first person shooter
Samus, Unreal Tournament III's Newest Contender
Posted by Mark Wilson at 4:40 AM on April 5, 2008
After transplanting Master Chief from his warm, green home on the Xbox 360 to the PlayStation 3, it was hard to imagine a greater iconoclastic modder offense...but one may have just happened. The newest entrant to the UTIII unlicensed mods club is this Samus Aran skin. Play Metroid, kinda, on your PS3!
As Microsoft explained before, there's nothing illegal about creating or downloading such mods. But that doesn't mean Epic will pay you $US 1,000,000 for one. Their Make Something Unreal Contest bans the use of "third party intellectual property, including, but not limited to software, images, characters, logos, names and trademarks." Still, some pranks are so good, they're worth the free work.
Character - Samus Aran [UT3Mod via PS3Fanboy]

Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
Ninja Catfish
Posted April 6, 2008 4:14 AM
What I wanna know is, when are these mods gonna be available for the PC version?
Tale
Posted 5:21 AM 5/4/08
I'm still waiting for an Old Snake and Kos-Mos skin. Then I'll buy UT3.
Tale
DaiMacculate
Posted 5:21 AM 5/4/08
@Herby: You're right, here is the direct Link for both platforms:
[alcor.planetquake.gamespy.com]
Just to make it a bit easier ;)
DaiMacculate
TheInquisitor
Posted 5:19 AM 5/4/08
@MeleeKirby: I agree using the cannon would have been the best idea ever.
TheInquisitor
Herby
Posted 5:18 AM 5/4/08
@MeleeKirby: This mod is definitely available on the PC. Just follow the link to the authors site.
Herby
Herby
Posted 5:17 AM 5/4/08
Alcor43 is the man when it comes to making these characters. He has made over 23 already. Make sure to give him some props.
Herby
MeleeKirby
Posted 5:16 AM 5/4/08
That looks pretty damn nice, though at the same time, it feels odd that Samus isn't actually using her arm cannon at all and is holding a seperate weapon instead. But if this mod's also available on the PC then I'll get it soon. :)
MeleeKirby
kw4k
Posted 5:15 AM 5/4/08
i enjoy the UT series. anticipated on getting this later, then sooner, but now i simply MUST HAVE. the chief and samus? wowwee
kw4k
this_will_be_fun
Posted 5:14 AM 5/4/08
awesome! I might have to buy this game!
this_will_be_fun
DaiMacculate
Posted 5:10 AM 5/4/08
@TheTime: I must have missed the detailed expose' that proved Nintendo was totally at fault in the Goldeneye XBLA thing.
I had tons of Mario models for both Q3A and UT, I don't recall a big fuss over those. As long as the artwork is basically original, this is just a 3D version of the very same fan-art Nintendo itself publishes in Nintendo Power. If anything, its free advertising for Nintendo.
Now, if somebody did a whole Metroid Prime Map Pack and, more importantly, tried to Charge money for it, that would be a different story ;)
DaiMacculate
TheTime
Posted 5:06 AM 5/4/08
Nintendo is going to piss and moan after all they are bitter rivals. Remember the I want to add a CD drive to your system thing, yeah I though you would. And the **Nintendo Crying** "MS you cannot have golden eye on you live arcady thingy, you just cannot. !@#$ Nintendo and all there assets.
After all they are a child(Maturity level) company.
TheTime
Wyld
Posted 5:06 AM 5/4/08
It´s ok?
Let´s make naked female porn stars 3d models on it and see if noone will take legal actions then.
Wyld
Double J
Posted 5:05 AM 5/4/08
Holy shit! I know what I'm downloading when I'm off of work.
Double J
Blah-Blah-Blah
Posted 5:03 AM 5/4/08
Hell yah it does. That would own too!
Blah-Blah-Blah
TOCATL
Posted 5:01 AM 5/4/08
That games needs LEON from RE4 mod...
TOCATL
nxp3
Posted 5:01 AM 5/4/08
What's next...Mario?
nxp3
ErskinPig
Posted 5:00 AM 5/4/08
OMFG!!! Custom modelzzz!!! Gamin revolutionzz!!!!!11!
Meh.
ErskinPig
Cchrist
Posted 5:00 AM 5/4/08
No i don't want to see samus! I want to see Luigi shooting a rocket up Toads ass!
God i hate that mushroom headed git.
