Question for GoG: Is there any specific reason why you skipped UT 2003 from the unreal series sold on GoG? Are any hopes to see that as a new addition in the future?
From a collectors point of view would be nice to be able to buy it from here.

UT2003 is no longer published - by anyone. When UT2004 was released it was meant to entirely replace the 2003 version, which was quickly discontinued.
All the content from 2003 is included in 2004 though; all maps, characters etc.

Thank you. I didn't know that. It's nice to know that 2003 is "included" in 2004. :)

I think Epic are a little embaressed about the whole 2003 thing, I kept my 2003 disc though as a collector. I actually think it has a couple maps that didn't make it into 2k4, they were really poorly designed though.

2003 was a rush release I think - 2004 was as it was supposed to be. Heck Epic even gave owners of 2003 the offer of a partial refund if they got 2004 (you sent your main disc into them from 2003 to get the refund).
I'm not sure why they did it but it might have been that they needed a quick cash injection - and further 2004 came out long enough after 2003 and with enough new content for most people to upgrade to it with little fuss.

Anyone remember the intro cut scene? This made like TV show. Is it also hidden somewhere in the 2004 version?

Yes. Don't remember where exactly (I'm thinking it's in the "community" section) but it's in there.

Thanks ZamFear. :)
If someone is interested - You can watch it also on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbK6Q-XJ7gI

I think it's been covered pretty much in these posts but yes, UT2003 was released and wasn't received very well by fans of the original UT. Possibly it was a rushed release, possibly they tried something that just didn't work. In any case, their solution was then to make UT2004 to replace it.
Eventually they got UT2004 released and it contained most of the UT2003 content but I don't think it has every little bit of UT2003 in it. Some of the weapons were changed slightly and the player models altered. In addition they had more of a focus on returning to what made the original UT great, and it does succeed in the whole classic deathmatch gaming.
As has already been said here, partial refunds were given. Some countries had to send their old UT2003 disc back, and in some just the manual (which I can't really understand unless it's something to do with local laws) and they replaced the game with UT2004.
UT2003 is now no longer available. Once UT2004 was out I think they then pulled UT2003 completely. You cannot get it now, not through retail sellers anyway. If you really want it you could try Ebay and other auction sites, but I don't think it's worth it what with the great UT2004.

They skipped it? That is weird, they should add it. No matter what, it should be added, that one guy said "they don't publish it anymore", well he is stupid.

Yeah, you can even use the old 2003 gun models and intro theme if you're dead keen. That's probably why 2004 has such a massive amount of content in the release version.

No, the rebate had you send in either the cover or the last page of your manual. And it was only ten bucks, which was a bit low for what was a full-price release.
Anyway, the only thing you might really be missing out on are a few mods that weren't updated for the slight changes-nothing more. UT 2004 has just about everything UT 2003 did and a LOT more.
I still kept my UT 2003 discs and manual with CD key, though. No real point to it, I suppose, but I have them just in case.

Ah, thanks for the clarification.
In my case, it's obviously the US rebate.

Thanks. I was wondering what the difference was between 2003 and 2004. Ive got every unreal except 2003 so i wont bother with that one. The 2003 opening sequence (reality tv show) was also used fro Unreal Champoinship on XBOX. Did they just port unreal 2003 directly onto XBOX and rename it unreal championship or something?