Joystiq

Unreal Tournament III on Xbox 360 begins fragging away July 7

Alexander Sliwinski — 2008-06-11T20:26:00+00:00

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, First Person Shooters

click to enlarge

We've just confirmed with Midway that Unreal Tournament III for Xbox 360 will hit the console on July 7. The Xbox 360 version will feature five "exclusive" maps, split-screen capabilities, two new characters and the all-new Warfare mode. Of course, the online fragfest will also feature all the benefits of Xbox Live, with none of that pesky mod support.

Gallery: Unreal Tournament III (Xbox 360)

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We have 360 Unreal Tournament III screenshots

Ludwig Kietzmann — 2008-06-11T19:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, First Person Shooters, Online

click to enlarge

Actually ... we only have seven.

But they are new shots from the upcoming Xbox 360 version of Unreal Tournament III! We thought you might like to take a look at 'em before the game's summer release. In case you've forgotten, the Xbox 360 version of Epic's frantic fragfest features five "exclusive" maps, split-screen capabilities and two new characters.

Gallery: Unreal Tournament III (Xbox 360, 06/11)

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Don't expect a split-screen patch for UT3 on PS3

Alexander Sliwinski — 2008-04-21T19:15:00+00:00

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, First Person Shooters

According to Videogamer, Epic's Mark Rein says PS3 owners shouldn't expect Unreal Tournament III's split-screen option for Xbox 360 to be patched into their version of the game. To compensate, he says they "should be happy" that they have user-generated mod support.

Rein explains it would be a "big job" to go back and retrofit the PS3 version and doesn't believe Epic has the resources to devote to such a project. He says more mod support will be added to the PS3 version of the game, but wouldn't go into specifics. The Xbox 360 version of UT3 is expected "this summer."

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UT3 gets fragtastic on Xbox 360 this 'summer'

Alexander Sliwinski — 2008-04-18T19:03:00+00:00

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, First Person Shooters

We still don't have an exact release date for Unreal Tournament 3 for Xbox 360, but we're getting closer. The news out of Midway's Gamers Day is that we can expect the title to appear this "summer." We found out yesterday that the Xbox 360 version will feature five "exclusive" maps, split screen capabilities and two new characters. Today we can add that there will also be an all-new Warfare mode, though we're still trying to find out what that exactly means. Check out the gallery below for some new images.

Gallery: Unreal Tournament III (Xbox 360)

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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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Unreal Tournament 3 still alive for Xbox 360

Alexander Sliwinski — 2008-04-07T13:00:00+00:00

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

It's been a while since we've talked about Unreal Tournament 3 on the Xbox 360, but Epic's Mark Rein has said in the game's forums that the port is due to be shown in a couple of weeks at Midway's Gamers' Day in Vegas. He says there is no "particular release date yet," but that the title is "coming along really nicely."

We're still a little curious about what UT3 on Xbox 360 will offer. The PS3 version recently received free maps (something we know MS doesn't like to do) and Rein previously admitted there were complications with Microsoft over modding. Hopefully there'll be some answers at Midway's Gamers' Day on April 17.

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Samus Aran spotted in Unreal Tournament III

Ludwig Kietzmann — 2008-04-04T19:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Hacks, PC, Sony PlayStation 3, First Person Shooters

Oh, Samus, did you lose all of your suit's abilities again? Is that why you're running around in Unreal Tournament III, picking fights with Master Chief? Wait, is your lawyer okay with this? Does he think all this modding magic is "great?"

[Via PS3 Fanboy]

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PSN Thursday: GTA IV trailer, DLC for UT3 and Warhawk sale

Alexander Sliwinski — 2008-03-27T18:25:00+00:00

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Sony PSP, Online

This week's PSN update brings a hearty dose of content. Warhawk, which has an update and expansion incoming, is on sale the next couple weeks for $30 (normally $40). There's also a flOw bundle for $9 that includes the game plus expansion. UT3 players should make sure to pick up their free maps; meanwhile, High Stakes poker players with a PlayStation Eye can download the free camera add-on and show off how they play poker naked from their living room couch. The reason for the late PSN update today was because the embargo on the Grand Theft Auto IV trailer (available on PSN) had to lift, so check that out just to give purpose to this delay.

