Gears of War 2

[Synthesthesia]

Mmm. Gears.

This can't come out soon enough for me! Although I lost my best multiplayer partner recently. (Damn uni network).

[MattyD]

I'm sure some of you kerazy Lancer-pre-ordering types will be interested to know that Eurogamer is offering an actual, IRL Cog Tag as a prize in its latest competition: http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=248800

Closing date is October 6th, and the answer to the question is 'dinosaurs' (it's like six seconds into the video).

[El Leone]

Link

Gamers who buy a new copy of Gears of War 2 will find a special treat -- a redeemable voucher for a free "Flashback" downloadable map pack. Cashing in the voucher over Xbox Live will grant you a free download of five classic (and visually enhanced) multiplayer maps from the original Gears of War: Canals, Gridlock, Mansion, Subway, and Train Station. This brings the total multiplayer map count to 15. The Flashback Map Pack voucher is only included with new copies of Gears of War 2; used versions will obviously be missing the voucher. The download is planned to go live on November 7th, Gears of War 2's launch date.

Furthermore, in addition to the gold-plated Lancer being offered with the Limited Edition Gears of War 2, Epic recently revealed to GamePro that a gold-plated Hammerburst assault rifle will also be available. In order to unlock the gold-plated Hammerburst, fans will need to participated in "Midnight Madness" launch events taking place around the country on the night of November 6th. Players will be able to earn both the golden Lancer and the golden Hammerburst by meeting both requirements.

The golden guns are purely aesthetic tweaks and have no impact on the damage or effectiveness of either weapon&but they sure do look snazzy! Design director Cliff Bleszinski reckons theyll also help foster teamwork online, because the gleaming guns help player visibility so you can spot friends more quickly.

What's more, Microsoft and Epic won't be offering the free downloadable content as paid DLC, telling GamePro that "there are no plans at this time to make them available as paid downloads through LIVE Marketplace." Epic referred to the Flashback Map Pack and golden guns as "special gifts [for] our loyal fans."

Further details about the Flashback Map Pack and the gold-plated guns are available in the November 2008 issue of GamePro, trickling to subscribers now and newsstands in the following days.

A clever tactic from Microsoft and Epic to encourage people to buy the game brand new as opposed to second hand. Either way, I don't mind cuz getting 5 extra maps from Gears is a pretty sweet deal. Shame that Clocktower isnt one of them though, although I'm glad to see Canals and Mansion are making a return.

[Ian(not Ian)]

There are no plans at this time to make them available as paid downloads through LIVE Marketplace.
Sheesh.
Who's spouting this stuff? Alistair Campbell??

[MJ]

I've got the Collector's tin on preorder with Zavvi, but I wonder what you have to do at midnight to get the golden Hammerburst.

[El Leone]

Not sure, but apparantly you can get both the Gold Lancer and Hammerbust anyway. Just takes alot longer.

[PhilG]

Great about the revamped maps, but without a paid-for version and unless they have to be played separately from the new maps (i.e. you can't mix them into the standard map rotation) there are going to be a lot of people getting automatically kicked from games when a revamped map comes on...

[Matt]

Maybe they'll give you access to the rest of the original maps if it detects a completed Gears 1 save on your HDD Wishful thinking

I'm glad some of the old maps are back, even if some great ones are missing (Fuel Depot and Clocktower for example). I've always wanted sequels to carry over the previous game maps, as well as offering more of course. You get the improved gameplay (hopefully!) on proven maps.

[MJ]

There are scans of the manual doing the rounds online.

[MJ]

Horde shaky-cam footage:

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/274399.html

[El Leone]

Team Xbox have a article called "10 Things We Can Actually Tell You About Gears of War 2." Anyone whos been following Gears media by watching footage and reading the interviews probably won't find anything that much suprising in here, but for those who are still in a media lockout should probably best avoid this:

http://previews.teamxbox.com/xbox-360/2127/Gears-of-War-2/p1/

New campaign footage:

http://uk.media.xbox360.ign.com/media/142/14232680/vids_1.html?RSSwhen2008-10-06_113000&RSSid=916509

Probably best to avoid unless you don't really care. Contains opening level and some other aspects of the game that may be a suprise to some...

[TommyG]

Wow!

I've been on media black out on this, and after watching that vid, can only say...

DO WANT!!1!1!!

[El Leone]

[Synthesthesia]

this is why I love me some GoW Best headshots in gaming.

I've said since I used the magnum in GoW1 that they should do headshots with 1 shot upclose, I just hope they do less damage the further away you get. Otherwise it kinda negates the sniper.

[Morph]

that is just insane - the next 4 weeks are going to be soo long..