The second thing you notice when starting UT 2003 is the new interface. Gone is the Windows-like setting, and in it's place is the brand new menu system. The hope was to update the older look of Windows with something newer and slicker. And I believe that they have succeeded. It isn't vastly different than say, the Quake III type menu, but it is definitely more fitting with the overall package. You have the standard video, sound, control, network, and option settings. Joining a multiplayer game brings up a Quake III-type server list. The player select screen has been seen before, and all that needs to be said about it is that it works very well. You can scroll through player models in sets of about ten by family (Juggernauts, Anubans, Nightmare, Automatons, Gen Mo'kei, and 7th Battle Fleet). I can't think of any option from UT that didn't make it in to UT2003. The GUI is still not finalized and all of what I saw is subject to change.
The HUD has changed significantly, and the weapons HUD still had not been implemented in the build I tested. All of the changes that you were able to make to the HUD in UT are still possible. The size, color and transparency can all be altered. I asked about being able to drag and drop parts of the HUD where you wanted them. Pancho said that they had wanted to do that as well, but the coders disagreed so it remains as is.
Voice communication will not be a part of UT2003. I bring this up solely because there has been much speculation over whether or not it would be included. It's simply one more thing to have to add, and there are several good, free voice communication programs out there. The taunt/command menu however will be changed, however, to add lots of new ones. An emphasis was placed on adding more positive things to say and to include more team oriented comments.
I did ask if a map vote system such as BDB Map Vote would be implemented, but Panco said that it probably would not. Adding something on like that in a patch after the game is released is a possibility.
Custom skins and player models were vastly underused in Unreal Tournament online play because of the system used to handle them. I asked if there were changes being made in this area and found that is an aspect of the game that is still being addressed. The system should definitely be better. They are working on making it easier to handle, but are undecided on exactly what will happen with it.