http://www.n4g.com/xbox360/News-144009.aspx


WOW :eek:

Alot of new gameplay features

I just saw it on Gametrailers on TV. Looks to be possibly best graphics EVER. Wow.

I just watched the hd version on gametrailers but it seems they have removed it for the time being.

Oh my effing gawd...and I was getting wet for Killzone 2 where the enemies pretty much just stand around until you gun them down, but this....wow.

It makes the first game look so stodgy in comparison.

I just saw it on Gametrailers on TV. Looks to be possibly best graphics EVER. Wow.

Yes I DVR'd the episode. It was awsome in HD. Hell, now I see why they didn't update GOW 1 for the 360 when the PC version came out.

Oh my effing gawd...and I was getting wet for Killzone 2 where the enemies pretty much just stand around until you gun them down, but this....wow.

It makes the first game look so stodgy in comparison.

agreed.... if that is any indication of the rest of the game there is no doubt who will be taking the graphics crown again.

Maybe its me, but the graphics looked pretty much the same (which isnt a bad thing!), although I did enjoy the brighter environment, which may be what you guys were talking about.

The game looks awesome, and I look forward to November even more...

Wow...

Awesome (Its on Xbox Live for download too so you can watch it on your HDTV's in full glory. It does look similar to Gears 1 obviously, but there is no doubt more is happening and things have been sharpened even more. Graphics to me were never the question, I want a great single player and that portion they showed looked like a blast. Those giant brumaks.....awesome.

Looks AWESOME :)

Of course it looks like GoW1 on the surface, but don't forget this tech demo video that shows some of what's changing under the surface: http://www.gametrailers.com/player/32197.html

That was pretty cool. The graphics looked the same which is fine with me since it was awsome the first time. The lighting seemed a bit off and maybe the characters were kind of floaty moving very smoothly (didn't seem as gritty somehow as the first game). However, I understand its not the final build and some filters may be added.

I couldn't tell if this is going to be a one time scripted event or if its sign of what pretty much the entire game would be like (which would be awesome). Now you get more then one Bumback and the flying guys and lots of loctust. I was wondering what he was doing when he put his rifle away and pulled out the handgun but they obviously wanted to show us the cool "use the enemy as cover" feature. The chainsaw duel was also cool (for some reason I didnt expect the locust to be completely sawed in half like that).

Looks pretty cool, like the first one, but I am still leary this is just one "on rails" driving level and that the rest of the game would be more like the first game.... not that there would be anything wrong with that and I would still pick it up and have great fun. I just dont want to get the expectations too high and then be dissappointed.

GOW1= PWND!!!1 :p

I can't wait for this one, does anybody have a time machine?

Awesome.


There's 1 second where he pulls up the weapons hud and you can see there's some new ones, which is great (Plus he uses a couple new ones)
Grabbing the locust and using him as a shield is great.
The Brumack's look amazing
Graphics look about the same, but there is lots more going on than in the first game...including a brief snippet with a couple dozen locusts on the screen (as promised by the tech demo)
Love the new chainsaw from behind and also where he saws the locust in half.


**drool** Can't wait until Christmastime (if it comes out on time).

Lets all hope it comes out this November and isn't delayed! I would think a game as big as this there would be allot of pressure to get it done by the holiday season!

Bryan

I was getting wet

unless you are a girl, dont ever say that sh*t again. lol

I just watched this on Xbox Live.

HOLY CRAP! I am floored, stunned, excited, pumped up! WOW! LOVED IT! Can't freaking wait now.

Nice teaser , seems to be getting everybody worked up :) (can't wait) .

-- Jason

Very nice indeed. I would definitely say that there is ,albeit slight, an upgrade in the appearance due to the new lighting techniques that are being used. The action was very intense and I am already thinking of how crazy that part they showed will be on insane difficulty. The using the locust as cover was pretty sweet and then also when he snapped his neck was a nice new execution that they have added to the arsenal. Based on the fact that we already have seen this much detail displayed in one level it is safe to say this will make it's November release. Other than GTA4 this was my only other must BUY on release day game for this year. Otherwise I just rent the rest of the games I play.

