Unreal Tournament III on Macs early 2008

by Christopher Grant { Dec 19th 2007 at 4:30PM }

Before you get to the one-button mouse jokes and the "Mac gamer is an oxymoron" diatribe, we just wanted to jump in and let any interested parties know (yeah, "both of them") that Unreal Tournament III is headed to the Mac OS X platform, courtesy of the portsmiths at MacSoft. It's not really a surprise, since they told us it was getting a native port back in July, but now that the game has dropped on the PC and PS3 they're sharing a time frame: "early 2008."

Getting the game onto as many platforms as possible should help with those low sales, though we're not sure how many billions of copies the Mac gaming audience is going to scoop up. On the other hand, how about that on-hold 360 port?

Tags: Epic, MacSoft, Unreal-Tournament-3, UT3

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Geist @ Dec 19th 2007 4:34PM

That's great for Macs and all, but how often do Macs have powerful graphics cards?

Jeff @ Dec 19th 2007 4:56PM

UT3 is amazing in its scalability-- it still looks great when played on low, and can play maxed out on most medium-range hardware. Almost any Mac that's come out since the switch to Intel will be able to play it fine-- plus ALL of them with video technology in mind, something a lot of mac-users focus on.

But Mac games will probably continue to languish unless Apple gets Direct X-- which they never will. With the option of dual-booting windows, which is easy enough to pirate... and where games drop down to $20 when the Mac version costs $60... which would pay for the cost of XP by itself after a couple of games.

Neil @ Dec 19th 2007 5:19PM

I disagree Jeff. Playing UT3 on my iMac (2.4GHz, 256mb Radeon HD Pro with 2GB RAM) looks like utter crap. Apple really do need someone to show them the way with the graphics cards because ATi is definitely not it. The game looks worse than UT2004 with the textures scaled down :(

Jake11 @ Dec 19th 2007 6:13PM

i have a macbook, this game would not run smoothly on it, it's a piece of shit when it comes to gaming. except Civ IV

Bslashingu @ Dec 19th 2007 4:40PM

Mac gamer is an oxymoron!
Sorry, I just had to. :(

Synner @ Dec 19th 2007 4:51PM

Apple should get rid of those lame "Im a mac, Im a PC" commercials and just go with an awesome new slogan I thought up.

Apple: Yesterday's gaming today!!!!!!

Or MS could come out with an "I'm a Mac, I'm a PC" ad that shows the mac guy playing with a baby's rattle, and saying: "hey PC check out the new software I just got!!!"

ill trooper @ Dec 19th 2007 5:23PM

Too many words for not enough funny

Marty @ Dec 19th 2007 4:51PM

I don't really see much diatribe in saying that Mac owners aren't gamers... after all, who gets a Mac for the games? Most of the people who I know who own Macs are too snooty to waste time on games.

In any case, I really wish that Epic would focus UT3 on a specific platform (preferably PC), because lack of advertising, and a dilution of what platform the game is made to be run and played on has really hurt the potential of this game.

Now, not to knock PS3 owners, but let's be real - why was the focus of the development of UT3 the PS3? Of all gaming platforms, it's got the smallest userbase. PC gamers, the ones who really get enjoyment and continue to support these titles, were given the cold shoulder. I wouldn't even know this game was out, if it hadn't have been for the single ad I saw on IGN a few weeks ago.

As a fan of UT / UT2003 / UT2004, it's sad for me to see the franchise get cast to the side by the gaming public just because Epic couldn't focus enough on any particular platform to truly deliver something good... I was planning on buying UT3 for my PC, and I know this contribute to the problem, but so few people seem to be playing the game, I'm not interested in it. Who wants an online game that turns into a virtual ghost town after a month?

Jeff @ Dec 19th 2007 5:02PM

The PC gaming market was clearly given more attention than it deserves. Look at what happened. 30,000 of us decided to actually buy it-- the rest simply pirated it.

Apart from shoddy menus, the game is great on PC. People who say the vehicle controls are consolized just don't like the way they control-- I vastly prefer them to 2k4. Epic went for a simpler style with the menus, so as not to scare away less hardcore PC gamers... and of course, the hardcore PC gamers despised it, regardless of if they could easily tweak the settings they were bitching about in config files.

It has nothing to do with Epic that the game didn't sell well; it has to do with PC gamers being pirating pieces of shit. Sure, they lost a few members of the 2k4 community by improving the gameplay, but made it accessible for many others in doing so. And, straight up, much better, and I consider anyone who disagrees stupid. This is a serious refinement and improvement of UT gameplay.

And let's not pretend the game is selling poorly; I expect the ps3 version to sell quite well, and the 360 version to sell sickeningly well when released-- along with a major ad campaign hyping it up as made by the guys that made GoW.

And please, the game has plenty of servers up, and UT's core community will always stick around.

Christopher Grant @ Dec 19th 2007 5:30PM

Well, I'm a rather avid gamer and I use Macs exclusively. I'd game on them more if they had more games (and faster graphics hardware), but I'm still not interested in gaming on a PC since it requires maintaining a Windows box (something I'm wholly uninterested in doing, games or no games).

gonk @ Dec 19th 2007 5:47PM

oh no micro$haft window$

do you just hate m$ or is it something else?

pantera6 @ Dec 19th 2007 5:06PM

Does anybody else feel like a duck when using a mac.
i had my first experience a few months ago, a one button mouse!!! wtf!!! i felt like a bigger retard than usual or a duck, i dont know why i just felt like a duck.

you cant slag mac off too much though, because unlike MS they know how to make a stable OS (im not saying its good, just alot more stable by experince)

Geist @ Dec 19th 2007 5:22PM

I've thought about it for a few minutes, and I still can't figure out why you feel like a duck.