We'll put a link to PS3 Fanboy's Euro update as soon as we get it -- we're thinking it was delayed because of the GTA IV trailer as well.

Update: The Euro update.

Downloadable games:

flOw bundle ($8.99)
Warhawk limited-time discount ($29.99 until 4/15)

Add-on Content:

Turok Multiplayer map pack ($4.99)
High Stakes: Poker edition camera add-on (Free)
Unreal Tournament 3 maps (Free)
Rock Band DLC
Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore downloadable songs ($1.50 each)

"How You Remind Me" - Nickelback
"ABC" - The Jackson 5
"All My Ex's Live in Texas" - George Strait
"Baby One More Time" - Britney Spears
"Beat It" - Michael Jackson
"Billie Jean" - Michael Jackson
"Bizarre Love Triangle" - New Order
"Boot Scootin' Boogie" - Brooks & Dunn
"California Dreaming" - Mamas & The Papas
"Chain of Fools" - Aretha Franklin
"Chattahoochee" - Alan Jackson
"Crawling in the Dark" - Hoobastank
"Crazy" - Patsy Cline
"Don't Know Why" - Nora Jones
"Everything You Want" - Vertical Horizon
"Girls Just Want to Have Fun" - Cyndi Lauper
"Hey Jealousy" - Gin Blossoms
"Hit Me With Your Best Shot" - Pat Benetar
"I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) - The Four Top
"I Hate Everything About You" - Three Days Grace
"I Heard it Through a Grapevine" - Marvin Gaye
"I Want You Back" - The Jackson 5
"I'll Make Love To You" - Boyz II Men
"It's the End of the World as We Know it" - REM
"Jessie's Girl" - Rick Springfield
"Just My Imagination" - The Temptations
"Kiss Me" - Sixpence None the Richer
"Like a Virgin" - Madonna
"Love Shack" - B-52'S
"One Week" - Barenaked Ladies
"Oops!...I Did it Again" - Britney Spears
"Please Mr. Postman" - The Marvelettes
"Save Tonight" - Eagle Eye Cherry
"She Talks to Angels" - Black Crowes
"Shining Star" - Earth, Wind & Fire
"Son of a Preacher Man" - Dusty Springfield
"Take my Breath Away" - Berlin
"Virtual Insanity" - Jamiroquai
"When a Man Loves a Woman" - Percy Sledge
"You Really Got Me" - Van Halen
"Fame" - Irene Cara

Game Videos:

Gran Turismo 5 Prologue Mars Volta video
Gran Turismo 5 Prologue Thin Lizzy video
Gran Turismo 5 Prologue Weezer video
Warhawk Update V1.3 Trailer
Grand Theft Auto IV Trailer 4
Winter X Games '08 Play the Pros
God of War: Chains of Olympus TV spot
Wyclef's Fast Car Music Video
PURE gameplay trailer
PURE CG trailer

Move and Blu-ray disc Trailers (Free):

Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Fall 2007 TV Spot

PS3 Themes (Free):

Eye of Judgment Theme

PS3 Wallpaper (Free):

Metal Gear Solid 4: GotP Sneak Out

PC Store (for PSP):

R-Type Command demo (Free)
God of Way: Chains of Olympus TV spot (Free)
GT5 Prologue Mars Volta video (Free)
GT5 Prologue Thin Lizzy video (Free)
GT5 Prologue Weezer video (Free)
Grand Theft Auto IV Trailer 4 (Free)
Winter X Games '08 Play the Pros (Free)
Wyclef's Fast Car Music Video (Free)
Crisis Core: FFVII Theme (Free)
R-Type Command Wallpapers (x3) (Free)

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Unreal Tournament 3 receives new free maps today

Alexander Sliwinski — 2008-03-27T14:30:00+00:00

Filed under: PC, Sony PlayStation 3, First Person Shooters

Unreal Tournament 3 isn't just receiving a patch today, but it's also getting three new maps for free (yum!). The maps will be available for PC and PS3 (as soon as the PSN update happens this afternoon). This free content update is very much in line with Epic's business philosophy, despite what we've seen regarding Gears of War DLC on Xbox 360.

