cliff-bleszinski posts (Subscribe to this feed)

Gears of War COG and Locust Armor coming to Xbox Live Avatars

by Kevin Kelly { Jul 25th 2009 at 9:10PM }

During the Gearsiverse panel at Comic-Con, Epic's Cliff Bleszinski and Ron Fergusson revealed that there will be Gears of War-themed armor of both the COG and Locust variety coming to XBL Avatars soon. One rule that Microsoft imposes on Avatar clothing and models is that they "can't look inhuman," according to Bleszinski. So they pieced together a workaround set of Locust armor that you can check out beyond the break.

Look for these new Avatar upgrades to be available when the next Xbox Live dashboard update becomes available soon. Meanwhile, we're going to scurry out to our preview builds to see if they're already available. Be sure and peep the Locust image, just around the corner.

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Bleszinski: Don't expect Natal support in Gears of War

by Alexander Sliwinski { Jul 20th 2009 at 4:30PM }

Gears of War guru Cliff~~ord Harrington Openheimer~~ Bleszinski ~~III Esq~~. has dropped a bomb on us: Project Natal will not be implemented in the next installment of the steroid-infused series. Speaking with Major Nelson, Bleszinski notes that Natal isn't "the kind of thing you tag onto a game" like Gears of War.

Nooooo! There go our hopes and dreams of rolling around our living room, ducking behind furniture and springing up from other chest-high objects to snipe on-screen Locusts. Listen, Cliff -- if your game won't use that gimmick, we're sure some other developer will come along and take those sales.

[Via Eurogamer]

Bleszinski sees RPGs as key to the shooter's future

by Ben Gilbert { Jul 6th 2009 at 12:30PM }

Look, we know, alright? Cliff "Not CliffyB" Bleszinski has a lot to say, and as such, he ends up in the headlines a bit more than anyone could expect. But how can we resist when he says such interesting stuff, like what he said during a recent interview with Develop. He dropped some pretty serious hints about the future of shooters -- and in turn, his own franchise, Gears of War. "I had a conversation with Harvey Smith – one of the lead designers on Deus Ex – and said to him the future of shooters is RPGs," the Cliffster said during the interview. "He said he completely agreed."

So, Deus Ex of War with RPG elements confirmed? Not quite. Bleszinski made sure to mention immediately afterward, "One could wean that from the comments I made earlier about the future of shooters is RPGs and see where things are going with us. It depends on where things go." Here's hoping "things go" right back to work on the game and less of the gum flapping!

(Just joshin' ya, Cliffy. We still love you.)

Cliff Bleszinski explains why there are so many bald space marines

by Ben Gilbert { Jul 2nd 2009 at 9:15PM }

If you think Unreal Engine 3 games feature too much gray and brown, laden with "pillars and girders," all being stomped around on by bald space marines, Cliff "Young Clifford" Bleszinski wants you to blame the tech. Speaking with Develop recently, the man that birthed Marcus Fenix said, "The technology of this generation just happens to be very good at rendering metals and stones and dramatic lighting." He argues that "translucent effects" are much harder to pull of with the technology given and as such, "the tech is good at showing off armor and it's not that good at doing hair ... that's why we have bald space marines."

Though we'd argue that there are lots of bald men in our lives who happen to not be space marines -- CheapyD and Dr. Manhattan prime among them -- we can appreciate how Marcus Fenix may be more equipped to take down the Locust than an omnipotent blue man. Wait a minute! Interestingly, Bleszinski also notes during the interview that he's got "like five projects going on right now" -- we're counting Shadow Complex and another (still unannounced) Gears of War, which leaves three unannounced projects? Something is afoot at Epic Games. And it almost certainly involves bald space marines.

Bleszinski not working on survival horror game, not sick of Gears yet

by Griffin McElroy { Jun 19th 2009 at 11:50AM }

We've heard a number of rumors claiming Mr. Clifford B. was preparing to eschew his chainsawgun-heavy namesake in favor of one more spooky. However, these rumors were recently crushed between Bleszinski's manly, well-maintained jaws during an interview with OXM, in which he explains he's "not making a horror game next," because, well, "Gears is very much near and dear" to him.

