Rein: No work [for now] on 360's Unreal Tournament III, Us: Oh, OK [Updated]

by Justin McElroy { Nov 15th 2007 at 5:30PM }

You think it's easy sitting around all day blogging about video games? Not so, sir. Take today for example. First we see this interview with Mark Rein, wherein he says that work on Unreal Tournament III's 360 version won't even begin until next year. "Wow, that's interesting," we think, and we start dashing out a post for you to enjoy.

But then we get a tip from a reader leading us to Australian site Gameplayer, which previewed the game. Specifically, he told us to check out Page 3, wherein the site says it previewed the game ... on the 360. "So what should I do?" you wonder. Well, the answer is obvious: Email Mark Rein for clarification, of course. But shouldn't you have a post up about it while you wait to hear back so no one is in the dark? Yes, of course you should. So, there you have it.

[Via X3F]

[Update: We just got the following note from Mark Rein: "What I probably should have said was 'start working on it again'. We had the game up and running on all three platforms up until last spring. In fact Official Xbox Magazine came out and played the game for a great cover story they did on it. We stopped working on the 360 version so we could concentrate our efforts on shipping the various PC and PS3 versions. Once we get those out of the way, and take some time to enjoy the holidays with our friends and families, we'll start working on the 360 version again. There's still a decent bit of work to do. For example we have simple LAN play but no Xbox Live implementation yet and we need to work with Microsoft to figure out how to accommodate mods on their platform."]

Tags: mark-rein, markrein, unreal-tournament-iii, unrealtournamentiii

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Squeedom @ Nov 15th 2007 5:33PM

OXM did a preview a few months back also. It was a cover story.

Anonim @ Nov 15th 2007 5:58PM

Exacly.

Mark Rein probably talked about NEW exlusive features (maps or something like this) for X360 version.
They will be working on them after PS3 version will be shipped.

mike @ Nov 15th 2007 5:59PM

They didnt just do a cover story they played the game for a number of hours

I really cant see this game being a success on 360 you need keyboard and mouse to get the most out of it

Ill be getting the pc version as im interested in messing aroubf with the editor..

Marty @ Nov 15th 2007 6:03PM

On that note, I can't really see the game being a success for PS3 either - the whole point of having a console (which is usually plugged into your TV) is for the convenience of gaming on the spot, without having to fuss with a bunch of peripherals or seating arrangements.

And let's face it, UT with a controller sucks balls. The action is too fast. Probably why Unreal Championship was such a dismal failure on the last generation of consoles.

I really wish Epic would focus certain franchises on the platform they are played best on - PC. I mean, that's where this all started, so let's see some love.

Jeff @ Nov 15th 2007 6:20PM

I've been playing the UT3 beta demo with my 360 controller a little bit. I have to drop the AI down a few notches in order to keep up, but it's still fun as hell. Plus, the console versions are going to be slowed down a bit.

People are bitching that this game is consolized. Personally, I think they just made an all around good game. It should adapt well to each platform.

On 360, it'll be awesome because of Live; everyone'll be able to play with all their friends (because face it, everyone's friends also have a 360), which goes well with UT3's team dynamic.

On ps3 you'll have access to mods, essentially making Ut3 countless games for the price of one. Red Orchestra was my favorite WWII game back in the day, right over battlefield and COD.

And as for PC... well we're lucky bitches.

Anonim @ Nov 15th 2007 6:20PM

Console ports will be 20% SLOWER (movement etc. not framrate (30fps BTW))

Jeff @ Nov 15th 2007 8:57PM

Well, that's what I meant. But just to be a dick, if I did mean framerate, that'd be 1/3rd of what I'm getting.

Spooner @ Nov 15th 2007 10:19PM

Hmm... COD4 does fine on the Xbox 360 without mouse and keyboard as well as Halo 3. I have to admit mouse and keyboard would be nice.

Marc Federico @ Nov 15th 2007 10:33PM

yea i read that. in the article they were playing it cross platform with pc players in house. i remember specifically because they were saying it ran even smoother than gears of war and looked better. talked about the engine improvements and bla bla bla. obviously the game's done and there was money exchanged somewhere. cough sony cough. pc and 360 versions have been done for months. anyone who disagrees is foolish because 360 games are made with the same tools as those for the pc but get different optimization for the platform. if anything id say the pc version takes longer because they need to test for many different hardware configurations and directx code paths.

Lone Starr @ Nov 15th 2007 5:38PM

There's a conspiracy involving Too Human here but I can't quite put my finger on it.

Micheal82 @ Nov 15th 2007 5:37PM

No rush it only a million sales but who cares. Money who needs it.
Epic should be trying to get this game out for the 360 as soon as posible to just because Gears fams more than likely would pick this up also. If they wait to long the Gears effect will wear off.

