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285 Comments
- DFENS, on 06/24/2008, -4/+87The artciel is right - nobody plays. UT2k4 on the PC has more servers, and more people, by a wide margin. Interesting article.
- SethEllis, on 06/24/2008, -2/+74The game simply failed to appeal to it's audience. It's that simple. Plenty of people gave UT3 a chance, but they just weren't impressed.
- chocobomog, on 06/25/2008, -2/+66I played UT and UT2k4 for hundreds of hours. I played UT3 on a computer kiosk at a convention for 20 minutes. That's all it took to realize that nothing changed except for a fresh batch of fancy paint (which was often too distracting and made it hard to tell what was happening on the screen). That alone is not worth buying a new computer and $60 game for the exact same game I played 5 years ago which still plays well and has a great community.
Other successful 2008 sequels to 2003-era games innovated with their gameplay and design. Compare the gameplay/design of MGS4 to MGS2 and 3, Call of Duty 4 to Call of Duty 1 and 2, Mario Galaxy to Mario Sunshine, GTA4 to GTA3, Madden 2008 to Madden 2003... well scratch that last one. Yet both UT3 and Quake 4 feel exactly the same as their predecessors and bring nothing new except better graphics which require expensive hardware (including "wind fans" and "ambient speaker lights"). There is simply no reason to upgrade a computer to play the same (less popular) game.
Alternatively, the PS3 version would have been good but it was overshadowed by CoD4 and the Orange Box, both of which offer more gameplay than just "team deathmatch". - latova, on 06/25/2008, -12/+70Oh please. Stop kicking that "PC gaming is dying" horse.
- Sk8SkaNJ, on 06/24/2008, -1/+55Aside from graphics there was almost no improvement to the series.
- estvir, on 06/25/2008, -5/+43They shouldn't have even bothered with console versions, they should've made the PC version remotely decent.
- truspector, on 06/24/2008, -11/+47You know Epic, had you released this side by side with the PS3 version I may have given it a chance, but to release a port six months later with no mod/keyboard/mouse support and expect me to think a few more maps and a split screen mode will counterbalance it is very naive on your part. On a side note, I still respect you and can't wait for Gears 2, but please, don't insult me with this half ass excuse for a game.
- diggB, on 06/25/2008, -11/+46Epic FAIL!
- reconflux, on 06/25/2008, -6/+41That's because UT2K4 is a better game. I don't know anyone playing UT3... It's a rehash with better graphics, assault mode missing, and very imbalanced. Everyone who plays FPS on PC is playing TF2. I don't see how anyone is going to compete especially with Left 4 Dead coming out soon. Steam FTW.
- Ghoztt, on 06/26/2008, -0/+30Epic messed up. Plain and simple. They made a version of Unreal Tournament that had LESS features than even UT99!! Hey epic, Captain Obvious here, about to give you a big freak'n hint: GAMEPLAY > GRAPHICS.
ALSO: On the Epic UT3 forums, they are deleting threads left and right of anyone complaining or EVEN giving constructive criticism over their latest f*ck up. It's Forum nazi-ism at it's finest.
Well done Epic. I'm not buying your next games. - xino, on 06/25/2008, -2/+26They aren't nieve which is why they tried really hard to bring mod support to the Xbox 360. Microsoft wasn't willing to cooperate so they couldn't do it so I don't blame Epic for not having mod support.
- inactive, on 06/25/2008, -4/+28and this is what console-weenies don't get - there are dedicated PC gamers still playing the classics that have been played online since LONG before consoles grew up to be mini-PC's that connect to the net and such. Their numbers are *astounding,* yet never get included, because console gamers never consider them since they play an older game from an older generation.
- saisumimen, on 06/26/2008, -0/+24"That's because UT2K4 is a better game."
100% correct. I'm sorry to use a cliche, but at its core, UT3 is basically a "noob-ed up" version of 2k4.
This, of course, is a direct result of having it on the PS3, PC and 360 (and trying to have people play a super fast paced FPS with controllers); they should have left Unreal Championship on the consoles and left the wall-jumping, double-strafe-dodging on the PC. - Spinfusor, on 06/26/2008, -0/+23UT3 just wasn't as good as UT2004.
