Joystiq video interview: Epic Games' Mark Rein, Tim Sweeney and CliffyB

by Ross Miller { Feb 21st 2008 at 6:30AM }

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Update: If the video looks choppy, use this link.

We got to stop by the Epic Games booth following Microsoft's press conference Wednesday, where Gears of War 2 was (surprise!) announced, to talk with VP Mark Rein, CEO/Technical Director Tim Sweeney, and CliffyB. Watch as we get "no comment" after "no comment" about other GoW 2 details (there will be more to see coming soon, promise Rein) and stay tuned towards the ends where Cliffy talks about his lancer and the Microsoft's flashy unveiling. Check out the video courtesy of Mahalo Daily.

Tags: cliffy-b, cliffyb, epic, epic-games, gdc, gdc08, gears-of-war, gears-of-war-2, gow2, mark-rein, tim-sweeney

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

b33eazy @ Feb 21st 2008 7:02AM

1ST This is an interesting game,glad to see interview.I can't wait to see GeoW 2 gameplay.

Shawn @ Feb 21st 2008 11:01AM

is it going to be much different? I wouldn't think so.

Anticrawl @ Feb 21st 2008 7:07AM

Busy studying something but yeah in this interview did you guys ask if all the stuff in the Unreal tech demo with be in GOW2?

b33eazy @ Feb 21st 2008 7:20AM

it's pretty obvious all the things in the tech demo will be in there.

Anticrawl @ Feb 21st 2008 7:34AM

Maybe to you but they never actually stated such a thing. Companies are good at spinning new exciting info and implying we will see it implemented when and how we want it only to be disappointed to find the final product has no such features or nowhere near what was suggested. But they just turn around and say, we never stated this would be in the final product, only that there was such potential; we were limited by time, budget and other constraints beyond our control.

In any case if anyone has a definite or more persuasive answer please let me know.

But damn, wasn’t that tech demo just the bee’s knees?

Zeus.:God @ Feb 21st 2008 2:59PM

Actually, Mark Rein stated that it might or might not include every one of those new features...

ZippyDSMlee @ Feb 21st 2008 7:30AM

Epic I want 1 game from you and only 1, Unreal 3 based off unreal 1, with the whole Adventure FPS theme/setting, polished and built to the point its bigger than Metroid prime 1-2 and only half as bad on backtracking.

Really would not a Unreal game based on crashing on a planet where you have a lot to shoot/explore and find upgrades to weapons and equipment.
U1 is still the best U game IMO nothing like you agisnt the world.

Anticrawl @ Feb 21st 2008 7:42AM

Yeah, that would be a bit nostalgic. Haha I'm glad you pointed out easing up on the back tracking after the Metroid comment, I was ready to jump ALL over that my friend. I couldn't bring myself to buy Metroid 3 simply because I was so frustrated with the little backtracking in Metroid Prime Hunters on the DS.

Honestly I have yet to play Unreal Tournament 3. It is a terrible horrible thing I'm doing to myself not playing it. I simply cannot afford being sucked into Unreal again plus I'm trying to wait for it to release on the 360 or atleast hear the final word on how the 360 version will work. I don't think I could handle it on the consoles honestly. Unreal Tournament 2004 was all about it's unique controlled chaos at mind blowing speeds, and I can't imagine how that would translate onto consoles. I think I may possibly get it on the PS3 with my keyboard and mouse though as I don't feel like building my new gaming rig for a year or two until a game comes out that demands my attention on the PC, got plenty of funds set aside for that fateful day though and perhaps when that day comes ATi will have their shit straight and perhaps their driver support will be on par with that of nVidia.

I can live on Unreal 2004 and the 360/PS3/Wii/PSP/DS til then hopefully. I was sad to hear that Unreal 3 might not be a true successor to 2004. But then again that is what hardcore fans said about 2004, which honestly I think didn't create as big a stink as this new Unreal game.

Bah so much to do, so little time to ponder these things. I can hold out a little longer while work and schooling keep me occupied. Off to listen to Flight of the Conchords while I work... good times (I had to).

ZippyDSMlee @ Feb 21st 2008 7:56AM

Anticrawl
I have UT3 it makes u for the 0X hose job,even if its game types and maps are alil lacking tis as fun as UT99.

BTW they "streamlined" MP3 so its less backy than MP1...witch kinda annoys me you have a map system "use" it for transportation to aid backtracking to let people hoof it or teleport..... .

MP is a great game but needs descent sized levels and more upgrades to weapons and equipment to help balance out the size and length, MP is a diamond in the rough as far as FPSs go even with the backtracking hell the best the industry can put out in comparasion is a watered down super mainstreamized FPS called bioshock.... IMO Dark Messiah is 3 times the game BS is.... even with its issues....

Oh ya MP2 is anoying you have compacted complex levels that double the feeling of backtracking...

