Mark Rein: "BIG announcement coming next week!"

[SymetriX]

Posted yesterday on the official Gears of War forum (http://gearsforums.epicgames.com/showthread.php?t=979) (courtesy WorthPlaying (http://www.worthplaying.com/article.php?sid=35727) ):

BIG announcement coming next week! :)
As if the ambiguous post wasn't enough to tease fans, Mark went on to reply to one comment by adding:

Gotta happen sometime? Sounds like maybe the announcement that is going to be made isn't what you think it is.
What could it be?

[bapenguin]

Snakes on a Plane the game coming from Epic!

[benig]

PS3 port! PS3 Port!

[YoungAlCapone]

Pc port! Pc port!

[saneman]

Wii exclusive!

Tony Shalhoub = Gear of War

[Lexicon]

Gears of war will ship in a box the size of the biggest boss from the Locust Horde.

[Kelegacy]

Canned the 360 version, going straight to PSP.

[Norse]

Unreal 3 I hope. Didn't care much for Unreal 2, but the first one is one of my all time favorites. More of that please.

[bapenguin]

Canned the 360 version, going straight to PSP.

Canned PSP version, going straight to Tiger Electronics Handheld.

[Kamalot]

I am looking forward to Gears of War, but that Mark Rein is a complete asshole.

[joruussuun]

Canned the [360][PSP][PC][Tiger Electronics Handheld], going straight to PEN AND PAPER!!!

[CaptStu]

Episodic game content.

[Mark Rein]

Thanks Kamalot. I love you too.

[bapenguin]

Episodic game content.

Fucking classic.

[Mark Rein]

BTW, I don't recall saying this was specifically a Gears of War announcement :)

[WebWombat]

Canned PSP version, going straight to Tiger Electronics Handheld.

Canned Tiger Electronics Handheld version, going straight to the N-Gage.

[StoneGut]

Oh Mark... you got us thinkin'

[Mac]

Shit, Kamalot got called out. :eek:

[bKangy]

Hahahahaha, that was fantastically unexpected.

[Varsity]

Shit, Kamalot got called out. :eek:
Damn right he did. An unexpected twist if I ever saw one!

Fucking classic, you might say. ;)

[Dr.Finger]

Cliffy B is getting a sex change! CarlyB :)

[CaptStu]

Thanks Kamalot. I love you too.
Way too funny. Beyond funny.

[Mac]

Damn right he did. An unexpected twist if I ever saw one!

Fucking classic, you might say. ;)

Haha, I mouthed the words "Oh, shit" when I read Rein's response. Definitely classic.

[fitbabits]

My guess is the big announcement will be the release date!

Oh, and Mark, with your overwhelming wealth, how come you're still yellow and not orange? :D I kid, of course.

[SexualChoc]

Snakes on a Plane the game coming from Epic!

Don't joke about that shit Bap. That's a fucking Halo/MGS/Mario killer right there.

[digitalErich]

I'm thinking it's the annoucement of the actual release date, but I'm hoping it's an XBL demo.

[Cubfan]

CliffyB is pregnant?

[Varsity]

I'm thinking it's the annoucement of the actual release date, but I'm hoping it's an XBL demo.
I would say both of those were inevitable, and we already know the news isn't.

[RorschachCCCLX]

I'm thinking it's the annoucement of the actual release date, but I'm hoping it's an XBL demo.
For what it's worth, the GameStop system has a release date set for October 4th 2006. It also shows Oblivion for PS3 on 11/17.

[fitbabits]

CliffyB is pregnant?
And Magnanimous is the father!

[dotbomb]

Hahaha classic...

My guess is the announcement will be somewhat of a let down. Why tease the announcement to stir up the rabid masses when you could just announce something fantastic right out of the gates?

[Beelzebud]

For some reason I'm just not as excited by this failed attempt at hype, as I was about Valve's TF2 screenshot/video last week.

One thing I'd like to comment on. It was funny hearing Rein blast episodic content. At one point he even said something like "they can just re-use the same art over and over". That is comedy gold. Anyone that edited levels for Unreal1 and UT99 may remember that UT99 had EVERY texture set from Unreal in it. A majority of the artwork they used in UT99 was stuff from Unreal 1. The only levels they made new content for was the gimmick levels, like face, and the space station. Hell UT2003 and UT2004 shared all resources. 2k4 just had Onslaught put into it, and Onslaught was a mod they bought out.

