Difference between revisions of "Unreal Tournament"

From Sega Retro
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The Dreamcast version of ''Unreal Tournment'' is based on the [[PlayStation 2]] version of the game, which was created in-house at Epic Games. The publisher, [[Infogrames]], commissioned developer Secret Level to convert the title to Dreamcast.
 
The Dreamcast version of ''Unreal Tournment'' is based on the [[PlayStation 2]] version of the game, which was created in-house at Epic Games. The publisher, [[Infogrames]], commissioned developer Secret Level to convert the title to Dreamcast.
  
−
The Dreamcast's [[wikipedia:PowerVR|PowerVR CLX2]] has a hardware texture compression feature that Secret Level was able to utilize to compress all of the PC version's textures down to fit into 5.5 MB of VRAM (with the other 3.5 MB dedicated to the framebuffer and polygons).{{ref|[http://ign.com/articles/2000/12/09/interview-with-dreamcast-unreal-tournament-team INTERVIEW WITH DREAMCAST UNREAL TOURNAMENT TEAM], IGN}} However, the Dreamcast version is missing some features, including instances of dynamic lighting, reflective surfaces, simpler water textures, and in some levels, a skybox. Several levels were downscaled in terms of geometry, effects, and size. Due to RAM limitations, certain levels become unavailable for split-screen multiplayer. Several features from the PC version are also missing, such as the "Assault" game type due to map sizes being too large, and the female, robot and Nali War Cow avatars are not selectable player types.
+
The Dreamcast's [[wikipedia:PowerVR|PowerVR CLX2]] has a hardware texture compression feature that Secret Level was able to utilize to compress all of the textures down to fit within 5.5 MB of VRAM (with the other 3.5 MB dedicated to the framebuffer and polygons).{{ref|[http://ign.com/articles/2000/12/09/interview-with-dreamcast-unreal-tournament-team INTERVIEW WITH DREAMCAST UNREAL TOURNAMENT TEAM], IGN}} However, the Dreamcast version is missing some features, including instances of dynamic lighting, reflective surfaces, simpler water textures, and in some levels, a skybox. Several levels were downscaled in terms of geometry, effects, and size. Due to RAM limitations, certain levels become unavailable for split-screen multiplayer. Several features from the PC version are also missing, such as the "Assault" game type due to map sizes being too large, and the female, robot and Nali War Cow avatars are not selectable player types.
  
 
Texture filtering differs considerably between the Dreamcast and PlayStation 2 platforms (with the Dreamcast having more texture filtering), and the Dreamcast version runs with an uncapped frame rate (as opposed to a locked 30 FPS on PS2). The Dreamcast maintains stable frame rates ranging from 45 FPS to 60 FPS, but occasionally struggles with larger maps, sometimes dropping as low as 15 FPS when under strain. However, at the time, the Unreal Engine was still being primarily developed for PC use, as console support did not become a major feature until Unreal Engine 2 (2002) and would not hit mainstream console development until Unreal Engine 3 (late 2005). It was not optimized for Dreamcast hardware; the original PC version of ''Unreal Tournament'' renders around 7000 polygons per scene,{{ref|[https://udn.epicgames.com/Two/UnrealModeling.html Unreal Modeling Guide], Unreal Developer Network}} a fraction of what other Dreamcast games rendered while maintaining 60 FPS, and the Dreamcast is capable of dynamic lighting.{{ref|1=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p04FTA6izck Dreamcast homebrew engine: More dynamic shadows and lighting] (YouTube)}} Nevertheless, the Dreamcast version's frame rates are comparable to how the PC version ran on early 2000 PC hardware; the PC version maintained an average frame rate of around 40 FPS on graphics cards like the [[wikipedia:Nvidia|Nvidia]] [[wikipedia:GeForce 256|GeForce 256]], GeForce 2 GTS and [[wikipedia:ATI|ATI]] Rage Fury Maxx.{{ref|[http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/tom,review-179-10.html Tom's Take On NVIDIA's New GeForce2 GTS], Tom's Hardware}}
 
