gears-of-war posts (Subscribe to this feed)
Gears of War 2 celebrates first anniversary with triple XP
by David Hinkle 
{ Nov 5th 2009 at 8:45PM } 
For you masochists out there, Epic will crank up Public Horde's difficulty to hardcore -- and if you've been playing Gears of War 2 through all of its changes, odds are you kinda are.
[Thanks, Nick!]
Halloween brings spooky Gears 2 double XP weekend
by Richard Mitchell { Oct 26th 2009 at 1:35PM }
Yeah, pretty scary.
[Via VG247]
Gears of War 'Delta Squad' getting boxed for UK gamers
by Xav de Matos { Oct 24th 2009 at 5:30PM }
The series also includes a feature some gamers would prefer to do without: The ability to completely repel the opposite sex if located within 30 feet of your bedroom.
Gears of War 2 TU5 passes cert; Epic passes along list of fixes
by David Hinkle { Oct 23rd 2009 at 1:45PM }
The new Title Update (#5) reverts the roadie-run camera back to its state in the first Gears of War and fixes an exploit where "a player could modify the game's behavior due to a security vulnerability introduced in an earlier title update." The update also kills the ability to use turbo controllers with the game -- something folks have been using to increase their rate of fire -- and turns off the ability to mantle the shield in competitive multiplayer matches, eradicating the ability to escape the map or glitch certain pieces of geometry.
The fixes sound all well and good, but is it enough to bring folks back to the game and satisfy those still playing with a chip on their massive, hulkish shoulders? We'll all find out when the update goes live, which Epic's Rod Fergusson says could happen as early as today or Monday.
Epic prepping TU5 for Gears of War 2
by David Hinkle { Oct 9th 2009 at 4:15PM }
We'll be sure to let you know when the TU5 is available.
[Thanks, Kyle B]
Mark Rein: future Epic games will have 'some' Natal support
by David Hinkle { Oct 9th 2009 at 11:40AM }
Epic and Microsoft have long been cozy bedfellows, comfortably sharing the covers with each other for years. Now that partnership has extended to Microsoft's proposed game changer, Project Natal. Speaking to Epic's marketing maestro, Mark Rein, OXM asked what Natal's use of the Unreal engine implied for the futures of both companies."I think any future Xbox games we make will have some Natal support," Rein commented. "We always want to have something that exploits the unique capabilities of a platform." While Rein had no idea what type of game Epic would make with Natal, he did have some ideas on how Natal could improve the hardcore experience -- namely, simplifying the controls.
An example he used was taking one's hand off the controller to mimic throwing a grenade, or using a hand gesture to signal your squad move to a certain location. On paper it sounds great, but we have to question how much such controls could improve on what is arguably one of the easiest things one could ever do: pushing a button.
Hands-on: Quantum Theory (PS3)
by Ludwig Kietzmann { Oct 5th 2009 at 12:45PM } 
Aping a popular franchise's mechanics and style may be seen as a safe business proposition, but in terms of critical evaluation, the copy-cat game is likely to face stricter judgment. After all, if you're going to copy the good stuff, you've got to get it right.
Tecmo's PlayStation 3 exclusive, Quantum Theory (just Quantum outside of Japan), certainly succeeds in evoking memories of Gears of War -- at least, if you remember Epic's shooter being a technically unsound and completely unappealing disaster. If the Tokyo Game Show build is any indication, Quantum needs to undergo crucial work before its early 2010 release.
Tecmo's PlayStation 3 exclusive, Quantum Theory (just Quantum outside of Japan), certainly succeeds in evoking memories of Gears of War -- at least, if you remember Epic's shooter being a technically unsound and completely unappealing disaster. If the Tokyo Game Show build is any indication, Quantum needs to undergo crucial work before its early 2010 release.
Gallery: Quantum (PS3)
TGS 2009: Why Epic Games briefly gave up on Gears of War 2's Japanese release
by Andrew Yoon { Sep 25th 2009 at 7:00AM }
In spite of all the effort, Japanese sales of the first GoW represented "less than 1% of Gears sales worldwide," prompting Epic Games to simply give up on working on a Japanese version of the sequel. "We could never make a version for Japan that would fit our creative vision," Capps said, content with avoiding a Japanese release of GoW2.
"But our fans in Japan were very vocal about playing the new game." According to Capps, about 50,000 Japanese fans in Japan imported the game from America. With encouragement from Microsoft Japan, the team discovered that censorship had become a bit more lax since the release of the first game. Development ended, with a Japanese release of GoW2 in July, over half a year after the US release. Capps was happy with getting the critical reception in Japan, but the trials of the Gears of War franchise show the continuing problem of games censorship in Japan.
TGS 2009: Capps talks about missing 'perching' cover system from Gears of War 2
by Andrew Yoon { Sep 24th 2009 at 10:40PM }
It looked really cool, yes, but Capps talked about how they couldn't implement it in the game because it simply broke the game -- especially in multiplayer. It would be unfair if players could see the entire battlefield, while still being able to stay in cover. Too bad ... because it did look really cool.
Rumor: 360 802.11n adapter spotted in GOW2 GOTY box
by Richard Mitchell { Sep 18th 2009 at 5:20PM }
To be more specific -- and much less acronymic -- it appears that the super speedy Xbox 360 802.11n Wi-Fi adapter has been spotted on a promotional flier inside the Italian version of the Gears of War 2 Game of the Year edition. Italian gaming site Mondobox.com (translation) posted an image of the leaflet, which you can see above. Assuming it's authentic, it seems to indicate that both the original 802.11a/b/g and 802.11n adapter will continue to exist in the same market. And that, hopefully, indicates a price drop on the ridiculously overpriced original adapter.
We've contacted Microsoft about the peripheral and will update this post with new information if and when we receive it.
We've contacted Microsoft about the peripheral and will update this post with new information if and when we receive it.
Look at all that juice: Gears of War 'Imulsion' energy drink
by Alexander Sliwinski { Sep 2nd 2009 at 11:00PM }
Oh well, if anybody does start mutating, we can always try to subdue it through the use of the Resident Evil T-Virus Energy Drink, which we're almost positive was actually meant to suppress the zombie outbreak caused by Avon's Derma-full face cream. We're all doomed.
[Via Destructoid]
Oh hey, Gears of War 2 online play is free this weekend
by Richard Mitchell { Jul 31st 2009 at 4:15PM }
[Via VG247]
Kill Epic employees in Gears of War 2 this Friday
by David Hinkle { Jul 30th 2009 at 12:55PM }
So, grease up your Lancer and be ready ahead of time. Once the event kicks off, you may find these folk Gorgon before you know it. Get it? Gorgon. Hello? Where are you going?
[Via Eurogamer]
Gears of War 2 'All Fronts' and 'Dark Corners' DLC available now
by Richard Mitchell { Jul 28th 2009 at 10:00AM }
($15).For those who are new to Gears of War 2 -- or those who have avoided all the DLC thus far -- you'll be better served by the All Fronts Collection, which contains every single multiplayer map released and "Road to Ruin" for 1600
($20).For a detailed look at all the new multiplayer maps, check out our video walkthrough above. Find our take on "Road to Ruin" after the break.
Add Dark Corners to your Xbox 360 download queue
Add All Fronts to your Xbox 360 download queue
That's a wrap: Comic-Con 2009
by David Hinkle { Jul 27th 2009 at 8:15PM } 
But, that's okay! You can get caught up right here, right now. Simply head past the break for a complete summary of all the headlines.