Cchrist
Seiven
Posted 4:59 AM 5/4/08
must download today...but damn the screen shot has a clipping error on her foot
Seiven
Kyle81
Posted 4:59 AM 5/4/08
Legal or not, guess what, most companies don't care. They are simply fan made mod skins, and you can only see them if you download them. Mods like these have been around forever and rarely do mod makers ever get told to stop or in trouble.
Kyle81
Blah-Blah-Blah
Posted 4:59 AM 5/4/08
UT# on my PS3 is being bought TODAY. I love my PS3!!! What happens if they make a whole Metroid game mod in UT3 on PS3? That would OWN.
Blah-Blah-Blah
Gambare
Posted 4:59 AM 5/4/08
@ManjiKengo:
um.... nevar?
Gambare
akwinters
Posted 4:58 AM 5/4/08
@Tale: So basically MS just confirmed something that's effectively law anyway?
Oh well. I doubt Nintendo would chase them up even if it wasn't legal.
akwinters
DaiMacculate
Posted 4:55 AM 5/4/08
Wow, I'm downloading it now...95.6 MB? Is that a standard size for UT models, or did they do a bunch of other ones and maps to go with Samus? I'd check but I'm at work, UT3 is installed on my home PC ;)
DaiMacculate
exkon
Posted 4:53 AM 5/4/08
Damn it MS you BETTER allow MODS on the UT3 version of the 360..and for the LOVE OF GOD PLEASE SUPPORT KB/M!!! PLEASE!!
exkon
Tale
Posted 4:52 AM 5/4/08
@tsolfan: Microsoft's Game Content Useage Rules are due to case law and Fair Use, not Microsoft's decision. The same rules still apply. It's a small portion(only a character design), that's not for profit, and does not reduce the value of any Nintendo IP.
Tale
ManjiKengo
Posted 4:52 AM 5/4/08
so....when's the user generated content gunna be on xbox 360?
ManjiKengo
PatMan33
Posted 4:51 AM 5/4/08
Nintendo is stingy about this stuff, I wouldn't be surprised if they demanded it be removed.
PatMan33
Mr.SithNinja
Posted 4:51 AM 5/4/08
I wanna see Kratos packin heat! I may have to buy UT3 now....
Mr.SithNinja
eastx
Posted 4:50 AM 5/4/08
UT 3 is looking more and more attractive.
eastx
Japanese_Monk
Posted 4:50 AM 5/4/08
There are some better fotos @ Gspot.
[www.gamespot.com]
Japanese_Monk
akwinters
Posted 4:50 AM 5/4/08
Actually, I think in this instance it is illegal - unless of course Nintendo has a similar license to MS in regards to user-created content like machinima. The only reason why it's legal to have Master Chief in UT3 is because MS specifically allowed this sort of thing, to accommodate all the machinima and such. Somehow, I seriously doubt that Nintendo has such a license.
Whether they'll chase up the creators about it or not though, I really don't know.
At least that's my understanding of it, anyway. Though if I'm wrong, feel free to call me a complete and utter fucking moron, or just correct me politely. I'm thick skinned enough to take the abuse. :)
akwinters
liquid_kore
Posted 4:49 AM 5/4/08
I dont know much about mod stuff. If someone downloads this can they use it whenever or can they only use it with people who also have it?
liquid_kore
Acunia
Posted 4:49 AM 5/4/08
@tsolfan: Yup, the same would happen if they did a Duke Nukem mod. They would pul the plug on it in an instant.
Acunia
IntelSilver
Posted 4:49 AM 5/4/08
Snake, Megaman and Fox McCloud.
I want those.
IntelSilver
Neomatrix002
Posted 4:48 AM 5/4/08
I will agree that the modeling is fairly spot-on, but I suppose I'm just irked by Samus actually holding a gun in her power suit. It just feels really out of place to me ... kinda like Snake in Smash Bros. Oh wait, that's awesome and so is this!
Neomatrix002
tsolfan
Posted 4:47 AM 5/4/08
@Mark Wilson:
"As Microsoft explained before, there's nothing illegal about creating or downloading such mods."
Actually, that's due to Microsoft's Game Content Usage Rules, which is only applicable to Microsoft games:
[www.xbox.com]
Since this is a Nintendo property, needless to say, the same rules do not apply.
tsolfan
lonecow12
Posted 4:46 AM 5/4/08
Well I will have to buy a PS3 and UT3 now....
lonecow12
excel_excel
Posted 4:45 AM 5/4/08
WOW!! Thats fantastic!!! Near perfect!!
excel_excel
Kyle81
Posted 4:43 AM 5/4/08
Wheres my Snake mod
Kyle81
Japanese_Monk
Posted 5:42 AM 5/4/08
@DaiMacculate:
I guess you DID miss the expose. It was everywhere. 1up was one of the main sources. But if you read below you can see what actually happened.