When Rein made that comment about re-using old content, it made me let out a huge chuckle. No one in the "gaming press" seemed to notice the hypocrisy.

[fitbabits]

Hahaha classic...

My guess is the announcement will be somewhat of a let down. Why tease the announcement to stir up the rabid masses when you could just announce something fantastic right out of the gates?
Because it gets people's gums bumping!

[cp#]

The announcement will be that GoW will be on HD-DVD and require the HD-DVD add-on player (Or the new x360 with built in HD-DVD drive). :D

[fitbabits]

The announcement will be that GoW will be on HD-DVD and require the HD-DVD add-on player (Or the new x360 with built in HD-DVD drive). :D
You know, that's not all that far from likely. ;)

[Steele Johnson]

Epic is acquiring id software.

[Dr Quincy]

Epic merging with Intel.

[fitbabits]

Epic are taking over the development of Duke Nukem Forever and will have it in stores by year's end.

[51|RandoM]

Let me get this right, this story is hype about future hype?

[CaptStu]

Let me get this right, this story is hype about future hype?
Yeah man. Join the PR program.

[falcon]

Hyping the hype...have to love it

[bapenguin]

Let me get this right, this story is hype about future hype?

And if THAT hype turns out to be hype for more hype? Oh man...the possibilities are ENDLESS!

[The Continental]

Epic are taking over the development of Duke Nukem Forever and will have it in stores by year's end.

You forgot the part about them renaming it Duke Nukem 2007 so that they can crank out a visually updated version every two years, in what is more of an elaborate display to sell engine licenses, than an attempt at moving the FPS gameplay experience forward.

But I digress.

[digitalErich]

...so that they can crank out a visually updated version every two years, in what is more of an elaborate display to sell engine licenses, than an attempt at moving the FPS gameplay experience forward.

But I digress.
I generally like the Unreal/UT games (and will probably continue to buy them), but I'll damned if that shit isn't spot on when I think critically about the games.

[fitbabits]

Let me get this right, this story is hype about future hype?
Yup, and you're joining in! How does that make you feel now? :)

[GunnyMo]

I say it will be the fact that the game has no episodic content and you won't be able to buy any used copies of it. :D

[DocHoliday]

My guess is a demo date.

[Sinistar]

Canned CliffyB in favor of "the Romero".

[dotbomb]

And if THAT hype turns out to be hype for more hype? Oh man...the possibilities are ENDLESS!

I bet the news will be that the people responsible for sacking those that have hyped the hype have also been sacked.

[bapenguin]

I bet the news will be that the people responsible for sacking those that have hyped the hype have also been sacked.

Monty Python FTW.

[Manzy]

They are changing the name to "Gears of Peace" and you play a timid flower-weilding hippy who's sole task is to frolic amongst the daisy fields to find marijuana?

[motor]

I can't believe no one has guessed it yet! I think I know but I better not say...I need someway to put something in the vault to see if I'm right. I have some insider info, but I still needed to put 2 and 2 together.

Let me just add, that yes, this is BIG news.

[SuperMonkeyFighter2]

Why do I get the feeling that they got bought?

[Bad_Buddha]

I bet the news will be that the people responsible for sacking those that have hyped the hype have also been sacked.
Mark Rein bit my sister once.

[Zanzibar]

Why do I get the feeling that they got bought?

Bill Gates and the money truck FTW!!!

[RevGored]

It's gonna be a new title that we get to wait another 3 years for. And ya, Mark. You're maybe not an asshole by design, but by choice, you can be an irritating loudmouth. You're kind of the reason that people call out system-loving nerds. Your obvious need to have intercourse with an Xbox360 was made pretty apparent at the same time that your refusal to admit you live in the same industry with Nintendo does. Seriously, that whole panel was 100 times worth than anything we've seen out of Kudo or Trip put together, and you know what I'm talking about.

Oh, and by the way, your current 'announcement of an announcement' smacks of exactly what Nintendo does on a fairly regular basis, as far as spinning hype to spin more press goes. gg.

[antoniogaud]

Gears of War isnt coming out until 2007?!

