GearsOfWar
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See GOW Live this Saturday!
What are you doing this Saturday? Would you like to see sneak peek of Gears of War? Then you'd best call up your local GameStop. This weekend, GameStop will be hosting a special Gears of War preview event. Held for one hour after store closing, participants -- 17 years or older -- will be treated to exclusive Gears of War video content and get some free swag to boot. It may not be as cool as, say, actually getting to play the game, but it's pretty sweet nonetheless. As an added bonus, GameStop will also be selling 3-month and 1-year Live cards for $5 off retail price. If you'd like to attend, call your local GameStop for details. Snap some pictures while you're there, and we'll post 'em right here on 360 Fanboy.[Thanks, delerious]
Gears demo is coming ... but will it cost you? [update 1]
[Update: Epic's Mark Rein shot this (admittedly unlikely) rumor down himself writing, "Just saw the dog tag image with the 'Microsoft points.' It just isn't true. There is no demo coming out before the game ships and I have no idea if we'll do one after the game ships or not. Right now there are no plans to do one as I said earlier in this thread. I have asked Microsoft to take that image down." This still doesn't explain why the Gears of War demo "dog tag" exists in the first place if there are no plans to make a demo, but at least Rein intimates there are no plans to charge for said demo.]Microsoft plans to promote their upcoming killer app with a playable demo, distributed digitally using their Xbox Live network. Sure, we're not certain when they'll do it -- all signs are pointing to a post-Gears release -- but we all knew they would. Now it's a question of why buy the cow (Gears of War in this case) when you can get the milk for free (that would be the Gears of War demo). If Gears doesn't have any trouble selling, best to sit on that demo until it does. Still with us?Well, one potential answer might be to get that delicious milk out to market sooner, but not give it away after all (we're still talking about the Gears demo here). A page on the British Xbox.com site very clearly lists "Gears of War demo" as an example of "content downloads in Xbox Live Marketplace," right next to pay content (like Joust, Pac-Man, and Frogger) and XBL currency (like oh, say, Microsoft Points logos and cards). Now, you'll recognize the Gamertag pics at the bottom are the freebies, so it's not like the image is comprised solely of pay-only items ... so is this simply an unfortunate layout?As for when that demo is coming, it wasn't released after Epic's first big tease (that was the retail date), or their second (which ended up being a new website), but we know of a couple 360 owners who wouldn't mind getting some free milk. We've contacted Microsoft to get their response on the possibility of paid demos and the plans for a Gears demo. [Thanks lord hobo; via Xbox 360 Fanboy]
A Gears of War demo after all? [update 1]
A savvy forum member over at Xboxic spotted something pretty interesting on the British Xbox.com. On the page explaining Marketplace and MS Points there's a graphic showing the fabulous things you can buy. Among them is a Gears of War demo. Could the previously denied demo be coming after all? Maybe, but then again, Epic hasn't said that there won't ever be a demo, just not before the game's release. This find seems to confirm the demo's existence, but that doesn't mean it's coming out any time soon. A worrisome note, why is the GOW demo grouped with all that premium content? I mean, demos are free, right? Right?[Via Xboxic]Update: This rumor has been officially canned. Click here for full scoop.
Behold! The GOW collector's tin
Xboxygen sends us this purty picture of the Gears of War collector's tin. The collector's edition, for those who don't know, contains a hardbound art book and a DVD full of extra features. It's interesting to note that this case is different from the cases we've grown to love for games like Halo 2 and DOOM 3. It looks like a normal plastic case could actually fit inside that tin (and maybe it does?). Yeah, yeah, we know, it's not exactly mind rattling news, but we can't resist even the tiniest Gears of War development. So, do you like the case? Will you fork over 70 bucks to get it?
GOW Photoshop contest
Richard -- still love that name -- over at Aeropause is hosting a Gears of War contest. The winner, naturally, will get a copy of Gears of War and plenty of swag to boot. Second place gets a GOW faceplate and swag, and third place just gets plain old swag. All you have to do is send in a GOW image that has been cleverly Photoshopped in some way. All winners will get their entry featured on Aeropause as well. Head over to Aeropause for all the details. We're not hosting the contest, but we'd love to see what you come up with anyway. Link your entry in the comments and maybe we'll feature it here. Now if we could just convince some companies to send 360 Fanboy some swag, maybe we could give stuff away. Any takers? Capcom, Epic, Microsoft? Anybody? [Thanks, Dan]
Teaser site reveals new GOW tidbits
The revamped Gears of War site has officially launched, brothers and sisters. The site is one of those interactive doohickeys akin to the Alone in the Dark and Condemned websites. You "play" as Marcus still trapped in his cell. When the lights black out, you're left with 4 matches to light up your surroundings. Highlight a message scrawled onto the wall and you can watch flashbacks that reveal the game's story and more about Emergence Day and the Locust horde. Anyone looking forward to Gears of War should check it out.[Via Gamerscore Blog]
Gear up...for more viral marketing
GearsForum admin Mark Reign has dispelled rumors (generated by Epic's own hype machine) that a GoW demo is on the way. Don't worry, Cliffy. we're all going to buy your game. Just get it on the shelf.