GoldenS1104 @ Dec 19th 2007 5:29PM

I can't figure it out either, but I actually kinda know what he means, although I have absolutely no problem with Macs.

ill trooper @ Dec 19th 2007 5:44PM

What mouse do you use for your Windows box? Just plug it into the Mac you're "first experiencing" and off you go... If you know enough about computers to complain about a one button mouse on a Mac, you probably don't use the mouse that came with your Dell, HP, self-built box, whatever... Same on the Mac; you go get a kick-ass Logitech or something. You don't even need to install drivers on OS X.

And it's OK to say OS X is good, because it is. Don't worry, Duck, we won't tell any of your friends on the high school wrestling team that you enjoyed touching a Mac.

cduran01 @ Dec 19th 2007 5:59PM

I stopped PC gaming years ago and stopped using a PC at home about 2 years ago (when they made the switch to Intel). I can tell you that the single button thing is really a thing of the past for Macs, first the current desktop mouse has 2 buttons and that little roller ball. The Macbooks have one physical button, but right clicking can be done by tapping on the touch pad with two fingers.

Now back to the topic....I want to get UT3 for the PS3, my only interest in getting the Mac version is if they include a Mac version of their mod tools, otherwise Ill have to use boot camp to use the windows versions of the mod tools.

Hamza @ Dec 19th 2007 5:55PM

It is because the duck waddles in a a very awkward and clumsy manner, much like the common Mac user.

James @ Dec 19th 2007 7:56PM

What?

I'm using a Razer Habu with my iMac. It didn't even come with a 1 button mouse. Didnt they die 2 years ago and replace them with the 4 button Mighty Mouse?

Ah yea, the Anti-Mac crowd don't like to hear that :(

Zootittles @ Dec 20th 2007 1:14PM

Duck: Hi, I'm a Mac.

Goose: And I'm a PC.

Miike @ Dec 19th 2007 5:18PM

I for one have fond memories of playing Unreal Tournament Game-of-the-Year Edition way back in the days of Windows 98, I plan on foregoing the 360 version of UT3 for the Mac version.

Plus, I have my shiny new Si-Al Mac with nothing really to make use of it's inner beauty.

GoldenS1104 @ Dec 19th 2007 5:27PM

Hmmm... I might get a Mac for college, so maybe I won't bother with the not mouse and keyboard compatible 360 version and opt for the Mac version. The 360 version isn't even coming out till God knows when.

SnapperDragon @ Dec 19th 2007 5:42PM

The fact it is not released on 360 will make me spiteful and not buy it at all even when it is released. MS and Epic need to get their poop straight. MS is way too controlling, but I guess I already knew that when I got the 360. My PC is no longer my primary gaming system, so for me, it's a no-go.

Rick @ Dec 19th 2007 5:44PM

For the record, new Macs do not come with a 1-button mouse anymore.

Also, how fucking hard is it for you nerds to plug in the third-party mouse of your choosing? You act like the mouse is permanently tethered to the thing. Sheesh.

Josh @ Dec 19th 2007 5:56PM

It's sad that even mentioning the word mac brings out such flaming fanboy comments on both sides. I'm a windows user but I don't have anything against macs. Getting so irate over operating software is something I'll never understand.

Jason @ Dec 19th 2007 6:19PM

I'm not interested in gaming on my Mac, or a PC for that matter, thats why I have a PS3. I have a Mac b/c i use it for work (graphic design), music and internet. It doesn't give me trouble or get in my way like a PC does.

I am interested in UT3 for PS3 but I don't want to get it and get my ass handed to me because I don't use a mouse and keyboard. I prefer a game pad for ergonomic reasons.

Ken Edwards @ Dec 19th 2007 7:01PM

Lots of Mac haters out there. Real nice guys. I wonder if the Mac port will hit before the 360 port? Wouldn't that be a kick in the pants.

And for the people complaining about ATI cards in a Mac. I have a suggestion for you: get an nVidia card!

But I have the game on my PS3, its fun. I don't like gaming on the PC at all (Mac or Windows, for that matter).

Ranus Studios @ Dec 19th 2007 9:17PM

I have an absolute beast of a G5 that I got for Christmas about two weeks before the Intels came out. Please let this be Universal, or I will club my $4000 Mac into tiny pieces.

IMTHEONEKILLINU @ Dec 19th 2007 10:03PM

Well it couldn't be any worse than the pile of steaming cr4p that's out on PS3 with it's non-working voice chat.

Simon @ Dec 19th 2007 10:13PM

1 buton mouse? Well, yeah, but it still beats aiming with a gamepad...

ThornedVenom @ Dec 19th 2007 11:29PM

Screw Macs: where's my Linux support??

Zootittles @ Dec 20th 2007 1:15PM

iPod port plz

Ben @ Dec 20th 2007 4:47AM

I'm currently running the UT3 demo on my imac 24" 2.4 and its running great at 1900x1200 (in bootcamp of course). Nice and smooth with only the occasional tear.

iAm @ Jan 5th 2008 9:11AM

I am a Mac owner and I am a gamer on both the Mac and the PS3. If there is a Windows-only game, I just load up parallels and run the game and it runs perfectly fine on the highest settings. It will do as this iMac I have is built for video editing. I just don't do ATi cards as I am an nVidia man hence why video editing and gaming is perfect on my Mac.

I am enjoying the amount of absolute ignorance that the majority of these comments portray. I mean, those that game on Windows using a PC still believe that us Mac users cannot play games. I mean, seriously, lol. It just goes to show that the majority of PC users that play games are actually not that clued up about computers.