The three new UT3 arenas are named: Morbias, Facing Worlds and Searchlight. Morbias is the deathmatch arena that "started it all," Facing Worlds is another classic map for snipers and Searchlight is a capture the flag map. Go get 'em fragmasters!

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UT3 PS3 patch coming March 27

Kyle Orland — 2008-03-20T15:43:00+00:00

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, First Person Shooters

Remember when buying a console game meant living with whatever bugs and gameplay glitches got inadvertently shipped with the game? Well, the folks at Epic want you to forget all about those days with a patch for the PS3 version of Unreal Tournament coming down the PSN pike on March 27.

The fixes included in the free, downloadable patch include support for character mods, an easier method for downloading mods from the web browser, and basically a lot of other stuff related to mods (in addition to some other incidental tech fixes). The patch will also bring the European and U.S. editions of the game into alignment, allowing for online matches across the Atlantic. A nice feature, but we hope all that data going across the transatlantic cables doesn't cause too much lag.

Check out the full list of bug fixes after the break.
US VERSION

* Made compatible with Euro version (both are patched to the same level)
* Fixed reversed ping sorting in server browser
* Fixed some rare crashes (shutting down, saving with low HD space, AI, etc)
* Fixed a client crash while connecting to server while server it switching maps
* Minor rewordings of various messages
* Fixed mutator mods to not be always loaded, only load mutators when needed
* Added mod import verification for inter-mod package name conflicts
* Fixed weapon/effect sorting in DM-Gateway snow
* Fixed extraneous "Player" entries in campaign scoreboard
* Fixed some getting stuck and outside the world bugs
* No longer display "Player is on red/blue" messages in campaign
* Fixed a Torlan bot pathing bug
* Fix for too many custom characters causing texture corruption
* Keyboard jump now does Smart Jump
* Fix for tilt controlling player sometimes
* Removed Warfare Score Limit of 0 in UI
* Disabled 3d sound positioning on mission briefing sounds
* Fixed exploits with ViewNextPlayer in rare cases
* Fixed some HUD positioning bugs
* Fixed a Darkwalker AI bug
* Fixed some teleporter timing bugs
* Fixed low-bandwidth, large player count connectivity

EURO AND US

* Mods now on root of memory device, can download easier from PS3 web browser
* Fixed VOIP quality issues
* Fixed some headset connection issues
* Added support for full character mods (heads/premade whole characters)
* No longer need to reboot after importing a character mod to see it in menus
* DLC no longer acts like a user mod (being listed in MyContent and causing disable mod crash dialog)
* Fix for bootup and import slowdown with many mods installed
* Add a VOIP icon when VOIP is active (button held down)
* Fixes for corrupted the auto-mod-download cache
* Fix for flickering auto-download text
* Fix for getting stuck in multiplayer menu if you get in before gamespy connects
* Fixed a mod problem with switching between mod and shipping maps with clients teleporting randomly
* Fixed a mod problem with multiple gametype mods installed, only first one imported would work
* Fixed Leviathan deploy icon
* Bots now respect players feigning death (depending on bot skill level)
* Bots now respect sandstorm "blindness"
* Fix for bots picking linkgun mode

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Epic blows up digital distribution with Steam

Alexander Sliwinski — 2008-03-17T19:30:00+00:00

Filed under: PC, Online, Business

Valve's Steam digital distribution service keeps chugging along and picked up the rights to dish out Epic's Unreal franchise. The Unreal Deal Pack is $54 and will net gamers Unreal Gold, Unreal II: The Awakening, and the Unreal Tournament games, including the recently released Unreal Tournament III. The games are also available to purchase separately and are 10% off until March 24.