Texture filtering differs considerably between the Dreamcast and PlayStation 2 platforms (with the Dreamcast having more texture filtering), and the Dreamcast version runs with an uncapped frame rate (as opposed to a locked 30 FPS on PS2). The Dreamcast maintains stable frame rates ranging from 45 FPS to 60 FPS, but occasionally struggles with larger maps, sometimes dropping as low as 15 FPS when under strain. However, at the time, the Unreal Engine was still being primarily developed for PC use, as console support did not become a major feature until Unreal Engine 2 (2002) and would not hit mainstream console development until Unreal Engine 3 (late 2005). It was not optimized for Dreamcast hardware; the original PC version of ''Unreal Tournament'' renders around 7000 polygons per scene,{{ref|[https://udn.epicgames.com/Two/UnrealModeling.html Unreal Modeling Guide], Unreal Developer Network}} a fraction of what other Dreamcast games rendered while maintaining 60 FPS, and the Dreamcast is capable of dynamic lighting.{{ref|1=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p04FTA6izck Dreamcast homebrew engine: More dynamic shadows and lighting] (YouTube)}} Nevertheless, the Dreamcast version's frame rates are comparable to how the PC version ran on early 2000 PC hardware; the PC version maintained an average frame rate of around 40 FPS on graphics cards like the [[wikipedia:Nvidia|Nvidia]] [[wikipedia:GeForce 256|GeForce 256]], GeForce 2 GTS and [[wikipedia:ATI|ATI]] Rage Fury Maxx.{{ref|[http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/tom,review-179-10.html Tom's Take On NVIDIA's New GeForce2 GTS], Tom's Hardware}}

Revision as of 20:07, 26 September 2016

n/a

UnrealTournament title.png

Unreal Tournament
UNREALTO vmu.png
System(s): Sega Dreamcast
Publisher: Infogrames
Developer:
Peripherals supported: Visual Memory Unit, Dreamcast Jump Pack, Dreamcast Keyboard, Dreamcast Mouse, Panther DC, Dreamcast Broadband Adapter, Dreamcast Modem
Genre: Action

















Number of players: 1-8
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Dreamcast
US 		$29.9929.99 T-15125N
Sega Dreamcast
EU 		T-15113D-50
Sega Dreamcast
DE 		T-15113D-18
Sega Dreamcast
FR 		T-15113D-09
Sega Dreamcast
UK 		T-15113D-05
Sega Dreamcast
BR 		197336

Unreal Tournament is a first person multiplayer shooter developed by Epic Games as a spin-off of the Unreal series. Originally released for Windows PCs, it was ported to the Sega Dreamcast in 2000 by Secret Level.

Gameplay

Unreal Tournament is a multiplayer FPS, and thus games always feature two or more players navigating a map from a first person perspective. Similar to other Unreal games there are weapon and item pickups, however gameplay is centred around competing against other players, rather than in prior games where the goal was to get to a specific point on the map.

Game Modes

The Dreamcast version of Unreal Tournament features four main modes of gameplay;

  • Deathmatch - The player with the most frags wins.
  • Team Deathmatch - Two teams compete to earn the most frags
  • Domination - Two teams compete to take over marked areas by touching icons that earn points for the team overtime. The team with the most points wins.
  • Capture the Flag - Two teams compete to capture the other team's flag and bring it back to their own flag.

These can be played either in single player (where the player competes against computer-controlled "bots"), local multiplayer or, until the servers were shut down in 2003, online multiplayer.

Control Options

Controllers and accessories can be mapped to specific players.

Unreal Tournament for the Dreamcast is compatible with a number control options which can be configured by the user. Along with the standard controller, the MadCatz Panther DC as well as the Dreamcast Keyboard and Dreamcast Mouse are compatible with the game. As the mouse and keyboard configuration requires two controller ports, it is possible to map individual players to two devices in split-screen multiplayer. During three or four player matches, each player can only use one controller, keyboard or Panther DC. The game does not consider the mouse alone as a control choice.

During online matches, the Dreamacst keyboard can also be used for text chatting between players, or between team members during team games.

Characters

The Dreamcast version only features male avatars as playable characters and bots. Up to eight players/bots can play at once. All instances of other genders and races have been removed, and the Dreamcast has taken the class types down to Soldier only.