[www.gamesarefun.com]
Japanese_Monk
uranutan
Posted 5:42 AM 5/4/08
I want a PS3 more and more every time I see this game. I don't have the kind of PC that can run this at good settings, and mouse and keyboard control + mods= no reason to buy the PC version.
uranutan
v12qborony
Posted 5:24 AM 5/4/08
that's crazy Still gonna wait and hope for another ps3 price drop. But does that mean people are playing multiplayer games as the chief and Samus?
v12qborony
Blah-Blah-Blah
Posted 5:53 AM 5/4/08
The kool thing about the version of UT3 is that you can use Mouse and Keyboard. Very sweet indeed.
Blah-Blah-Blah
lonecow12
Posted 5:51 AM 5/4/08
@TheTime:
Yeah or how about the time they put Snake in SSBB and then made direct references to MGS 3 and 4, two games that will never be on their system, basically free advertising for their competition.
Jerks!
lonecow12
DaiMacculate
Posted 5:50 AM 5/4/08
@Japanese_Monk: Nowhere in that Story is there any concrete evidence to support either company being primarily at fault, or even credible details about what the conflict was precisely about.
A lot of "apparently" and "supposedly" does not credible Journalism make, after all.
DaiMacculate
slomo788
Posted 6:42 AM 5/4/08
UT3 owners, there's also a new map with destructible environments. I'm going to check it out RIGHT NOW!! *giggles and runs*
slomo788
Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.
Posted 6:38 AM 5/4/08
Sorry guys but that model is bad and it's glitchy. I downloaded it last night and it doesn't look anywhere near as good as the Metroid Prime Samus and it's laughable comparing it to the other character mods for the game. first of all, too many of the details are textures instead of geometry and the proportions aren't right. Samus's helmet is too big and the shoulder pieces look awkward. To make matters worst, the mod caused a texture/color glitch in the maps I used it on and the Master Chief mod when completely wonky until I deleted the Samus mod.
So before you guys get all moist over this...wait for a better version because this one might be decent in it's own right but as a UT3 mod, it's not worth downloading and it looks like crap compared to the Metroid Prime Samus.
Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.
DaiMacculate
Posted 6:27 AM 5/4/08
@Japanese_Monk: I didn't say everything was right except for the part about Nintendo, but there are no sources listed for this at all. For all we know it was Nintendo's fault, but we don't know, not really, and that was all I was getting at in my original post to TheTime.
I could show you a ton of old GamePros from the 90s (if they hadn't been tossed already of course) claiming hands-on knowledge of games that never existed; some even had screens. This article, without any sourcing, is just as credible as those articles were in my eyes.
DaiMacculate
jdmwhitey
Posted 6:25 AM 5/4/08
mario mod is next. who doesn't want to get tea bagged by a fat plummer?
jdmwhitey
humongous_mouse
Posted 6:24 AM 5/4/08
"As Microsoft explained before, there's nothing illegal about creating or downloading such mods."
Its amazing how Microsoft interprets Copyright Law. Metroid, design, concept and scenario; is the Intellectual property of Nintendo Co. Ltd. There's nothing illegal about creating fan mods *for your own personal use*, but when everyone starts distributing Samus Aran all over the public domain without Ninty's consent or permission is when things get VERY UGLY indeed.
@TheTime: Geez, you are such an ignorant fanboy, especially since this is old news. Your 'rant' proves you know nothing about the legality surrounding that game. Nintendo, Microsoft, MGM and Activision all have an equal stake in GoldenEye 007 development, because it is afterward, James Bond.
If you want to blame someone, then best blame everyone seeing as all capitalist parties refuse to cooperate, but don't single out only Nintendo for -YOUR- bitterness.
humongous_mouse
Japanese_Monk
Posted 6:23 AM 5/4/08
@DaiMacculate:
Well cmon now. Even 1up was saying the same thing. How did they get these images anyway? So everything about the story is legit except for the part about Nintendo?
I understand that people need to have doubts in certain situations, but people who think things aren't confirmed until they are confirmed irk me.
