Gears of War 2 'Flashback' maps now on XBLM
by Randy Nelson 
{ Jan 7th 2009 at 3:40PM }
($5).Think of those five bucks as Microsoft slapping you ever-so-lightly on the wrist for turning to the vile second-hand games market for your jollies. Then again, you might want to wait until Epic has ironed out all of the multiplayer kinks from Gears 2 before investing in more maps.
[Thanks, Alex]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
shane86 @ Jan 7th 2009 3:47PM
I was expecting them to be free, wow.
Bloo @ Jan 7th 2009 4:42PM
I was expecting the XBLA version of Portal to be free. Oh wait, no I wasn't.
shane86 @ Jan 7th 2009 4:50PM
You're comparing three maps from the original GOW to one of the best games of 2007?...riiiight.
Haggard @ Jan 7th 2009 5:09PM
Yeah, why should we have to pay for a standalone game, especially one which require extra effort to make available?
Gun Barrier @ Jan 7th 2009 6:47PM
Actually, i was expecting that xbla portal to be free, too. At least to whoever owned orange box already.
EgoCheck616 @ Jan 7th 2009 3:54PM
None of this makes any sense, but I really don't see a point in complaining. I bought the game on release, got the maps, played them, and think the combustion map pack is a better combo...
That said, this is what you get when you buy a used game and give all of your money to GameStop instead of the people who actually made it.
Vol @ Jan 7th 2009 4:01PM
I call bullshit on this.
If you complain about GameStop making money about selling used games, then go after everyone on eBay, classified ads, Craigslist, school kids, or anyone else that has a right to sell their games that are used.
People do have rights to sell their property as they see fit. That's why we "own" stuff.
Myth84 @ Jan 7th 2009 4:22PM
@Vol - I don't even think you understand the argument being made. Ego said nothing about Gamestop not having the right to sell games. His argument is that buying games from Gamestop (or your school buddy, or off Craigslist, or eBay, etc) is giving money to those 3rd parties, instead of the developers, publishers, etc who need that money to continue producing more quality games. The punishment (one could infer from Ego's post) is that by not supporting the developers, you get shafted with the "bonuses" such as this map pack being free.
Erluti @ Jan 7th 2009 4:24PM
Yeah, but Gamestop has a business model designed around blocking revenue to game developers. They don't order enough new games, so you'll be inclined to see if they have it used. They're really a pawn shop that dabbles in new items and it offends me, as someone who wants to see games be successful. Their insistence on selling Used Games that are a week old is why good games that aren't mass-market die.
Haggard @ Jan 7th 2009 5:13PM
With any media, the 'once I've bought it, it's mine to sell to whomever I want and keep the money' argument is difficult.
On the one hand, it seems odd that a company should be automatically given a cut if you sell a game to one of your friends.
But on the other hand, when you bought the game, the majority of what you pay is for the creative process and content on the disc, and the experience it provides to *you*, not the physical product itself.
Patrick @ Jan 7th 2009 3:58PM
Your argument on how the second-hand game market can hurt the industry is weak. For all practical purposes, how is buying used any different from two people splitting the price on game purchase, or one person loaning a game to a friend? It is not okay for more than one person to benefit from a single videogame (or movie, or work of art, or ) purchase?
Let it be said, however, that I hate GameStop just as much as anyone else for selling used games for $5 less than new. But what they are essentially doing is jacking up the price of a videogame and allowing two people who don't know each other to split the cost.
Heh @ Jan 7th 2009 3:59PM
I still haven't played 1 game without a crabwalker/glitcher/lag or any of those pesky problems.
I'm never gonna get my Party like it's 1999 achievement since multi is too f'd up to play. :(
KingOfGods @ Jan 7th 2009 4:04PM
You know you can get that playing private with friends
xFenixKnightx (In Memory of Ben Carmine RIP) @ Jan 7th 2009 4:33PM
Don't forget bot matches too.
Hopefully with the next 2 incoming patches Gears 2 will play more like Gears 1 but with added goodies. At least, thats what I'm hoping for anyway. My buddies and I played Gears1 last night for a couple of hours. Man, good ole' Gears...its been chopped up and changed around so much in Gears 2 I don't even recognize it :( Oh, and GOD GOW2 is so much slower than Gears 1. I didn't really notice until I played GOW last night and I felt I was glitching since I was moving so fast.