[CaptStu]

Bill Gates and the money truck FTW!!!
I was thinking the exact same thing but remained silent. But, damnit. I'd rather MS buy Ubisoft.

[RorschachCCCLX]

Epic are taking over the development of Duke Nukem Forever and will have it in stores by year's end.
Epic updates release of Gears of War to "When it's done."


Jefferton Alive!

[Kamalot]

Thanks Kamalot. I love you too.
Good, then maybe you'll take my words to heart and think before you talk fron now on. :)

[screwtape]

Due to new ESRB restrictions, all enemies have been replaced by unicorns and friendly chipmunks that you can tame and play with. The chainsaw has been replaced with a grooming brush and ranged weapons now launch rainbows of smiles.

The German version will not feature the rainbow launcher, but the chipmunks will have boobs.

But seriously, I'm thinking it's regarding UT2k7.

[Mdot23]

gone gold.

[51|RandoM]

Those videos really were in-game footage?

[Demo_Boy]

Unreal 3 engine is going to be exclusive for Sony PS3 after the current U3 titles finish and ship.

[digitalErich]

gone gold.
I don't know, gold or not, I think MS would want to save the release until closer to the PS3 launch.

[The Continental]

Now that it has been mentioned, I wouldn't be suprised if MS did indeed buy Epic. I imagine the MS reps will be there within the week to fit the desks for the proper chains and layout the plan for the next decades worth of Gears of War sequels.

[HALO 32]

Release Date, Sequal and Collector's Edition

NO PS3 Port or PC or PSP (like the PSP could hold it anyway)

[fitbabits]

The smart money's on Epic to buy SONY and port Gears of War to the PS3 with additional exclusive content!

Oh, and look for the PS3 to offer the same purchase model as the Phantom.

[Kamalot]

Now that it has been mentioned, I wouldn't be suprised if MS did indeed buy Epic. I imagine the MS reps will be there within the week to fit the desks for the proper chains and layout the plan for the next decades worth of Gears of War sequels.
MS buys Epic, refuses Unreal Engine use on PS3.

[fitbabits]

MS buys Epic, refuses Unreal Engine use on PS3.
Oooh, now that would put the kitty among the pigeons!

[Zanzibar]

If MS was smart, they'd blow a few hundred mil on getting some more devs and also locking up a few titles as X360-exclusives. Sony has NO capital to do anything to keep up.

[Bishop]

Canned the [360][PSP][PC][Tiger Electronics Handheld], going straight to PEN AND PAPER!!!

Pen & Paper GoW RPG would be AWESOME!

[JawaSnack]

Epic's new Unreal Engine 4 is Nintendo Wii exclusive....

[Bishop]

I'm thinking it's the annoucement of the actual release date, but I'm hoping it's an XBL demo.

I concur with you on the XBL Demo. Maybe my poll on the GoW Forum, "Should EPIC put the GoW Demo on XBL?", actually worked. Then again maybe I'm living a pipe-dream.

[Major Dan]

Quit teasing us all ready.

[Kamalot]

It WON'T be a demo. The hype is too strong for this game for a demo.

Deoms are only released if a game does not have enough positive hype going into the launch, or post launch when sales start to dry up.

[digitalErich]

It WON'T be a demo. The hype is too strong for this game for a demo.
I don't know, Epic's track record for demos in the past has been really good. I'm not saying the announcement is the demo, but I fully expect there to be a demo at some point, even if it's after the release date.

[Dag-Sabot]

My guess:
In recognition of the hype, hyping up the upcoming hype, the "master chief" from Halo 2 will make a cameo appearance in the released final version of the game, which while quite different from halo 2, will also feature the revolutionary "No Ending".

[Kamalot]

I don't know, Epic's track record for demos in the past has been really good. I'm not saying the announcement is the demo, but I fully expect there to be a demo at some point, even if it's after the release date.
I'm not saying there will NEVER be a demo, but it won't come out until after sales start to fade. A demo creates a huge infusion of interest.

Smaller profile games get the demo pre-launch. Larger profile games get the demo post-launch.

[SuperMonkeyFighter2]

MS buys Epic, refuses Unreal Engine use on PS3.

