A General Beta/Developement Discussion Thread (For the entire Unreal games too)

[TigerTheGreat]

It's a video in EscapePlay format from Eidos, same format as used in e.g. the first few Tomb Raider games. The enclosed player corrupted the video on my end even when launching in 16-bit color mode as it requested - colors were all wrong - but a different RPL player EscapePlay worked. I captured the video with OBS and here you go:

https://www.mediafire.com/file/pjpy5y2b ... x.mp4/file

[Leo T_C_K]

Do any of screenshots have any mention of

Cmbdm1.unr ?

Is it possible it was that circular deathmatch level that MMU/gamesharder (forgot which) remade?

Because theres a mention of this level and a bug that was fixed around 0.871d in tim's log.

Also there are mentions later of ToxicLite and ChizraLight, whether those were test versions or demo versions i have no clue, like that mini chizra level in the version i remember?

[Gamesharder]

Do any of screenshots have any mention of

Cmbdm1.unr ?

Not that I know about, no.

Is it possible it was that circular deathmatch level that MMU/gamesharder (forgot which) remade?

DM-Kran! Maybe, I guess.
Shameless promo: viewtopic.php?p=101660&hilit=dmkran#p101660

Because theres a mention of this level and a bug that was fixed around 0.871d in tim's log.

Also there are mentions later of ToxicLite and ChizraLight, whether those were test versions or demo versions i have no clue, like that mini chizra level in the version i remember?

There was a mention of ChizraLight too? Where? I couldn't find that.
This reminds me tho... once I made a .txt collecting the maps and other file mentions in TimOld & TimLog:

► Show Spoiler

1996:
seti.t3d (TimOld - 7-28-96)
SIOBHAN26a.ZIP (TimOld - 10-26-96)

1997:
Sky8 (TimOld - 1-4-97)
Sky8 (TimOld - 1-13-97)
Sky8 (TimOld - 1-22/23-97)
TestG.unr (TimOld - 1-27-97)
Balzar (TimOld - 1-28-97)
Sky8 (TimOld - 1-29-97)
Balzar (TimOld - 1-30-97)
TimLight.unr (TimOld - 1-31-97)
sky8 (TimOld - 1-31-97)
balzar (TimOld - 1-31-97)
spqr (TimOld - 1-31-97)
Starship.unr (TimOld - 2-12-97)
Nali.unr (TimOld - 4-29-97)
Extreme.unr (TimOld - 5-27-97)
Test.unr (TimOld - 5-27-97)
unrdm1.t3d (TimOld - 6-11-97)
Augh.unr (TimOld - 6-16-97)
Test.t3d (TimOld - 6-24-97)
AutoPlay.unr (TimOld - 7-26-97)
Cmbdm1.unr (TimOld - 8-3-97)
Balzar (TimOld - 8-3-97)
Balzar (TimOld - 8-20-97)
Morbius.unr (TimOld - 8-26-97)
extreme.unr (TimOld - 8-26-97)
ExplodingWall.unr (TimOld - 8-27-97)
Chizra60.t3d (TimOld - 9-4-97)
duality.unr (TimOld - 9-4-97)
toxiclite.unr (TimOld - 9-7-97)
EctsMaps.zip (TimOld - 9-7-97) ("Four of the maps we're showing at ECTS")
Server.unr (TimOld - 10-20-97)
myentrance.unr (TimOld - 10-25-97)
dig20.t3d (TimOld - 12-5-97)
Les98.unr (TimOld - 12-30-97) ("D:\Klingons.098\Maps\Les98.unr")
ISV-Kran (TimOld - 12-30-97)

1998:
dark.unr (TimOld - 1-15-98)
CTest.unr (TimOld - 1-30-98)
terrafix.unr (TimOld - 3-3-98)
wargate.s3m (TimOld - 3-5-98) (""halls of eternia" amazing!")
mit/vactor.unr (TimOld - 3-9-98)
Entry.unr (TimLog - 3-10-98)
Unreal.unr (TimLog - 3-10-98)
Bad.unr (TimLog - 3-27-98)
Bluff.unr (TimLog - 3-29-98)

[Leo T_C_K]

Its only present in the newest tim's log, not in the versions that end at march 1998 like the commonly seen one.

[Leo T_C_K]

The later version also has Tim Sweeney going all "FUCKIN' RAW!" over the state of the Unreal manual.

Manual changes
--------------

Overall: Run it through a spell checker!

Cover page: Take out the "F. Hardy" name. That doesn't belong!

Crappy sketch page: Crap! Burn it!

Story page: Replace "shittiest" with non obscene term.

anyways that screenshot yea...what was the original name of it though? it had some dm something in the name of the screenshot

but it might be that map for all we know.

