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CryEngine 3 released; box of tissues not included

by James Ransom-Wiley { Oct 14th 2009 at 3:15PM }

If Crytek's, like, next next-gen-ready CryEngine 3 performs even half as well as advertised, then the tears are gonna flow -- tears of joy. Imagine an engine through which a developer, using a single editor and dev PC, can create and test a game for PC, Xbox 360 and PS3 ... at the same time. (You don't even have to imagine it, actually; there's a video after the break!) That's the picture Crytek's painting as it today releases its third iteration of the CryEngine for license to third-party developers.

As promised in the press release: CryEngine 3 features real-time conversion and optimization of assets and cross-platform changes that "significantly" reduce the risk (and headache) of multiplatform development. So, in layman's terms, it renders really good graphix -- even if you have no idea how to develop on PS3.

"With its scalable graphics and computation it is next-gen-ready and with new features like CryEngine 3 Live Create the best choice for game developers and companies developing serious games applications alike," trumpets Crytek boss Cevat Yerli. "It is the only game engine solution that enables real-time development and can ensure teams are able to maximize their own creativity, save budget and create greater gaming experiences."

Okay. So what's it cost?

Gallery: CryENGINE 3 Brochure

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Crytek UK making original FPS

by Justin McElroy { Oct 8th 2009 at 3:30PM }

If you were holding out hope that Crytek UK (formerly Free Radical) would be finishing up TimeSplitters 4 any time soon, you may want to store it way down in your heart. We're talking like way down, back where you keep your secret wish to find an unopened box of Nintendo Cereal System at your local grocer.

Studio manager Karl Hilton recently told Develop that the company is working on an original FPS. While the news is good on one hand (it's not Haze) it's also bad, because it likely means TimeSplitters 4 is either a long ways off or dead altogether.

[Via GoGamingGiant]

Crysis LIVE! aims to bring the game into the real world

by David Hinkle { Sep 28th 2009 at 6:30PM }

Ever since Crysis released, we've found our life lacking in two distinct ways:

We totally want a Nanosuit of our own and would do close to anything for one
We wish Jason Statham was our squadmate in real life and often daydream about being stranded on a tropical island with him

While the second option is likely never going to happen without some jail time attached to it, the first item is actually a possibility for those willing to travel to Nottingham, UK next month. On October 29 - 30, Crytek UK will section off an area and create "a real-life tropical jungle, complete with exotic flora and fauna" for folks to take part in a real life version of the PC game. In fact, those attending will even be able to try on an actual Nanosuit and, somehow, become invisible while playing this real-life version of the PC title. Crytek UK's Narrative Designer, Rob Yescombe, describes the game as "Hide and Seek for the 21st Century – good old fashioned fun but with a Crytek UK twist."

Who's going?

[Via Big Download]

Crytek teases Crysis 2's new Nanosuit

by David Hinkle { Aug 20th 2009 at 11:00PM }

Crytek has released a pair of teaser trailers for Crysis 2's Nanosuit 2, the new and improved version of the first game's human enhancer, via a viral site for Crynet Systems, the manufacturers of the fictitious suit. Taking the viral approach even further, there's also a 16-page PDF brochure advertising the suit you could never afford. Did you know that the tech actually introduces parasitic lifeforms into the wearer's brain to aid in real-time combat analysis? Has Crynet Systems learned nothing from Kirk's epic battle against Khan?

There's also an alternate version of the above video that features a more, uh, blue look at the new threads. Head past the break to check that one out.

[Via Big Download]

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Crytek road map has next generation starting in 2012, next engine will be ready

by Alexander Sliwinski { Aug 17th 2009 at 10:16AM }

A running theme through Crytek CEO Cevat Yerli's presentation at GDC Europe today was the number 2012. Sure, he mentioned 2013 also, but the next Year of the Tiger showed up nearly a dozen-plus times in the executive's presentation about "the future of gaming graphics." Yerli tells Joystiq that the reason for the number is that it's the company's internal "road map" of when the next generation will begin.

