Unreal Engine Project WIP

[CyAn1d3]

after stumbling upon this (and pulling my freaking hair out as to how in the hell i didnt know about it before  )

http://mycryengine.com/

im curious to know if anyone else around here has heard of this?
(aside from it obviously being the freeware version of the farcry engine)

looking through the tutorials it appears to be a real friendly engine that resembles how Max operates for development.

ill be posting what i get cooked up in it when i get things rolling with it.

[Nighthawk]

I got the package, but my old PC can't handle it.... some weird memory overflow problem.... BSOD... messy, really.

haven't tested it on W7 or 8 yet, but it should work on vista or on a 64bit system that actually works.

[CyAn1d3]

after a few issues with getting the proper Dx3d files installed, its running smoothly on my laptop.
(that 4 gigs of ram i dropped in a few weeks ago was worth the investment)

even the demo level for Farcry3 that comes with it runs BUTTER smooth.

INSTANT switch from development to game mode, with ALL AI interactions.

it comes with a SLEW of prefabricated trees and foliage (thank god)
as well as a character editor.

this program is a damn godsend for what im trying to pull off. its SUPER easy to get a grip on if your experienced with modeling software, and i already have my landscapes started.

the only thing ive yet to figure/find out is what format the model files need to be for me to model them in Max, (like my sword and character models) and drop them into the Cry Engine.

concepts in works, story is being written, modeling started, ive already got a sound engineer in the bullpen, and now i have a viable engine.
its safe to say i have now what i need to move my RPG forward out of just a "small hope"

[CyAn1d3]

well.. now ive discovered the UDK... downloaded it, and have done some (and still doing, hence my posting here) research into the matter, and now i have TWO viable engines to choose from.

so now im going to break down my fundimental opinions of BOTH editors, CryTek's Sandbox and Unreal's UDK, and get some opinions from outside viewers, and HOPEFULLY, someone whos familiar with this software...

also note ive NEVER seen these peices of software before, and have only spent the last 3 days POURING over BOTH websites and all resources associated..

ahem.

Sandbox:
Download:
http://mycryengine.com/
Resource Files:
http://freesdk.crydev.net/dashboard.action


(nice map ive been toying with)

immediatly the UI looks good, not too intimidating, nice, quaint.
most tools seem to be organized VERY similar to Max, also the UI behaves the same as well (pan, zoom, move etc.)
i like the fact that i can spawn in and play based off the perspective view with just a simple keystroke
also the demo map that comes with it loads easily and plays fine

Unreal Developers Kit:
Download:
http://www.unrealengine.com/udk/
Resource Files:
http://udn.epicgames.com/Three/WebHome.html



UDK... is a bit different.
the UI is SUPER intimidating.. and im not even sure i can even SEE all of it 
ive yet to accomplish anything in this program, i tried loading in a base game (with in intentions of dissecting it and learning from it), and things went HORRIBLY wrong. 
if i tinker with it more, im sure i can pick it up though.

can ANYONE give me some insight on the subjects?
(or would this question be best dragged to Excalibur forums?)

also, if anyone wishes to help out let me know.

[Nighthawk]

the unreal engine is incredibly versatile and adabtable.
this guy here created a tool to view and extract content from games using the unreal engine: http://www.gildor.org

you can easily see the amount of games it supports, it's just crazy.

the downside, is the lack of detailed (realy detailed) environments you can create.
but, if you aim for playability and moddability,.... unreal, all day.

[CyAn1d3]

the unreal engine is incredibly versatile and adabtable.
this guy here created a tool to view and extract content from games using the unreal engine: http://www.gildor.org

does this import functions as well or just content?

you can easily see the amount of games it supports, it's just crazy.

when i saw that the UDK is available, i literally dropped jaw due to the fact OF how many SICK FRIGGIN GAMES that engine has created.

the downside, is the lack of detailed (realy detailed) environments you can create.

this is kind of where the line in the sand gets drawn....

beings im in concept of a full on sandbox RPG, Sandbox (lol) seems the logical way due to the sheer GORGEOUS landscape it can produce.

this is how sandbox behaves fresh out of the box. ive done NO coding or paramater changes what so ever yet... except create the map..

the engine can accommodate the size of my continents BEAUTIFULLY, but i have NO clue as to how flexible this engine is to accommodate the features i want/need.. the documentation has yet to speak CLEARLY of this.

Mele weapon combat, spell/abilities, item system, skill system, quick spell/ability select system, POSSIBLY integrating Ai/Player controlled, in party NPCs during combat/free roam
and these are just the BASIC functions i need... Unreal i KNOW can do all this and hopefully, everything ELSE i want to throw into the mix.

im not going to sacrifice the possibility of being unable to implement basic core functions i want for "pretty scenery".... as unholy-friggin awe inspiring it looks in the end on Cry3.

unreal, since it IS such a widely used engine just seems the logical choice i guess.
both use C++ so im gonna HAVE to FULLY learn scripting with either....
(if anyone wants to help tudor me on C++ i shall surrender my first born... when/if i have one)

im gonna keep ahold of sandbox.. maybe build a FPS with it for kicks lol
who knows. i may kick out a quick M.A.C.O. mission for kicks ;)

[WileyCoyote]

This free CryEngine looks promising. I'm beginning to get some ideas.

[CyAn1d3]

This free CryEngine looks promising. I'm beginning to get some ideas.

they are endles...

ive now found that both behave identical now that ive found some tutorials on the GUI and can toy around better

for kicks i dropped my arsenal in unreal AS IS EXPORT through the FBX pipe to UDK:

(no the glows do not work)

i dont have to change gears much.

Cry3... it only came in without textures, as i lack Photoshop Cs4 (at least) to run the CryTiff plugin NEEDED for texture files..... cry3 ONLY works in its special Tiff format...

EDIT:

i would also like to point out the existance of a THIRD freeware game engine that according to those over at Excal forums, is
a very friendly engine. i shall test this tomorrow as well and post results!

Unity 3d
http://unity3d.com/

[Nighthawk]

does this import functions as well or just content?

just models, textures and animations

you might be able to extract scripts and similar stuff with UTPT or Dragon Unpacker.

I tryed unity3d, but it seems more like 2+1D
maybe with some advanced coding done to it, it could really give much more.... but as it is, I felt it kinda blend.

[CyAn1d3]

that's the impression i got of unity while looking over the site.

to me it looks like a very basic cut and paste engine.

I'm going to get my hands on a few of the unreal "dummy" games import them, and pull and save code functions i want/need tie them together and go from there.

i have to finish my character model first before i proceed with that.

[CyAn1d3]

and now my nightmare begins....

placing HAIR sheets....
(someone tell me im over stressing this...)


(all those hair segments are individually unwrapped to a single 512 with the alpha supplying the transparency)

heres what im SHOOTING for:
(rendered using maxs hair & fur)


wish me luck, ill post the results once i have them.

[CyAn1d3]

beard is "done"
wasnt as hard as i thought it would be placing hair sheets decently.

theres a few spots in the cheek stubble that look like they need some hammering out, but not bad for a first time if i say so myself
(looks a bit better than the standard hair plugin if you ask me).
next update should have ALL the hair in place.

[Nighthawk]

someone tell me im over stressing this...

what's your target? CGI short video? game? artistic rendering?

[ACES_HIGH]

you can probably replace some of that rendered stubble with stuff on the face texture.

[CyAn1d3]

what's your target? CGI short video? game? artistic rendering?

full on game brother.

you can probably replace some of that rendered stubble with stuff on the face texture.

id thought about that to be honest, it would probably look way better in the end