unreal-engine-3 posts

The Unreal Development Kit (UDK) beta, a free-to-use version of the Unreal Engine 3 development tools, has been updated with the latest updates and improvements. The March 2011 update includes DirectX 11, Nvidia APEX physics support and more. For more information, visit the official website. Continue after the jump to watch a realtime demonstration video showcasing the new features.

Download Unreal Development Kit March 2011 Beta (1.29 GB)
Download the 'Samaritan' Unreal Engine 3 Demonstration Video (220 MB)
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After seeing the screenshots for Epic Games' Unreal Engine 3 tech demo made for GDC 2011, we couldn't wait to see the whole thing. Thankfully we now have the video made from the live tech demo for all to see, showing off how a certain Samaritan helps someone out in a near future version of Washington DC.

Keep in mind that the trailer, which you can check out after the jump, was not a pre-rendered CGI clip made in a server farm but ran in real time on a real PC (although a very powerful one) at Epic Games' booth during GDC 2011. The clip was cool enough that we are hoping that the Samaritan is the basis for an actual game and not just a tech demo.

Looks like someone who wasn't supposed to bring a camera to Epic Games' demo room at GDC 2011 did anyway and films the Unreal Engine 3 tech demo. The result is a blurry ShakyCam video showing off the live tech demo that was shown to the press earlier this week.

Keep in mind that the video was filming a real live in-engine demo and that the visual effects and other improvements needed a powerful PC running three Nvidia graphics cards in SLI in order to have a descent framerate. If you want to see a much more in focus and higher resolution movie you might want to wait until the official Unreal Engne 3 trailer is issued from Epic sometime next week. You can check out the ShakyCam YouTube version right now after the jump:

[Via VG247.com]

Unreal Engine 3 got a new tech demo that was shown at GDC 2011 this week at Epic Games' booth. The level of detail and visual effects in the demo was pretty staggering, according to reports, and a trailer showing off the demo will be released next week.

But most PCs currently wouldn't be able to run the live demo well, according to PC Gamer. The GDC 2011 build was running on a PC with three Nvidia GeForce GTX 580 graphics cards installed. Epic Games' VP Mark Rein stated, "Maybe the next Nvidia graphics card bump means we can use two, we don't need three. And maybe the next bump means we can use just one. And the next bump after that means that we can use the mid-range card."

The point of the GDC 2011 Unreal Engine 3 demo was to show the press and game developers what might be possible for game graphics in the next few years with Rein stating, "This is our proposal for what the next big generational leap of gaming should be." Those features include things like water puddles on the ground that reflect neon signs or highly detailed facial textures for characters or clothing that realistically flaps via hardware physics. Rein stated that this year's demo took 12 people two months to complete, adding that Epic Games puts in "tens of millions of dollars into these R&D experiments."

As we reported earlier this week Unreal Engine 3 and UDK users will soon get an update that adds DirectX 11 graphical features into the latest build.

Earlier this week, Epic Games announced that it would be adding DirectX 11 graphical features in a new update for both its professional Unreal Engine 3 tools and its free UDK tool. This week the company is showing off a new Unreal Engine 3 tech demo to the press and game developers at GDC 2011.

Screenshots from the "Samaritan" demo build shown today to the press definitely show some higher quality details including broken depth of field visuals, higher quality shadows and more. Kotaku reports that a trailer that shows off the new Unreal Engine 3 features will be released to the public sometime next week.

Epic Games' Unreal Engine 3 game development tools are by far the most popular third party software tools used by game developers around the world. Today at GDC 2011, Epic Games announced that an upcoming unreal to Unreal Engine 3 will allow the tools to support DirectX 11 graphics features including tessellation.

The demo is running at Epic's GDC 2011 booth using Nvidia's GeForce GTX 500-based graphics cards. Unreal Engine 3 already supports Nvidia's propiertary gameplay features such as PhysX (for in-game physics) and APEX (for more realistic animations). In addition to Unreal Engine 3 the free UDK software will also get an update that will support DirectX 11 graphics features.

Download Unreal Development Kit February 2011 Beta (1.29 GB)

Fireburst, based on just the title, sounds like a game that's about a volcano. In fact this upcoming downloadable title is a racing game from publisher Zoo Entertainment that's due out this summer for a mere $9.99. Fireburst's title comes from the fact that the vehicles in the game have four "Fireboost" bonuses (Fireball, Firewheels, Firewall and Fireblast).

The game itself will feature a variety of cars, trucks, buggies and offroad 4x4s on both paved and off-road race tracks with settings that include "airfields, docks, oilrigs, sewers, refineries, warehouses and waterfalls." The game, powered by Unreal Engine 3, will also allow for surface customization for the cars with over 250 car skins and 16 characters. Look for both single and multiplayer gameplay modes where races can taunt their fellow drivers.

The Unreal Development Kit has proven to be popular for mod teams and small game development studios as it allows them to access most of Epic Games' Unreal Engine 3 to make free game, game prototypes or even commercial games. However until this week people who wanted to use UDK to make a commercial game release had to start playing a royalty to Epic Games when sales of the game exceeded just $5,000.

Epic VP Mark Rein has now announced that the royalty limit for UDK-based commercial games has been increased to $50,000. As he states on Epic Games' forums, " ... we realize that a lot of you are just started in the business so not having to pay royalties on your first $50,000 should help you get a financial footing toward building a quality game development business.'

[Via VG247.com]

Download Unreal Development Kit February 2011 Beta (1.29 GB)
Check out all Unreal Development Kit related Downloads

Starbreeze Studios, who created its own graphics engines for previous titles like The Darkness and The Chronicles of Riddick game series, is now working with a third party graphics engine for its future projects. The Sweden-based developer announced today a new multi-year deal to use Epic Games' Unreal Engine 3 technology for its future game titles.

So far Starbreeze has yet to reveal what game it is working on next although the developer has been linked via rumor for years as working on a revival of the Syndicate series for publisher Electronic Arts. A previously announced game that would have been an adaptation of the Jason Bourne spy movies and novels was canceled by EA.

The Unreal Development Kit (UDK) beta, a free-to-use version of the Unreal Engine 3 development tools, has been updated with the latest updates and improvements. The February 2011 update includes a number of new enhancements to the Unreal Editor and improved Steam integration. The full announcement and comprehensive release notes can be found after the jump. For more information, visit the official website.

Download Unreal Development Kit February 2011 Beta (1.29 GB)
Check out all Unreal Development Kit related Downloads