Mark Rein: Gears of War 'eventually' on PC
by Ludwig Kietzmann 
{ Feb 14th 2007 at 8:00PM }
It seems that Epic's Mark Rein is finally being affected by the unrelenting repetition of being asked about a PC version of Gears of War every time he agrees to be interviewed. Having given up on traditional non-denials, an interview with Team Xbox has Mr. Rein taking one step forward and admitting that the testosterone epic will "eventually" be ported to PC. "Yeah, eventually...I don't think that's any great secret that we would like to do it on PC, but for now it's a 360 game. Eventually we'll get around to a PC version. I just don't know when." Mark explains that the "when" will be largely dependent on how long it takes for the market to have enough PCs capable of playing the reconfigured game and thus be economically viable. However, with Unreal Tournament 3 scheduled for release this year, aren't we at that point already?
Perhaps we should stick to our current strategy -- ask Mark about Gears of War on PC until he screams in agony and orders a team to just port the game already.
[Thanks, Jonah]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
OTAM @ Feb 14th 2007 8:19PM
And this is how Microsoft is killing the Xbox 360. Almost every huge game on it is available on the PC giving nobody a reason to get a 360.
BlessedBullet @ Feb 14th 2007 8:24PM
People will still buy 360's because not everyone wants to spend 600 dollars for a video card or even know how to install one to begin with
Autocrawler @ Feb 14th 2007 8:26PM
"1. And this is how Microsoft is killing the Xbox 360. Almost every huge game on it is available on the PC giving nobody a reason to get a 360."
GO. TO. HELL.
Actually, it's how Microsoft is killing PC gaming-most PC games end up on the X360. After stealing PC game developers from their home platform in order to bolster their own stupid proprietary console.
JJ @ Feb 14th 2007 8:28PM
FYI, you dont need to know how to install computer components to know how to use em BB.
Just like you dont need to know how HDTVs and radio signals operate or how to repair them, to use them.
Besides you dont have to spend 600 bucks on a video card. I buy a new video card every 2-3 years on average and tend to only spend 200 or so bucks. Not that big of a deal. I spend more than that on accessories for my various systems that aren't even needed.
Daniel @ Feb 14th 2007 8:30PM
I'll be glad to play it on my PC.
I really enjoy it on the 360, but I will enjoy it a little more with my keyboard and trackball.
I hope it's not a vista exclusive.
OTAM @ Feb 14th 2007 10:25PM
No Autocrawler,I don't think I will "GO TO HELL". Thank you for your outburst.Your opinions have been noted in the "Idiots who plague the world" section of my memory warehouse.
Back to my original claim though. The reason I say that is because there are tons upon tons of people who say "I'd buy an Xbox 360,but every game I want on it ends up on the PC."
Judd @ Feb 14th 2007 8:55PM
I own an Xbox 360 and am not that interested in getting a high end computer. But I know plenty of people that like having high quality computers regardless of gaming. Please tell me, what incentive do they have to buy an Xbox 360?
When I worked at Gamestop I knew a guy who(given this is dumb) would buy a game on the PC.
"Why are you getting it on the Xbox 360?"
"Well, I probably wouldn't be able to play online with as many people on the PC. Plus I get achievements."
"Why are you getting it for the PC?"
"It looks better on my computer."
Now with Live Anywhere, where is his incentive? Achievement points, gamercards, and oh yea it doesn't cost $50 a year to play online. It seems like Microsoft is shooting themselves in the foot.
Judd @ Feb 14th 2007 8:57PM
Correction:
When I worked at Gamestop I knew a guy who(given this is dumb) would buy a game on the XBOX 360 AND THE PC.
That first post didn't make sense as to why buying it on the PC was dumb.
OTAM @ Feb 14th 2007 9:01PM
No,Autocrawler,I won't "GO TO HELL",thank you. I'll file your outbursts and opinions in my "Maroons that plague Earth" section of my memory warehouse.
But back to my original claim. I only say this because there are tons and tons of people who I hear say "I'd get an Xbox 360,but every game I want eventually ends up on the PC" and "Xbox 360 is shitty. All the good games on it are on the PC anyway and have better controls,online ect ect".
Paulwipe @ Feb 14th 2007 9:06PM
How about instead of focusing on a pc port, they focus on fixing the glitches in the 360 version?
Optimus Prime @ Feb 14th 2007 9:45PM
PC-type games on 360 make sense if you want to sit on a comfy couch and play on a big HDTV and stereo rather than being hunch over a computer desk with a KBM in your bedroom.
Josh @ Feb 14th 2007 9:07PM
I don't see how the A-button's context sensitivity will work all that well with a keyboard and mouse. It really needs a joystick.
Mr Khan @ Feb 14th 2007 9:10PM
Microsoft doesn't really care, in their ideal world, (which i see as a possibility for the Xbox 1080, and i thought of that name first) all PC games will be compatible with Xbox, and vice-versa
Next generation, Xbox will just be a brand of gaming PC that's non-upgradeable and Living Room friendly (and runs Vista/Longhorn)
I wonder if MS would rather have you just buy Vista and Gears instead of a 360 and Gears, which would net them more $$?
Jonah Falcon @ Feb 14th 2007 9:11PM
So, it's going to kill the 360's market? Er, um, how so?
People are going to say, "Gears of War 2? Nah, I'll wait for the PC version"? Are you on crack?
You do know that consoles are far more profitable than PC's, right?
jon @ Feb 14th 2007 9:51PM
I love GEARS on 360, but I don't know how PC will deal with the rather unorthodox "drop and pop" control arrangement. I'd play PC as well, but I'm a cross-wired lefty so no go. When you PC guys are done with S.T.A.L.K.E.R. ship it over to 360 [or PS3] Great looking freeky-deeky monsters! Kind of a cross between GEARS and RESISTANCE. Cool stuff!
LordMinogue @ Feb 14th 2007 9:16PM
Q: Why are game systems popular?
A: Ease of use
I'm good with PCs, heck I built this rig out of spare parts, but no PC matches the ease of use of a dedicated system. I never need to install anything or ask myself if my 360 meets the games minimum requirements, and Live makes joining up with my friends easy. Thus I game on the 360, not the PC
Autocrawler @ Feb 14th 2007 9:19PM
"All the good games on it are on the PC anyway and have better controls,online ect ect"."
Hey, then why are XBox game sales that higher than PC game sales? Also, if you actually happen to be correct, why not let the better platform win?
"I don't see how the A-button's context sensitivity will work all that well with a keyboard and mouse. It really needs a joystick."
...
You don't need the A-button's sensitivity in the PC version. You can split its functionality amongst the various keyboard keys. Shift for roadie run, RMB for cover, space to jump over cover/roll. Et cetera. Would work much better for me.
Neither do I see how the A button is related to the analog sticks.
Finally, let me remind you that the X360's controller is compatible with PCs...
"How about instead of focusing on a pc port, they focus on fixing the glitches in the 360 version?"
Right, because they can't do both at the same time...for some reason unknown to modern science.
"It seems like Microsoft is shooting themselves in the foot."
No, they are not. Microsoft gets money both from PC software sales and console sales. However get much more profit off selling copies of Windows than selling consoles.
"I'll file your outbursts and opinions in my "Maroons that plague Earth" section of my memory warehouse."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maroon_%28people%29
Racist! :P
(or at least learn to spell properly before flaming)
carg0 @ Feb 14th 2007 9:21PM
how about fixing the broken online play of Gears, first? maybe they should focus on that.
Attila @ Feb 14th 2007 9:35PM
Halo eventually came out on PC as well and it didn't hurt the sales of the original xbox. If they bring it to the PC a year after it's been released on the 360, no big deal.
Genius @ Feb 14th 2007 9:40PM
I dont have a 360 nor do I ever plan on getting one. The games on the system arent for me, not at this time anyway. So, I think its pretty cool GoW will be on the PC, even though I knew it would be from the get go.
Eric @ Feb 14th 2007 11:04PM
"Almost every huge game on it is available on the PC..."
I think you're missing a keyword here; eventually. I don't think that these games being ported over to PC affects console sales all that much because it takes FOREVER for them to get over there. I mean, it took ages for Halo to finally make its way over to PC. Halo 2 hasn't come out for PC yet and the game has been out for how long already? I would be willing to bet that you would see a similar delay before Gears of War makes its way over to PC.
Personally, I think that if someone picks up a console game for the PC, odds are they were not going to buy a console just to play that game; otherwise they would have done so in the first place and not bother with the long wait!
Autocrawler @ Feb 14th 2007 9:49PM
@#18
It's just as easy to connect a gaming PC to a HDTV as it is with a console. In fact, that is how I play games-on a HDTV in my living room, with a wireless KB/M. 5.1 and even 7.1 sound can be easily obtained on a PC as well.
Strangler @ Feb 15th 2007 2:40AM
"1. And this is how Microsoft is killing the Xbox 360. Almost every huge game on it is available on the PC giving nobody a reason to get a 360."
so why do perople keep complaining about the psp and sony in general when the 360 has just as many ports and possible less exclusives as the psp?