Map mentions from the later version until release:



4-9-98
+ chizralight.unr

5-5-98
+ dmrefuse refuses to load

5-16-98
+ queenend.unr showstopper

[Gamesharder]

Newest Tim's Log? lol
Mind sharing some link to download?

[Leo T_C_K]

Newest Tim's Log? lol
Mind sharing some link to download?

Its called differently, Unreal1Log.txt I believe. And during the developement crunch Tim accidentaly started to date things "97" again.

Search for Unreal1Log in one of the archives of another game that we have. Its somewhere there.

[Gamesharder]

Ah, okay.
I didn't know what it was called. Thanks.

[Gamesharder]

Was Michiel van den Bos ever asked about what he called this specific track? Or did it even have a title?

[Leo T_C_K]

Ugh...not sure. I could ask him myself if his adress still works...but at later time..

[Gamesharder]

Interesting short teaser about a beta UT version. Not seen before, I think.
"CD launcher", DM-Keep...

https://discmaster.textfiles.com/view/4 ... alifax.mpg

[Leo T_C_K]

Wow never seen it and based on the filename i wouldn't find it either, how did you find it? but yea this is like only the second video that has it, the other one is one of the gamestar previews wasn't it?

[Gamesharder]

Yrex and I acquired a new beta version.

We might have messed up the build number for "180/181" because this new one is from May 12, 1998 (officially labeled as 167-28), a week after that beta version.

More info on this soon.

[Gamesharder]

VERSION 167-28 from May 12, 1998




BACKGROUND:
Back in May 2024, a new beta surfaced, it was compiled 2 weeks before the initial release of Unreal.
It contains quite unique changes and leftovers from the April builds and was given to testers (mostly magazines) to make previews for people.

This version of 167-28 was only 10 days away from Unreal being launched in North America.
Although it's really close from the final release, it still has some leftovers from the "May 7" beta (we don't know its actual build number still)

It's a really cool piece of history and needs to be preserved for the future.




PASSWORD:
You might need a username & password first time running this build, and thankfully, the combination for the "May 7" beta still works.
Username: delacroix
Password: mvous

SPECIAL THANKS TO:
-Ralph & Janet for providing us the files & scans
-Yrex for contacting
-ISV-Ruggywuggy for contacting


DOWNLOAD: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/kg9fwcr9 ... 2tvl1&dl=0

[GEARvision]

This is eye-catching stuff!

Now I can pass off as a time-accurate journalist who loves a good FPS!

On top of that, being the first one to play it before release!

Where is my Voodoo card...

[Neon_Knight]

Just a bit of a heads-up. I'm unable to check the Unreal Wiki as often as I did in the past, so if anyone wants to add the missing content to the pages, by all means, do so!

[Gamesharder]

Just a bit of a heads-up. I'm unable to check the Unreal Wiki as often as I did in the past, so if anyone wants to add the missing content to the pages, by all means, do so!

I was thinking about this. I should also update the screenshots page with the newer/better versions.

[Gamesharder]

A new footage of Unreal beta got released from the 1997 E3 event.

Two maps are being shown in action: an early version of Toxic and that unknown Nali-castle themed map.
And also a list of 8 maps, but they can't be seen because of the camera quality. Still, very interesing!

Credits to Akage "THEBaratusII" Megane for finding this!



Source: https://archive.gamehistory.org/item/66 ... 5437f35722

[Gamesharder]

A little update on the mentioned video above:
I asked Myscha via email since it reminded me of his maps (Bluff Eversmoking, DASA etc.)
He said the following:

This looks like a basic demo castle map I made for E3, which was in Atlanta, Georgia.

We barely had enemies, weapons, or textures then, but the goal was to show off lighting.

[Gamesharder]

I've made a full reconstruction of 'Midian' in beta version 0.84



Upon further inspection of the screenshots, I realized the "missing" area with the well had a dedicated space on the map once.
For those of you who don't know, variations of Midian were leaked with the PSX build, as it was once considered for the project to be used.
These versions are bare-bones with little to no texture work on them, but like 80% of the original geometry is intact!
I know there's already some conversions of Midian for older builds, but I wasn't really happy with them, as they didn't include the said missing area.

Here I've made 4 different variants; one is a "modern" version of Midian and the other is what I consider an "earlier" one,
both having few gameplay elements for fun.
And two versions of said maps with no extra stuff (no weapons, enemies, etc.)


DOWNLOAD: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/1qnvtvot ... bk32j&dl=0


Please note that these maps ONLY work on build version 0.84!
Here's a link to download the beta: https://geocities.ws/yrex/mojunreal/beta/games.html

[Gamesharder]

A new footage of Unreal beta got released from the 1997 E3 event.

