Perhaps in an effort to get the Gears of War franchise back at the front of your mind meat before the third iteration arrives next year, Microsoft is trying a two-pronged effort to lure fans back to GoW 2. The first, Title Update 6, adds a feature called "Social Matches" which allows individual players or parties to drop in or out of ongoing games (yep, even Horde mode matches) without interruption. But you knew that already, right?
The only catch is that you can only use social matching if you own all of the game's map packs which have luckily been slashed to $10 for the lot of them (that's the second prong, by the way). Individual prices have been cut as well. Other balancing and fixes implemented by Title Update 6 (a full list of which is available right here) will be available to all players.
To mark the occasion, players will get triple experience gain from May 27 to June 1, which we guess is technically a third prong. Yep, that's right: We've got a rare promotional trident on our hands.
Reader Comments (53)
Posted: May 26th 2010 11:00AM Vcize said
You forgot the most important part. Firing delays after roadie run are reduced.
I've pretty much given up on Gears 2 (went back to Gears 1), but this the reduction of firing delays after the roadie run is a step towards fixing one of the big problems.
Now, if they could just remove those delays entirely, and seriously nerf the F out of wall tags, I might actually check it out again.
I've pretty much given up on Gears 2 (went back to Gears 1), but this the reduction of firing delays after the roadie run is a step towards fixing one of the big problems.
Now, if they could just remove those delays entirely, and seriously nerf the F out of wall tags, I might actually check it out again.
Posted: May 26th 2010 11:15AM likedamaster said
Nowhere in the update does it say that about the shotgun Vcize. http://gearsofwar.xbox.com/tu6.htm
Thank God for social matches though.
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Thank God for social matches though.
Posted: May 26th 2010 11:17AM Vcize said
http://forums.epicgames.com/showthread.php?t=729003
Lee Perry:
Firing delays after roadie run and evades are reduced.
Reply
Lee Perry:
Firing delays after roadie run and evades are reduced.
Posted: May 26th 2010 11:20AM likedamaster said
I see that now. I will now see if it actually made a difference. ::turns on 360, pops in Gears::
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Posted: May 26th 2010 11:22AM likedamaster said
@Alex
The stopping power implemented in Gears 2 counters that, there was no need to even gimp the shotgun like that.
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The stopping power implemented in Gears 2 counters that, there was no need to even gimp the shotgun like that.
Posted: May 26th 2010 11:44AM likedamaster said
Hardly any difference at all with the shotgun,it's probably why they didn't bother to mention it.
Social matches is big tho.
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Social matches is big tho.
Posted: May 26th 2010 12:22PM CaramelZappa said
@Alex
It only sucked really if you didn't see them coming or couldn't down them by the time they got to you. Either way it's your fault, not the games. A delay between running and firing is just an unnecessary handicap that takes away from the game.
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It only sucked really if you didn't see them coming or couldn't down them by the time they got to you. Either way it's your fault, not the games. A delay between running and firing is just an unnecessary handicap that takes away from the game.
Posted: May 26th 2010 4:53PM xFenixKnightx said
Amen, Vcize. Nerf the crap out of wall tags and speed up character movement is all I ask for now. Ill be playing this right now when I go home.
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Posted: May 26th 2010 6:42PM NasalBaton said
Bah thats brutal. Now the shotgun will be used even more.. like it's not used enough already. What a beast of a weapon. sheesh.
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Posted: May 26th 2010 11:09AM Jerk Face said
I haven't even thought about Gears in a while. Kind of have a hankering to chainsaw some fools, now.
Posted: May 26th 2010 11:12AM Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi said
all I play is Horde.....is the DLC worth it if I just play on Horde?
Posted: May 26th 2010 11:15AM Spike Spiegel Humble Bounty Hun said
I think so. Lots of new horde maps. Great ones too.
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Posted: May 26th 2010 11:17AM Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi said
aight....I already have some of the DLC(the stuff that came out at launch) as it came with the Collectors edition.....
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Posted: May 26th 2010 3:27PM Marcus Carter said
It's worth it if you want to get the achievements for each map pack.
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Posted: May 26th 2010 11:13AM MGTrey said
About damn time. Seriously.
I hate that achievement, by the way.