Looks like Gears. Hopefully they do something about the MP. Gears 1 was to bland for my tastes (MP, IMO).

Yeah, that'll work.

O.M.F.G. Epic is siiick!!!!!!!!!!!! Can't wait!

Looks like Gears. Hopefully they do something about the MP. Gears 1 was to bland for my tastes (MP, IMO).

I hope they don't change it drastically, as it's more my flavor of MP. There are enough "spawn-run-gun-die-repeat"" type multiplayer games around that I appreciated the smaller team-based approach that punishes run-and-gunners and people who can't work and communicate together.

Different tastes for different folks I know...

Looks like Gears. Hopefully they do something about the MP. Gears 1 was to bland for my tastes (MP, IMO).

yea, i agree.... and if this is 6 hours long, they should have included it in the price of GOW1.

but i guess its a good way to make money, make a good sized game, split it into 3 discs and call it a trilogy.

I hope they don't change it drastically, as it's more my flavor of MP. There are enough "spawn-run-gun-die-repeat"" type multiplayer games around that I appreciated the smaller team-based approach that punishes ANYONE WHO ISNT THE HOST and people who can't work and communicate together.

Different tastes for different folks I know...


fixed that for you.

Looks SWEET! Especially the version on Xbox Marketplace on an HDTV. I think the Resistance 2 teaser trailer actually looks better but that's obviously not gameplay. Looking forward to seeing that too. I'm betting they will be very equal visually.

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/32764.html

I wouldn't be surprised if they get close to that because really it looks a lot like Ratchet just with a different skin on top.

fixed that for you.

Yeah, ok, if they fix a couple things of course (like the host advantage) but I still enjoyed the core gameplay, which was more squad based combat, more than I enjoy the spawn/run-and-gun/repeat type mulitplayer games.

http://www.n4g.com/xbox360/News-144009.aspx


WOW :eek:

Alot of new gameplay features

good cause the 1st one sucked

I just watched the HD Trailer at gametrailers.com as well as the comparison video to the first one. Looks pretty much the same graphically as the first with a bit more color added and better lighting in which is much appreciated! Nice to see some new elements like the locust shield as well, if you can use that in multiplayer somehow that will be pretty cool (maybe when a guy is down instead of finishing him?).

I definitely want to see more of the standard combat and multiplay as to what is new. edit: hopefully crouching anywhere you want and not just on a wall.

good cause the 1st one sucked

Monopoly is still around and Risk, it is time to invest in a new hobbie becuase you clearly have an issue with about every video game you have played. Save yourself some time. If you watched the video then you already know the gameplay is about the same so save yourself some time.

damn...november is going to be pretty amazing for gamers...

I just watched the HD Trailer at gametrailers.com as well as the comparison video to the first one. Looks pretty much the same graphically as the first with a bit more color added and better lighting in which is much appreciated! Nice to see some new elements like the locust shield as well, if you can use that in multiplayer somehow that will be pretty cool (maybe when a guy is down instead of finishing him?).

I definitely want to see more of the standard combat and multiplay as to what is new. edit: hopefully crouching anywhere you want and not just on a wall.

The graphics kind of look the same... but it seems like GoW2 will push out a TON more content onto the screen. That scene where like 20 Locusts came out at the same time was insane.

Ill be getting this for sure (and in fact plan to run through GoW on insane to get ready), but R2 is still my #1 game for the holiday season because of the multi.

Looks AMAZING!!!!!!!!!! I just hope this is game footage from a 360 and not a PC. It would be incredible if you had more colors, 20 or so locust's, and slightly improved graphics without any lag. Sure wish I could buy this one now, GOW1 is still my all time favorite (GTA4 is coming close though :) ).

Monopoly is still around and Risk, it is time to invest in a new hobbie becuase you clearly have an issue with about every video game you have played. Save yourself some time. If you watched the video then you already know the gameplay is about the same so save yourself some time.

