UNREAL ENGINE

The 'Unreal Engine' is a widely-used game engine developed by Epic Games. First illustrated in the 1998 first-person shooter game ''Unreal'', it has been the basis of many games since, including ''Unreal Tournament'', '', '', ''Red Steel'', ''Gears of War'', ''BioShock'' and so forth. Although primarily developed for first-person shooters, it has been successfully utilized in a variety of genres, including 3rd-person stealth (''Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell'') and MMORPG ('').
Its core written in C++, the Unreal Engine features a high degree of portability, supporting a plethora of platforms including the IBM PC compatibles (Microsoft Windows, GNU/Linux), Apple Macintosh (Mac OS, Mac OS X) and many consoles (Dreamcast, Xbox, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii). A great deal of the gameplay code is written in UnrealScript, a proprietary scripting language, and as such large parts of the gameplay can be modified without delving deep into the engine internals. Additionally, as with other middleware packages, the Unreal Engine also provides various tools to assist with content creation, both for designers and artists.
The latest release is the Unreal Engine 3, which is designed around Microsoft's DirectX 9 technology for 32/64-bit Windows and Xbox 360 platforms; OpenGL 2.x technology for 32/64-bit Linux, Mac OS X and Sony's PlayStation 3; and Microsoft's DirectX 10 technology for 32/64-bit Windows Vista.

Contents

Versions

Unreal Engine 1

Unreal Engine 2

Unreal Engine 3

Unreal Engine 4

Video games

Unreal Engine 1

Unreal Engine 2

Unreal Engine 3

See also

References

External links

Versions

Unreal Engine 1

Making its debut in 1998, the first generation Unreal Engine integrated rendering, collision detection, AI, visibility, networking and file system management into one complete engine. With the level of integration used, some trade-offs were necessary to maintain performance levels with the hardware that was available at the time. For example, Epic decided to use cylindrical collision detection over the IK collision detection system in an effort to maintain playable framerates on systems that were common at the time of its release. Internally, Epic used this engine for ''Unreal'' and ''Unreal Tournament''.

Unreal Engine 2

The second version of the Unreal Engine got off to a rocky start with the mixed reviews for ''Unreal Tournament 2003''. This generation saw the core code and rendering engine completely re-written and the new UnrealEd 3 integrated. It also integrated the Karma physics SDK, which powered the Ragdoll physics in ''Unreal Tournament 2003'' and ''Unreal Championship''. Many other engine elements were also updated, with improved and added support for the PlayStation 2, GameCube and the Xbox. Build UE2.5, an update, improved rendering performance and added vehicles physics, particle system editor for UnrealEd and 64-bit support in ''Unreal Tournament 2004''. A specialized version of UE2.5 called UE2X, which was used for ''Unreal Championship 2'', features optimizations specific to the first-generation Xbox.

