Epic pres on making Wii games: 'we go forward, not back'

by Christopher Grant { Apr 21st 2008 at 4:14PM }

Normally, it's Epic Games' Mark Rein that's throwing down the console-related taunts but, during an IGN interview at the New York Comic Con over the weekend, Epic Games' President Mike Capps dropped a chainsaw into the Wii. Now, one could argue the IGN interviewer provoked Capps' response with lines like, "Come on, why are you buying this system?!" but Capps held his own, comparing sales of the Wii to a virus: "So you stop playing it after two months, but they buy it and they stop playing it after two months but they've showed it to someone else who then go out and buy it and so on."

Before you get all upset, Capps' followup remarks put things into better perspective. When asked if Epic will ever make games for the Wii, he matter-of-factly replies, "No, we go forward, not back. It makes more sense for us to invest in the next-generation tech." Considering the incredible success Epic has had developing for the Xbox 360 and, to a lesser degree, the PS3 consoles – not to mention its incredibly lucrative engine-licensing business – is it any surprise that the independent company is quite content where it is?

[Via Megatonik]

Tags: Epic, Epic-Games, Mike-Capps

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)

Youthinized @ Apr 21st 2008 4:19PM

Epic Win?

Lone Starr @ Apr 21st 2008 4:29PM

Moar like Epic Fail!!!onelevntyz

MarkHawk @ Apr 21st 2008 4:42PM

No.... Definitely Super Epic Win

JakubK666 (Ninja Defence Force) @ Apr 21st 2008 5:08PM

THIS.IS.UNNNRRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

JakubK666 (Ninja Defence Force) @ Apr 21st 2008 5:08PM

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLL!!!!

MaskedMarauder @ Apr 21st 2008 5:42PM

Unreal indeed.

Further proof the Wii is just a well camouflaged piece of shit.

TomCo @ Apr 21st 2008 6:08PM

More like proof that Epic are full of themselves.
They take the PC market for granted and slate a console they can't develop for with their existing tech.

Schmobu @ Apr 21st 2008 6:16PM

^ you know absolutely nothing about the Wii STFU maybe if you knew something about hardware you could have an opinion but no.

Schmobu @ Apr 21st 2008 6:26PM

sorry it should be ^^ he is wrong not ^

and on a side note, Unreal Engine is being ported to Wii for its ease of use e.g. unreal scripting language, and that animation system (not euphoria) Most probably not it's physics (PhysX gross) on top of that Wii can make good graphics, I estimate Halo 2 cutscenes in real time, maybe more, I haven't seen Factor 5s attempt on the system yet. dude 3mb texture chache alot sure Xbxo got 12 Mb but with better texture artists you can do alot more for alot less, on top of that, Wii is capable at something like 1 mil polys per frame at 60 fps 2 mil at 30fps (dah) that's alot game models take up something around the area of 7k for the bigger machines, (M fenix, was this much but he had alot of bump maping I think it was like a 2048x2048 texture just for his bodys bump map or was it a normal map I should check it) and yeah Wii can do great graphics at the level of Halo 2 cutscenes now add in the head tracking and a Zapper, and Unreal graphics don't look so good. (I own Gears and I'm a graphics artist so I think I knows what I'm talking about).

Bender @ Apr 22nd 2008 12:43AM

You might know what you're talking about Schmobu, but without any sight of a period in your post, it's impossible for the rest of us!

My grammar isn't perfect, I know, but please try to make things a little more readable!

rv @ Apr 21st 2008 4:19PM

I would rather they go forward, their tech is sick. Did you see the last water demo? It was UNREAL...

Pimliconite @ Apr 21st 2008 4:53PM

...and our next space-marines-fighting-aliens FPS will be TOO REVOLUTIONARY to play on the Wii!

Fullmetal Salchemist @ Apr 21st 2008 5:57PM

Yeah, and your minigame and PS2 port machine is too revolutionary to play space marine games!

