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General : DUST 514 to Use Unreal Engine 3
Posted Mar 12, 2010 by Michael Bitton
CCP Games has licensed Unreal Engine 3 to power DUST 514, the console FPS tie-in to their wildly successful sci-fi MMOG EVE Online.
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CCP has also announced that they have entered a joint-development agreement with Geomerics to integrate their Enlighten real-time radiosity lighting tech with Unreal technology.
View the full press release here.
[Thanks Kost for the tip!]
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Yeah so what happens if the Dust players decided to not bother with Eve player created contracts? What if Eve players decided to ingore the linking feature with Dust?
How well will these games linking features hold up without one another?
I for one hope PI in eve isnt totally made useless if Dust goes belly up and Dust isn't boring with nothing to do if eve players dont create content for them.
Huh, I figured that EVE would use their own engine for Incarna for DUST. Does this mean Incarna will be using the Unreal Engine as well?
They also announced at FanFest 2009 that they were using the real-time radiosity lighting for the interiors of space stations and the like for Incarna.
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeexaclty my friend .. got the same questions in my mind .. i really trust CCP i love eve and i know dust will rock, but i am wondering the same .. hopefully ccp will answer this shortly
My main concern is only Eve player will play the game. I believe very few peeps outside the game will be playing it. My meaning is that I like to see more "neutrality" when the contracts go out. Lots of spies in Dust will be informing thier counterparts of contracts. Such is the nature of Eve though.
(BBBBBBWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH raises plunger in salute to Dust 514!)
Hm. I'd expect better of CCP than to license some engine to make their game....
Yeah, I know UE3 isn't just "some engine". Yet, DUST514 was announced rather a while ago. I'd think an engine decision would have been made early. Such as, before the product was announced.
Something smells odd about this. I sure hope they aren't having the kind of trouble that would make them start over; I was looking forward to DUST.
Does all seem a bit strange, expected this to be well into late stages of development by now.
Spies and traitors are a nature part of EvE Online. Why should DUST 514 be any different? ^^
<Dodges plunger as it flies past> ^^
EVE players will completely embrace DUST 514. Think about it man, if all the good planetary resources are taken up, how are you going to get them without DUST contracts? As for whether the game gets played, that depends on its merits alone.
They have already said that they will work fine without each other. EVE players can still do planetary interaction without dust merc, while where will be missions for dust players even if eve players don't create any.
As for the engine choice they most likely been developing with that engine from the start. Just because it was announced now doesn't mean it was decided now.
Incarna uses the next iteration of Trinity, the current EVE engine which will also be used in the World of Darkness MMO.
Pretty sure DUST 514 has been using UE3 since the first trailer and it simply hadn't been announced. Certainly looks that way.
I would love to see this mechanic thats in place for PI. I mean how are we supposed to take someones territory on planets without using Mercs?
I can see Dust working alone, just have randomly generated pvp maps and a single player campaign with DLC.
I'm more worried about how much PI needs Dust for one of its main features (War/conflict).
As nice as Unreal engine is.. man I think its about time to update it.
Did anyone notice that CCP is on the suppporting companies list for the Playstation Move controller?
www.eurogamer.net/articles/ps3-motion-controller-named-detailed
I guess that confirms Dust for PS3...
so basically what they showed us was a proof of concept and theyre just now licensing tools to actually make the thing?
i hope thats not the case, id like to play this, and world of darkness before 2018
UE3 isn't that old yet. And it still have a lot of untapped potential. You don't see half of what it's capable of in UT3 because when that game was released there weren't many systems that would have handled it smoothly at 1080p.
Nice catch
I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact this is console only. Let's see, our main game is PC only so let's make a major addition console only. Yeah, that makes total sense!.......
I might be interested in buying it where it available for the PC as well but I don't do console gaming, mostly because controllers are utterly inferior vs. a kb/mouse for control, especially when it comes to an FPS.
If nothing else, even from a target demographic sense, it just doesn't seem logical.
I think they're really trying to play off of exactly that. The type of gamer that plays consoles is radically different from the type of gamer that plays PC games. They want the two to be completely separate and distinct communities with their own unique flavor.
Like how Air Force culture is vastly different from Marine culture. They're trying to cultivate that kind of separation.
Also, I disagree that controllers are necessarily inferior to kb/mouse for FPS. I think it's a misconception due to the long legacy FPS has enjoyed on PCs and the lack of equivalent quality FPS games for consoles. There is also a bit of a learning curve, because once you've honed your reflexes with a kb/mouse it's a challenge to relearn with a controller. But there have been a few excellent FPS tiles for Consoles that have shown it's possible to make FPS work well with a controller. In fact, one of early reviewers of UT3 criticized the engine saying that it played better with a controller than with a kb/mouse.
