Mark Rein excited about UT3 mods on PS3

by Ross Miller { Nov 29th 2007 at 2:27PM }

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.

Tags: epic, epic-games, mark-rein, mods, unreal, unreal-tournament, unreal-tournament-3, ut3

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Akamaru @ Nov 29th 2007 2:30PM

Looks like being an open system has its advantages. I hope the Xbox players do get this though, even without mods it should be an awesome game.

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Nov 29th 2007 2:45PM

You get +1 from me for not ragging on 360 users.

Negativecool @ Nov 29th 2007 3:54PM

-1 from me for being too much of a pussy to pick a side and start a fanboy war!

(i keed+)

gonk @ Nov 29th 2007 6:25PM

if they can be open yet keep things secure, it's great

but even if they can't get it working on 360, i'll always have halo, it's pretty similar to ut3

Zeus the God @ Nov 29th 2007 8:27PM

The only similarity between the two are Halo's stolen Unreal Tournament vehicles and the fact that its an FPS (not nearly as fast paced, either).

Halo 3 sucks compared to UT3.

plyx @ Nov 29th 2007 2:35PM

Frag Fest coming to my PS3 in eleven days!

FK @ Nov 29th 2007 8:18PM

I thought the point is the "mod scene" does not need to be lively for the PS3 at all. The PC mods should work on the PS3 version.

Ian Williams @ Nov 29th 2007 2:36PM

I liked the old Unreal Tournament games, but mutators and these kind of thing are what I hated most about the later Unreal Tournaments. You could never find a standard, vanilla game. Every server runs some stupid mutator or some set of house rules to spice up (or to me, water down) the game.

Robobagins @ Nov 29th 2007 3:26PM

What are you saying? UT99 introduced Mutators!

Ian Williams @ Nov 29th 2007 3:46PM

...Guess I forgot about that. I must be thinking of when the game was new and there just weren't many mutators.

Well, regardless, mutators stink.

Marty @ Nov 29th 2007 5:30PM

I agree, and I don't think the mod scene will be very lively for PS3. It's hard enough to find people playing the pure game anyway.

Zertoss @ Nov 29th 2007 2:42PM

So I guess a nude mod and the Fox News scare story that ensues are inevitable.

"Did you know your children are practicing murdering people on a Nintendo Playstation game called UT3 (pronounced Uht three) AND THEY CAN SEE BOOBIES WHILE THEY DO IT?!"

Noshino @ Nov 29th 2007 2:44PM

Oh Noes! We have to inform senator Clinton about it!

FidliousWong @ Nov 29th 2007 3:02PM

Ironically enough, Asia Carerra is an avid Unreal Tournament fan and even makes her own mods. Her favorite avatar when playing is herself topless just because, as she puts it "people stop like, the hell? Is she naked? and I get to kill them easily."

I know this because I once played against her and was like "the fuck? Naked chick rocket lunch go!" And afterwards a friend told me this. So I looked it up and found out, yes I did indeed gib Asia Carerra. Also, this means if she has a PS3, this all but confirms nudity.

Phranctoast @ Nov 29th 2007 3:10PM

Asia Carrera is also a member of MENSA. weird huh? She must love the c*ck or she woild be a scientist!

Zoesch @ Nov 29th 2007 3:48PM

Being smart doesn't necessarily transforms you into a dork, lacking social grace does, and from what I've read from her interviews she's not just smart, she's also a very good businesswoman so whether or not she made her money doing porn becomes ultimately irrelevant.

rv @ Nov 29th 2007 4:23PM

What is relevant, however ,is that if she had made her money by being a scientist, all of human kind might benefited more.

FidliousWong @ Nov 29th 2007 5:22PM

I fail to see how a single individual turning her efforts from porn where she is paid to be a whore to science where she will be assumed to be a whore is going to be the one individual to manage to reduce all our emmissions to zero, cure cancer, aids, and avian bird flu, and deflect falling meteorites with her laser vision.

Fact of the matter is, she made a decision early on to either pursue a path where she'll constantly be in a position of constant sexual harassment and bullshit claims of "who did she fuck to get this NASA job" into a position exploiting her sexuality to the top possible financial benefit without having to deal with bullshit in the workplace. Oh wait, this be America were Sex = Bad. Keep forgetting that.

Zeus the God @ Nov 29th 2007 5:24PM

Yes, but my wiener would be sad... :(

JL @ Nov 29th 2007 2:44PM

I already reserved it once I learned that it was coming out in limited supply.

I have been waiting for this forever!!!

NukeAssault @ Nov 29th 2007 2:43PM

Instagib ftw!

FrankTheCrank @ Nov 29th 2007 2:45PM

Is that an actual screenshot?