  • Harlin
  • Slain
  • Malcom
  • Wraith
  • Vector
  • Rankin
  • Manwell
  • Othello
  • Radkin
  • Tensor
  • Johnson
  • Kregore
  • Riker
  • Drake
  • Matrix
  • Brock
  • Arkon
  • Von
  • Bruce
  • Kosak
  • Jared
  • Necroth
  • Cecil
  • Otavio
  • Diax
  • Drimacus
  • Whitman
  • Raynor
  • Boris
  • Karag
  • Zenith
  • Graves
  • Luthor
  • Obrand
  • Ramirez
  • Barak
  • Adams
  • Bertka
  • Grail
  • Bretz
  • Kakuschke
  • Itchys
  • Kern
  • Jensen
  • Clark
  • Gordon
  • Blake
  • Gorn
  • Aquino
  • Pride
  • Kragoth

Techniques

  • Killing Sprees
  • Multi Kills
  • Double Kill
  • Multi Kill
  • Ultra Kill
  • Monster Kill
  • Headshots
  • Dodging

Mutators

In Unreal Tournament, "mutators" are used to significantly adjust the game rules.

  • InstaGib
  • Low Grav
  • Slomo
  • Hyperspeed
  • No Redeemer
  • No Powerups
  • Instant Rockets
  • Pulse Arena
  • Rocket Launcher Arena
  • Shock Rifle Arena
  • Jump Match

Items

Weapons

Some guns have alternate firing modes that cause more damage but are less accurate.

Most weapons in the game feature two different firing modes. Some firing modes may be disabled through the use of Mutators.

  • Impact Hammer
  • Enforcer
  • Shock Rifle
  • Ripper
  • Rocket Launcher
  • Flak Cannon
  • BioRifle
  • Sniper Rifle
  • Minigun
  • Pulse Gun
  • Chainsaw
  • Redeemer
  • Translocator

Health

  • Health Vial
  • Health Pack
  • Keg O' Health

Armor

  • Thigh Pads
  • Body Armor
  • Shield Belt

Power-Ups

  • Damage Amplifier
  • Invisibility
  • Anti Grav Boots

Map List

A number of levels have been converted, edited or created exclusively for the Dreamcast version (As well as the Playstation 2 version,) to accommodate for the maximum player count of eight. Certain levels can only be played splitscreen depending on their size and system resources. SegaNet subscribers were given access to two exclusive maps if they subscribed to Sega's now defunct online service. Below is a list of levels and the maximum number of players allowed for each both online and offline splitscreen.

Unreal Tournament allows up to four players on more maps than the Dreamcast version of Quake III Arena.
Deathmatch
Map Max Players Online or Bots Max Players Split-screen
Agony 6 3
Babylon 4 3
Barricade 8 4
Blockparty 6 3
Brickyard 6 3
Canyon Fear 4 3
Codex 8 4
ColdSteelPressure 4 4
Core 4 3
Curse 8 3
Damnation 4 4
Deck16 6 4
Depot 4 3
Dust 4 3
Flux 4 3
Gearbox 4 3
Girder 4 3
Google 4 2
Halberd 6 3
Healpod 6 4
Hyperblast 6 4
Industrial 6 4
Infernal 4 3
Instinct 4 3
Liandri 6 4
Loathing 4 4
Malevolence 8 3
Megaplex (SegaNet Map) 6 3
Morbias 4 2
Morpheus 6 3
Nebula 6 3
NeoTokyo 4 3
Oblivion 4 2
Outskirts (SegaNet Map) 6 1
Paladin 4 4
Pantheon 6 3
Phobos 2 2
Pressure 8 4
Sector9 4 4
Singularity 6 4
Sorayama 6 4
Spacenoxx 4 4
Stalwart 6 3
StalwartXL 8 4
StationControl 4 4
Underlord 4 3
Capture the Flag
Map Max Players Online or Bots Max Players Split-screen
Command 8 4
Coret 8 4
Dreary 8 3
EternalCave 8 4
Face 6 4
Face2 6 2
Gauntlet 8 2
Lavagiant 8 1
Niven 8 2
Phalanax 6 4
Sepulchre 6 4
Spirito 6 4
Stormfront 6 4
Sundial 6 4
Domination
Map Max Players Online or Bots Max Players Split-screen
Cinder 8 3
Coagulate 6 4
Condemned 6 3
Gearbolt 8 2
Ghardhen 8 4
Hood 4 4
Lament 6 4
Olden 8 2
Osiris 6 4

Versions

Much like the Dreamcast port of Quake III Arena, there are cosmetic differences between the PC and Dreamcast versions of the game in terms of features and censorship. On the Dreamcast, only a maximum of eight players can compete in offline practice matches, either with seven bot players or eight players online, or a maximum of four players on one console through split-screen multiplayer.