Phillip @ Nov 15th 2007 5:39PM

Also speling and puncuation who need them

;-)

gonk @ Nov 15th 2007 5:57PM

ironic post

B1gC72 @ Nov 15th 2007 11:27PM

my thoughts exactly Gonk lol

Exo @ Nov 15th 2007 5:39PM

I don't think Epic fired Rein along time ago and no one told him.

He still shows up to work everyday though, wondering where his stapler is.

Draco @ Nov 15th 2007 6:23PM

Office space is an awesome movie! you made me laugh

Arno @ Nov 15th 2007 6:44PM

Not many will get the genius behind your post, but I did. :)

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Nov 15th 2007 8:35PM

Hope he doesn't threaten to burn epic down.

eddyk @ Nov 15th 2007 5:39PM

My opinion : There's too many blockbusters out for the 360 to care for this game.

Tango Charlie @ Nov 15th 2007 5:50PM

No kidding. COD4, Halo3, TF2... does anyone really need UT3?

Noshino @ Nov 15th 2007 6:10PM

are you serious? any FPS fan can tell you that UT is an amazing game...

and you can't compare it to those games you mentioned...

COD4: Team play is a must
TF2: First, completly different art style, second, team play a must once again

and well, about Halo...mmm....how can I put it, just not a la par of UT, it might have record sales, but that doesn't show that it is quality material, UT blows it right away....

to say that you don't care about a franchise that shows the best FPS just shows how lame you are...even if you don't like the genre (which I really don't) quality material deserves credit

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Nov 15th 2007 8:40PM

@noshino

Let me change that for you.

any PC FPS fan can tell you that UT is an amazing game

There we go, much better.

The fact is, while PC fanboys will be creaming their pants like catholic school girls over this game, majority of console owners are probably going to meh at this game.

gonk @ Nov 15th 2007 5:44PM

crazy

nick @ Nov 15th 2007 5:46PM

I think they're purposely downplaying the 360 version until the PS3 version is out the door. They don't want to take away from any sales there, especially since Sony is supposedly helping Epic with engine tweaks on the PS3.

Marty @ Nov 15th 2007 6:04PM

I agree.

Akamaru @ Nov 15th 2007 5:50PM

PC, 360, what's the difference?

jomi294 @ Nov 15th 2007 11:08PM

Well, everything for starters.

Marty @ Nov 15th 2007 5:53PM

Joystiq: So Mark, how's UT3 for 360 coming?
Mark: Oh it's going gre-
Sony: ...
Mark: We haven't even started on it yet!

In all seriousness though, it truly is a shame that they are hyping it so much for consoles in general, and virtually ignoring the PC market... it's the best platform for this game, and because they won't make a big deal about it, nobody will be online to play it. Just like UT2004 after a month.

DangerMouse @ Nov 15th 2007 5:54PM

Sam Beckett leaped into Mark Rein's body and he made a mistake. Don't be too hard on him.

Bucket @ Nov 16th 2007 10:52AM

Epic employee: Marc! We've got Sony on the phone and they want a progress report ASAP! But the engine hasn't been checked in yet, it's still in pieces and we can't find the archive copy of our last build!!

Marc/Sam: ......Oh boy.

TXCrowe @ Nov 15th 2007 6:00PM

Well, if the PC version is done, then basically so is the 360 Version, seeing as the 360 uses the same parts etc as a PC, right?
Wouldn't take very long at all to port to 360 from PC.

jomi294 @ Nov 15th 2007 11:08PM

That's of course when you totally ignore the fact that a PC is based on an Intel architecture and the Xbox 360 is PowerPC.
But yes, you are right. Aside from that meaningless fact, my guess is it's done!
...

Jeff @ Nov 15th 2007 6:10PM

I think Epic knows they made an amazing game in Unreal 3. I also think they were unhappy with the way Micro$oft treated Gears of War: charging for bonus maps, no open network, etc. I think they're making a conscious effort to level the playing field in favor of the ps3, so that 360 has to adapt and open up the network, allow keyboard and mouse support, and in general stop being twats. Epic has always given away free bonus maps because that's the type of awesome people they are; Microsoft made them charge. That must have hurt.

Marty @ Nov 15th 2007 6:38PM

Nah, I don't think Epic feels allegiance to one company over another... I think they just want to sell the hell out of their games, and they figure they might as well push the one that's hitting the stores in time for XMas.

Chris @ Nov 15th 2007 6:14PM

I thought UTIII was exclusive to PS3...

oh wait... Sony doesn't have exclusives anymore.

Secura @ Nov 15th 2007 6:31PM

I guess you haven't checked their exclusives list in the past 6-9 months, have you?

Chris @ Nov 16th 2007 12:07PM

lol

sarcasm people, sarcasm. I don't give a damn about your console wars. All three deserved to be praised and critiqued.

