MGD 07: Mark Rein Interview

Epic's Vice President talks about everything UT3, including what rig you'll need to rock it, Windows Vista, DX10 support and all of the next-gen consoles.

[SimmoUK]

Epic Games have got a message for all you rediculous 360 fans out there:

"GI: Do you think Sony’s in trouble?

Rein: No, god, no. Somebody asked me that earlier, and I was like, “What a ridiculous question.” People, just give them a break for crying out loud. People think it’s bad if they can’t ship enough, and then they think it’s bad if they can ship enough. It’s like, which is it? Either they can’t fulfill your order or they can, and they’re both good. Being able to fulfill your order is good news, right? Go out and buy your PS3 now. You can get one. That’s miraculous. They sold more PS3s in North America than Microsoft sold Xbox 360s in its same period of time, and they clearly aren’t going to have the shortage problems that Microsoft had. So as long as people are willing to pay the price for the machine—and I’m sure lots of people are—I think they’re hopefully in a good situation. I think they’ve done a good job with their downloadable content. There’s not a lot of games on there, but the ones that are there are really high quality, and I’m really impressed with the games. It’s a beautiful machine, it’s a great-looking piece of equipment, so I think Sony’s going to be fine."

This only applies to all that think Sony is doomed of course LOL Yeah Right dream on!

[Grown Folks Talk]

you just wait until the end of the world and see if sony is still standing then buddy! =)

[TheMART]

I don´t listen to anyone

I look at the numbers. Which show me, that if Sony had shipped 6, 4 or 2 million as they announced before, the shops would have exploded of the number of units on the shelves.

Be lucky Sony only got 1 million SHIPPED in 2006.

If we see last week 20k sold in Japan, that´s alarming. If we see an attach rate of 1.5 game per PS3 sold, that´s hilarious (even less then the PS2 and Gamecube at launch with 1.9 game per unit average).

Top 20 sales of games in Japan, no PS3 game around. Gears is on place 7 with 33.000 copies sold.

So. Again. Analists, what everybody yells fine if it´s your religion. Mine is reality and what the overal perception of the mass is. And people see Sony isn´t doing great on the moment and it´s not worth 600 dollars.

Just ask TopGamer if he´s around he owns 360´s and a PS3 and is not pleased with the PS3 at all compared to the 360

[BIadestarX]

You forgot to mention this, "
Will UT3 have DX10 right out of the box?
Rein: Absolutely. It’ll support DX10."

Ohh wow, I wonder since only the xbox 360 has some of the stuff that DX 10 has there will be a major improvement over the PS3 version.

Also, it's Epic needs to try to get some love back from Sony fanboys; lets not forget that they made Gears which is responsible for many people jumping ships and now anounced that the game that Sony fanboys were hoping and were lead to believe was exclusive now will be on the XBox 360 which it will most likely will allow XBox 360 and PC gamers to play over Live Anywhere. So, Epic knows that Sony fanboys would forgive them if they say something you want to hear.
Epic: "the PS3 is the best, sold better than the 360, it's the ultimate machine... we will continue saying good things as long as you the Sony fanboys buy the games we make. On the other hand you're not getting any exclusives; the 360 is. Suckers!"

[peksi]

This Epic guy values every console since they all have unique qualities. Don't you think there's something to learn from him?

At least try to pretend +14 years old? This arguing is getting boring.

[DJ]

Xbox 360 does not run DX 10. It runs off of DX 9. Even the developers of Crysis said that if they made a 360 version of their title it would have to be a DX 9 version.

And I know he'll get pissed when he sees this, but OpenGL is capable of everything that DX does, except that it has higher performance. It's also been around about 5 years longer than DX.

The only reason he's defending DX 10 as if it's the Holy Grail is because it's from Microsoft. Sony chose OpenGL 2.0ES because not only is the development community familiar with its tools, it has noticeable performance advantages over DirectX, whilst retaining the same capabilities. The only benefit of DirectX is that it's easier to work with. Microsoft pushes ease of use over performance, so don't expect anything crazy.

The best example I can give is Unreal Tournament (ironically). Tim Sweeney is Lead Programmer and President of Epic Games, and he stated that converting Unreal Tournament from DX to OpenGL was not only easy, it looked identical to Microsoft's API. There goes Bladestar's hopes and dreams.

[TheMART]

DJ not again mate

You have no idea what you're talking about and if you do know, you're twisting facts and spread lies all around. Let me break it down for you once more

The 360 has it's base in DX9. BUT it has it's own API control for the GPU. Which means. It's not restricted to DX rules at all. Thus, it can add DX10 effects to the DX9 base. It's only not called DX10. It has been stated over and over again.

