Unreal Engine 3 question

[coolz481]

Let me preface this post by saying that I don't know the first thing about gaming engines or really anything technical with videogames other than playing them. Anyways, I keep reading about upcoming games like Mass Effect and Too Human using the Unreal Engine 3. I've also read that Sony is including this engine in their PS3 developmental kits. Does this mean we can expect 360 and PS3 games to look pretty similar graphically, at least in the first couple years? Just curious.

[Ruined]

Let me preface this post by saying that I don't know the first thing about gaming engines or really anything technical with videogames other than playing them. Anyways, I keep reading about upcoming games like Mass Effect and Too Human using the Unreal Engine 3. I've also read that Sony is including this engine in their PS3 developmental kits. Does this mean we can expect 360 and PS3 games to look pretty similar graphically, at least in the first couple years? Just curious.

Not necessarily. Even though they both have U3 devkits available (for a hefty sum btw) doesn't mean all games are going to use the U3 devkit, or even if they do that they will look the same.

IMO, I think XBOX360 will look better for the first few years because the PS3 seems to be too complex to be fully utilized for most games. 99% of games made thus far have been single threaded (utilize one CPU), and because of this XBOX360 will be a lot closer to what devs are used to making than PS3. Even once devs get used to PS3, I'm not sure the architecture makes as much sense for games as XBOX360's does.

[PittsburghAfterDark]

From reading an article on xbox360.ign.com (http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/657/657404p1.html) tonight Dennis Dyack said, in relation to Too Human, that the Unreal 3 engine saved them 6-12 months of development time. Does this engine cost a lot? Personally, I don't know. However if you're saving that much development time you're talking about cutting millions of dollars out of gaming projects. Even if it's licensed for $500,000 per title? It's still worth every damn penny.

Now you know why EA paid through the nose to get Renderware. Gaming engines are giant business right now and will only continue to grow in their importance. Anything that can wring a few hundred thousand or couple million out of a project is going to be sought after by a ton of studios and developers.

[CaseyRyback]

From reading an article on xbox360.ign.com (http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/657/657404p1.html) tonight Dennis Dyack said, in relation to Too Human, that the Unreal 3 engine saved them 6-12 months of development time. Does this engine cost a lot? Personally, I don't know. However if you're saving that much development time you're talking about cutting millions of dollars out of gaming projects. Even if it's licensed for $500,000 per title? It's still worth every damn penny.

Now you know why EA paid through the nose to get Renderware. Gaming engines are giant business right now and will only continue to grow in their importance. Anything that can wring a few hundred thousand or couple million out of a project is going to be sought after by a ton of studios and developers.

I think it is 125K plus a percentage based on sales

and I believe EA paid 48 million for Criterion (who created renderware).

[PittsburghAfterDark]

If that's true it's definitely a bargain for the Unreal Engine.

You are indeed correct on the $48 million purchase price for Criterion! 25 points awarded for your house! ( http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?section_name=dev&aid=3917)