PSX2 Smackdown!

February 15, 2000 4:51 PM

To wrap up some controversy from yesterday, Monolith first announced that it joined Sony's Middleware and Tools program for PSX2. Then, Jason Hall made a .plan update clarifying some of the press release and stating "As far as I can tell, LithTech is really the one and only complete 3D game operating system available to license as a middleware solution." Finally, after that, Tim Sweeney made an update to the Unreal Tech Page saying that they're also going to be a licensed middleware provider. He also went on the offensive, publicly bashing Monolith and LithTech 2.0 for no less than four paragraphs.

Now, there's a couple things to consider here. On speculation's front, the press release, though vague, may be saying that the engine is licensable right now and is the first one complete and ready for it. Even if that's not true, Jason did say "As far as I can tell," and a simple correction from Epic would have sufficed. Also, while Tim was bashing LithTech 2.0, nothing in Monolith's press release or Jason Hall's update talks about the PSX2 version of LithTech as being LithTech 2. Rather, it just mentions a PSX2 version of LithTech, which would mean a modified version of current technology. Also, as dirtypunk pointed out in the comments, Criterion's RenderWare 3.0 is a licensed middleware engine as well.

So with all that in mind, a new poll's gone up, and it's one of those "who's better" polls.

7:30pm update: Looks like we got another press release from Monlith while we're on the topic. They are announcing a "Massively Multiplayer Game Operating System" with Fox Interactive as a license.

Jack Mathews

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February 15, 2000 4:52 PM

Can I have a toco jack? I know u will nuke me