Unreal Engine 3

The third generation Unreal Engine was designed specifically for DirectX 9 PCs, the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.^[1] Its (once again) rewritten renderer supports many advanced techniques including HDRR, per-pixel lighting, and dynamic shadows, and builds upon the tools available in previous versions of the engine. Unreal Engine 3 IPP (Integrated Partners Program) including Ageia's PhysX^[2], OC3 Entertainment's FaceFX^[3], RAD Game Tools's Bink Video, DivX, Inc.'s Divx, Quazal Technologies's 'Rendez-Vous' and 'Spark',^[4] Fonix Speech's 'VoiceIn' and 'DecTalk',^[5] Engenuity's 'AI Implant',^[6] IDV's SpeedTreeRT,^[7] Digimask's 'Diskmask SDK', Kynogon's 'Kynapse A.I',^[8] Geomerics's 'Enlighten',^[9] Allegorithmic's 'ProFX',^[10] PhaseSpace's ' Motion Capture',^[11] IGN's 'GameSpy'.^[12]Epic used this generation of the engine for ''Gears of War'' and is using it for ''Unreal Tournament 3''.
Due to aggressive licensing, this current iteration has garnered a great deal of support from several big licensees, including Disney, Sega, Sony, Electronic Arts, Capcom, and Square Enix. UE3 has also seen adoption by many non-gaming projects including construction simulation and design, training simulation, driving simulation, virtual reality shopping malls, movie storyboards, continuity, pre-visual, etc., in spite of the fact that the toolset and source code is meant for games. At E3 2007, Sony announced a partnership with Epic with the objective of optimizing the Unreal Engine 3 for the PlayStation 3 hardware, which would affect the dozens of games and developers currently using it.
As of July 19, 2007, the Unreal Engine 3 is the subject of a lawsuit served to Epic from Silicon Knights. Denis Dyack, president of Silicon Knights alleged that the Unreal Engine 3 did not work as Epic promised. "..it seems pretty clear that Gears [of War] was built on the backs of the Unreal Engine licensees. We certainly stand by our allegations in the lawsuit that instead of using our licensing fees to develop and support the Unreal Engine 3, Epic used that money to build Gears," Dyack said. As such, Silicon Knights decided not to use the Unreal Engine for future games and instead, modified the Unreal Engine and are claiming it as their own.
Epic however, counter-sued SK (Silicon Knights) for unrightful use of Unreal 3 technology in their new Silicon Knights engine.

Unreal Engine 4

Mark Rein, the vice-president of Epic Games, revealed on August 18 2005 that Unreal Engine 4 had been in development over the past two years.^[13] The engine targets PCs, then the next generation of consoles after the seventh generation. The only person to work on the Unreal Engine 4 core system design so far is Tim Sweeney, technical director and founder of Epic games.^[14] However, at the 2006 GDC, Sweeney stated that development will not begin in earnest on the next version until some time in 2008. Unreal Engine 3 is intended to be significantly enhanced and major new features to be added until 2012.

Video games

A list of many other games powered by Unreal Technology can be viewed on the official website.

Unreal Engine 1

★ '' — (2001) Digital Extremes

★ ''Brother Bear'' — (2003) KnowWonder Digital Mediaworks

★ ''Clive Barker's Undying'' — (2001) Dreamworks Interactive

★ ''Deus Ex'' — (2000) Ion Storm

★
★ ''Deus Ex: The Conspiracy'' — (2002) Ion Storm^[15][16]

★ '' — (1999) Knowledge Adventure

★ ''Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets'' — (2002) KnowWonder Digital Mediaworks

★ ''Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'' (''Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone'' in the U.S) — (2001) KnowWonder Digital Mediaworks

★ ''Mobile Forces'' — (2002) Rage Software

★ ''Nerf Arena Blast'' — (1999) Visionary Media, Inc.

★ ''New Legends'' — (2002) Infinite Machine^[17]

★ ''Rune'' — (2000) Human Head Studios

★
★ '' — (2001) Human Head Studios

★ '' — (2001) Human Head Studios

★ '' — (2000) The Collective^[18]

★ '' — (1998) MicroProse^[19]

★ '' — (2002) Kamehan Studios

★ ''TNN Outdoors Pro Hunter'' — (1998) DreamForge Intertainment

★ ''Twin Caliber'' — (2003) Rage Software

★ ''Unreal'' — (1998) Epic Games

★
★ ''Unreal Mission Pack: Return to Na Pali'' — (1999) Legend Entertainment

★ ''Unreal Tournament'' — (1999) Epic Games

★ ''Unrealty'' — (2000) Perilith Industrielle^[20]

★ '' — (1999) Digitalo Studios

★ ''The Wheel of Time'' — (1999) Legend Entertainment

★ '' — (2001) MicroProse

Unreal Engine 2

★ ''Advent Rising'' — (2005) GlyphX Games

★ ''America's Army'' v1.0 ~ v2.81 — (2006) U.S. Army

★ '' — (2005) Gearbox Software

★ '' — (2005) Gearbox Software

★ '' — (2006) Gearbox Software

★ '' — (2007) Gearbox Software

★ '' — (2005) Direct Action Games^[21][22]