My opinion is that DUST SHOULD have been done a bit different,or maybe it is being done right, and i just don't know it YET.
What i would do with DUST is make it so it is NOT dependent on EVE at all,but players DO have the CHOICE of making it an interactive part of Eve.This keeps in line with CCP's plan for Dust ,witch was to sell it to all existing Eve players and HOPE for new players.If they make it a standalone product [no need for Eve if so desire]it will have a MUCH better chance at creating a NEW player base for CCP.If DUST is dependent on Eve,they will fail badly in creating a new player base.
Personally CCP is making a wise choice to work with Epic games,they are the best imo and have tons of licensed software developers working with them to make sure they can honor all licenses fully.Part of their contracts are to work with the developers to meet their demands,so having all these partners makes it more possible.Anything CCP wants to achieve with DUST will be doable working with Epic,no question at all.I would really like to see destructive physics,that would set Dust as a top notch game in the market.
This is what I am curious about. I was under the impression they had been developing to the point of already having an engine in place, but this announcement seems like it should be old news if that were the case. The video they released gave me the impression it was supposed to give you an idea of the in game experience (slightly hyped up I'm sure), but now, does that video really offer any accurate indication?
It's CCP so it'll be ready when it's ready I guess...
Anyone know what does China have to do with it? Mortal Online also licensed Unreal engine and also from Epic China. Epic Games is US company and is based in there as well, so what is it with China?
This is what I am curious about. I was under the impression they had been developing to the point of already having an engine in place, but this announcement seems like it should be old news if that were the case. The video they released gave me the impression it was supposed to give you an idea of the in game experience (slightly hyped up I'm sure), but now, does that video really offer any accurate indication?
It's CCP so it'll be ready when it's ready I guess...
If you watch the gameplay videos it really looks like they've been using UE3 all along. It's just that they waited to announce that the licensing agreement. It could be that they began developing while the lawyers were still ironing out the details of the agreement.
While I am sure it will be fine I must admit to being disapointed. CCP made a reputation of going it alone and doing it their way. The lisencing of a such a generic and widely used engine goes against the grain of the CCP we have come to know.
Like I said I am sure it will work out fine but I am a bit disappointed.
That may very well be. Like I was saying, if that were the case, I would have thought this would be old news. But, as you point out, they may have just kept the details quiet while sorting out and legal loose ends. Really, I am just excited to see how this all (DUST514 and EvE integration mostly) pans out. :)
This seems more of a positive to me. CCP wouldn't licence an engine if they weren't happy with how it's performing and were confident it was going to suit their purposes. AFAIK, anyone can fool around with commercial engines as long as they're not making money off of them - development could very well be quite far along and they're only just now working out the legal agreements because they're only now sure UR3 will work for them.
I'm actually glad CCP made the choice to use a proven engine to run DUST. CCP is an MMO company, they have no experience with FPS games at all. So they'd either have to hire a whole FPS team to develop a novel engine, or they could licence a proven engine and tweek it to their needs while concentrating on the integration and the MMO elements of the final game. I know which I'd choose in their place.
I suspect that one of the reasons for choosing consoles for their competitive FPS is that its more difficult to hack(cheat) on consoles than on PC's. Notice I said more difficult, not impossible(look at the million plus Xbox 360's perma banned from Xbox live as an example).
There is also the possibility of tapping into another demographic(console gamers) that would be absent if they directed this at the PC market. Keyboard and mouse ARE inherently better for FPS games from my experience as well.
I suspect that one of the reasons for choosing consoles for their competitive FPS is that its more difficult to hack(cheat) on consoles than on PC's. Notice I said more difficult, not impossible(look at the million plus Xbox 360's perma banned from Xbox live as an example).
There is also the possibility of tapping into another demographic(console gamers) that would be absent if they directed this at the PC market. Keyboard and mouse ARE inherently better for FPS games from my experience as well.
more than likely that the reason the game is being released on the XBOX rather than the PC, is because their aiming the game at a different demographic than Eve generally, they want players to play DUST514 alongside of Eve, not instead of, which i can sort of sympathise with. Be interesting to see how it works out really, i dont think there is currently a FPS MMO out that is console driven.. at least, not one thats likely to be on the same kind of scale as DUST514 ... theres also the possibility too that in aiming a game more towards the console player, that perhaps might not have been interested in MMO's before, they might actually increase the playerbase on Eve, as people learn more about it and perhaps decide to give it a try...
CCP's China division is developing this game. Not the same guys who programmed EVE. It's a whole studio in China dedicated to this project.
