Why Tribes 3 is using the Unreal engine
by Chris "Had Chris First" · in General Discussion · 05/06/2003 (6:00 pm) · 12 replies
Quote from Chris Mahnken - Irrational Games
"The team at Irrational reviewed every major engine on the market (as well as some that haven't been released) and selected the one that gave us the most flexibility and power. The fact that the gaming community already has a lot of experience with the Unreal engine was another plus.
As far as modifications to the engine go, we are adding normal mapping and volumetric shadows, we've rebuilt the physics system from the ground up, and we're making some major improvements to the outdoor rendering code. We're also doing a ton of little optimizations and refinements to speed things up as well as help our designers be more efficient. "
"The team at Irrational reviewed every major engine on the market (as well as some that haven't been released) and selected the one that gave us the most flexibility and power. The fact that the gaming community already has a lot of experience with the Unreal engine was another plus.
As far as modifications to the engine go, we are adding normal mapping and volumetric shadows, we've rebuilt the physics system from the ground up, and we're making some major improvements to the outdoor rendering code. We're also doing a ton of little optimizations and refinements to speed things up as well as help our designers be more efficient. "
About the author
#2
Also I saw in the Tribes 3 FAQ that one of the reasons for going with Unreal engine is to... what! Prevent cheating? Did I read this correctly? Pfft! Games based off Unreal engine are so easily cheated by players and I've yet to see anyone actually cheat in a Tribes 1 or Tribes 2 game that wasn't a server administrator. ;)
05/06/2003 (8:08 pm)
I personally think Tribes 3 is going to blow. Why, because seening all other games developed using Unreal Engine(Elite Force, Elite Force2, etc..) just sucked so badly and Unreal engine cannot come close to what Torque can do in terms of networking, scripting, mission editor, and others I haven't said. All Unreal engine is in my opinion a graphics engine and nothing more.Also I saw in the Tribes 3 FAQ that one of the reasons for going with Unreal engine is to... what! Prevent cheating? Did I read this correctly? Pfft! Games based off Unreal engine are so easily cheated by players and I've yet to see anyone actually cheat in a Tribes 1 or Tribes 2 game that wasn't a server administrator. ;)
#3
Elite Force 2 uses Quake 3 engine.
Also, it doesn't suck.
05/06/2003 (9:41 pm)
Just correcting a couple of facts above.Elite Force 2 uses Quake 3 engine.
Also, it doesn't suck.
#4
Logan
05/06/2003 (9:43 pm)
The engine is simply a tool for which the developer can hopefully create a stellar product with, whether or not the engine is the right choice is irrelivent to us because we have no say in the matter. As gamers we have to hope that the developers have made the right choice out of so many variables that they have been thrown. This fact is no different than us choosing to use TGE for our independant development.Logan
#5
Sure some games do indeed suck but some are excellent games. Unreal 2 is the perfect example of developers being lazy. Its almost like they did a mod of the unreal engine. No enhancements , lazy gameplay e.t.c
On the other side of the coin, splinter cell is another good example of a game that uses the unreal engine and is good. Purely becuase they took the time to make the game right and modified it accordingly.
Whether or not torque is better then unreal depends on heaps of factors. Would you rather spend time adding all the graphical effects needed to get torque uptodate or would you rather do minor changes to an already nice looking engine.
Netcode and possibly scripting are the 2 errors where torque beats unreal. But even then unreal netcode is solid enough so no reason to try and top other engine netcode when the one you have does a solid enough job.
Marketing is another BIG reason to go unreal. Just the statement of "Using the unreal engine" means instant recognition from anyone in the area. Alot have probably never heard of torque but as soon as the unreal engine appears they know other games that relate to it.
Whilst i dont put 100 percent faith into tribes 3 being good. If its not it will have nothing to do with the engine and everything to do with lazy developers.
Having said that system shock 2 is still my favourite game of all time. I know they can do the necessary changes to the engine (System shock looks and plays nothing like thief 2 which is the same engine). So i think they can defintely pull of a great single player game.
Of course multiplayer is where this game will be judged so that will be the only area where i have my doubts.