Open GL runs things also. But too bad most games are DX based these days. Higher performance... Well if that's the case, why isn't it used over DX then? And give some links and facts if you state this instead of your DJ twists and lies

Open GL been around 5 years longer then DX? So? The Dinosaurs also were earlier as humans. Still they didn't adopt and die.

But well I think no one really pays attention to your lies and twists anymore

[DJ]

OpenGL simply takes a little more work, which is why it has greater performance than DX. It's closer to the hardware. nVidia cards work best with OpenGL while ATI cards work best with DX, so it works out either way.

I think you're trying say that Dinosaurs didn't "adapt", not "adopt". They didn't have foster homes back then. =P

Right now PS3 devs are using a variation of OpenGL 2.0, one that was built with game development in mind (the CAD functions were thrown out). The fact that OpenGL's been around 14 years rather than 9 for DX means that it's had a lot more time to be tweaked and adjusted for optimal performance.

[UrbanJabroni]

"OpenGL simply takes a little more work, which is why it has greater performance than DX."

No it doesn't. Period. DX bangs the registers directly just like openGL does. OpenGL does NOT offer better performance than DX. Period.

[peksi]

OpenGL was the major 3D API but after MS started pushing it's new Direct3D it gained dominant position over OpenGL in Windows gaming. Similarly did MS push Word over WordPerfect, IE over Netscape and tried to get everyone to use Microsoft Network instead of public ISP's to connect to internet.

It doesn't say the dominant is always the best (or the worst for that matter) and OpenGL is used in professional CG graphics. I'd say both 3D API's are capable of similar / satisfying quality.

[MicroGamer]

Optimists live in their own little world filled with teddy bears and bunny rabbits that is far disconnected from reality. Of course he won't say anything negative about Sony. He's probably one of those happy, chirpy people who greets you with a sing-song voice that makes you want to strangle him the moment he enters the room.

[coxyefc]

I dont think Sony are doomed, I intend to buy a PS3 but not at the price for UK launch. I also like Mark Rein, he speaks his mind.

[Jay da 2KBalla]

I do think that sony is doomed. I do not intend to buy a ps3 just as I didnt buy a ps2. Although I disagree with Mark Rein, I like him too for he does speak his mind. But what I want to know is:

" One of the things you announced today is that you’re bringing Unreal 3 to Xbox 360."

UT3 is on the 360 now?!?!?!

[R34GTR]

The way the Xbox360 fanboys ride that microsoft & epic pole, and not even the guys at Epic are fanboys themselves. 360 fanboys & anti-Sony drones love to point out how dev's bash PS3. Well the Dev's of your "Best Game" on your Console just praised the s)-(it out of the Sooo "Hated" PS3. Now respect iT !!!

Dont you guys get it. The Sony flamers group on this site and in other places is very very isolated but you have convinced yourselves that you make up a majority of the world.

"NOW BRING ON THE UNREAL DAMMNN IT" !!!

[Jay da 2KBalla]

Yea bring it on. Bring on DMC4 too. I'll be playing both on my 360 along with VF5. Well actually I take that back cuz I think DMC is repetitive garbage.

[Mattey]

Thats the only thing that i want from the ps3, cuz some of the stuff people come up with is pretty amazing and you dont have to wait years for a couple of half decent maps that you pay for.

[techie]

"People are so negative now, it’s just turned. I’ve really noticed this over the last couple of years. It’s really turned a corner from positivity to negativity, and it’s overwhelming sometimes. It makes you want to kill yourself. It’s just crazy. I don’t get it. I don’t understand why people want to be so negative about everything."

Even if Sony is apparently doing badly - which I don't think they are. Do you think they will role over and die? They will do whatever they deem necessary to stay on top. But they have a great system and Microsoft does as well. Quit hating

[Marriot VP]

Loved how he talked about 64-bit being the future. Cause that's what I have in the mail right now with vista. And I agree about 32 bit being a dissapointment.

And the sony thing. Mostly agreeable. I do think we need to wait till late 2007 to look back and see how sony's done with their big price tag.

[R34GTR]

ahaha DMC4.... See you are perfect example of another point I would like to make. Atleast i'll buy the games im talking about. most people just run with that "ohhh sony lost an exclusive" talk just for an ego boost or braggin rights to make themselves feel better about not owning a PS3...lol I hope this doesnt hurt tooo much but the truth is. People arent porting exclusives cause they think "OMG Sony is about to sink abandon ship" no only a simple minded fanboy would think thats the reason. The actual reason is that these "next gen" consoles cost alot more to develope for than the last gen consoles There for the only way for alot of dev's to break even is to multi plat there games.

Mark Rein: I think it was the realization that we might be able to sell a few copies on this PS3. We had a little success on Xbox 360, and we might be able to sell a few copies there.