JerkfacedFed @ Apr 21st 2008 7:08PM

Hell yea bro, this is why i love Epic. No CoD reused gameplay with a totally scripted and static environment, horrible AI, and pathetic voice acting that is watered down for its T rating to sell more copies. THEY ARE NOT SELL OUTS! They make gritty games like UT and Gears, with no holds barred. Full dismemberment, sick physics, characters who tell it like it is, and no dumbed down childish crap. Let Nintendo handle the weaksauce Wii with a 700mhz PPC CPU. Epic, keep up the great work and you'll get your dues. I cant wait to play Gears of War 2.

grrargghh @ Apr 21st 2008 11:02PM

Are you seriously suggesting that only FPS games use UNREAL tech? How many more companies need to license the tech before that lie goes away?

ViagraFiend @ Apr 21st 2008 4:21PM

wow..this is....provoking

Ghen @ Apr 21st 2008 4:49PM

That's the whole point. In my opinion he's just trying to make Wii owners feel bad about owning only a Wii and get them to buy a system he codes for. He's provoking an emotional response because logically he's a moron.

I've never had a period greater than 2 weeks where I haven't had a new game to play on my Wii that I actually like. There have been plenty of stinkers sure, but that goes with the popularity and ease of ps2 porting. I like my Wii and will continue to like it after I get SSBB this week and The Force Unleashed when it comes out.

Benny @ Apr 21st 2008 6:33PM

But if he was worried about selling games "on a machine he codes for", surely it would be easier for him to code for the Wii than to try and convert a few million gamers?

I think he genuinely just doesn't like the Wii. It DOES have some top-notch games - it's just a shame Nintendo are the only devs who seem to know how to use the system properly. Perhaps it's to do with that darned tie-in ratio.

joshjazz @ Apr 21st 2008 8:48PM

The thing is even he owns one. I read the joystiq post then the article and the post makes it sound way worse than what he says. All he does is compliment Nintendo and say that making games on the Wii isn't for them. Big deal.

Sir Fidlious Wong (Zeon Defense Force) @ Apr 21st 2008 4:21PM

This one should explode nicely too....

Grog @ Apr 21st 2008 4:27PM

Newsflash: Bleeding edge tech company is... bleeding edge tech company!

He dislikes the Wii because it isn't the kind of system that he wants to develop for. To use the ever-popular car analogy, a company that "tricks out" sports cars with spoilers and nitrous is not going to be a fan of sports utility vehicles.

LaughingTarget @ Apr 21st 2008 4:33PM

If Epic were like those companies, they would work exclusively on the Wii. Tricked out cars are rarely any good under the hood. Civics are not performance vehicles.

Grog @ Apr 21st 2008 4:37PM

OK, so they make custom-built engines for sports cars...?

Bah, forget it. Car analogies are dumb! Epic is a great company that produces great games, but expecting them to make games for the Wii would be like expecting Walmart to start stocking caviar and expensive leather furniture.

Darn it... I just can't get away from analogies!

Sir Fidlious Wong (Zeon Defense Force) @ Apr 21st 2008 4:47PM

You guys got me all wrong. I expect people to get uber defensive again. From Epics standpoint, there is really no money in Wii. Hell, you could easily blow through half the Wii's ram just from generating a medium sized maps lighting maps. For UE3, this is a definately a step backwards with no reason to attempt it. Especially considering they already started ripping away on Unreal Engine 4.

michas_pi @ Apr 22nd 2008 1:27AM

@LaughingTarget:

But...but what about VTEC? :)

TomCo @ Apr 22nd 2008 9:00PM

TOO SOON

Nein @ Apr 21st 2008 4:21PM

He basically speaks the truth. Also that Zelda TP and Mario Galaxy sucked...

Always glad to see industry insiders without their heads in the clouds.

Jerk Face @ Apr 21st 2008 4:50PM

Alright, the Wii may be shitty and all, but Twilight Princess was an excellent game. There is no argument that could prove otherwise.

Not that I regret trading my Wii for a 360, mind you. Best Decision Evar.

Chazz @ Apr 21st 2008 6:00PM

I bought a Wii, then bought a 360. Not about to get of the Wii. Don't think that was the smartest thing...

