Epic Doesn't Regret Microsoft Exclusivity

[John Funk]

Epic Doesn't Regret Microsoft Exclusivity

Epic Games co-founder Mark Rein has expressly denied claims made by analyst Michael Pachter that the Gears of War studio regrets signing on with Microsoft to make the game exclusively for the Xbox 360.

Speaking with GameTrailers' Geoff Keighley on Bonus Round [http://www.gametrailers.com/episode/bonusround/401], notoriously outspoken analyst Michael Pachter said he believed Epic was starting to regret signing an exclusivity deal with Microsoft for Gears of War, and that it no longer made sense for third-party publishers to stick with one platform and one platform alone.

"I think the Epic guys can't wait until they can start doing multiplatform games," said Pachter. "I think that Microsoft has a contract to make sure that they get that sequel, but I think Epic regrets signing that contract ... You're up to 11 million PS3 in the US and probably a similar number in Europe, and you've got a 20 million addressable market with a game like Gears of War. I mean, that thing would easily sell 3 or 4 million on the PS3 and that's a lot of profit."

These comments were picked up by Epic co-founder Mark Rein himself [http://www.vg247.com/2010/01/21/pachter-believes-epic-regrets-exclusivity-deal-with-microsoft/]. "Michael is wrong. We have a great relationship with Microsoft and we have no regrets," Rein stated, going on to lay the verbal smacketh-down on one of the other commenters who claimed that Epic had been unsuccessfully shopping the game around before Microsoft picked it up (and had to fight tooth-and-nail to keep the chainsaw melee combat in).

So there you go, people - Epic doesn't regret signing up with the House of Gates after all. It's a good thing, too, because Gears of War is one of the console's powerhouse titles. What would Microsoft ever do without a G* of War of their very own?

I'm still waiting for Grapes of War on the Nintendo Wii, myself.

(VG247 [http://www.vg247.com/2010/01/22/epic-no-regrets-with-microsoft-over-gears-exclusivity-deal/])

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[Legion]

As if they would say otherwise while still under contract.

I can't see Mark Rein saying: "Actually he is right, Microsoft are assholes as they try and affect every little piece of the game, as well as forcing us to charge extortionate prices for maps that were already made for the first game, so they cost us bugger all to add."

 

[Katherine Kerensky]

Heh, at least he is still staying loyal, and if there is any regret, not moaning about a choice they made.
I'm still waiting for a Hogs of War remake... among other remakes.
Now that would be fun... wait, what?

 

[bjj hero]

To be fair, it is probably worth establishing an IP as a console exclusive then once it is successful go multiformat and rake the sales in. (Final Fantasy, MGS etc)

There must have been some advantage of going Microsoft exclusive, like a load of cash, or they would have gone multiformat from the begining.

 

[Crimsane]

"Michael is wrong. We have a great relationship with Microsoft and we have no regrets," Rein stated...

...with the Microsoft goon's gun to the back of his head. "You're under contract," the goon grumbles with finger on the trigger, as Rein nervously types the most politically correct reply he can think of.

Nobody'd willingly throw away that much cash and be like "nah, I don't regret it at all." Maybe the above is right, and they got some kind of insane cash bonus from the big M for going exclusive, but I doubt it's as big as the profit they could've made otherwise.

 

[GloatingSwine]

Maybe the above is right, and they got some kind of insane cash bonus from the big M for going exclusive, but I doubt it's as big as the profit they could've made otherwise.

Depends. Retooling the game for the PS3 would cost money, given how finicky it is to program for, and sales would almost inevitably be much lower on that platform, as they are for pretty much every other major multiplatform release, but especially for online shooters.

 

[Therumancer]

Hmmm, well I think a lot of people get confused over the issue of console exclusivity. From the perspective of a consumer, you pretty much want to play a game on your system. From the perspective of a company however having games exclusive to their system which people want convinces people to buy the hardware. From the perspective of a game developer it really doesn't matter since they are generally being hired by producers, the producers are the guys with the money who actually reap the profit from the game in most cases. As a developer you want the producers who are going to pay you the most money for a product, and if Microsoft or Sony offers you more money to keep a game exclusive than you could get from some kind of cross platform agreement, that's what your going to do.

Such is my basic understanding of how things work.

Thus if Epic was complaining about being mono-platform, it would likely mean that they were getting upset about how much they were getting from Microsoft, and quite probably receiving offers from the competition that were sweeter. If this was true, the current statements make sense if Microsoft looked at the facts and offered them enough money to make them happy thus making the head of Epic talk about his great relationship with that company.

 

[Jared]

Well, if it means they can make better games, or improve quality thats all that really matters.

AS long as they make games, and they can infuse some more money in there, cant be too bad.

 

[Jhereg42]

The best part of that VG Thread is when the guy Rein owned (Goliath) posted this.

"@ Mark Rein

Sorry to burst your bubble Mark but you must not be in the loop. Microsoft did try to nix the chainsaw in Gears of War, Epic did show the game to other publishers including representatives from Sony and shooters are this console generation most popular genre. Catch up."

 

[messy]

Grapes of War; the sequel Steinbeck never wanted Epic to make

(joke I'm not sure everyone will get but worth a shot)

 

[ItsAPaul]

Clearly a post warrants an entire news article. I assume they have to say that regardless.

 

[SaintWaldo]

Contracts have a funny way of restraining candid speech, especially by principals. Doesn't mean he's not being honest, but, really, methinks the lady doth protest too much.

That's right Mark. I called you a LADY.

 

[Woodsey]

"Michael is wrong. We have a great relationship with Microsoft and we have no regrets," Rein stated...

...with the Microsoft goon's gun to the back of his head. "You're under contract," the goon grumbles with finger on the trigger, as Rein nervously types the most politically correct reply he can think of.

Nobody'd willingly throw away that much cash and be like "nah, I don't regret it at all." Maybe the above is right, and they got some kind of insane cash bonus from the big M for going exclusive, but I doubt it's as big as the profit they could've made otherwise.

But its guaranteed and immediate.

They can likely do a quicker development time when only focusing on one console, especially given the nature of the PS3s design.

 

[Stylish_Robot]

makes me wonder, think he'll ever regret making a terrible Gears 2 online?


"no Gears 2 online is the best, most balanced and least buggy multiplayer experience on Xbox 360."

 

[More Fun To Compute]

I'm sure that I would hate Pachter like everyone else seems to if I just went by whatever was quoted on blogs. I'm watching the bonus round video though and he just said that he thinks that Mario could kick Soap McTavish's ass. Good man.

 

[esperandote]

-How's your relationship with Microsoft?
-I can't complain... really, I can't complain, it's in the contract...

 

[kinky257]

Actually I find it quite plausible that Epic are good with the Microsoft partnership. Most developers go multi-platform in an attempt to recoup the costs of making a game. Sales of Epics games are pretty good plus they (presumably) got a chunk of cash for staying exclusive to Microsoft, but more importantly they have the UT engine.

There are over 90 games using the engine and at least 20 developers have had to pay for the rights to use it, I think Epic would be singing a different tune if they didn't have one of the most popular engines so far this generation and the cash that selling it has generated.

 

[Pimppeter2]

However, Pimppeter2 sort of regrets playing their games [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.170148]

 

[docbox1567]

I'm sure that they have a good "thank you sir, may I have another" relationship, but the point wasn't if Microsoft was treating them bad, it's about making more money on more platforms.

 

[mrhappyface]

Let them keep Gears for the 360. When I played Unreal 3 for the PS3, it was kind of shit compared to the 360. Likewise, I wouldn't want to play God of War on a 360. The controls would be too akward.