GEARS OF WAR 2

[Eradicator30]

http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/image/object/142/14232680/gears_of_war_2_esrb072208boxart_160w.jpg

The gears of war continue to turn as Marcus Fenix and his squad of Cogs go back into action in the sequel to Microsoft and developer Epic Games' blockbuster action title. Gears of War 2 continues the story of Marcus Fenix and Delta Squad, locked in an increasingly desperate battle against the nightmarish Locust Horde for the survival of humanity. The game promises to be an epic saga of survival, loss, and retribution. Just as Gears of War set the standard for high-definition visuals, Gears of War 2 raises the bar even further with the amazing technological advances of Unreal Engine 3, delivering a bigger, badder, and more intense experience as the story continues.
Genre: Third-Person Shooter

Exclusively on Xbox 360
Release Date: November 7, 2008
MSRP: $59.99

General Features

Unparalleled gameplay. “Gears of War 2” takes the award-winning gameplay of the original and improves upon it in every way. The genre-defining cover system is further refined, making the “stop and pop” gameplay more intuitive. Dynamic cover is given new meaning as downed opponents can be picked up and used as shields. The intimate violence of the battlefield is heightened when combatants engage in chainsaw duels. Destructible environments and vicious new finishing moves add to the over-the-top experience.
Jaw-dropping visuals. “Gears of War 2” continues to raise the graphics bar through its breathtaking visual effects, made possible through advances in Unreal Engine 3.
Engaging experience that pulls you in and won’t let go. “Gears of War 2” takes deep and immersive storytelling in video games to greater heights. Players connect with humanity’s battle for survival on a personal level as they move through a story that introduces new characters and sheds light on the histories of familiar ones.
Expanded cooperative play. Team up with a friend to fight through the harrowing story of Delta Squad in the enhanced campaign mode, now featuring drop-in/drop-out gameplay, as well as individual player difficulty options. Or recruit four friends to battle in the new game mode “Horde,” where you’ll fight together to fend off a seemingly endless onslaught of Locust forces to attain the highest score.
Fierce and varied competitive multiplayer action. “Gears of War 2” features eight distinct multiplayer modes,2 including the new Wingman, Guardian and Submission modes, where up to 10 players choose a side and pit their courage and battlefield mettle directly against others. In addition, multiplayer bots are available to sharpen your skills offline or to fill out your online private matches on Xbox LIVE.
Party system and skill-based online matchmaking. New to “Gears of War 2” is a party system that allows players to form a full or partial team with friends and continue together from match to match without the need to reform after each game. “Gears of War 2” also supports a skill-based online matchmaking system, powered by TrueSkill, which groups players of similar skill level together in competitive multiplayer matches.

[Infotainment]

This game needs to come out today.

Gears of War 2 [INTRO + E3'08 TRAILER + GAMEPLAY]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6B0chGKaYA&feature=related

E3 extra gameplay

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGvnRjQk0c4&NR=1

[bkoo29]

I heard that Gears 2 will not be as good as Gears 1. Is that true????

[RedBEARD]

It'll be better than your Mom was in the sack last night, that's for sure.

[dracerd]

Game looks freaking sick... I am really excited to play it

[Clownbaby]

yeah, some of the game play footage looks fuckin insane. november is way too far away

[Eradicator30]

Achievements & More (http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/906/906298p1.html)

[zero]

Hoard the HordeSurvive all 50 waves of Horde (any difficulty, any map)30

seriously this game is going to be awesome

[Infotainment]

Hoard the HordeSurvive all 50 waves of Horde (any difficulty, any map)30

seriously this game is going to be awesome

According to the developers they can only get to level 27. That's pretty fucking insane if your dev team can't make it past level 27 on the horde.

[SilverBullet]

According to the developers they can only get to level 27. That's pretty fucking insane if your dev team can't make it past level 27 on the horde.

What the hell? If they can't, who will step up? Who I ask?

[Le Goat]

Ghostbusters

[Le Goat]

http://media.1up.com/media?id=3605175&type=lg (http://www.1up.com/do/media?cId=3165887&sec=IMAGES) If you want to play Gears of War 2 (http://www.1up.com/do/gameOverview?cId=3165887), it turns out your options will begin and end with the Xbox 360 on November 7. IGN had a chat (http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/906/906298p2.html) with Epic Games lead designer Cliff Bleszinski, who revealed that there will not be a PC port of the 360 sequel. Ever.
"Gears of War is a great franchise first and foremost for Xbox 360, and therefore we're focusing on that platform for Gears of War 2. We've decided we're not going to do a PC version this time around," said Bleszinski in the interview.
Gears of War (http://www.1up.com/do/gameOverview?cId=3160828) was ported to the PC last November, a full year after it debuted on the Xbox 360 in 2006. While it was generally well-received (http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3164479&p=1&sec=REVIEWS) (and added content not included in the 360 version), the main complaint was that the console-developed shooter -- designed from the ground up to be played with a controller -- didn't translate smoothly to a mouse and keyboard. Taking this into consideration... is it really bad news that there won't be a PC port in the future?

[Jack Bauer]

fuck the pc

[RedBEARD]

This just in, there will be no Mac version either.

[Gary_Busey]

It was a pretty mediocre PC title.

[Jack Bauer]

the pc didnt give it credit

[Gary_Busey]

It was ok. I give it credit for being a polished shooter, but it wasn't anything new or special.

[Chimbo]

According to the developers they can only get to level 27. That's pretty fucking insane if your dev team can't make it past level 27 on the horde.

I've heard they will see how many levels they can get through and then double the number for the actual game.

[zerodesire]

Gears of war 2 will be game of the year like gears of war was its just going to be that damn good so prepare yourselves were in for a long winter indoors in front of a big flat screen HDTV GoW2 FTW!!!!!!!

[RedBEARD]

More like zeropunctuation.

[Le Goat]

We went chainsaw-to-chainsaw in an extended hands-on with Epic's highly anticipated sequel.

It's hard to believe that it was just two months ago that we donned our shorts and headed off to Los Angeles for the E3 Media & Business Summit. The height of the Californian summer made the winter arrival dates for many games seem a lifetime away, but in the cold reality of September, this year's big hitters are now nearing completion. Gears of War 2 is one such game, and with the game now "going through its final weeks of polish" according to producer Cliff Blezsinski, it's tantalisingly close to being finished. The man himself was in London with a brand new build of the game, so we made it a priority to go down and spend as much time as we could playing it.