That's where my head was at ... I just read recently that Sony licensed Unreal, so IF MS buys Epic, they would still have to honor that license agreement. However, the irony would be that Sony would essentially be paying MS for usage.

Speculation is fun ...

[ArchVile]

My guess:
In recognition of the hype, hyping up the upcoming hype, the "master chief" from Halo 2 will make a cameo appearance in the released final version of the game, which while quite different from halo 2, will also feature the revolutionary "No Ending".

How about Gears of War is Halo 3, heh, i guess thats a bit too far fetched :p

And yeah, the theory about MS buying Epic cannot be true, especially if Sony have licenced the Unreal engine for use on the PS3.

I actually wouldn't be surprised if this news had something to do with UT2K7 on PS3/PC...either that or Epic are making some kind of Table Tennis game, lol.

[zyzyx]

Buyouts don't get announced by developers on message boards.

I'm gonna go for some new game or other. I don't think that the straight single player Unreal games have what it takes to make it in the market and they probably know that.

[The Continental]

Buyouts don't get announced by developers on message boards.

I'm gonna go for some new game or other. I don't think that the straight single player Unreal games have what it takes to make it in the market and they probably know that.

Nobody announced anything. Mark said there will be big news next week, whatever that news is will probably get the full on press release treatment. An MS buyout is definitely within reason.

[motor]

My guess:
In recognition of the hype, hyping up the upcoming hype, the "master chief" from Halo 2 will make a cameo appearance in the released final version of the game, which while quite different from halo 2, will also feature the revolutionary "No Ending".

Bungie has a patent on the "No ending" tech, so I don't see them sharing it, even if Microsoft owns them both.

[Captain Awesome]

He's going to bitch about why he hates water being "wet".

[Watership]

PS3 port! PS3 Port!

I think your right.

[juiceton]

GoW becomes the next Prey...

[BabyJesus]

Mark Rein bit my sister once.

So did I, but thats ok she LOVES it!

[see colon]

epic's back catalog is being ported to XBLA. games that are too big for XBLA will be included as pre-order incentives / limited edition incentives for their retail products. buy GoW and get Unreal for free. download epic pinball from XBLA.

[dotbomb]

Mark Rein bit my sister once.

I think we are on to something here. I bet the announcement will be something along the lines of:

"Gears of War to include Special Møøse Effects(tm)"

Mynd you, møøse bites Kan be pretty nasti...

http://www.smouse.force9.co.uk/moose2.gif

[jeffbax]

Jazz Jackrabbit on XBLA :DEpic is acquiring id software.
I'll kill you :mad:

[Tennistoad]

I can't believe none of you have gotten it yet.

Oh what the Hell I'll tell ya,,

GOW is gonna have Portals..

There you go,,,now you know..

/resume life..

[ColdForged]

Unreal Tournament 2004 published by Midway on Xbox Live Arcade.

[maharahaj]

free blowjob with every pre-order

[RorschachCCCLX]

free blowjob with every pre-order
from Bill and Milinda Gates

[maharahaj]

actually, I could see something like a free face-plate with preorder or the idea someone else mentioned of there being a limited edition that comes with a previous UT title on disc two or something

[Abash Alarmist]

It WON'T be a demo. The hype is too strong for this game for a demo.

Deoms are only released if a game does not have enough positive hype going into the launch, or post launch when sales start to dry up.
Wha????? Epic has been great in regards to demos. Every single Unreal Tournament game in the past has had demos released before the actual product. Same company, same team, same policies.

Anyways, this isn't a demo. Far too soon for it. Anyways, what is it? Unreal 3.

[saneman]

What graphics engine is Mass Effect using?

Maybe this has something to do with that UE license Bioware picked up a while back.

I wish.

[Abash Alarmist]

What graphics engine is Mass Effect using?

Maybe this has something to do with that UE license Bioware picked up a while back.

I wish.

Mass Effect is UE 3.

[hund_]

i'm guessin gow demo or a release that will only work on vistas pc

in 2 weeks;)

[Thenetcase]

I'm thinking the big announcement will be that he's marrying American McGee!

-TNC-

[see colon]

Wha????? Epic has been great in regards to demos. Every single Unreal Tournament game in the past has had demos released before the actual product. Same company, same team, same policies.

