Unreal Tournament 3

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article or section contains information about an unreleased video game.
It is likely to contain information of a speculative nature, and the content may change dramatically as more information becomes available.

Unreal Tournament III

Developer(s)	Epic Games
Publisher(s)	Midway Games
Designer(s)	Steve Polge
Engine	Unreal Engine 3
Release date(s)	When it's done
Genre(s)	First-person shooter
Mode(s)	Single player, Multiplayer
Rating(s)	ESRB: RP
Platform(s)	Windows / Linux), PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Media	DVD (Windows, Xbox 360) Blu-ray Disc (PS3)
Input	Keyboard, Mouse, Joystick, Controller, Sixaxis

Unreal Tournament 3, codenamed Envy and formerly known as Unreal Tournament 2007, is part of the Unreal series of games and is the sequel to 2004's Unreal Tournament 2004. Using Unreal Engine 3, it is a first-person shooter video game designed mainly for multiplayer gaming. However, in a recent interview, the staff at Game Informer discovered that UT3 will not have the usual UT single-player experience. Instead, there will actually be a story-line and the players "people" will have their own personalities. This is a change from the normal UT single-player campaign, which simply mimics the multiplayer mode and has ladders. The game is developed by Epic Games and will be published by Midway Games.

In 2005, Unreal Tournament 3, then known as Unreal Tournament 2007, was announced for PC and PlayStation 3. On January 25, 2007, Midway made an official announcement that the newly renamed game, Unreal Tournament 3, would be released for PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360.^[1] Each version of the game is targeting a release date in the second half of 2007. Additionally, a demo will be released for Windows before the full game's release.^[2]^[3]^[4]

Unreal Tournament 3 is also abbreviated as UT3 or UT2007, from its former title.

1 Release date
2 Engine and gameplay
3 Development
- 3.1 Content creation
4 Gameplay
5 Weapons
6 Vehicles
- 6.1 Axon vehicles
- 6.2 Necris vehicles
7 Teams
8 Gallery
9 References
10 External links

[edit] Release date

There is no officially announced release date for UT3. Epic has stated the game will be done when it is done, ^[5] only hinting that the game may be released in the second-half of 2007. Any other date is merely speculation. Epic has also mentioned that a beta or demo for the Windows version will be released before the console versions.

[edit] Engine and gameplay

UT3 will use the Unreal Engine 3. The engine can take advantage of third party technologies such as PhysX physics cards to provide an advanced game experience.^[6]^[7] The engine will require DX9 graphics cards. The game will feature many of the modes from the previous games in the series. Not returning, however, will be the "Bombing Run", "Double Domination", and "Assault" game types. The previously known Assault and Onslaught modes will be replaced by a new gametype called "Unreal Warfare", which will feature vehicles and accommodate a large number of players. According to sources within Epic, Unreal Warfare will feature a style of gameplay similar to UT2004's Onslaught, while also having objective-based side missions (like Assault), where the outcomes of those side missions could sway match progress to a specific side with the addition of new weapons, vehicles and more.^[8] The AI bots will now respond to voice command as opposed to the past where the player must give commands through a command menu.^[9]

[edit] Development

Like in Half-Life 2, the levels of UT3 are being developed with simple building blocks, with artwork to be added afterwards, so as to focus on improving gameplay. Lead designer Steve Polge claims, "We're not trying to make a prettier UT2K4. We're really trying to make a very new game." A larger emphasis is also being placed on AI. The bots in UT3 will be able to understand simple voice commands; while they will not understand speech as well as a human, Polge states the player will be able to "have some sort of conversational vibe with it".

[edit] Content creation

Unreal Engine 3 allows for advanced lighting and real-time self shadowing on complex, intricate models.

The Unreal Editor (also known as UnrealEd and UEd) is included with all UT games, and allows the user to edit and create custom content for the game. The editor for UT3 will be a little different from the editor for UT2004, as the older editor was for Unreal Engine 2.5 while UT3 uses Unreal Engine 3. One notable addition will be a "play" button allowing mappers to test their content from within the editor itself. There will also be a visual scripting interface, known as Kismet, allowing those with little or no programming knowledge to create their own mods easily.