Oh another thing UT3 runs fine a low rig if you got 1.8+ 1 core CPU 1GB of ramm and a 7600 you can run it on low perfectly fine.

try the demo,checkout the weapon balances they finally stopped using nerf!

Anticrawl @ Feb 21st 2008 8:26AM

Not sure I followed the entirety of your post buddy, I may just be tired but I do think I got the jist of it.

Don't get me started on Bioshock. Let’s just say I honestly think the companies huddle around with reviewers and decide who's game will get the "Get success free pass" regardless of how good or bad the game is by fabricating hype, positive reviews, inflating forums with over excited posts about how great the game is, etc. It really isn't so farfetched and the general public, gamers included, are typically inclined to follow blindly. It's like back when the Simpsons/Family Guy was still in its earlier years and you invite a friend over to watch. They don't get the humor but laugh when you laugh and eventually convince themselves it's the best thing since sliced bread even though they never came to such a conclusion on their own. Was actually discussing this with a few psychiatric majors and they held similar beliefs, just not in my field of interest. Bioshock was though a decent enough game, but not worthy of the praise it received. The only real thing it pulled of grandly was atmosphere. It did well to pull me in for a short amount of time before I cut through the bullshit and realized it for what it was. A clever spell indeed it tried to cast but I wasn't fooled for long. Then of course the opposite side of this is when the reviewers decide which game to dump off the resulting negative from the exchange of over-zealous praise and knock true innovation and intelligently designed games with convenient outlets. Such is the case with Gamespot and their when it is convenient for balance to review an unfortunate game for what it isn't rather than what it is or with some sort of blind fanboy zealot that can only come from years of blunt shovel trauma (looking at you Jeff).

I'm off my rant now though, I'd imagine with my extreme lack of sleep and fatigue over the past few days I have begun to ramble or lack any sense at all. In which case just ignore my post and treat it as the lunatic on the corner of the street with black shades spouting the world is coming to an end.

I suppose I should at least give Metroid Prime 3: Corruption a rent, it deserves that much apparently. I also do have a decent enough rig to run Unreal Tournament 3 on moderate settings I just can’t bring myself to play the game without having the full Unreal Experience.

Anticrawl @ Feb 21st 2008 8:57AM

Best thing about this video. Mark Rein actually explains to people the reason for the late texture loading or texture pop-in is a trade-off. I hated how people complained about Mass Effect having this when Gears of War and Bioshock or any unreal game was just as bad. I would rather wait an extra second to have the textures load and have them much prettier.

Smoke_Dawg_187 @ Feb 21st 2008 9:38AM

It also helps that the Xbox 360 has uniformed memory plus that 10MB of imbedded DRAM which helps with bottlenecks.

capt_carl @ Feb 21st 2008 9:01AM

CliffyB is such an asshole, but that's probably why I like the guy so much.

I'm yet to pick up UT3 for PC only because I have enough games to keep me busy for now. Lost Odyssey and Team Fortress 2 are all I need at the moment. UT3 does scale back very nicely though for people with older machines. I ran the UT3 demo on my old rig which was a P4 2.6GHz, 2gb RAM and an ATI Radeon 9800XT. Yea you don't get all the eye candy, but who cares?

Smoke_Dawg_187 @ Feb 21st 2008 9:36AM

"Yea you don't get all the eye candy, but who cares?"

You must not be a PS3 owner, because thats all I ever hear from them. = )

capt_carl @ Feb 21st 2008 8:31PM

No, I don't own a PS3. I own a Crysis-capable PC. :)

Anticrawl @ Feb 21st 2008 9:12AM

Bah I sat through that whole interview, relistening to certain parts and the guy never fucking asked if the stuff in the Unreal tech demo will be in Gears of War 2. He danced around it a few times but got lost or something, probably star struck? Nerdin out perhaps?

None of the three guys actually said what games the new tech would be in, you'd figure they'd be all over it pointing out how Gears of War 2 will feature all of those things.

Mike @ Feb 21st 2008 3:02PM

I would gladly take a loading screen in favor of NO pop in. The texture pop in Mass Effect was UNACCEPTABLE!

Silly Sauce @ Feb 21st 2008 3:27PM

Who wants to bet that Tim Sweeney is a virgin?

ZippyDSMlee @ Feb 21st 2008 4:20PM

Anticrawl
Dude I love you (in that platonic fellow black sheep gamer way) BS to me is such a disappointment I can't find the words to describe how underwhelming it is.

MP3 was maninstreamized some....so rent it you'll find its "smother" than the old backy adventure game it was at least it doesn't drop all the "metroid" aspects of it >>.

I am a old FPS fan 93-99 had the best level design of all FPS's these new FPSs have bland small layouts that are nothing more than "pretty", Doom 3 is the epitome of gun and gun design.

Another thing about UT3 its pretty on medium and only alil more shiny on ultra...I have a 880TS...