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Unreal Engine 3

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#1

I’m surprised I havn’t seen this brought up here yet, though I’m sure a lot of you have already seen info on this at other sites (like cgtalk, etc.)

Anyways, the Unreal Engine 3 looks UNBELIEVABLY AMAZING.

Unreal Technology (info and images)

Hi-res video demo of Unreal Engine 3 (170mb)

A few quick links to images if you don’t want to look around the above links:
here
herehere

The interesting thing: It uses low-poly models (7000-8000 polys) with normal maps taken from high-poly models (millions+ polys)!! They have their own software that generates the normal maps by comparing the low and high res models, but GEEE, seems like ZBrush was almost made for this!

I’m so excited!!!

#2

Hi ya!

Thanks for posting these links!

TVeyes pointed this out to me in IRC, I have not gotten a chance to look closely at it… (I was buried knee deep in a Linux partition without proper sound or video support)

I have been modding with unreal science unreal 1… it is by far the easiest game engine to developer with, right out of the box…

as far as game engines go I have been toying with CRYTECH sandbox… all I have to say is WOW! as far as the development and Modding capabilitys… they use a similar thing for the normal maps as you described…

Here is a link to ATI technology’s developer page… they have a similar free running application for making normal maps from 2 models…
http://www.ati.com/developer/tools.html

they also have a plug-in version for all the 3ds pirates out there…

while you are there pick up a fresh copy of Rendermonkey and toy with some of the new directX shaders…

I have been really disappointed in the last 2 unreal episodes. I realy feel that the release of unreal 2003 was just a way to raise funding to actualy finish UT2004.
This new unreal3 looks really promising! I think that there is hope for the unreal franchise after all :slight_smile:

I figured after the release of DOOM 3 I would convert back into an ID software MOD maker again (I have done stuff for Quake 2, Quake 3, and RTCW) …BUT, unreal 3 looks totally SWEET!, I think after unreal 3 release I will open up unreal ED again and do some world building :slight_smile:

Thanks for bringing this subject up DreamWalker :slight_smile: now I have something to look forward to :slight_smile:

The video is total EYE candy :slight_smile:

#3

I’ll go check out those links you put up, thanks!

I played around with UnrealED for UT (classic) and UT2003 a little, but like most people I was also kinda disapointed with UT2003 (and Unreal 2). I like UT2004 a lot better.

A couple friends and I were planning on modding with the HL2 engine, but I dunno… Unreal 3 looks crazy… maybe we’ll have to alter our plans a little :slight_smile:

I have so much to learn with games and 3D and stuff! The more I learn, the more there is to learn!! ahhH! :slight_smile:

#4

I have been Modding science Half-life 1, and Quake 2…

If you need any help let me know… I am looking for a HL2 mod team to join as soon as it is released… i am good for at least 1 map, I will make more if I like HL2…

I have a feeling I will , HL2 looks very cool!

until it is released I am checking out FARCRY… they use some of this new technology… OMG! the single player game is very good… On line has bad protocol tho, reminds me of playing quake 2 CTF over a phone modem on a rainy day, with a +32 packet loss ratio. except quake 2 was better. LOL!

I am going to be toying with farcry until the release of HL2 or DOOM 3.

#5

holy poly,looks awesome,cant wait to play another unreal part,i loved the first unreal.i played far cry last week,this polybump thing is very interesting.

#6

indeed, it looks madz, tobad there wont be any games running it out until 2k5. properly even fist in 2k6 :confused:

#7

The engine itself isn’t that amazing, but the artwork that goes with it is.

#8

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>The engine itself isn’t that amazing, but the artwork that goes with it is. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Well, yes and no. I would have expected the engine to run at higher frame rates than what it does, but I am sure that will improved on before an actual game using the Unreal 3 engine is released. As far as technology it is slightly infront of other 3D engine solutions. It does not offer anything we have not heard about the last couple of year. But it is the first complete solution that incorporates all the nice visual fluff we are going to be expecting to see in games a couple of years from now.

Despite the great artwork the engine is pretty sweet already. The shadowing alone would be a nice thing for companies to have, instead of like Ion Storm, modifying the Unreal 2 engine to make theirs. The Unreal engine is still at the top in my book.

#9

Agreed… it’s nice, but I think a lot of people are getting good artwork and basic pixel shader technologies confused with a breakthrough engine. It does demonstrate the future of gaming quite well, however :slight_smile: