Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Limited edition red and green Xbox controllers coming Sept. 30 [update]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/limited-edition-red-and-black-xbox-controller-coming-sept-30/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/limited-edition-red-and-black-xbox-controller-coming-sept-30/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/limited-edition-red-and-black-xbox-controller-coming-sept-30/#commentsFiled under:

Want to add a little zing to the plain ol' white and black Xbox 360 color scheme? A Microsoft web page reveals a new limited edition red and black Xbox 360 controller coming on Sept. 30, 2008. The standard wireless controller will come with a matching red rechargeable battery and a play and charge kit for $64.99 (a $5 savings over purchasing them seperately!). We have no idea why Microsoft would reveal a new color so long before the controller is set to be available, but it's release is awfully close to the newly-revealed Gears of War 2 release date of Sept. 9 Nov. 7 [Update: Not sure how I made that ridiculous error. Jet lag, I suppose]. Hmmm ...

[Thanks, Scott]

Update: The Xbox press site also has images from a green version of the controller (shown below the jump along with a higher-res version of the red one). No information about this version, which is not even mentioned in the accompanying press release. [Thanks, jdkay20]

Continue reading Limited edition red and green Xbox controllers coming Sept. 30 [update]

JoystiqLimited edition red and green Xbox controllers coming Sept. 30 [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Jul 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>controllerGears-of-war-2gearsofwargearsofwar2gow2microsoftredxbox 360Xbox-360Xbox360Mon, 14 Jul 2008 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Insomniac plans North Carolina studio]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/03/insomniac-plans-north-carolina-studio/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/03/insomniac-plans-north-carolina-studio/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/03/insomniac-plans-north-carolina-studio/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Raleigh, NC had better stock up on Ambien. GameDaily reports that Burbank, CA based Insomniac Games - creator of Resistance and Ratchet & Clank - plans to have a North Carolina office open for business by January 2009. Insomniac art director Chad Dezern will head the studio, with gameplay lead Shaun McCabe taking on the role of production director. Both Insomniac veterans will head east once development wraps on Resistance 2.

The studio, situated in the same "Research Triangle" area of Raleigh-Durham as Gears of War developer Epic Games (no peeking, guys!) will be home to roughly 30 new Insomniacs working on current and all-new franchises for PS3. In his interview with GameDaily, Insomniac president Ted Price points out that a team of 30 should be just the right size for creating a big-time PS3 title using the company's refined tools and technology. PS3 fans should be (rightfully) excited by the prospect of Insomniac likely bringing another all-new franchise to the system by way of the new studio, as the Burbank home base continues to develop future Ratchet and Resistance installments.

JoystiqInsomniac plans North Carolina studio originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 03 Jun 2008 23:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>epic-gamesgearsofwarinsomniacps3ratchet-and-clankresistanceresistance-2sonyted-priceTue, 03 Jun 2008 23:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Gears of War getting price drop, special edition emerges June 24]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/02/gears-of-war-getting-price-drop-special-edition-emerges-june-24/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/02/gears-of-war-getting-price-drop-special-edition-emerges-june-24/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/02/gears-of-war-getting-price-drop-special-edition-emerges-june-24/#commentsFiled under: , ,


With Emergence Day: Part Deux on the horizon, Gears of War on Xbox 360 and PC will experience a pricing curb stomp on June 4th, with the Xbox 360 version going down to $40 and the PC version dipping to $30.

If you haven't jumped into the Gears of War emulsion pool yet, it might be worth waiting a couple more weeks until June 24, when the special two-disc version of Gears is released for $40. The special edition contains the multiplayer map packs, along with several other extras (listed after the break). This new Xbox 360 version will not have the PC-exclusive Brumak battle, but we can wait until this holiday for GoW2, when the longing for a Brumak showdown on our Xbox will become but a distant memory.

Continue reading Gears of War getting price drop, special edition emerges June 24

JoystiqGears of War getting price drop, special edition emerges June 24 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 02 Jun 2008 10:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingnewsepicgamerscore-bloggamerscorebloggears-of-wargears-of-war-2gearsofwarXbox-360Mon, 02 Jun 2008 10:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Gamestop taking preorders for Gears of War re-release, launches June 24]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/25/gamestop-taking-preorders-for-gears-of-war-re-release-launches/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/25/gamestop-taking-preorders-for-gears-of-war-re-release-launches/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/25/gamestop-taking-preorders-for-gears-of-war-re-release-launches/#commentsFiled under: ,


We're pretty sure that everyone and their dog played the original Gears of War the first time around (aside from most Border Collies, who are, in fact, devout PS3 fanboys), but if you've yet to divide a competitor using a firearm/lumberjack tool, a Gamestop pre-order listing for a $40 Gears re-release might tickle your fancy. We've yet to hear from Microsoft about details for the title (or a confirmation of the game's existence, for that matter), but as the listing reads "Gears of War with Maps", we can only assume it will contain the Hidden Fronts DLC as well as the Raven Down and Old Bones levels, rather than the hit song by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. With less than a month until the game's supposed release date of June 24, we're sure to hear more soon.

[Via X3F]

JoystiqGamestop taking preorders for Gears of War re-release, launches June 24 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 25 May 2008 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DLCepicgamestopgears-of-wargearsofwargowmapspre-orderre-releaseremakeXbox-360Sun, 25 May 2008 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Gears of War action figures boxed, grumpy-looking]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/13/gears-of-war-action-figures-boxed-grumpy-looking/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/13/gears-of-war-action-figures-boxed-grumpy-looking/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/13/gears-of-war-action-figures-boxed-grumpy-looking/#commentsFiled under: ,


The long-awaited (but never viewed) first salvo of Gears of War action figures should be landing in your neighborhood Hot Topics and comic book shops in the next few weeks -- as a special teaser, manufacturer NECA released a plethora of images of the four burly, sailor-mouthed characters featured in the first series of man-dolls: Marcus Fenix, Augustus "Cole Train" Cole, Locust Drone, and everyone's favorite, Locust Sniper. We can't even imagine the kind of brutal, testosterone-enriched tea parties we're going to hold once we obtain these tiny gunhavers -- especially when our supply of Earl Grey begins to dwindle.

