | Terms, Conditions & Privacy Information | Kristopher Kubicki