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2008/196/938611_20080713_embed003.jpg (http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/gearsofwar2/news.html?sid=6198288&mode=previews&om_act=convert&om_clk=previews&tag=previews;title;4#) Tickers are the suicide bombers of the Locust force, running at you and detonating unless you shoot them first. (http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/gearsofwar2/news.html?sid=6198288&mode=previews&om_act=convert&om_clk=previews&tag=previews;title;4#)

We started off by playing through the first act of the single-player game in co-op mode. The game starts out with a cinematic introduction, with the same female voice from the first game explaining how humanity has continued to fight off the Locust horde since Gears 1. The humans have fought man-to-man on the ground and even fired lasers from space to force back their alien enemy, but despite all this, the Locust have survived to become even stronger. The last human settlement is now Jacinto, which is where Marcus Phoenix and Dominic Santiago enter at the beginning of the first level.
As with the first game, the opening section of Gears 2 is a tutorial that you can either choose to play or skip. In the interests of thoroughness, we decided to take the training and headed off with another journalist playing alongside us. The tutorial mission sees you training a new recruit named Ben Carmine, who eagle-eyed Gears fans should recognise as the brother of Anthony Carmine from the first game. Ben's a bit wet behind the ears, so you need to teach him how to use cover, toss grenades, and kick through doors. During all this, you begin to make it into Jacinto--the city that's described as the "last bastion of humanity," and before long, you're breaking into an abandoned hospital.
It turns out that the endless combat since the war began has produced a disease called rust lung that has wiped out much of the population. It's clear that not much is known about the disease, as squadmates advise each other not to get too close to the victims. Once you're inside the complex, you're introduced to a new character called Tai. Tai's a heavily spiritual character with tattoos up his arms and face, as well as a fatalist outlook on life. With such lines as "I like the look of Locust blood in this light," it becomes clear he's generally much more chilled out than Marcus and an increasingly frustrated Dom. As the game progressed, Dom became increasingly desperate to find his wife, and it's clear from the way that Cliff Blezsinski talks about it that this will become a key part of the story in Gears 2. This is so much so, in fact, that the collector's edition of the game will come with a photo of Dom's wife, which has a personal note on the back.
Back in the game, though, we managed to make it out of the hospital and back to the city streets. Another cutscene showed the last of the military forces being given a rousing speech by a commander, and it explained how the fight would soon be ending after 15 years. As homeless people listened in on the radio, we were told that the light mass bombings had only strengthened the Locust forces and that humanity's only hope was to fight them underground. With this in mind, Marcus and Dom's next mission is to escort huge military diggers out of the city to a place called Lowdown so they can push below ground.
The next level should be familiar to Gears fans because it was the first section of gameplay that Epic ever showed of the game. You ride atop huge vehicles called Assault Derricks as they roll through a rocky environment, with enemy rocket fire raining down and Locust enemies riding alongside. It's another multipart set-piece mission that not only culminates in a savage Brumak attack, but also introduces you to another new character called Dizzy. Dizzy's a cowboy-esque handyman who helps fix up your vehicle when it gets damaged, and in turn, you have to protect him from ground level when you're forced off the road.
After we fended off the Brumak--by shooting it in the face with a rocket launcher, no less--we reached roadblocks and had to go on foot. Tai rejoined the squad, and you head into a snowy log-cabin village environment unlike anything we've seen in Gears of War so far. We were also introduced to a new enemy called the "ticker"--a small dog-sized kamikaze Locust that runs at you with explosives strapped to its back. It's a good thing that you're equipped with a shotgun at this stage, and it's even better, once you get the mortar to fend off yet another Brumak attack. The mortar is an incredible weapon--you set it on the ground, aim in a direction, and then hold down the fire button to decide how far to fire. If you judge the distance correctly, then a shower of mortar fire rains down from above. It takes some getting used to, but the mortar can take out a group of enemies--or one big one like the Brumak--with relative ease.

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2008/196/938611_20080713_embed001.jpg (http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/gearsofwar2/news.html?sid=6198288&mode=previews&om_act=convert&om_clk=previews&tag=previews;title;4#) We played with the flamethrower in the Horde multiplayer mode--it lacks stopping power, but it's effective in controlled bursts. (http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/gearsofwar2/news.html?sid=6198288&mode=previews&om_act=convert&om_clk=previews&tag=previews;title;4#)

With all of the new weapons, locales, and enemies, there's so much to take in from the new Gears. Collectable newspapers fill in the backstory of the game, while your progress toward achievements is tracked at the bottom of the screen. For example, there's an achievement for killing enemies in a variety of ways--something that the game gives you plenty of new opportunities to do. As well as smashing their heads in with the curb-stomp, you can now beat enemies to death with your bare hands while they're down or pick them up and use them as meat shields. Sadly, though, our play-through of the first act ended rather abruptly with the appearance of a new Locust enemy that appeared to be the alien equivalent of a samurai. As Marcus and Dom were picked up and strapped into an airborne vehicle to take them to the next stage, the enemy started to attack Dizzy with a staff that had a chainsaw blade at the end of it. Blezsinski says that this enemy is "pretty badass," but unfortunately, we were unable to test his strength during this play-through.
We also played some more of the Horde multiplayer mode--the same mode that we encountered back at E3. Blezsinski describes Horde as the Geometry Wars take on the Gears universe, and although the games are still very different, the analogy rings true. When wave after wave of increasingly difficult enemies come at you and your teammates, it's your job to stay alive as long as you can. Blezsinski claims that he's made it to wave 27 himself, while his testers have made it to wave 50--we only managed 14 levels due to time constraints. The mixture of enemies, from the tiny suicide bombers to the large flamethrower-packing grunts, made the game constantly challenging, while running around and saving downed allies added to the breathless pace of the game. While we were playing the same level as we did out in LA, it was incredibly addictive, and we had real trouble tearing ourselves away. As for other multiplayer levels, we didn't get to see any, but Blezsinski says there will be a map where an avalanche will fall and open up completely new areas in which to play. There's also a brand new Photo mode, as well as a free camera to watch the action from any angle you wish.
After playing the game for about four hours, we left the Gears 2 event both satisfied and wanting more. The Story mode includes new weapons, enemies, and locations, but it's the subtle improvement in storytelling that stuck with us the most. For a game that's so heavily influenced by Hollywood action blockbusters, Gears 2 really benefits from the tighter scripting, improved characterization, and faster sense of pace. We'll have to wait until the finished game to see how the subplot regarding Dominic's wife pans out, but we're hoping it adds to both the character and the overall plot of the game. Gears of War 2 is out on the Xbox 360 on November 7.

[Don Scrappy]

the first was awesome, but I have very little interest in the 2nd unless it is very different.

[c_thur]

cant wait for this game to come out

[Ocelot]

Best Buy Ad Featuring Gears 2 RC Tank

http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/kotaku/2008/10/gowbb.jpg


The GOW2 Limited Edition order will, according to the pictures, include a free remote control Centaur Tank normally worth about $30. Pretty sweet.
Today another tipster sends us what they say is a scan for next week's Best Buy circular featuring the mini tank in all of its glory. Consider this a rumor until we see something official. If it is real, the fact that the images avoid anything that would put the toy's size into perspective leads me to think it's super small. Like mouse-sized even. Which would be totally OK with me.
According to the Ad above the tank will be available to those who pre-order the L.E version. Also the tank will not be available until November 7th when you pick up your copy of the game.I'll have to check this out when I go into work on Friday but that's pretty awesome. For a regular $30 retail I wonder if
A) It will eventually be sold seperately, and B) How big it really is. To be giving it away for free is pretty sweet.

[Le Goat]

woah....

New copies of Epic's anticipated Xbox 360 shooter will come with token for five reworked maps from 2006 original, Rock Band AC/DC track pack, Dead Space, and NBA Live offering similar incentives to first-time buyers.
Specialty gaming retailer GameStop is on an impressive run, stringing together quarter after quarter (http://www.gamespot.com/news/6196490.html) of massive revenues and company-best profits. The retailer has attributed a large part of that success to the booming second-hand market, where gamers can purchase preowned copies of games at a discount rate over new copies of the same title.
http://img.gamespot.com/gamespot/images/2008/276/Gears2407_embed.jpg (javascript:open_blog_image_viewer('2008/276/Gears2407_screen.jpg');) The practice has drawn withering criticism from within the industry, however. Many gamemakers have expressed outrage (http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/news/David-Perry-Blasts-GameStop-CEO-for-Spewing-Nonsense/21247) at GameStop's practice of aggressively pushing used game sales, the proceeds of which go entirely to GameStop. Sales of new games also benefit GameStop, but also remunerate the people who actually developed and published the game.
Escalating beyond hollow saber-rattling, Electronic Arts has begun to take a stand against the resale market. Last week, the publishing giant took one of its boldest steps toward cutting out the brick-and-mortar middlemen, releasing Criterion Games' well-received (http://www.gamespot.com/ps3/driving/burnout5/review.html) racer Burnout Paradise as a digital download (http://www.gamespot.com/news/6195980.html) through Sony's online PlayStation Network store at a budget $29.99 price point.
EA Publishing partner Epic Games (http://www.gamespot.com/news/6196059.html) has plans of its own to counteract the resale market. Speaking at an event promoting Gears of War 2 yesterday, Epic design director Cliff Bleszinski said that all new copies of the upcoming Xbox 360-exclusive shooter will include a free voucher to download the Flashback Map Pack. The map pack includes five online battlegrounds from the 2006 original Gears of War: Canals, Gridlock, Mansion, Subway, and the Tyro railway station.
Epic also plans on awarding those who pick up a new version of the game during midnight launch events at participating retailers. Those who pick up the game in the wee hours of November 7 will receive a redeemable token for a special-edition in-game gold-plated Hammerburst assault rifle, which can be used in the online portion of Gears 2. The eminent designer noted that both the map pack and the gold-plated Hammerburst assault rifle will not be available for download as DLC at a later time through Xbox Live.
Epic's move is just one more example of EA's push back against the resale retail sector. Shacknews (http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/55084) noted the publisher launched a similar initiative with NBA Live, where gamers can redeem a code for free access to the 365 real-time update (otherwise available as a $19.99 download). The EA-distributed Rock Band 2 sports a one-use code found on the game's manual for 20 free downloadable tracks (http://www.gamespot.com/news/show_blog_entry.php?topic_id=26615519), and the newly announced Rock Band AC/DC Track Pack (http://www.gamespot.com/news/6198346.html) comes with single-use code to transfer its 18 songs into Rock Band and its sequel. Then there's Dead Space, which EA will upgrade with a free downloadable space suit with in-game benefits (http://www.gamespot.com/news/6198387.html) to those who purchase the sci-fi horror game within two weeks of its October 14 release.

[bpb]

Don't know if this has been posted or not (sorry if it has) but it's video (http://xbox360.ign.com/dor/objects/14232680/gears-of-war-2/videos/GOW2_preview.html) of more gameplay like using Reavers and a mortar cluster bomb gun.

[RedBEARD]

Who's the dude at the very end there? Looks like a Predator made sex with a Locust hoo'er...

[Le Goat]

OK this (http://gamevideos.1up.com/video/id/21641) actually got me REALLY pumped for the MP aspect again.

[RedBEARD]

Swing and a miss.

[Le Goat]

huh?

[RedBEARD]

That link points to a Dead Space clip.

[Le Goat]

That link points to a Dead Space clip.

Yeah I just figured out that if you click a link on the left side of that page it doesnt change the video link at the top. Stupid site... here's the link to to MP Dev Diary

http://gamevideos.1up.com/video/id/21970

[G-Bus]

Apparently the game has leaked. It's up on some torrent sites.

[Le Goat]

And there goes the early near/completely finished copies for the reviewers. Fucking idiots

[Le Goat]

Apparently the game has leaked. It's up on some torrent sites.

Rodney Gray can now and forever be placed into the category of the one world's dumbest criminals. The Technicolor employee from Memphis, Tennessee, stole not only 807 DVDs from the packaging, warehousing, and distribution company he worked for but also over 100 copies of the Xbox 360 exclusives Gears of War 2 (http://www.1up.com/do/gameOverview?cId=3140434/) and Fable 2 (http://www.1up.com/do/gameOverview?cId=3140434/) to sell on the street. According to the Memphis Commercial Appeal (http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/oct/18/suspect-charged-in-game-thefts/target=), police were alerted when a security guard for Technicolor reported the theft of the different media discs. After staking out Gray at his hotel, police pulled him over last Thursday for outstanding driving offenses and found 31 copies of the games in a bag he had on his person. Upon entering his hotel room, they found 97 copies of the games along with the 807 unreleased DVDs. Police are unsure how many had already been sold on the street, but they are estimating the total worth of the merchandise at over $100,000, and they are currently investigating an unnamed companion in the theft.
These leaked games will hurt the possibility of Technicolor acquiring future contracts with developers and movie studios, but the theft also hurts the consumer and gaming companies as well. It puts the game out on the street and probably onto torrent sites, which will not only account for lost income for the gaming developers and publishers due to piracy but will also negatively affect the reputation of gamers.
Fable 2 is expected to be released today, so hopefully the theft will not affect Lionhead much, but Gears of War 2 is not hitting shelves until November 7. One can only imagine how that will compromise Epic's highly-anticipated title. I do not know if Gray is a gamer or not, but any gamer purchasing a stolen game off the street should know better.

[bixby]

New "Last Day" trailer.