"We will have our next engine ready by that, independently whether there will be hardware or not. We are assuming based on the cycle -- the Moore's Law -- and everything," Yerli told us. "If you predict the computational power and trend. You kinda know how much CPU and GPU will be there and trend. If you take those things into account you can sort of predict where things are going."

Yerli explained that the more console-centric CryEngine 3 will have more updates in the meantime, but its next "major architectural version" of the CryEngine should be ready by 2012. He wasn't sure if they'll call it the CryEngine 4 (our money says: they will).

[Image: Dennis Stachel]

Crytek CEO asks GDC audience to kill 'killerspiel' law, won't leave Germany unless forced out

by Alexander Sliwinski { Aug 17th 2009 at 9:04AM }

During his keynote address at GDC Europe in Cologne, Germany, Crytek CEO Cevat Yerli requested the audience support the petition against the host-country's bill, which is seeking to ban any games in the region "where the main part is to realistically play the killing of people or other cruel or un-human acts of violence against humans or manlike characters." Yerli told the audience toward the conclusion of his presentation: "[This law] means that Crytek will be literally forced out of the country."

Yerli's tone about the German law was more serious than his previous statement on the subject, so we caught up with him after the keynote. We asked if he's threatening to leave the country if the law passes, or if he thinks the company will be pushed out. He told us, "This is the point, two or three years ago we were thinking 'What is this?' This is like disrespecting our company.' We said we will not change our strategy. Today we think we are literally forced to make a change."

It appears that Yerli still isn't looking to change Crytek's direction, despite the government threats. And it appears he really doesn't want to move, telling us, "If you move a company, you think of it as: let's move the company strategically, so we get more benefit out of this country. But moving it because a law comes in is too reactive for us. We're not thinking of moving unless the law happens."

[Image: Dennis Stachel]

PS3 struggles hurt Haze development

by Justin McElroy { Aug 12th 2009 at 4:00PM }

It's no secret that some developers have a tough time with the PS3. In fact, Gabe Newell hates the thing so much he once forced an elephant to eat a crushed up 20GB model, jammed a cardboard cutout of Jack Tretton into the resulting dung pile and burned the whole thing in effigy. Karl Hilton of Crytek UK (formerly Free Radical) brings a more restrained (though ultimately more hygienic) protest today, telling Develop that the developer's technical learning curve hurt the development of critically maligned PS3 exclusive, Haze.

"We spent more time trying get the game running properly and less time to design the game properly," he said. "The PS3 is a powerful machine but a difficult one to get the best out of."

And no, before you ask, Hilton doesn't expect to have similar PS3 problems with Crytek's CryEngine 3. Shockingly.

Crytek concerned about German 'killerspiel' banning law

by Alexander Sliwinski { Aug 5th 2009 at 9:02AM }

Crytek's CEO is expressing serious concern over the German bill currently making its way around the Bundestag that would ban games "where the main part is to realistically play the killing of people or other cruel or un-human acts of violence against humans or manlike characters." So, you know, most of the fun stuff.

CEO Cevat Yerli expressed in a statement that a ban on action games was "like banning the German artists that create them." He continued, "If the German creative community can't effectively participate in one of the most important cultural mediums of our future, will we be forced to relocate to other countries?"

Considering Crytek is probably the most well-known German developer, it wouldn't exactly be in the country's best interest if the firm left.

Fan recreating Kojima's Snatcher in Crysis Wars

by David Hinkle { Jul 8th 2009 at 2:30PM }

One of Hideo Kojima's lesser-known works (to most English-speaking folk, anyway) is Snatcher, a game released to the West on the Sega-CD/Mega-CD way back in 1994. Featuring cyberpunk elements, this adventure game is fondly remembered by some, and the focal point for a new mod in Crysis Wars.

ModDB user ASH172 has been working on this project since February of last year, all by his lonesome. The mod, which looks to recreate the classic game in full, was started using Crytek's CryEngine2, SandBox2 and SDK tools, but now ASH172 is looking to transfer the project over to the Crysis Wars engine, SDK, and tools.