★ ''Dead Man's Hand'' — (2004) Human Head Studios

★ ''Desert Thunder'' — (2003) Brainbox Games

★ '' — (2003) Ion Storm

★ ''Devastation'' — (2003) Digitalo Studios

★ ''Exteel'' — (2005) NCsoft^[23]

★ ''Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban'' — (2004) KnowWonder Digital Mediaworks^[24]

★ ''Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events'' — (2004) Adrenium Games

★ ''Lineage II'' — (2003) NC Soft

★ '' — (2003) Atari

★ '' — (2004) Softmax

★ '' — (2004) Groove Games

★ ''Men of Valor — (2004) Vivendi Universal

★ ''Pariah'' — (2005) Digital Extremes^[25][26]

★ ''Postal²'' — (2003) Running With Scissors, Inc.

★ '' (MMORPG) — (2007) Gravity

★ ''Red Steel'' — (2006) Ubisoft

★ '' — (2006) Tripwire Interactive^[27][28]

★ ''Redneck Kentucky and the Next Generation Chickens'' - (2007) City Interactive

★ ''Sephiroth'' — (2003) IMagic Entertainment

★ '' — (2004) Zombie Studios

★ ''Shark Tale'' — (2004) Amaze Entertainment

★ ''Shrek 2'' — (2004) KnowWonder

★ ''Spider-Man 2'' — (2004) Fizz Factor

★ '' — (2005) LucasArts^[29][30]

★ ''SWAT 4'' — (2005) Irrational Games^[31]

★ '' — (2004) Ion Storm

★ '' — (2004) Ubisoft^[32]

★ '' (Xbox only) — (2004) Ubisoft

★ '' — (2003) Ubisoft

★ ''Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell'' — (2002) Ubisoft

★ '' — (2004) Ubisoft

★ '' — (2005) Ubisoft^[33]

★ '' — (2006) Ubisoft

★ '' — (2006) Ubisoft

★ '' - (2008) Ubisoft

★ ''Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon 2'' — (2006) Ubisoft

★ ''Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter'' — (2006) Ubisoft

★ '' — (2004) Irrational Games

★ '' — (2003) Legend Entertainment

★ ''Unreal Championship'' — (2002) Digital Extremes

★ '' — (2005) Epic Games

★ ''Unreal Tournament 2003'' — (2002) Digital Extremes

★ ''Unreal Tournament 2004'' — (2004) Digital Extremes

★ '' — (2007) Sigil Games Online

★ '' — Direct Action Games^[34]

★ ''Warpath'' — (2006) Digital Extremes^[35]

★ ''XIII'' — (2003) Ubisoft

Unreal Engine 3

★ ''Aliens'' — (2009) Gearbox Software

★ ''America's Army 3.0'' — (2008) US Army

★ ''APB'' — (2008) Webzen

★ ''Black Powder Red Earth'' - (2007) Echelon Studios

★ '' — (2007) Gearbox Software^[36]

★ ''BioShock'' - (2007) 2K Boston/2K Australia

★ '' — (2007) Midway Austin

★ ''Borderlands'' - (2008) Gearbox Software

★ ''DC Comics MMO'' — (TBA) Sony Online Entertainment

★ ''Earth No More'' — (2009) Recoil Games / 3D Realms

★ ''Elveon'' — (2007) 10tacle Studios^[37]

★ ''Fatal Inertia'' — (2007) Koei^[38]

★ '' — (2008) Kaos Studios

★ ''Fury'' — (2007) Auran^[39]

★ ''Gears of War'' — (2006) Epic Games

★ ''Global Agenda'' — (TBA) Hi-Rez Studios^[40]

★ ''Hail to the Chimp'' — (2008) Wideload Games ^[41]

★ ''Hour of Victory'' — (2007) Midway Games

★ ''Huxley'' — (2008) Webzen Games^[42]

★ ''Interstellar Marines'' - (2008) Zero Point Software ^[43]

★ ''The Last Remnant'' — (2008) Square Enix

★ ''Lost Odyssey'' — (2007) Mistwalker^[44]

★ ''Mass Effect'' — (2007) BioWare^[45]