Cyro @ Apr 21st 2008 8:32PM

I'm sorry but, I bought into the hype too a couple of months back. I bought mario Galaxy and I realized that crap was not for me. I sold my Wii in 2 days. I feel that was the best Decision I have ever made. I would have never had any fun with that system. It just isnt made for me. I mean, Honestly if you want to play Wii games just buy a game cube and play that cheaper. The graphics are exactly the same. So is the game play, of course with the exception of the waggle.

I totally agree with Mike capps. Developing for the wii is like going back in time 10 years.

Ed @ Apr 21st 2008 4:22PM

LOL!!! Again, there is a reason that these guys are Epic.

I wonder how many Mii characters Marcus Fenix could take in a fight...

Zoot Suit Jedi @ Apr 21st 2008 4:22PM

Ed Mcmahon said it best..."Heyo!"

tmacairjordan87 @ Apr 21st 2008 4:23PM

Must...not....bite

As much as I'd love to jump in on epic's behalf I think i'll sit back and watch this one unfold ;)

philosophico @ Apr 21st 2008 4:24PM

Translation = unreal engine cant run for crap on wii so we wont touch it.

Fernando Rocker @ Apr 21st 2008 4:49PM

dsub

Then why we never see all the shovelware on the charts? And if people just play the Wii for two months, why it sells a lot of software every week, almost the double than Sony?

Maverick Saturn @ Apr 21st 2008 5:14PM

Fernando, go read the other articlae posted earlier, it will interest you :)

mike @ Apr 21st 2008 5:16PM

I think you misread what he said fernando. Hes implying that the wii is played for 2 months and then abandoned, only to be played for the next 2 months by somebody new. His point is that soon (maybe another year or so), the new people will run out, and the wii will plummet faster then the gamecubes 3rd year sales.

Hes basically comparing the wii and its user base to that of a pyramid scheme. Plentiful in the start of its life cycle, a trainwreck down the road.

Personally I agree with him. I know a couple friends who bought a wii at launch and one doesnt play it while the other sold his. Also, I have another friend just buying a wii now. I predict in a year he will be selling/done with his wii, just like the epic president is predicting, which is why he does not want to develop for the wii.

Its a horse racing on its last leg
A steam engine running out of steam
A about to run out of fuel
A Rock being slow eroded by the wind
A Hurricane ready to end
A fish on a hook about to escape
like Pogs in the mid 90s

Ok im done with the whole post of analogies now

OMGOMG @ Apr 21st 2008 4:24PM

God, I consider myself a 360 fanboy (although the PS3 is very enticing right now), and this Wii hating is getting dumb.

If people want to play those kinds of games, why should we be hating on them. The more people play games, on any platform, should be seen as a good thing.

I personally don't find the Wii that great, but I know tons who swear by it. Let them have their fun, and let us hardcores have ours.

You know?

/4-20 hangover, apologize if this makes no sense.

(Oh my god, playing the Wii while stoned?? I gotta try that!)

dsub @ Apr 21st 2008 4:43PM

I have to disagree with you. I once thought the same way, but then I started working in gaming retail, and started noticing the vast difference in the types of games that get released.

90% of the crap that gets released on the Wii is shovelware garbage, yet these so called "casual gamers" line up by the millions to buy Wii's week in and week out, for reasons just like those stated by Capps. Everytime I sell a Wii to someone it's because "I swore I'd never play video games, but we were over at a so and so's house and we played bowling. It was a blast!" Two weeks later, the same people are back in buying the latest Mini-game comp. to come out for the Wii, and they are talking about how bored of bowling they are.

Here is where the Wii will hurt gaming. Most of these people are better-off middle class parents (mostly the soccer mom types) who will buy whatever Oprah tells them to. They are an entirely new demographic in the gaming industry. Companies are already beginning to notice. Now, if I worked for a company like EA, why would I waste millions of dollars in resources on a huge, detailed game for hardcore gamers that has a 75% chance of being a flop, when I could spend the same amount of money developing quick once-over mini game compilations, trivia games and puzzle games, that may not sell as well, but will be much more profitable do to the extreme lack of talent and costs to create such games.

