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Rod Fergusson, producer of Gears of War 2, is either really bored or really lonely. Just recently he tweeted “Ok, here’s my bribe. The SDCC XP event will be # of my followers divided by 500. So 4000 followers means 8x XP.” This award kicks in during Comic-Con. So how big is the jackpot? He has over 10,000 followers right now; per his equation, GoW 2 players will (at this point in time) be able to play multiplayer for a whopping 20x XP! His followup tweet? “I’m having one of those “what have I done” moments ”

Some notes from the E3 viewing:

• 4-player co-op throughout the entire campaign
• Marcus encounters a Locust ripping the arm off of a COG soldier, then proceeding to beat him with his own arm
• Interesting new mechanics, like planting a grenade on a body and kicking it in an enemy’s direction and sharing ammo and weapons in real-time with squad members
• Lambent stalks erupt from the ground, but severed pieces continue to crawl towards you until they are also finished off
• Lambent polyps spawn enemies until they are eradicated

• Berserker returns in Lambent form; this version has vision and hops, demonstrating dangerous jumps

Gears of War 3 Beast Mode
• Player can control all the beasts, such as tickers and butchers
• Stranded guys, then COGs, and finally heroes of the campaign serve as your nemeses in Beast Mode
• Overhead map for multiplayer
• Demo was of a courtyard level from Gears of War 2
• Played as a butcher, while other screens displayed tickers running in on kamikaze missions
• Played as a wretch for a bit
• On the second wave, the demonstrator played as the healer/priest kantus, which can revive others
• It was noted that during Beast Mode, the picture of the particular creature will display a number that details how many other players chose that creature; this helps enhance strategy
• We saw an execution taking place as a creature relentlessly pounded its fist into a fallen COG; it was explained that executions can be drawn out by continuously pressing the appropriate button

• We examined the boomer tree, unveiling the savage boomer, which launches diggers (burrowing explosives), the grinder, which wields a minigun, and the mauler, which pairs up with a shield and a flail
• We saw the armored kantus, a variation that is resistant to bullets and can dual-wield
• The serapedo was examined; this centipede-like creature has dangerous electric extensions (antennae?) and is taken down by assaulting its glowing tail and working your way up

You know it’s hard out there for a C-O-G. It may be old news that copkiller Ice T claimed to be in Gears of War 3. But wait! Rapper Drake has apparently landed the role of Jace Stratton, a character made popular in the comics. So which is it? Original Gangster or Young Money? Is there room for two rappers in the crippled world of Sera, or can there be only one?

Why focus on one and two, when we can set our sights on SIX? That’s what’s in store for COGs who put the Gears of War 2 disc back in the tray. From June 14th to June 21st, players will be able to earn SIX times the experience on Gears of War 2 multiplayer. What better way to spend your E3 week than that?

Gears of War 2 will soon be seeing its sixth title update, featuring a host of improvements. Rod Fergusson lists these updates on the Gears forums, which range from a new public multiplayer match option to the usual exploit fixes and balancing changes. One of the highlights of this patch includes the introduction of Social Xbox LIVE, the new multiplayer match option. This player match will be available to any players who own all of the DLC maps (in other words, the All Fronts Collection). For those who don’t own the All Fronts Collection, keep your eyes peeled for an upcoming “promotion that will dramatically reduce the cost”. For exploit fixes, the Subway map will no longer allow for sliding and rolling outside of the playable environment, just as the Blood Drive map’s similar environmental hazards will be repaired. General fixes for such issues as accidental overwriting of profiles (which deletes XP level and Achievement progress) and campaign slots will be employed as well. For the full list of changes, visit the forum post.

Things are heating up on Xbox LIVE® Arcade – The 2nd Annual Summer of Arcade kicks off on July 22!

Mark your calendars: Xbox LIVE Arcade is once again bringing you the hottest and biggest downloadable blockbusters!

