Epic contemplates Gears of War 2 ranking system overhaul
If you've been playing Gears of War 2 since its release in early November, then the ranking system is just one item of complaint on a list of many. Thankfully, Epic's Rod Fergusson has proposed a change in the way players are ranked, introducing an experience-based alternative on the Gears of War forums. The response was pretty much positive, as many of the comments are in favor of the proposed changes than the existing Trueskill-based system.
In case you were wondering where we stand, you can bet we're in support of Rod's idea. Mainly because we've had our rank since the first day and it hasn't changed in the slightest. You'd think 10,000 kills would be enough to rank up, but then you'd be wrong.
In case you were wondering where we stand, you can bet we're in support of Rod's idea. Mainly because we've had our rank since the first day and it hasn't changed in the slightest. You'd think 10,000 kills would be enough to rank up, but then you'd be wrong.






Get a WordPress.com Blog





Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Stupendous52 @ Feb 9th 2009 12:35PM
Hmm...This looks to be unnecessarily aggregated onto the Xbox Joystiq page, as they already covered this topic here: http://xbox.joystiq.com/2009/02/08/epic-looks-to-overhaul-gears-2-ranking-system-with-third-title-u/
jaybird1905 @ Feb 9th 2009 12:39PM
While they're at it ... FIX MATCHMAKING.
*waits for douchebags to make comments about how their matchmaking was fixed with patch*
SHAZAM! @ Feb 9th 2009 12:43PM
Hey, douchebag #1 here.
My matchmaking seems fine after the latest update.
Fafhrdd @ Feb 9th 2009 1:18PM
douchebag #2 here... My matchmaking works GREAT after the first patch (did not even need the last Title Update).
jaybird1905 @ Feb 9th 2009 1:19PM
I knew I could count you guys ;)
holmes @ Feb 9th 2009 2:44PM
I'm on your side. I had never played GOW2 online at all, but I entered into their Friday the 13th contest so I've been trying it out. Every time I try to get into a match, it takes a good 7-10 minutes before I've found teammates and an appropriate team to battle.
You'd think they'd have made matchmaking better before launching such a big promotion. Once this contest is over, I highly doubt I'll enter into multiplayer GOW2 games again. I'll stick to the COD family of games.
jaybird1905 @ Feb 9th 2009 2:45PM
Amen to that.
I have the same issues ... at least 10 mins before I can even get into a game. Compared to any of the Call of Duty games where it takes less than 30 seconds. Garbage for such a big title.
Arnie @ Feb 9th 2009 12:41PM
I thought the whole merger thing was supposed to avoid redundant posts by Joystiq staffers. I guess not!
Brucie B @ Feb 9th 2009 12:43PM
Mulitiplayer = Horrible!
What happen Epic?
*As we await Update 4, 5, 6.....
BxGT @ Feb 9th 2009 12:43PM
Do they mean call of duty style?
Ellianth @ Feb 9th 2009 12:51PM
Hey David, what is your gamertag? Come play gears with meeee!!
David Hinkle @ Feb 9th 2009 1:03PM
It's not hard to figure out, if you have just about anyone else here at Joystiq's gamertag. :)
ZenGaijin @ Feb 9th 2009 1:03PM
I dunno my problems with Gears still stem from its broken nature of the multiplayer. Still not being able to stun someone with a chainsaw raised when they eating bullets is an issue. 2-piecing is a MAJOR issue I think they will make it so you can't fire for a bit after melee'in someone. Then there is the cheaters and general bugs like lag with bullets and such.
Yet they want to fix a stupid ass ranking system. I always thought that games with ranks encourage people to cheat. Even more so when they talk about adding achievements for reaching certain ranks.
Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Feb 9th 2009 1:15PM
Like how people disconnect in MK Vs Dc to avoid having a defeat or the lag switches in Halo.
I never saw the point of MP achievements. They came in 2 flavors: infuriating or boring and most people out there just wants to beat the game and move on.
What ruined Gears for me was the lag in the first one,the host could do whatever he wanted without dying.Epic should get servers.
PSN: Aggie_CEO @ Feb 9th 2009 1:29PM
ok So I JUST got my 360 & Gears 2, and will most likely just play online for a month thanks to the Free month of Gold. is the Ranking system THAT fucked up??
incubeezer @ Feb 9th 2009 1:44PM
No, it's not that it's fucked up, its that it doesn't mean anything. You get your three golden bars and then that's it, doesn't go up or down. I think people get higher levels by quitting to avoid a loss or lagswitching for a guaranteed win.
Ranking doesn't matter, ZenGaijin named what is really fucking this game up. How many games need three major title updates within three months of release? Pretty f-ed up that they didn't figure this shit out before the game came out.
God I hate two-piecing.
Nick @ Feb 9th 2009 1:59PM
Yes.
Yes x 1000
There's no rhyme or reason behind it. It doesn't work. It's as broken as the back of the horse that fell into the grand canyon.
Player matches?
/broken record
David Hinkle @ Feb 9th 2009 2:01PM
incubeezer, will you marry me? That's pretty much every problem I have with Gears, in a nutshell. I've been three bars since the first day it released, even though I'm almost at 20K kills, tons of wins (my K/D spread is great on everything except Wingman) and there is no logical excuse why I'm not higher. And the two-piece needs to go bye-bye real soon. AFTER they fix how broken smoke grenades are.
J @ Feb 9th 2009 2:29PM
I will play Gears until this 13 Days of Gear promo is over and then never touch multiplayer again with the exception of Horde mode. 10 minute searches to find games, two-piecing, lag - it's not worth it.
arrrgh @ Feb 9th 2009 2:13PM
sick of the gears haters crying because they cant deal with melee kills.
HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU STUNNED A PLAYER IN COD4 THAT IS IN THE MIDDLE OF A MELEE?
Yet that game gets a pass on its melee attacks...
Here's a pretty novel idea: LOOK AROUND YOU. Avoid the chainsaw attacks. You can run and roll much faster than they can move.
Suggestion 2: Stop crying like a bitch, bitch.
ZenGaijin @ Feb 9th 2009 4:09PM
Yeah that's all well in good but Gears and Call of Duty play nothing alike apart from the part that you can shoot people. In call of duty a few well placed shots kills anyone at any distance (I'm talking 3 or 4 bullets). In Gears people can take point blank shotgun shots and because they are in a run animation the bulk of the damage isn't delivered.
There is also no such thing as a stun animation in which you can't move the saw was as it works in gears. The closest thing being a stun grenade a moment where you can still blindly fire and have a chance of killing anyone.
Gears is frustrating because the first game didn't have alot of these problems yet they magically added bugs into the new game.
arrrgh @ Feb 9th 2009 4:37PM
YOU call them bugs. I call them "the game"
I wonder at which point we started looking at games and thinking "no this should be like THIS"
There IS stopping power, I have stopped people from sawing with a few bullets from the lancer, the shotgun CAN do a ton of damage if theyre close enough and you aim it right. Happens all the time
It is unfortunate that some people feel the game design doesn't meet their needs, but that's how the game is. Maybe they should "fix" the regenerating health too? Put in some med kits? How about removing grenades altogether or taking out the cover system?
Where are we going to draw the line in terms of what a random individual can call a BUG and declare the game to be BROKEN, demanding a fix to their problem.
Maybe the problem lies with the player wanting the game to conform to their individual gameplay tastes
Personally, I like gears2 MUCH better than gears1. When I get sawed 3 times in a row, I know I'm doing something wrong and should adapt my strategy to compensate.
TheBigOAnime @ Feb 9th 2009 3:42PM
I'm very pleased with this news. Love Gears 2 multiplayer for the most part. The only thing they need to work on is further making matchingmaking easy and quick and creating a system that truly rewards people who are good at the game and do NOT quit early like little noobs.
forestofdeath @ Feb 9th 2009 3:59PM
...*goes back to playing COD4*
V1cK dB @ Feb 9th 2009 5:50PM
This game is broken plain and simple. stop making excuses for it! Epic released a terrible game as a sequel and now they are paying for it (not even top 3 on live). Its not just some random group of 12 people complaining idiot...its a majority of players on live complaining about it. Thats why it keeps dropping like a rock on the usage charts.
Just because you can deal with getting chainsawed 3 times doesn't mean shit. Epic did everything they could to appease players like you with terrible movement. They slowed the game down soooo much to make tools like you happy. I bet you get owned in unreal, counterstrike, halo, etc. Good shooters MUST have a couple of things. Good movement, good shooting system, good matchmaking, responsive controls and the least amount of cheap weapons possible. Gears lacks in most of these areas. You say the chainsaw isn't cheap huh? Explain this...
- Chainsaw is stunned after 3 shotgun shots only?? Why? So you can WALK towards me while I rape you with a shotgun only to have you b button mash your way to me and chainsaw me? TERRIBLE!
- They reduced the firing rate of the shotgun which only makes it even harder to stun a chainsaw close quarters
- They reduced the ability to shoot after you roadie run but they didn't take away your ability to chainsaw after a roadie run so now you can get chased all day long by a chainsawer and they immediately chainsaw you with no delay but you can't shoot them?!
Talk about dumbing down the game. Absolutely terrible decisions by Epic is exactly why they are in the position they are in. Its why they will have to release like 6 title updates to get this game anywhere near where it needs to be. They tried to appease the scrubs and it backfired. They deserve everything they get. On top of it all you can't express your opinions on their message boards because although they are probably the worst developer when it comes to communicating with their fanbase (they announced the current contest on the live dashboard and made no mention of it on their forums, they didn't communicate with their screaming and complaining fanbase until after the holiday season almost 2 months after release) and they will just ban you from their boards if you even hint that their beloved NOOB chainsaw is one of the main reasons the game isn't that popular anymore.
Strategy_Panda (Pot & Spoon 4 Life) @ Feb 10th 2009 2:36AM
oh snap!
Levi @ Feb 9th 2009 8:42PM
What is two-piecing?
No, I don't have Gears 2, yes it was a serious question. Just curious
forestofdeath @ Feb 9th 2009 9:05PM
two-piecing is the act of running up to your opponent, meleeing once, then finishing the job with a shotgun blast.
cowardly? yes.
but that won't stop me from using it. ;)
Levi @ Feb 9th 2009 9:23PM
Ah. Thanks!
tonymoschiano @ Feb 14th 2009 7:52AM
i want to know which developer had the stupid idea of the concussive smoke grenade. It was a completely unnecessary addition that just gave the people who are bad at the game another easy way to get kills as if the godly chainsaw wasn't enough.
Someone throws a smoke at u and ur defenseless on the ground and someone is standing over u with the chainsaw waiting for u to get up. Then sometimes the game glitches when ur down on the stairs and ur down for a goo 6 or 7 seconds.
WAT UP WITH THAT!!!!!!!!!
b3dr0omdruggy @ Mar 2nd 2009 4:32PM
gow2 is by far one of the best live games ive played. I admit it was slow at first when matchmaking but the more i played it then the quicker it is. Now as soon as i start to seach 'pop' 4 players found. then min later in in a match. I loved gow 1 too but hosting matches was a drag 30-45+ min waits