This just in! Unreal II will eventually get a lot of missing features back into the game, thanks to the release of its Beta versions!
First of all, there will be full Network Support in Unreal II, for both SP and MP. This will be achieved by patching the game from 2002 (last official patch) back to Release Candidate 9 or by simply copying the relevant two .dll files to the current Unreal II installation (probably IpDrv.dll and UWeb.dll) and probably several UI scripts for the graphical interface.
Then it will have full bot support back - that is, finished Team Deathmatch, Deathmatch, Capture the Flag gametypes with intelligent bots, and probably even the finished previously Conceptual U2αXMP. Even more - there is an unfinished Tournament ladder, which takes the players into time travels, up to the 7 Day Siege of Earth. This also includes 3 brand new cutscenes, explaining the link between Unreal, UT2003 and UT2004. It even mentions certain facts about UT3, such as Twin Souls.
Moreover, due to the recovery of the lost levels that featured them, the missing weapons - Mind Claw, Skaarj Razik and probably Tractor Beam - will be reintroduced.
Talking about technology, it will have its MP3 support back in as well as 64bit application support (however, the code is identical to that of UT2004, so not much use). Older Beta versions also use the standard .PSK meshes, so they will be a lot more easily ported to UT2004.
Shortly put, all or almost all the cut content from Unreal II will be back in place, as written in these pages:
http://liandri.beyondunreal.com/Cut_content_of_Unreal_II
http://unreal2.xsa1.com/about_2.html
So, when will it be released? Due to Legend's bankruptcy and only 5 year copyright license, betas can be published even now; however, due to technical limitations, they will be delayed. It shouldn't take that long, though, but don't expect it sooner than July. But prepare to have a huge download - the full installed Unreal II RC9 is around 8GB - just like UT3!
There might be three questions left: 1. Why did Legend take out all of that brilliant content from Unreal II? Well, nobody knows. Probably so the game would fit on a CD, because DVD weren't much of an option those days. Or maybe so Digital Extremes could get more money from selling UT2003.
2. Is this true? Yes, although hard to believe, this whole thing is 100% true! You can listen to Unreal2.ogg from Unreal II soundtrack wile you wait for the release
3. Who has the betas? Well, if I published the name, that person would be attacked by "I want the beta sooner!" messages. If you are 100% sure you won't write messages like that (they will be ignored anyways, I said there are technical difficulties ), I could post the name.
First of all, there will be full Network Support in Unreal II, for both SP and MP. This will be achieved by patching the game from 2002 (last official patch) back to Release Candidate 9 or by simply copying the relevant two .dll files to the current Unreal II installation (probably IpDrv.dll and UWeb.dll) and probably several UI scripts for the graphical interface.
Then it will have full bot support back - that is, finished Team Deathmatch, Deathmatch, Capture the Flag gametypes with intelligent bots, and probably even the finished previously Conceptual U2αXMP. Even more - there is an unfinished Tournament ladder, which takes the players into time travels, up to the 7 Day Siege of Earth. This also includes 3 brand new cutscenes, explaining the link between Unreal, UT2003 and UT2004. It even mentions certain facts about UT3, such as Twin Souls.
Moreover, due to the recovery of the lost levels that featured them, the missing weapons - Mind Claw, Skaarj Razik and probably Tractor Beam - will be reintroduced.
Talking about technology, it will have its MP3 support back in as well as 64bit application support (however, the code is identical to that of UT2004, so not much use). Older Beta versions also use the standard .PSK meshes, so they will be a lot more easily ported to UT2004.
Shortly put, all or almost all the cut content from Unreal II will be back in place, as written in these pages:
http://liandri.beyondunreal.com/Cut_content_of_Unreal_II
http://unreal2.xsa1.com/about_2.html
So, when will it be released? Due to Legend's bankruptcy and only 5 year copyright license, betas can be published even now; however, due to technical limitations, they will be delayed. It shouldn't take that long, though, but don't expect it sooner than July. But prepare to have a huge download - the full installed Unreal II RC9 is around 8GB - just like UT3!
There might be three questions left: 1. Why did Legend take out all of that brilliant content from Unreal II? Well, nobody knows. Probably so the game would fit on a CD, because DVD weren't much of an option those days. Or maybe so Digital Extremes could get more money from selling UT2003.
2. Is this true? Yes, although hard to believe, this whole thing is 100% true! You can listen to Unreal2.ogg from Unreal II soundtrack wile you wait for the release
3. Who has the betas? Well, if I published the name, that person would be attacked by "I want the beta sooner!" messages. If you are 100% sure you won't write messages like that (they will be ignored anyways, I said there are technical difficulties ), I could post the name.