★ '' — (2007) Electronic Arts^[46]

★ '' — (2007) Artificial Studios^[47]

★ ''RoboBlitz'' — (2006) Naked Sky Entertainment^[48]

★ '' - (2007) Bethesda Softworks

★ ''Stargate Worlds'' — (2007) Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment^[49]

★ ''Stranglehold'' — (2007) Midway Chicago^[50]

★ ''The Scourge Project'' — (N/A) Tragnarion Studios

★ ''To End All Wars'' — (2008) Kuju Entertainment ^{[51] [52]}

★ ''Tom Clancy's EndWar'' — (2008) Ubisoft

★ '' - (2006)

★ '' — (2008) Spark Unlimited

★ ''Turok'' — (2008) Propaganda Games

★ ''Undertow'' — (2007) Chair Entertainment

★ ''Unreal Tournament 3'' — (2007) Epic Games

★ Upcoming ''Mortal Kombat 8'' Game — (Unknown) Midway Games

★ ''The Wheelman'' — (2007) Midway Games

★ Various upcoming Sega titles will utilize the Unreal Engine [13]

See also

★ ''Unreal''

★ UnrealScript

★ Game engine

References

1. http://www.unrealtechnology.com/html/technology/ue30.shtml
2. Unreal Engine 3 integrates AGEIA PhysX processor support
3. http://www.oc3ent.com/Oct-18-2005.html
4. http://gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=20047
5. http://www.fonix.com/fonix/recentNews2.php?id=3
6. http://www.ai-implant.com/solutions/games/unreal_engine_3_support.htm
7. http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=20199
8. http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=20823
9. http://biz.gamedaily.com/industry/news/?id=15289
10. http://www.profxengine.com/?PAGE=HOME
11. http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=14573
12. http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=15134
13. Rein: "We've been working on Unreal Engine 4 for two years" [1]. Computer And Video Games. Retrieved on August 19, 2005.
14. Interview: Mark Rein [2]. Computer And Video Games. Retrieved on September 30, 2005.
15. Interview with the developers, mentions the issues porting UE to the PlayStation 2
16. Review of DE:TC with mention of the use of the Unreal Engine
17. Smart Computing Article - New Legends
18. IGN: Star Trek Deep Space Nine: The Fallen Preview
19. [3]
20. [4]
21. XGP Gaming: Combat: Task Force 121 Announced
22. Extreme Gamer - Combat Task Force 121 Xbox Review
23. Online Multiplayer Games Network (OMGN): Games Directory: Exteel
24. Gamespot review of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
25. Pariah - Games - Review - www.pcauthority.com.au
26. IGN: Pariah
27. PC Interview: Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 - ComputerAndVideoGames.com
28. Welcome to Gamepyre - Gamepyre
29. [5]
30. [6]
31. WORTHPLAYING - - All about games
32. Raven Shield: Athena Sword
33. Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory for PC Reviews - PC Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory Reviews
34. World War II Combat: Iwo Jima
35. http://www.groovegames.com/Games/Warpath/index.php
36. [7]
37. Gamer's Hell news - "Elveon Powered By Unreal Engine 3"
38. [8]
39. Fury Homepage
40. Global Agenda Game
41. http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=15074
42.
GameSpot Preview of Huxley
43. [9]
44. http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/613/613377p1.html
45. [10]
46. Medal of Honor: Airborne First Look
47. Pre-E3 2006: Hands-on with Monster Madness
48. [11]
49. [12]
50. http://xbox360.ign.com/objects/748/748381.html
51. http://www.developmag.com/news/26665/Ghostlight-published-Kuju-game-to-use-Unreal
52. http://www.worthplaying.com/article.php?sid=43896&mode=thread&order=0

External links

★ The official Unreal Developer Network documenting the Unreal Engine

★ Unreal Technology

★ Unreal Engine 1 Features

★ Unreal Engine 2

★ Unreal Engine 2.5

★ Unreal Engine 2X

★ Unreal Engine 3.0

★ Real Time Character input and control for Unreal Engine 3.0