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TGS 2009: Capps talks about missing 'perching' cover system from Gears of War 2
"Everyone expects sequels to be bigger and better," Dr. Michael Capps said in his Gears of War panel at Tokyo Game Show. While talking about visual prototyping, he showcased a new type of cover that was in development for GoW2 called "perching" that was ultimately removed from the game. This system would allow for the player to take cover behind a wall as usual, but by pushing up, Marcus would be able to grab the top of the wall, and pull up. Hanging from the top of the wall, players would be able to fire their gun, with an improved vertical vantage of the battlefield.It looked really cool, yes, but Capps talked about how they couldn't implement it in the game because it simply broke the game -- especially in multiplayer. It would be unfair if players could see the entire battlefield, while still being able to stay in cover. Too bad ... because it did look really cool.
TGS 2009: Epic Games opens new Tokyo studio
You wouldn't think a panel called "Adapting the 'Gears of War' Franchise for Global Consumption" wouldn't take place at Tokyo Game Show. Epic Games President Dr. Michael Capps admitted that Gears of War was its biggest franchise, and that "Xbox is not the number one platform here in Japan." However, that didn't stop Capps from having some big news for panel attendees."We're hiring, in a speech at Tokyo Game Show," Capps said immediately following his announcement of a brand new Epic Games studio in Tokyo. The team will be responsible for providing support for the Unreal Engine to Japanese studios. It's a known problem that many Japanese teams have been unable to effectively work with the engine, most recently evidenced by the sluggish performance of The Last Remnant on Xbox 360.The new team may eventually work on new games. Capps did admit that "we are fanboys of Japanese gaming ... We have deep respect for the long history of excellent Japanese games," pointing out to Epic Games' recently released Shadow Complex. Perhaps Epic can hire Kingdom Hearts' Testuya Nomura to make the chainsaw game of his dreams.
Microsoft hosts sneak peek event for new Gears of War 2 map this Friday
If you live in the Seattle area and find yourself dreaming of dead Locust scum on a daily basis, then you may be interested in a Gears of War 2 play session being set up by Microsoft at the Experience Music Project|Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame. This Friday, Microsoft will open the doors and allow the first 800 people (who are 17 and older, of course) to enjoy one of the new maps on offer in the newly announced All Fronts compilation. There will also be a Gears creator panel featuring Epic Games president Dr. Michael Capps and lead writer Joshua Ortega.The event will be limited to just the 800 people, so Microsoft suggests you show up much earlier than the 8pm PT starting time (the event will run until 11pm PT). We suggest you bust out the WD-40, because you don't want to go into battle without a well-oiled Lancer.
Joystiq interview: Epic's Mike Capps responds to accusations of 'exploitative' working conditions
Several weeks back, independent game designer, Manifesto Games co-founder, and outspoken industry critic Greg Costikyan took Epic Games President Michael Capps to task for comments made during an IGDA [International Game Developers Association] panel in 2008. The debate over Capps' comments has raged on in IGDA forums and blogs, with Costikyan framing it writing, "The notion that a fucking board member of the IGDA should defend (and indeed, within his own studio, foster) such exploitative practices is offensive on the face of it, and has caused a considerable kerfluffle within the organization." Exploitative practices? At Epic Games? We spoke with Mr. Capps to get his perspective:Joystiq: There's a – I believe the industry term is – a "kerfuffle" over comments that you made at a panel back in 2008 when you were still an active IGDA board member. So just for the sake of setting the record straight, could you contextualize those comments for us from your point of view? Michael Capps: "Contextualize." That's interesting. Well, in reference to your comments, Greg Costikyan said, I think his exact quote was, that you were "a management dickhead." So I would ask you to perhaps put a different angle on that. Well, he really invites a reasoned debate on the issue.
Gears of War 2 panel: 'hot chicks,' stereotypes, living cover and more
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/xbox/Gears_of_War_2_panel_hot_chicks_Cole_Train_living_cover'; While megatons were nary to be found at Epic Games' Gears of War 2 panel at this year's New York Comic Con, Epic president Michael Capps and writer Joshua Ortega nonetheless revealed a few tidbits that are sure to pique the interest of the Gears faithful.Immediately after production on the first Gears wrapped up, the team had to ask itself what it could to make the game "bigger" and "more badass." For example, they saw how people responded to the last-minute addition of the chainsaw. What could they do to improve the chainsaw? Chainsaw duels, perhaps?Cover, which is admittedly inspired by the oft-forgotten Kill.switch, will also be expanded upon in the sequel. Players have already taken cover behind inanimate objects: rocks, walls, etc. But, what if players could take cover behind moving, living things? What if players could kill a massive enemy and then use it as cover? This ultimately led to the development of massive worm creatures for the sequel.
Epic Games prez compares Wii to a "virus"
The folks at Epic Games certainly haven't been shy to make their feelings about the Wii known in the past, but company president Michael Capps took things up a few more notches in a recent interview with IGN, with him not only once again bemoaning the Wii's underpowered hardware, but even going so far as to compare the console to a "virus." You can find Capps' complete musings on the matter at the link below, but the short of it is that he thinks the Wii maintains its success by building on a chain reaction of sorts, with one person buying the console only to get tired of it two months later, but not before they showed it to someone else, who also though it was cool and went out and bought one, and also got bored with it a couple of months later, and so on and so on. Capps does add, however, that there's obviously "a class of people who really love it and enjoy it and are getting into the games," but that he's waiting for "that one game that makes me play it," and that "maybe Wii Fit will be it." That apparently still doesn't mean you can expect to see any games from Epic on the Wii, however, with Capps flatly saying that "we go forward, not back."[Via Wii Fanboy]
An Epic diss
The Wii isn't everyone's cup of tea. For one, Epic Games' president Michael Capps seems to have a lot of hate for the little white console. When asked if the Wii's success was tempting the company to make software for the platform, Capps replied, "No, we go forward, not back. It makes more sense for us to invest in the next-generation tech." Oh, snap.Capps didn't stop there, though. Comparing the Wii to a virus, he explained the epidemic as a chain reaction of sorts. According to the prez, when someone sees a Wii, they'll think it looks cool, buy it, and then stop playing it after two months. But, a friend will see their Wii, think it looks fun, and buy one for themselves. The cycle continues, even though people stop playing their Wiis once the novelty wears off.Now, if you're visiting this website, the chances are high that you don't agree with Capps. Do you see any merits in his argument, though? Should the Wii not count as a "next-generation" console because it can't match up in tech? And, do you think the lack of Epic's support is a big loss for the Wii?[Thanks, zizzy!]