Little Big PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Jan 7th 2009 4:45PM
Thank You Fenix because I had said that after Gears 2 released and you said I was full of shit. I knew once I played gears 2 it moved WAY WAY slower than Gears 1. It felt like you were lumbering around as a rhino everywhere compared to Gears 1.
I get that when it came out you were just tired of hearing all of the unfair attacks and sometimes we get a little overzealous in our defense of true issues.
My biggest complaint was that they completely changed the gameplay experience. Not only that but they left all the bugs and glitches from Gears 1 AND there are now new ones added. Horde mode was the only redeaming quality about Gears 2 and the campaign was much better as well. I thought that last boss was an effin joke compared to General Raam.
It doesn't matter to me because I sold my 360 and all of my games anyway but I did keep the HDD just in case I want to pick one up again. Maybe I will wait for another price drop and get an HDMI model thats not failure prone.
I knew that the game played slower and no one would admit it at the time. They just all thought I was trolling about it but it really did feel like a different game to me. I can't believe they haven't released an patch that completely overhauls the experience.
This is what Epic and Cliffy gets for not releasing a Beta to the public to be tested prior to release.
Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Jan 7th 2009 6:53PM
I wish I could get the achievements in bot matches but even so I think I lost interest in Gears of War.
I finally find out why,I was expecting a super kick ass story and more of the Unreal engine but the graphics compared to the PC vversion are quite mediocre and the sotry well it wasn't compelling at all.
Dom story is pretty pointless.
Lavat @ Jan 7th 2009 4:00PM
Does it also come with a bonus of glitches and bugs?
Little Big PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Jan 7th 2009 4:48PM
No that actually came bundled with the game at launch though they did consider releasing it as DLC.
player66 @ Jan 7th 2009 4:00PM
I bought the CE and purchased the Combustible pack before I had time to play the multiplayer. It's so broken, only the Horde mode is worthy of online play for now.
pwnetheus (XBL: ianncanon. PSN: Iann Cannon) @ Jan 7th 2009 4:00PM
I actually like what they're doing. Rewarding people who are giving money to company who made the game, not some glorified pawn shop(ie Gamestop). I don't understand why people go there to buy used games when they're getting gypped. Last time I was in a gamestop, they had this used for $55. Highway robbery. You're better off buying it from someone you know since you both benefit.
zomg, sorry for ze rant.
Dr. Stabbingworth @ Jan 8th 2009 1:39PM
You have to wait for decent deals on stuff. I waited for the B2G1 and got 3 brand new games for $100 (w/edge card). There was no other place to get Gears 2, Fable 2, and Tales of Vesperia for $33 each.
tmmoore_nc @ Jan 7th 2009 4:09PM
I'm shocked they aren't $10 to discourage people buying used copies ($5 isn't much to discourage people), and that this Map Pack is a lot better than the last Map Pack they released.
Maurice M @ Jan 7th 2009 4:13PM
Let me break out the worlds smallest lancer for CliffyB's pity party. "Boo hoo, we're special and we think its stealing when people sell our game when they don't want it anymore. What? They didn't like it and just want to re-coup some of their money? Impossible, I'm way too awesome!"
Dirty @ Jan 7th 2009 4:31PM
I bought it used.... from gamefly and got the code. I win.
DangerMouse @ Jan 7th 2009 4:32PM
I liked the idea. Give the consumer the option of purchasing it new and be rewarded. It's better than that one douche bag pointing the finger at consumers who buy used games like they're stealing.
Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Jan 7th 2009 6:59PM
I don't like to buy used games because I have the idea that the people who used before me did awful stuff to the disc like shoving it up their arses or that they grabbed the disc after they were scratching their genitals or their armpit.
The only game I bought used was Munch Oddyssey because is that awesome also because I couldn't find a brand new copy.
Skipjimroo @ Jan 7th 2009 9:40PM
Munch is indeed a nifty title worthy of a place in anyone's collection.
If only it didn't run like a bag of shit on the 360, then I'd be happy. Yes sir-ee.
Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Jan 7th 2009 7:01PM
By the way am I the only one who thinks Epic is releasing a bunch of stuff for Gears of War 2 because it is not as played as lets say Gears 1 or Halo 3?
Normally maps are released after several months.
OTAM @ Jan 7th 2009 9:11PM
Maybe if the patch was for marketplace points Epic would have it out in the 2nd week.