I like madden too. But I just keep getting stuck with morons who go for it on 4th and 30. Or onside kicks in the 1st quarter and get it. When I get a normal person who knows how to play football its pretty fun.

Yes I DVR'd the episode. It was awsome in HD. Hell, now I see why they didn't update GOW 1 for the 360 when the PC version came out.

I will qualify my statement about the best consolel graphics ever. GOW has always focused more on the character models being amazingly detailed and textured, and shrunk the environments and slowed down the charcter movement so that that level of detail is possible. I am not taking a thing away from Cliffy B creating the gnarliest looking game ever......it's just that COD4 has such draw distances, fast paced movement, effects, etc, that it is just a different animal than GOW. So COD4 deserves major props.

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/33773.html

HD comparision vid between GOW 1 & 2

I would prefer a GoW2 with no better graphics than 1 but with 4 player drop in drop out co-op.

The graphics aren't a HUGE leap forward, but that's to be expected. GOW is probably still the best looking console game out there. Bioshock was up there, but in my opinion didn't come close.

What is a huge leap is the amount of action going on in the background. GOW1 was basically a pretty environment and 5-10 enemies or so. GOW2 looks much more immersive, with huge battles unfolding in the background rather than just a pretty wall. Even COD4 didn't really have much going on in the background besides the soldiers you are fighting. I don't know if I've ever seen a game have so much going on just to provide atmosphere--it's a huge step up.

Edit: I ust hope the sheer processing power required for all that action doesn't fry my poor 2-year old Xbox.

Gears 2........G A M E---->> Of The Year!!!!!

Oh my effing gawd...and I was getting wet for Killzone 2 where the enemies pretty much just stand around until you gun them down, but this....wow.

It makes the first game look so stodgy in comparison.

Youre back!!

Pretty much read my mind again.




Just when I was about to give Killzone2 the crown.. Gears2 reclaimed it. It isnt just the graphics though.. the amount of action and shyt going on in the screen is just ridiculous.

Did you guys see the part where he grabbed the dead locust.. used him as a personal shield then threw him off truck. Or the chainsaw battle.. where he cut the dude in half and the half of the body fell off.

This is what I'm talking about.. not just pretty.. but lemme do something I havent did before. Something other than just shoot people. I dont care how pretty the game is.. if the gameplay is boring.. then the game is boring in my opinion. And it will not hold my interest.
I still have yet to get into GTA4 because it starts off so slow for a person thats been playing COD4 MP for the past 6 months.

used him as a personal shield, broke his neck, then threw him off truck. Or the chainsaw battle.. where he cut the dude in half and the half of the body fell off.

Fixed :D

yea, it looks great. the chainsaw battle looks epic, lol. glad to see that they stuck with what worked in first game. can't wait. Midnight release here i come, lol.

looks sick. love the new weapons and using the guy as a shield. Chainsaw battle was pretty awesome as well.

agree on the MP comments. Host advantage was just too hard to deal with IMO and was the most frustrating thing about playing MP.

Wow. That's going to be sick.

This is pretty much the last game this year I'm looking forward to.

i'm just glad GOW2 is using A color palette. the original was in black and white and red.

look at the reaver comparo in that video... GOW1 looks like crap

Gears 2........G A M E---->> Of The Year!!!!!

gonna be hard to pull off with GTA4 sales and ratings #'s

i'm just glad GOW2 is using A color palette. the original was in black and white and red.

look at the reaver comparo in that video... GOW1 looks like crap



gonna be hard to pull off with GTA4 sales and ratings #'s

Sales wont matter, but the overinflated ratings might. Regardless, holy crap am I looking forward to November as a gamer. Much like last year, we've got all kinds of good stuff coming (for both Xbox and PS3 owners). I'm looking forward to Gears 2 and Resistance 2 big time.

The graphics kind of look the same... but it seems like GoW2 will push out a TON more content onto the screen. That scene where like 20 Locusts came out at the same time was insane.

