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Epic's Mark Rein

On Unreal Engine 3, Natal, Cliff Bleszinski and more.

Ellie Gibson avatar
Interview by Ellie Gibson Contributor
Updated on
93 comments
EurogamerWhich is producing badass?
Marky R

Yeah. We can always get more badass.

EurogamerYou're like a badass factory?
Marky R

We're a conglomerate of badassery.

EurogamerI can just picture CliffyB cranking the handle while you collect the badass pouring out of the machine.
Marky R

Yeah, I can picture that... I think whatever we do, we'll get better at it. Have you seen Shadow Complex? It's really good.

EurogamerWell, thank you very much for your time, Mark Rein -
Marky R

Oh, is that it? But we should just talk generally about our engine.

EurogamerGo on then. So how much is your engine?
Marky R

I said generally, not specifically.

EurogamerI've got about £3.97 on me, could I get one for that?
Marky R

This year at E3 we showed three really major features that showed how we're improving performance, visual quality and productivity as well as [at this point, Rein delivers a lengthy monologue about the benefits of Unreal Engine 3. For the sake of brevity, it can be summarised thus: 'The Unreal Engine's quite good, buy one.'] So the thing is I've started joking with people that if we had a minor numbering system for Unreal Engine 3, I think we'd be at 3.7 or 3.8 by now.

Did you know Quantic Dreams is doing a Fat Princess clone powered by Unreal Engine 3? Yes, Heavy Rein.
EurogamerHaha.
Marky R

It really is a very mature engine with a lot of great new functionality and improved performance every year.

EurogamerYou sound like you're on the shopping channel, just so you know. I keep expecting you go to, 'Hurry, we've only got 42 Unreal Engines left!'
Marky R

I know. You'll condense that though, you're good at that.

EurogamerYes, I'll probably transcribe it as, 'The Unreal Engine's quite good, just buy one.'
Marky R

But you'll remember I said it. 'Don't forget, Epic continues to improve their technology every year...'

EurogamerActually I have that written on my bedroom wall. It's great to go to sleep knowing you're continuing to improve that technology on an annual basis.
Marky R

I guess that was kind of shlocky.

EurogamerWhat you need, to make the Unreal Engine more exciting, is a "bigger, better, more badass"-style tagline.
Marky R

Like, "Smaller, tighter, more badass."

Sorry about these captions. I won an award once, you know. Now it's all just tears in the rein.
EurogamerThat sounds like an advert for some pornography.
Marky R

Yes, it sounds too much like a porn commercial.

EurogamerPerhaps we could have a competition where Eurogamer readers write in with suggestions?
Marky R

No, I don't think so. I've read the forums. No.

Mark Rein is the vice president of Epic Games. He is unlikely to grant Eurogamer any interview slots in the future. Shadow Complex, made by Epic collaborators Chair Entertainment, will be released on Xbox Live Arcade on 19th August.

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