Unreal Tournament 3 -- why is no one playing?
by Alan Tsang 
{ Jun 26th 2008 at 4:45PM }
Epic recently leaked some screenshots to generate buzz for the 360 version, but the truth is, no one cares because no one is playing the versions that are already out. With almost 1000 servers, 12,000 player spaces, the game's player rate is about 500 a day. Patches were released to remedy various online problems, coupled with price drops, yet there is no improvement. Fiori lists possible culprits; has Call of Duty 4 replaced UT as the new poster child for FPS? Did Epic abandon the UT franchise for the more lucrative Gears of War? Is PC competitive gaming simply on a decline? Was it bad timing similar to what happened to UT2003?
Though he doesn't arrive at one specific conclusion, Fiori asserts the failure of UT3 comes from the existence of the console versions in his concluding paragraph: "The solution is not the same as it was in the past. PC-centric development meant that patches or even complete rebuilds could be done within a year as in the 2003/2004 situation. The modern multiplatform development cycle makes it virtually impossible." What do you guys think? Is the PS3 and upcoming 360 version to blame for UT3's inability to repeat the success of its predecessors?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Barnolde @ Jun 26th 2008 4:49PM
It's not as fun as CoD4.
I've had fun with the mods, but the game can't keep my interest as well as UT04 did.
Hopefully with it being on sale at Gamefly for so long, the community will liven up a bit.
king @ Jun 26th 2008 4:51PM
Its because those morons forgot to add offline multiplayer and bots. That's why I didn't buy it. Plus PC gaming is dead. The franchise died years ago... the only thing that its good for is the game engine.
frankym @ Jun 26th 2008 4:59PM
What about Crysis?
king @ Jun 26th 2008 5:09PM
http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/14/crysis-sales-in-crisis-ut3-gets-fragged-too/
What about crysis? It sold like crap.
Eggy @ Jun 26th 2008 6:32PM
Yeah selling over a million for a PC game is crap. :S
frankym @ Jun 26th 2008 6:43PM
@King....Crysis sold over 1 million copies to date and a new spinoff, Crysis warhead, is launching this fall.
Yes, PC gaming is nowhere near console levels, but it is nowhere near dear. $1billion annual market to be exact.
A.E. @ Jun 26th 2008 4:52PM
I still play it, its a great game. It has hoverboards, what else can you ask for??
Lars @ Jun 26th 2008 5:48PM
Hehe, yes! Hoverboard's rock!
I play too, it's an fun old-school shooter... what's not to like?
I find it surprising that Halo was always constantly on top of the XBL charts, but UT3 is bottom of the PS3 charts. They're very similar except that UT3 has player mods (huge deal), better graphics, better vehicles, supports K&M, and isn't slowed way down so you feel like you're wading through mud --just to make you feel like you're better than you think you are at aiming. Maybe there's just more mature gamers on PS3 that aren't as satisfied by running around mindlessly shooting eachother for hours on end. I can understand that, but when I want an occasional FPS fix, I go to UT3.
MCX @ Jun 26th 2008 4:54PM
Thats the case for me COD4 / Warhawk / MSGOnline ... takeing the online time.
Christian @ Jun 26th 2008 4:53PM
Only one reason I didn't bite:
No split-screen multiplayer.
There's nothing better than having a go with your friend in the same room. Clearly Epic saw that this was a significant drawing point, which is why they created the split-screen mode for the 360 version. But not having it on PS3 is just damning for me.
wicko @ Jun 26th 2008 6:17PM
Thats one major issue a friend and I have with the game.. but we each bought a copy anyway as we found them brand new for 20$ at Blockbuster :D
Jeff @ Jun 27th 2008 12:05AM
The lack of split-screen is absolutely the problem - or at least a pretty big one.
The released a console FPS without split-screen play (offline or online). A stupid mistake, likely borne out of their PC-centric history.
It's all well and good that they've decided to add it for the Xbox 360 version, but it completely killed my interest in playing the game (these types of games are, for me, much more fun with a friend playing by my side).