The next thing you know, games like Bioshock will be a thing of the past, and the walls of gamestop will be full of the latest iteration of "Wii (insert random activity that can be done in real life with ease here)"

I mean seriously. If I want to play tennis, there are courts a mile from my house, I can buy a used racket and some balls for less than $10, and I'll get 100 times more exercise. I'm calling it now. The Wii will be the official "must have item" for soccer moms nation wide the second Wii Fit is on Oprah starring some woman who lost 20 pounds by using it.

Nevermind the fact that the dumb bitch could have lost 40 by going jogging everyday.

I hate the Wii.

Vcize @ Apr 21st 2008 4:43PM

I'm right there with you, my only concern would be that if those super casual games do TOO well, especially given that many of them are poorly reviewed garbage games, developers might start shifting their focus in that direction for the easy dime.

It's the same thing we've seen transform prime-time television as great, deep, expensive shows constantly get canceled in favor of cheap easy to make gameshows that get as good or better ratings because they appeal to the casual audience.

So long as that doesn't happen to videogames and companies that have always catered to the hardcore crowd like Epic continue to do so rather than just cashing in for the quick buck then I have no problems with everyone getting a chance to get their type of game.

Fernando Rocker @ Apr 21st 2008 4:49PM

dsub

Then why we never see all the shovelware on the charts? And if people just play the Wii for two months, why it sells a lot of software every week, almost the double than Sony?

tmacairjordan87 @ Apr 21st 2008 4:51PM

You can do what I'm doing. I used to hate these idiot casuals who buy wiis, but now that they're going to buy the ones I buy for double the price I've learned to appreciate these casuals a little more.

The best way to feel better about human idiocy in any situation is to find a way to take advantage of it.

StarFoxA @ Apr 21st 2008 4:59PM

I wouldn't quite make that claim that only those who play the PS3 and 360 are hardcore. Hardcore can also be something like extensive knowledge of games past and present--something of which I possess. The only reason I don't own a 360 or PS3 is for lack of funds.

Mr Khan @ Apr 21st 2008 5:00PM

Once again the argument comes back to this. It's not like the market for meaty games is going to evaporate

Wii's success threatens no gamers. None whatsoever

cc123 @ Apr 21st 2008 5:02PM

@Fernando

"Then why we never see all the shovelware on the charts?"

Wii Play, Mario Party 8, Carnival Games, and Mario & Sonic all tore up the charts in most countries...

Fernando Rocker @ Apr 21st 2008 5:08PM

Those games are not shovelware (maybe Carnival Games)...

Shovelware titles are Ninjabread Man type games, almost every Data Design Interactives games, or UFO games, or BOLD games, like M&M Racing and those crappy games.

The games you mentioned are minigames, but not shovelware... besides, hardcore games are higer in the charts, like Mario Kart, SSBB, Mario Galaxy, Guitar Hero, Metroid...

Markez @ Apr 21st 2008 5:16PM

"The next thing you know, games like Bioshock will be a thing of the past, and the walls of gamestop will be full of the latest iteration of "Wii (insert random activity that can be done in real life with ease here)"

dsub, arguments like this that the Wii will somehow 'hurt' gaming are always so, so, so asinine. You wrote the above, but if you believe it you're a complete ass hat.

cc123 @ Apr 21st 2008 5:27PM

@Fernando

According to your beloved vgchartz the order of the games we both mentioned sorted by sales in descending order is:

1. Wii Play
2. SMG
3. Mario Party 8
4. SSBB
6. Mario & Sonic
7. Guitar Hero
8. Carnival Games
9. Metroid
10. Mario Kart

Those minigame shitfests have sold on par or better than most of Nintendo's big guns so...

Also if those ain't shovelware then what are they? They sure as hell don't require the same amount of developer work and publisher investment as something like SMG or Metroid.

Phillip @ Apr 21st 2008 5:27PM

Thanks for the intelligent comment. It's really interesting to see people like my mom and dad playing my Wii (wow does that sound odd). I get to spend time with them on something I would normally do alone, and they have fun.
The Epic engine won't run on the Wii, big deal. America is home of capitalism, I'm sure someone will make an engine that looks great and runs on the Wii. Then we can see what Epic can do with limited resources.

Phil