Snatcher enjoys quite the cult following, and in the right circles will net you a stabbing should you diss it. So, in the interest of internal organ preservation, we're totally down with this.

[Thanks, Buffel!]

CryEngine 3 equal to CryEngine 2 'medium' settings, comparison video reveals

by Andrew Yoon { Jun 16th 2009 at 5:10PM }

CryTek's newest, shiniest piece of tech is CryEngine 3, which will be put to use in the upcoming PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of Crysis 2. While the first footage of the console versions looks remarkably similar to what you'd get from a PC, a closer examination reveals how top-end gaming PCs are still capable of rendering better graphics with CryEngine 2. According to tehdaza on YouTube, "CryEngine 3 running on console hardware is about the same as CryEngine 2 running on 'medium' settings." The look of the console versions can be recreated on the PC by using low textures, high shaders and object geometry and medium on all other settings.

You can check out the video after the break. In it, you'll be able to compare the draw distance of the two engines and see the change in physics, texture work and more.

[Via N4G]

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Crysis 2 teaser is all flash, no substance

by David Hinkle { Jun 1st 2009 at 9:15PM }

When Crysis 2 was announced, we looked forward to seeing the evolution of one of the most eye-catching FPS titles ever created at this week's E3. Well, folks, it looks like we'll have to wait a bit longer for that, because the trailer released for E3 is sorely lacking in the content department. Well, unless the kind of content you're looking for is big chunks of broken glass floating in a black space.

EA, Crytek announce Crysis 2 for Xbox 360, PS3, PC

by Jason Dobson { Jun 1st 2009 at 8:30AM }

Crytek isn't waiting around for the next wave of consoles to hit before melting eyeballs in the living room. In fact, publisher Electronic Arts announced that the German developer is already prepping a follow up to Crysis, this time for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 as well as the PC.

Creatively titled Crysis 2, the title is the first built using the studio's new console-ready middleware, CryENGINE 3. Nothing else is known, though with E3 kicking off this week we've opened up a new box of tissues just in case we hear more.

Crytek exec Avni Yerli joins GDC Europe advisory board

by Jason Dobson { May 22nd 2009 at 8:15PM }

Like momma always said, if you're gonna effect change, the best place to be is on the inside. Avni Yerli, managing director and co-founder of Crytek, has joined the GDC Europe advisory board, where together with existing members he hopes to "create a conference that will hit the industry's nerve."

GDC Europe's Frank Sliwka put it another way, offering hope that Yerli's membership will "elevate the conference to a whole new level." Let's just hope the board's processors can handle the stress without -- dare we say it -- crying.

Crytek: Free Radical devs doing things 'they always dreamed to do'

by David Hinkle { May 5th 2009 at 8:45PM }

When Crytek snatched up Free Radical, we imagine some dreams of not being jobless came true, and now that the acquisition is complete, it would seem Crytek is giving free reign to Free Radical. In an interview with Develop, Crytek CEO Cevat Yerli says the new Crytek UK is working "on things that they always dreamed to do."

"We are providing the team a roadmap and the chance to grow, which is why we were picked as a partner, and not anyone else," Yerli added. Could such a "dream project" be TimeSplitters 4, which is what Free Radical was working on before the acquisition? Hopefully we'll hear more at E3.

Crysis Wars free trial begins, Crysis Maximum Edition coming soon

by Justin McElroy { Apr 9th 2009 at 9:35AM }

You know, Frankfurt has given us so much. There's Saint Bartholomeus' Cathedral, Hauptwache, to say nothing of the annual Festival of Stoneware. Now, the German city's own Crytek is giving you yet another gift: A free trial of the multiplayer-only Crysis Wars, beginning today and wrapping up April 17. You can find all the details here.

Also announced this morning: Crysis: Maximum Edition, which includes Crysis, Crysis: Warhead and Crysis Wars, bundled together for latecomers to the series for $39.99 beginning on May 5. ... What, you thought Frankfurt would give you that for free too? You've already got Wäldchestag, how much more do you need?

[Update: The trial's apparently not going to start until around 3 p.m. EST. Sorry about the confusion.]