TXCrowe @ Nov 15th 2007 6:30PM

Tell that to HAZE, Uncharted, MGS4, R&C, Warhawk..etc etc etc

Joe @ Nov 15th 2007 7:30PM

final fantasy 13, versus 13, god of war 3, white knight story, gt5, killzone2, starocean4. and these are games I CARE ABOUT of which i canNOT play a MUCH MUCH MUCH better version on the pc now or in the future. unlike some other system's "power line up." *cough*gearshalo3rainboxsixoblivionlostplanetmasseffectbioshock,cod4*cough*

and the fact that ps3 supports mouse and keyboard, at least for me, most if not all first person shooters that'll support it will be MORE FUN and LESS FRUSTRATING on the ps3 than the 360 version. i'm not bad with a controller-legendarymode halo1&2 ftw; i'm just WAY BETTER with a mouse and keyboard. for example - moha, cod4.i played 360 and pc version of both. my brother bought the 360 version of course since his pc isn't powerful enuff. the only software i've bought for 360 was dead rising and gears. had perfect dark zero been developed by free radical, the original developer of perfect dark, the game would've actually been in hd and fun. look up haze, and if you actually read up on it, you'll see how talented they are making such a good & fun looking game especially with such an unfamiliar architecture. hdr nor being a thirdparty developer will keep this game from being 720p. *cough*halo3firstpartyunlimitedbudgetbiggesthype*cough*

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Nov 15th 2007 8:45PM

......

Please explain to me, a lowly console boy, how a mouse and a keyboard makes fps so much better. Because obviously I must be playing mah games wrong.

pisshaw, sounds like total bullshit to me. It's a matter of fucking preference that's all.

Jeff @ Nov 15th 2007 8:59PM

It's completely preference.

Joe @ Nov 15th 2007 10:52PM

well vagina, i'm not too sure how to explain it to an idiot.

fps = first person shooter. aside for story, weapons, strategy, you're primarily aiming and shooting at targets. precision becomes key.

mouse and keyboard, and perhaps the wiimote as well, gives you that precision. WHY DO YOU THINK MOST CONSOLE FPS GIVES YOU AIMHELP or lock-on and pc's DO NOT...? controller's lack of precision. i NEVER said the game can't still be fun, but better precision helps the game be more fun. now are you going to try to argue that LESS precision should be ftw? since you're an idiot, maybe. but if less precision is better than more precision, perhaps bungie should have never implemented their aimhelp feature into all their halo games.

what helped the halo franchise become one of the first successful console fps was how they made aiming feel so natural thanks to how well they implemented their lock on. CoD franchise implements it differently for consoles but its just as effective by helping you lock on when u use ironsight. shadowrun OVERdid it by practically giving players on 360 an aimbot

Slaziman @ Nov 16th 2007 7:58AM

But the 360 controller is you know, a controller, which rests on your hands. Try that with your keyboard and mouse! If I had a PS3 and this game, I don't think I'd take the hassle of setting up a little table to rest my KB+M on. Also, analog control is nice I guess.

edhe @ Nov 15th 2007 7:32PM

I think the story got a little confused - if i remember the quote rightly he was saying about finishing the ps3 version, taking a break, then working on the 360's mod delivery system, which hasn't been started yet. I reckon the game's probably complete on the 360, or getting there. Would be ncie to have an MP demo for chrimbo ;)

Lijik @ Nov 15th 2007 6:36PM

Ask him if they're working on a new Jazz Jackrabbit while you're at it.

Kamall @ Nov 15th 2007 6:45PM

My god, I can't believe this is the same company that made Jazz Jackrabbit 1/2 and Jill of the Jungle in the 90s and look at them now, can't even recognize them!

God I loved Jazz Jackrabbit. :(

And I always wondered, if the PS3 is selling much less than the 360, its way inferior to the 360, blah blah blah, why did Microsoft pay $50 to get the exclusive GTA4 episodes? With that chunk of change, they recognize that the PS3 is a threat no?

ThornedVenom @ Nov 15th 2007 6:57PM

I don't personally care that much because my PC can handle it with excellent graphics. Although, I wonder how UT3 handles on consoles and all (more specifically controllers), considering that I've always considered UT3 to be one of those high-reflex twitchy FPSes, well-adapted for keyboard and mouse (PS3's keyboard and mouse support = good move in my opinion, because of personal preferences).

I guess that no 360 version at the moment is a bummer for those who have opted for consoles (the 360 being the top-selling "powerhouse" and all) instead of expensive graphic cards for their gaming needs. It's just that I have a hard time imagining how well this game translates onto consoles in general.

PS: Long live free online play.

Dreamcicle @ Nov 15th 2007 8:06PM

I fear for free online play. Stupid games for windows live bullshit. It's like they said "hey, you know what makes xbox live great? let's take all that out and ignore everything that would make it better for PC."

In a year or two they are definitely going to try and get you to pay just to play online for games.