Unreal Tournament 3
| Unreal Tournament 3 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Epic Games |
| Publisher(s) | Midway Games |
| Designer(s) | Steven Polge |
| Engine | Unreal Engine 3 |
| Platform(s) | PC (Windows), PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 |
| Release | Windows [1] PlayStation 3 [2] [3] Mac OS X TBA 2008 Linux TBA 2008 Xbox 360 May/June 2008[citation needed] |
| Genre(s) | First-person shooter |
| Mode(s) | Single player (with AI bots) Multiplayer Coop |
Unreal Tournament 3 (UT3) is a first-person shooter and online multiplayer video game by Epic Games and is the next installment of the Unreal series after Unreal Tournament 2004. It is published by Midway Games and was released in North America for Windows on November 19 2007. It was released in North America for the PlayStation 3 on December 10 2007,[6]. The Linux installer is planned to be released later as a downloadable installer that works with the Windows disc.
Unreal Tournament 3 is actually the fourth game in the Unreal Tournament series and the eighth Unreal game, but it has been numbered in terms of the engine it runs on. The original Unreal Tournament uses the original Unreal Engine, while UT2003 and UT2004 use the Unreal Engine 2, and 2004 incorporates all of the content from 2003; therefore they are considered as the same generation. UT3 is subsequently part of the third generation, because it runs on the Unreal Engine 3, and does not reuse any content.[7]
Gameplay
Similar to the previous entries of the series, the game is primarily an online multiplayer title offering several game modes, including large-scale Warfare, Capture-the-Flag, and Deathmatch. It will also include an extensive offline single-player game with an in-depth story, advancing from the simple tournament ladder to such concepts as team members with their own individual personalities The following game modes are included:
- Deathmatch
- Team Deathmatch
- Capture the flag
- Duel: A one versus one gametype. It uses a queueing system, the winner stays, and the loser goes back to the end of the queue. A typical match last five minutes with an unlimited amount of rounds.
- Warfare (formerly known as Conquest): An amalgamation of Onslaught and Assault. While basic game rules are equal to those of Onslaught, Warfare adds unlinked nodes which can always be captured (supplying the capturing team with vehicles and a spawnpoint) and countdown nodes (which, after being captured and defended for a certain period of time, create a vehicle or trigger an event helpful to the capturing team) as well as the orb, which can be used to instantly capture and defend nodes.
- Vehicle Capture the Flag: Capture the Flag, with vehicles as part of the map; this exists as a separate game type to Capture the Flag, above.
Modes not returning from the previous Unreal Tournament games include Invasion, Mutant, Onslaught, Bombing Run, Last Man Standing, Domination, Double Domination, and Assault; Assault was removed from the game during production.[8] Due to the game's customizable nature these game modes could be recreated by users of the game. Although the game designers claimed that the new Warfare mode would allow maps to be created that play like classic Assault or Onslaught, the reality is that only Onslaught maps can be created, as there is no simple way to implement the timed rounds and Attacker/Defender teams that were the major features of classic Assault.
Plot
The plot of the single player campaign revolves around Reaper and his crew who are hired as mercenaries by Malcolm. The campaign is divided into five chapters, with the first four consisting of various military tasks given by him. In the final chapter, Reaper and his group set out on a quest for vengeance against the Necris on their homeworld. During the first four chapters, there are multiple times when the player can choose between two different missions, while the last chapter is mostly linear. At the end of the campaign, after defeating the Necris leader, Reaper is surrounded by Necris troops and has his dying sister thrown in front of him. He realizes that Malcolm was the only one that knew about his quest of vengeance and thus must have betrayed him (as shown in an earlier cut scene). He vows to make Malcolm his next target and charges at the troops with rocket launcher in hand.
Weapons
The weapon arsenal in UT3 is largely similar to that of UT2004. Returning weapons include the AVRiL (which can also guide deployed spider mines with its secondary fire mode), Bio Rifle (shoots out blobs of bio-mass), Flak Cannon, Link Gun, Rocket Launcher, Shock Rifle, Sniper Rifle (which increases headshot radius when standing still), and the Redeemer (The Target Painter was planned on being in the game but was evidently cut). The Enforcer (which can be dual-wielded) and the Impact Hammer based on the original UT, respectively replace the Assault Rifle and the Shield Gun from UT 2003 and 2004. The Enforcer fires either a single semi-automatic shot or three round bursts. The Impact Hammer features an EMP blast alternate fire that can knock powerups (such as Beserk, UDamage) out of enemies as well as dealing up to 150 damage and sizable kickback to a vehicle. Returning from Unreal and Unreal Championship 2: The Liandri Conflict is the Tarydium Stinger, which replaces the Minigun. The Stinger's primary fires hitscan-speed rounds; the secondary fire mode is stronger, has a slower rate of fire and isn't hitscan, but can nail an opponent to a wall if it's the killing blow.
