And yet again, this development may have already reached the ears of the Unreal Tournament-faithful, but we'll be attempting to update the uninformed still waiting for Unreal Tournament III (Mac, PlayStation 3, Windows PC on DVD, Xbox 360). In a past interview with Game Informer, Epic Games' lead producer Jeff Morris said, "Your [AI] teammates are individuals, with their own personalities."

 

And ever since, some UT fans have been whispering about the possible return of a few memorable bot "personalities" from Unreal Tournament classic. Alas, this news may dampen such lively spirits, for Morris' statement has been clarified in another interview with Australia's Gameplayer:

Unlike previous UTs, in single player youÂ?re controlling a distinct character, with his own personality, quirks, and likes/dislikes. Your team is also comprised of these fleshed out characters and their antics, both in-game and in the cinematics, help ground the over the top action that UT is known for into a strong narrative.

So rather, like Unreal Tournament classic, bot statistics will definitely come into play. But for Unreal Tournament III, that aspect has been improved considerably to 'flesh out' your chosen character and your teammates. This time, background ties down each of your companion's personality and their combat actions.

And because most UT-fans have been content to play offline with AI rather than online with cheaters, Morris states that Epic Games has created considerable content for those types of gamers. "This time around theyÂ?ve got a huge campaign to sink their teeth into," said Morris.

Although hopes that ace-gunner Tamerlane, counterpart ace-gunner Tamara, sharpshooting Loque, or bunny-hopping Kragoth may return have dimmed somewhat, suggesting their return to the Unreal Tournament limelight might be helpful. Who knows? Maybe Epic will listen. Besides, who wouldn't want to have ol' buddy Tamerlane watching your back?