Some of the content was redrawn due to difference in standards between platforms.

The Dreamcast version of Unreal Tournment is based on the PlayStation 2 version of the game, which was created in-house at Epic Games. The publisher, Infogrames, commissioned developer Secret Level to convert the title to Dreamcast.

The Dreamcast's PowerVR CLX2 has a hardware texture compression feature that Secret Level was able to utilize to compress all of the textures down to fit within 5.5 MB of VRAM (with the other 3.5 MB dedicated to the framebuffer and polygons).[1] However, the Dreamcast version is missing some features, including instances of dynamic lighting, reflective surfaces, simpler water textures, and in some levels, a skybox. Several levels were downscaled in terms of geometry, effects, and size. Due to RAM limitations, certain levels become unavailable for split-screen multiplayer. Several features from the PC version are also missing, such as the "Assault" game type due to map sizes being too large, and the female, robot and Nali War Cow avatars are not selectable player types.

Texture filtering differs considerably between the Dreamcast and PlayStation 2 platforms (with the Dreamcast having more texture filtering), and the Dreamcast version runs with an uncapped frame rate (as opposed to a locked 30 FPS on PS2). The Dreamcast maintains stable frame rates ranging from 45 FPS to 60 FPS, but occasionally struggles with larger maps, sometimes dropping as low as 15 FPS when under strain. However, at the time, the Unreal Engine was still being primarily developed for PC use, as console support did not become a major feature until Unreal Engine 2 (2002) and would not hit mainstream console development until Unreal Engine 3 (late 2005). It was not optimized for Dreamcast hardware; the original PC version of Unreal Tournament renders around 7000 polygons per scene,[2] a fraction of what other Dreamcast games rendered while maintaining 60 FPS, and the Dreamcast is capable of dynamic lighting.[3] Nevertheless, the Dreamcast version's frame rates are comparable to how the PC version ran on early 2000 PC hardware; the PC version maintained an average frame rate of around 40 FPS on graphics cards like the Nvidia GeForce 256, GeForce 2 GTS and ATI Rage Fury Maxx.[4]

The game has also been lightly censored in order to comply with standards and practices established by Sega at the time. Certain textures featuring nudity have been redrawn, however the PlayStation 2 version lacks any form of online play, and still lacks the amount of content seen in the PC version.

SegaNet members were granted access to two exclusive levels, Megaplex and Outskirts, via a paying membership. Due to the discontinuation of the Dreamcast's network capabilities and SegaNet, the feature can no longer be obtained through normal means. To unlock them without a SegaNet acount, with the Dreamcast Modem plugged in, navigate to the Network screen, select Account2, and enter the following variables:

Login: [email protected]
Password: tenages
Area Code: (Enter any three numbers.) Then select Connect and save settings.

Leave the other variables to their defaults, then select "Connect" and save settings. The two levels should then be unlocked.

Magazine articles

Main article: Unreal Tournament/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #137: "December 2000" (2000-10-30)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #141: "April 2001" (2001-03-06)
Logo-pdf.svg

Artwork

  • Ut Browser disc.png

Loading Screen Gallery

  • Ut load menu.png
  • Ut load deathmatch.png
  • Ut load ctf.png
  • Ut load domination.png
  • Ut load challenge.png
  • Ut load net02.png
  • Ut load net01.png
  • Ut load net03.png
  • Ut load net04.png
  • Ut load net05.png
  • Ut load net06.png

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
90 №112, p82[6]
87 №34, p50-55[7]
60 №98, p78[8]
Sega Dreamcast
 79
Based on
3 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
100% Consoles (FR) NTSC-U
86
[9]
576 Konzol (HU)
95
[10]
Bonus (YU) PAL
96
[11]
Consoles + (FR) PAL
90
[6]
Dreamcast: Le Magazine Officiel (FR) PAL
60
[12]
Dreamcast Magazine (UK) PAL
87
[13]
Edge (UK) PAL
60
[8]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
73
[14]
Entsiklopediya igr dlya Dreamcast (RU)
81
[15]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
83
[16]
GamesMaster (UK) PAL
81
[17]
Game Informer (US) NTSC-U
83
[18]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
76
[19]
Neo Plus (PL)
70
[20]
Neo Plus (PL)
90
[21]
Next Generation (US) NTSC-U
75
[22]
Official Dreamcast Magazine (UK) PAL
80
[23]
PSX Extreme (PL) PAL
67
[24]
Revista Oficial Dreamcast (ES) PAL
100
[25]
Sega Dreamcast
 81
Based on
19 reviews

