Expected release update

[TWD]

I've been hearing second half of 2007 in a lot of the videos and information from the latest press event. However, today things took a strange twist of events.

I'm seeing a fact sheet on several press websites citing

Ship Date: PC/Xbox 360 - Second Half 2007
PlayStation®3 - 2008

You can learn more on the www.beyondunreal.com front page. The full fact sheet is posted in the comments.

I find it kind of strange. It's apprant to me that this is of course a total shot in the dark. It's been mentioned in interviews that they want to release in fall, but if it's not ready by then they'll keep working. I just totally didn't expect the ps3 delay.

[Mark Rein]

This is incorrect

I sent the editor of Pro-g the following email a few minutes ago:

There are multiple errors in the story you posted at:
http://www.pro-g.co.uk/news/31-01-2007-4648.html

The release schedule you posted was incorrect because there is no formal SKU plan yet for this product. Epic (who makes this decision, NOT Midway) have absolutely NOT decided whether the SKUs for this product will be released simultaneously or in staggered order and we have absolutely NOT decided (because we don't know yet) when any of them will be released. If our publisher gave you information contrary to this they did so in error.

The statement that UT3 was "a console exclusive on the PlayStation 3" in also incorrect. We have never had any console exclusivity arrangements for UT3.

Portions of UT3 will be shown on PS3 at the Game Developers Conference in March as part of our Unreal Engine 3 demonstration.

We would appreciate if you could please correct this story immediately.

[TWD]

If it helps I initially found the info at pro-g.co.uk, but the fact sheet I found at gamespress. When I saw it at pro-g I thought to myself BS.

Unreal Tournament III

Description

Unreal Tournament III marks the return of the industry’s premiere first-person shooter. Utilizing the power of Unreal Engine 3 technology, Unreal Tournament III takes graphics, gameplay, and challenge to a whole new level. Players assume the role of a futuristic warrior engaged in intense battles against skilled opponents that can be controlled by either human contestants online or by cutting edge Artifical Intelligence online and off. With the most powerful sci-fi weapons and vehicles available, this is FPS action at its best!

Features

• Unparalleled graphical and physical realism from the latest Unreal Engine 3 technology delivers the most compelling First Person Shooter Experience to date...online and offline!

• Vast arsenal of weapons. This installment’s arsenal is bigger and badder than ever. Destroy your opponent from a distance with the ever popular Shock Rifle or blast away at close range with the Flak Cannon. Over two dozen weapons and vehicles have been upgraded and enhanced for maximum performance and killing sprees.

• Single player mode rivals the online experience! Battle against lightning fast A.I. in the deeper and richer single player campaign.

• New and favorite characters. Fight side-by-side with or compete against new and returning characters from the UT franchise, all with enhanced abilities, extremely detailed designs, and distinct personalities.

• Enhanced popular game types, including: Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Capture the Flag, Onslaught, and more.

• Online innovations. Unreal Tournament III provides seamless loading on servers in addition to improved matchmaking and co-operative campaign play online.

• Bundled with the award-winning Unreal Engine 3 Toolset. Build your own levels, gametypes, and more, or download the latest mods from the massive Unreal community*.

Platforms: PC
Xbox 360
PlayStation®3
Ship Date: PC/Xbox 360 - Second Half 2007
PlayStation®3 - 2008
Genre: First Person Shooter
Publisher: Midway
Developer: Epic Games, Inc.
ESRB: Rating Pending

Contact

[MonsOlympus]

Man I wish people would stop posting stuff if it hasnt been confirmed its really annoying. When we do get some real news all the bad bits come first and all muddled so we dont have a clue whats going on. We also dont believe stuff because Epic themselves hadnt said anything on the matter, reminds you of the boy who cried wolf. I mean seriously, Im not happy at news sites today they mostly post half truths or complete garbage, what happened to reporting the facts?

I actually have to watch the clips of the Epic dev's (and I enjoy it mind you) just to make sure what is reported is real. I mean question and answers are great and I believe those, quotes are cool. Making **** up just because you heard it through the grape vine etc etc is not!

[Mark Rein]

I believe Midway released the fact sheet but I also believe it is wrong. The real release date for this title is "WHEN IT'S DONE".

[Apathy]

This is incorrect
Portions of UT3 will be shown on PS3 at the Game Developers Conference in March as part of our Unreal Engine 3 demonstration.

Is there any chance of more UT3 video footage/media we'll be able to download after this event takes place?
By the way, thanks for replying to the topic.

[hal]

Man I wish people would stop posting stuff if it hasnt been confirmed its really annoying. When we do get some real news all the bad bits come first and all muddled so we dont have a clue whats going on. We also dont believe stuff because Epic themselves hadnt said anything on the matter, reminds you of the boy who cried wolf. I mean seriously, Im not happy at news sites today they mostly post half truths or complete garbage, what happened to reporting the facts?