Gears of War to ship with 10 multiplayer maps
Up from a proposed eight, ten multiplayer maps will ship with Gears of War, confirmed CliffyB. Coupled with two-player co-op over Xbox Live, does this number hit your sweet spot?In other Gears news, time is winding down on the 48-hour window Epic is using to grant visitors access to this promo site (pictured). What will happen when time expires? Our money's on another timed dose of viral marketing -- not an Xbox Live demo. But you can still dream ...
Gears of War's ranked matches smell rank
Despite being considered a tactical, team-centric game, Gears of War will not allow you choose who you play with in ranked matches. Epic Games programmer Joe Graf confirmed as much on the official forums recently, citing Microsoft certification as the reason. Graf, through a long series of discussion, explains that Microsoft would not allow the game to be shipped unless ranked match-ups were randomized (based on skill level, of course), though non-ranked games will still allow you to play with friends, privatize games, and send/accept invites.From Graf's tone, we get the feeling Epic would prefer a more clan-friendly online system, and we're inclined to agree. Microsoft's theory, according to Graf, is that randomized ranked matches "prevent collaborative cheating (I kill you ten times, now you me, etc.)." However, this move will breed loner behavior -- why should I help a fellow teammate out when I now have less competition against my kill count? A potential solution would be to reward players who heal their down-but-not-out brethren, thus promoting brotherly love. But might one also abuse this reward if friendly fire is enabled?Halo 2 is cited by several forum members as having a matchmaking system that promotes teamwork, allowing you to play with a party of people. Halo 2 is an original Xbox title, however, and is therefore not bounded by MS's new policy. Will Halo 3 follow the same suit as Gears of War?[Thanks, Sanchinos]
Circuit City getting GoW early?
Pipe dream of the day: Is this blurry pic evidence that Circuit City is getting Gears of War before the official November 7 release date, or just evidence that they can't be bothered to correct their pre-order cards?][Thanks AZ]
Gears of War and chainsaws: a match made in heaven [update 1]
Joystiq attended New Line Cinema and Microsoft's special "A Match Made in Hell" event last night, which could also have been called "Torture and Joy." Torture: sitting through Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning. Joy: Gears of War hands-on. If you have the means to turn a full-size movie theater into your personal gaming arena, then do it. You'll never look at gaming the same way again. Only chainsaws link GoW and TCM:TB together. The Lancer gun in GoW has a chainsaw attachment on the end of it that can be used for gore-ific melee attacks. Chainsaw someone in front of you and see their head rip off, their guts burst out, blood spray everywhere. Your opponent getting ripped in half from head to crotch has to be the most dramatic, and you can actually see everything inside. It made the audience scream with delight every time someone playing the game on the big screen would meet their death, or dish it out, this way.Plus, this blogger has to admit that he was so very wrong about Gears of War. After playing this game in person, I'm a convert. There is something about getting your head chainsawed off on a megaplex screen in front of more than 200 screaming people that can make you reevaluate the gameplay.
Gears of War still buggy, complain 'Chainsaw' event attendees
Microsoft and New Line Cinema teamed up last night to show off their upcoming projects, which both feature chainsaws forced upon the human (or humanoid) figure. A "Match Made in Hell" provided the first opportunity for the public to get hands-on time with Gears of War multiplayer, but attendees had to sit through a screening of Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning first.Two reports of the event (2old2play & Siliconera) have cited control issues, which affect the flow of gameplay. When asked if he thought Gears of War would be a hit, one attendee answered, "No not in this state. Not in its present form." With 'Emergence Day' just over a month away, should Microsoft be concerned? Our guess is that the event generated more than enough good PR to negate any complaints. The hype wave is gathering momentum. You gonna get swept up?