2004 felt polished and well thought-out. UT3 felt like an afterthought. - ADVIZR, on 06/26/2008, -2/+23UT (99) 4EVA
All they'd have to do is repackage UT (original) exactly as is but with updated graphics and new maps, and they'd have an instant winner. The physics/feel, movement, weapons, size, etc. in that game are perfect. - inactive, on 06/25/2008, -7/+28hah! I bought a video card that cost 1/3 what a new XBox costs and run it at higher resolution than 1080p natively on my prexisting computer/monitor. How's that dual analog suckfest working out for you?
L O L - f4nt0m4s, on 06/25/2008, -6/+27I never really grew out of UT. UT2k4 was just a graphical update with a few new gameplay twists, but nothing overly exciting. It probably doesn't help that the FPS market is saturated.
I still play UT and UT2k4 from time to time. I maintain that UT is quite possibly THE most polished multiplayer FPS to ever come out. There are so many gameplay options and fun weapons.
Maybe the problem is that Unreal hit its stride with UT?
Sometimes developers should just stop at their peak and let a series stay where it is at. - kbull, on 06/25/2008, -3/+22I honestly wish I didn't have to say this, because I originally had high expectations for UT3, but...***** THING SUCKS!
- BJLStorm, on 06/26/2008, -2/+21Wait, so, you admit that you prefer to shell out $60 for crappy console fps games when they come out? I prefer the discounted ones on Steam. You know, the ones I buy LEGALLY such as the Orange Box (payed $37 for it) and enjoy thoroughly on 32 player servers. I also can turn up all the settings and run flawlessly.
Yeah, I enjoy Halo, Bioshock, Mass Effect, Gears of War, and Assassin's Creed as well; ON MY PC.
Also, my computer has a 1 TB hard drive. How's the 20GB treating you?
PC is just... better for gaming. Deal with it. - Sirocco, on 06/25/2008, -0/+18Typically retailers use the last two digits of the price to indicate the product's status. .99 indicates a standard product, anything else could indicate a special sale price or clearance. Wal-mart, for example, uses .88 and .82 to indicate clearance.
- Kappa00, on 06/25/2008, -8/+26The maps in Halo 3 suck.
- Doomsan, on 06/26/2008, -0/+18I just bought UT2K4 and no regrets, it's a great multiplayer game.
- battletrax, on 06/26/2008, -2/+17people kick horses? =(
- Shaflugi, on 06/26/2008, -0/+15Huh, that's interesting. Thanks for that tidbit!
- Epyik, on 06/26/2008, -1/+15UT3 really underwhelmed me in almost every area except graphics - which honestly were more of a distraction - which added up to this title being a total disappointment in my eyes. Hell, I couldn't even install the damn thing without uninstalling one of the .NET framework packages for starters. For some reason the dumbed down UI of the game really turned me off almost as much as the fact they dumped some of the really entertaining modes for no other reason than what can be conceived as just being lazy. To be honest it seems their whole attitude was "let the mod community deal with it" in regards to what they should have done in the first place.
But it's nice to see some people actually are interested in the actual game itself instead of ranting incessantly about their cult-like obsession over who can be the biggest console fan boy, bravo. - mustang460, on 06/26/2008, -6/+19tf2 is actually pretty unpopular ;
the vast majority play a form of cs, even cod4 has a ton more players
not to say i dislike the game, i play it more than anything else but the lack of players outside of peak hours is a turn off - Sirocco, on 06/25/2008, -2/+14Worse yet UT3 feels like a step backward from 2004. It also looks like they borrowed Hideo Kojima's "Magical Color Stealing Machine" as well. It's almost like playing the game in black and white with the occasional burst of red when you take damage.
- NecroSexy, on 06/25/2008, -9/+21There are more UT99 players than 2k4 or UT3.
- EatingPie, on 06/25/2008, -8/+20FTA: "Anyone with sense would have bought the PC version (due to the superiority of the mouse and keyboard) and the rest, would have made do with the PS3 version."
