Gears of War update: more talk, less tagging

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Jan 8th 2007 at 10:30AM }

Epic's Mark Rein has divulged a list of issues that will be addressed by tomorrow's Gears of War update. The update, a prelude to Wednesday's new multiplayer maps, promises to fix the problem that left latecomers to a match without an audible voice. The noted aspect ratio bug that occurred with the Xbox 360's VGA cable has also been crushed beneath the weight of improved code. The full list of fixes reads as follows:

Fixed aspect ratio distortion when using VGA cable with 4:3 displays at resolutions higher than 640x480
Fixed voice issue with new players joining Player Match games in progress
Players can now get the Achievement for "Dish Best Served Cold" when using Troika turret to kill RAAM
Fixed rare situation where host could loop countdown and never start match
Fixed rare situation where players could get stuck after chainsawing in multiplayer
Reduced Grenade Tag melee distance
Enabled "Strict" NAT check on host to prevent possible connection issues
Optimized server browser queries to return results more quickly and prevent scroll bars from hiding quality of service icons
Reduced number of possible revives in Execution to match Warzone
Removed host name from Ranked match server browser
Disabled security cameras in Ranked matches
Ranked matches now require balanced teams (3v3 or 4v4)
Increased penalty for quitting a Ranked match to -50 points
Added additional cheat detection code
Additional housekeeping updates

Those that find themselves exploding at an alarming rate should be pleased to learn that grenade tagging will now require more intimacy to be effective. Indeed, the ones closest to you always end up hurting you the most.

Tags: Cliffy B, CliffyB, Epic, Epic Games, EpicGames, Gears of War, Gears update, GearsOfWar, GearsUpdate, Mark Rein, MarkRein, MSFT, XBLA, Xbox Live, XboxLive

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Stephen @ 360voice.com @ Jan 8th 2007 10:54AM

Looking good, I am glad the game is being supported by Epic addressing concerns and already offering free content. They are proving to be a great developer!

Jonstiq @ Jan 8th 2007 10:54AM

so how do these updates work? im new to 360, do they download automaticcaly? Also do u need the wireless adaptor on 360 to connect to the net?

jayman16 @ Jan 8th 2007 5:37PM

Great, now I can never play Ranked with my friends... Thanks God I have Rainbow Six.

wetsploogie @ Jan 8th 2007 5:21PM

YAY. Finally.

jayman16 @ Jan 8th 2007 4:04PM

You can connect wireless or wired to the internet. Updates happen automatically, when you put the game in.

jayntampa @ Jan 8th 2007 12:38PM

I'm very, VERY disappointed with this update. It should have done more to address what I consider the biggest problem with this game: how much I suck online.

Other than that, great to know that they're really supporting their release. Meanwhile, if anyone is looking to rack up kills online, play any game I'm in (gt: Briarios) -- I'm a great target.

KineticOnline @ Jan 8th 2007 11:02AM

@jonstiq
To get the update you just need to load up the game and be connected to live. You can use the wireless adapter or the wired one it doesnt make any difference.

Nate @ Jan 8th 2007 11:00AM

Removing the hosts name from the ranked match server browser is one of the dumbest things they could do, IMO.

Me and one of my buddies like to play ranked matches of Gears together, we don't care who the host is or if he's on our team or not....we just like to play together and go for achievements and stuff, and check out our stats. This probably won't be possible after the update, which is pretty disappointing. They really need to implement a party system or something like that, so you can play in competitive ranked matches with friends....to me, playing with friends and people you know is a key part of any online game, and while some will say to play unranked matches, that's fine....but I like the stat tracking, and achievement system. Big mistake on the part of Epic, IMO.

Jake @ Jan 8th 2007 4:40PM

Hopefully this means less grenade tagging and more actual gunning! Thanks EPIC, see you on Wednesday!

geekinabox @ Jan 8th 2007 11:55AM

#2 -- update will be automatic ... once it's released, when you put in gears, you'll be told that "there's an update, do you want it (yes/no)?" ... if you answer no, then you prb are not allowed online. if you answer yes, then it downloads and the game restarts and you're good to go.

Doomstalk @ Jan 8th 2007 5:02PM

Nate: That's not the way ranked is supposed to work. If you want to play together, use player match.

Stephen @ 360voice.com @ Jan 8th 2007 11:05AM

This update will be applied automatically when you start the game up and our connected to live. You will get a notice when you first start the game and you will get a choice to apply it or not.