In an interview with Gamasutra, Tim Sweeney revealed that the Playstation 3 version of UT3 will support user mods, created on PCs and downloadable to the console.^[10]

Mouse and keyboard controls will be available in the PS3 version through the USB ports on the front of the console. In addition, the Sixaxis controller will allow the player to control aiming.

[edit] Gameplay

The following game modes have been confirmed:^[8]

Deathmatch
Team Deathmatch
Capture the flag
Unreal Warfare (formerly known as Conquest) - New to the UT series, maps will be potentially as large as three Onslaught maps, and will have objectives similar to Assault maps. A limited form of resource management will exist in the form of tarydium mines or fields that must be captured; the more a team captures, the faster it can build vehicles and turrets, and the more bunkers it has the more tarydium it will need. Bunkers will possibly serve a similar purpose to power nodes in Onslaught. This type of game play mode was also in the game Command & Conquer: Renegade. A significant amount of details regarding Unreal Warfare has changed since "Conquest" was first announced, so it is possible that this form of resource management no longer exists.
Vehicle Capture the Flag - Originally it was stated that there would be a separate game type for Capture the Flag with vehicles, but it now appears as if that idea has been scrapped and vehicles will be included in Capture the Flag by default.^[8]

There are rumors of some new game types that may be added, including a possible instagib mode.

Onslaught will still be available. As for Assault,it has been taken out.[1]

[edit] Weapons

The following weapons have been confirmed:^[8]

Impact Hammer - returning from UT, replacing the Shield Gun.
Dual Enforcers - returning from UT, replacing the Assault Rifles. Primary fire is a basic automatic shot; secondary fire is a three round burst.
Canister Gun - has two firing modes: Grenade Launcher and Mine Layer. Different types of ammunition will be needed for each firing mode. This weapon effectively combines two different UT2004 guns into a single, multi-purpose device. This weapon is unconfirmed and it is rumored that the grenade launcher and spider layer will be separate weapons. With the revelation that the Bio Rifle was once again its own weapon, this weapon is presumed to have been dropped.

The Bio Rifle

Bio Rifle - similar to its previous UT games counterparts. A 25 January 2007 trailer and screenshot indicate this will be a separate weapon, as opposed to a mode for the Canister Gun, as previously mentioned by Epic.
Shock Rifle - Playtests confirmed that this weapon is now more similar to the UT version; the rate of fire is slower than the UT2004 version, and the cores are smaller and faster.
Link Gun - features a primary fire mode much like the Pulse Gun from UT, comprised mainly of repeated bolts of green energy. The Link Gun is much more similar to the UT version than UT2004's Link Gun, having a much faster primary rate of fire (media showing the Link Gun confirmed this). The secondary fire mode fires a beam that, when linked to other team mates wielding the Link Gun, enhances its power. Additionally, the Link Gun can be used to repair vehicles and charge/heal power nodes in Unreal Warfare.
Tarydium Stinger - previously seen in Unreal and Unreal Championship 2: The Liandri Conflict, replaces the Minigun. The secondary fire mode has the ability to nail an opponent to a wall.
Flak Cannon - much like its previous forms, sprays shards of hot metal when using the primary fire mode and, when using the secondary fire mode, launches an explosive flak shell into the air. Primary fire remains the same, but the arc of flak shells is shorter than it was in UT2004.
Rocket Launcher - primary fire will function similarly to the UT2004 Rocket Launcher with the ability to fire up to three rockets. It will also have an alternate function to fire up to three grenades as well, as seen in Unreal and UT's "8-Ball" launcher, and dropped in UT2003/UT2004.^[11]. The rocket launcher main fire retains its features from past games, being able to fire in either spread or tight spiral patterns. Rockets fire slower than the UT2004 version, but deal more damage. It also has an improved homing feature.
AVRiL - Anti-Vehicle Rocket Launcher (the "i" being for pronunciation purposes) is a weapon whose main use is against vehicles. Primary fire shoots a slow but powerful anti-vehicle missiles; holding the crosshairs on a vehicular target causes the missiles to accelerate and home in on the target. Secondary fire zooms and locks on. AVRiL rockets can be shot down. It is ineffective against infantry.
Sniper Rifle - much like its predecessors, the Sniper Rifle fires when primary fire is pressed, and zooms in or out when secondary fire is pressed.
Translocator - a personal teleportation device. Primary fire launches a translocator beacon, while secondary fire teleports to that beacon.
Redeemer - a portable nuclear missile returning from the original UT capable of extreme damage. No information or media has been released about it for this version.
Target Painter - activates a level specific hazard (such as a rock slide).