Kind of a shame, too. Otherwise it's a pretty solid FPS and looks beautiful running on PS3 hardware. I have a 360 as well, but I don't plan to buy the game for it just so I can get something that should have been there in the PS3 version.
- Jeff
Gonzo @ Jul 1st 2008 9:54AM
The lack of splitscreen held me back too.
That and the fact that the dbags who make the game take themselves too damn seriously.
drdre74 @ Jun 26th 2008 4:54PM
COD4! gta4 just to name two things. Nobody cared about the game before it even came out and no one will on the 360 either. I haven't heard any buzz about it that much at all. I forgot about the game. I did like some of the mods that came out for it that i saw screen shots of. But i wasnt buying it just for that. R.I.P unreal!!!!
Gluesniffer @ Jun 26th 2008 4:55PM
I just sold mine to gamestop for $10.
GridloQ @ Jun 26th 2008 5:32PM
Could've sold it on eBay for $25.
AIR_Irish @ Jun 26th 2008 5:06PM
well, im about to trade my UT:3 in for BF:BC. i just thought that this installment of UT was nothing better than its previous versions. The campeign was like playing the same god damn level over and over again, it just became boring. The new hoverboard did make it easier for getting around, but without that its a very slow paced game. not something i wanted to play over and over again. To say it plain and simple, I think the series is over with. Its all the same shit over and over again, nothing has been put out there to keep my interest in this title. it has no lasting appeal. And the mod support on consoles is a great idea, until you actually do it. NOTHING IS SPECIAL ABOUT THIS GAME!
groovemachine @ Jun 26th 2008 4:57PM
basically its a poor game, onlines laggy with no depth, turning it into an outdated model, refusal and lack of speed with which to deal with people on the forum made me sell my copy
Popfrogs @ Jun 26th 2008 6:08PM
Yeah I bought it at launch, online was so horribly laggy the game was unplayable. I may have played it once more since then out of pity.
frankym @ Jun 26th 2008 4:57PM
IMHO the game is terrible.
I traded it in 2 days after I bought it. It feels like a last gen game with updated graphics.
Jonathan Coole @ Jun 26th 2008 4:58PM
its simply because the new engine is too damn blocky, jagged felling, they put so much work in gears now that UT just doesn't feel like UT. i still play UT2k4 over ut3, and i will always feel this way.
mhardaway @ Jun 26th 2008 5:08PM
I prefer PC FPS over console games. PC games are not dead by a long shot, the 15000 COD4 servers that pop up when looking for an online game are proof of this.
(cant wait for starcraft 2)
anyways, UT was great when it first came, something else to play other than Quake. But the Bots where what made it great. I played the demo on PC but I prefer cod4, where the maps are brighter, and there is a tactical hardcore mode, that makes you actually aim than just run around in circles.
PC FORVER!!!!! (ps3 is awesome too, but not for FPS)
P @ Jun 26th 2008 5:24PM
Couldnt agree more, PC games have plenty of decent FPS games for the folks that want to play that genre, and they're just horrible games to play on a joypad!
I'll be buying Killzone2 & R:FoM2 but i'll know they'd be far better games using a proper mouse & kb on a capable system.
I wasnt impressed with the PC demo, and wasnt aware the PS3 demo wouldnt have SP v Bots, thats poor form, theres only a few games i play online, and i always liked UT since it came out, purely for its vs bot games.
thinkofmeasmra @ Jun 26th 2008 6:29PM
You guys DO realize that at anytime you coulda plugged in a keyboard & mouse and played the game just like you would on pc but on a bigass tv, right?
On a side note, I just bought it for Mouse & Keyboard support and the mods. I loved the previous UT games but this one for some reason felt stale the very first time I played it. The problem is the gameplay has remained the EXACT same for like 4 iterations. Sure they add new game modes, but it needs some new gameplay mechanics. Plus theres still no goal in place. With new shooters, theres levelling up and ranking up and customizing. UT3 just offers the gratification of fraggin some noob and thats it. From the 1st time you played the game till the last, your never a feeling of accomplishment in any shape or form. Its basically a game with no goal to shoot for (cept i guess ranking number 1 on the boards after a round -- which doesnt always cut it)
mhardaway @ Jun 26th 2008 9:21PM
yea i did know there was mouse and keyboard support for UT on ps3. I even have a bluetooth mouse and keyboard.
for some reason, there just wasn't that "drive" to run out and buy the game.
