UT2003 Demo Ready

captainstupid writes "The friendly folks at EPIC have working hard getting a build of the UT2003 demo ready for release. The official word from Mark Rein (VP of Epic games) is that the demo is done and it's being uploaded to the Infrogrames site as we speak. PlanetUnreal has the scoop including snippets from the IRC chat log. The linux demo is on the way as well! Gentlemen! Start your downloads!" With Icewind Dale 2 coming out recently, who has time for a FPS? Update: 09/15 02:00 GMT by T : HyperMagma submitted a link to the Linux version (as found on linuxgames.com) as well -- thanks.

Comments

the linux demo is already out

[tranqlzer]

as is written on linuxgames, mirrors are here:
mirror 1
mirror 2
mirror 3
mirror 4
mirror 5

Mirror list

[prestomation]

Mirror

Mirror2 There's no line for these mirrors, and I was getting over 300 kb/s :)

Re:No Mac version yet

[Billly Gates]

Let me ge this straight. They have a linux version which has %10 of the market share that macosx has, which is only %5 of what Windows is at? That does not make any bussiness sense and it would make more sense to port to Windows and macosx first and linux last if ever.

I hope I do not get flamed for this but I was under the impression that sdl was inferior to both directx and game sprockets api's. I believe apple is trying to port some of apple's audio api's to linux to make a smooth transition.

If I was in charge of development I would apple's api's so I could create a dual macosx and linux release.

Re:No Mac version yet

[EastCoastSurfer]

I don't think the raw market share percentages are what they are looking at when comparing Macs and linux. How many people who own *only* a mac are going to play UT? Macs bill themselves as the computer for people who really want to spend as little time as possible in front of it. Additionally, many of the game servers will run on linux. So even if they didn't release a linux client they still would have definitely released a the server.

I Downloaded it Last Night

[fidget42]

I was glad to see that UT2003 isn't going to require a computer upgrade. All I had to do was downgrade by video settings (1024x768 rather than 1280x1024) and I got really nice frame rates. From the technology demos I have seen, I was afraid that the 'eye candy' would require more CPU and not provide any benefit, but the physics model s nice, and the 'body effects' (i.e., reaction to getting hit or dying) do work well.

The Deathmatch levels are nice, and not very small. There is a smallish Capture the Flag level that works well for getting use to the new weapons. The new map type, Bombing Run, took some getting use to.

Bombing Run is like a reverse Capture the Flag. You have to take a 'ball' and put it into the other team's goal. While you have the 'ball' you can't shoot. It really does require team work!

Re:I Downloaded it Last Night

[Speare]

Apparently, UT2003 (at least the Demo for Linux, but probably for Windows as well) requires an nVidia board to run. A matter of some OpenGL extension which only nVidia offers.

This is really very disappointing. I hope that this changes in time for a final release. The site just recommends an nVidia TNT, and the README has some lip-service weak plans like "exploring options" for other drivers.

I avoid nVidia products on Linux because they lock up their driver core in a proprietary binary. I support ATi products on Linux. While the open source driver development is a little behind the curve, at least it exists. ATi Radeon 7500 works great on my box, and some newer boards are getting support now.

The kernel has a special flag called "taint" for closed-source modules like the nVidia driver. When some crashing bug is discovered, kernel developers are powerless to do much about it. You can't fully audit the use of the kernel's memory when you've got some unknown binary module loaded. When the kernel interfaces change, the people using closed-source modules can't upgrade until the single supplier of those modules finally graces their users with an update to the drivers.

I applaud Epic for working a Linux game in parallel. I now urge Epic to engineer the games for more than one make of video card, even if it means the game can't use some little nonstandard OpenGL extension.

Re:I Downloaded it Last Night

[dinivin]

Apparently, UT2003 (at least the Demo for Linux, but probably for Windows as well) requires an nVidia board to run.

This is not true at all. The XiG accelerated servers now support the S3TC extension under Linux (and offer fully featured demo versions), and all Radeons support S3TC under Windows....

BTW, there is nothing non-standard about the S3TC extension. It's quite well accepted and implemented on nearly every new (ie. within the last year or two) video card on the market. The issue of implementing support for the extension in the DRI drivers is a purely legal one, not technical one.

Dinivin

Re:Not very good yet

[br0ck]

> Aiming sucks
What kind of mouse are you using? I had no problems.

> the AI's are stupid as dirt
Try putting the bot's skill level on godlike. In UT I can hold my own against godlike, but in UT2003 I got my butt kicked. The bots are supposed to 'learn' over time, but that might only be in the full version.

> graphics are wishy washy
They look great to me. Video card?

> demo was rushed out the door way too quickly
It was supposed to be out in may.

> hope the final version is much better
It is. I've *ahem* watched people play the full version v927 with about 40 incredible maps.

Having only one model and a few maps for each game type makes sense for download speeds, but it is going to get boring fast. I hope they don't delay the full version as long as they delayed the demo.

OpenGL

[Trevelyan]

from the Linuxgames article (which is a rather good read) ...According to Daniel, the UT2k3 OpenGL renderer itself was extremely difficult to create, even on Windows. He estimates it was about an order of magnitude harder to write than the one that was made for Unreal Tournament...

This is not good for Linux games support, OpenGL is an old/aging API compared to the dev speed of D3d. OpenGL also seems rather fragmented w/ all these EXT_ and ARB_ bolted on to it, to keep it current.
I worry so, that if OpenGL 2.0 is finaly every released it'll be too late (which maybe way MS are holding things up by side tracking the ARB discussions about its (MS) patents)

My mirror for the files

[supertux]

I've got a 150 megabit (like 10 T1s) connection that isn't doing anything today, so here are the links from my server.

Unreal 2003 Windows demo
Unreal 2003 Linux demo via ftp

SuperTux

I was expecting more

[bogie]

I was eagerly awaiting this, but I'm a bit disappointed. Its just UT with nicer graphics. Really that's all. The games besides the Bomb run one are exactly the same ie Deathmatch and CTF. Even the weapons with the exception of the lightening gun are the same.

I've heard a few people say well what did you expect it is the UT sequel? Well I expected something besides improved graphics. Sorry but this isn't 1999 and with games like RTCW out which require actual teamwork this game just doesn't hold up.

That said if your a die-hard UT fan with new hardware who still plays the old version constantly, you'll probably like it. If you have played any games which require actual teamwork and are tired of straight up twitch deathmatch then this isn't for you.

I know my mini-review may sound a bit harsh, but after all the hype and years since UT came out, I was expecting something original.

IceWind Dale 2?

[SetupWeasel]

With UT 2003 coming out who has time for CmdrTaco's idiotic commentary on what games we should like.

CmdrTaco, I think I loathe you, but I want to know for sure.
So call Windows users stupid, and make another Linux post.
I loathe you.

SW