I hate that achievement, by the way.
Posted: May 26th 2010 1:09PM (Unverified) said
Posted: May 26th 2010 11:14AM Spike Spiegel Humble Bounty Hun said
Isn't this kind of available already? Every single time I play Horde at least one person leaves anyway. Too hard without 5 people. Nice to see it's still being supported though. GoW2 is great.
Posted: May 26th 2010 11:21AM ytilanigiroon said
You can drop from a MP match, but you can't join one in progress.
Not right now, and not a ranked match without penalty, anyway.
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Not right now, and not a ranked match without penalty, anyway.
Posted: May 26th 2010 11:22AM Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi said
you could jump out but I havent ever been put into a horde game that was already started....I really hate that the games are hosted on other people systems.....I want MS based servers in gears 3.....imagine how much better Horde would be with 12 people in it? Bigger maps....more enemies....
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Posted: May 26th 2010 11:27AM Spike Spiegel Humble Bounty Hun said
I see I see. So we can jump into in progress games. And yes Chris. 12 man Horde would be amazing!
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Posted: May 26th 2010 11:32AM Spike Spiegel Humble Bounty Hun said
$50 a year isn't exactly expensive.
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Posted: May 26th 2010 12:09PM Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi said
if they step up Horde in Gears 3 then I will renew my Live gold membership off gate.....as of now I would just wait until I got another deal like I did to get gold the first time...
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Posted: May 26th 2010 1:30PM Spike Spiegel Humble Bounty Hun said
Well they both have their pros and cons. PSN being free doesn't always see the support it needs, while XBL does a majority of the time. I wouldn't say those 2 features are exactly worth $50 a year, but it's a good benefit amongst a few other things. Less than $5 a month isn't killing me. Beats paying for an MMO.
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Posted: May 26th 2010 2:02PM aristokrat said
Gah, it's NOT $50 a year. Every retailer right now sells it for $40 currently, and you can find better deals all the time if put a tiny amount of effort into it. My current sub cost $25 ($30 is generally the easiest low price to find), and that translates to $2 a month. This is not a huge expenditure.
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Posted: May 26th 2010 3:06PM Vcize said
Jerry, why do you do this to me? Having to downvote someone with Tribes 2 in their name was the most painful thing I've ever had to do.
Are those two features (as if they're the only features, they're not) worth $50? Hell yes, by a mile. The ease with which XBL lets you get into games with friends without having to plan it ahead of time, and the fun in playing in a party (even if on teams playing against each other) increases the fun of playing games 50-fold.
As I've said before, at $30 per year (and even if I paid the $50), XBL is the single best value I've ever gotten out of anything I've ever had. At the cost of free, PSN is not even in my top 100.
Jumping into some random MW2 server to sit there and grind away your K/D ratio to show the internet how awesome you are is so ridiculously boring compared to recreating the college dorm room experience when playing (and having a blast) on XBL.
I'd have thought of all people, you'd understand the differences that community brings, being an ex-tribes 2er. But apparently you sucked at enjoying Tribes 2 as well. I'm so disappointed.
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Are those two features (as if they're the only features, they're not) worth $50? Hell yes, by a mile. The ease with which XBL lets you get into games with friends without having to plan it ahead of time, and the fun in playing in a party (even if on teams playing against each other) increases the fun of playing games 50-fold.
As I've said before, at $30 per year (and even if I paid the $50), XBL is the single best value I've ever gotten out of anything I've ever had. At the cost of free, PSN is not even in my top 100.
Jumping into some random MW2 server to sit there and grind away your K/D ratio to show the internet how awesome you are is so ridiculously boring compared to recreating the college dorm room experience when playing (and having a blast) on XBL.
I'd have thought of all people, you'd understand the differences that community brings, being an ex-tribes 2er. But apparently you sucked at enjoying Tribes 2 as well. I'm so disappointed.
Posted: May 26th 2010 11:14AM BrosefStalin said
>you can only use social matching if you own all of the game's map packs
No, piss off Epic. I will pound a nail through my dick before I buy your crappy DLC.
No, piss off Epic. I will pound a nail through my dick before I buy your crappy DLC.
Posted: May 26th 2010 11:17AM likedamaster said
7 maps & a single player chapter for $10 is actually a good bargain.