Unreal Tournament

Dreamcast, US
UnrealTournament DC US Box Back.jpgUnrealTournament DC US Box Front.jpg
Cover
Unrealtournament dc us disc.jpg
Disc
UnrealDCUSInlay.jpg
Inlay
Dreamcast, UK
UnrealTournament DC EU Box Back.jpgUnrealTournament DC EU Box Front.jpg
Cover
UnrealTournament DC EU Disc.jpg
Disc
Dreamcast, FR
UnrealTournament DC FR Box Back.jpgUnrealTournament DC FR Box Front.jpg
Cover
UnrealTournament DC EU Disc.jpg
Disc
Dreamcast, DE
UnrealTournament DC DE back.jpgNospine-small.pngUnrealTournament DC DE front.jpg
Cover
UnrealTournament DC EU Disc.jpg
Disc
Dreamcast, BR
Unreal dc br backcover.jpgUnreal dc br frontcover.jpg
Cover
UnrealTDCBRManual.pdf
Manual
UnrealTDCBRInlay.jpg
Inlay

Technical information

VMU Features

Unreal Tournament can utilize VMU storage to save progress. It can carry eight save games for the Single Player mode and levels that are unlocked for play in Practice Mode.

Unreal Tournament Save Data
Name File Name Comment File Size Icon
UNREAL TOURNAMENT UNREALTO.SYS UT SAVE DATA 8 blocks UNREALTO vmu.png

References

  1. ↑ INTERVIEW WITH DREAMCAST UNREAL TOURNAMENT TEAM, IGN
  2. ↑ Unreal Modeling Guide, Unreal Developer Network
  3. ↑ Dreamcast homebrew engine: More dynamic shadows and lighting (YouTube)
  4. ↑ Tom's Take On NVIDIA's New GeForce2 GTS, Tom's Hardware
  5. ↑ Official Dreamcast Magazine, "Holiday 2000" (US; 2000-11-28), page 58
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 File:ConsolesPlus FR 112.pdf, page 82 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:ConsolesPlus FR 112.pdf_p82" defined multiple times with different content
  7. ↑ File:DreamcastMagazine UK 034.pdf, page 50
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 File:Edge UK 098.pdf, page 78 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Edge UK 098.pdf_p78" defined multiple times with different content
  9. ↑ 100% Consoles, "Avril 2001" (FR; 2001-0x-xx), page 98
  10. ↑ 576 Konzol, "Április 2001" (HU; 2001-xx-xx), page 40
  11. ↑ Bonus, "3/2001" (YU; 2001-04-25), page 38
  12. ↑ Dreamcast: Le Magazine Officiel, "Septembre/Octobre 2001" (FR; 2001-0x-xx), page 38
  13. ↑ Dreamcast Magazine, "No. 22" (UK; 2001-05-17), page 50
  14. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "May 2001" (US; 2001-04-03), page 104
  15. ↑ Entsiklopediya igr dlya Dreamcast, "Izdaniye chetvertoye, dopolnennoye" (RU; 2002-xx-xx), page 287
  16. ↑ GamePro, "April 2001" (US; 2001-0x-xx), page 94
  17. ↑ GamesMaster, "July 2001" (UK; 2001-06-13), page 93
  18. ↑ Game Informer, "April 2001" (US; 2001-0x-xx), page 78
  19. ↑ MAN!AC, "07/2001" (DE; 2001-06-06), page 72
  20. ↑ Neo Plus, "Kwiecień 2001" (PL; 2001-xx-xx), page 40
  21. ↑ Neo Plus, "Kwiecień 2001" (PL; 2001-xx-xx), page 54
  22. ↑ Next Generation, "June 2001" (US; 2001-05-22), page 88
  23. ↑ Official Dreamcast Magazine, "July 2001" (UK; 2001-06-21), page 50
  24. ↑ PSX Extreme, "04/2001" (PL; 2001-0x-xx), page 32
  25. ↑ Revista Oficial Dreamcast, "Julio 2001" (ES; 2001-xx-xx), page 48
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