If you don't apply it you will not be able to connect to live in that game, if you do apply it, it will quickly download and apply it and restart your game and you are good to go. It's very seamless.

The maps will most likely require a download from the marketplace.

Maver1ck AHP @ Jan 8th 2007 11:12AM

I agree with Nate, it is most fun playing with friends, and although many will argue "play unranked match's", most of the time the competition just isn't there. It drastically reduces the overall enjoyment of the game. For doing so many things right, Epic how could you screw this one up so badly.

Mitochondria @ Jan 8th 2007 11:16AM

Silly kids, for all those who don't like Epic taking away the host name... too bad. This game was never ment to be played with your friends. I mean it is so annoying to get online and some guy is like, "could you switch teams, I'm waiting for a friend" or "I'm remaking the game so "GT" can get in". it's rediculous, it's supposed to be random.

Now people hopefully wont all try to get on COG cause they think it's the better team. What they really need to fix is the ranking system and how people with a high ranking get partnered with people who just got the game. I hate having to explain how to play the game to noobs, RT(Freaking)M!!!

VerticyX @ Jan 8th 2007 4:28PM

Wow, EPIC is bent on making sure you play ranked matches with total strangers. I personally don't have any RL friends that I play xbox with, so this was never a big deal with me, but I guess they are saying play unranked or stick with Halo if you wanna play with your friends.

Reduced number of possible revives in Execution to match Warzone

Eh?

Definitely excited about stuck-with-the-chainsaw fix, although I haven't chainsawed much since I got the achievement...

Oh well, looking forward to seeing everyone randomly online in ranked matches.

juicebytim @ Jan 8th 2007 3:14PM

Mitochondria:

If Epic would have implemented a party system into the update, you wouldn't have the problem of people waiting for friends to join. When you join, your friends would as well.

It blows my mind that a developer could look at the GOW matchmaking system and say, "This is the best it can be." When you have a two year old matchmaking system (Halo 2) which they should have taken note of in the first place. I'm honestly very disapointed.

TTL Jericho @ Jan 8th 2007 3:04PM

When or When (or Can They) allow us to party up in Gears? Doesn't look like this patch will address that. *sigh* Why don't developers just rip off Bungie's matchmaking system?

T.J. @ Jan 8th 2007 8:17PM

What they need to do is balance out the shotgun firepower so the host doesn't have such an overwhelming advantage. It takes one close-quarter shot with the shotgun to blow an enemy apart as the host, while the other players take two to three shots to blow them apart. I hope that's something they address immediately.

BarryTheSprout @ Jan 9th 2007 9:05AM

Will this patch do anything for the "Dirty Disk" lockups? I am on my third copy and getting them again, in the same place I got them on my first copy (The cinematic scene between Act 3 and 4).

Atilac @ Jan 8th 2007 11:42AM

"Enabled "Strict" NAT check on host to prevent possible connection issues" This is bull, how can epic justify segregation of XBL members? I have a strict NAT with my connection and have done plenty in an attempt to remedy it, nothing has worked. Why should I be withheld possible matches because of their crappy net code? Halo2 addressed NAT problems, without holding back Matchmaking.

Zack @ Jan 8th 2007 11:42AM

It's important that they removed the host name as a temporary measure, because the other team was always at a disadvantage in not knowing each other.

I prefer playing with friends myself, but it's simply unfair to others when you play ranked matches with your buddies, given the current system.

With that said, I'll definitely agree that the one feature GoW needs more than any other is a party system a la Halo. Epic is aware of this, but IIRC Mark Rein has stated in their forums that it would take tons of work at this point. This doesn't mean it won't happen, as Epic is big on supporting their games post-release, but it does mean that if it does happen it will take a while. Meanwhile, I'm glad they leveled the playing field for ranked matches; now I'm tempted to go back online and try getting some achievements.

Also, HELL YEAH on the big penalty for quitting a match early. Halo needed this badly.

KingOfGods @ Jan 8th 2007 11:56AM

"This is bull, how can epic justify segregation of XBL members? I have a strict NAT with my connection and have done plenty in an attempt to remedy it, nothing has worked. Why should I be withheld possible matches because of their crappy net code? Halo2 addressed NAT problems, without holding back Matchmaking."

@Atilac
It sounds to me like you will still be able to play the game online and that you won't be able to host...Why would you want to host with a strict NAT anyway? That would cause connection issues and voice problems.

Richard Mitchell @ Jan 8th 2007 4:08PM

"Indeed, the ones closest to you always end up hurting you the most."