Anyways, this isn't a demo. Far too soon for it. Anyways, what is it? Unreal 3.
while that's true, they were also all released by the same publisher (well, kind of. GT got bought by infrogrames who renamed themselves Atari). Publishing a demo on a royalty based system would likeley fall under the approval of the publisher.

Gears of War is being published by microsoft. so all of you "GoW on PS3" people have definatly got it wrong. unless epic has somehow been released from contract with microsoft regarding GoW.

[Abash Alarmist]

while that's true, they were also all released by the same publisher (well, kind of. GT got bought by infrogrames who renamed themselves Atari). Publishing a demo on a royalty based system would likeley fall under the approval of the publisher.

Gears of War is being published by microsoft. so all of you "GoW on PS3" people have definatly got it wrong. unless epic has somehow been released from contract with microsoft regarding GoW.

Which Microsoft would buy Epic before that would happen.

[Magnanimous Gnome]

And Magnanimous is the father!


The fucking condom broke! :mad:

[DeathtollWRX]

He is announcing that Gears of War will instead be a MMORPG in the vein of Anarchy Online and Meridian.

[saneman]

He is announcing that Gears of War will instead be a MMORPG in the vein of Anarchy Online and Meridian.

So... a bad one then?

[Evil Avatar]

I'll go with one of two guesses...

The big news is already on the main page in another post.

or

Unreal Tournament 2007 is coming to Xbox 360.

[Lon Lon Rabbit]

Now that it has been mentioned, I wouldn't be suprised if MS did indeed buy Epic. I imagine the MS reps will be there within the week to fit the desks for the proper chains...

Return of the VALUE CHAIN...

That's big.

[H.Bogard]

BIG announcement coming next week!

He just landed an awesome deal on his car insurance?

...

Tadum DISHH!

[Orosco]

It might have something to do with the some sort of music tie-in with Megadeth. I read that their tour is going to be promoting Gears of War, not sure if any of their music is going to be in the game though.

[MadSamoan]

Microsoft is buying Epic

[51|RandoM]

It is going to support mouse+keyboard?

[Varsity]

MS buys Epic (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=18543).

[Thenetcase]

Microsoft buys Epic and forces them to release decent sequels to things like Deus Ex and so forth....

Yeah... right.
I LOVE Microsoft's entertainment division though, so hopefully that'd be a good thing... Though I somehow doubt it. Microsoft isn't known for buying major labels... For some reason.

-TNC-

[jeffbax]

Epic has nothing to do with Deus Ex and neither does MS...

[doubletrance]

the game will be released in "TWO WEEKS !!!!!111" (tm)

[see colon]

Microsoft isn't known for buying major labels... For some reason.
yeah because noone ever heard of bungie, rare, or lionhead before they were purchased by microsoft.

[Dag-Sabot]

-I have it on good authority that it has something to do with an "Elvis Sighting".

[fitbabits]

-I have it on good authority that it has something to do with an "Elvis Sighting".
You're confused. One look at Mark Rein and it's obvious where Elvis disappeared to. ;)

[see colon]

"I can do Elvis more efficiently than you!"

[laggerific]

Microsoft buys Epic and forces them to release decent sequels to things like Deus Ex and so forth....

Yeah... right.
I LOVE Microsoft's entertainment division though, so hopefully that'd be a good thing... Though I somehow doubt it. Microsoft isn't known for buying major labels... For some reason.

-TNC-


Even if Epic did own Deus Ex, MS has already taken one beloved RPG and turned it into a actionfest...which is exactly what we fear Bethesda will do to Fallout 3. But at this point, I fear MS would turn Deus Ex into a My Dinner With Andre video game...

PC RPGs are on life support...I hope they can pull through until some serious RPGs come to be. Single player RPGs need to make a comeback.

[RorschachCCCLX]

Ok, its been a week. now where is the big friggin news?

[Sl1pstream]

Ok, its been a week. now where is the big friggin news?

This friday, I guess.

[see colon]

PC RPGs are on life support...I hope they can pull through until some serious RPGs come to be. Single player RPGs need to make a comeback.
PC RPGs on life support? TES:O is one of the biggest titles in recent memory, WOW has an untold amount of subscribers, titan quest debued in the top 10 PC games at launch (with mostly rave reviews).