Ill be getting this for sure (and in fact plan to run through GoW on insane to get ready), but R2 is still my #1 game for the holiday season because of the multi.

Are you talking about the pack of locust below that Brumack? They didn't react at all to his gunshot, target reticle didn't turn red either.

Is there a different spot you are talking about? Other than that I watched the HD videos at gametrailers a few times now and I don't think he was ever fighting more than 4 enemies at once. If there was a big skirmesh let me know the time spot so I can check it ou.

Unless they have drastically improved the cover-system, having any more than 3 or 4 enemies onscreen at once is going to result in you getting slaughtered while you fight the controls to move around. GoW2 desperately needs Vegas's lock-on system (but I doubt it will get it).

If there are that many enemies onscreen and they still require an entire clip to kill each, then I don't want 10+ guys rushing at me at once.....

And yeah he's talking about the scene with all the locusts running away from that big truck you're riding on, I think they were just scripted in and weren't reacting to the gunshots. But..they were also onscreen, and moving, and not causing any slowdown.

Even if Gears2 is just more Gears1, there's nothing wrong with messing with what works.
Since the gameplay in gears is a little on the limited side, its not surprising they are devoting more time to upping the eyecandy.

Unless they have drastically improved the cover-system, having any more than 3 or 4 enemies onscreen at once is going to result in you getting slaughtered while you fight the controls to move around. GoW2 desperately needs Vegas's lock-on system (but I doubt it will get it).

If there are that many enemies onscreen and they still require an entire clip to kill each, then I don't want 10+ guys rushing at me at once.....

And yeah he's talking about the scene with all the locusts running away from that big truck you're riding on, I think they were just scripted in and weren't reacting to the gunshots. But..they were also onscreen, and moving, and not causing any slowdown.

Even if Gears2 is just more Gears1, there's nothing wrong with messing with what works.
Since the gameplay in gears is a little on the limited side, its not surprising they are devoting more time to upping the eyecandy.


Yeah, Gears doesnt need you fighting against 20 people at once, it just wouldnt be fun. I think what they are going for, is the challenging 3-4 person battles, but with lots and lots of stuff going on around you and maybe a ton of enemies all around that arent necessarily in the fight. To me, its fun battling only one to 2 guys if there is a ton of stuff going on around me. Makes it feel like a much more epic battle. I think Gears 2 is going to do a great job of this if the video is any indication. Killzone 2 demo looked a little boring to me in this respect.

I'm scheduling a 'sick day' when this comes out! :)

Can't wait. Looks awesome

I really didn't like Gears 1 very much. Didn't really have any memorable moments for me.

The Gears trailer is a memorable moment, and I haven't even played the game yet. Wow! Art style might be similar, but the scale is like 10 times greater!

Are you talking about the pack of locust below that Brumack? They didn't react at all to his gunshot, target reticle didn't turn red either.

Is there a different spot you are talking about? Other than that I watched the HD videos at gametrailers a few times now and I don't think he was ever fighting more than 4 enemies at once. If there was a big skirmesh let me know the time spot so I can check it ou.

Right--it's basically scenery. But they all still have to be modeled, and the engine has to handle all of them. Just because they are not interacting, they're still running around. It's a big step up when you think about it for a shooter to be rendering a larger battle in the background.

Early previews have stated that all those locusts in the background are running the same AI as the ones you fight. They aren't following a script beyond what the game engine dictates for all locusts.

\holy crap am I looking forward to November as a gamer. Much like last year, we've got all kinds of good stuff coming (for both Xbox and PS3 owners). I'm looking forward to Gears 2 and Resistance 2 big time.