COD2 really got me into the "tactical Realism" community, and when cod4 came out with that hardcore mode, that was a dream. Its such a wonderful game, and I hope cod5 uses the best of COD4 with added flame throwers.
Ben @ Jun 26th 2008 4:59PM
My guesses and the reasons I didn't buy it:
1. It was released 6 days before Christmas.
2. It lacks an appealing concept beyond generic multi-player battles
3. There are a lot of other good games we're all playing
4. People finish the single-player campaign of games, want more, and then go play multi-player. And UT3 lacked a compelling single-player campaign.
5. Noobs don't want to get pwned any more and that's all UT3 offers noobs.
6. No creativity in the marketing.
adolson @ Jun 26th 2008 4:59PM
I bought it... Played it for maybe an hour in total... So many other better games. That's my reason for not playing it.
Wrathbringer @ Jun 26th 2008 5:16PM
Agreed, it just isn't unique enough to keep my attention, nor was the online any good. I gave it a serious chance, playing it on several occasions trying to get into the game, but I just couldn't. Within a week of getting it I was back to CoD4.
jae29one @ Jun 26th 2008 5:44PM
Plain and simple... Warhawk baby!!!
The_Vandelizer @ Jun 26th 2008 5:09PM
i had the game for like 2 months its not all that... its not even a good game... UT2004 was way better... it had a lot more to do... Epic prefers the 360 more than the PS3.... they get more stuff in there version... i dont understand why they cant make games like gears only for PS3
Edge @ Jun 26th 2008 5:23PM
Maybe MS has made it easier for them to work with the platform. Maybe MS gave them 512 megs of ram instead of 256. Maybe its easier to put the engine on 3 cores instead of 7.
Frankly, I would rather Epic do multi-platform Gears instead of doing exclusives for anyone. Show everyone the love instead of pandering to selfish fanboys who want a game all to themselves.
Eggy @ Jun 26th 2008 8:05PM
You're calling him a fanboy while you are the one spreading fanpoy bullshit.
grief @ Jun 26th 2008 5:10PM
Here's why.
1. PC gamers don't care with 5ish good online action games last holiday
CoD4, TF2, Crysis, Quakewars, and UT3
2. It feels like a noobed down version of 2k4, and most 2k4 players feel 2k4 is still better so they won't move over to UT3
3. Not enough advertising on the console front
4. No real single-player
5. The unreal engine is the most generic engine for modern FPS, so why bother with this below average game when there are good games on the same engine?
sam @ Jun 26th 2008 5:11PM
I just got back into this, after kinda, er, forgetting I had it. I'm sick of CoD4, and sometimes it's nice to splatter someone with an impact hammer. This game is a neglected gem. The weapons are extremely balanced, the bots are fantastic, and levels have a really nice flow. It's shame it gets ignored.
Add me to your friends list if you want to play with me! PSN: Inhumabot. Put "PS3Fanboy" in your message.
Robert @ Jun 26th 2008 6:26PM
The game is entertaining, i do not play it too much for two reasons:
1) no automatic map downloads, I have no problem installing the mods, but the process is a hassle, so it is impossible to find someone that is not playing the same default maps
2) Epic really need to learn to do better network data compression or something like that, the game is a laggy
Frequently I only play it offline a few hours when a new good map is released.
Edge @ Jun 26th 2008 5:14PM
Two mutually Exclusive Reasons:
PC: High system reqs when they still have a perfectly good UT2004 that can effectively stretch its legs on mid-range rigs.
PS3: Everyone wanted keyboard and mouse which leeched the last remenants of an effective console FPS from the game. Plus, keyboard and mouse control was unresponsive, like it was being piped into a third-party adaptor.