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Posted: May 26th 2010 11:33AM berval said
Rod Fergusson:
Title Update 6 - Adds a new public multiplayer match option called Social Xbox LIVE (aka player matches), open to anyone who owns all downloadable maps (that is, All Fronts Collection). We’ll be having a promotion that will dramatically reduce the cost of the All Fronts Collection.
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Title Update 6 - Adds a new public multiplayer match option called Social Xbox LIVE (aka player matches), open to anyone who owns all downloadable maps (that is, All Fronts Collection). We’ll be having a promotion that will dramatically reduce the cost of the All Fronts Collection.
Posted: May 26th 2010 12:38PM Mikey XBL gamertag Sgt Mikey 516 said
3 new maps and 2 remakes for $15 ftw! wait....
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Posted: May 26th 2010 1:02PM likedamaster said
Ryguy is right, 19 overall maps & a singleplayer chapter.
@Miggy
http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/211429/gears-of-war-2-all-fronts-collection/
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@Miggy
http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/211429/gears-of-war-2-all-fronts-collection/
Posted: May 27th 2010 12:28AM Mikey XBL gamertag Sgt Mikey 516 said
@abi I know I was just making a defence to the mw2 map pack and how the guy above was saying epic was abusing the price or w/e on 19 maps when mw2 had 3 new maps and 2 remakes lololol
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Posted: May 26th 2010 11:32AM SonicRift said
Lack of "social matches" meant my friends and I didn't play Gears 2 online. Most of my friends sold their copies. It was a huge letdown, and because most of us sold Gears 1 to buy the sequel, we didn't go back. Now only 1 of my real-world friends is on Live.
But if we buy the game back, pay for Live, and buy the map pack, we can play that old game again - all for just under $100.
But if we buy the game back, pay for Live, and buy the map pack, we can play that old game again - all for just under $100.
Posted: May 26th 2010 12:10PM Dlord said
- http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B002GN8HU4/ref=sr_1_1_olp?ie=UTF8&qid=1274890084&sr=8-1&condition=used
$20
- http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/26/gears-of-war-2-title-update-adds-social-matches-dlc-price-dro/#commentform
$40
- Map Pack
$10
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$20
- http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/26/gears-of-war-2-title-update-adds-social-matches-dlc-price-dro/#commentform
$40
- Map Pack
$10
Posted: May 26th 2010 12:11PM Dlord said
that second link is suppose to be this
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16874103129&cm_re=xbox_live-_-74-103-129-_-Product
... I failed
Reply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16874103129&cm_re=xbox_live-_-74-103-129-_-Product
... I failed
Posted: May 26th 2010 12:06PM CaramelZappa said
"Social Matches" are pointless if you must own all the DLC for it to be any good. I own it all but none of my friends do. Besides, this is a feature that was in the first gears and should have been in Gears 2 since day one. Too little, too late, epic. There is still way too much in multiplayer that they need to fix.
Posted: May 26th 2010 12:11PM sgt quackers said
More companies need to do this with there DLC. Epic really showed what DLC should be. Once they are done releasing DLC release a value pack with all the DLC for a good price. Great idea. Then when things aren't selling well anymore drop the price. Games drop price all the time but you never really see DLC drop price. (Besides Deal of the Week). I mean really, when a game has been out for a year or two drop the price on the DLC. Noone is going to pay full price years after the game is out so drop the price and try to get some people to buy it. Its simple economics that game companies do all the time with games but you never really see it with DLC
Posted: May 26th 2010 12:13PM (Unverified) said
Well that promotional trident worked for me, Horde mode here i come.
Posted: May 26th 2010 12:23PM (Unverified) said
How about the ability to choose maps in public multiplayer matches? Would make getting those last achievements a little easier.
Posted: May 26th 2010 2:29PM Cal said
I just hope they revert to the original Gears online style for Gears 3... I played almost everyday for two years with the original, but Gears 2 just ruined it, couldn't even play that for a month...
Posted: May 26th 2010 6:44PM NasalBaton said
Still no host migration? Thats a pity. There probably saving "big" features like that for Gears 3.. I do like the rest of the matchmaking updates though.
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