Not to detract but what else is slated for this fall/winter? I really don't think that we will ever see something like last fall again. Mass Effect, Assassin's Creed, Bioshock (we'll pretend it was fall), Orange Box, Rock Band, GH3, Halo 3, COD4, Super Mario Galaxy, Eternal Sonata, etc. That was a bad few months for my wallet :p

Also GOW2 looks great

Not to detract but what else is slated for this fall/winter? I really don't think that we will ever see something like last fall again. Mass Effect, Assassin's Creed, Bioshock (we'll pretend it was fall), Orange Box, Rock Band, GH3, Halo 3, COD4, Super Mario Galaxy, Eternal Sonata, etc. That was a bad few months for my wallet :p

Also GOW2 looks great
Besides Gears of War 2 ,
Fable 2
TooHuman
Ninja Giaden 2 (ok not this fall....Soonnner!!!)
Left4Dead
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Fallout 3
Brothers In Arms Hell's Highway
Mercenaries 2: World in Flames
Dead Space (looking like it could be another bioshock...similar early buzz)
Tom Clancy's EndWar
Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X.
Soulcalibur IV
Tiberium
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction
Just Cause 2 (the first one was fun but the second one could be oh so much better if they have paid attention to GTA)
Ghostbusters The Video Game (OK it doesnt look that good to me, but common its Ghostbusters!)
Alan Wake (yeah, I dont think it will make it either, but theres always hope)

Besides Gears of War 2 ,
Fable 2
TooHuman
Ninja Giaden 2 (ok not this fall....Soonnner!!!)
Left4Dead
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Fallout 3
Brothers In Arms Hell's Highway
Mercenaries 2: World in Flames
Dead Space (looking like it could be another bioshock...similar early buzz)
Tom Clancy's EndWar
Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X.
Soulcalibur IV
Tiberium
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction
Just Cause 2 (the first one was fun but the second one could be oh so much better if they have paid attention to GTA)
Ghostbusters The Video Game (OK it doesnt look that good to me, but common its Ghostbusters!)
Alan Wake (yeah, I dont think it will make it either, but theres always hope)

HD,

Did you watch the gametrailers special last Friday night when they showed GeoW 2? They showed off Ghostbusters and the physics engine in Hi-Def. It looks pretty good and looks to be fun.

There really just seems to be more lighting on the characters, so their torsos aren't always hidden in shadow. I think that does look better, but I don't know how much the graphics are really improved.

There really just seems to be more lighting on the characters, so their torsos aren't always hidden in shadow. I think that does look better, but I don't know how much the graphics are really improved.
Right, there are some fairly subtle graphical and lighting effect improvements. The game remains arguably the finest looking console game to date so leaps and bounds weren't to be expected.

What is a big difference, but in some ways is less obvious, is the scale. Lots more going on, huge draw distances, etc. So maybe they haven't upped the details or effects too much, but applying what was already there to much bigger scenes and more epic battles is certainly an improvement.

edit: forgot to mention that there have been some things demoed that didn't seem to show up in this new clip. The destructible environments and some of the more complex physics shown off a few months back.

jeff

There really just seems to be more lighting on the characters, so their torsos aren't always hidden in shadow. I think that does look better, but I don't know how much the graphics are really improved.

I've already tossed the Game Informer that had the GOW2 preview, but I think they said that the big graphical changes are going to be the lighting effects and the increased action on the screen. I wouldn't be surprised if any model changes were strictly cosmetic--they would still be the best character models on the 360.

Don't discount the lighting improvements--good lighting effects can make decent models look AMAZING.

Don't discount the lighting improvements--good lighting effects can make decent models look AMAZING.

There is a part in the comparo vid where they show a close up split-screen of Marcus firing a machine gun(whatever it's called) and the light reflecting off of his face and bandana is so much more accurate in the GoW2 engine that it makes the GoW1 shot look like he has a giant red light bulb inside his head.

Wow, there's a lot of hyperbole in this thread.

The game does look good, no argument from me there. I just hope that it's not so corridor based as GOW. I found the original's biggest weakness was that it was a "small" game. The vistas were expansive, but that was just smoke and mirrors, as you were really limited with where you were able to move.