Also, is their going to be a single player element to this game? Or is this another Warhawk style game?

redneckvampire @ Nov 29th 2007 4:29PM

They claim it is an actual screenshot. It is more like a screenshot of a load screen picture that was rendered using actual models. I've got the PC version cranked up to maximum on everything and never see shots that look like their promotional stuff. They are close, but don't have the extremely smooth look to them.

Zeus the God @ Nov 29th 2007 5:28PM

Sure... I've got the PC version as well, just waiting for my 8800GT, mobo, and CPU to come in, and I'll be playing it.

However, from the gameplay I have seen in videos at GameTrailers.com, the look almost exactly the same. I'm not denying that the picture used above may have been made for game promotion, but you'll be hard pressed to see any difference in the PC version. The same probably can't be said for the PS3/Xbox 360 versions, however.

Marty @ Nov 29th 2007 5:38PM

I've got an 8800GT and the demo runs like a dream. I wouldn't be surprised if the above image was an actual screenshot (at least, from the PC version), but the problem is that everything moves so fast, you'll never get to look at it close enough to really tell.

Dirt @ Nov 29th 2007 2:50PM

Ball is in Microsofts court. I am going to guess that Microsoft really has no real issue with doing this, it's just that they want a way to make people pay for each little mod so they don't lose their grip on microtransactions. Once they let one company release a game with free mods/downloads that users can design, it will pretty much open the flood gates of 360 gamers expecting ALL the games from there on out to offer it as well. Who is going to buy map packs, or new multiplayer game modes when players expect them all to be free from the hardcore modders? Exactly.

Time to let go, and give us some freedom. You can live without the microtransactions, Microsoft.

Noshino @ Nov 29th 2007 2:56PM

Dirt,

Just hope history doesn't repeat, as far as I remember, Epic has been pushing all Microsoft all along to allow them to give maps for free, I remember there was an interview about it whent he DLC for Gears came out...Rein stated that Microsoft told them "No" right away...

I really doubt Microsoft will allow it, but still, good luck 360 owners!

Anticrawl @ Nov 29th 2007 4:11PM

Maybe you should stop and think for a while before you speak. Epic had no control over the price of the downloadable content for Gears of War. Microsoft owns the rights to Gears of War entirely. Though Epic being the developer had some sway as to what the price would be the choice was Microsofts in the end.

Microsoft is not publishing UT3 so that's a non-issue.

Mezstizo @ Nov 29th 2007 5:13PM

The open system is also great for CHEATERS! This is the biggest reason why I stopped playing UT (PC). I hope the PS3 version won't be exploited by damn cheaters.

Zertoss @ Nov 29th 2007 2:56PM

There will always be cheaters, whether the system is open or closed. It's an unfortunate truth of online gaming.

Noshino @ Nov 29th 2007 2:59PM

oh dude, you never played StarCraft online huh?

even with those "Hopeless" maps, I still loved playing SC, it just wasn't enough to take me away from it (and for the record, I still play it, lol)

Anticrawl @ Nov 29th 2007 4:12PM

Anticrawl @ Nov 29th 2007 4:16PM

This reply system is hilarious. I replied to once comment once and it posts duplicate comments on different people? Not sure how that happens.

loof @ Nov 29th 2007 3:00PM

I'd personally rather they didn't allow mods and what not on consoles. IMO the closed standardized system is an advantage for consoles because everyone is playing the same game on the same hardware. MS & Sony seem to be actively trying to end this with multiple skus and allowing UT Mods. I will say I've played many awesome mods and do enjoy them but one of the things I enjoy about consoles is being able to just play a game and not have to worry about having the latest patch version or upgrading hardware.

Spiza @ Nov 29th 2007 3:11PM

everyone would still be playing the same game on the same system. Your post makes no sense at all. They are basically letting you dl the stuff for free that you would have to pay for on live. Just because Bob in Topeka designs a map instead of Epic developer Fred makes no difference. Most of the great extra content on PC games comes from modders. Most games even get huge fixes from the modding community, tournament support, or even total conversion mods that make for a whole new exciting game.

You don't have to dl it if you don't want to though. If you're playing vanilla, so will the others you are playing with. The closed hardware should also make the modding easier since modders only need to test on one system instead of sending it out and finding people that have different configurations to test.

Phranctoast @ Nov 29th 2007 3:15PM

The PC has a way of forcing the download. Maybe the PS3 can do the same. ex. If someone doesnt have a mod or new map, it DL's it automatically. Usually maps are small since (unless you are using user defined textures) they tend to use the attributes on the disc (static meshes.ect.)

loof @ Nov 29th 2007 5:49PM

I don't mind total conversion mods or extra maps. My issue is with the WC3 and deathmatch type mods you see in CS. When join a server I want to play regular old CS not be forced into playing deathmatch CS. Sure I can always find another server but it's still a pain in the ass.

loof @ Nov 29th 2007 7:45PM

and yes I know CS was a mod once upon a time.