The PS3 version does Mouse and Keyboard too. That's how I play, and why I bought it for the PS3. Pretty bad way to start an article speculating why UT failed to generate XBox interest.
-Pie - Daiken, on 06/26/2008, -3/+14Why did UT3 fail?
1. Not much changed from 2004. Prettier graphics, better vehicles, some small improvements here and there.
2. In my opinion the fighting lacked much depth. People are more into slower action games like CS, TF2, CoD4 where you have to use cover, stealth, and teamwork. When I tried UT3, no one worked together, everyone was just running around like crazy and I was getting killed left and right without ever seeing my enemies usually.
3. Too much competition. In the console department, it was eclipsed by games like Halo 3, Call of Duty, Gears of War. On PC it was competing against other FPS games like Team Fortress 2 and Call of Duty 4, both of which are a lot more fun in multiplayer. Then there are plenty of great single person shooters out too.
4. High end system requirements. Graphics are nice, but a large number of people are still sitting there with older systems who can't appreciate the graphics.
5. Laggy online servers.
In my opinion, the game felt shallow and was just a new paint job of 2004. - Nobi-Wan, on 06/25/2008, -1/+12It's just not that fun compared to other, better shooters that have been out there even before this. It's just kinda boring when we've been spoiled by other games that have evolved past 1990's style FPS gaming.
- whyufail, on 06/26/2008, -0/+11Ironically, its the console model that is looking at dieing out or at least slowing significantly due to the upfront costs of designing and taking losses on the hardware. Consoles are only more "affordable" (this is debatable) than PCs because the manufacturers take a massive hit on the price of the units. Microsoft and Sony are just now recouping the losses they ate during the initial blitz of hardware sales now that new system purchases are dieing down. They're not going to want to say "hey, lets eat 5billion on hardware" anytime soon. We won't see anything beyond the 360 and PS3 for quite some time, and if we do it will only be when the technology to make something superior becomes very affordable for them to manufacture.
- diceau, on 06/26/2008, -2/+13TF2 > UT3 for me, much more fun.
- ChileanGoD, on 06/26/2008, -0/+11I have to disagree with you on one point. UT2k3 and UT2k4 wasn't just a graphical update, it introduced all the acrobatics, double dodges, the wall jumps, etc... that gave the game another ofensive dimension. It wasn't about just good aiming anymore, it was about knowing how to ***** move and manouver. You could be empty handed without weapons and if you could play your moves right you can manage to jump and double dodge your way out of the crossfire or away from an oponent. It what makes it unique compared to any other shooter out there. And they took it away :(... bastards.
- xxMarka, on 06/26/2008, -0/+10Where can i find UT3 for "the rock-bottom price of $10"?
- inactive, on 06/26/2008, -1/+11*****, I've been doing it for years!
- ortucis, on 06/26/2008, -1/+11"-Pie"
Eat that ***** pie already. - MutatedNantuko, on 06/26/2008, -1/+11I like how before UT3 was released Tim Sweeney was saying in an PC Gaming World interview about how PC Gaming is dying. I think Epic has become out of touch with the gaming community. Gears of war on PC was a failure, UT3 was a failure, and Unreal 2 was a failure. Epic seems to have run out of steam.
- PricklyPoo, on 06/26/2008, -3/+13Well, I still play ut2004 a lot and I thought I'd comment.
Personally, no matter how many people deny it, UT3 is a rehashed ut2004 for noobs.They took away from ut2004 rather than added to it. They removed the dodge jump, slowed the game down, removed gametypes, changed a lot of the weapons, and made the menus for a console.
I'm not saying everything has to be the same as ut2004, I just think it should have been kept fast paced like ut2004. There really aren't a whole lot of faced paced games on the market besides ut, so when people want to play a fast fps, they play ut. So when you slow the game down and make it too noob friendly none of the original players who had to spend years to get good at the game want to play with noobs who only have to spend a few weeks to get good at a game that takes no skill what so ever.
