5 ms·

Am I cynical? The recent changes in Unreal 4 make me think the company is in extremely serious trouble. It's because they aren't addressing the key reason peopl

by hyp0 13y ago

Am I cynical? The recent changes in Unreal 4 make me think the company is in extremely serious trouble. It's because they aren't addressing the key reason people buy a graphics engine (viz graphics), but all this ancilliary stuff. While it is important, it's off center... But maybe they are just trying to fend off Unity (open source, a more coherent experience). Usually when companies do this, it's too late. I've no idea if that's the case here.

k00pa 13y ago
Haha. Note how many games have come out using UE3, think about the royalties coming in. Also, right now they have just about the best game-engine, only hobbyists and some indies would choose Unity, mostly because its easier. UE4 will definitely get several high profile games soon from big AAA companies. I would say that Unity is in deep trouble right now :P
- hyp0 13y ago
  note that disruption comes from below, not from big AAA titles...
  - untog 13y ago
    note that 90% of the profit comes from big AAA titles, not from below. ... I get what you're saying, but I think the Unreal Engine is going to continue to be a cash cow for a good while yet.
    - hyp0 13y ago
      Digital had bumper profits just before they went under - it's typical, as they go upmarket, to get greater profits. But I'll accept that you get what I'm saying. :) Another data point: id was killing it (and, to us, Carmack remains undisputed). But they completely lost out the next generation, to Unreal, because of vehicles. I don't think that'll happen here, just disclaimin' past performance is no guarantee of future success. Though, to be fair, the Quake engine underlied Call of Duty, the most successful franchise (I believe), and it really showed in the framerate. Note: no vehicles. And yes, past tense.
      - k00pa 13y ago
        They didn't even open the latest Id tech to public... They didn't even go to the game. It has nothing to do with vehicles.
        hyp0 13y ago
        It was an example of losing dominance, not to do with open. Re: vehicles. I'm going by what Carmack said in an interview.
        k00pa 13y ago
        That sounds really weird, do you have a source for that interview?
        hyp0 13y ago
        I agree it sounds weird! He was talking aboout the time around Unreal Tournament 2004, and at that generation, it was a big thing (kinda like waving grass was at one time). Sorry, I don't recall which interview (and it would be hard to google unless there's a transcript). It might have been one of his keynotes, perhaps the one with Rage on an iPhone. I'm pretty sure it was a long one (at least 1.5 hours). It was one of the big popular videos on HN/r/programming (not an esoteric one).
10098 13y ago
Last I checked Unity was a closed-source proprietary engine that I had to pay money for. I'd say they should start worrying about Unity when something like Unreal Tournament 2004 (a decade old game btw) comes out built with Unity.
- zanny 13y ago
  Maybe he means the Godot engine? I've heard a lot of newer kickstarters are eyeing it since it went FOSS.

by hyp0 13y ago

k00pa 13y ago

Haha. Note how many games have come out using UE3, think about the royalties coming in. Also, right now they have just about the best game-engine, only hobbyists and some indies would choose Unity, mostly because its easier. UE4 will definitely get several high profile games soon from big AAA companies. I would say that Unity is in deep trouble right now :P

hyp0 13y ago
note that disruption comes from below, not from big AAA titles...
- untog 13y ago
  note that 90% of the profit comes from big AAA titles, not from below. ... I get what you're saying, but I think the Unreal Engine is going to continue to be a cash cow for a good while yet.
  - hyp0 13y ago
    Digital had bumper profits just before they went under - it's typical, as they go upmarket, to get greater profits. But I'll accept that you get what I'm saying. :) Another data point: id was killing it (and, to us, Carmack remains undisputed). But they completely lost out the next generation, to Unreal, because of vehicles. I don't think that'll happen here, just disclaimin' past performance is no guarantee of future success. Though, to be fair, the Quake engine underlied Call of Duty, the most successful franchise (I believe), and it really showed in the framerate. Note: no vehicles. And yes, past tense.
    - k00pa 13y ago
      They didn't even open the latest Id tech to public... They didn't even go to the game. It has nothing to do with vehicles.
      - hyp0 13y ago
        It was an example of losing dominance, not to do with open. Re: vehicles. I'm going by what Carmack said in an interview.
        k00pa 13y ago
        That sounds really weird, do you have a source for that interview?
        hyp0 13y ago
        I agree it sounds weird! He was talking aboout the time around Unreal Tournament 2004, and at that generation, it was a big thing (kinda like waving grass was at one time). Sorry, I don't recall which interview (and it would be hard to google unless there's a transcript). It might have been one of his keynotes, perhaps the one with Rage on an iPhone. I'm pretty sure it was a long one (at least 1.5 hours). It was one of the big popular videos on HN/r/programming (not an esoteric one).

10098 13y ago

Last I checked Unity was a closed-source proprietary engine that I had to pay money for. I'd say they should start worrying about Unity when something like Unreal Tournament 2004 (a decade old game btw) comes out built with Unity.

zanny 13y ago
Maybe he means the Godot engine? I've heard a lot of newer kickstarters are eyeing it since it went FOSS.