Is Epic Citadel The Future Of Portable Gaming?
Breathtaking new free tech demo shows the way.
Published: 9:00, 02/09/2010 by Alex C [nofi].
9We all know Epic Games [url] make great looking games – from their inaugural ZZT through to the Unreal game (and, obviously Gears of War) the Californian developers have always created stunning titles with often groundbreaking graphics.
Yesterday, Epic released a free taster demo of something called Epic Citadel onto the App Store. Designed to showcase the technical qualities of their Unreal Engine, Epic Citadel is a stunning, powerful example of what the iPhone can do in the right hands. Yes, it needs a recent model (and obviously looks best on the iPhone 4) but this is a phone, and it’s running first gen PS3 level visuals.
Hyperbole? No, not really. Epic Citadel is pushing bump offset mapping, normal mapped buildings, texture blending, proper lighting (and shadows), convincing animation, realtime reflections and all at a gorgeous 960 x 640 resolution. Sure, it’s just a tech demo, there’s nothing to do in the ‘game’ other than wander around, but seriously, you need to check this out.
I don’t know what Sony have planned for the PSP 2 (and haven’t yet tried a 3DS) but in terms of visuals alone, I’m struggling to imagine either or them will be able to beat what the iPhone is doing right now. Even the controls work brilliantly, with floating move and look ‘joysticks’ or the ability to just ‘tap’ where you want to walk next.
If you have an iPhone, please, go check it out now.
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02/09/2010 at 09:17
Member since: Jun 2009
the shots look very impressive indeed. Unfortunately I don’t have an iphone.
02/09/2010 at 09:24
Member since: Aug 2009
I just downloaded it for my iPod Touch 3rd Gen and I must say the graphics look amazing even without having the retina display. I cannot wait to see what they have next but the iDevice’s are starting to pull out infront with the graphics, just look at RAGE.
02/09/2010 at 09:25
Member since: Dec 2008
Oh my word, those screenshots look stunning – downloading now!
02/09/2010 at 09:36
Member since: Forever
If games of this class are possible then along with the launch of Game Centre, Apple is going to be one to watch, the PSP2 is going to have to be stunning, and I don’t just mean tech-wise but with the PSN aswell because what we saw yesterday with the Achievements and Multi-player challenges the leaderboards and the whole central hub of Game Centre was very impressive indeed
02/09/2010 at 10:26
Member since: Feb 2009
is that what that big apple announcement was then? the game centre thing? i had been wondering.
anyway, looks nice if that’s real time, but i’d bet that it won’t look quite as nice once that’s running a game not just a tech demo.
i guess if an iphone can do graphics like that, i have less doubts about id’s claims about the quality of rage for that platform.
02/09/2010 at 10:39
Member since: Forever
Yeah, its real time
02/09/2010 at 10:16
Member since: Jan 2010
the iphone has a 480 resolution? wow.
02/09/2010 at 10:18
Member since: Forever
The iPhone 4 is 960 x 640, will amend.
02/09/2010 at 10:29
Member since: Dec 2008
Shiny pictures do not a great game make.
02/09/2010 at 10:56
Member since: Aug 2008
indeed, I’m also not particularly bothered about squeezing tech onto a handheld, id much prefer they worked on a new engine and optimise it as much as possible from the outset, rather than finally optimising 5 year old home tech.
02/09/2010 at 11:06
Member since: Jul 2009
Reminds me of the Unreal Engine 3 tech stuff and how no games have ever looked that good.
02/09/2010 at 11:16
Member since: Dec 2008
Hope there are plans to do something similar on the latest Android phones too…
02/09/2010 at 15:26
Member since: Jul 2009
Yeah, I hope so to.
02/09/2010 at 16:30
Member since: Mar 2009
why? you guys have all kinds of soundboards to play with
02/09/2010 at 11:24
Member since: Oct 2008
This is amazing, thanks for bringing this to light nofi !
I’m outside having a fag desperate to get back in the house to the wi-fi so I can DL this tight now, this is epic !
02/09/2010 at 12:13
Member since: Oct 2009
All apple need to do now is put some trigger buttons on the side of the Ipod with 2 analog sticks and some other buttons in the empty space either side of the screen (keeping the touch screen) rebrand it as an iGame or something with i at the start and watch as they sell a bucket load or maybe even 2 bucket loads (how much is a bucket load come to think of it?)
Of course none of this might never happen as Mr Jobs couldnt stand selling a nice sleek product with that many buttons.
02/09/2010 at 12:58
Member since: Aug 2008
I think you could leave out the part where anything is done with regards effort or production and simply label any random item i-something and watch Apple sell a bucket load ;)