Killing awards have been expanded from just three as seen in UT2004, to nearly all weapons. Accumulating fifteen kills with a particular weapon or fire mode prompts the announcer to award the player with a specific title. The awards are: JackHammer, Gun Slinger, Bio Hazard, Combo King, Shaft Master, Blue Streak, Flak Master, Rocket Scientist, Head Hunter and Big Game Hunter.
Vehicles
The vehicles have been split into two factions, the Axon vehicles (made by the Axon corporation) and Necris vehicles. The Axon vehicles are the same from UT2004, but several have significant gameplay changes. In addition, every player is equipped with a personal hoverboard, which is a skateboard-like device that allows players to traverse large maps and get towed when they grapple onto other teammates' vehicles. However, the hoverboard is very vulnerable to attack and any kind of hit will knock the player off the board and disable him or her for several seconds. Additionally, the player cannot use any weapons while on the board.
Axon Vehicles
The returning Axon vehicles include those featured in the Editor's Choice Edition of Unreal Tournament 2004 and are relatively more traditional. Included are the Manta - a fast hovercraft which is more maneuverable in UT3, the Raptor (air superiority dogfighter), Scorpion (light assault buggy, now equipped with mortars, blades that unfold in the front, and now has a speed-boost option which can be used to kamikaze itself into another target), Hellbender (armored jeep, the driver now operates the air mine gun reducing the crew to 2), Cicada (a two person air support vehicle), Hellfire SPMA (remote bombardment cannon with a significant improvement in handling), Paladin (infantry support tank that uses an energy shield), Goliath (battle tank), and Leviathan (heavy weapons platform).
Necris vehicles
The Necris (undead humans who are the opposition in the tournaments) have a rival set of vehicles. There are six Necris vehicles, and although they are not parallel to Axon's vehicles, they are intended to make a good balance against them.
The Necris Viper is most similar to the Manta, a quick strike ground skimmer armed with single-bouncing energy pellets and a kamikaze function. The Nemesis is essentially a mobile energy turret with adaptable snake-like treads, and the DarkWalker is a heavy offensive vehicle, featuring a twin blast beam on a tripod walker (similar to the tripods from H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds). The Fury is the basic air vehicle of the Necris, with jelly-like propulsion, the Nightshade is a cloaking stealth vehicle with deployables, and the Scavenger is an orb-like vehicle with a complex attack mode that shoots energy beams while the orb itself is moving towards the target.
Teams
Unlike the previous Unreal Tournament games, the single player campaign does not follow a plot based around the Tournament Grand Championship, and therefore several of the teams within Unreal Tournament III are not Tournament competitors:
- Necris, appearing in several previous titles, the Necris are a species of nanotechnologically modified humans who were originally designed by the Phayder Corporation to function as ultra-high performance Black Ops forces for hire from Phayder. White-skinned, gothic-looking and with advanced nanotechnology-based equipment designed by Phayder, they are the antagonists of UT3. The Necris Championship team are known as "Black Legion", and several members of the group appear in UT3, including Kragoth the Star Slayer and Malakai.
- "The Corrupt", though not specifically identified by this name within UT3, are a team of artificially intelligent cybernetic beings, maintained and financed by the mysterious Liandri Mining Corporation (originators of the Tournaments) whose domination of the robotics markets is unchallenged. They were originally lead by Xan Kriegor, the first Tournament Grand Champion until his defeat by Malcolm and his team Thundercrash. The Corrupt are now lead by newcomer Matrix, a Liandri executive who upgraded at the request of his superiors.
- Iron Guard, an ancient Tournament team of hardened mercenaries and ex-military, led by long-time Tourney veteran Lauren. Iron Guard have been hired by the Axon Corporation.
- Iron Skull, a reptillian species called the Krall, they served as expendable slave warriors in the Skaarj empire before its contact with the human empire under the New Earth Government. Many Krall prisoners of war entered the empire during the Human/Skaarj War, some entering the Tournaments. The Necris chose to make use of this resource, purchasing the Iron Skull clan and putting them into service as shock troops.
- Ronin, a team protected by red armour, with yellow glowing LEDs and henna tattoos; they were a clan of warriors whose duty was to defend the Twin Souls mining colony - after Twin Souls was destroyed by the Necris, they fled to Earth and now represent Izanagi Corporation, who sponsor them as mercenaries and Tournament combatants. They were given their name by the Izanagi.
- Thundercrash, although this team was not initially in the game itself, Malcolm now appears on the UT3 website, hinting that this team may return to the franchise in a later patch or bonus pack.
Soundtrack
Limited Collector's Edition
On October 26, 2007, a limited collector's edition of the game was announced to be released on PC. This version of the game features an exclusive collector's edition tin and a hardcover art book. A bonus DVD is also included, featuring more than 20 hours of Unreal Engine 3 Toolkit video tutorials, containing anti-WarHawK software (disabling video playback in isolated cases), the history of the Unreal Tournament series, and behind-the-scenes footage of the making of Unreal Tournament 3. The Limited Collector's Edition is being sold in the United States, Europe, South Africa, Australia and most other territories.[9]
Online Multiplayer Activities and Community
Unreal Tournament 3 is primarily an online multiplayer game. Consequently, the game benefits from having an extensive online community. The UT3 community manifests itself in the form of discussion forums, Internet Relay Chat (IRC) channels, and voice-over-IP servers, many of which are related and associated with actual UT3 gaming servers. Several websites and discussion forums also serve as communities for custom map and game mod designers. Although most activity occurs on public servers, several people also choose to play in clan matches and pickup game matches.