[edit] Vehicles

The following vehicles have been confirmed:^[12]^[13]^[14]

Hoverboard (Personal transportation)

All players have a skateboard-like hoverboard when playing gametypes featuring vehicles, intended to provide a fast way to get around the larger maps of UT3. While on the hoverboard, players may attach themselves to a vehicle in order to be "towed" quickly. Players are unable to use their weapons, and are extremely vulnerable to attacks; the hoverboard is intended for non-combat use only. Players are able to perform tricks while on the hoverboard which are purely cosmetic and has no effect on gameplay, although one could use a trick to avoid gunfire or another attack.

[edit] Axon vehicles

The vehicles in Unreal Tournament 2004, including those in the Editor's Choice Edition, will return in UT3, referred to as "Axon Vehicles" as they are manufactured by the Axon Corporation. These are the more traditional of the two sets.

Manta (Quick Strike Ground-Skimmer)

The Manta is an extremely fast and agile hovercraft, using a pair of fan rotors on either side to hover. Its primary weapon is a pair of plasma cannons, and the secondary is a downward thrust that brings the vehicle low enough to the ground to clip heads off with its rotor blades.

The Raptor

Raptor (Air Superiority - dogfighter)

The Raptor is a fast fighter equipped with plasma cannons and air-to-air homing missiles.

Scorpion (Light Assault Buggy)

The Scorpion buggy now has an enclosed cockpit as opposed to UT2004's unshielded cabin and fires Grenades instead of bolas (plasma ribbons). It has a speed-boost function (similar to Unreal 2 XMP buggies) that allows long jumps off ramps and also works as a kamikaze self-destruct if the player ejects from the cockpit. Its secondary weapon is a pair of blades that extend to either side for cutting down enemies. The blades now extend from under the nose of the vehicle, rather than the sides as in the UT2004 version.

The HellBender

Hellbender (Armored Jeep)

The Hellbender is a two-man armored jeep with shock weaponry and a heavy build. The driver is able to use the skymine turret eliminating the need for an extra gunner manning the turret, as was the case with UT2004. The vehicle's rear mounted beams have done away with the charge and release style attack; they now feature a much faster rate of fire similar to the Shock Rifle.

The Cicada

Cicada (Airborne Support)

The Cicada is a heavy, yet maneuverable two-seater flying gunship with an arsenal of powerful missiles. It also is equipped with a targeting mechanism allowing the pilot to target areas and release swarms of missiles. Unlike UT2004's Cicada, UT3's version will have its missiles home in on specific land units when they are targeted. The second seat controls a twin barrel turret on the belly.

SPMA (Remote Bombardment Cannon)

The SPMA (or SPAM as many like to call it), is a long-range and mobile artillery unit that shoots powerful shells. The SPMA in UT3 has a half-track chassis (unlike the 6-wheel UT2004 version), and will allow players to more carefully calculate the trajectory and range of the shot - making the weapon more accurate to use. Whether or not the vehicle will have a skymine turret like the Hellbender (as it did in UT2004) is still unknown, but the vehicle does have a 2nd small turret on the front roof.