Aw, poor Ludwig :) A window into the sad life of a shell of a man.

SymetriX @ Jan 8th 2007 12:09PM

@Nick

You know, after thinking about it, I can understand why Epic (Microsoft?) doesn't want you join pre-made games with your friends for ranked matches. Maybe it skews the results if the other team is just a pick-up group, I don't know.

BUT, you would think that they could at least have a "ranked clan match" section. See what team is best at 2v2, 3v3, etc.

Nate @ Jan 8th 2007 12:11PM

@7: "Silly kids, for all those who don't like Epic taking away the host name... too bad. This game was never ment to be played with your friends. I mean it is so annoying to get online and some guy is like, "could you switch teams, I'm waiting for a friend" or "I'm remaking the game so "GT" can get in". it's rediculous, it's supposed to be random."

Great....so the game was meant to be played with mutes who use zero teamwork and just horde the power weapons, all while running out into the open and getting killed (which is what I experience most of the time when playing with strangers). That sounds awesome.

I'm sorry, but I just can't sympathize with people who complain about people playing with friends....I mean, really, who cares? I've played against teams of friends many times (without host) and won with my friends on the other team....the games were much more competitive and definitely more fun....I don't see what the big problem is. I like to play with people I know in online games....not a bunch of strangers who don't talk (or are annoying when they do talk). Unranked matches are ok....but there's so sense of urgency or anything like that when people can drop in and out as they please.

benjamin @ Jan 8th 2007 6:39PM

@#9: Have you given your 360 a static IP then put that IP in a DMZ? I had problems with strict NATing and this cleared it right up.

Edog Lost @ Jan 8th 2007 8:15PM

THANK GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DWells55 @ Jan 8th 2007 12:44PM

So they removed the host name from the ranked matches list, huh? Wait, they didn't add any sort of official support for playing with friends in ranked games? Thanks for raping us even harder, Epic. Now I'm genuinely pissed off I dropper $70 on this game, as they've pretty much killed the entire multiplayer aspect for me. Fantastic. Back to Halo 2 I suppose.

exit stencil @ Jan 8th 2007 12:52PM

what? no party system? how long do we have to wait for that patch?

Jo11e @ Jan 9th 2007 7:19AM

I think it's great that they have removed the host name. Playing against a stacked team sucks. It shure is fun playing with your friends but it's not fair against the other team no matter what. And by the way, Mark Rein said that this is just the first patch witch suggests that more updates are on the way...

Adasm @ Jan 8th 2007 4:12PM

I do think it's pretty crappy to take out the hosts' names in ranked matches. I also like playing with friends; it's just not the same when you're with people you don't know. Teamwork and communication almost always suffer when partnered with some random people.

But I'm WAY more concerned about there being no mention of fixing other bugs that I've encountered really often. There's one where, for some reason, my trigger buttons refuse to work, and pushing L or R does nothing. Switching guns fixes the problem, but switching guns isn't exactly immediate like in Halo or something.

There's another bug that I've had and heard people complain about where the grenade targeting reticle pops up whenever you hit the L button. Very annoying. They should work on fixing those.

MaX PL @ Jan 8th 2007 5:59PM

theyve made some changes, but not implementing a party system is the worst part.

then again, if you think about it, that would be very difficult to do. they would have to completely redo everything. i dont want to explain it, but there are a ton of implications involved.

and to the strict nat question, all that means is that people with strict nats wont be allowed to host. i think this has to do with all the "no connection can be made to host" and random drops from rooms because scrubs were hosting matches with strict nats.

8dot3 @ Jan 8th 2007 1:08PM

I think the party system thing needs to be addressed by Microsoft. Garnet from 1up said it best, ranked matches don't need to be so serious. It should just mean, stats on, or stats off.

Kevout @ Jan 8th 2007 1:50PM

-Reduced Grenade Tag melee distance

Thank god for that

dmunz @ Jan 9th 2007 8:43PM

It seems to me, that dropping the host name will create more players joining and leaving ranked matches looking for their friends. I am sure that the map location will still be viewable. So all you say is I am hosting another match at Tyro or something, look for me. Than players will join tyro matches and if it is the wrong one peace out till they find their friends. At least that is what I will be doing due to this "new and improved" version of ranked match play. All the other updates are chill but this one is just going to create another series of complaints. I still love GEARS.

Zak @ Jan 8th 2007 1:37PM

They should have fixed the problem where only the host can invite new people when their are clearly spots open.