Reception
Although reviews of UT3 were mostly positive, in the US in the first month of its release the PC version only sold around 34,000 units[citation needed], while the Playstation 3 version sold around 110,000.[citation needed] Midway announced in March that they had shipped over 1 million units worldwide. [12]
Mods
Many Unreal Tournament 3 players have created additional maps, mutators, and characters for Unreal Tournament 3. Some user-created content includes custom characters. These include Master Chief [ported by EvilEngine] from the Halo series, Samus from the Metroid series and Marcus from Gears of War [2 versions, one ported by Loki and the other by EvilEngine] as well as the Locust from Gears of War [also ported by EvilEngine].
Xbox 360 Version
Following its release on the PS3 in early 2008, there was much speculation surrounding the Xbox 360 version, which was scheduled for a release at around the same time. In an interview with TeamXbox, Mark Rein, the Vice President of publishers Epic Games mentioned that problems with Microsofts' Xbox Live team were holding back some areas of production. The review cites "Microsoft's strict rules for Xbox Live, which in its current form won't accept user-generated content for the game." as the source of the delays. Rein goes on to say "Microsoft hasn't said "no" yet, but then they haven't said "yes" either." Rein explained. "We need them to say "yes," and we need them to do it soon."
The May 2008 issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly lists the Xbox 360 version of UT3 for a May 2008 release. In a recent thread on the UT3 forums, Mark Rein responds to this statement by saying: "We don't have a particular release date yet but we're going to be playing [the Xbox 360 version] with some members of the press in two weeks at Midway's next Gamers Day in Las Vegas. Should be fun. The game is coming along really nicely." [13] The release month for this version is speculated to be June 2008.
The current release date for the Xbox 360 version stands at June 2008, it is not yet known whether the release will feature any user generated content, as some "DLC" releases on Xbox Live since 2005 have been charged for. A typical example of content downloadable on Xbox Live are the maps released for Halo 3 in the "Heroic Map Pack". This package cost "800 MS points" (Now free) and contained 3 playable maps for use online. It should also be noted however that some content such as map packs, character models, etc have also been available for free since their first release on Xbox Live Marketplace.
Patches
PC version
The first patch for the PC version was released on December 10 bringing the game up to version 1.1. The patch is around 240 MB and incorporates changes to the game settings, changes to gameplay and many bug fixes.[14]
The second patch for the PC (Windows) version was released on February 21 bringing the game up to version 1.2. The patch once again fixes various bugs and exploits throughout the game as well as making other changes, such as increasing the maximum player count in a game to 64. [15]
The game does not require to be patched to play online (nor does it inform the player that a new patch is available), but it will only display servers running the player's same version of the game. Thus, a player who does not have the latest patch will likely see significantly fewer servers than one using the most current patch.
PlayStation 3 version
The first patch 1.1 is about 44MB and was released on March 21, major changes include the possibility for players of both the North American and European version to play together, it fixes problems with some USB headsets and now displays best ping servers on top of the list. Some updates are only applied on the North American version since the PAL version released in March 2008 was partially updated.[16]
References
http://www.evilengine.net/forum
- ^ Unreal Tournament 3 has Gone Gold! - Epic Games Forums
- ^ "언리얼 토너먼트 3"
- ^ Unreal Tournament 3 on PS3 has gone gold, likely due mid-December - Joystiq
- ^ UNREAL TOURNAMENT 3 rated 18 by the BBFC
- ^ Schnittberichte.com - Mehr als 3600 detaillierte Zensurberichte zu Filmen, Spielen, Comics, Serien und Musikvideos
- ^ Unreal Tournament 3 on PS3 has gone gold, likely due mid-December - Joystiq
- ^ Mark Rein talks Gears of War downloads, UT3 on PS3 | Xbox 360 News | GamePro.com
- ^ http://www.gamevideos.com/swf/gamevideos11.swf?embedded=0&fullscreen=1&autoplay=1&src=http://www.gamevideos.com:80/video/videoListXML%3Fid%3D9489%26ordinal%3D1172677610742
- ^ PC: Unreal 3 Collector's Edition Detailed
- ^ "Master Chief in Unreal Tournament 3 (video)"
- ^ Gametrailers Forum
- ^ UT3 and Stranglehold hit 1m sales - www.mcvuk.com
- ^ [1]
- ^ UT3 Patch 1.1 Now Available - Epic Games Forums
- ^ UT3 Patch 1.2 Now Available - Epic Games Forums
- ^ PS3 Patch Fix List
External links
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