Mark Rein: Not cheap.
Gears of War maker Epic's ongoing set of misunderstandings with US mag, GamePro continues, this time vice president Mark Rein has been forced to put a starting price on the sale of his company.
Earlier this month Rein had to deny speculation in the same publication that Gears of War 2 was about to be revealed.
This time Rein is deflecting a report that Microsoft is set to buy his company for a nice, round one billion US dollars.
Speaking to the UK's Develop magazine, Rein states, "I have not seen the actual GamePro article but if they're going to make predictions about us selling Epic we would prefer if they started at $2 billion.
"Because we don't want anyone thinking that we're cheap."
Of course, none of the above stands up as a denial that Microsoft is going to buy Epic. In fact, the immense popularity* of its Unreal Engine 3 (recently licensed by GTA IV maker, Take Two, for example) as well as its already solid relationship with Microsoft with Gears would make it an ideal fit.
But maybe the folks at Epic have been down to the pub with the chaps from Halo maker, Bungie? The latter - having left the Microsoft fold due to stifled imaginations - might have looked into their steins and shaken their heads.
Yes, we know that is incredibly unlikely - however, Bungie's exit does leave a hole in Microsoft's development portfolio.
We await developments...
*Of course, Unreal Engine 3 is not popular with everybody. Just ask Too Human developer, Silicon Knights, which is subpoenaing current license holders - see SPOnG from January 24th for more on this.
Earlier this month Rein had to deny speculation in the same publication that Gears of War 2 was about to be revealed.
This time Rein is deflecting a report that Microsoft is set to buy his company for a nice, round one billion US dollars.
Speaking to the UK's Develop magazine, Rein states, "I have not seen the actual GamePro article but if they're going to make predictions about us selling Epic we would prefer if they started at $2 billion.
"Because we don't want anyone thinking that we're cheap."
Of course, none of the above stands up as a denial that Microsoft is going to buy Epic. In fact, the immense popularity* of its Unreal Engine 3 (recently licensed by GTA IV maker, Take Two, for example) as well as its already solid relationship with Microsoft with Gears would make it an ideal fit.
But maybe the folks at Epic have been down to the pub with the chaps from Halo maker, Bungie? The latter - having left the Microsoft fold due to stifled imaginations - might have looked into their steins and shaken their heads.
Yes, we know that is incredibly unlikely - however, Bungie's exit does leave a hole in Microsoft's development portfolio.
We await developments...
*Of course, Unreal Engine 3 is not popular with everybody. Just ask Too Human developer, Silicon Knights, which is subpoenaing current license holders - see SPOnG from January 24th for more on this.
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Comments
SuperSaiyan4 19 Feb 2008 12:26
1/3
IF Microsoft made such an offer think about it, would it include the Unreal 3 engine license and future Unreal Engines?
All games using the license would have to come to Microsoft then...Microsoft would then make money from the license...How many developers would want to spend their own time and money making inhouse engines?
I think Microsoft could easily get that $2billion back.
All games using the license would have to come to Microsoft then...Microsoft would then make money from the license...How many developers would want to spend their own time and money making inhouse engines?
I think Microsoft could easily get that $2billion back.
deleted 19 Feb 2008 12:42
2/3
Its very possible though that microsoft could prevent licencing of the engine to any game that isnt going to appear on a micrsoft console!, and thus if that happen then i doubt the engine would be as popular, but then again they might not do that but i wouldnt put it past them.
tyrion 19 Feb 2008 14:27
3/3
SuperSaiyan4 wrote:
IF Microsoft made such an offer think about it, would it include the Unreal 3 engine license and future Unreal Engines?
For Microsoft and Unreal, substitute EA and RenderWare. Now see how many people are using RenderWare.