Two maps are being shown in action: an early version of Toxic and that unknown Nali-castle themed map.
And also a list of 8 maps, but they can't be seen because of the camera quality. Still, very interesing!

Credits to Akage "THEBaratusII" Megane for finding this!



Source: https://archive.gamehistory.org/item/66 ... 5437f35722

Leo asked to share his insights about this map:

There is more to this level than is being shown, but it's certainly not just a castle demo level, because they recycled it in 1998. aIt's possible that it was included to be part of the level pack or the real shareware version. The start of the video is not on a balcony, but that is the bridge, according to what my mom saw, it leads to the balcony if the player didn't jump down. There is a whole section before it with the actual chapel and a section with a case, lava, and lifts, as far as I remember. It got more detailed later, I guess. Still, it is a significant level, maybe it was intended or even shipped with the missing OEM version. The thing is, Martin had that computer borrowed, and it was an existing save game, we didn't see how it started or ended or what levels preceded it or what not. And I don't know for sure what was the actual level title. We can only speculate if it was Rrajigar Castle, or the Mountain Fortress, etc., but I'd swear that on the actual balcony that is not seen here, you could see birds and sky below, so that would place it either like DM-Peak, high in the mountains, or the sky islands.

I see the so-called pedestal. It reminds me of the thing that the shield belt is on in DM-Villa2. As for the rest, what is seen on the screenshot, I cannot confirm for sure that it is the same map, but it's possible. The map reminds me of LowerSON. I see a small staircase with rectangular doors that are like the ones in NaliC basement. Except for the stones, I do not see resemblance to Myscha's style.

Back in 2008 I spoke to Eric Reuter, and he told me that someone who worked on Unreal turned out to work on QuakeMP1. It turned out to be Mike Wardwell, even though he said it might have been Doctor Sleep. I know that Wardwell made at least two maps in 1997, he confirmed that much to me. I had heard it described in the video again for context, so now I know and remember where it takes place. The texturing is a little different, hence why I didn't recognize it.

Ok so you jump down from the bridge, and then you get attacked by the Krall. If I remember right, they first spot you and then run away, but then they pop back behind pillars in the next rooms. But obviously if you wait long enough, they come back for you.
On the bridge you can see a grate on one side for a moment. It probably leads to one of the locations I talked about. Like, one side goes to the church/chapel, and the other to the balcony at the outside of the castle where you could see the sky below, so it could have been like DM-Peak.

I have some working theories about where this fits, and if I recall, it was a map during a day. So possibilities are: former SkyBase (unlikely), level pack (original NaliC2), OEM/Shareware exclusive (more likely). Or it could have simply been that he had multiple beta versions and other work in progress stuff. In the E3 version this was probably instead of Dark Arena, so it was the Shareware Castle and Rrajigar Castle must have inspired the location in the book. Remember, it was one of the book authors that gave me the design docs and surviving Vortex2 screenshots, which were from the E3 version too. It could have been a joint effort or simple map by Cliff, I don't know how similar the place where ASMD is in Elsinore, if it's any similar to where the Automag is on in this castle map.

It was the most difficult official Unreal level I had played back then, maybe with the exception for both match in DM-Villa and DM-Tundra because of the spawn kills. You don't just make that for a little showcase. The level that Myscha means is most likely the one in the first 1996 trailer, which was an E3 trailer, he told me about it many years ago. Also, take a good look at the QuakeMP1 Episode 2 maps, many of them have elements of Myscha's and Shane's work, yet it was Mike Wardwell who was on both teams and not them. Nivlek was also another guy often copying styles, like that goes without saying.

You don't see even most of the level in that video, and there's more, according to my mom, who saw both the video and the original level (not as much as me, though). At some point you can see a grate up there or a door. To the left was the outside balcony with Skaarj, in a similar way like on Nali Castle, and to the right there was the church. All those maps feature shared elements. I mean the cut maps featuring the castle, like Amethyst, Triton, this, DM-Keep etc.
As for the similarities you lifted, I would include pluff when it comes to the Quake levels.

[Gamesharder]

More from Leo:

This is something I meant to write before but things were busy: I am not too sure I think those grates with the wooden bar were or might have been on this map, the ones Nivlek used in NaliC2. Or it was at least similar. I also told earlier that it might have been another location from the book, but now I think it's unlikely. And that would have been Polgat Ruins. Also the balcony was more like the ones around towers at for example white palace, it went half circle towards the opposite of where those Krall are, as that's also the only place it could physically fit.