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/33917.html

Damn

Watch him get on top and beat the sh*t out of him

http://www.n4g.com/xbox360/News-145265.aspx

X-Play Interview with Cliffy B and footage of GeoW 2

http://www.n4g.com/xbox360/News-145265.aspx

X-Play Interview with Cliffy B and footage of GeoW 2

A lot of talk about vistas. Just what I was worried about. To me they're nothing more than eye candy with little effect on gameplay. As I said before, I'm still hoping that the game is opened up a bit with less corridor type scenarios.

I for one, am extrememly excited about GoW2, and hate having to wait until November.

Not sure that this game will sway the hearts and minds of those that didn't like the original, but for many of the Gears fans, it wasn't the single player campaign they were interested in. When I think of Gears, I think of multiplayer, and the enjoyment of that is greatly dependent on who you're gaming with.

http://kotaku.com/5008962/second-level-gears-of-war-2-play-through

Today at Microsoft's Spring Event Cliff Bleszinski walked members of the press through the entire second level of Gears of War 2. Actually he played through the level, live, as we watched in rapt attention.

Gears of War 2 takes place six months after the first Gears ends, he said. It is fall and the last stand for humanity as the Locust Horde work to collapse the last major city on Sera. To fight back Marcus Fenix and his squad are asked to deliver a "grind lift" to a nearby lost city and ride it into the Locust underground home cities.

Level two starts off with Fenix and company boarding a giant combat truck and riding it as it makes it way to a nearby city. Dizzy, a conscript driver, maneuvers the vehicle as Fenix and the other members of Delta squad work to defend it. The platform the squad stands on is large enough to still make good use of the game's trademark cover system.

The level also showed off some of the other large vehicles found in the game, like helicopters and tanks.

Early in the mission, Fenix and his crew have to blast mortar fire from the air as it plummets toward the lumbering vehicles. After making it through that gauntlet, the vehicles are attacked by reavers until the derrick they are riding is damaged and the squad has to get out to defend Dizzy as he repairs the vehicle.

On the ground, the combat continues to be pretty intense, as Locust swarm up from emergence holes. It's here that we get our first glimpse of the destructible environment and the ability to grab locust and use them for cover.

After a bit more intense combat it's back to the derrick where the ride to the city continues and we get a chance to check out some new Locust tactics, including their use of grappling hooks to swarm a large vehicle.

The level wrapped up with some pretty intense fights with even larger creatures including a corpser and a creature with a gun for a head.

"And that's level two, thanks guys," Bleszinski said. "It's a good sign that my hands still get sweaty when I play the game still to this day."

Judging from such an early level in the game, it looks like Gears of War 2 will indeed be, as Bleszinski says "bigger, better, more badass."

Bleszinski also promises that the game will be one built on a much broader scale, with a deeper darker story line, one that includes Dom's search for his wife and an exploration of who Dizzy is.

The developer said that the game will be running at over 30 frames per a second when it ships and that it will come with more new multiplayer maps than before. He added that they haven't decided how they will introduce new DLC maps to the game, but both the concept of early adopter tax and sponsored maps are being explored.

While game's second level has some pretty intense pacing, it's not like that throughout the game, Bleszinski said.

"There are scenes where we take our time," he said. "This is a scene that is at 11 but if it were like that all the time no one would notice it anymore. The game is very much a roller coaster ride."

Bleszinski was also quick to point out that while Gears sort of got a name for itself through it's many underground levels, the sequel will only spend about 30 percent of the game underground.

"A lot of people's memories from Gears one was grey pillars and we wanted to get rid of that this time around," he said. "We wanted more vistas this time around."

So there will be snow levels and underground levels and levels on mountains.

"From the deepest depths of the underground to see how the locust live, to the highest peaks of Serra and everything in between, we are going to include it all."

I love the cover-system and the roadie running in GOW! They really did introduce some great elements into the shooter genre. Everyone should copy them.

i cant wait for GOW2, its gonna be great.

IGN has some more info up (Link (http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/873/873836p1.html))

Some items of note:

You are no longer invincible during the chainsaw animation
Shotgun and active reloads are unchanged
There are multiple finishing moves (like the upside-down chainsaw) including one with the torque bow that they didn't give details about.
Using a guy as a shield (like in the video) will result in him getting chewed away at by the bullets and will have to be discarded eventually (awesome)


Is it November yet? How about now?