In other words, hardcore death spiral phenomenon at its best...
utterer @ Jun 26th 2008 5:14PM
After looking at the title, I ask myself the same question about Grand Theft Auto 4 for PS 3. Why can't I find a game with more than 5 people in it?
Kodros @ Jun 26th 2008 5:53PM
I've noticed that too.
Metoo @ Jun 26th 2008 5:15PM
I rented and played it for a couple days, then it sat on my shelf for a week. I kept saying, "I'll play it," but I never did and sent it back. Then went back to Warhawk.
It was pretty, but boring, like Hugh Jackman. ;-)
Sadaiyappan @ Jun 26th 2008 5:18PM
It does have bots. I remember using them. I thought it was fun, I enjoyed playing it. It has a lot of potential with the custom character models but no one has added and good characters yet. I thought the gameplay was fast and I liked that each map had unique vehicles. I sold it after about two months of playing it and bought GTA4 in it's place.
Nick @ Jun 26th 2008 5:29PM
Main problem is that it's a pretty mediocre good game and the U3 engine works like ass on the PS3. Online was a lag-fest and the campaign mode was boring and repetitive. The mods help but not that much. Vehicle control was horrendous, if I may point out.
Popfrogs @ Jun 26th 2008 6:20PM
Nick hits all the nails squarely on the head. I agree with all your points 100%.
Fraser JK @ Jun 26th 2008 5:20PM
1. Call Of Duty
2. I Never Played The Others
And a whole other bunch but those two are the main ones for me!
Slaytan @ Jun 26th 2008 5:30PM
I bought it at Target for 30 bucks. After playing for a while, I thought something was a bit off. I kind of felt like I was playing with a bunch of rocks that had guns. On top of the feeling that the levels were so huge, I could run for about 5 minutes without running into anyone....in single player mode.
Matt @ Jun 26th 2008 5:22PM
I did buy it. And I sold it. Specifically BECAUSE there was no good multiplayer.
Granted, there was online, but when I had it microphones were NEVER working, and with no offline split-screen, it left little incentive for me...
Tim Parsons @ Jun 26th 2008 5:23PM
game was as fun as hell for like 2 weeks but then it's just the same ol over and over again.
doc j @ Jun 26th 2008 5:23PM
Splitscreen multiplayer.
Why doesn't it have it? I definitely would have bought this game for the hours of fun it would have provided. This game came out near enough the Vegas 2 window for me that I was deciding between which of the two to buy. I went with Vegas 2 just to play it with my roommate.
Split screen multiplayer has been around since Goldeneye. I mean, come on people, it really should be requisite by this point.
JAH75157 @ Jun 26th 2008 5:26PM
because the game is horrible that's why no one is playing it.
UT never evolved from it's original form.
SirPoonga @ Jun 26th 2008 6:25PM
Neigther has Halo. Halo 3 is pretty much the same as Halo 2 but with better graphics. People play that.
The problem with UT3 on the PS3 is it was buggy from the start and there are still issues. Down for air vehicles is hardcoded to C on keyboards, they have not fixed that!
The voice issues early on killed it. I have been seeing a rise in players on 2old2play.com because the game is cheaper. It is a fun game. It isn't as fun at ut2k4. But for the PS3 I don't think there is a better twitch FPS. I don't put COD4 in the same class as UT3. That comparison is like comparing Quake to GRAW.
Getting user content is a pain. It's cool they did it but the process is not easy. Why couldn't they allow multiple .jam files to be imported at once.
No split screen is also a problem as many people noted. On consoles people like to play with their friends. It's the norm on PC to not have split screen because that is awkward. But on a console where you can have several people sitting on a couch in front of a TV...
It's a good game but it isn't very mature. It has a bunch of issues that need to be resolved.
djpenny1 @ Jun 26th 2008 5:32PM
why i do not buy ut3 because the lobby sucks ( LIKE MOST ONLINE GAMES) i still play rfom because of the lobby ADD ME DJPENNY1 I WANT 100 PSN