Paladin (Prototype Defensive Tank)

The Paladin is a prototype one-manned tank that moves (slowly) on 8 wheels rather than the traditional tank treads. It is equipped with a powerful plasma shot and a shield that protects it and nearby players from a particular direction. It also features a powerful shockwave explosion that surrounds the tank, activated by firing the main cannon into its own deployed shield.

The Goliath

Goliath (Main Battle Tank)

The new Goliath Mk.2 will feature improved handling and upgraded weaponry and it "should handle more like a tank than a brick". It has been rumored it will also feature destroyable treads. Playtests revealed that the main cannon fire was relatively the same; but the vehicle now featured a wide range "infantry killer" shell as its secondary fire(this is presumed to have replaced the secondary zoom function of the previous title). The secondary minigun turret has also been upgraded for much better accuracy and firepower.

The Leviathan

Leviathan (Mobile Weapons Platform)

The Leviathan is a powerful five-man vehicle with a main turret controlled by the driver. The driver can deploy a super weapon at the cost of immobilizing the vehicle. There are also four secondary turrets controlled by other players. The secondary turrets feature shields similar to those on the Skaarj mothership's turrets in UT2004. Each turret has a different type of weapon.

[edit] Necris vehicles

The Necris, an alien species in the Unreal universe, will have a rival set of vehicles. There will be 9 new Necris vehicles with very different styling and unusual behaviors. Although they will not parallel Axon's vehicles, they are intended to make a good balance against them.

The following vehicles have been confirmed:^[15]

The Viper

Viper (Quick Strike Ground-Skimmer)

Designed to be highly maneuverable. It will feature a kamikaze function which will allow the pilot to bail out and turn it into a sort of flaming projectile that will inflict much more damage than the turret weapon it has.

Nemesis (Mobile Energy Turret)

Will have snake-like treads which adapt to the ground below it as it moves. Its main gun is very similar to mounted energy turrets. This vehicle has a zoom function. This vehicle looks strikingly similar to the Scion Titan battle tank from Battlezone II

The Dark Walker

Darkwalker (Main Battle Tank)

The main weapon will be a powerful twin laser beam which can fire in short bursts; secondary fire produces a tremendous "scream", which knocks opponents off their feet, making them easier targets. It will also have the ability to bend down or pop up in order to surprise the enemy, and as a walker will be capable of negotiating terrain too steep or uneven for a wheeled/tracked vehicle. Judging by screenshots, the Darkwalkers somewhat resemble the "Striders" in Half-Life 2, and more strongly resemble the tripods from H.G. Wells's The War of the Worlds. The second seat of the darkwalker is a powerful turret that projects plasma in a beam capable of instantly vaporising an unarmored target.

Fury (Air Superiority - dogfighter)

A Necris aircraft that uses tentacles for a jellyfish-like method of propulsion through the air. Has the ability to boost and barrel roll to escape enemy fire.^[16]

Nightshade

A Necris vehicle with stealth abilities.

[edit] Teams

Necris

White-skinned, gothic-looking aliens with advanced technology. They also appeared in UT, and in UT2004 with the UT2004 Mega Pack. In Unreal Championship 2, they are described as humans resurrected via the "Necris Process" They are the antagonists of UT3.

Nakhti

Egyptians, who have been living on another planet and have advanced technology.

Juggernauts

Humans, who have been gene-boosted, giving them added qualities such as increased strength and aggressiveness. They mostly consist of disgruntled prisoners and criminals.

The Corrupt

A team of cybernetic robots with very advanced programming. Their leader is the champion during the first UT, Xan Kriegor. The robots, often upgraded, have been created and are financed by the Liandri Corporation itself.

Iron Guard

A group of hardened mercenaries, led by Brock and his girlfriend Lauren (who will stay a part of this team).

Krall

A veteran clan of reptilian alien warriors, slaves to the Skaarj during the time period of Unreal. In UT3, they serve as soldiers for the Necris army. There was much initial confusion when media of the Krall was first released; many players thought they were in fact Skaarj, because they believed they resembled Skaarj more than Krall. It was later confirmed by Epic that the aliens are Krall.