Gallery: Gears of War Action Figures



[Via X3F]

JoystiqGears of War action figures boxed, grumpy-looking originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 13 Apr 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actionfiguresepicepicgamesfpsgears-of-wargearsofwarnecatea-partyteapartyXbox-360Sun, 13 Apr 2008 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Gears of War 2 appearing at this month's NY Comic Con]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/02/gears-of-war-2-appearing-at-this-months-ny-comic-con/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/02/gears-of-war-2-appearing-at-this-months-ny-comic-con/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/02/gears-of-war-2-appearing-at-this-months-ny-comic-con/#commentsFiled under: ,


Though it's hard to imagine anything more exciting than obtaining The Hulk's autograph or shaking hands with Iron Man (watch out for that palm beam!), this month's New York Comic Con will also give attendees a glimpse of upcoming testosterone-fueled chainsaw epic, Gears of War 2. The convention will host a special "preview" of the Xbox 360 shooter on Sunday, April 20th, delivered courtesy of Michael Capps, president of Epic Games and Joshua Ortega, a man described as a "writer" for Gears of War 2. Must be some in-joke we don't get.

The New York Comic Con will take place from April 18th to April 20th at the Jacob Javits Center. In New York.

JoystiqGears of War 2 appearing at this month's NY Comic Con originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Comic-ConEpicGears-of-WarGears-of-War-2GearsofWarNY-Comic-ConXbox-360Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Gears of War 2 to feature chainsaw duels]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/23/rumor-gears-of-war-2-to-feature-chainsaw-duels/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/23/rumor-gears-of-war-2-to-feature-chainsaw-duels/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/23/rumor-gears-of-war-2-to-feature-chainsaw-duels/#commentsFiled under: ,


You may have come to this conclusion when you saw the debut trailer for Gears of War 2, but Variety blogger Ben Fritz is claiming that the hot, chainsaw-on-chainsaw action featured in the preview wasn't just a stylish cutscene -- it's also going to be a gameplay mechanic in the uber-anticipated sequel. Fritz apparently spoke to people who are "close enough to the development team at Epic to know" that chainsaw wielders will now be able to repel, and possibly counter, each other's attacks.

Epic hasn't confirmed this, but given the feature's appearance in the trailer, and the frequent complaints about an "unbalanced" chainsaw combat system in the first Gears of War, we think it's safe to assume we'll be spending many long winter nights playing Lumberjack Bushido Blade when the game drops this November.

JoystiqRumor: Gears of War 2 to feature chainsaw duels originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 23 Feb 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chainsawepicgears of wargears-of-war-2GearsOfWargearsofwar2gowxboxXbox-360xbox360Sat, 23 Feb 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A post about Gears of War 2 box art]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/22/a-post-about-gears-of-war-2-box-art/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/22/a-post-about-gears-of-war-2-box-art/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/22/a-post-about-gears-of-war-2-box-art/#commentsFiled under:


Since Gears of War 2's brief GDC teaser offered very little in the way of new information (you know, aside from the confirmed return of chainsaws and vast amounts of testosterone), we now have to resort to box art analysis. Though the art from Microsoft's press site is labeled as "temporary," it should be more than adequate to fuel your imaginary trip to the store to pick it up.

You'll also have to imagine yourself mulling over paying $60 or $70 -- as you'll see in the gallery, the Limited Edition seems very much inevitable.

Gallery: Gears of War 2: Artwork and Temp. Box Art

JoystiqA post about Gears of War 2 box art originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Feb 2008 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EpicGears-2Gears-of-War-2GearsofWarUnrealXbox-360Fri, 22 Feb 2008 03:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC08: Gears of War 2 teaser video]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/gdc08-gears-of-war-2-teaser-video/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/gdc08-gears-of-war-2-teaser-video/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/gdc08-gears-of-war-2-teaser-video/#commentsFiled under: , ,

If you can will yourself to push the "play" button on the above video, you'll see a recording of the brief and maddeningly ambiguous Gears of War 2 teaser trailer shown at Microsoft's GDC keynote. If the close study of Marcus Fenix's armored legs and a brutal chainsaw showdown with a locust don't get you excited, perhaps CliffyB's visit (with a chainsaw bayonet) can quicken your pulse. If, on the other soon-to-be-severed hand, you're wondering what on earth a CliffyB is, there's not much we can do for you. Gears of War 2 releases on Xbox 360 in November 2008.

Video courtesy of our pals at Mahalo Daily.

JoystiqGDC08: Gears of War 2 teaser video originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Feb 2008 17:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EpicEpic-GamesGDCGDC08Gears-of-WarGears-Of-War-2GearsofWarUnreal-3Unreal3Xbox-360Wed, 20 Feb 2008 17:25:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC08: Microsoft and Epic announce Gears of War 2 for Nov. '08]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/gdc08-microsoft-and-epic-announce-gears-of-war-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/gdc08-microsoft-and-epic-announce-gears-of-war-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/gdc08-microsoft-and-epic-announce-gears-of-war-2/#commentsFiled under: ,


In what could only be considered as good news for the franchise's cult following, Microsoft and Epic Games have announced their intention to give Gears of War another go. Despite only scraping by with a couple of million units sold, Microsoft is determined to help the motley bunch of macho marines break into the niche shooter market with an Xbox 360 sequel, Gears of War 2.

The game was officially announced by Epic's CliffyB during Microsoft's GDC keynote entitled, "A Future Wide Open: Unleashing the Creative Commnunity ... and then give them Chainsaws." The game will be coming exclusively to the Xbox 360 in November, 2008. We'll bring you more information as soon as we can get it.

JoystiqGDC08: Microsoft and Epic announce Gears of War 2 for Nov. '08 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Feb 2008 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BreakingNewsCliffyBEpicEpic-GamesEpicGamesGDCGDC08Gears-of-WarGears-of-War-2GearsofWarMark-ReinMicrosoft-Game-StudiosXbox-360Wed, 20 Feb 2008 14:40:00 EST<![CDATA[The Club nods at Gears of War's 'Seriously' achievement]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/10/the-club-nods-at-gears-of-wars-seriously-achievement/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/10/the-club-nods-at-gears-of-wars-seriously-achievement/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/10/the-club-nods-at-gears-of-wars-seriously-achievement/#commentsFiled under: , ,


For the thorough achievement hunter, there are an elite series of Gamerscore garnering goals that the softcore gamer is not likely to possess, such as Dead Rising's Zombie Genocider achievement, or, well, most of the achievements from Chromehounds. One stands out above the rest, though, requiring a great deal of time and skill to earn -- the "Seriously" achievement from Gears of War. Getting 10,000 kills in ranked multiplayer earns you 50 Gamerpoints, and hopefully, a concerned intervention from a few of your closest loved ones.

Bizarre Creations' latest project The Club gives a hearty nod towards the life-consuming achievement with one of their own -- the cleverly titled "No, Seriously" requires you to kill 10,001 opponents in ranked online matches. Oh, we see what you did there. We'll have to wait until Feb. 19 to see if the game is good enough to merit that kind of time investment, and if Bizarre ripped anything else off of Gears -- such as a steroid-infused protagonist that speaks with the eloquence of Tourette's suffering sailor.

JoystiqThe Club nods at Gears of War's 'Seriously' achievement originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 10 Feb 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achievementgamerscoregearsofwarmultiplayernoseriouslyPS3seriouslythe-clubtheclubXbox-360xboxliveSun, 10 Feb 2008 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Gears of War 2 graces GamePro cover]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/04/gears-of-war-2-graces-gamepro-cover/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/04/gears-of-war-2-graces-gamepro-cover/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/04/gears-of-war-2-graces-gamepro-cover/#commentsFiled under: ,


With GDC less than two weeks away, the latest issue of GamePro magazine appears to have coverage of the as-yet-unannounced Gears of War 2. The cover of the March issue was recently unveiled, and while the featured story is Rainbow Six Vegas 2, the cover contains two references to coverage of the much-hinted but never confirmed Gears sequel.

Despite the twice-over placement on the front cover, the announcement of the issue makes no mention of any Gears of War coverage, leaving us a bit skeptical of what the Gears 2 content exactly is. An unconfirmed report from the NeoGAF forums indicates that the content is purely speculative, guessing at a release date and possible features like improved matchmaking.

Add this to the fact that legitimate Gear of War 2 info would be far more cover-worthy than Rainbow Six Vegas 2, and the likelihood is that the Gears placement on the front cover is nothing more than an attempt to sell more issues. We'll leave Gears 2 speculation to accidental slip-ups and Amazon pre-order pages, thankyouverymuch.

Update: Epic Games VP Mark Rein has confirmed our suspicions, telling Firing Squad that any preview article hinted at by Gamepro's cover would be "pure nonsense." Ouch!

[Via Eurogamer]

JoystiqGears of War 2 graces GamePro cover originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 04 Feb 2008 09:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>epicepic-gamesepicgamesgameprogears-of-wargears-of-war-2gearsofwargearsofwar2microsoftXbox-360Mon, 04 Feb 2008 09:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Gears of War dolls of masculinity available spring '08]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/17/gears-of-war-dolls-of-masculinity-available-spring-08/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/17/gears-of-war-dolls-of-masculinity-available-spring-08/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/17/gears-of-war-dolls-of-masculinity-available-spring-08/#commentsFiled under: ,


It's time to play out your own Emergence Day with the first wave of Gears of War action figures featuring Marcus Fenix, Augustus Cole and the Locust Drone -- your old He-Man figures are going to have to substitute for the rest of the cast. The figures will be available "late spring of 2008" and the second wave of dolls will crawl out "late 2008."

The figures will be available at Hot Topic, FYE, comic book shops and other specialty stores. There's no word yet currently on price or what the second batch of characters will be, but it seems kind of unfair for Marcus to be without his Dom for an extended period of time (guess Man-At-Arms will have to do for the meantime).

Gallery: Gears of War Action Figures

JoystiqGears of War dolls of masculinity available spring '08 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 17 Jan 2008 23:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actionfigureactionfiguresdolldollsepicgearsofwarnecaXbox-360Thu, 17 Jan 2008 23:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Watch this space, Epic Games plans to double in size]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/14/watch-this-space-epic-games-plans-to-double-in-size/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/14/watch-this-space-epic-games-plans-to-double-in-size/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/14/watch-this-space-epic-games-plans-to-double-in-size/#commentsFiled under: ,


Having tired of rubbing actual elbows with fellow teammates, Epic Games' always verbose VP Mark Rein has confessed that he and his squad of developers have "pretty much run out of space" in the company's North Carolina base of operations, and that plans are well underway for an expansion to "at least" double the facility's current size. According to a report by North Carolina's News Observer, the devs coughed up a cool $1.57 million for the new office space, which will be positioned on a five-acre lot adjacent to Epic's current 31,000-square foot HQ.

Headcount at Epic currently stands at 94, with current growth of around one new employee a month expected to continue for the next couple of years. So with all of this added space, will the developers get to spread out, and maybe quit knocking over each others' Mt. Dew as they reach for their mouse? Unlikely, as the report notes that the new facility will instead be largely used to house the numerous play testers that visit Epic, rather than have to rent out space down the street. We understand the need completely, though until the devs get additional space of their own we'd suggest judicious application of lids.

JoystiqWatch this space, Epic Games plans to double in size originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Jan 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>epicepic gamesEpicGamesgears of warGearsOfWarmark reinMarkReinPCplay testPlayTestunrealUnreal Tournament 3UnrealTournament3ut3Mon, 14 Jan 2008 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Gears of War: The Pendulum Wars, the prequel book treatment]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/02/gears-of-war-the-pendulum-wars-the-prequel-book-treatment/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/02/gears-of-war-the-pendulum-wars-the-prequel-book-treatment/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/02/gears-of-war-the-pendulum-wars-the-prequel-book-treatment/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Replace the "stop 'n pop" style of gameplay that Gears of War helped popularize with "sit 'n read" and you've got yourself a fairly good approximation of the forthcoming prequel (best neologism ever?) Gears of War: The Pendulum Wars. Written by well-known video game writer Steven L. Kent, The Pendulum Wars oughta fill in all those blank spots in the story that have been keeping you up at night. Blank spots like, "What the hell happened to Aspho Fields?"

No, seriously, what? The book is listed as "Gears of War Pendulum Wars The Battle of Aspho Fields" at Amazon.ca. The 352-page first-person reader is being published by Del Rey and is listed with an August 26, 2008 release date. Now they just need to coordinate the movie release and the inevitable sequel to line up around the same time, and we've got ourselves an entertainment media hat trick!

[Via NeoGAF]

JoystiqGears of War: The Pendulum Wars, the prequel book treatment originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BookEpicGearsofWarPCSteven-KentXbox-360Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:15:00 EST<![CDATA[CliffyB loves his chainsaw gun, and his toys]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/06/cliffyb-loves-his-chainsaw-gun-and-his-toys/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/06/cliffyb-loves-his-chainsaw-gun-and-his-toys/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/06/cliffyb-loves-his-chainsaw-gun-and-his-toys/#commentsFiled under: , ,


ToyFare Magazine recently did a feature on the 50 greatest fictional weapons of all time, listing the Gears of War Lancer chainsaw gun among the ranks of the Green Lantern's ring, Thor's hammer, and Megatron (you know, when he's in gun form).

And when sexy bachelor designer CliffyB learned that one of his weapons made the list, he did what any of us would have proudly done: totally geeked out and sent in pictures of his toy collection.

A brief interview with Mr. Bleszinski reveals his favorite items in the collection, the all-importance of combining chainsaws and guns, as well as the undeniable truth that nothing is worthwhile until they've made action figures of it. So true, CliffyB. So true.

JoystiqCliffyB loves his chainsaw gun, and his toys originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Dec 2007 07:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cliffy-bcliffybgears-of-wargearsofwartoysXbox-360Thu, 06 Dec 2007 07:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Epic president wanted to cut Gears' multiplayer, Mad World ad]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/29/epic-president-wanted-to-cut-gears-multiplayer-mad-world-ad/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/29/epic-president-wanted-to-cut-gears-multiplayer-mad-world-ad/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/29/epic-president-wanted-to-cut-gears-multiplayer-mad-world-ad/#commentsFiled under: ,

Even presidents are human, and as such, they are prone to errors. But Epic president Mike Capps recently revealed that he almost made two mistakes of (sorry) epic proportions when it came to Gears of War. First and most troubling is that he had considered pulling multiplayer from the game because it wasn't moving quickly enough. (Boy, that would have made that eight-hour single player campaign a much more bitter pill, wouldn't it?) Also, he said he wanted to scrap the famous ad set to the brilliant Gary Jules' equally brilliant "Mad World" because, he says, "I thought it was stupid; I was like 'What are you thinking? Nobody knows Donnie Darko any more.'" Wow. Just, wow. Watch the above video to see how great things could have been.

The good news in all this is that either Capps' conscience or employees convinced him in the end to do the right thing. Also, Epic now has an iron-clad recipe for success: Find out what Mike Capps says you should do, and then do the exact opposite.

JoystiqEpic president wanted to cut Gears' multiplayer, Mad World ad originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 29 Oct 2007 15:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>epicgearsofwarmikecappsXbox-360Mon, 29 Oct 2007 15:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Gears of War wins Golden Joystick GotY ... 2007?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/26/gears-of-war-wins-golden-joystick-goty-2007/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/26/gears-of-war-wins-golden-joystick-goty-2007/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/26/gears-of-war-wins-golden-joystick-goty-2007/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

duh golden 'sticks
When we saw Gears of Wars hoisted up at the 25th annual Golden Joystick Awards, we scratched our heads and checked the calendar. Yep, it is 2007. So why is Gears still winning 'Game of the Year' awards?

As it turns out, the people's choice ceremony was honoring games form last year, and a few, like God of War II, which sorta seem like games from last year. The rather untimely celebration featured nominees like Guitar Hero II and Call of Duty 3 just as their respective sequels prepare to enter the market. Halo 3 Beta was considered among the 'Innovations' of the year, but the actual game, well, that will have to wait until ... next year.

Full list of award winners follows.

Continue reading Gears of War wins Golden Joystick GotY ... 2007?

JoystiqGears of War wins Golden Joystick GotY ... 2007? originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 Oct 2007 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DSgears-of-warGearsOfWargolden-joystickgolden-joystick-awardsgotyPCPS2PS3PSPWiiXbox-360Fri, 26 Oct 2007 16:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Rare duo: Viva Pinata left in Gears' wake]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/12/rare-duo-viva-pinata-left-in-gears-wake/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/12/rare-duo-viva-pinata-left-in-gears-wake/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/12/rare-duo-viva-pinata-left-in-gears-wake/#commentsFiled under: ,


Viva Piñata has found moderate success since its release late last year, with about 500,000 units sold, but it's far from the "next great family franchise" it was positioned as. Over at Gamasutra, James Thomas and Justin Cook of Rare discuss why they thought that Viva made less of a splash than many hoped.

Interestingly, the two say that the game was supposed to be more of a symbol for third parties, showing that Microsoft was serious about games for kids. The sales were still low though, something that, in part, they chalk up to the marketing force put behind Gears of War, which shared Viva's launch window. "So much of the money went towards Gears of War, which is going to sell millions anyway," Thomas said. "It was a bit of like, 'What about the other franchise?' I think we got left in the wake somewhat. Hopefully with the PC version this Christmas, it might get something of a second wind."

We'd be more likely to attribute Viva's sales to the fact that the game is too complicated for most kids, but sports cartoon graphics that turn many adult players off. That said, we're sure that Gary Jules on TV every 30 seconds didn't help matters.

JoystiqRare duo: Viva Pinata left in Gears' wake originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 12 Oct 2007 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gearsofwarrarevivapinataXbox-360Fri, 12 Oct 2007 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Writer drops details about Gears of War movie]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/06/writer-drops-details-about-gears-of-war-movie/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/06/writer-drops-details-about-gears-of-war-movie/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/06/writer-drops-details-about-gears-of-war-movie/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

GamePro has an exclusive interview up with Stuart Beattie, writer of the forthcoming Gears of War movie. He's been tapped for the job since he did a bang-up job writing the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie. It's too bad they didn't use him for the sequels, because they were ... craptastic.

He drops some interesting details about the upcoming film, including the fact that 300 ain't too bad of a reference movie, "That film was shot completely on green screen, which is amazing when you actually see the film. It's probably how we're going to do Gears of War."