UT is mean to be a competitive online shooter not a slow noob fest like the typical shooters (cod, tf2) - Kwipper, on 06/26/2008, -0/+9The problem for me was that there wasn't that much of a difference between UT2004 and UT3. See UT2003 brought better graphics and new gameplay modes. UT2004 brought vehicles and even more gameplay modes. UT3 brought...hoverboards?
- Brew, on 06/25/2008, -2/+11UT came at the wrong time and just was not up to the competition. COD4, and Halo 3 were released around the same time and garnered slightly higher review scores. It is still and excellent game but after playing Halo 3, Gears of War, Rainbow Six, and Call of Duty 4 I had my fill of shooting games.
- BlaenkDenum, on 06/26/2008, -0/+9The sad thing is that Epic is delusional about the entire thing, refusing to accept the fact that they messed up, insisting that the product is doing great. I think that the lag consists to much of the reason that the game is doing bad online. I've been to empty servers (Which are the majority of the servers by the way) and even then I lag. Only some populated servers have pings at a bit over 100 meaning your ping is always hovering over it, usually at around 150ish. Sometimes you're lucky to get sub-100 for a while. Lately I must admit the game has been getting fun online, Epic is still lagging behind on their 1.3 update and the only possible reason I can excuse them for that is because they are trying to make it one big clusterfix which solves many of the game's problems. Last time I checked the beta changelog for it though [ http://utforums.epicgames.com/showthread.php?t=613 ... ] they do seem to be working on it. The 92 page long 1.3 wish list thread [ http://utforums.epicgames.com/showthread.php?t=604 ... ] might be helping them after all.
- ut2k4king, on 06/26/2008, -0/+9The PC was, and is, the most diverse platform for gaming. You can have Wii-styled casual games like Peggle, twitchy FPS games like Unreal, and detailed RTS's like Starcraft. The latter two are all but impossible on a console without some kind of mouse/keyboard support. And even if they were technically possible, it would still be favorable on a PC platform because of mod support. Mod support breathes life into old games, it's the reason that a good amount of people still boot up Half-Life 1 for a few gldsrc mods. Crysis was an average shooter that was used to showcase a good graphics engine. Not at all unlike Gears of War, a game lauded for its graphics but aside from that barely innovating on the standard third person "pop and shoot" gameplay.
- mywhitenoise, on 06/25/2008, -1/+9Of course you don't, because you're a dumbass who would rather spend twice the money, for the same product. And I posted the gamestop link, I'm pretty sure they have brick and mortar stores around the US...at least that's what I'm told.
- serpentor, on 06/26/2008, -4/+12Unreal Tournament 2004
1324 servers, 3443 players
Unreal Tournament
1691 servers, 633 players
UT99 has more players?
http://archive.gamespy.com/stats/ - bart666, on 06/25/2008, -1/+9UT2003 may have failed because it was more of the same. 2004 got much better reception due to things like the new onslaught and, maybe, assault modes - but it was still pretty much 2003 aside from these things. UT3 could be seen as pretty much the same market position as 2003 was, as the article suggests, however, there is a lot more choice out there than there was four or five years ago...
- KloroFormd, on 06/26/2008, -1/+9I would have bought this for PC if they would have come through with the Linux port.
But now after playing it on a friend's PS3, I'll pass. - IndigoMoss, on 06/26/2008, -1/+8
Gamespy, like Xfire is not any indication of the amount of people playing the game. - mywhitenoise, on 06/25/2008, -0/+7Isn't it $18 on gamefly.com? That's pretty cheap if you ask me.
http://www.gamefly.com/products/detail.asp?pid=128 ... - Klisk, on 06/26/2008, -1/+8It's not just a better game, but UT3 is a step backwards in features and functionality. Little things -- Like species classes, characters, what have you, made a big different in UT2K4, IMO. I was always a Gen Mokai player. I was known as such. Granted your model doesn't make any REAL difference, but it's a nice touch.
UT3 stripped you down to like.... 4 races? And you could customize them, sure, but overall you were limited to ugly races anyhow. Even the robotic race didn't stick to Unreal fashion.
Otherwise the core gameplay itself was... Meh. Just a polished up tweak, didn't feel as fast or smooth as UT2k4 either, that's for sure. -
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