Epic wants 40 UT3 maps, ponders platform-exclusive content
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Feb 3rd 2007 at 7:28PM }
Speaking with CVG, Unreal Tournament 3 producer Jeff Morris detailed Epic's goal to ship its forthcoming shooter with 30 to 40 multiplayer maps. "[That's] substantially more than other games in the genre," observed Morris; indeed, but not necessarily enough to make UT3 a genre standout. The franchise has yet to take hold on console platforms.Perhaps, as Morris suggests, Epic would boost UT3's console presence by offering exclusive content for both PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 through post-release updates. While certainly a bonus, offering platform-exclusive content is becoming standard practice. Where UT3 could really shine is through user mod support. If epic could coerce Sony and particularly Microsoft into opening their consoles up to user-created content it would put UT3 into a unique class of console FPS unto itself.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
pkScary @ Feb 3rd 2007 7:55PM
Well, they've already hinted at the ability to put user-created content on both. The PS3 seems much more open, but what I could easily see happening on the 360 is Epic going through the winners of the next "Make Something Unreal" contest and uploading the cream of the crop to Xbox Live themselves. Not exactly open-ended, but it's a step in the right direction.
Trauts @ Feb 3rd 2007 9:15PM
I've pretty much taken modding to the extreme on Unreal Tournament 2004. I've downloaded gigabytes upon gigabytes of user mods. It's great - the mutator system allows tons of flexibility, and there's so much user content it's virtually impossible to get tired of it - even if you end up playing just bots.
blamecanada @ Feb 3rd 2007 9:04PM
Those ambitions are good as long as they make sure they aren't all terrible maps. Also all those maps means the average player will know each map less. I'd ship 20-25 max on the disc, and add more through dl content (free) later. I suppose this method could segment the user base (ie the people who have the maps and those who don't).
dis_guy @ Feb 3rd 2007 9:36PM
So will this game be all multiplayer, or does it have a campaign mode as well?
I know nothing of this series, but it looks interesting.
2ez @ Feb 3rd 2007 9:46PM
So we have 40 maps.. so that means about 3 or 4 of them will actually have some sort of value in competitive play. I trust in Epic to release a plethora of shitty maps that just have shiny graphics.
Spartan 1308 @ Feb 3rd 2007 10:13PM
They have campaign mode.
Kyouryuu @ Feb 3rd 2007 10:45PM
40 maps seems plausible. It would be next to impossible to match the 90 or so maps that were in UT2K4. I'll be curious to see how inventive these maps are. The original UT had some really ingenious map designs and gimmicks (who can forget the rotating skybox), UT2004 considerably less so.
Smoke_Dawg_187 @ Feb 3rd 2007 11:28PM
Far Cry on the Xbox 360 allowed sharing of user made maps, so this isn't anything new on the Xbox.
Blazur @ Feb 3rd 2007 11:53PM
Unreal 2004 is dope, and I can only imagine how cool this game will be. I'm SO looking forward to it.
5][Mythix @ Feb 3rd 2007 11:57PM
Screw PS3, screw 360, all i know is PC FTW
pkScary @ Feb 4th 2007 12:32AM
We're not talking about maps made with pre-existing meshes and textures, we're talking about at least partially original user made maps and mods (not like Far Cry).
Bryan Koylass @ Feb 4th 2007 1:07AM
40 maps isn't that much really...you have to figure 10 deathmatch, 10 CTF, 10 base assault type maps (I forget what UT calls them), 10 of some other gameplay type...generous? Wes...extravagant? No.
William @ Feb 4th 2007 1:17AM
I just want a super mario bros map. Like the one in CS
concerned idiot @ Feb 4th 2007 2:00AM
I'm mainly console gamer since the dawn of time and when i think of one of the best features of PC gaming it's user created content. Only problem i see is that the products are excellent and free. How are the companies going to make money?
Trey @ Feb 4th 2007 2:07AM
I don't really "get" FPS games on consoles, however if Epic were to make it so a PS3 and/or Xbox360 versions were able to play online with the PC version, I think that would go along way. I realize there are quite a few problems that go along with this, the least being incompatibility between Live and whatever Sony's online component is, not to mention the PC gamers would totally own the console gamers.
bts0uth @ Feb 4th 2007 2:57AM
i can't wait. im gonna hack the hell out of the PC version :)
Alex @ Feb 4th 2007 5:39AM
I think it would be great to see Epic establish some kind of program for distribution of user-created content on XBOX Live. Obviously with a certain degree of quality control. It would be a fantastic way to extend the life of UTIII by giving customers regular content updates, and it could conceivably continue indefinitely. There'd be no need for micro-transactions, which would offer a more generous margin for innovation and help diversify a stale online marketplace, and it would offer great exposure for modders. It can only mean good things, if it's done right. But these things never are.
Maylon @ Feb 4th 2007 9:10PM
Please, can all you PC fanboys just go somewhere else? Your getting no argument from me on how superior PC games are, ok? Just go post somewhere else.
The Dude @ Feb 4th 2007 10:46PM
As #7 said, there were almost 100 maps in UT2k4. I find it interesting that UT3 would drop down to only 30 or 40 because, as #12 said, there are so many game types. Basically what this means, is that these maps are going to be absolutely outrageous in terms of detail (and probably on some accounts, playable area). I'm wondering if the developers are expecting fans to do remakes of many of the maps that continue to define the UT franchise (Deck 17, Orbital 1&2, Grendel Keep), and are focusing more on completely original content. There is no way 40 maps total is going to work for players that focus on just one gametype, such as CTF or DM. It doesn't matter what other games have, it's whether or not UT3 can live up to the reputation.