FL_ZjJgbDmc

[Le Goat]

I love when something so awesomely violent has the balls to use/portray something so beautiful. Big balls on Epics part

[Le Goat]

A+

It's not like the story is meant to be taken seriously. Take one look at protagonists Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago, with their impossibly bulging biceps and redwood-tree-thick physiques, and you realize that these guys are designed to appeal to the sci-fi set and the jock set, not pull at our heartstrings. And yet, in the world of videogaming in general (and certainly in the mind of this reviewer), it's gameplay, not story, that usually proves pivotal in elevating a game to greatness -- meaning Gears of War 2 (http://www.1up.com/do/gameOverview?cId=3165887) once again takes the spotlight as one of this generation's premiere shooters. Still, this wasn't necessarily apparent after the first hour of a three-day offsite Gears of War 2 review marathon. It's actually easy to think of the game as something closer to Gears 1.5 at first. Gears' unmistakable third-person cover-based combat instantly feels familiar (even bringing over the same minor problems, like occasionally "sticking" to the wrong object or wall), the visuals once again stun, and the campaign proceedings open in a dreary hospital with the beefy Delta Squad members falling into their light-on-talk, big-guns ways. But it's when you start hacking into the meat of this epic-expectations sequel that you appreciate what an excellent campaign, juiced-up multiplayer, addictive new co-op Horde mode, and new enemies, items, and weapons can add to what still stands as one of this generation's best core gameplay systems. Firefights are won not by charging toward enemies outright but by slamming against cars, buildings, or other objects in a desperate attempt to conceal your body, and then letting rip when the time's right. It's simple -- repetitive to almost an absurd degree -- yet through its second tour of duty, the cover-then-shoot mechanic remains unquestionably addictive.

http://www.1up.com/media?id=3641681&type=lg (http://www.1up.com/do/media?cId=3165887&sec=IMAGES) Click the image above to check out all the Gears of War 2 screens.

This time through, the humans' struggle against the Locust focuses on the fate of the last human stronghold of Jacinto. The Lightmass bomb you dropped to end the last game didn't quite finish the job, but perhaps that was for the best. The sequel's 10-hour to 15-hour journey and the means by which you go about completing it are far more diverse this time, with varied backdrops (from a snowy outpost to a foreboding Locust temple with adjustable cover), not-always-enjoyable turret-based and Reaver-riding sections, and some memorable showdowns (big creatures like the lumbering Brumaks are far more prevalent). And more so than in the original, a number of moments and locations stand out. One scene puts you in the midst of a razorhail storm...which, as you'd probably imagine, consists of precipitation that rips into flesh and armor, Locust and human alike. You've either got to hightail it from overhang to overhang while minimizing exposure or make use of a deployable shield, one of the game's handy new items that serves as portable cover -- or, in this instance, a makeshift umbrella. Meanwhile, another stage is almost bewildering given the game: It's essentially a platformer, as you'll need to leap past acid-spewing nozzles and dodge piston-like obstacles designed to smush you.
This level variety is great and assures that you'll get your mitts on all of the new weapons (handily keeping track of each different weapon kill you get with its "Variety is the Spice of Death" Achievement tracker). Standouts include the flamethrower (one of the few in a 3D game that has some heft to it -- it's a joy to use) and the firebombing mortar, which satisfyingly keeps track of how much power you put in each shot, making subsequent volleys all the more simple.

http://www.1up.com/media?id=3641682&type=lg (http://www.1up.com/do/media?cId=3165887&sec=IMAGES) Click the image above to check out all the Gears of War 2 screens.

The story leans on ample action-movie clichés and grunted dialogue, as you'd expect, but it adds some character to the characters. Dom, as the last game hints, is willing to take major risks to find his wife. Of course, you also have guys like the 10-gallon-hat-wearing, gung-ho Dizzy, who's as one-dimensional -- and likeable -- as you could want. While it doesn't come close to reaching the confused gravity of a Metal Gear Solid 4 (http://www.1up.com/do/gameOverview?cId=3140656), Gears 2's story, and more specifically the journey, will engage you enough to keep you wanting to continue through to the end at a gallop -- ideally with a friend, as once again, it's an easier go with co-op. A second player can jump into Dom's role at any time or leave at will, which puts Dom back under the control of the computer A.I. (Once again, your computer-controlled companion is sometimes adequate, but other times he has you wondering what in the hell his binary mind is thinking.) Like in the last game, multiple split paths force you apart from your partner, either for solo fights or for one player to cover the other as they progress.
As great as the campaign is, the game will see its longest legs from multiplayer. And from the multitude of competitive match types to the addictive and strategic co-op Horde mode, what felt like a hugely entertaining afterthought in the original Gears (http://www.1up.com/do/gameOverview?cId=3140408) now easily stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the campaign. Among the notable additions, the matches now support up to 10 players and bots, who, depending on their difficulty, do an adequate job holding their own. And the modes themselves deliver (and it should be noted that all testing was done over a local network, not the Internet). Warzone is still a classic deathmatch, while Execution gives you one life to do the same. King of the Hill and Annex make use of capture points and different kill rules. They're all fun, as is the keep-one-guy-alive Guardian, but the highlights are the new Submission and Wingman modes. Submission is essentially capture the flag...but with a flag that fights back. Known as a "meat flag" during the game's development, this computer-controlled character doesn't want to be caught. So while your job is to gun him down and drag him to the scoring zone (one of the game's new moves is to hold an enemy in front of you as a shield), he's not so agreeable. In one of our test matches, the shotgun-toting "flag" actually had 31 kills. And with this guy and the other team fighting back, Submission matches can turn into a methodical tug-of-war.

http://www.1up.com/media?id=3641684&type=lg (http://www.1up.com/do/media?cId=3165887&sec=IMAGES) Click the image above to check out all the Gears of War 2 screens.

Wingman, though, offers a much different form of intensity. It pits you and a partner against other two-person teams, and everyone has one life. The winning team is determined by total kills over multiple matches, so in addition to working out strategies with your teammate for staying alive, you're forced to be aggressive to compete. A fun phenomenon: having teams with one human and one bot, then watching as the eliminated human futilely cheers on or cusses out his bot partner for the remainder of the match. In all, the competitive multiplayer portion feels much more fleshed out compared to the original game's effort, with some great maps, including both revamped old ones (Canals wears a coat of ice, and Mansion has a weathered look) and new (Avalanche's midmatch namesake can easily eliminate half your team, and Stasis may be dreary, but it offers plenty of corners and hiding spots). And based on our test matches (carefully tracked by fellow EGM reviewer David Ellis, who loves this type of thing), some bugs showed up, like chain saws slicing their way through melees...at least the "host advantage" from the first game seemed to be gone.
Finally, the new Horde mode is also a treat. This co-op excursion pits up to five players against waves of enemies. It's an exhilarating battle for survival that demands teamwork. Though the maps all vary in terms of specific strategies, you'll want to find a place to hole up and then hold on. Ammo runs low, the enemies get more aggressive, and the choice between saving a bleeding-out squadmate or staying a safe distance from a relentless Bloodmount (one of the more memorable, and relentless, new enemies) can dictate whether you progress. The mode has 50 waves, with downed teammates respawning between rounds, while the enemies' damage and health increases every 10 waves. Most of all, it's a blast, and even with a good crew it will easily take a couple of hours to get through, especially on the harder difficulties.
But much like the rest of the game, that fact shouldn't give you pause. Gears' gameplay isn't mindless warfare -- it's intensely focused, visceral fun. The cover system, despite its returning flaws, is still addictive. Likewise, hunkering down in the game's Roadie Run -- during which the camera pulls down close to your character as he ducks and runs -- again feels limited, as it's not conducive to either keeping an eye (and the camera) ahead of you or making tight turns. For such a stunning game, these held-over missteps seem odd, but they have little impact on Gears 2's impressive level of polish across the board. A nice, thick coat of blood red polish at that.

