Mark Rein
Kill with skill.
Bain News Service, publisher · Public domain
Bulletstorm is a 2011 first-person shooter game developed by People Can Fly and Epic Games and published by Electronic Arts (EA). The video game is distinguished by its system of rewarding players with 'skillpoints' for performing increasingly creative kills. Bulletstorm does not have any competitive multiplayer modes, preferring instead to include cooperative online play and score attack modes.
- Role
- Executive Vice President (Epic Games)
- Affiliation
- Epic Games
- Connection
- Unreal Engine 3 Licensing
- Status
- Active in Industry
Lore & Background
Set in the 26th century, the game's story follows Grayson Hunt, a space pirate and former black ops soldier who gets shot down on a war-torn planet while trying to exact revenge on General Sarrano, his former commander who tricked him and his men into committing war crimes and assassinating innocents.
In Their Own Story
In a quiet server room at Epic Games headquarters, the hum of cooling fans masked the silent transfer of data. Mark Rein reviewed the engine metrics on a monitor, watching render times stabilize for a third-party build. The technology was being shipped to Warsaw, where developers would soon weaponize it into something new. He knew the code would outlive its creators, becoming the skeleton of a shooter that prioritized style over survival.
Reader's Guide
As a first-person shooter, Bulletstorm focuses on combat. The game features eight weapons, each with their own distinct behaviors. The protagonist Grayson Hunt is equipped with an 'instinct leash' that allows him to pull enemies towards him; an upgrade unlocks the 'Thumper', which slams down a ball of energy that launches all nearby enemies and explosive barrels into the air. The player can also kick enemies or run and slide into them. If an enemy is launched into the air from the whip or by being kicked/slid into, they go into slow motion, allowing players to perform 'skillshots'. Points are used as currency at 'dropkits' scattered across the planet to purchase firearms, ammunition and upgrades. Besides the single-player campaign, players can access two additional modes: 'Echoes' and 'Anarchy', a four-player co-operative multiplayer mode.
Did You Know?
- Development of the game began in June 2007.
- Adrian Chmielarz and Cliff Bleszinski served as its director and designer respectively.
- Rick Remender, the author of Fear Agent, wrote the game's story.
- The team experimented with competitive multiplayer modes and campaign cooperative multiplayer mode during production but decided to remove them because of technological constraints.
- Bulletstorm was a commercial failure for both Epic Games and Electronic Arts, selling one million copies by 2013.
Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Mark Rein?
He is an Executive Vice President at Epic Games known for his leadership during the development of the Unreal Engine series. In the context of this game, he represents the real-world executive behind the technology rather than a fictional entity.
What was his role in Bulletstorm development?
His company provided the foundational Unreal Engine 3 technology that powered the game's mechanics and environments. He did not manage production directly but facilitated the engine licensing deal with People Can Fly.
Is Mark Rein a character in the story?
No, he is a real-world industry executive and does not appear as a playable or non-playable character within the narrative. Fans sometimes confuse his name because of its prominence in the credits related to engine technology.
How did Epic Games technology influence Bulletstorm?
The Unreal Engine 3 framework allowed developers to implement the complex physics required for the unique skillshot mechanics. This partnership ensured the game could run smoothly while delivering high-quality visual effects.
Is Mark Rein still working at Epic Games?
Yes, he remains active in the industry and continues his executive duties at the company today. His ongoing work supports many modern titles that rely on Unreal Engine technology for their development.
More in Development & Legacy
Related in Bulletstorm
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Elsewhere in the Bulletstorm universe
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