Mark Rein excited about UT3 mods on PS3

Mods coming out for consoles is a huge development. Mods have always been important for wannabe developers to start working and display their talent, but the PC platform is rather niche compared to consoles-- although, hell, it's probably at least equal to the PS3 at this point.

If a mod becomes popular with console users, it's much more publicity to the modmaker. Making them more likely to nail a job... hopefully making mod-groups more serious and dedicated.

And hell, who doesn't want free quality games for the masses?

If it were not for the gungame mod, I wouldn't be playing CS:Source anymore. Mods usually extend the enjoyment of a game far beyond just the stock game.

Wow. Wish I read the comments before I posted. I never cease to be amazed by the general stupidity of the users on this site.

Mods can be as good, or better, than the game they're created for. Ever play a game called Counterstrike? As console-users, I know you never got to play Red Orchestra-- imho, one of the best WWII shooters... and it was free. Mods = free games! Sure, there won't be many studio-quality ones... but it only takes a few to add a whole ton of value to a game!

Someone should tell Mark Rein that this still won't help sales on the PS3, or any console for that matter. The people who are actually excited about UT3, are playing it as we speak. Unreal's fanbase is solely comprised of PC gamers. We're talking about DIEHARD PC gamers. The guys who are always the first ones to exclaim that keyboard/mouse will always reign supreme over a controller any day of the week, and while I understand the PS3 version will support keyboard and mouse, it DOES NOT feature cross platform play. Therefore the game will suffer on the PS3 from not only an extremely small fanbased, but a horrid issue of incredibly un-balanced gameplay due to the fact that there is pretty much guaranteed to be 14 people in a 16 person game using controllers getting mopped up by the two who invested the time, and money to setup their PS3's for use with a keyboard and mouse.

The people who really care about UT3 upgraded their PC's 6 months ago in preparation for it. End of story. While this game may be great on PS3, anyone with a brain knows the defacto, end all be all version of UT3 to have is the PC version. It's where the community is.

I've been playing UT3 on the PC for the past week or so (basically as soon as I heard they stopped development on the 360). I HIGHLY recommend getting the Collector's Edition of the PC game as it comes packed with 20+ hours of video tutorials on how to use Unreal Editor to make your own maps and mods. The lessons are outstanding. I can't praise Epic enough for including them. By far, the best collectors edition released in a long time...way better than an action figure anyway.

The PS3 being an open system was the main selling point which interested me into having that system over the 360. I was interested in PSN, and also interested in Linux...

But it pretty much ends there. Damn Sony Entertainment, why did you have to make so many crappy decisions on the way? It could have been perfect.

What I am saying is, "I don't mind paying for that which I choose to pay for." If they slapped an Xbox 360 port of the Atari 2600 (no so) Classic E.T. on the UT3 disk and offered if for sale, it wouldn't bother me. I just wouldn't buy it. Remember, nobody is forcing you to buy anything. If I knew it was a port of ET and I wanted to pay 60 bucks, well then, I made that decision.

Obviously, that is a rediculous example but it illustrates the point. When I bought my 360 I wasn't thinking to myself, "I can't wait to get my hands on those mods." I have no expectation of mods. If MS doesn't allow it, I will make my decision to buy or not buy UT3, knowing that.

Your point is well taken about glitches getting through the cert process. This only strengthens my reservations about mods.

You and Grant seem to be under the impression that I am against mods. Not the case. All I am saying is I can understand MS's reservations about opening up the systemm. And it is their decision. I am not entitled to anything that isn't bargained for. You like the PS3 and PSN. That is great. I am glad you made a decision that you are happy with. I hope MS opens the system in safe way. That probably means some restrictions. That's fine. It might mean paying for mods. If it does, I will choose to buy or not buy. I chose to buy map packs for Gears, COD2 and GRAW. I didn't complain. I didn't buy other expansions. MS didn't complain.

BTW, look at the Forge for Halo 3. I only played H3 briefly until I got hooked on COD4. But of all the people who have H3, I have yet to hear of a Forge variant that I have to have and they are all free. I know Forge is more limited than a true mod. I just think everyone is expecting an explosion of Counterstrikes. I just dont think it is going to happen.

LySop

yay for ps3...definitely a plus for ppl who own both ps3 and 360 (like myself)--should make their decision easier as to which version to buy. the only downside is I never cared for the UT series.

The problem people don't seem to understand is that the day of the big total conversions are long over. You will not see anything on the scale of Team Fortress or Counterstrike ever again. Do you realize how many attempts have been made in recent years to create something of the sort or even port these to newer engines and they all end up exactly the same way. People don't have the resources to do this anymore as the complexity these days for things like this is way beyond what it use to take. Now a single gun model has more polygons than what a whole game had previously. The amount of art, modeling, and coding necessary is just too much for some guy in a garage and a few friends online to make anything truly worthwhile. What you will see are simple alterations in weapons, game styles, and maybe a few new levels using mostly stock artwork and models. Mods are not what they use to be and it won't be changine.

This interview is incredible... These guys are actually worried about the LACK of censorship? And they sound like they don't know jack about the PC's mod scene?

"CN: They have technical requirements for people who make packaged games. Someone could make a giant map that says "F*ck Sony. Microsoft rules!" or something like that, or even something that's just offensive to other players."

"BS: I feel in a way like the PlayStation 3 -- in terms of downloads -- is kind of like the Wild West. Since they haven't set up a specific structure, it's "every man for himself," in a way."

"CN: I never came from a PC gaming background, so that sounds totally weird."

This wouldn't have surprised me if it came from a mainstream site, but freakin' Gamasutra?? Shame, shame.

Why does anyone really care about MODS for UTIII on PS3???

1) The Playstation Online system is ...shall we say...lacking.....
2) How many PS3 owners are really going to purchase UTIII...granted if it gets a 9-10 Rating...I played the demo on my PC....seemed same old same old UT to me.
3) The playstation 3 install base would lead to a lower overall user base of the mods or people that take time to actually make mods.....

Granted its a 1st for consoles....but lets be honest....we didn't buy a PS3 to play a game that really excels with the strength and options offered via a PC.

I think a lot of people missed a general point that he was making. mods are not developed to be pc or PS3 specific, as he states they can be easily brought over.
PCs community can spoon feed the ps3 community.

Modding scene is far from dead... Even today its how many people break into game development. From random groups of people to classes UT as a franchise has probably one of the biggest mod scenes.

Also working with today’s tools to higher poly models is a hell of a lot easier than trying to create anything for the original unreal in the given tool set; especially the advancements in the scripting, rigging, and animation.

Being a PC centric gamer I can still see the importance of establishing this type of a preset on a console. Part of the reason games like quake and unreal took off in the first and were played far beyond their lifespan was what people did with the engines. Take a look at a number of shooters that do not have the open environment. As an example Deus Ex, Bioshock, Serious Sam* are fairly good games but didn’t have any of the staying power compared to quake, unreal, hl, or duke nukem, wolfenstein, doom if you want to get old school.

*(sorry my example is slight flawed maybe someone can help me out here and toss up a better example with multiplayer SS was the only thing that came to mind with multiplayer I’m not saying its on the same level as the above…braindead)