www.next-gen.biz/index.ph...6&Itemid=2
Quote:
In a brief press release today, Sega announced that it is licensing Epic Games Unreal Engine 3 for upcoming titles developed in North America. Next-Gen caught up with Sega's Dave Cobb for some quick comments.
Update: Added comments from Cobb
ImageUE3 is the same engine that powered Gears of War, and is also being used in a plethora of other titles through licensing agreements.
Sega isnt yet ready to announce which titles would be using the engine, only saying that several upcoming projects will utilize UE3. More details about the Sega games using UE3 will be announced this year.
Numerous other companies have signed on with UE3, including Electronic Arts, Sony Online Entertainment, Capcom, Square Enix, THQ, Atari, Gearbox, 10Tacle Studios, SCEA and NCsoft.
Sega of America VP of product development Dave Cobb told Next-Gen in an e-mail interview that proprietary technology will still play a role in game development at the firm.
"We plan to apply the [UE3] technology in a small number of specific games where it will allow us to achieve our vision more quickly and efficiently," he said. Many companies have resorted to using middleware such as UE3 to save on development costs. Chicago-based Midway Games, for example, said that it would be using an enhanced version of UE3 across its entire next-gen portfolio.
"We have our own proprietary technology that is very good, and we dont intend to replace that tech, but we want to take advantage of middleware when its appropriate to make our games even better," Cobb added.
For Sega, choosing UE3 was simply a matter of filling the company's needs. "Epic and the Unreal Engine 3 have a strong reputation in the industry and a proven track record," said Cobb.
Sega recently announced a number of upcoming titles that are currently in development that have a strong Western focus, including Condemned 2: Bloodshot and a new RPG from Supreme Commander studio Gas Powered Games.
I wonder if we're going to see some Sonic games made for UE3?
Could this be the answer to no more buggy gameplay? or will they do what they do best with Sonic.... give poor Sonic the fleas [bugs], and horrible camera angles?
