Unreal Engine 3 takes game engine graphics to the next level with “Samaritan,” a real-time demo revealed at the 2011 Game Developers Conference.

Now supporting DirectX 11, UE3 utilizes DirectX features such as tessellation and displacement, geometry shaders, multisampled textures and Shader Model 5.

High-end rendering features include:

• Image-based reflections that allow surfaces of any shape to reflect an approximate version of scenes, with varying glossiness across surfaces, anisotropic HDR highlights and anti-aliasing;

• Subsurface scattering (SSS) that simulates the light that scatters inside semi-translucent materials, which makes character skin come alive;

• Anti-aliased masked materials that super sample the edges of masked and alpha-tested materials, resulting in highly realistic hair;

• Deferred rendering with MSAA support;

• Bokeh depth of field providing close to film-quality DOF, with artist-controllable Bokeh;

• High-quality dynamic shadows from many lights on the environment.

Epic also worked with NVIDIA to implement APEX physics technology, which is illustrated by dynamic clothing movement in “Samaritan.” Other APEX features available now include turbulence and real-time destructibility.

All these cutting-edge features are now available in UDK.

via UDK.com

A remake to Flatline

Download: link

I’ve been fiddling around with this map for some time and never got to finish it…until now. Shard is a medium sized CTF map, with some areas inspired from vCTF-Necropolis, focusing more on infantry combat opposed to the vehicle combat on Necropolis. Enjoy

Note: The pathing for the bots is a little bit buggy. Once I fix the pathing I will reupload the map.

Download: link

Skidrow is a medium sized close quarters map for Far Cry 2. The maps focus is CQB and verticality, so watch those rooftops. Enjoy

Download: Link

Download link:

Megaupload

World of Level Design is shearing some level design tips for Left 4 Dead 2. Enjoy

Part 1

Part 2

via  World of Level Design

UDK is free for noncommercial and educational use. Licensing terms are available to those who wish to sell UDK-powered games or to create commercial products for business use at www.udk.com/licensing.

UDK ships demo content from Unreal Tournament 3 consisting of four maps; deathmatch, team deathmatch, and vehicle capture the flag gametypes; one robot character; three weapons; and four vehicles. In UT Demo, human opponents, blood and gore have been removed. Levels have been enhanced to showcase recent upgrades to UE3 technology. See udk.com/showcase-ut-game.html.

The UT3 editor is widely used for learning Unreal Engine 3, and now UDK provides all of UT3’s game creation tools in addition to high-level engine features developed since the game’s release. UT Demo is an excellent starting point for those looking to develop their own first-person shooter experience.

UDK website

UDK Developer Zone

The guys from World of Level Design.com have been collaborating with Techland, the developers of Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood to bring you a set of tutorials focusing on single player level design using ChromEd. Enjoy

CoJ User Content Site

Part 1: Mod Tools and Installation

Part 2: Interface and Navigation

Part 3: Creating Initial Environment

Part 3 Bonus: Creating Initial Environment BONUS

Part 4: Placing Object Props

Part 5: Custom Object Maya to ChromEd

Part 6: Roads and Rivers

Part 7: Brush Tool and Forester

Part 8.1: AI, Waypoints and Fightnodes
Part 8.2: AI, Action Chains and Sensors
Part 8.3: AI Scripts and Triggers
Part 8.4: Overview of Actions and Behaviors

Part 9.1: Setting Up Objectives
Part 9.2: Setting Up Objectives and Quests
Part 9.3: Overview of Item Types
Part 9.4: Map Optimization and Class Types

Part 10: Publishing Your Map

via World of Level Design

Small 1v1 map, based on a layout from a Q3A map a did couple of years ago. Enjoy

Download: Link