CliffyB's got your jump button right here
F*** jump.That's what he said and, in a recent interview with CVG, CliffyB elaborates on his original theory that Gears of War is more Bionic Commando than Mario. You are jumping ... just with a grappling hook ... and on a different plane. He explains, "In GoW you're essentially jumping but you're jumping on the X and Y axis. So you're leaping into the environment. If you were to look at a GoW battlefield from an overhead view, it would almost look like a Sonic or Mario level because that's how all the cover plays out."That's a pretty novel way of looking at the game's construction. Though Cliffy does his best to appear otherwise, he often reveals a thoughtful side. Our favorite part of the interview: when he eschews the sentiment that a Hollywood adaptation means your game has made it. "I love movies but I believe I'm working in the most exciting sector of the entertainment industry." Oh snap! Take that movies! But he still offered up his candidate for the role of Marcus: Clive Owen. Really? He seems like he would need to put on about 150 ell-bees of muscle. And what's all this about Scarlett Johansson?
Win a date with CliffyB and play some Gears *squeeeeeal*
We missed telling you guys about the "Match Made in Hell" Gears of War promotion, but we'll make it up to you by cluing you into another opportunity to get your mitts on the 360's upcoming chainsaw-sim. According to a now missing Xbox.com page (helpfully clipped after the break), you'll be able to win a chance to play Gears a full week before the unwashed masses. And that's not all, you'll get to play it with CliffyB himself at Epic Studios in beautiful Raleigh, North Carolina.Rules are simple: you must be a resident of the US or Canada (sorry Hungary!); you must be 18 or older; you have to enter before October 15th; and you need to fill out this form. Hop to it! If any Fanboys win, make sure to wear something nice ... and bring flowers![Via TriXie]
Gears of War previewed
Eurogamer has big hopes for Epic's Gears of War, posting a glowing preview of Microsoft's darling. You'd be hard pressed to comb out new details from the write-up, but Eurogamer does confirm what others have reported: intuitive gameplay and purdy visuals. The only issues that could hold this one back are the beefy-guy art style and predictable dialogue. Looks like Gears has already been stamped with Eurogamer's seal of approval.See also: X06: Gears of War impressions Xbox 360 impressions: Gears of War multiplayer
Full version of Gears of War leaked? [update 1]
Gears of War has been pirated and uploaded to an Xbox 360 binaries group on Usenet. The file clocks in at around 7.2 gigs in 157 parts, and will require someone with patience, bandwidth and no sense of morals to download. Is it real? Nobody knows. While it is hard to imagine this being legit, it definitely represents a problem to the developers. We're surprised the feed didn't get the smackdown immediately, but trying to rollout a significant next-gen title might occupy most of your free time.If people could just be patient, this game will be in your hot little hands very soon. So stop wasting your time downloading useless binaries, and just stare at a calendar. Or you could go to a preview of Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning, and get hands on with Gears afterwards.[Thank, Bran][Update, took out the link ... we're definitely not encouraging piracy here, folks.]
X06 brief, see it again for the first time [update 1]
If you were unable to catch the live webcast of Microsoft's X06 briefing, it's now available on Xbox.com (links directly to video). We've given you some snippets of it already, but now you can get the whole enchilada (mmm ... enchiladas). The briefing was filled with lots of glitz, glamour, and video, things that were lacking in a certain other keynote at TGS earlier this month. Viva Piñata, Gears of War, Blue Dragon, you name it. If it's a big game, it's there. Check it out, if you're so inclined.Update: It looks like the link wouldn't play nice with our interface. Should be fixed now. Click here.
Gears of War ain't easy, defends Epic
In response to concerns that Gears of War, with frequent checkpoints and regenerating health, is too easy, Epic's Mark Rein has chimed in over on Epic's forums. Rein has clarified that the Gears demo is set to "casual" (easy mode) and implies that first-time players will encounter plenty of challenge on harder difficulties.Games like Halo 2 and Call of Duty 2 have proved that regenerating health does not impede on our sense of accomplishment when we pwn Legendary or Veteran mode. Here's to hoping Gears follows in their footsteps -- and not down Prey's path.[Thanks, michael]
X06: Gears of War gameplay is bloody good
We snagged this X06 video of Gears of War gameplay for your enjoyment. Filled with lots of gunfire, blood, and apparently ineffective grenades, it's sure to delight both young and old. Emergence Day is getting closer and closer, folks. See the video after the break. (Fanboy Trivia:CliffyB is behind the controls of this demo.)
Gears of War gets Penny Arcadified
Gabe over at Penny Arcade whipped up this very nice sketch of Marcus from Gears of War yesterday. I guess we missed it somehow. Was something going on yesterday? Perhaps some of you might like to make it your new wallpaper (though I have opted for Halo Wars). I'd use it as my wallpaper, but white backgrounds hurt my sensitive little eyes. See a larger version after the break.