Beattie will be pouring himself into the job apparently, "I hope it's extremely collaborative. From my point of view it's definitely going to be, because I'm going to be riding their asses about it." Personally we don't care whose ass he rides, as long as a good movie comes out of it.

Continue reading Writer drops details about Gears of War movie

JoystiqWriter drops details about Gears of War movie originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 06 Oct 2007 10:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Gears of WarGearsOfWarPCPirates of the CaribbeanStuart BeattieThe GetawayXbox-360Sat, 06 Oct 2007 10:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Gears of War movie may go the green screen route]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/05/gears-of-war-movie-may-go-the-green-screen-route/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/05/gears-of-war-movie-may-go-the-green-screen-route/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/05/gears-of-war-movie-may-go-the-green-screen-route/#commentsFiled under: ,


Speaking to GamePro, Gears of War screenwriter Stuart Beattie discussed the upcoming film adaptation of the blockbuster game. Apart from talking about the slowly changing Hollywood view of game-to-film adaptations -- as the writer of the first Pirates of the Caribbean film (a movie based on a ride), he knows something about adaptations -- Beattie elaborates on how Gears of War may be treated in production. Beattie says that Gears of War will likely utilize the same techniques used in 300, which was shot entirely using a green screen. Said Beattie, "There's no way to build that world any other way, really," noting that a green screen and soundstage is the only way the movie could be made on a reasonable budget. So, when you sit down to enjoy the upcoming film, remember that the Brumak about to eat Marcus isn't real.

JoystiqGears of War movie may go the green screen route originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 05 Oct 2007 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>epicgears-of-wargearsofwargowmoviesstuart-beattieFri, 05 Oct 2007 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Gears of War emerges on PC Nov. 6]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/04/gears-of-war-pc-emerges-nov-6/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/04/gears-of-war-pc-emerges-nov-6/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/04/gears-of-war-pc-emerges-nov-6/#commentsFiled under: , ,


The PC version of Gears of War -- that would be the personal computer version mind you, not the parentally correct one which replaces all the chainsaws with comically large walkie-talkies -- has been scheduled for release on November 6th. Shacknews reports that the testosterone explosion epic will be bolstered by loads of new content, including 5 single-player chapters, three multiplayer maps, a game editor and a showdown with the Brumak. (In case you're not familiar with Gears of War's monster lexicon, the Brumak is a very large monster that you'll want to shoot as much possible.)

While you're waiting for the wildly popular franchise to arrive on your overclocked and garishly lit machine, read our hands-on impressions and carefully ponder which charismatic thespian would best fit into Marcus' curb-stompers.

JoystiqGears of War emerges on PC Nov. 6 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Oct 2007 15:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BreakingNewsEpic-GamesGears-Of-WarGearsofWarPCUnreal3Xbox-360Thu, 04 Oct 2007 15:25:00 EST<![CDATA[CliffyB's top priority for movie Marcus: Charisma]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/04/cliffybs-top-priority-for-movie-marcus-charisma/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/04/cliffybs-top-priority-for-movie-marcus-charisma/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/04/cliffybs-top-priority-for-movie-marcus-charisma/#commentsFiled under: , ,


And no, not Charisma Carpenter, though, yes, that would be an inspired bit of casting. No, the man behind Gears of War said that the film version of Marcus Fenix should be able to light up a room with his charm ... even if it doesn't look like he could lift a Lancer above his head.

"I get a lot of forum posts where Gears fans tell us we need to cast this wrestler as Marcus. I don't give a f**k if the guy's buff or six foot five," CliffyB. told GameDaily BIZ. "What matters most is that this guy is charismatic and he can act and is somebody compelling that you want to watch on screen. The Rock is the rare exception of a wrestler who is that charismatic that he can carry a movie. If they cast four mongoloid wrestlers in Gears and they're just as exciting to watch as paint dry on the screen, nobody's going to go see it."

The Rock, huh? ... Do you hear that? That's the sound of bloggers across the planet Googling screen captures of The Game Plan.

JoystiqCliffyB's top priority for movie Marcus: Charisma originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Oct 2007 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cliffybgearsofwarmarcusfenixmoviesXbox-360Thu, 04 Oct 2007 11:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq plays Gears of War PC]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/03/joystiq-plays-gears-of-war-pc/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/03/joystiq-plays-gears-of-war-pc/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/03/joystiq-plays-gears-of-war-pc/#commentsFiled under: ,


Joystiq recently got a chance to try out Gears of War for the PC at DigitalLife. The verdict: it's Gears of War alright. Beyond some necessary changes made to the control scheme for mouse users, the game is essentially the same one we all fell in love with last November. Joystiq does note that the visuals are markedly improved and pulling off headshots is (expectedly) much easier with a mouse. The build at Digital Life has its share of problems and bugs, but such problems should be ironed out in time for the game's release later this year. Hit the "read" link for Joystiq's full hands-on impressions.

JoystiqJoystiq plays Gears of War PC originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 03 Oct 2007 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>epicgear-of-war-pcgears-of-wargearsofwargearsofwarpcgowgowpcmicrosoft-game-studiosmicrosoftgamestudiosWed, 03 Oct 2007 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq hands-on: Gears of War (PC)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/03/joystiq-hands-on-gears-of-war-pc/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/03/joystiq-hands-on-gears-of-war-pc/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/03/joystiq-hands-on-gears-of-war-pc/#commentsFiled under: ,


Gears of War for PC is, surprisingly, a lot like Gears of War on Xbox 360. In fact, when playing with an Xbox 360 controller, it feels exactly the same.

Of course, we stopped that nonsense and moved to a computer that had a traditional keyboard and mouse set-up. Would we be able to run and gun, take cover and blind-fire like we were able to on the Xbox 360? The answer is yes -- but it will take some time to get used to. Gone is the ability to "press A for everything." Rather, the game uses controls similar to Unreal Tournament 2004. Double tapping a directional button will trigger the appropriate animation, such as running, dodging and taking cover. For example, double tap W to jump forward. If a wall is in front of you, Marcus will cling to the wall and automatically take cover, as in the Xbox 360 version. Once in cover mode, spacebar will perform a context-sensitive action, as indicated by the icon on screen. It doesn't have the same fluidity of a controller, but for WASD fans, this is a perfect solution, as nothing is lost in the translation. Heck, even the "look at cool stuff" button returns as well (this time, mapped to Q).