[Face]

42156

[Le Goat]

http://media.1up.com/media?id=3642945&type=lg
With Gears of War 2 (http://www.1up.com/do/gameOverview?cId=3165887) all ready to hit store shelves at the end of this week, we're guessing a lot of the fans have already preordered by this point. But if you're like me, you might be holding out until the last possible moment, waiting for the best deal you can find. Well, I think I just found it (http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/genericContent.do?oid=219672#preorder). Despite reported trouble (http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3171098) leading to a number of store closings soon, retail chain Circuit City is running a fantastic deal where you can preorder Gears of War 2 and receive a free 1600 Point Xbox Live card. For those who use a lot of Microsoft Points for Xbox Live Arcade games, Rock Band (http://www.1up.com/do/gameOverview?cId=3168260) track downloads, or whatever else, that's basically a free $20 for dropping the $60 for Gears 2. 1UP executive editor Garnett Lee (http://www.1up.com/do/my1Up?publicUserId=5324853) suggests spending the points on Gears of War 2 themes and gamer pic packs, possibly followed by a round of sobbing at how empty your life is. I'm in!
The only downside is that you need to call them or go to a Circuit City in person to preorder -- no simple clicking around online, sadly. Still, if 1UP's review (http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3171066&p=4&sec=REVIEWS) is anything to go by, it's probably worth a few moments of interaction with another human to nab the game with such a nice bonus.

[Pax Britannia]

I've had mine pre-ordered for months. With big games like this it usually arrives a day early so i'll probably be playing this on Thursday.

[Jack Bauer]

i've been playing it in work. great shit. cant wait until i get in on my 42inch hdtv

[Le Goat]

http://media.1up.com/media?id=3643016&type=lg
On popular review aggregation site MetaCritic, 1UP's review (http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3171066&p=4&sec=REVIEWS) score of A for Gears of War 2 (http://www.1up.com/do/gameOverview?cId=3165887) somehow translates into a "100," MetaCritic's highest possible ranking. We're not sure how that alchemy works, but that score (plus a whole lot of positive reviews from other outlets) hasn't stopped a group of rogue user reviewers from dropping the game's user score (http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/xbox360/gearsofwar2#users) significantly. As of 3 p.m. Pacific today, just over 3,600 users had voted on the unreleased game, giving it an average user score of 3.4/10. This stands in stark contrast to the official review average of 94/100, which MetaCritic labels as "Universal acclaim." The negative reaction from users was so extreme and unexpected that it warranted the following note from MetaCritic games editor Marc Doyle added to the bottom of the Gears of War 2 page:
"My advice for our faithful users is to focus your attention on the Metascore for this game and not the thousands of user votes, most of which have been submitted before said users have played the game. This is a gaming community, and if people want to stuff the ballot box, there's not much I can do at this point. When we upgrade the registration requirements for participation on the site in the near future, this type of thing won't happen. We'll post the full legitimate user reviews upon the game's release. As always, thanks for using the site." We contacted Doyle for clarification, and he told us that the issue of unbalanced user reviews "hasn't been a systematic problem" on the site. According to Doyle, it's only really popped up recently and mostly for console-exclusive titles. Two other strong examples exist: Resistance 2 (http://www.1up.com/do/gameOverview?cId=3165179) has a Metascore of 89 with a user score of 5.3/10, and Little Big Planet (http://www.1up.com/do/gameOverview?cId=3157796) has a Metascore of 95 with a user score of 6.1/10. Doyle says the issue stems from the site's foundation. User reviews were allowed to be entered before a game's release because they "wanted people who had legitimately played the game ahead of its release to post them." Stacked on top of that was a desire for an easy sign-up process. "The founders were really interested in not having people sign up for a really huge registration process just so they can participate on the site," Doyle said, adding, "Obviously that's been exploited." Doyle also explained how exactly MetaCritic will be looking to fix this problem through an enhanced sign-up process that will now require users to enter more information than just an e-mail address in order to get an account and vote on MetaCritic. "Even before the enhanced registration portion, we're going to disallow voting on games before release," Doyle said. Speaking to the relative importance of user reviews on the site, Doyle stated, "Our primary product is the critic score. That's what we control; that's what we can certify." He added that the site may look at new ways to highlight user reviews in the future as they develop better means of certifying that the user reviews are legitimate. Until these fixes are implemented, though, MetaCritic readers will simply have to deal with the fanboy flame war affecting the user review scores.

[Pax Britannia]

Live Gameplay Marathon of Gears of War 2 starts in about 40 mins.
http://uk.gamespot.com/showcases/gow2

[Jack Bauer]

why ruin it. got as far as the graveyards. not long into it to be honest but i enjoyed it. better controls i think

[Jack Bauer]

picking up my copy today. cant fucking wait.

[Le Goat]

I played me some Gears 1 last nite and holy fuck did it feel odd. I remember why I quit playing. Hopefully this one fixes most of the gimmicky shit, like glitches.

[Jack Bauer]

have my hands on the second one now. gonna give it a blast now.

[Pax Britannia]

I fucking love this game. I'm glad their going into the origins of the locust more.

[Le Goat]

Wait how did you pasty bastards get it before us?

[Pax Britannia]

Wait how did you pasty bastards get it before us?

For some reason the gaming website I buy games from always delivers it one day before launch. I dont know why.

[Le Goat]

name please....

[Pax Britannia]

www.gameplay.com

[Le Goat]

is that just a UK site?

[Jack Bauer]

you playing it online or are you playing it offline. im playing it offline

[Pax Britannia]

is that just a UK site?

I think so yeah. Your fucked.

[Pax Britannia]

you playing it online or are you playing it offline. im playing it offline

I've played it whilst connected and whilst not. I've had loads of games early and no problems.

[Le Goat]

you playing it online or are you playing it offline. im playing it offline

I was going to say, I don't see you online. I'd go ahead and pop it in, it's not your fault the company shipped it a few hours prior.

[Pax Britannia]

I've never let it stop me. I've got the receipts to prove I payed for them and the date it was shipped by the company.

[Le Goat]

Ok, which one of you gaiz is this?

http://live.xbox.com/en-US/profile/profile.aspx?pp=0&GamerTag=i+hateblacks309

[Bizz]

I have a buddy that played and beat it weeks ago and has been playing online since then.

http://card.mygamercard.net/PHANT0M+XER0.png

He has a modded 360 and downloaded it weeks ago.

[Triumph]

Wait how did you pasty bastards get it before us?

If you pre-order it or just go into a gamestop otherwise known as EBgames, they always have there stuff in early. I use to always walk in and ask for a copy and pay for it on the spot a day early.

Not sure if they are in your area though.

Also if you pre-order it online from them, you will get it on the day of the release not the day before, I already tried there.

[Triumph]

I have a buddy that played and beat it weeks ago and has been playing online since then.

http://card.mygamercard.net/PHANT0M+XER0.png

He has a modded 360 and downloaded it weeks ago.