While news that Bleszinski's next project won't contain ammo conservation or purposefully poor lighting may seem like the biggest news to come out of the interview, the real sizzler arises three questions later, when Bleszinski proudly admits, "I'm a giant douchebag." (No, we're not making that up. Promise!)

Epic Games' next is Shadow Complex for Xbox Live Arcade

by David Hinkle { Jun 1st 2009 at 2:12PM }

Epic's Cliff Bleszinski just took the stage at Microsoft's E3 keynote and revealed Shadow Complex, a new game for Xbox Live Arcade in collaboration with Chair Entertainment, the folks behind XBLA title Undertow. Mixing elements from titles such as Contra and Super Metroid, the game is a 2D title infused with slick 3D graphics. Big guns and big enemies are the name of the game here, as Bleszinski promises big boss battles and a summer release for the title.

The rise and fall of @cliffy_b

by Alexander Sliwinski { Feb 11th 2009 at 1:00AM }

At some point during the short life of Twitter's @cliffy_b, a mockumentary version of Gears of War designer Cliff Bleszinski, the joke became a little too real for some people and it had to be shut down. Matthew Downham, who we've actually featured before in spoofs where he fails hard at games, along with his friend, Austin Brown, were the men behind the false Bleszinski. Today he posted the full explanation of the birth and death of @cliffy_b.

Downham explains the duo never intended any malice with @cliffy_b, that the character, a clear goof on the extroverted designer, was meant to be an over-the-top version of a gaming personality they admired. The joke was going along fine, until one particular tweet was taken a bit too seriously. Although Downham avoids what the post was, it was probably the tweet heard round the Gears community: "After much testing, it looks like matchmaking is permanently broken ... There are new maps though, only 800 Microsoft Points!" That's when the Epic lawyers had Twitter kill the fake Mr. Bleszinski. The story stands as a good metric on how some lines -- especially involving money and multi-million dollar franchises -- are dangerous to cross.

Twitter's fake Cliffy B gets shut down

by Xav de Matos { Dec 22nd 2008 at 4:30PM }

If ever there was non-news, this is it but recent tips have forced our hand. Emails have flooded our inbox (and my Xbox Live messages) regarding comments made by Cliffy_B on Twitter. "After much testing, it looks like matchmaking is permanently broken ... There are new maps though, only 800 Microsoft Points!" read a recent update enraging gamers that the designer would mock issues plaguing the multiplayer of Gears of War 2. However, as most of the internet is aware, Cliffy_B on Twitter isn't the real Cliff Bleszinski and now the account has been suspended from activation.

The trend of creating obvious fake Twitter accounts isn't a new phenomenon. Recently, a fake Kanye West account was shut down after comments were made about Stephen Colbert in his quest to top the iTunes sales charts, currently topped by the award-winning rapper. Shaquille O'Neal has also been in the middle of his own Twitter-versy (that's like if controversy made it with Twitter) which forced the champion NBA baller to create his own account in retaliation -- which by the way is fantastic reading material.

So, it wasn't really Cliff and he wasn't really laughing about broken multiplayer and charging for maps. All cleared up, now? Great. Moving on...

[Image]

Video: Silence CliffyB

by Richard Mitchell { Dec 3rd 2008 at 11:30AM }

It's hard to really call video game designers celebrities. Sure, most of the people reading the Joystiq network can tell you who Shigeru Miyamoto is, but his isn't exactly a household name. There is, however, at least one game designer who acts like a celebrity, and that's Cliff "Formerly CliffyB" Bleszinski, designer of the Gears of War series. Like many celebrities, it seems Cliff is willing to share his thoughts on any subject, even voting. Sarcastic Gamer has had enough, and has created the parody "Silence CliffyB," which sends up Cliff's constant quips.

That's not important though. What is important is that the video also sends up the various gaming outlets and blogs that cover Cliff's shenanigans. Specifically, the video shows a snapshot of this very blog. We're totally in a video, and that's awesome. Find the video after the break.

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Sam's Club auctions: Signed Gears 2, potentially cheaper Locust head

by Alexander Sliwinski { Nov 24th 2008 at 2:20PM }

Sam's Club currently has two auctions going that might be of interest to Gears of War 2 fans. First is a copy of the game's limited edition box signed by Epic's Mark Rein and Cliff Bleszinski. The other is a bust of a Locust drone, which we'd previously reported on as retailing for $~~550~~ $650 -- the current bid is under $50. Both auctions are up for the next seven days.