Last year, Xbox LIVE Arcade marked a new era of quality downloadable games during the first annual Summer of Arcade program with “Castle Crashers,” which was voted Best Game of the Year in the 2008 Xbox LIVE Arcade Awards and has generated more than $10 million in revenue to date. The imaginative and innovative “Braid” peaked as one of the top five selling Xbox LIVE Arcade titles of 2008 and boasts the highest Metacritic rating of all Xbox LIVE Arcade games to date, proving that Xbox LIVE Arcade is home to the best and brightest digitally distributed games available.

This year, Xbox LIVE Arcade is at it again. No matter what kind of games you enjoy, the second annual Summer of Arcade turns up the dial with original Xbox 360 exclusives like the award-winning “Shadow Complex,” the fresh and ridiculously funny award-winner “Splosion Man,” and remade classics like “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles™: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled.”

“The second annual Summer of Arcade continues our legacy of delivering the most popular downloadable games right to your Xbox 360,” said Scott Austin, director of digitally distributed games at Microsoft. “Last year’s program introduced blockbusters that changed the face of Xbox LIVE Arcade. This year, we’re excited to take Arcade to a whole new level and deliver on our promise of quality yet again with all-new smash hits like the highly-anticipated ‘Shadow Complex’ and ‘Trials HD.’”

The second annual Summer of Arcade begins July 22.

July 22: Splosion Man™ | 800 Microsoft Points

(Twisted Pixel Games/Microsoft): Fools they were, to tread where knowledge should stay forbidden.  For what emerged was not a man – it was a Splosion Man. ”And all who saw him were sploded, for he was the fire and they were but meat.” Able to splode himself at will, the Splosion Man launches his way through levels as an uncontainable force.  From Twisted Pixel Games, developer of the award winning The Maw™, Splosion Man will keep you on your toes as you play through more than 50 single-player levels and 50 multiplayer levels. Nominated by GameSpy, Gamespot, IGN, and 411mania, this meat-riddled splosion-fest took several Best of E3 awards including Best Platformer and Best Downloadable Game.

July 29: Marvel vs. Capcom 2 | 1200 Microsoft Points

(Backbone Entertainment/Capcom): One of the most popular fighting games of all time, “Marvel vs. Capcom 2,” arrives worldwide on Xbox LIVE Arcade. Choose from 56 legendary characters from Marvel Comics and Capcom history, including Ryu and Wolverine. With online multiplayer over Xbox LIVE and enhanced HD graphics, decide your own dream team in the ultimate tag-team fighting experience.

August 5: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles™: Turtles in Time Re-shelled | 1200 Microsoft Points

(Ubisoft Singapore®/Ubisoft®): Cowabunga dude!  Marking the franchise’s 25 anniversary, everyone’s favorite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game is back with a brand new look in “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled.” The arcade classic has been revamped with all new 3D graphics, but the same classic beat ‘em up gameplay.

August 12: Trials HD | 1200 Microsoft Points

(RedLynx/Microsoft): Nominated for GameSpy’s Best Downloadable Game of E3 award, “Trials HD” is guaranteed to get our heart racing.” Put on your helmet, and rev your way through “Trials HD,” a full-featured, physics-based motorcycle racing platformer in stunning HD graphics. Tear up more than 50 tracks and test your metal in two unique game modes: Race and Skill. Create, share and download an unlimited number of free tracks with the level editor, and customize your rider to fit your personality.

August 19: Shadow Complex | 1200 Microsoft Points

(Chair Entertainment and Epic Games/Microsoft): Winner of numerous Best of E3 awards including Best Downloadable Game from 1UP, IGN, GameTrailers and G4TV, “Shadow Complex” is the next evolution in downloadable games. “Shadow Complex” marries the quality and depth of a full retail title with the stunning visuals of Epic Games’ industry-leading Unreal Engine 3, and a classic side-scroller. Set in the world of Orson Scott Card’s best-selling novel, “Empire,” Shadow Complex provides more than 10 hours of in-depth gameplay and introduces a compelling universe in which you collect items and power-ups, and evolve your character into a force of destruction.”

“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles™: Turtles in Time Re-shelled” is available worldwide, excluding Japan and Korea. All other games will be available worldwide.  More detailed information about Summer of Arcade can be found by visiting here.