Strangler @ Feb 15th 2007 2:40AM
"Actually, it's how Microsoft is killing PC gaming-most PC games end up on the X360. After stealing PC game developers from their home platform in order to bolster their own stupid proprietary console."
sony is doing the same witht he psp they recently mad elumanites, mercury, gta, and tekken available either on ps2 or ps3 download service.
Pyronite @ Feb 14th 2007 10:17PM
"And this is how Microsoft is killing the Xbox 360. Almost every huge game on it is available on the PC giving nobody a reason to get a 360."
...the Xbox 360 is dying?
Maybe you should clue Microsoft in on this important find. I'm sure they'd appreciate the advice of a marketing whiz who lets them know that some of the top-selling games in recent history are the reason they're dying.
C'mon man, I know you had to rush to make post #1, but that doesn't mean you can't make any sense.
Intentless @ Feb 14th 2007 10:32PM
ummmm... 11... Ummm... one of the first things most people thought of.... what are they going to call it next... the 1080.... its not really creative or original... I don't see people wanting to claim that they are the "first" to come up with the idea 1080 when the 360 exists... seriously.... sorry... nothing personal... it just bothers me....
Bega @ Feb 14th 2007 11:44PM
Funny how a lot of people complain that it shouldn't go to pc so more people buy xbox 360s. Jeez, it doesn't matter. Bring it to pc, more people will get to play it, and the more the better. Besides, I don't here you guys bitching when ps3 exclusives are rumored to go 360.
miguelon918 @ Feb 14th 2007 11:51PM
Yeah that would be like an directx 10 4 gb of ram like 15gb of hard drive and a dual quad and thats just the minimum requirements
rfom @ Feb 15th 2007 1:13AM
Look at the 360 "exclusives" that are on PC: Bioshock and Alan Wake come to mind. Its all down to the fact that MS is here to protect its PC market: most 360 games will be ported to PC to protect both markets.
Also, why would it need a high-end PC to run Gears? 360 has 512MB RAM (shared with graphics card), a good graphics card (by end-2005 standards) and Gears uses one of the processors (which is like a 2800+, despite its 3.2GHz speed). Even assuming consoles get by with less, these are medium specs by today's standards.
rp @ Feb 15th 2007 1:34AM
"Also, why would it need a high-end PC to run Gears? 360 has 512MB RAM (shared with graphics card), a good graphics card (by end-2005 standards) and Gears uses one of the processors (which is like a 2800+, despite its 3.2GHz speed). Even assuming consoles get by with less, these are medium specs by today's standards."
foolish comparison by you...the 360 is better than a PC at certain things and porting a game from 360 to PC doesn't translate that easily
Tyler @ Feb 15th 2007 1:34AM
What's all this BUYING for the PC? Dont you people know about BITTORRENTS? Only games i've ever had to buy were MMORPGs..
zaqu @ Feb 15th 2007 2:34AM
atleast i dont have my computer breakin on me and givvin me red lights of death, now ive never had it on my 360 but look at it logically what superior product has hundreds of thousands of defective units and runs oblivion like a craptank
Baby21 @ Feb 15th 2007 2:55AM
"foolish comparison by you...the 360 is better than a PC at certain things and porting a game from 360 to PC doesn't translate that easily"
xbox360 games are made from PC. Using direct x engine code.
Striderhayasa @ Feb 15th 2007 8:03AM
In a statement that surprises absolutely no one...
Gee..Gears on PC...I AM SHOCKED...
UT 2007 looks as good if not better than Gears and is due out this year but Mark wants to wait until more capable PCs are in the hands of consumers? Uh...yeah...okay...whatever.
Well, I guess we could look at it this way...
Xbox360 =
ease of use (no installation and system requirement bullshit to deal with)
Xboxlive (still the best CONSOLE online service available)
Great Quality
Less expensive to support
PC =
Better Online support than XBL and it's free
Mod Community which XBL doesn't support
Superior Quality than 360 depending on PC configuration
Possible DX10 support which 360 won't have
The point...either spend the $600 plus to play Gears on 360 (for those that haven't hopped on the good-ship MS) or $60 if you bought a 360 already or spend the $400 on a kick-ass ATI or Nvidia graphics card. $300 if you get the Geforce 8800 GTS 320MB - with DX10 support - woot! Your call.
Jake @ Feb 15th 2007 8:20AM
People forget that one of X360's advantages all along is its similarity to PC programing. It will get some games that would have been PC exclusives, while also having to share some with PC. It allows the platform to have a higher total number of games. It may have a few less exclusives, but many more games as a result. This is a good thing. It also makes the platform a little less difficult to program for in its first year, as devs have had similar experience with PC and direct x.
