Ageia PhysX is stepping up its efforts to generate physics-heavy mods for Epic's Unreal Tournament 3.
Last November, the physics processor maker introduced the PhysX Mod-Kit for Unreal Tournament 3 (UT3), which was designed to allow developers and modders to customize existing levels as well create new content with physics-based enhancements for the multiplayer shooter. While Epic's Unreal Engine 3 already supports Ageia's technology, the PhysX UT3 Mod Kit provides additional tools, guides and other material for additional enhancements and customized content.
Ageia made the first PhysX UT3 Mod Kit available last December and in addition, the company released two PhysX-powered mod levels for UT3 - "Tornado" and "Lighthouse" - to show off the capabilities of the mod kit. The Tornado mod, which was introduced at the Leipzig Games Conference last year and also demoed at CES 2008 this month, is a completely new capture-the-flag map that includes a PhysX-powered tornado which roars through the battlefield. The tornado itself can damage structures, players, and even cause rockets and projectile weapons to change direction. The mod, which was jointly developed by Ageia and French studio Game Consulting, became a popular download along with the LightHouse map, according to Ageia's vice president of marketing Michael Steele.
The Tornado mod map from Ageia and Game Consulting.
In fact, Steele said the response was so good the hardware maker decided to release another kit and roll out more mod levels for UT3. Ageia's PhysX Mod Kit 2 is scheduled to arrive next month, and the release will also include a new PhysX-enhanced version of the death match map Heat Ray. The second kit will provide modders with additional maps and tools for level morphs and PhysX "mutators" that can add destructible environments (including walls, floors, trees and other structures) and physics effects to UT3. While the mods can technically be played without the PhysX Accelerator hardware, the Ageia processor is needed to play the levels at sustainable, playable frame rates on most systems, the company said.
Ageia says it hopes to stimulate interest in physics through its UT3 mod kits and level packs. The mods could also help UT3 itself; the game was one of the most anticipated titles of the 2007 fall/holiday season but it experienced disappointing sales on the PC and PlayStation 3 (UT3 will be released for the Xbox 360 as well as the Mac and Linux this year). "The physics for these mods isn't superficial; it actually affects gameplay," Steele said. "So we're hoping to impress the importance of physics on a younger generation of gamers who enjoy modding and who will go on to become developers themselves some day."
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