Joystiq

UT3 on Xbox 360 adds five 'exclusive' maps

Alexander Sliwinski — 2008-04-17T15:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, First Person Shooters

There's still no release date for Unreal Tournament 3 on Xbox 360, but there are some details now on what makes the 360's iteration different from PC and PS3. IGN reports that the Xbox 360 version of UT3 will have five new "exclusive" maps, two new characters and includes two-player splitscreen. It will also contain the free maps available as DLC for the PS3 and PC versions of the game.

Jeff Morris, senior producer at Epic, tells the site he believes UT3 will be a reprieve for those with "tactical shooter fatigue." He stands by the game being an "unabashedly twitch" title. We're expecting more details (maybe even a release date) on the Xbox 360 version of UT3 sometime tomorrow.

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UT3 mods: no headway for Xbox 360, Sony to see 'improvements'

Ross Miller — 2008-02-20T19:53:00+00:00

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, First Person Shooters, Online

Our prognosis for mods on the Xbox 360 version of Unreal Tournament 3: not so good. In an interview with Joystiq, Epic Games' VP Mark Rein told us that there's no progress with Microsoft on making UT3 mods work with Xbox Live. One would think Microsoft would be more open to community content given the recent Xbox Live Community announcement, but Rein noted that the system is different. Rein said the Xbox 360 version has no set release date.

Conversely, Rein did acknowledge the current PS3 mod system is less than stellar and told us to expect improvements coming soon. We'll have more from our interviews with Mark Rein, CEO Tim Sweeney, and Cliffy B later this week.

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Mark Rein excited about UT3 mods on PS3

Ross Miller — 2007-11-29T14:27:00+00:00

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, First Person Shooters, Online

The always talkative Epic Games VP Mark Rein is exuberant about the open system for downloading Unreal Tournament 3 mods for the PlayStation 3. "It's fantastic! I can't understand why people are so nervous about what Sony... no, Sony's wonderful," said Rein in a lengthy interview with Gamasutra. Rein also noted how this advantage is why the game landed on the PS3 first, before they resume Xbox 360 development next year.

Rein also lauded the freedom in having an open system for mod downloads and stated that they will encourage modding through sponsored contests much like they have in the past (note: ironic to this situation, Rein's last name means "to restrain or control"). He did add, however, that they have an ability to "blacklist mods that do bad things." The two interviewers seemed befuddled by the freedom of the system, giving Rein more of a chance to assert his gospel.

The next challenge for Epic is to try an accomplish that same openness on Microsoft's closed system Xbox Live. "They may or may not embrace it. We don't know," he said "That's why we've made the game for the PlayStation 3 first, because we knew exactly what the boundaries were going to be." Unreal Tournament 3 is due out December 10.

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Unreal Tournament PS3 shipping in 'limited quantities' Dec. 10

Ludwig Kietzmann — 2007-11-26T09:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, First Person Shooters

Despite initial doubts, Midway has confirmed that the PlayStation 3 version of first-person twitchfest, Unreal Tournament III, will begin shipping to North American stores on December 10th, with "limited quantities" leaping onto shelves the following day. Initial supply has no doubt been hampered due to Epic's last-minute (some say miraculous) completion of the game, not to mention the fact that Bob the disc burner wanted to go on vacation like yesterday.

In case you missed it during the Thanksgiving avalanche, Unreal Tournament III is already available for the "personal computer."

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AGEIA to give UT3 modders a physical with PhysX mod kit

Jason Dobson — 2007-11-22T19:01:00+00:00

Filed under: PC, First Person Shooters, Online

With consoles constantly encroaching on what used to be exclusively PC territory, it's refreshing to know that there are some things, such as mods, that remain the domain of those who prefer keyboard and mouse over thumbsticks. For example, while Epic's Unreal Tournament III will eventually find its way to gamers of both persuasions, it will be PC enthusiasts who enjoy the added benefit of mods, though word is that players will somehow be able to share mods between platforms.

The latest mod tools for the game come from physics moguls AGEIA, who have announced plans to release a mod kit designed around the company's PhysX GPU processor, promising modders "everything they need to easily add PhysX-powered content into the UT3 universe." The kit, which will be available in December, will include additional tools, guides, tutorials and documentation and assets and examples on top of the game's existing mod tools.

In addition, to show that it's serious AGEIA has also released a collection of "Extreme PhysX Mod Levels," which are now available and aim to demonstrate why we should all care about the PhysX processor. This collection includes the LightHouse and Tornado mod levels, the latter of which can be seen in video form here. More levels are promised, and while we can't say that this has driven us to brave the Black Friday crowds to lay down the geld for one of those cards, AGEIA no doubt hopes that players include PhysX cards on their shopping lists this holiday season.

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Rein: UT3 PS3 likely for this year (in America)

Kyle Orland — 2007-11-09T13:54:00+00:00

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, First Person Shooters

With just slightly over seven weeks left in the year, you'd think it would be well known whether or not a major release like Unreal Tournament 3 will be available in time for Christmahanukwanzika. But that's just not the case. After being written off as a 2008 release by Midway back in October, Epic's Mark Rein quickly piped up to say that "the goal is still to get the PS3 version of UT3 in stores before the end of 2007." Hopeful, perhaps, but far from a guarantee.

Now, a holiday release is looking a little more secure. For one, the game recently showed up on Sony's list of holiday releases for 2007. For another, Rein recently told Eurogamer that Epic is "very close to a release candidate" and that there's a "very solid shot we'll get out this year" in America. European gamers are not so lucky, though -- the lengthy certification process in the continent makes a 2008 release more likely there. That's OK, though. It's not like the PS3 is suffering from a dearth of good shooters.

[Via PS3Fanboy]

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Wildfires prompt Midway to evacuate San Diego office

Ludwig Kietzmann — 2007-10-24T22:12:00+00:00

Filed under: Business

As firefighters battle to control ongoing wildfires in Southern California, almost 1 million people have been forced from their homes in what Bloomberg deems the largest evacuation in California's history. The blazes have also affected businesses, with GameDaily BIZ reporting that Midway employees have been asked to leave the publisher's San Diego offices (one of many spread across the world).

In response to less sensitive gamers asking, "But what about mah gamez?!" Midway has provided assurances that its development schedules remain unaffected and that the company's Mortal Kombat, Strangleholds and so forth remain in the hands of employees dutifully tinkering at home.

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Unreal Tournament 3 demo now available on PC, already benchmarked

Ross Miller — 2007-10-12T13:30:00+00:00

Filed under: PC, First Person Shooters

Call of Duty 4 isn't the only high-profile PC demo launching today. Epic Games has released a demo Unreal Tournament 3. The 741 MB download, currently available at FilePlanet, features three maps (two deathmatch and one vehicle Capture the Flag): HeatRay, ShangriLa and Suspense.

Unsurprisingly, there are already performance benchmarks for the game over various gaming rigs, such as this lengthy piece from PC Perspective. The demo description still lists UT3 as coming in November, although the game's publisher Midway doesn't have nearly as much confidence in that release window.

Gallery: Unreal Tournament III

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