FidliousWong @ Nov 29th 2007 3:03PM

Mezstizo, whether it's hacking or glitching, people will exploit unfair advantages in online arenas. You act as if 360's online arena is "glitching free." Also, you learn which servers and groups boot cheaters pretty quick.

punkasscrab @ Nov 29th 2007 3:06PM

I was looking forward to this game, but cheaters ruined the Socom series (one of the best IMHO). An open system will surely invite them. Myabe they have a plan for this?

robert @ Nov 29th 2007 3:32PM

what happened to socom was pretty sad. i loved that game too but when it got to the point where people were selling lag switches and cheats on ebay it was just ridiculous.

Nate @ Nov 29th 2007 3:16PM

I love mods, and I think if they do it well enough, this could be a fantastic feature. Now, I just need verification on whether PS3 users will be able to play against PC users. That's pretty critical for me... with Keyboard & Mouse support for the PS3 version, the only thing left is being able to frag my friends on their PCs.

GRANTED @ Nov 29th 2007 3:21PM

i thought rein firmly stated this would NOT occur. i don't think i'll get this game because i foresee a lot of people using fragfx for it anyway; and that just doesn't seem fair haha.

Nate @ Nov 29th 2007 3:37PM

FragFX? UT3 on the PS3 supports generic keyboard and mouse as controllers. Why would you use that POS device? Me, I'm getting a bluetooth keyboard & mouse and will be loving it (mouse on the couch isn't bad at all).

FidliousWong @ Nov 29th 2007 3:45PM

Rein said he tried to get vs. PC working but that's something they are still looking into. That feature hasn't given up the ghost just yet. It'll just be a patch if it does get done.

Zeus the God @ Nov 29th 2007 5:37PM

This most likely will not happen, as the PC version is being operated by GameSpy, which probably isn't compatible with any PS3 game programming. On top of that, synchronizing games with very different programming would be very difficult, even without the GameSpy situation.

the_insider @ Nov 30th 2007 1:03AM

I believe Gamespy works just fine on the PS3... ;)
http://www.poweredbygamespy.com/news/view/gamespy_sdks_and_services_available_on_ps3/

LySop @ Nov 29th 2007 3:29PM

I think the comment: "blacklist mods that do bad things." is the reason MS is hesitant to get on board with this concept. We all know that an "open system" is more versatile to the user. However, with the versatility comes both good and bad. Does the mod that "does bad things" have to do bad things before it is dermined that bad things can happen? If so, I don't want to be the guinea(sp?) pig.

I am not a modder and I don't have a PS3. Therefore, I don't know how open the PS3 is or what type of low level stuff the mods can do. I wouldn't want to subject my console to erased games saves, stolen information or bricking.

Let's face it, what percent of the mods are worth playing. Sure, some really cool mods have come from the modding community. Those are the ones we hear about. What about the other 99%?

I imagine, MS is in the "wait and see" mode. If the modding is embraced by the community and produces some quality stuff and the users want it I am sure MS will implement some access either by the user or the quality stuff will be certified and offered, maybe for a price. If the mod is worth it, people will buy it. If it isn't worth a few MS points, then I have to ask myself if I really want it at all.

LySop

GRANTED @ Nov 29th 2007 3:40PM

"If it isn't worth a few MS points, then I have to ask myself if I really want it at all."

When I buy a system, and then buy a game for it, I assume that's the investment required to get full value from the game. I don't want to pay monthly rates to go online, and I don't want to be stuck with expensive-first party accessories if I want to expand my console's functionality. In general, I think downloadable content should be free as well. I think of them in the same vein as game patches: little fixes to make the game more fun or more playable. No one's asking you to try 99% of the mods out there: just the ones that are getting rave reviews. There's nothing wrong with making it free and easy to mod games, stop pretending like MS has an advantage here.

FidliousWong @ Nov 29th 2007 3:43PM

As for the "does bad things," those stipulations exist within running official servers through UT3 currently. Blacklisted mods would run the gamut from clipping hacks to autoaimbots to KKK themed levels.

As for what a mod can do to the game, well actually the sky IS the limit. You get a talented enough group of modders together, UT3 could be modded into a racing game. I'm currently trying to adjust shaders in DX9 enough so that I can get cell shading running on UT3 on PC. Once that work is done, I'll be recruiting others to start working on a Code Geass themed arena shooter. I've seen mods which have completely changed a game. The mod will always be as far as someone is willing to push it. After all, if I can't get cell shading to work on UT3 (which is likely considering I'm not a programmer), I'll be switching to adding Seraphs and Nephilims to UT3. I mean, you hate snipers already, what if they had wings?

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