Using a mouse to aim is liberating, and will allow you to quickly look around the environment, something we're not accustomed to with Gears of War's usually claustrophobic camera. With the mouse, you'll be able to blind-fire at will with a click of the left click button. However, if you want to go in to precision aim mode, you'll have to hold the right-click button. It's a slight change in mentality to use the right-click so often, but the added accuracy of a mouse makes it infinitely easier to pull off the gory, satisfying head shots that Gears of Wars fans love. Will the mouse aim make the game easier? It appears as though it will.

Continue reading Joystiq hands-on: Gears of War (PC)

JoystiqJoystiq hands-on: Gears of War (PC) originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 03 Oct 2007 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gears-of-wargearsofwarPCWed, 03 Oct 2007 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Cliffy B: BioShock is my game of the year]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/17/cliffy-b-bioshock-is-my-game-of-the-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/17/cliffy-b-bioshock-is-my-game-of-the-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/17/cliffy-b-bioshock-is-my-game-of-the-year/#commentsFiled under: ,


You know why people like Cliffy B? No, it's not just the stylish locks and game design skills (though that's part of it, make no mistake). It's his honesty. It's the forthrightness, for example, to call BioShock his Game of the Year in September of a year when he is releasing a game of his own. That's the kind of guy we look up to.

The man behind Gears of War gives a frank, funny take on the game (which was made with Epic's technology) over at his blog. Although he's dumping heaps of praise on the game, Cliffy's also honest enough to admit there are some things he doesn't like, including forcing his enemies to be covered in bees. We're still curious about the GOTY distinction though. Either he's as honest as we think, "Except for My Game" was implied in the award title or, maybe, it's just a subtle hint that Unreal Tournament 3 really, really isn't guaranteed to come out in November.

JoystiqCliffy B: BioShock is my game of the year originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 17 Sep 2007 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bioshockcliffybgearsofwarunrealtournament3Mon, 17 Sep 2007 13:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Marcus Fenix looks good in LEGOs]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/04/marcus-fenix-looks-good-in-legos/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/04/marcus-fenix-looks-good-in-legos/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/04/marcus-fenix-looks-good-in-legos/#commentsFiled under: ,

Those overly creative LEGO building fellas over Brickshelf did it again, this time using their finely honed talents to create a Gears Marcus Fenix figure. Just look at the detail on the armor, the accurate representation of the Lancer and how perfectly crafted the model is. This little masterpiece is awe inspiring, simply fanboy'alicious and makes us jealous of the talent those guys over at Brickshelf possess. Note to whoever owns this LEGO Marcus, we'd so pay to have one of these to place on our desk high atop Fanboy Towers. So ... eBay anyone?

[Via Joystiq]

JoystiqMarcus Fenix looks good in LEGOs originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 04 Sep 2007 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>epicgamesgearsofwargowmarcusfenixTue, 04 Sep 2007 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Reminder: Gears of War maps now free]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/04/reminder-gears-of-war-maps-now-free/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/04/reminder-gears-of-war-maps-now-free/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/04/reminder-gears-of-war-maps-now-free/#commentsFiled under: ,


If you're being honest with yourself, you're not going to be paying much attention to Gears of War a little later this month. Now, don't feel bad for Gears, you two guys had a great run. Remember when you tried to stay in the light to avoid getting eaten? Remember the first time you roadie ran? Gears will always treasure those moments, and he knows you will too.

But why not give the old guy a proper send off? Why not pop in the disc, give it a spin, and get the "Hidden Fronts" map pack that went free yesterday. Think of it as the last party of senior year, when everybody gets together for one last hurrah. That way, you won't feel too bad when Gears is relegated to its case on the 25th. And remember, no matter which game gets your love next, you and Marcus will always have Emergence Day.

JoystiqReminder: Gears of War maps now free originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 04 Sep 2007 10:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dlcepicgearsofwarXbox-360xboxliveTue, 04 Sep 2007 10:35:00 EST<![CDATA[The Joystiq Labor Day Weekend 2007]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/03/the-joystiq-labor-day-weekend-2007/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/03/the-joystiq-labor-day-weekend-2007/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/03/the-joystiq-labor-day-weekend-2007/#commentsFiled under:

We hope those that celebrated Labor Day today spent their time catching up on some much-deserved gaming. Or maybe making a fantastic Gears of War tribute in LEGO like legohaulic did (via Brothers Brick). Check out the highlights for the weekend:

Joystiquery
Metareview -- Lair (PS3)
Podcast Rodeo for Sept. 2: A jury of your ears
Weekly Webcomic Wrapup, brought to you by the letter W

News
Japanese NiGHTS trailer sort of a nightmare
Gears of War 'Hidden Fronts' map pack free starting Sept. 3
Google Earth now has built-in flight simulator
BioShock designers talk a lot on Bonus Round *spoilers*
Vivendi Games sees 92% increase, gets on knees and thanks Elune for WoW
New games this week: Stranglehold edition
Adventure Island headlines Virtual Console Monday
Wii outsells PS3 three-to-one in Japan, Xbox 360 continues napping
FarCry, Prince of Persia, Rabbids, Ghost Recon for free on PC
Play Lair on PSP with remote play
Warhawk is download-only for Japan
Sid Meier talks about consoles stepping up to strategy
ESA's Gallagher spends time gaming with Washington Post
Marvel vs. Capcom for digital download hopes Marvel exec.

Rumors & Speculation
Rumor: Master Chief getting waxed for Madame Tussauds

Culture & Community
Unexpected hardcore gamer in the family
Master Chief vs. dinosaur, Halo 3 marketing in Korea
Games Convention can't leave Leipzig until 2009 and probably won't
Capcom releases partial TGS lineup

JoystiqThe Joystiq Labor Day Weekend 2007 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 03 Sep 2007 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dailyrecapepicgearsofwarlegoXbox-360Mon, 03 Sep 2007 23:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Gears Hidden Fronts is now a free download]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/03/gears-hidden-fronts-is-now-a-free-download/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/03/gears-hidden-fronts-is-now-a-free-download/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/03/gears-hidden-fronts-is-now-a-free-download/#commentsFiled under: , ,

We just wanted to remind everyone that the Hidden Fronts map pack for Gears of War is now a free download off the Xbox Live Marketplace. The Hidden Fronts pack includes four maps (Garden, Process, Bullet Marsh and Subway) and was previously available for 800 Microsoft points when it released back in May. But now it's free, so you have absolutely no reason not to get back into the game and earn the game's final 250 Gamerscore. We'll see you online playing some new Hidden Fronts map pack goodness, have fun and stay away from those Kryll.