I'm on the fence about modding my 360, how is he playing online though with a modded 360??

[Bizz]

I dunno. He has been playing on a modded 360 for a while. He doesn't play much online, but he does and can.

[Le Goat]

I'm on the fence about modding my 360, how is he playing online though with a modded 360??

A. You lose ANY warranty from the time of purchase

B. You have the possiblity of a Perma Ban should you get enough shit. (OR so they threaten)

C. There's really no point unless you can fix their hardware problems

[Pax Britannia]

Well i've completed the game. Took me about 8 hours which is 2 hours more than it takes me to get through the first game so i'm reasonably satisfied at the length. As for the gameplay it's as good as ever, although this whole 'revival' thing makes the game 10x easier. The set piece battles werent as satisfying as in the first game but still a ton of fun. I see myself playing through this again numerous times in the comming years.

The end boss was very dissapointing
If you keep hold of the hammer of dawn like i did then it's incredibly easy to just point at the mutated brumak and fire till it dies

I urge everyone to sit through the credits....
Theres a MGS esq audio ending with Adam Fenix (Marcus's Father) asking if anyones out there and sounding very upset at the sinking of Jucinto

I think I know what the third will be about.

[Bizz]

A. You lose ANY warranty from the time of purchase

B. You have the possiblity of a Perma Ban should you get enough shit. (OR so they threaten)

C. There's really no point unless you can fix their hardware problems

The biggest deal is the warranty. Chances are if you're able to mod your 360 you're able to fix their hardware problems too. I know my buddy has been banned a few times, but it's anything but permanent. There is a way to get back on line. I only mod systems I don't go on line with. It's just easier that way and the 360 is all about on line play.

[Triumph]

I'm probably the only person then that doesn't go online with it.

But I'd prefer to download the games, only thing I'd miss is DLC, which I may or may not want depending on what it is.

I've read a few things about Stealth games, where they can't detect if you have a modded system or a normal system, so that is promising, but my elite has the one DVD-Rom drive that takes like 4 extra steps to mod, and I don't feel like doing that.

[Le Goat]

Does this work? It's a photo I took using the in-game photo system and uploaded it to gearsofwar.com.

http://cdne.gearsofwar.xbox.com/Handlers/GOW2Handler.ashx?mode=-1&id=C7EDB05E1408E74AFA5F


I fucking LOVE how it saves not only the map for the picture, but also who all was in the match and allows you to make comments and even shows some sort of plaque thing



edit: another for shits and giggles.

http://cdne.gearsofwar.xbox.com/Handlers/GOW2Handler.ashx?mode=-1&id=5B0D33571408E7452468

[Le Goat]

The meatflag gametype is a blast. Fucker had 14 kills of his own in a game last nite.

[Ocelot]

Damn. I am going to be so poor. But I need to buy this one too.

[Bizz]

The campaign is fucking awesome so far.

[Billy]

No, it's not. The game is mediocre (saved only by the fact that the graphics are fucking amazing). Sluggish controls and a shitty aiming system, yet despite that the game manages to be ridiculously easy even on hardcore. Maybe it's because I didn't play much of the first Gears, but I couldn't stand the voice acting and the story seemed more retarded than I remember which forced me to skip every single cutscene after the first level. Haven't played the online mode yet, but unless that is somehow drastically different in pace and smooths out the retardo controls I'm trading this shit in soon.

[Bizz]

No, it's not. The game is mediocre (saved only by the fact that the graphics are fucking amazing). Sluggish controls and a shitty aiming system, yet despite that the game manages to be ridiculously easy even on hardcore. Maybe it's because I didn't play much of the first Gears, but I couldn't stand the voice acting and the story seemed more retarded than I remember which forced me to skip every single cutscene after the first level. Haven't played the online mode yet, but unless that is somehow drastically different in pace and smooths out the retardo controls I'm trading this shit in soon.

Trade it in now. Nobody gives 2 fucks what you think. The controls are the same as the first game. Thanks for sharing. Also, man up and play insane mode.

[Billy]

It wasn't unlocked, and I'll be damned if I'm going to play that shitfest of a campaign through again.

[Billy]

Also, I've got a week to try to force myself to like it before I have to decide whether to keep it or take it back to gamestop for my money back

[Angry Ass Messican Dude]

I enjoy it.

[Le Goat]

I too

[Bizz]

I as well.

[Angry Ass Messican Dude]

We tried to get you in on the hoard with us we are getting raped on level 10 but b illy went to get food

[Bizz]

I wuz asleep.

[Bizz]

Billy <3's AJ.

[Angry Ass Messican Dude]

lol

[Infotainment]

If anyone is down for trying to destroy hoard mode today add me in. The live name is "Inf0tainment" That's a zero in the middle.

[Le Goat]

I fucking RAPE with the Mortar. Once that's in my hands god help all of you

[Pax Britannia]

I cant hit anything with the mortar. I prefer the Mulcher.

[Le Goat]

I couldn't at first but once I realized how it worked I will rain death from above. Pavilion and Security are the two maps I can rape the hardest with it.

[svtdriver]

Took me a while to figure out the mortar, too. The directions on how to use the damned thing flashed by before I could read them, so I was popping off rounds and they weren't going far enough. But once you figure out how to use it effectively its a really devastating weapon. Got the achievement for 30 kills real quick with it.

[Le Goat]

Yeah I think I got it within two maps. I took out the whole team with it at least 3 times. Great shit when your team is pinned and you drop a salvo on the enemy to save your buds

[svtdriver]

Yeah. Good for Horde in later missions when you get a crapload of big guys coming at you, too.

[The Batman]

Is anyone else have any issues joining multiplayer matches with a party you created? Me and some friends can't seem to join a single match.

[Claibo]

Is anyone else have any issues joining multiplayer matches with a party you created? Me and some friends can't seem to join a single match.

nerd... I played it today for the first time... sweet dude. The lighting is much better. Now i just gotta get my baby mamma to pay up and i will get a copy. lolz

[Le Goat]

Is anyone else have any issues joining multiplayer matches with a party you created? Me and some friends can't seem to join a single match.

No. The only time it hangs up is when you hve a party and it takes 15mins to find a game. It's just the usual server bullshit. It'll get fixed soon.

[Le Goat]

http://media.1up.com/media?id=3646616&type=lg
Epic Games president Michael Capps' complaints (http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3171217) about the rental and used game markets cutting into company profits may ring a bit hollow today after receiving word from Microsoft stating that the Xbox 360 exclusive Gears of War 2 (http://www.1up.com/do/gameOverview?cId=3165887) had opening weekend sales of over 2 million units worldwide. To top that off, over 1.5 million people logged into Xbox Live during the weekend -- a record for concurrent players on Microsoft's service -- racking up 15 million gameplay hours in Gears of War 2. Gamers who joined in the fray collectively unlocked over 19 million Achievements.
These overwhelmingly huge numbers on both sides of the spectrum are in part thanks to Epic design director Cliff Bleszinski's wish to launch the game on the same day worldwide. Says Bleszinski:
"We were so excited to launch Gears of War 2 on the same day all around the world, something virtually unheard of in the games business. We wanted our fans, no matter where they live, to have a shared experience on day one, and that's exactly what's happened." If those figures were just actual sales in America, you would be looking at over $120 million dollars -- and that is not taking into consideration the limited edition version of the game and price differences in other regions. Considering that the holiday shopping extravaganza is only a scant couple of weeks away, you can only expect these sales numbers to skyrocket across the globe. Kind of makes Capps' problems sound a bit less important, doesn't it?