The Whitewolf stuff is more USA based being Whitewolf is a American company.
That is CCP 3 divisions, Austin Texas (Whitewolf), Iceland (EVE Onlines team), and China (dust)
Ive only recently heard of Dust 514 but given what I do know of it I have a question. Is this a game that can exist on two consoles? Cause for this type of game I can not see MS and Sony letting players on each others consoles compete against each other. This would create obvious problems in Eve if there were two markets for orders and stuff.
Does anyone know if CCP has given up on World of Darkness or what's going on with that game?
Nope
I think the game was only planned for release on the XBOX. we'll have to wait and see if there will be a PS3 version or not.
There is very little hard information about Vampires in Spaaaaaace!(which is how its teasingly known of in some quarters... ^^) at this point in time. I suspect we will know more once they get closer to release.
How many times have you seen people post that they love the concept of the politics and player generated content in EVE, but that they find the actual gameplay too slow and considered? DUST was developed to reach the people who like the idea of EVE, but want a less complex and cerebral experience. It is specifically not aimed at current EVE players. It is CCP's attempt to bring a whole new demographic in to their EvE-verse IP.
Creating new FPS engines costs a hell of a lot of resources - and CCP has no prior FPS experience. No point reinventing that particular wheel when they're already committed to creating a new MMO with it's own engine. There's only so much a small company can do.
That's a completely seperate project to DUST. CCP are doing their usual "We'll tell you when it's ready" thing.
CCP's China division is developing this game. Not the same guys who programmed EVE. It's a whole studio in China dedicated to this project.
The Whitewolf stuff is more USA based being Whitewolf is a American company.
That is CCP 3 divisions, Austin Texas (Whitewolf), Iceland (EVE Onlines team), and China (dust)
well I am more talking about "Epic China" not CCP china. Was just wondering why if you need Unreal engine license you need to talk to Epic China and not just Epic Games based in US.
I did not think this game was a MMO? Also SC2 is out as beta now :)
I have a feeling that this game is going to lack the simplicity that console gamers expect from FPS games. I'm a little surprised they're even allowed to publish it on consoles - the sales projections for the game must be staggeringly low. Even if every Eve player has a console and buys the game, that's no more than 200,000 sales.
Not really the point. If they wanted just EVE players to play DUST they'd release it for PC only.
CCP is trying to create a good shooter game first, trying to independently capture the console shooter gamer as an independent market segment from PC gamers. If they make a shooter that stands well on it's own they'll expand their playerbase. The link to EVE is one of CCPs typical push-the-envelope ideas that is supposed to be a value added experience.
(Oh, and to earlier in the thread - and Whitewolf is in Atlanta not Austin)
Allowed? CCP is a privately held company. They answer to no one but themselves. I suspect they are attempting to tap into the console market. Which is FAR larger than their player base. The Halo series is a good indication of the possible numbers if they do it right.
I think the game was only planned for release on the XBOX. we'll have to wait and see if there will be a PS3 version or not.
As I said earlier in the thread Dust has (though not 100%) been confirmed on PS3.
www.mmorpg.com/discussion2.cfm/post/3442506#3442506
Considering Microsoft doesn't want free stuff on Xbox I couldn't imagine how CCP would make a micro-transaction model work on the xbox. If they decide to make it a digital download it would also be impossible on the Xbox as Microsoft puts limits on the size of Arcade games. Bigger companies have tried and failed to get their mmo's on the xbox360.
Another thing, there is no way there would be a game that would have Xbox360 and PS3 player playing with or against each other. If CCP managed to negotiate something like that, they should go into the peace negotiation business and make peace in the middle east.
Allowed? CCP is a privately held company. They answer to no one but themselves. I suspect they are attempting to tap into the console market. Which is FAR larger than their player base. The Halo series is a good indication of the possible numbers if they do it right.
Microsoft (or Sony) could very likely refuse to sign off on letting CCP release Dust 514 on their consoles if they don't feel the quality is up to snuff, or they don't agree with the marketing structure (p2p monthly or w/e).
Microsoft (or Sony) could very likely refuse to sign off on letting CCP release Dust 514 on their consoles if they don't feel the quality is up to snuff, or they don't agree with the marketing structure (p2p monthly or w/e).
Some how, I seriously doubt thats going to be a problem. Even the Evil that lurks in Redmond can be reasoned with, if one knows how its done. CCP isn't some fly by night company after all.
I can help confirm - I know a guy on that team, and he's definitely in Georgia, USA.
And yes, he's been successfully keeping his mouth shut about that project for a few years now. Can't say I've bugged him much. Vampires aren't my thing.