Unreal name changes (Unreal II & UT2)

[Rooster]

http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2855667,00.html

They will now be

Unreal Episode II (singleplayer only)

And

Unreal Tournament 2003 (due out this summer)

[el Gato]

Infogrames will reveal plans to release annual versions of Unreal Tournament, supposedly with notable enhancements and changes in every successive release, much like in EA Sports' various sports game series

That statement kinda disturbs me. Are we looking at upgrading systems for each successive release to keep up with the 'notable enhancements', and no compatibility among releases?

I guess my wallet would prefer new versions every two years over annually.

[Morety]

Heh, no kidding. They'll be fragmenting they're own audience to the point where 60% are playing the new version, 30% last years, and 10% the year before etc.

What it'll do is reduce the audience/players for the current year making it less enjoyable (with less people).

[El_Phantasmo]

Clarification by Tim Sweeney:
The Gamespot announcement was a mix of actual news and speculation (this wasn't Gamespot's fault; we seem to have some bugs in our PR pipeline.)

The name "Unreal Episode 2" is just something that we, Legend, Epic, Infogrames, have been discussing internally. We haven't come to a decision and are still split on it; some of the guys love it and some of the guys hate it. What does everyone here think?

The motivating factor for a name change would be to reduce the confusion we've created by having several Unreal games in development.

For now, though, the name is still "Unreal 2".

The new name for "Unreal Tournament 2003" is official. But the idea of to releasing a new one every year is just another concept we've been debating internally. If that were seriously considered, we would have to avoid splitting the community every year.

The next-generation Unreal engine's network code and file formats are stable enough that we could potentially ship UT(year x) and include the maps from UT(year x-1) and maintain backwards compatibility with existing servers. This obviously couldn't go on forever, but could assure a lifetime similar to UT. Remember, in over 2 years of UT, we only broke network compatibility once.

Anyway, ongoing Unreal Tournament releases aren't an actual plan, just an idea we've been tossing around.

-Tim


Further clarification by CliffyB:
Well, when you consider the direction DE is taking UT2003 in the "sports name" makes sense.

They're looking to juice up the SP element with team rosters, salary caps, trading, etc... all things that are found in...sports! Then, when you mix in the CPL and competitive ....sport...that gaming is in some venues it starts to become more clear why this is happening.

Hell, the original UT had a trophy on the cover and it said "The gladiator bloodsport of the future!" Trophy...bloodsport...you know, sports.

Cliff

[spyder913]

either way.. i'm looking forward to NEW UT

i just might have to shell out the bucks for a new moboprocramsoundcard upgrade!

[Morety]

Originally posted by spyder913
either way.. i'm looking forward to NEW UT

i just might have to shell out the bucks for a new moboprocramsoundcard upgrade!

Ditto, plus a Ti4600 :)

[el Gato]

Yeah, I need to upgrade anyway. I can't hold out much longer - if UT makes my 'puter a chuggabeast, UT2(003) will melt it. :dead: :D


This smilie need some chap stick ---> :ack:

[mileena]

http://www.clanvikings.org/tmp/ut2.zip
http://www.clanvikings.org/tmp/ut2.zip
http://www.clanvikings.org/tmp/ut2.zip
http://www.clanvikings.org/tmp/ut2.zip
http://www.clanvikings.org/tmp/ut2.zip
http://www.clanvikings.org/tmp/ut2.zip


!!

[Boom]

Yah!!! That moobie thingy looks awesome leena. I even like da musix!!!

"Remember, in over 2 years of UT, we only broke network compatibility once."

I hate to be snydeman, but... Its real easy to brag about not breaking network capability in 2 years if you stopped making patches 1.5 years ago. :p

[Morety]

lmao Boom, good point :D

The movie looked cool. The bodies dropping off ledges and stuff? :D :tup:

[el Gato]

Yeahaw, the 'rag doll' physics of the dropping body did rock. I see myself doing lots of that. :)

[WAnk]

lol, i can see it.

you are bored on defense, so you frag your partner so you can play with his corpse while you are waiting :D

[WebSlinger]

/me tosses another hamster into his GF3

[el Gato]

3rd person demo recording of BASE jumping in UT2003 is gonna rock! Bouncy bouncy bounce!

In UT you just go SPLAT. :(