Next-gen Unreal engine (tech demo)

[PeteJ]

Running in realtime on pretty beefy hardware, apparently scalable right down to a 3GS handset.

Love the style of the vid, shame it isn't an actual game really!

[GluedOnBeard]

It is worth mentioning that this was running on three graphics cards, well at least on the UDK forums it states that.

Looks amazing and as some of the features are coming to the developer kit it is exciting stuff. Shame it is not a title but if that is what we can expect from other developers in a few years with that engine then all to the good.

I wonder how many will adopt it however?

[Spatial]

Interesting video but I still think we're at least a few years away from actual games (especially on consoles) looking like that in realtime.

[Malc]

Mind blown! That's how I'm going to imagine the next generation of consoles games to look like (in my mind at least). :P

[Sixty]

Stuff like this automatically brings to mind that Madden video that was supposed to be indicative of what 360/PS3 games would be like and how they didn't end up looking anything like it. I'm sure the next gen will be nice and shiny and everything, but until we're seeing actual gameplay I find it hard to be interested.

[Matt]

Very, very, very nice. Not sure I'd count on next gen looking like that, but if they carry on dragging this gen for another 5 years, they may pull it off.

I still don't like the UE3 depth of field effect, even though this is a new, more accurate model. I've always felt the implementation is too harsh, there's little drop-off.

The lighting is superb.

[Psyduck]

Am I the only one who's not that impressed then? Not saying it doesn't look nice, or that there's anything current gen that looks close to it, but it's kinda what I'd expect from the next gen. Obviously animation etc looks good but then you'd never get that in a game, only in cutscenes...

[englishbob]

Proof that next-gen cut scenes will look incredible. When control is handed to the player though, you'll still notice its running at 30fps with texture pop-in, and you are playing a third-person Uncharted type game. Or an FPS. Maybe.

[nakamura]

Am I the only one who's not that impressed then? , but it's kinda what I'd expect from the next gen.

Same here. Does look great and all that but it is what you expect from the next gen really. Games now look so good I don't think the jumps are going to be as huge anymore, certainly not with the quality of CGI over the last 10 years being so far ahead of real time anyway.

[FelixofMars]

Yep in terms of the tech its a good demo, in terms of visually showing huge improvements to large scale stuff its less impressive. Lots of fine details are enhanced but the big stuff like character movement was still roapy and the fact the setting is so dark probably loses lots of visuals.

I really do like the Unreal engine but I feel they picked a bad time to showcase this demo, when you look at the Battlefield 3 demo which is visually stunning and has a few key details (camera shake,blood,dust and lighting) and of course is running in a 'real' game with current tech.

[Matt]

Some of the issues mentioned here, such as texture and LOD pop, could be eliminated next gen. We're going to get decent amounts of well implemented AA, and AF.

Those pics are a HUGE leap over what we're seeing in games right now. A possible reason you're not seeing that is because you rarely see a true game shot these days unless you're playing it - at which stage, the motion comes into things and you're running around, and then most people don't seem to notice all the visual failings of this gen. What we're seeing in these pics isn't a thousand miles from the bullshots that plague gaming these days. If I see another bullshot and then people gushing "WOW looks amazing can't wait GOTY!!!" I'll scream

These images are realtime. They use technology which is, what, 20, 30 times more powerful than current consoles? Probably something like that.

What it represents is visual cohesion. A solid world. More believable, allowing other game elements to shine through. No distracting visual ****ups to ruin the illusion. Plus I dare say they'll have an improved physics system in there, given all those nVidia cards. Physics will really influence the next gen of games.

My concerns with the vid were the use of camera effects, rather than Real Life effects - the lense flares were pure cinema. I can't decide whether that's better for the gaming experience or not. Do we want games to look disconnected in that way? I don't know.

[nakamura]

Of course all of the points you raise Matt are valid, and true. But I fail to get excited by new hardware nowadays as we have been through this each and every generation.

I remember when GT3 was the most incredible, how did the do graphics like that in real time and Final Fantasy VII had you moving characters over FMV.
The appeal of new hardware has worn off rapidly for me. I know each gen brings new visual flair, better physics etc but in reality it is little to shout about.
The 3DS for example is very clever tech but I would have no interest if it didn't have games that I want to play.

[EvilBoris]

The future of making the games look Next gen is making the animation look less ****e, Battlefield 3 is using the animation system from the FIFA games, so all the animations are silky physics based and linked together. Looks amazing

[nakamura]

I think the future of making games look next gen is to stop making everything look so shiny.

[NoelEdwards]

I think the future of making games look next gen is to stop making everything look so shiny.

But the masses love shiny things, how many games are sold just because the graphics look wicked FIFA managed that for years before they started getting the gameplay right.

While graphics are key to game don't forget the story & gameplay you can have the best engine in the world making the game look the part visually but if the gameplay and story sucks whats the point, its like putting glitter on turd and trying to pass it off as a diamond.