Steam continues to add more publishers looking for online outlets with Rockstar, Atari and Sega joining in recent months.

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UT3, Stranglehold sell more than a million worldwide

Jason Dobson — 2008-03-13T10:00:00+00:00

Filed under: PC, Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Action, Fighting

It's silver lining time. Midway Games, which misplaced nearly $100 million in 2007, has announced that despite leaking money like a rusty sieve, two of its most prominent releases last year, Unreal Tournament 3 and Stranglehold, each managed to sell through more than a million units globally.

The announcement was made by company CEO David Zucker during a recent conference call, and while sales were not broken down across platform or region, the executive did note that "European PC sales of Unreal Tournament 3 are outpacing North America." Still, we'd encourage Midway not to call out the cheerleaders just yet. There is still that nagging issue of all that missing money.

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Today's most brick-tastic video: The UT3 Legoland mod

Griffin McElroy — 2008-02-23T17:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Hacks, PC, Sony PlayStation 3, First Person Shooters

While we can think of other childhood amusements we'd rather see as the inspiration for a Unreal Tournament 3 mod (like a recreation of a Mighty Max playset, or something of the Fraggle variety), this Lego-themed map is pretty ingenious (and completely free to download). Composed entirely of fully destructible Lego brick structures and populated with Lego people (whose smug smirks you can blast off their tiny, yellow faces), it's definitely the world's most vivid simulation of what going postal in Legoland might be like -- and the cleverest map we've seen from the UT3 modding community so far.

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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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Watch this space, Epic Games plans to double in size

Jason Dobson — 2008-01-14T11:30:00+00:00

Filed under: PC, Business

Having tired of rubbing actual elbows with fellow teammates, Epic Games' always verbose VP Mark Rein has confessed that he and his squad of developers have "pretty much run out of space" in the company's North Carolina base of operations, and that plans are well underway for an expansion to "at least" double the facility's current size. According to a report by North Carolina's News Observer, the devs coughed up a cool $1.57 million for the new office space, which will be positioned on a five-acre lot adjacent to Epic's current 31,000-square foot HQ.

Headcount at Epic currently stands at 94, with current growth of around one new employee a month expected to continue for the next couple of years. So with all of this added space, will the developers get to spread out, and maybe quit knocking over each others' Mt. Dew as they reach for their mouse? Unlikely, as the report notes that the new facility will instead be largely used to house the numerous play testers that visit Epic, rather than have to rent out space down the street. We understand the need completely, though until the devs get additional space of their own we'd suggest judicious application of lids.

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UT3's PS3 mod-cooker expected next week

James Ransom-Wiley — 2008-01-03T14:57:00+00:00

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, First Person Shooters

Fire up those ovens and roll out the dough! Epic VP Mark Rein says he expects an update to the Unreal Engine 3 editor will be released next week, allowing Unreal Tournament 3 mod-makers to cook their PC mods into PS3-formatted delicacies. Some broader testing is necessary before the update's release, but Rein assures us that "the process works," given it was used to cook DM-Shrine, which was served to PS3 players free of charge a few weeks ago. Nothing like free food, eh - but are those PC chefs any good?

[Via PS3 Fanboy]

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Rumor: UT3 on Xbox 360, 90% complete

Christopher Grant — 2007-12-31T18:23:00+00:00

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360

Considering it's due on the Mac in early 2008, it shouldn't come as a surprise that the on-again, off-again Xbox 360 port of Epic's Unreal Tournament III isn't "on hold" any longer, and may even be as far along as 90% complete - if we're to believe a scanned image from a German gaming magazine. Our German is a bit rusty (read: nonexistent) but the folks from MaxConsole are saying the release is expected sometime around April of next year.