[Le Goat]

I have a buddy that played and beat it weeks ago and has been playing online since then.

http://card.mygamercard.net/PHANT0M+XER0.png

He has a modded 360 and downloaded it weeks ago.


It's not like anyone needed any more reasons, but here's another reminder of why you don't want to play pirated games on your Xbox 360. As Kotaku reports (http://kotaku.com/5083456/microsoft-swings-xbox-live-banhammer-thousands-fall), complaints began to fill forums earlier today of Xbox 360 owners being banned from Xbox Live, with the clamor eventually getting loud enough to prompt a response from Microsoft. As relayed (http://majornelson.com/archive/2008/11/11/xbox-360-console-banning.aspx) by Major Nelson, Microsoft says that a "small percentage" of Xbox 360 owners have indeed been banned today, in an attempt to curb software piracy. "In our continued effort to keep gameplay safe and secure for our community of more than 14 million members, Microsoft has taken action against a small percentage of Xbox 360 consoles that have been illegally modified in order to play pirated games," the statement reads. "You should know that modifying your Xbox 360 console is also a violation of the Xbox LIVE terms of use, will void your warranty and result in a ban from Xbox LIVE. The health of the video game business depends on customers paying for the genuine products and services they receive, both from manufacturers and the local companies that support them. We will continue to employ and bolster anti-piracy security measures to counter piracy in the gaming industry and improve security in the Xbox LIVE community."
Sure enough, a number of those complaining (http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?showtopic=666197&st=0) about bans made frequent mention of their modified consoles, with many also mentioning playing Gears of War 2 (http://www.1up.com/do/gameOverview?cId=3165887) and Call of Duty: World at War (http://www.1up.com/do/gameOverview?cId=3168176) "early" (read: illegally downloading them before they were released). So good riddance to those folks, but as usual with this sort of business, you have to wonder whether any innocent "false positives" may have slipped through the cracks. In that same Xbox Scene forum thread, one banned member said they called Xbox customer support to assure that they never modified their console, only to be accused by the customer support representative of playing pirated games. This person then claims a different customer support rep eventually said they'd been getting similar calls for "the past 5-6 hours," and that they were looking into the problems.
Sure, vehemently denying any guilt is probably the first thing any guilty person would do, but if there were any truly innocent folks caught up in this, hopefully Microsoft will sort them out soon enough.

[Mr. Buzz_Kill]

Please don't let me be the only one here who thinks this game is a fucking failure. Its exactly the same as the first gears.

Gears of War:

Go around and collect items for achievements
Protect JACK while he opens a door/hacks a computer/sends data back to control
Go underground to place the resonator to scan the locust tunnels
Detonate lightmassbomb

Gears of War 2:
Go around and collect items for achievements
Protect JACK while he opens a door/hacks a computer/sends data back to control
Go underground to use the beacon to find the locust stronghold
Detonate brumak

[Le Goat]

Please don't let me be the only one here who thinks this game is a fucking failure. Its exactly the same as the first gears.

Gears of War:

Go around and collect items for achievements
Protect JACK while he opens a door/hacks a computer/sends data back to control
Go underground to place the resonator to scan the locust tunnels
Detonate lightmassbomb

Gears of War 2:
Go around and collect items for achievements
Protect JACK while he opens a door/hacks a computer/sends data back to control
Go underground to use the beacon to find the locust stronghold
Detonate brumak

You think people bought the game JUST for the SP? Everyone fucking KNEW the SP wsa going to be the exact same. The bulk of the money/time would be spent online where a few mechanics were changed but MANY new gametypes/options/maps were done.


So in the end, yes, you and whatever other fag on here that thought the same thing are the only ones that seem to have bought it for the SP.

[Mr. Buzz_Kill]

I'm not stupid enough to have bought it. Thank you, come again.

[Mr. Buzz_Kill]

Besides GoW2 mp is for fags.

[Le Goat]

Clever

[Pax Britannia]

Every Super Mario game is pretty much the same. Why? Cause it's a fun formula.

Same with Gears of War. If it aint broke dont fix it.

[The Batman]

Please don't let me be the only one here who thinks this game is a fucking failure. Its exactly the same as the first gears.

Gears of War:

Go around and collect items for achievements
Protect JACK while he opens a door/hacks a computer/sends data back to control
Go underground to place the resonator to scan the locust tunnels
Detonate lightmassbomb

Gears of War 2:
Go around and collect items for achievements
Protect JACK while he opens a door/hacks a computer/sends data back to control
Go underground to use the beacon to find the locust stronghold
Detonate brumak

The concept might be the same, but the execution was different enough for it to be an engaging expierence. The many vehicle expierences the game had was a lot of fun. There were some great huge battles that the first game didn't have. So yeah, in essence the same, (then again it is a sequel isn't it.) but its a better game with a better expierence.

[Mr. Buzz_Kill]

Every Super Mario game is pretty much the same.


Times have changed. This is evident.

[Bizz]

OMG Gears of War 2 is like Gears of War 1?! nowai. I wouldn't have guessed by the name.

[RedBEARD]

Really, thinking a sequel is going to be far removed from its predecessor is quite bizarre...If it was something wholly new, it wouldn't be a sequel, it would be something else.

[Mr. Buzz_Kill]

I understand all this, but come on... A rehashed storyline? All the stuff the added to the game should have been in he first one. Chain saw battles, crawling while down, planting grenades on the wall, etc.

Perhaps I'm becoming more cynical as I get older, but it just seems like game companies don't even try anymore. I'm sure BioShock 2 will be a letdown to me. Assassin's Creed 2 will be the same fucking thing. For fucks sake, the first Assassins creed was ruined by having to do the same missions over and over through out the 3 cities.

/rant

[Bizz]

I agree that they need to stop making sequels, but at the same time people need to stop being surprised sequels are similar to their predecessors.

[Mr. Buzz_Kill]

Suprised? No.

Disappointed by Epic? Yes.

[Nature's Folly]

I don't know if this was posted but here is that song from the GoW2 commercials.
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/MbZM6ZSlvvY&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MbZM6ZSlvvY&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
Devotchka-How it ends

[The Batman]

how not to look like a dickhead while playing gears of war
http://www.destructoid.com/how-to-not-look-like-a-dickhead-in-gears-of-war-2-111318.phtml#ext

[The Batman]

http://www.ctrlaltdel-online.com/comics/20081110.jpg

[Le Goat]

I don't know if this was posted but here is that song from the GoW2 commercials.
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/MbZM6ZSlvvY&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MbZM6ZSlvvY&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
Devotchka-How it ends

i've posted many times on the board

[Bizz]

Anyone who bought the game but doesn't play online want to give me the codes for the flashback map pack? I'll give you 100,000,000 GMF$!