I actually have to watch the clips of the Epic dev's (and I enjoy it mind you) just to make sure what is reported is real. I mean question and answers are great and I believe those, quotes are cool. Making **** up just because you heard it through the grape vine etc etc is not!

That's not really fair to say, Mons. After all, that Fact Sheet is identical to the one given out last week at Midway's press event. An event at which Epic representatives attended.

Yes, Epic Games has the final word on releases, but they have to speak through someone and typically, that is their publisher or PR firm. While Epic has always said release information will come from them, part of that information (estimated Fall release) is in fact confirmed from Mark and Jeff. Not every nugget of UT3 information comes from this forum. It's just not possible or practical.

You can't really be upset at someone for posting something from an official source. You might want to redirect that towards the company that published that information on Epic's behalf.

It's common practice for a publisher to send out press releases and it's common practice for journalists to take that information as fact.

[»{EID}«-Silenoz]

[QUOTE=MonsOlympus;24781431] We also dont believe stuff because Epic themselves hadnt said anything on the matter![/etc isQUOTE]

Well EPIC did say something on the matter! "THE GAME IS DONE WHEN ITS DONE!"
so untill the site go's live and we hear from epic, dont believe a thing those site's post! EPIC has alway's had a close relationship with the users of there product. just look at this forum and the responses!

We cannot expect them to work on a game release stuff and answer all our questions.

I'm not trying to come over as a ***** or anything but it has been stated before my mark,flak and joe! '' you'll read about the info on the game here at the official forum or press events held by epic or midway!
So i say lets see what epic can throw at us!

[MonsOlympus]

I believe Midway released the fact sheet but I also believe it is wrong. The real release date for this title is "WHEN IT'S DONE".

Whats that, 1000th time people from Epic have said that hehe

I would hate for UT3 to be released before its done honestly, take your time Epic. Im sure you guys will release the best UT game to date in UT3, if I have to wait then so be it, I know its going to be worth it in the long run

Edit: and yeah I know but the whole name change, 360 fiasco. I would have loved to hear the stuff about modding and why they changed the name before the 360 release stuff honestly. I mean its good news for 360 owners obviously but there was so much better stuff said over the press event and alot of it flew outta control along with my comments.

I dont remember Epic acting like they had a love affair with the 360 in any of the clips, infact that tidbit was pretty low key compared to the rest.

[Fusion]

Problem is that people are so massively thirsty for UT3, that they'll drink anything, even when its plain old sand. We all know in the back of our minds that anything UT3 related concerning the release date would be false in 99% of the cases, but we need something to ooze the pain of waiting.

Hell I'd even settle right now for a Cliffy.B webcam with mocking post-it papers then this deafening silence.

P.S. Are you going to announce the demo on IRC like you did with the 2k4 demo years ago. 2000 people cramped in a channel, all muted because of the flood of spam, thus trying to chat by namechanging?

That was hella fun!

[X-Cannon]

I believe Midway released the fact sheet but I also believe it is wrong. The real release date for this title is "WHEN IT'S DONE".

I was hoping for "Two weeks"

[TWD]

Yeah sorry bout all that. <3 Mark I'll make it up to you tonight

[MonsOlympus]

That's not really fair to say, Mons. After all, that Fact Sheet is identical to the one given out last week at Midway's press event. Yes, Epic Games has the final word on releases, but they have to speak through someone and typically, that is their publisher or PR firm. While Epic has always said release information will come from them, part of that information (estimated Fall release) is in fact confirmed from Mark and Jeff. Not every nugget of UT3 information comes from this forum. It's just not possible or practical.

You can't really be upset at someone for posting something from an official source. You might want to redirect that towards the company that published that information on Epic's behalf.

It's common practice for a publisher to send out press releases and it's common practice for journalists to take that information as fact.

Dont worry man Im not having a go at buf at all, Im saying generally.

Like IGN's headline on 360/name change. That really annoyed me, then now we get all these lovely q&a's and interviews which should have been released while the press event was on. Ive jumped the gun atleast once already and I even posted a proper comment over at buf thinking this was semi-official.

Maybe there is a difference between proposed release date and the actual release date and epic dont want people to get the wrong idea, which is understandable.

Edit: Im not having a go at Epic either, I have always known the game will be done when it gets done when ever that might be. Its just the flow of information Im alittle upset about, I mean you had an awsome hands-on bit about the game and like I said all these q&a's and interview were brilliant. Yet we had all this cheese coming through the grater at first, it really got me all twisted. Now when I look back I cant blame Epic for the information coming in the way it did I can only blame the certain news sites which reported the information in a biased manner. BU has always done a great job at reporting the facts along with many of the other games sites but in my opinion Epic should watch which ones they talk to first