Raven Software's latest shooter

. The title, called Singularity, will be powered by Unreal Engine 3, and will even delve into mind-boggling things such as time shifting and quantum physics. Bending time to explode barrels? Sweet. Remember: It's just a jump to the left... and then a step to the right...

Lars Gustavsson, creative director for Mirror’s Edge, gave a talk that

. In it, he uses Mirror's Edge as an example as he talks about how sometimes, innovation takes precedence over execution - even if it leaves developers ripping their hair out.

The team came up with three ideas, and prototyped -- and then scrapped -- each one. "What the team quickly found out when we played it was that it’s very hard to control or see your limbs in first person shooters," he said, and at this point ideas from parkour and Prince of Persia were introduced.

"The team stepped back, and started with paper and pen, trying to sort out all the problems with the first person view," said Gustavsson. "Once they had it on paper, the next step was animations, trying to prove that it could work." Eventually, they prototyped it and found it to be fun.

Cory "Spoondog" Spooner, UT mapper extraordinaire and creator of maps such as the MSUC Phase 1 winner CTF-CBP3-Touch for UT3, has given his site a facelift after five long years. New features to his site include a database of all of his maps,

It's hosted right here on BeyondUnreal, after all. :)

Epic has released Patch 2.0 Beta 1 to specific testers and server admins. Besides the sweet-looking new menu chock full of more options and a sexy black color scheme as you can see below, the changelist is the same

, with the following additions:

• Try multiple STUN servers if first one fails. Fixes users incorrectly getting the "Your network configuration may not be compatible..." warning.
• Various localization fixes in all languages.
• Now writes mod config files to mod directory, and auto-find config files in moddir\config or moddir.
• Now autofinds localization files in moddir\localization.
• Now finds splash image in moddir\splash.
• Fixed gamespy rank query results. Now always properly centers the querying player in the returned list.
• Added a dialog warning users of nvidia driver version that are known to crash UT3, and to upgrade.

This patch is currently in private beta testing and not available to the general public. Please do not ask Epic for it.

Now that we've gotten a glimpse of what's in store for the UT3 fan base with the Titan Pack, doesn't it just get you excited? It should, and to show that excitement, join us for FragBU! Play with or against BU staff members and your fellow BuF'ers for two nights of fast and heart pumping matches spanning through DM, TDM, CTF, vCTF, and even WAR. If you've never been to a FragBU event before, don't worry, it's open to anyone who wants to join us for some good old fashioned friendly fragging.

Before you start, don't forget to check out the FragBU thread in the UT3 forums for download links to all of the custom content we use. There are quite a few large map packs like the excellent and often played HOLP1 and HOLP2 plus many stand alone maps which all see their fair share of map play. All of the content is available through the servers fast redirect, but it is recommended to download the files before you jump on the server if you want to jump in on the action right away.

To check on the status of the server without opening the game, you can either check the FragBU thread or log on to the official FragBU IRC channel at #fragbu on EnterTheGame where there's always plenty of people to help you out if you need any assistance getting on the server.

If you are patiently waiting on the server and it's currently empty don't fret, It may take a while but people will eventually join. Most players do not start joining until 10pm EST but people will join earlier if they see activity on the server. So just fire up the game and join up! If idling on the server isn't working and you do not want to wait any longer, bugging people in irc to join usually works!

We hope to see you there!

From RuneStorm, one of the hottest UT2004 mod developers (who also managed to pump out some award-winning UT3 models, by the way), comes the announcement of The Crucible for Unreal Tournament 3. The quality of their previous work alone makes this one mod you'll want to watch, but here are the details:

The Crucible is a new multiplayer based game, that will feature a unique 1st/3rd person combat and movement system blended with traditional FPS play. The Crucible will place a heavy emphasis on action, violent gun battles and brutal melee combat. Players will be afforded a great deal of customization for characters, gameplay and gametypes.

The ever-industrious firefly has readied a number of new level reviews over the last few days. In addition, you can now register at

to add a few current and future benefits to enjoy whenever you visit.