As for GoW on PC. I really can't wait that long to play a game that is this awesome. Who the hell wants to wait 1-2 years to play the Game of the Year? And please, people, stop saying Gears of War is "broken". It has issues, but is still highly regarded as the best title this year. The online is very fun. Broken just isn't the word that comes to mind for a lot of people.
Jake @ Feb 15th 2007 8:25AM
Strider,
You forgot "wait 1-3 years" in the PC column. That is the single most important part. And you could have said "inferior quality depending on PC config", since most current PC's can't run Gears as well as the 360, as Rein indicated. But, then it wouldn't make your post look as one-sided as you wanted it to, I mean your opinion must be based so clearly in fact that only a moron (or millions of them) would choose anything different.
Neccy @ Feb 15th 2007 8:47AM
I'm not surprised by this, but I am surprised at the amount of bickering going on in this comments thread.
Ports happen, by porting to pc thier gonna rake in even more money as it's an awesome game, just like halo did. But they don't THREATEN 360 games, certainly not enough cause all this huffy puffy arguments.
Did any of you think this might be a good thing? User created maps made on pc and distributed over pc & xbox360 live?
I certainly don't know how gears gameplay is going to translate with a KB&M setup though, should be interesting to find out.
Autocrawler @ Feb 15th 2007 10:18AM
Secondly to all those saying that most PCs are "too weak" for Gears of War. A couple of facts: a mid-end PC with a Radeon X1950 will outperform an X360. A PC equipped with a single GF8800 will easily outclass the X360 in every possible way. And there are upcoming R600s too.
What's all this BUYING for the PC? Dont you people know about BITTORRENTS? Only games i've ever had to "buy were MMORPGs.."
The PC game market is suffering that much just thanks to the cretins like you.
ackmondual @ Feb 15th 2007 11:02AM
@ #27
not that clear cut. On PC, multiple processor types, vid card types, resolutions, and configs need to be supported. It's a far cry from a single standard on consoles.
ieu-ee @ Feb 15th 2007 12:52PM
@ 34
Why does 360 need DX10? Remember that the Xbox has developed from being just Pentium III in a black box, much of the 360 has designed from the ground up so PC tech might not be relevent to it.
Anyway, as far as I can see the main thing DX10 adds is a 'unified shader' which 360's allready enjoy... and any other differences could be coded around.
Read this link for ATi's take on it...
http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3153097
@37
EXACTLY! I no longer game on the PC but I have no qualms about 360/PC games being ported and I'd love to see PC made maps on the Marketplace.
@ 14
'You don't need the A-button's sensitivity in the PC version. You can split its functionality amongst the various keyboard keys. Shift for roadie run, RMB for cover, space to jump over cover/roll. Et cetera. Would work much better for me.'
Um... why? Even MS Office is using a contextual interface now so I don't see why you need all those different keys to do what one does on the 360, I also don't see why why you'd want to either!
Shawn D @ Feb 16th 2007 4:32AM
I'm mostly a PC Gamer, but I have a 360 as well. Gears is a great game, but if I had my choice, I would much rather play with a Mouse/Keyboard. It would probably take me half the time to beat it as well.....And you don't need an 8800 to run Gears, a Nvidia 7800 is pretty much the same horse power as a 360. Anyway, it's all about how they code the game to begin with. Epic is a PC dev, and with UT3, the PC will get it's share, as it's the primary platform for the series.
Autocrawler @ Feb 15th 2007 7:57PM
"Anyway, as far as I can see the main thing DX10 adds is a 'unified shader' which 360's allready enjoy... and any other differences could be coded around."
You are forgetting about the geometry shaders, changes in the memory architecture, and a load of other stuff. That can't be "coded around".
"Um... why? Even MS Office is using a contextual interface now so I don't see why you need all those different keys to do what one does on the 360, I also don't see why why you'd want to either!"
Because I'd like to avoid the retardedness of getting into cover instead of roadie running, or rolling instead of simply leaving cover at the most inopportune moment. It's much harder to make such mistakes when you don't have a single key bound to five different actions. Besides, there is no need to do that with a keyboard.
Geovany @ Feb 16th 2007 9:48AM
I`am agree with you # 3 you are right..
AnnoyedDragon @ Mar 14th 2007 6:11PM
Guys one look at the Unreal Engine 3 website reveals that a mid range PC in 2006 can run games based on the engine. We are in the age of Conroe, G80 and
Annoyeddragon @ Mar 14th 2007 6:12PM
Aww what the hell is up with that? Only half the post appeared.
Anyway to sum it up if a mid range system in 2006 can run the engine a 2007 gaming computer will have no problems. Especially considering games based on the engine have to be toned down for consoles memory limitations.