JoystiqGears Hidden Fronts is now a free download originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 03 Sep 2007 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>epicgamesgearsofwargowhiddenfrontsxblmMon, 03 Sep 2007 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gears of War 'Hidden Fronts' map pack free starting Sept. 3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/01/gears-of-war-hidden-fronts-map-pack-free-starting-sept-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/01/gears-of-war-hidden-fronts-map-pack-free-starting-sept-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/01/gears-of-war-hidden-fronts-map-pack-free-starting-sept-3/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Originally available in May for around $10, the Hidden Fronts map pack for Gears of War will be available for free starting Monday. This falls in line with statements made by Epic's Mark Rein earlier this year that they'll try to get content out for free eventually, but it is Microsoft's store they're working with and they do need to make money.

According to Microsoft, the map pack was already downloaded by a half-million people and has become the #1 piece of premium downloadable content on the marketplace. Thank gawd, we were afraid if could have been the odious Gears of War COG tag videos. The map pack will be free globally. At this point Gears of War has sold four million copies and, according to Microsoft, holds "the highest cumulative number of hours played by Xbox Live members." Let's see how long Gears of War can hold on to that title starting at the end of this month.

Gallery: Gears of War: Hidden Fronts map pack



[Via Press Release]

JoystiqGears of War 'Hidden Fronts' map pack free starting Sept. 3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 01 Sep 2007 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gearsofwarhiddenfrontmappackXbox-360Sat, 01 Sep 2007 13:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Gears Of War Hidden Fronts free this Labor Day]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/31/gears-of-war-hidden-fronts-free-this-labor-day/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/31/gears-of-war-hidden-fronts-free-this-labor-day/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/31/gears-of-war-hidden-fronts-free-this-labor-day/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Microsoft has announced that the Gears of War "Hidden Fronts" map pack will become a free download starting this Labor Day (which is Monday for our international friends). The map pack will officially become free starting at 2:00AM PT September 2nd. It should be noted that this isn't a timed promotion akin to the XBLA price drops this weekend, but rather a permanent change. So, if for some reason you still don't want the map pack on Monday, you can always pick it up some other time, free of charge. The "Hidden Fronts" map pack includes 4 maps: Subway, Process, Garden, and Bullet Marsh. If you'd like a refresher on what these maps contain, you can view our rundown after the break.

Continue reading Gears Of War Hidden Fronts free this Labor Day

JoystiqGears Of War Hidden Fronts free this Labor Day originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 31 Aug 2007 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>epicepicgamesgearsofwargowmgsmicrosoftgamestudiosFri, 31 Aug 2007 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Underworld director to helm Gears of War movie]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/03/rumor-underworld-director-to-helm-gears-of-war-movie/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/03/rumor-underworld-director-to-helm-gears-of-war-movie/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/03/rumor-underworld-director-to-helm-gears-of-war-movie/#commentsFiled under: , ,

We don't have any official confirmation on it as of now, but IESB.net is reporting that Len Wiseman, director of the Underworld films and Live Free or Die Hard, is in talks to develop and direct Gears of War, along with a remake of Escape from New York.

Again, we don't know if this is official, but it seems a solid enough pick if true. We know Wiseman has some decent visual chops, so nailing the Gears style shouldn't be tough. As far as character direction goes, what is Marcus Fenix if not a half-vampire/half-werewolf crossed with John McClane? Sure, we haven't loved his previous films, but it could absolutely be worse.

[Via Ain't It Cool News]

JoystiqRumor: Underworld director to helm Gears of War movie originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Aug 2007 12:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gearsofwarlenwisemanmoviesPCXbox-360Fri, 03 Aug 2007 12:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Mark Rein on Halo 3, 360 UTIII mods]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/01/mark-rein-on-halo-3-360-utiii-mods/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/01/mark-rein-on-halo-3-360-utiii-mods/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/01/mark-rein-on-halo-3-360-utiii-mods/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Remember the CVG interview in which Epic VP Mark Rein stated that Microsoft's E3 showing hurt Halo 3? Now the first part of the interview has been published in its entirety, giving a further look at Rein's opinions. One of the more interesting tidbits, after his spiel about the Halo 3 showing, he goes on to admit that Halo 3 will break all of the sales records set by Gears of War. According to Rein, "We've had a nice nine, ten months of being the record holder, and now we're going to get our ass kicked. In a good way." Good form, old man, good form. Rein goes on to discuss the various versions of Unreal Tournament III and Gears of War PC and the fate of its exclusive content (hint).

Also worth nothing, in the second part of the interview, which has yet to be published, Rein admits that the reason for the delay of the Xbox 360 version of Unreal Tournament III is that Epic has yet to sort out how user created mods will work on 360. Rein notes that in the "worst case scenario" Epic will submit user created mods to Microsoft for certification and offer them as downloadable content. Rein adds that, "hopefully between now and whenever it is we ship on Xbox 360, we figure out a user-managed way to do it." Our fingers are crossed.

Read -- Mark Rein interview, part 1
Read -- Epic struggles with UTIII mods on 360

JoystiqMark Rein on Halo 3, 360 UTIII mods originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 01 Aug 2007 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>epicepicgamesgearsofwargearsofwarpchalo3markreinunrealtournament3unrealtournamentiiiut3utiiiWed, 01 Aug 2007 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Epic's Mark Rein: Consoles will define look of PC games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/30/epics-mark-rein-consoles-will-define-look-of-pc-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/30/epics-mark-rein-consoles-will-define-look-of-pc-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/30/epics-mark-rein-consoles-will-define-look-of-pc-games/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Speaking to CVG, Epic Games vice president Mark Rein has expressed his belief that graphical advancement in PC games will be partially reined in (OOF!) due to the limitations and financial viability of consoles. "Publishers are generally putting their money where the highest return is, and in the past that's been on consoles and I think that's still the case," said Rein. "So if you build the game that's a really super amazing high-end game, how do you make all the money you could make from that game, because it'll be too high end eventually to be on PS3 or Xbox 360."

