epic-games-china posts

Normally we at Big Download don't do screenshot-only news items. But we just had to make an exception for the latest batch of visuals for Bulletstorm. The reason? You are looking at it. The upcoming People Can Fly-Epic Games first person shooter collaboration is going for the "big is better" philosophy for game monsters.

We have no idea what that creature is but it looks mad. It also doesn't look like its going to be a pushover to take down either. The thing is, if People Can Fly and Epic are showing us this huge monster now, what are they keeping behind their backs for us to discover when the game is released in February? We have no idea but we can't wait to find out.

While Game Informer got the exclusive first look at the upcoming first person shooter Bulletstorm a few weeks ago, today publisher Electronic Arts released the first official screenshots from the game. Most of the shots are copied from the Game Informer cover article but at least it's nice to get some high-res views of all the blood and shooting along with examples of how the skill shots features are represented.

As previously reported, this sci-fi themed game comes from co-developers People Can Fly (who made the original Painkiller game) and Epic Games. Hopefully we will get some hands-on time at E3 in June. Bulletstorm is currently due for released in the first quarter of 2011.

It looks like most of the gaming press will have to wait until E3 to check out the recently announced first person shooter Bulletstorm. The game from developers People Can Fly and Epic Games was set to be shown to the press next week by publisher Electronic Arts.

However, it's looking like that pesky Eyjafjallajokull Iceland volcano is serving to keep Bulletstorm from the assembled press, at least for now. Fidgit reports that the People Can Fly development team, based in Poland, is grounded (hehe, pun fully intended) until all that volcanic ash makes it safe (or at least safer) to travel across the ocean.

It looks like we won't have to wait for a late night talk show to give us the reveal on Bulletstorm. The game's title was revealed a while back via a trademark filing from its developer People Can Fly and now Game Informer has announced that Bulletstorm will be the cover story of their May 2010 dated issue which should appear on newsstands later this month.

This will be the first full game from People Can Fly since their 2004 released first person shooter Painkiller (other developers handled the other games in the series). So far all Game Informer is saying about the game is that Bulletstorm's "players will take on hideous mutants in a flurry of lead, all the while racking up combos that encourage variety over headshot after headshot." Sounds pretty aweome. Collaborating with Epic Games, Bulletstorm is scheduled for release in the first quarter of 2011.

Epic Games' reach is extending even further if a report from Famitsu.com is to be believed. The game developer and creator of the Unreal Engine plans to open up an office in Japan. The goal is to increase and strength Unreal Engine 3 support in that country for game developers. Some Japanese-based studios have used Unreal Engine 3 in the past.

The report says the formal announcement of Epic Games Japan will be made on April 15 with Epic's co-founder Tim Sweeney personally attending the event.. Epic's main headquarters continues to be in North Carolina and they own two game development studios, People Can Fly and Chair Entertainment. They also own Epic Games Korea and own a part of Epic Games China.

So what is Epic Games up to lately? We could get an inkling very soon. The developer of the Unreal game franchise and makers of the Unreal Engine sent over word that they will be showing off new Unreal Engine 3 features at their booth during the Game Developers Conference next week.

Epic plans to show off a new outdoor foliage demo during their GDC event that will put the spotlight on their new engine features. That includes a new procedural tool that will allow for easier development of city-based game. The demo will also be shown via stereoscopic 3D and will also feature a live presentation of the upcoming Unreal Engine 3-based MMO All Points Bulletin (APB). In addition Epic's sister company Epic Games China will also show off their MMO-themed Atlas technology at GDC. Don't look for an announcement concerning Unreal Engine 4, though. As we reported recently, the next big version of the engine is still a long ways from being revealed. However its possible we could get some hints about their upcoming game projects.

Epic Games continues to expand its business to other parts of the world and this week at the Tokyo Game Show it was revealed that the developer will open up a new office in Japan. Our sister site Joystiq reports that the office will be based in Tokyo and will mainly be used to provide Unreal Engine customer support to Japanese-based development studios. However, Epic's president Mike Capps added that the office could expand to develop actual games.

This is just the latest in Epic's expansion plans. Besides their North Carolina home base they own two development studios in the West; Chair Entertainment in Utah and People Can Fly in Poland. They also operate Epic Games Korea for engine support and they are also involved (although more indirectly) in Epic Games China.

Epic Games continues to expand its offices with today's announcement of Epic Games Korea. The new office in Seoul, South Korea will be devoted to helping game developers in that area of the world with Unreal Engine licening and support. There's no iindication that the new studio will be active in its own game development.

In addition to its main hub in North Carolina, Epic Games owns two development studios, the Utah-based Chair Entertainment and the Poland based People Can Fly. It's also involved in Epic Games China, which licenses the Unreal Engine in that territory and who also creates their own games.

[Via email press release]

By John Gaudiosi

With a large number of massively multiplayer online (MMO) games in development using Epic Games' Unreal Engine 3 technology, Epic Games China has created the first development suite of tools catering to this growing sector of games. Atlas Technology consists of persistent world server technology and MMO games content creation and management tools that work directly with UE3. This new technology will provide developers with a solid foundation on which to build MMO games, casual and session based games, and community and e-commerce applications.

Epic Games intends to demo a number of new Unreal Engine 3 features at GDC next week and one of them gets some attention on its own. Epic Games China has announced Atlas Technology, a new suite of MMO features that's designed to enhance the Unreal Engine 3.

While the engine has been used for MMO games in the past it always had to be adapted for those kinds of games via third party technology or extensive changes made at each MMO developer. According to the press release, "Atlas Technology saves developers time and money by providing a purpose built, pre-integrated solution to use as a starting point." Epic Games China is already using it for its know unannounced game projects.