Tim Sweeney Q&A - Epic's Console Engine

[Mar 13, 2008, 09:22 am ET] - Share - Viewing Comments

The Tim Sweeney, Part 3 on TG Daily (thanks BeyondUnreal) concludes this multi-part Q&A with the Epic CEO. This installment looks at the future of the Unreal engine, discussing plans for version 3.5 and 4.0 of engine, further confirming the dominance of console considerations at this point, saying:

The Unreal engine is really tied to a console cycle. We will continue to improve Unreal Engine 3 and add significant new features through the end of this console cycle. So, it is normal to expect that we will add new stuff in 2011 and 2012. We're shipping Gears of War now; we're just showing the next bunch of major tech upgrades such as soft-body physics, destructible environments and crowds. There is a long life ahead for Unreal Engine 3. Version 4 will exclusively target the next console generation, Microsoft's successor for the Xbox 360, Sony's successor for the Playstation 3 - and if Nintendo ships a machine with similar hardware specs, then that also. PCs will follow after that.

Also, we continuously work on transitions, when we go through large portions of the engine. We completely throw out parts and create large subsystems from the ground up, while we are reusing some things that are still valid.

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22.

Re: No subject

Mar 14, 2008, 12:16

4D-Boxing

Veinman Paris Hilton has a huge fancy house and god knows how many cars, does this mean that she is a smart business lady? I guess it does in some peoples world lol!!! I guess if I win the lottery I'll instantly become a smart business man!

21.

No subject

Mar 13, 2008, 21:51

Veinman

I do have to laugh when people call Tim a poor businessman. Ever seen his house? His cars? I'm guessing he doesn't need another dollar from any of us, ever again. Oh, to have FU money.:)

20.

Don't take any notice

Mar 13, 2008, 21:03

UnderLord

Tim is just wrong! Do you seriously think that the hardware manufacturers are going to work hard on the next generation console CPUs and Graphics, selling nothing to the PC gaming market in the meantime, and then have a selling-price fight with console makers who have to pay the whole development costs of the intervening 5 years or so? Bollocks! The hardware guys NEED the PC market, they don't have any option, consequently the software guys had better get their heads out of their arses and help keep the PC well supplied with cutting-edge games that drive and fund the hardware development, or the next-gen consoles will be pieces of shit with no significant improvements over this gen'. Then no-one will buy them and Epic etc' can sit and look at the stack of unsold boxes of games for consoles no-one wants. Edited for Typo's This comment was edited on Mar 13, 21:06.

19.

No subject

Mar 13, 2008, 20:49

Beaner

If Unreal 3 was any indication of Epic's game making prowess then I am glad to say: Goodbye. Glossy engine, so so gameplay.

18.

Re: No subject

Mar 13, 2008, 20:00

Kxmode

I always thought games were being about enjoyed, not having your roots respected. If the game sucks, I don't play it, it has nothing to do with what people DISSIN MY PLATFORM, YO, makin jokes about mah roots, and as far as I'm concerned, never even begins to enter the discussion. This is a classic example of a console gamer and limited intelligence. ----- http://www.gamemusicjukebox.com/ Game p/reviewer for http://www.gameindustry.com/ This comment was edited on Mar 13, 20:02.

17.

Re: No subject

Mar 13, 2008, 19:55

Kxmode

IQ of a snow flake! Otherwise known as crackheads ----- http://www.gamemusicjukebox.com/ Game p/reviewer for http://www.gameindustry.com/

16.

Tim Sweeney

Mar 13, 2008, 19:37

Kxmode

Epic betrayal... I hope it was worth it Timmay! ----- http://www.gamemusicjukebox.com/ Game p/reviewer for http://www.gameindustry.com/

15.

No subject

Mar 13, 2008, 19:29

space captain

respecting your roots is about not forgetting the fundamentals that brought you to where you are.. its not just some thugged out gangsta shit or whatever the fuck you be frontin, b

so if you forget the business tactics and philosophy that made you sucessful, you either come up with a new one or you get burned

epic's new one is: CONSOLES! YAY!

its a safe bet, but good luck on innovating or creating anything huge like the "Unreal" brand ever again




Go forth, and kill!

14.

No subject

Mar 13, 2008, 19:00

sponge

I always thought games were being about enjoyed, not having your roots respected. If the game sucks, I don't play it, it has nothing to do with what people DISSIN MY PLATFORM, YO, makin jokes about mah roots, and as far as I'm concerned, never even begins to enter the discussion.

13.

Re: Irrelevant

Mar 13, 2008, 18:57

Jerykk

PC games do make a profit. Why is there this bizarre conception that if something doesn't sell quite as well as a console game, it must be making a loss and be a terrible failure?? QFT. It's not about surviving. There are plenty of PC developers who do well enough to keep making the games they want to make. Then you have the developers who care more about money than games... like Epic. The allure of easy profits on consoles really tests your passion. Unfortunately, many developers fail the test.

12.

Re: Irrelevant

Mar 13, 2008, 17:13

Katsumoto

".Are you going to build for the crying minority (pc)and LOOSE MILLIONS or be smart and make a profit. " 1) Lose, not Loose 2) PC games do make a profit. Why is there this bizarre conception that if something doesn't sell quite as well as a console game, it must be making a loss and be a terrible failure??