As a result, Rein expects consoles to "pretty much define what the next five years of games look like on the PC" and titles pushing the DirectX 10 envelope to be in the minority. PC versions should, however, benefit from several enhancements a la Gears of War. "That's the value to me of the PC, that the source content we have is still really high resolution, much higher than we can show on a 512MB machine. You can use that content on the PC, you can express it in higher resolutions and higher frame rates and turn on more effects. I think that's what you'll see, PC games where we turn it up higher."

Though it sounds like console technology is cramping the PC's style, the Xbox 360 and PS3 (and those who develop for them) are still immersed in the design transition from single processors to parallel architectures. There's a lot more wind to be coaxed from those sails yet.

JoystiqEpic's Mark Rein: Consoles will define look of PC games originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 30 Jul 2007 16:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CrysisDirectX10EpicGears of WarGearsOfWarPCPS3UnrealXbox-360Mon, 30 Jul 2007 16:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Gears of War PC with 20% more]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/27/gears-of-war-pc-with-20-more/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/27/gears-of-war-pc-with-20-more/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/27/gears-of-war-pc-with-20-more/#commentsFiled under: ,


More Marcus, more Dom, more Brumak! Mark Rein, VP of Epic, says to EuroGamer that the PC version of mega-hit Gears of War adds "about 20 percent extra." Rein also reaffirmed that the extra PC content, like the Brumak fight, will not be making it onto the Xbox 360 due to changes in the "codebase." OK, who wants to take the first crack at: "Even Epic can't get their own engine to do what they want? Har, har."

Gears of War on PC will have added level content, multiplayer maps, game modes and a game editor. Now, where to find the extra money for upgrading your PC to run the game smoothly? On the bright side, you could always just play with your Gears of War dolls, which we're sure will be a lot cheaper than upgrading a PC. Gears of War on PC is expected this fall.

JoystiqGears of War PC with 20% more originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 27 Jul 2007 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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They aren't dolls! They're action figures! And they aren't Gears of War munny dolls either, which makes us sad pandas. The National Entertainment Collectables Association (NECA) has announced they'll be making action figures based on Gears of War "and any potential sequels." Sadly, there isn't a single prototype to show off so we'll just have to keep staring at the cute munny doll.

"Only once in a while does a property come along that is so rich in content, with amazing character designs and groundbreaking achievements in art, music, and story. While having to turn down most properties made available to us, this was an offer we could not refuse," said Joel Weinshanker, president of NECA. He apparently didn't notice how many dolls action figures his company actually makes. Well, we gamers are suckers for anything with the word "collectible" on it, so collectible action figures probably fall into the same category. At least now some people will be able to fulfill their Marcus and Dom make-out scenes with their dolls action figures.

Continue reading Gears of War gets all dolled up with action figures

JoystiqGears of War gets all dolled up with action figures originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 26 Jul 2007 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actionfiguresdollsepicgearsofwarnecaPCXbox-360Thu, 26 Jul 2007 19:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Gears of War action figures announced]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/26/gears-of-war-action-figures-announced/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/26/gears-of-war-action-figures-announced/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/26/gears-of-war-action-figures-announced/#commentsFiled under: ,


NECA has announced a new partnership with Epic Games, in which it will produce a new line of Gears of War collectibles. Said collectibles are set to include action figures, busts, dioramas, and even "prop" replicas (full size Lancer anyone?). The toys collectibles are expected to be available in 2008, just in time for a possible sequel to the 360's breakout hit. An interesting tidbit in the press release is that NECA has acquired the license for Gears of War and "any potential sequels" to the game, adding fuel to such speculations. For those who are interested, NECA has produced many video game related collectibles, including toys based on Resident Evil, Hitman, Tomb Raider, and an upcoming line of Castlevania toys. No further information, such as which specific Gears of War toys will be made or how much they will cost, has been revealed.

JoystiqGears of War action figures announced originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 26 Jul 2007 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>epicepicgamesgearsofwargowmgsmicrosoftgamestudiosnecatoysThu, 26 Jul 2007 13:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Chainsaw or curb stomp Velvet Revolver this Friday]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/23/chainsaw-or-curb-stomp-velvet-revolver-this-friday/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/23/chainsaw-or-curb-stomp-velvet-revolver-this-friday/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/23/chainsaw-or-curb-stomp-velvet-revolver-this-friday/#commentsFiled under: , ,

July's Artist of the Month Velvet Revolver will be partaking in the Game with Fame festivities this Friday by playing some Gears of War. This Friday, July 27th from 10:00PM - Midnight eastern the Velvet Revolver rockers will be online playing Gears, so we advise sending a friend request to "GWFVelvet" for your chance to play with the band. Once your friend request is sent, sit back, wait for a chance to play and ponder how you'll be finishing off the band. We already know how we're taking out Slash as our chainsaw is already greased and ready to rip.

JoystiqChainsaw or curb stomp Velvet Revolver this Friday originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 Jul 2007 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>epicepicgamesgearsofwargowgwfvelvetrevolverxboxliveMon, 23 Jul 2007 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[By golly it's a Gears of War soundboard]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/22/by-golly-its-a-gears-of-war-soundboard/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/22/by-golly-its-a-gears-of-war-soundboard/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/22/by-golly-its-a-gears-of-war-soundboard/#commentsFiled under: ,

For those of us who are involved in the art of prank phone calls or simply enjoy hearing video game character quotes we've unearthed a Gears of War soundboard for you to enjoy. The Gears soundboard features multiplayer and campaign quotes from the Locusts and the COG killing crew including Marcus, Dom, Baird, Cole and Carmine. Experience a locust growl, hear the ear pleasing sounds of Baird exclaim "shit yeah!" and the multiple variations of Marcus' "nice". Give the soundboard a listen and be sure to show your friends, because this little online doodad will give you instant Gears cred. Honest.

[Via Gearheads of War]

JoystiqBy golly it's a Gears of War soundboard originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 22 Jul 2007 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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