*This is the current release schedule. As with everything game release related, dates are subject to change.

Game on!

Are you a gear-head?  Would you like to meet the creators of the Gears of War franchise?  Would you like a chance to be among the first to play the new GoW2 ‘All Fronts’ collection?  Can you be in Seattle, Washington on May 15th? 

On Friday, May 15, the Sky Church at the EMP|SFM will be transformed into a Gears of War arcade, complete with 20 Xbox 360 kiosks featuring the new multiplayer content from Gears of War 2: Dark Corners, which is included in the All Fronts Collection.

Fans will also get to hear directly from the makers of Gears 2 during a creators panel featuring Epic Games President Dr. Michael Capps and Gears 2 writer Joshua Ortega. Moderated by Larry “Xbox LIVE’s Major Nelson” Hyrb, the panel will talk about some of the latest developments in the Gears franchise.   

The event runs at the Experience Music Project | Science Fiction Museum at 325 Fifth Ave. N. in Seattle from 8 PM–11 PM. But show up early—the festivities are limited to the first 800 attendees. Xbox LIVE Gold account holders can register for priority admittance by going to www.xbox.com/firsttoplay-gearsofwar2 and registering their gamertags, but registration does not guarantee admittance. Attendees must be 17 or older, or be accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

Game on!

“Gears of War® 2” Enlists 5 Million Recruits Worldwide; “Gears of War 2: All Fronts Collection” Launches July 28 Unleashing All-New Campaign and Multiplayer Content
Global entertainment phenomenon launches a new assault at retail stores and Xbox LIVE this summer

“Gears of War 2,” the entertainment blockbuster of 2008, has surpassed 5 million copies sold worldwide, and the overall “Gears of War” franchise unit sales have eclipsed the 11 million unit mark. The momentum doesn’t stop there – to commemorate these milestones, Microsoft Game Studios and Epic Games will unleash the “Gears of War 2: All Fronts Collection,” a value-packed compilation that combines all previous “Gears of War 2” Game Add-ons with brand new multiplayer and campaign content. Available only at retail, the new collection invades store shelves worldwide on July 28 for $19.99/£14.99/€19.99.

Included in the “Gears of War 2: All Fronts Collection” is the “Gears of War 2: Dark Corners” Game Add-on, which features seven new multiplayer maps and a deleted campaign chapter titled “Road to Ruin.” In “Road to Ruin,” Marcus and Dom return to the Locust Hollow in a scene that can be played two ways, guns blazing or in all-new stealth mode.

The seven new multiplayer maps in the “Gears of War 2: Dark Corners” Game Add-on are:

Allfathers Garden: Honor the sacred grounds of the Coalition founders in this explosive map, where powerful weapons catalyze fast and furious action at this COG landmark.
Memorial: Set near the Eternal Flame, which pays tribute to the fallen soldiers on the battlefield, a hard-fought battle ensues at the Tomb of Unknowns. Putting their flank formation and evasive skills to the test, players will fight to control the Boomshot.
Sanctuary: Once a peaceful ground for reflection and remembrance, all that remains of the Sanctuary is the chill of death. Feast your eyes on the arsenal of weapons available as you make your way through the tight paths and blind corners of the Locust-damaged temple corridors.

War Machine: In the abandoned train station that once served as a hub for travel, players will need to master the Longshot, Mulcher and Boomshot weapons to advance the fight while evading fire from the platforms above.
Highway: Take the fight deep into the Locust Hollow in the complex passages of this underground highway system brimming with enemy vermin. Stick together, separate the enemy and have an exit strategy ready or it’ll be a one-way trip.
Way Station: Sitting in limbo between death and “processing” are Locust way stations filled with fallen COG soldiers. Tread lightly and practice patience as it’s better to sacrifice firepower for stealth while navigating this minefield of hidden grenades.
Nowhere: Set in the middle of what was once a destination for weary desert travellers, the land is now barren and devoid of life. Pick off your enemies with the Longshot sniper rifle and make your way to the stairwell with a well-fortified team during this intense firefight.