• (UT3) DM-CurseV Converted By D3tox 87/100
• (UT2k4) CTF-The Crypt By Mike D 70/100
• (UT) CTF-Dagnys-PussyWhIpPeD By [Ri] Dagny Taggart 46/100
• (UT3) DM-Phobos Station By Sphyncter 65/100

The long wait is over. Epic has finally revealed just what will be in the Titan Pack. Does it live up to its name? Well, here's just what it contains - for PC and PS3:

• Two new gametypes: Greed and Betrayal
• One new mutator: Titans
• 16 new maps: 6 Deathmatch, 4 Warfare, 3 CTF, 3 VCTF
• Two new weapons: Stinger Turret and The Eradicator Cannon
• Two new deployables: The X-Ray Field and the Link Station
• One new powerup: The Portable Slow Field
• Two new characters: Kana of the Ronin and Nova of Liandri
• One new vehicle: The Axon Stealthbender
• All due on: March 5, 2009. Two weeks! Really!

Sounds like an awful lot, doesn't it? It is! Possibly around 800 MB, according to the Epic guys. And no doubt you're hungry to learn more. Well lucky you, we just so happen to spill all of the juicy little details

As the fallout from Midway's bankruptcy continues, another sure sign of the publisher's peril came today

, carrying good on their earlier delisting threat from November.

In possibly related news, Midway has apparently

. While nothing has been officially announced by the ESA, Midway, a known member, is no longer listed on the group's

.

The Time Trials DLC for Mirror's Edge

. The DLC is available for $10 for PC and PS3 users, or the usual 800 Microsoft Points for 360 players. Just watch your step!

The news broke a few hours ago that American McGee's Spicy Horse Games

. However, if their

, there's a very strong chance that this game will use Unreal Engine 3... especially since they just added three new openings today.

We'll keep you posted on this as it develops.

NASA - the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for our non-US readers - might be the last people you think of making an Unreal Engine 3 powered MMO. But guess what?

, calling the game "Astronaut: Moon, Mars & Beyond."

The new game, which will be released next year, is being developed with input from past and current NASA astronauts as well as scientists, engineers, and GS level employees. As a result, all of the spacecraft, robotics, technology and gadgets in the game will be based on current NASA prototypes, offering a realistic journey into space.

"Players will pick a profession like a roboticist, space geologist, astrobiologist or mechanical engineer and work together as a team as they explore space and complete missions, establishing bases and outposts and traveling to the farthest reaches of the solar system," explained Jerry Heneghan, founder and CEO of Virtual Heroes, which has previously worked on the U.S. Department of Defense’s "America's Army" videogame. "The game will offer both individual challenges and team-based objectives to encourage players to use real-life applications of science, math and engineering to unlock new in-game vehicles, spacesuits, robotics and mining apparatus that will propel them further into space."

Another phase of the MSUC contest is now officially history.

LAS VEGAS – February 18, 2009 – Epic Games, Inc. today announced Phase 2 winners in its $1 Million Intel Make Something Unreal Contest. The competition rewards top mods created for Unreal Tournament 3 with cash and hardware prizes in four preliminary phases and a grand final judging. In this portion of the judging alone, a total of $70,000 in cash prizes will be distributed to mod authors who place each category.

"Intel is committed to unleashing developer innovation. The second phase of the $1 Million Intel Make Something Unreal Contest has delivered some of the most exciting and innovative Unreal Tournament 3 game mods ever," said Elliot Garbus, vice president Intel Software and Services Group, general manager Visual Computing Software Division. "This contest is just one of the ways that Intel's Visual Adrenaline developer program encourages developers and enthusiasts alike to get the most out of PC gameplay."

The Phase 2 winning mods will be showcased at the 2009 Game Developers Conference in San Francisco at the Intel Lounge.

"Epic's mod contest has provided benefits for both mod authors and the game industry alike," said Mark Rein, vice president of Epic Games, Inc. "Past winners have gone on to ship commercial games using the Unreal Engine, and several former members of the Unreal mod community have found jobs either with Epic or with companies licensing the Unreal Engine."