And the reason you see more Sony exclusives being multi plat is because...well Xbox really didnt have any lol. So hopefully now xbox fans are gettin a taste to what PS2 people were loving and why they bought a PS3.

[ApocalypseShadow]

when it is negative towards ps3,he listens to none console devs like carmack and the guy from valve.but when a company that is supporting 360 says something good,it's"well...."L OOKS AT THE NUMBERS"."LOOK AT THE NUMBERS!"

one system has been out for over a year dummy.one has been for only 2 months.how stupid are you mart?i could understand if both were out the same time last year and the numbers we have now is the result.but that's not the case.

you lose all gamer privledges mart turn in your gamer tag and controller.

[TheMART]

Do you understand the difference:

John Carmack talks about the hardware, optimal choices for games, which according to him is the 360. The PS3 has made the wrong choices he claims.

Mark talks about he believes the PS3 doesn't have to fail. He talks in general about the machine, and about the sales.

SO I am reacting on the sales. If you can't handle that beat it and don't react.

[Munky]

What do you expect him to say. EPIC is developing for both the 360 and the PS3, no dev with any common sense would openly choose sides. They fact is that they want to make money, they don't want to alienate either side so that that it might hamper future business($$$). Is common sense totally absent on this site? Or are so many of you really that dense. It's easy to have a knee jerk response to EVERY article posted on this site ppl, but it's not that hard to stop and think for a couple of seconds to come up with a response that is worth reading or that has a certain amount of thought put into it. This site is going to $hit over stupidity, most of which can easily be avoided if ppl would just stop and think about what they post.

For the sake of the few ppl on here who don't give into silly fanboy pissing matches, it's called common sense and respect ppl, use it. Peaz.

[spacetoilet]

I wish these pu$$y interviewers would ask the real questions we want the answer too.....
What does this game look like on ps3/360 and what frame rate will it run at, does it support mouse and keys.No console owner gives a $hit about dual core extreme and dual 8800gtx pc rigs. Thats $3000 people.

[Funky Town_TX]

Know lets all think. How long have they been making UT for both PS3 and 360. Epic is not stupid. They wanted you to buy gears on the 360. They did not want you to hold out on gears and wait on UT 3. Gears is new. Most gamers don't like new they just want rehashed stuff with better graphics. If UT would have been announced at E3 05 as a multiplat then this would have hurt GEARS. I'm tired of the BS. If a game is being made for PS3 and 360 then dev need to say from day one. I LOST ALOT OF RESPECT FOR EPIC BECAUSE OF THIS.

[Jay da 2KBalla]

First off, even though I think DMC is a bunch of repetitive hack n slash garbage, I wanted to throw it in the sony fanboys (like yourself) faces because I like to piss them off which is what I did to you because previously the sony fanboys on this site were saying that DMC4 wasnt coming to 360 as well as UT and funny enough they are both confirmed for the 360 in the same week. Same for Assasins Creed.

I dont know about braggin rights but it does make me feel good knowin that I can buy one console for 400 dollars that has a majority of the "AAA used-to-be-exclusive" games on a 600 dollar console.

But I will be buying UT by the way.

"lol I hope this doesnt hurt tooo much but the truth is. People arent porting exclusives cause they think "OMG Sony is about to sink abandon ship" no only a simple minded fanboy would think thats the reason."

I never said that was the reason. Please dont put words in my mouth for that makes you look like a complete dumbass who has no clue what he is talkin about.

[R34GTR]

I never had any disputes about UT:3 and you still have about as much confirmation of DMC4 being ported as you do Tekken 6 and MGS4. So keep pounding away at that one " tough guy"!!! The irony here is how you seem to be one of the 24 million that were abandoned last gen and now your here to reek havoc on all those "Sony Fanboys" that laughed at you. Keep "rubbin it in" lol me personal my feeling are not hurt over video games as long as we get it we get it. Not to mention most of the games that really got me on PS2 last gen where pretty much first parties. Yea thats right. 1st. parties. Im not going to list them cause im sure you know what they are being how they all got high ranks. In the end your right. How dare I even try to stop a rampaging fanboy. You make your actions very clear. thanks and im done. I wont even be in this thread anymore. I hope your still posting on news4gamers maybe i would say a year from now. When sony's numbers catch up and even surpass M$'s and the 3rd. Parties try to hop back on Sony's shaft. Cause then maybe I wont be able to resist "Rubbing that in" lol....
FIN !

[richie007bond]

You never seece to amaze me with your fooking constant LIES and BULLS@IT ,you talk the biggest load of ballocks ive ever came across, from a guy who seems fairly intelligent you need to shut your cakehole before you lose any last ounce of credibility you have left

[DR GRIM]

mark You have no idea what you're talking about