Japanese_Monk
sascha23
Posted 6:21 AM 5/4/08
Looks like Epic was right when they promised constant additions to the game. Unfortunately, I'm not a big fan of online games or I would be all over this.
I need a strong single player element or I lose interest fairly quickly.
sascha23
TheTime
Posted 7:12 AM 5/4/08
@humongous_mouse: Umm. Don't knock the messenger I'm going by an article posted on Jostiq.com 1up.com and xbox360fancoy.com
Oh and engadget.com
TheTime
slomo788
Posted 7:06 AM 5/4/08
@Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.: Yeah I'm very impressed. There's also a mutator that unlocks enemy vehicles and one that allows vehicles in all the maps of the game.
Just unpacked Samus. Not as great as MC. Looks too cartoony for the UT3 environment.
slomo788
Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.
Posted 6:56 AM 5/4/08
@slomo788: yeah, it's Tiberium (remake-2) but that's not what you should be running for...
Wizard is available from Halo, it's awesome too. The original Tiberium is totally kick ass and no deserves to keep their UT3 if they didn't download Downpour. there are over 8o maps available for the game between DM, CTF, VCTF and Warfare. The Action Cam is awesome and you can get a mutator that will allow the PS3 version to run as fast as the PC version. UT3 as of right now has more content than any other FPS in the console market.
Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.
x3sphere
Posted 7:33 AM 5/4/08
@Tale: I'm no legal expert, but even if this is under fair use, they can still send the modder a C&D as a scare tactic.
Companies have done this before with many fan related game projects. I don't forsee Nintendo doing anything though unless the mod gets popular.
x3sphere
Arteen
Posted 8:44 AM 5/4/08
@Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.: It looks bad enough in the screenshot as it is. I don't want to see that thing in motion. :(
Arteen
excel_excel
Posted 9:08 AM 5/4/08
@TOCATL: Aww man!! Leon would be awesome in this one!! I totally forgot about him!
excel_excel
SuperMekman
Posted 11:09 AM 5/4/08
Super Head-shot-brothers!
SuperMekman
SuperMekman
Posted 11:08 AM 5/4/08
Samus Mod! Woo Hoo! Now where's an awesome Link skin. Do that and I'll get a PS3.
SuperMekman
GhostWhoWalks
Posted 12:31 PM 5/4/08
Awesome. Now if only I had UT3...and could afford a PS3...*cough*
GhostWhoWalks
KM91
Posted 1:57 PM 5/4/08
Nice. Except for that feeling that guys get when they're beaten by a girl.
KM91
Sabre_Justice: Okay, no more long name.
Posted 1:53 PM 5/4/08
With this, we can have a showdown between Samus Aran, Master Chief, Duke Nukem, Turok, Rambo (same thing), Elvis, James Bond, Gordon Freeman and Mr Rogers.
Fighting over the Companion Cube.
Sabre_Justice: Okay, no more long name.
GhostWhoWalks
Posted 4:19 PM 5/4/08
@Sabre_Justice: Okay, no more long name.: My vote's for Mr Rogers. That man's terrifying in a warm and friendly sort of way.
GhostWhoWalks
Fireblast
Posted 6:33 PM 5/4/08
Next they need a Zero Suit Samus mod. A Megaman (from Legends) mod would be awesome too. Possibly a Sonic mod so I can shoot that blue rodent who stars in crappy games.
Fireblast
Alcor43
Posted 4:52 AM 5/4/08
Kotaku, thanks for using one of my screenshot without my permission, much appreciated.
Here's the link to the whole deal:
[alcor.planetquake.gamespy.com]
Thanks for the great comments everyone, this hasn't been done in order to win the million as I state in the download section. I've done it because I like making game models.
Alcor43
Goemon
Posted 7:36 PM 5/4/08
Just installed her last night awsome more more please, and of course she talks :)
Goemon
escopr
Posted 12:15 AM 6/4/08
for those that still haven't gotten the game yet, it's great not only is the standard keyboard and mouse supported but so is any usb or bluetooth headset. Importing mods is as simple as dragging and dropping them into a flash card or drive. When you create a server you have complete control of the games speed, great for those that like doing instagib on speed lol. There are also dedicated servers available for those that are picky about their lag. The game looks and runs beautifully especially considering that it's more than likely to be played on a bigger hd screen and viewed farther than what you're used to on a pc so the differences are very slim if noticeable. It's great playing a game like this without having to be hunched over in front of a pc, for those times where you just wanna sit back and chill the game plays amazingly well with the controller btw.
escopr