The only catch with the Locust bust is that it will not be sent out until early 2009, so don't expect it to be a holiday gift for any COG you know. Really, though, nothing says, "Welcome to our happy home," like the severed head of a Locust drone in the foyer.

Auction - Signed copy of the game.
Auction - Locust bust.

Joystiq at the Gears of War 2 launchapalooza

by Kevin Kelly { Nov 7th 2008 at 5:15PM }

This is an extremely hard post to finish. Not because the Los Angeles Gears of War 2 launch party sucked (it didn't), not because we didn't get enough photos (took plenty), and not because we didn't get good interviews (CliffyB Cliff Bleszkinski and John DiMaggio, the voice of Marcus Fenix AND Bender, and others ... coming to you very soon). No, it's because we got the game, came home and slid it into the 360, and thought, "Hey, it'll be fun to try this Horde mode out!" Now it's 9:15 am, and it feels like one of those days where you wake up and realize you have a chemistry test in two hours that you didn't study for at all.

Gallery: Gears of War 2 Launch: Los Angeles

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Rumor: Cliff B. tackling survival horror next

by James Ransom-Wiley { Nov 7th 2008 at 3:16PM }

The logical evolution of a chainsaw fetish? Yup, a survival-horror game. The latest out of EGM's rumor mongering Quartermann is that Epic's "expensive but slightly the wrong color" Cliff Bleszinski is working on a survival-horror project. Think: Gears of War slayings with actual, psychological repercussions. Terrifying!

The Q-Mann hears this one might be multiplatform, too, à la Unreal Tournament III. (Before you ask, yes, Wii will almost certainly be excluded.)

Video: Cliff Bleszinski is voting and so should you

by Dustin Burg { Nov 4th 2008 at 11:00AM }

Unless you've been living in a media retardant bubble for the past two years, it's Election Day in the United States and that means anyone eighteen and older can and should make their way to their local polling place to cast a ballot. Seriously, it's a presidential election, go out and vote. Whether right this very moment, in an hour or later in the day, just vote. As a bonus, you'll receive an "I VOTED!" sticker.

Don't take our word for it, take Cliff Bleszinski's word, because he's voting. In the video above you'll hear a dude asking Cliff about the upcoming election and who he supports. We won't spoil his answer for you, but let's just say "change" sorta has duel meanings. Tricky Cliff.

Anyway, if you're in the States, please, go out and rock the vote. If you're in Canada, Europe or any other worldly place that doesn't participate in today's elections, please, go play video games.

Gears of War 2 special midnight launch events in NY, LA, London and Seattle

by Alexander Sliwinski { Nov 3rd 2008 at 12:30PM }

Microsoft is expecting some 20,000 stores worldwide to hold midnight openings for Gears of War 2 this Friday, Nov. 7. However, much like the Wrath of the Lich King, certain locations will also have special events going on.

London, Los Angeles, New York and Seattle will hold special events and contests where GoW 2 branded consoles, Zunes, comics, art books, posters and "more" will be given away. Microsoft is putting its effort behind the LA launch, which will have the game's voice cast, Clifford Bleszinski (aka: CliffyB, Cliff Söze, Cliff Organa Solo) and other MS notables in attendance. After the break we've listed all the special launch locations, with some more details about who will be attending.

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The New Yorker profiles Cliff Bleszinski

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Oct 27th 2008 at 7:15PM }

"His current haircut is short and cowlicked, his bangs twirled up into a tiny moussed horn. He was wearing what in my high school would have been called 'exchange-student jeans'-obviously expensive but slightly the wrong color and of a somehow non-American cut." After a brief period of alarm, thinking someone had stolen and published our romantic Cliff Bleszinski novella, it came to our attention that The New Yorker had posted a lengthy profile on Mr. Gears of War himself.

Packed with biographical information and sensual descriptions of Bleszinksi's earlobes, the article provides an interesting glimpse at a man who has set out to make game design "a little cooler." Check it out and get to know the man responsible for your recently developed chainsaw fetish a little better.

[Thanks, mn]