If accurate, that means the PS3 enjoys a four-or-so-month timed exclusivity, including the lucrative holiday season. Now, if only those pesky sales would pick up ...

[Via X3F]

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Unreal Tournament 3 gets first user-created map

Justin McElroy — 2007-12-21T10:05:00+00:00

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, First Person Shooters

Epic still hasn't finished up the tools that will allow modders to make their Unreal Tournament 3 maps work on the PS3, but they've taken it upon themselves to pick one from the PC community and "cook" the code so it could work on Sony's box. Players can now download DM-Shrine, made by English graphic designer Thomas Browett, here or here.

The directions for getting it onto your PS3 (which we've lovingly placed after the jump) are not exactly user friendly, but shouldn't be too big of a hurdle. The one issue is that you are going to need someway to get it onto the system, either via a memory card or a USB memory stick. We know we're not game designers, and we think free content's great, but is there really no more elegant way of handling this?

[Via 1UP]

Here is how to install UT3 mods on your PlayStation 3.

1. Unzip the file to the root directory of any memory card that is readable by your PlayStation 3. It is already in the proper directory structure but, just in case, the path and filename need to be: ps3\savedata\blus30086-modimport\userdata.jam

2. Boot up Unreal Tournament 3 on your PS3

3. Go to the "Community" menu

4. Choose "My Content"

5. Press the [SQUARE] button to "Import Mod"

6. Follow the directions on the screen to import it from your memory device.

Once imported you'll be able to see the map in your list of Deathmatch maps. You'll be able to host the map and join servers that are hosting the map. All UT3 mods install this same way. If this were a mutator it would show up in the mutator list. If it were a gametype it would show up in gametype lists, etc.

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Unreal Tournament III on Macs early 2008

Christopher Grant — 2007-12-19T16:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Mac, First Person Shooters

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?

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Metareview: Unreal Tournament III (PS3, PC)

Alexander Sliwinski — 2007-12-15T20:30:00+00:00

Filed under: PC, Sony PlayStation 3, Metareviews

Unreal Tournament III sales may not be strong on the PC, but reviews have been positive for the latest installment in the frag-fest series. It appears outlets -- deviating from standard practice -- are trying to view the PC and PS3 versions under different lenses. The PC version (per usual) is the better option if you've got the rig to handle the Unreal Engine 3 game, but the PS3 version wasn't a toss-away port here. The reviews below are from the PS3 version of the UT3 reviews.

IGN (90/100): "Players will find a few more differences with the PS3 version. While the recent 1.1 patch for PC streamlined the in-game menus and interface to a degree, you're stuck with the old menus in the PS3 version. Though they can at times be irritating, the often clunky menus really aren't that big a deal, especially when compared to UT3's fantastic gameplay. ... If you've never played Unreal Tournament before, this is a must-own game on PS3. It's still the most frantic, engrossingly intense first-person shooter formula out there and even after eight years still proves to be wildly entertaining."
GameDaily (90/100): "The real significance with Unreal Tournament III on the PS3, however, is the Community support. For the first time in a console FPS, you're finally able to implement your own user-created mods - maps, modes, player creations - into the game. It's a feature that will no doubt take a lot of time and dedication. To devoted fans, however, it's a stellar inclusion. You're also able to receive messages, set up friend lists, seek out instant action matches and more. Unreal Tournament continues to live up to its name, and part three on the PS3 is just as thrilling as its PC counterpart. Never mind its shortened multiplayer count and lack of extra modes -- there's enough here to keep you fragging through the holidays."
1UP (80/100): "As for today, the arrival of Unreal Tournament 3 stands to be one of the highlights of the year for Net-connected PS3 owners. For many, this will be a fresh experience, lessening the impact of the modest mode options and lack of some fan favorites from prior versions. ... Whether or not you'll find a community playing this game in a year leads back to that earlier question of just how close PC and console gaming have become...and your response to Unreal Tournament 3 will help shape the answer. "

Gallery: Unreal Tournament III

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