In addition to the new content, the “Gears of War 2: All Fronts Collection” also contains every “Gears of War 2” Game Add-on released to date, including the classic “Flashback” Map Pack, volatile “Combustible” Map Pack and the winter-themed “Snowblind” Map Pack. Also included is an introduction to “Road to Ruin” from Epic Games design director Cliff Bleszinski, along with a custom Xbox LIVE theme, collectible “Gears of War 2” poster and a strategy guide. Containing over 3,600 Microsoft Points worth of content, the “Gears of War 2: All Fronts Collection” is an incredible value at $19.99.

Already enjoying the previously released “Gears of War 2” collection of map packs? Available day-and-date with “Gears of War 2: All Fronts Collection” via download from Xbox LIVE Marketplace, the “Dark Corners” Game Add-on will be available separately for 1,600 MS Points.

“Gears of War 2” is available exclusively on Xbox 360 and is rated “M” for Mature by the ESRB and PEGI 16+. “Gears of War 2: All Fronts Collection” and “Gears of War 2: Dark Corners” will be available in LIVE-enabled regions worldwide, where “Gears of War 2” is available. For more information about “Gears of War 2,” visit GearsofWar.com.

Screenshots:

Shot 1

Shot 2

Shot 3

Shot 4

More mulitplayer goodness AND another single-player mission?  Sign me up!

Game on!

Be the first in the world to play Gears of War 2, as you fight for human survival against the Locust Horde.  Microsoft and Spike TV are searching for diehard gamers to audition for a real-life televised Gears of War 2 adventure.

But just like in the game, challenges, tough decisions and sacrifices stand in the path of victory. In a fast paced reality show that feels like an alternate reality game brought to life, your team must work together to reach the ultimate goal: Becoming the first gamers in the world to play through the entire saga of Gears of War 2 in early October.

Do you think you have what it takes to have the opportunity to audition to be part of the first Delta Squad?

For full details and how to sign up for a chance to participate, go HERE.  Good luck.

Game on!

Electronic Arts Inc. and Epic Games, Inc. announced yesterday that they have signed a publishing agreement for an all-new action title for the PC, Xbox 360(r) video game system and PLAYSTATION(r)3 computer entertainment system.  The new intellectual property is currently in development by Epic’s People Can Fly studio in Poland.

“Epic is excited to work with EA Partners to launch our next big IP on the global stage,” said Mark Rein, vice president, Epic Games.  “EA Partners gives independent developers like Epic the muscle of a global publisher like EA, along with the focus and flexibility of a smaller team committed to working with our individual needs.”

“In the last year, EAP has become a powerhouse player in the publishing world with the best of breed developers signing on to leverage EA’s studio-focused philosophy, global scale and publishing leadership,” said Frank Gibeau, President of the EA Games Label. “Epic brings first class talent and technology to the development of this new title. We are very proud to have Epic join the growing roster of EA Partners.”

“Epic is a legendary studio that is synonymous with quality and EA Partners jumped at the chance to team up with them on the launch of their next blockbuster IP,” said David DeMartini, senior vice president and general manager, EA Partners. “EA Partners is committed to giving the world’s best independent developers access to EA’s global publishing resources, letting them focus on what they do best – making great games.”

For more information about Epic Games, please visit
www.epicgames.com.

Game on!

Unreal Tournament III, like it’s predecessors, is first and foremost an online multiplayer game.  Those familiar with the series already know that UT games are well known for being seriously action-packed and extremely fast-paced.  Personally, this is my #1 most anticipated title for 2008.  I have been a big fan of the UT series of games since the very first Unreal Tournament debuted on PC in 1999. 

Actually the fourth game in the UT series, UTIII was so named because its the first title to use the 3rd generation Unreal Engine, developed by Epic.  This game engine is extremely popular, and has been licensed by quite a few developers for Xbox 360 game development.  It should be interesting to see how well Epic, the engine’s creator, makes use of the Unreal Engine 3 vs. some of the other developers utilizing it. 

Get ready to jump in on July 7th.

Game on!