unreal-development-kit posts

It's been just over a week since Epic unveiled the free-to-use Unreal Development Kit (UDK) for aspiring game designers to use for learning to put together top quality games. The UDK has got an update, bringing it to Beta 2, which offers a number of repairs and improvements. Visit the official UDK website for more information and documentation. Continue reading after the jump for the list of changes.

Download Unreal Development Kit (Beta 2) (562 MB)
Check out all Unreal Development Kit related Downloads

One of the more interesting mixes of first person shooter and real time strategy was Command and Conquer: Renegade. The title, made by Electronic Arts' now defunct Westwood Studios and released in 2002, was highly anticipated but while it got good reviews for the most part it was not a huge sales success (in fact a planned sequel was canceled due to the low sales of the original).

For some time a Unreal Tournament 3 mod team has been working on Renegade X, which brings the multiplayer design of C&C: Renegade to Epic Games' shooter. But the recent release by Epic of the Unreal Development Kit has caused many mods to be re-released as stand alone games. Now it looks like Renegade X could be moving in that direction. In a message board post announcing the release of the latest UT3 mod version the development team announced that thanks to the UDK release, " . . . there is a great chance Renegade X will become a standalone game in the future." The announcement emphasizes the fact that this stand alone game will still be free to download and play due to EA's holding of the C&C game rights. Still fans of the original could be looking at a Unreal Engine 3-based version in the months to come. You can check out a gameplay trailer from the latest UT3 mod release after the jump:

[Via Blue's News]

A week ago today, Big Download was one of the first web sites to launch the Unreal Development Kit. The stand alone free game development tool that lets anyone make their own Unreal Engine 3-based game has turned out to be very popular indeed with its creator Epic Games now saying the tool has experienced over 50,000 downloads since its launch. Three stand alone free UDK game demos (The Ball, Whizzle and Prometheus) have already been released.

That;s a pretty impressive figure for a piece of software that is designed to make a game rather that an actual playable title. If you still feel intimidated about using such such software, don't fret. The web site 3DBuzz.com plans to release a number of free video tutorials that will specifically show how to use the UDK. The site previously has done the same for the standard version of Unreal Engine 3.

[Via email press release]Download Unreal Development Kit (562 MB)
Download HD Unreal Development Kit Launch Trailer (80 MB)
Download HD UDK Psyonix Developer Diary (344 MB)

Last week's release by Epic Games of the Unreal Developer Kit opened up the power of their Unreal Engine 3 game development tools to, well, anyone who wanted to use it. The release of the UDK was especially welcomed by mod teams who have previously created mods for Unreal Tournament 3 who now can convert them into stand alone game titles to release for free or as a commercial game title.

One of those UT3 mod projects that was turned into a free stand alone game was Prometheus, an unusual first person game that gives the player a chance to solve puzzles via the game's version of time travel and quantum physics. Big Download got a chance to ask some questions to the designer of the mod Rachel Cordone (with some assistance from their PR head Mark Chandler) to find out more about Prometheus and their future plans for the now stand alone game.

Originally designed as a Unreal Tournament 3 mod, Prometheus is now available as a stand-alone and free to play game made using the Unreal Development Kit (UDK).

Also known as Prometheus version 4.0, the demo includes:

• A full circle storyline with three new levels
• New awards for tracking progress
• Additional custom textures, meshes and animations
• Bonus original weapon
• New custom layering music system and new voiceovers
• Seamless cutscenes
• New Epimetheus menu with active previews of individual quantum state histories
• Dramatic improvements to the quantum state character movement and firing accuracy

"You're never alone when you have a clone. With the Prometheus Device, you control Einsteinian Physics laws of time and space. Create distinct past, present, and future Quantum States of yourself to solve puzzles and accomplish mission goals in this single player co-op game. You'll need to keep your wits and memory sharp using an original game play mechanic presented in multi-dimensional format inspired by Portal and Mirror's Edge."

Download the Prometheus UDK Demo (321 MB)
Download HD Prometheus Gameplay Trailer (142 MB)
Download the Unreal Development Kit (562 MB)
Check out all Unreal Development Kit downloads

Epic Games has supported mod makers by releasing tools for their PC games ever since the release of the original Unreal game. Tons of new levels, weapons and total conversions have started out as mods based on Epic's games like Unreal Tournament, UT 2004 and UT 3. A few have even made the jump to becoming full stand alone commercial games like Tactical Ops, Red Orchestra and most recently Killing Floor. All of those games required the developer to buy a full Unreal Engine license from Epic.

With today's release of the Unreal Development Kit by Epic, mod makers who previously needed to have one of Epic's commercial games installed no longer have that limitation and can now make stand alone games that they can release for free or as a commercial game. Toltec Studios, the UT 3 mod team behind the unusual first person action-puzzle total conversion The Ball, have already released a stand alone free demo version of the game using UDK. You can download the demo right now at Big Download.

Big Download got to ask some questions to the mod team's leader Sjoerd "Hourences" De Jong to find out more about their UDK version of The Ball, whether mod makers will gravitate to Epic's new free release and their plans for a commercial version of The Ball.

San Diego-based Psyonix is a full fledged professional game developer with lots of experience in using Epic Games' Unreal Engine 3 technology. Indeed the developer has collaborated directly with Epic on several of their games. However, the team also likes to experiment with new game prototypes and one of those efforts, the casual underwater-themed platformer Whizzle, has been turned into a full (and free) stand along game using Epic's now officially released Unreal Development Kit.

Big Download got a chance to ask some questions to the Psyonix team and its founder Dave.Hagewood to find out more about how Whizzle was made, what they think the release of UDK will mean for game development and more.

Epic has released the Unreal Development Kit (UDK), a free version of Unreal Engine 3 for aspiring game developers. It's absolutely free for noncommercial and educational purposes. Those that wish to use Unreal Engine 3 for commercial use will need should refer to licensing terms at www.udk.com/licensing. The press announcement, demonstration video and features list can be seen after the jump. For more information, users can visit the official forums or the UDK documentation page.

To demonstrate the power and versatility of the development tool, there are two free games available, made using the UDK. They are:

Whizzle: A vertical scrolling puzzle game in which players swim through levels as Whizzle, an adorable sea creature that collects items and frees tiny comrades from captivity. Avoid the electrifying stingers of the jellyfish! More information about Whizzle, including a developer diary video, can be seen after the jump.

The Ball: An episodic, puzzle-based action game. Known as one of the most award-winning Unreal Tournament 3 mods in the $1 Million Intel Make Something Unreal Contest, "The Ball" has won honors for Best Use of Physics, Best Game Type and Best FPS Mod. Toltec Studios has ported over its UT3 mod to UDK, and the free, standalone version of The Ball is available for download.

Download Unreal Development Kit (562 MB)
Download HD Unreal Development Kit Launch Trailer (80 MB)
Download HD UDK Psyonix Developer Diary (344 MB)

Download Whizzle (112 MB)
Download The Ball (359 MB)