11.

Re: No subject

Mar 13, 2008, 17:07

4D-Boxing

It's really bizarre that a company would try to make money instead of making a futile attempt at trying to please a bunch of whiners. Please describe what would actually make you happy, and then ask yourself honestly if you think that thing would make a company money. I'll gladly describe what would make me happy... a good game! A game with a descent browser that includes fonctionalities found in previous versions & are considered basic components that a multiplayer game browser should have. GUI withtout font's made for visiualy impaired gamers. A game that improves on previous iterations (if it's a franchise). Dedicated server support on release. Quality multiplayer maps. Maybe a real stat ranking system like there was in the original UT lol! When Epic said that they where going to release maps larger than the Onslaught maps & did not deliver? I guess that was gamers fault also or because of pirating? TOny!!! The budget for games now top what it costs to make a blockbuster movie. LOL yeah right! Nice try dude! Not even close! It can cost upwards of 100 000 000 to make a blockbuster movie! IF someone can't find the PC software or games section at EB, Bestbuy or Futureshop than they are either blind & mute or have the IQ of a snow flake! 60 000 000 DX 10 capable video cards have been sold up to now if that is to small a market for EPic than please leave PC gaming. If a crappy game like GoW PC sold over 1 000 000 copies imagine how many copies a good game would sell. Did CoD4 PC or Bioshock have bad sales figures lol? WoW is loosing so much money ...it's damn shame lol! I've said this before & I'm saying it yet again... does Sweeney know anything about business? If sohe should know the importance of marketing & product placement. If Epic decided to advertise the game after the PS3 version was released I guess that is due to pirating ...pirate adds on TV stealing UT3's thunder right?! Look at the 360 how often do you see adds for 360 games on TV? How often do you see adds for PC games on TV..real adds not adds that come out months late for another platform & put the Windows logo at the bottom of the screen? Now Since you know business Mr. Tony!!! tell us what % of net profit a company should invest in marketing (text book question) Epic does not even come close to the recommended figure. Bottom line, Sweeney can take his Engine that has a hard time handling Anti Aliasing a feature that dates back 8 years plus! Make all the excuses you want for Sweeney or Epic the truth is that they lost the ability to make good games, GoW on the 360 is the last succesfull AAA game release they've had since the original UT! Epic...please stick to console games from now on! Like they say in that old NWA song one less B@#ch we got worry about!

10.

Re: Irrelevant

Mar 13, 2008, 16:17

Tony!!!

It's funny how some of these kids cry about Epic forgetting thier roots, back in the day.

Wake up!

Go to your local software store and just TRY to find the pc section. Yeah, it's not easy to do.

Now take into consideration how many more man hours and dollars it takes to make a game at todays tech level as compared to ten years ago. The difference is MASSIVELY HUGE!!!

The budget for games now top what it costs to make a blockbuster movie. So....Are you going to build for the crying minority (pc)and LOOSE MILLIONS or be smart and make a profit.

It's simple commons sence and anyone who thinks different is a real dumbass.




-Tony!!!;) my 360 user name is Robo Pop

Irrelevant

Mar 13, 2008, 14:04

eggsborks

Epic has not made anything really awesome since Unreal 1 and Unreal Tournament 1. Everything since has been rehash or dumbed down for console games. Let them go on to become console developers and fade into the background of all the other console developers. They have made themselves irrelevant.Soon no one will care what they say anymore.

Re: ...

Mar 13, 2008, 13:58

Dreagon

Yep, I used to support Sweeney way back in the old Unreal/Quake forum wars...but he can just go fuck off. He's forgotten where he came from, and abandoned the medium that made him who he is.




------ Carpe Papilla "@Dreagon - Comparing Oblivion to Deer Hunter was just ridiculous and you should be ashamed of yourself... it just made you look like a Class-A cunt." - theyarecomingforyou

No subject

Mar 13, 2008, 11:00

Cabezone

What exactly is so great about their game engine? As far as I can tell it's got obvious technical problems. Texture pop in is complete shit.




"Pants! Pants! Pants!"

Re: No subject

Mar 13, 2008, 10:50

Jerykk

Wasn't Unreal Engine 3 designed for consoles anyway? That's the only explanation I can think of for the texture streaming.

Re: No subject

Mar 13, 2008, 09:36

Pumas

You're right. Apple should start selling diamond studded butt plugs instead of computers because we all know how lucrative the diamond industry (and butt plug industry) is. Nevermind the fact that the company wouldn't even exist without it's computer customers.

PC gamers whine about Epic because ever since they started looking at consoles.....their games have sucked giant dick.

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This comment was edited on Mar 13, 09:36.




How will I know limits from lies if I never try?

Re: No subject

Mar 13, 2008, 09:27

manic half

think you'll find the only reason he doesn't give us respect is we don't give Epic any... Yes, they make a fine engine, but their games (especially those in the last 2-3 years) are shit, pure and simple. basically what i was going to say. except im not a big fan of the engine due to the consolitis it suffers from.

No subject

Mar 13, 2008, 09:26

Veinman

It's really bizarre that a company would try to make money instead of making a futile attempt at trying to please a bunch of whiners. Please describe what would actually make you happy, and then ask yourself honestly if you think that thing would make a company money.

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