[Le Goat]

Did you not buy the game at launch?

[Bizz]

No. What I've been doing to save money from buying shitty games is renting the game from blockbuster on release and if I like it enough I'll just keep it and pay for it. It's a been a great system thus far and has saved me lots of money from shitty games.

[leafsmack0]

I thought the game was awesome, I didn't really care much about the story I just liked killing the shit out of everything. The multiplayer is fun too, but I hope they patch the matchmaking soon. It's still pretty slow sometimes if you don't have a full party.

[Weenis]

New Map pack out today... (http://kotaku.com/5110085/your-gears-2-combustible-map-pack-looks-like-this) 800 ms points for 3 new Maps and one seems like a remake.

[Ocelot]

800 points is a bit much in my opinion for three maps.

[Infotainment]

Dude the gas station from the first GOW, classic...

[Le Goat]

*Fuel Depot


and it's that much 'cause MS makes them charge that. They'll drop it down in a few monhts.

[Ocelot]

I'll have to wait a few months though. They do look cool, just not willing to throw down $10 for three maps.

I really like the idea of flood though, seems pretty cool.

[Jack Bauer]

so what the fuck is up with way matches are set up. the last few setups have had my team (im a level 10) with a bunch of 1s and 3s and the opposing team consisting of at least a level 26. they are having a field day. no wonder they rank up so fast.

[Jack Bauer]

i should not play when im drinking....grrrrrr

[Rumpleforeskin]

Well, I would think that there aren't any real casual players out there. It seems it's either die hard GoW people or noobs. Every time I've gone into multiplayer, it's a bunch of '1's mixed with people at least above '10'. The again, that is just me talking out of my ass.

Anyway, I just bought this game last week after getting rid of the stale Resident Evil 5. This game is TITS. I can somewhat understand the criticisms saying how this isn't a big leap forward for the franchise, but considering that the first one's gameplay and graphics were top notch, I don't see this as a negative. It improves almost all of the flaws of the first one. The story is still stupid but is far more cohesive than the Gears of War (1). The graphics are the best in any game I've ever played. And it's fun as shit.

[Das Kahlua]

I stopped playing this game on MP because of the ridiculously long waits for the matchmaking.

Has it gotten any better, or is it still like watching paint dry?

[L.ulz]

MP is still (and always will be) pretty fucked. Matchmaking takes forever, teams are "unfair", and fucken LAGLAGLAG

[Jack Bauer]

im getting into it again. the odd match i have had some major lag but overall its been fine. matchmaking is a joke. i just search then leave it searching. do something productive like surf the net or read the newspaper until a match is found.

[Jack Bauer]

Gears of War 2 Achievement Hacking: Score Resetting has begun...

from majornelson.com

As you know, we are committed to keeping Xbox LIVE a safe and fair place to play for the more than 17 million active members. As part of our regular safety monitoring (http://majornelson.com/archive/2008/03/25/gamerscore-correction.aspx) we have pinpointed a group of players who have unlocked specific Gears of War 2 (http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/g/gearsofwar2/) Achievements through an unauthorized hack. Deliberate cheats like these are in direct violation of the Xbox LIVE Terms of Use (http://www.xbox.com/en-US/legal/LiveTOU.htm) and will not be tolerated. As I post this, we’ve begun taking steps to reset the Gamerscores of the offending players. As I have mentioned in the past (http://majornelson.com/archive/2008/03/25/gamerscore-correction.aspx), this is something we do occasionally to keep the service free of cheating in order to maintain a fair and level playing field for everyone. If you play fair and earn your achievements without glitching or cheating, you have nothing to worry about. Read my original post (http://majornelson.com/archive/2008/03/25/gamerscore-correction.aspx) that shows what a cheater looks like (http://live.xbox.com/en-US/profile/profile.aspx?pp=0&GamerTag=cheatermccheat) and head over to Xbox.com to read the Gamerscore correction FAQ (http://www.xbox.com/en-US/support/systemuse/xbox360/gamerprofile/gamerscorecheating.htm) that may answer some of your questions.Link (http://majornelson.com/)


rank 100s are fucked

[L.ulz]

Seen loads of rank 100s with their gamerscore reset...soooo funny. Although i think MS should just ban glitchers completely (at least if it affects online mp)

[Le Goat]

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2009/06/cowboysstadium-06-20-09.jpg
The 72 x 160-foot LED wall (http://www.engadgethd.com/tag/DallasCowboys/) at the center of the new Cowboys Stadium is certainly impressive enough when it's showing game highlights or concert footage, but no giant screen ever truly earns its credentials until it's been put to some real use: playing video games. Thankfully, Jonas Brothers video director Steve Fatone somehow pulled himself away from concert preparations to do just that earlier this week, and apparently became the first person to ever play Xbox 360 on the display in the process. As you can see above and in the gallery below, the two certainly seem to be made for each other, although it looks like the controller can get a tad touchy if you stray too far while trying to play it.

[Thanks, Steve]
Gallery: Giant Cowboys Stadium LED wall caught playing Xbox 360 during downtime (http://www.engadget.com/photos/giant-cowboys-stadium-led-wall-caught-playing-xbox-360-during-downtime/)



http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2009/06/cowboysstadium06_thumbnail.jpg (http://www.engadget.com/photos/giant-cowboys-stadium-led-wall-caught-playing-xbox-360-during-downtime/2096402/)
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2009/06/cowboysstadium05_thumbnail.jpg (http://www.engadget.com/photos/giant-cowboys-stadium-led-wall-caught-playing-xbox-360-during-downtime/2096401/)
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2009/06/cowboysstadium04_thumbnail.jpg (http://www.engadget.com/photos/giant-cowboys-stadium-led-wall-caught-playing-xbox-360-during-downtime/2096400/)
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2009/06/cowboysstadium03_thumbnail.jpg (http://www.engadget.com/photos/giant-cowboys-stadium-led-wall-caught-playing-xbox-360-during-downtime/2096399/)
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2009/06/cowboysstadium02_thumbnail.jpg (http://www.engadget.com/photos/giant-cowboys-stadium-led-wall-caught-playing-xbox-360-during-downtime/2096398/)

[Jack Bauer]

thats fucking kickass

[defprophet]

Does that mean the director gets a pass for directing a Jonas Brothers video?

[Gary_Busey]

I would direct a fucking Jonas Brothers video if it meant I got to play video games on that thing.

[maby652]

i would direct a jonas brothers movie if I could play on that screen, only because i could compare chainsaw performance slicing a jonas bros. vs. the horde....

jonas bros. are crunchier, me thinks...