Unreal Engine 3 (UDK)

[Unreal1ty]

I was totally stunned, when i read through the following news. What do you think of it?
---> www.udk.com

Epic Games Announces the Unreal Development Kit, Powered by Unreal Engine 3
Unparalleled 3D Game Engine Toolset Now Available for Free Download

Epic Games, Inc. announces the launch of the Unreal Development Kit (UDK), a free edition of Unreal Engine 3 that provides community access to the award-winning toolset like never before. This software release is available to anyone interested in using 3D game engine technology, including game developers, students, hobbyists, researchers, creators of 3D visualizations and simulations, and digital filmmakers. Anyone can start working with the industry-leading Unreal Engine 3 toolset by downloading UDK at www.udk.com, where detailed product features, technical documentation, commercial licensing terms, support resources and more are also available.

An unprecedented milestone in game development, the release of UDK awards free access to the same world-class tools and technology used by many of the world’s best video game developers and publishers. Unreal Engine 3 is a constantly evolving game engine, and UDK contains all the most recently added features and technological enhancements, including many that have yet to be seen in an Unreal Engine game. Furthermore, Epic Games will release ongoing, upgraded builds of UDK for free.

There is no charge for noncommercial or educational use of UDK. Over 100 academic campuses currently use Unreal Technology as part of teaching game development-related courses, and colleges with plans to incorporate UDK into their curricula include the University of Pennsylvania, North Carolina State University, The Art Institute system of schools, Drexel University, Westwood College, DeVry University and Atlantic College, with many others to be announced.

Individuals and companies wishing to develop software for commercial purposes should refer to licensing terms at www.udk.com/licensing. Commercial terms have been structured to make it easy for independent developers, start-up firms and seasoned professionals to use UDK with minimal financial barrier from concept to deployment. UDK is currently for PC use only, although console support is under consideration. Developers approved to make games for Xbox 360® and PLAYSTATION®3 may inquire for more information by emailing udklicensing@epicgames.com.

[Unreal1ty]

As you can see, indie devs will be able to release their project as a standalone game based on the great Unreal Engine 3. There are already 3 mod projects, that were released as a full game without any need of UT3 or any other Unreal Engine game.

[paws]

I've been playing around with this the last couple of days and it is very impressive. It is also however an entirely different way of mapping which so far I've found quite hard getting used to. It massively increases the need for hundreds of different models as static meshes are used for all the detail rather than around half of it like in source where the mapper has a lot of personal control with complex brushwork.

It would in many ways set us back considerably in that we would have to start coding from scratch, redo all the textures in higher resolution and probably the models in higher poly as well but then again as an engine its been used to make games more similar to what we are trying to achieve.

I'm pretty undecided at the moment over this as it has the possibility to make the game look better and maybe play better, but at the same time we would have to redo a huge amount of work and ontop of that the need for complex interlinking custom models for everything would make mapping take much longer.

While this is certainly exciting I'm gonna have to sit on the fence for this one till I've used the tools a bit more.

[Unreal1ty]

It would in many ways set us back considerably in that we would have to start coding from scratch, redo all the textures in higher resolution and probably the models in higher poly as well but then again as an engine its been used to make games more similar to what we are trying to achieve.

I'm pretty undecided at the moment over this as it has the possibility to make the game look better and maybe play better, but at the same time we would have to redo a huge amount of work and ontop of that the need for complex interlinking custom models for everything would make mapping take much longer.

Absolutely right. I think our project will be much more unique staying with Source Engine. Unreal is an amazing looking engine but we would have to rework so many things and set us back. We could think about making a standalone game, when the mod is finished as a "prototype" Let's stay with Source, it's a great and easy to use engine and BLACKSECTOR TC Mod was concepted for being a HL² Total Conversion.

[Tobie]

that and the level designers would have to learn how to map in Unreal >.<

[Wareset]

My kid's computer has got a virus on it, I need to connect to the internet while in Safe Mode with Networking, but I while in the correct mode there is no internet connection. I am using wireless internet, I just tried to physically connect the computer with the actual internet cord and that did not work.


adopting a dog