Also, sometimes you can't even join games when there are open slots.

waldo15 @ Jan 8th 2007 2:05PM

Man, from the list looks almost a perfect patch. I admit taking advantage now and then of the uber-tagging, but now things will get interesting.

One thing I did not get to see was the distance of the shotgun being corrected. Some times at point-blank range you will miss, and some times shooting from way far away (think 5-7 game-meters) you can blow away enemies! Well, something to look forward two in a second patch I guess

VampireHunter Z @ Jan 8th 2007 1:50PM

I'm glad they removed the host name. It's the best thing they could have done. I normally jump on alone and I hate when a host is telling me which side to go. Then there was one match that I joined and then they told me not to kill anyone because they are going for the "downs" achievement or some crap like that. A disconnect should be -1000 points. Too many quitters out there.

Collin @ Jan 8th 2007 10:12PM

The fact that they are making it harder to play on Xbox Live with friends is a fairly stupid mistake. One of the biggest reasons is that Microsoft pushes Xbox Live as a community and a place to play with friends, but now if you want to get achievements, or get ranked on the leader board you can't play with friends. This is a serious mistake on epics part, since people who really want to cheat, will find a way around this, and those who play legit will just be fucked.

Nick Mercer @ Jan 8th 2007 2:17PM

I'm just glad to see them releasing fixes (especially VGA) and listening to people somewhat, lets just hope it continues this way :)

-nick

Tommy D @ Jan 8th 2007 2:48PM

Seriously, they need to have a ranked party mode. I understand taking host names off the list (because honestly, if one more person tells me which team to be on, I'll kill myself) but it'd be nice to play some ranked games with my friends without jumping through a ton of hoops.

I'm also disappointed with the grenade tagging patch... that was my best defense!

Ryan de michigan @ Jan 8th 2007 4:48PM

Removed the hosts name?! This takes all the fun out of Gears. I don't know about you guys but I use Live to stay in touch with my friends (many in other states). Of course we'd rather get on Ranked where the players are more skilled and you can unlock achievements. I'd much rather play alongside friends that know how to work together than some D-bag dying every match trying to unlock his tag achievment.

OTAM @ Jan 8th 2007 4:02PM

Removing the host's name was a terrible idea. I don't even play ranked anymore without my friends for the same reason Nate was saying. The people you play with are all mutes,they all run to the power weapons right at the start,and since they don't use their headset you can't make a strategy,nor get status on your teams position and the enemies' position. Then,the icing on the cake is that 99% of the time your team can give a shit less about you because they're only on there to dick around with their achievements.

HeisttheWorld @ Jan 8th 2007 4:14PM

Removing the host name is brilliant as a temp solution, and should remain gone in regular ranked matches.

While it would be awesome if they did a Party system (They've said they're working on it, but this is going to take some time, they right now addressed the major concerns and maps, so be happy!)

For those who like playing with a team: You have to realize that you're cheating. You're playing in a team (sometimes just made, sometimes clan) that works together, has strategies, and in higher cases preset roles and battle plans.
You're playing against a group of 4 random people, where's the fun in that? Where's the fun in always winning because you know you have a good team, against random people?

Perfect patch. Tagging will be reduced and easier to stop and no longer a cheap strategy but a more skilled one.

EzLnH8u @ Jan 8th 2007 4:30PM

looks like there getting on the ball with the updates, lets hope new weapons and maybe even veichels, in the near future.

stalinsunderpants @ Jan 8th 2007 8:45PM

removed host name means remove this game from my 360. I generally only play with one friend on my team and that counteracts the other 6 idiots and non talkers in the game. there's no sense of competition in unranked as it means nothing to drop in or out or do suicide runs. way to kill your game off epic.

ch0rx @ Jan 8th 2007 7:54PM

The closest thing we had to ranked team matches... gone, what a shame eh?

jayman16 @ Jan 8th 2007 5:44PM

@#35 So what if it's only me and one or even two of my friends??? No one ever joins player matches, it's good in theory but ppl only play in Ranked. Unless you have enough ppl for a game of your own, you'll never get a (good) game started.

Turo @ Jan 8th 2007 9:50PM

@doomstalk

nate is right. as far as how ranked is supposed to work: have u forgotten that this game is all about teamwork? maybe its just my luck, but when i play ranked with strangers im usually stuck with people that dont use their mics or choose to be a lone wolf. thats just no fun. sure i can do player match with my friends, but then its not as competitive as you can not see how you sit among others, which is why the implementation of a team game search would be great but im sure its a long shot...=(