05/06/2003 (9:54 pm)
Unreal engine games suck because the developers were lazy. Its like saying that because i hate quake 3 , any game using the quake 3 engine will suck.Sure some games do indeed suck but some are excellent games. Unreal 2 is the perfect example of developers being lazy. Its almost like they did a mod of the unreal engine. No enhancements , lazy gameplay e.t.c
On the other side of the coin, splinter cell is another good example of a game that uses the unreal engine and is good. Purely becuase they took the time to make the game right and modified it accordingly.
Whether or not torque is better then unreal depends on heaps of factors. Would you rather spend time adding all the graphical effects needed to get torque uptodate or would you rather do minor changes to an already nice looking engine.
Netcode and possibly scripting are the 2 errors where torque beats unreal. But even then unreal netcode is solid enough so no reason to try and top other engine netcode when the one you have does a solid enough job.
Marketing is another BIG reason to go unreal. Just the statement of "Using the unreal engine" means instant recognition from anyone in the area. Alot have probably never heard of torque but as soon as the unreal engine appears they know other games that relate to it.
Whilst i dont put 100 percent faith into tribes 3 being good. If its not it will have nothing to do with the engine and everything to do with lazy developers.
Having said that system shock 2 is still my favourite game of all time. I know they can do the necessary changes to the engine (System shock looks and plays nothing like thief 2 which is the same engine). So i think they can defintely pull of a great single player game.
Of course multiplayer is where this game will be judged so that will be the only area where i have my doubts.
#6
I think Tribes 3 could very well end up being much better than Tribes 2. As long as the developers are competant.
05/06/2003 (10:43 pm)
Deus Ex was an awesome game made witn Unreal tech.I think Tribes 3 could very well end up being much better than Tribes 2. As long as the developers are competant.
#7
I think they're competant, I just hope everything goes properly! :)
05/06/2003 (11:44 pm)
Also, irrational games was responsible for System Shock 2 and Freedom Force.I think they're competant, I just hope everything goes properly! :)
#8
Personally I can't see this as being "Tribes 3" as it is not a direct continuation of the series as it was. This is a new game based in the Earthsiege, Starsiege, Tribes timeline / universe.
As for my personal opinion on how I feel the game will do... I don't care. Sierra / Vivendi no longer have my respect and would have to release an extraordinary game for me to consider purchaseing from them again in the future.
05/07/2003 (9:50 am)
It doesn't always matter how competent the development team is. If the publisher pushes on the release the game will suffer.Personally I can't see this as being "Tribes 3" as it is not a direct continuation of the series as it was. This is a new game based in the Earthsiege, Starsiege, Tribes timeline / universe.
As for my personal opinion on how I feel the game will do... I don't care. Sierra / Vivendi no longer have my respect and would have to release an extraordinary game for me to consider purchaseing from them again in the future.
#10
dont any of you guys play AA? (Americas Army)
man my Favourite game atm ...
using the ol' unreal crapolla.
www.americasarmy.com
but the tribes 3 wont be no good cause ..
I can feel it.
05/07/2003 (10:46 am)
umm ..dont any of you guys play AA? (Americas Army)
man my Favourite game atm ...
using the ol' unreal crapolla.
www.americasarmy.com
but the tribes 3 wont be no good cause ..
I can feel it.
#11
05/07/2003 (2:57 pm)
Tribes 3 will rock, I have faith.
#12
Torque, while nice for certain aspects, is a mess in terms of documentation and in organization. Unreal has a very linear system that allows a developer to know exactly where something is and how to affect it. Torque, to me, doesn't do that.
05/13/2003 (10:21 am)
Actually, from a development standpoint, I like using Unreal's scripting more than I like using Torque. The robust capabilities of the Unreal C++ (whatever you want to call it) outshine Torque not only in the hierarchical class system, but for its organization.Torque, while nice for certain aspects, is a mess in terms of documentation and in organization. Unreal has a very linear system that allows a developer to know exactly where something is and how to affect it. Torque, to me, doesn't do that.
Torque 3D Owner Pat Wilson