And now, without further ado... the list of winners, in order of finish.

Best Game Mod:

1. Prometheus by Rachel "Angel Mapper" Cordone and Prometheus Project
2. The Haunted by Michael Hegemann and The Haunted team
3. The Ball: Oztoc by Sjoerd "Hourences" De Jong and The Ball team
4. Angels Fall First: Planetstorm by Alex Drake and The Planetstorm Team
5. Snowreal by Michael Buettner

Best New Character or Customization Pack:

1. Xeno by Charles "EvilEngine" Jones
2. Egyptian Warlord Amenophis by David Hagemann
3. The Haunted by Michael Hegemann and The Haunted team
4. RuneStorm Crusader by Arn Reichart
5. RuneStorm Skeleton Minion Characters by Arn Reichart

Best New Vehicle:

1. XS Harpy by Jochem "Xyx" van 't Hull
2. Dispatcher by John Beswick
3. Sturm Gunship (ULA) by Alex Drake and The Planetstorm Team
4. Coda Horse by Nathan "Denrei" Aschenbach
5. Lav III by John Beswick

Best New Vehicle CTF Level:

1. Apex by Neil Hodges
2. TrainCrossing by Nathaniel Rossol
3. Defection_SE by Scott Coxhead
4. FrozenTomb by Robert Ghartley
5. Kelahf by Wael "cooloola" Ben Dhia

Best New Deathmatch or CTF Level:

1. SteamTemple by Thomas "Setheran" Browett
2. Arean by Daniel Diaz Gonzalez
3. Thor by Jesus Diaz Gonzalez
4. Worm by Claes "Nurb" Engdal
5. Dreary3 by Bryan Sparksman

Best New Warfare Level:

1. Flare by Thomas "Setheran" Browett
2. Tropico by Nick Donaldson
3. Meditation by Muhammad "MozI" Ahmed
4. RealGar by Opeyemi "Jayoplus" Ajayi
5. TanksForPlaying by Josh "CaptainSnarf" Turpen

Best Graphics in Map:

1. Tropico by Nick Donaldson
2. Worm by Claes "Nurb" Engdal
3. Krodan by Sjoerd "Hourences" De Jong
4. SteamTemple by Thomas "Setheran" Browett
5. Arean by Daniel Diaz Gonzalez

Best Use of Physics:

1. The Ball: Oztoc by Sjoerd "Hourences" De Jong and The Ball team
2. Cubes of Serenity by Anna Beck-Thomsen, Lawrence Johnson, Jens Hammerhøj, André Johansen, Martin Larsen, and Janusch Häring
3. CaptainSnarf's Modded Vehicles by Josh "CaptainSnarf" Turpen
4. XS Harpy by Jochem "Xyx" van 't Hull
5. Unreal Demolition 2 by Dan Weiss

Best Machinima:

1. DoubleKill - Episode 1 by David Tyner
2. Rebirth by Sergey Tomych

BeyondUnreal would like to congratulate all the winners and everyone who entered. Remember, Phase 3 begins in April 2009, so there's still time to score some cash and prizes... and who knows, maybe even your very own Unreal Engine 3 license!

As Midway's downward descent continues, official reports have confirmed today that

.

Specifically, Ubisoft will be responsible for the game's sales, marketing and distribution in North America, South America, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Ireland and the United Kingdom. Under the deal, Midway retains its future rights to the franchise, and the ability to sell the game in all other European territories.

Even though they've recently filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy, work at Midway will continue "business as usual" as far as employees are concerned.

.

The ruling Monday allows Midway to spend its cash to continue paying salary and expenses and to pay off certain critical vendors.

"Approval of these motions is an important first step in this planned and orderly reorganization, enabling Midway to continue to operate as usual during this process," said Matt Booty, Chairman and CEO. "We remain confident in Midway's ability to use this proven process to address our capital structure and explore our strategic alternatives."

UPDATE: Midway has a press release with full details.