I can honestly say that this will be a driving factor for me to get an XBOX (i currently own a PS3). This looks like i would enjoy this game alot more than RFOM2. Hopefully the prices drop for the 360 around the holidays.

-J

I for one, am extrememly excited about GoW2, and hate having to wait until November.

Not sure that this game will sway the hearts and minds of those that didn't like the original, but for many of the Gears fans, it wasn't the single player campaign they were interested in. When I think of Gears, I think of multiplayer, and the enjoyment of that is greatly dependent on who you're gaming with.

Fancy running into you in here.

IGN has some more info up (Link (http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/873/873836p1.html))

Some items of note:

You are no longer invincible during the chainsaw animation
Shotgun and active reloads are unchanged
There are multiple finishing moves (like the upside-down chainsaw) including one with the torque bow that they didn't give details about.
Using a guy as a shield (like in the video) will result in him getting chewed away at by the bullets and will have to be discarded eventually (awesome)


Is it November yet? How about now?

Oh sweet. Thanks a lot, it was hard enough trying to wait until November for this.

Don't forget 5v5, and Party System! ^_^

November can't come any sooner!

I wonder if the meat shields can be used in Multiplayer too? Imagine being the last one on your team, and using your teammates as meatshields to take down the opposition. Anyways, LOVE the fact that Chainsawers will no longer be invincible. However I hate it if they dont tone the shotgun down at all. I got sick of the run and gun shotgunning. It seriously turned into a game of 1 vs. 1 shotgun charges in the beginning of every match. The guy with the best connection usually comes out on top.

The guy with the best connection usually comes out on top.
True, but with equal skill, that's pretty much the case in any multiplayer game.

I wonder if the meat shields can be used in Multiplayer too? Imagine being the last one on your team, and using your teammates as meatshields to take down the opposition. Anyways, LOVE the fact that Chainsawers will no longer be invincible. However I hate it if they dont tone the shotgun down at all. I got sick of the run and gun shotgunning. It seriously turned into a game of 1 vs. 1 shotgun charges in the beginning of every match. The guy with the best connection usually comes out on top.

There are easy ways to stop shotgun run n'gunners.

1. Have your lancer pointed at their face as they run towards, you should be able to drop them in 2 seconds.

2. Wait for them to get close to you, do a side step and unleash your chainsaw

3. Two or three pistol bullets + side step + melee

4. Last resort - Hold your left trigger (shotgun zoomed in) on the shotgun runner. As he gets close, start unloading.

So, in gears 2, if you use the host's body as a meat shield, will it be stronger than a regular nub meat shield? :)

SAN FRANCISCO -- Gears of War 2 will be more "girlfriend-friendly," says designer Cliff Bleszinski.

Speaking to Wired.com at Microsoft's recent media event, the designer (above left) says that Epic Games is trying to make their upcoming Xbox 360 shooter more appealing to the casual audience. The game's female characters, he said, won't have "ginormous tits." And the lauded kill-alien-swarms-with-a-buddy cooperative mode will let you adjust the game's difficulty on the fly depending on who's playing.

"If the sequence is overwhelming for your significant other, he or she can just sit behind cover, blind fire a little bit, and you can handle all the shenanigans," Bleszinski says.

Our full Q&A with Cliffy B is below.

You've called Gears of War 2 "bigger, better, and more bad-ass." What's so new and exciting?

Gosh. I've always seen it as the sum of its parts, right? It's the sense of scale, it's taking the story a little bit more seriously this time around. It's some of the great new weapons like the semiautomatic Gorgon pistol. It's being able to chainsaw Locusts from behind. In the taint. It's blocking chainsaws, giant derricks, express elevators to hell, giant monsters, lost loves, expanded multiplayer features. It's the sum of its parts, man, it's everything coming together. It's bloodier, too.

Let's rewind. You can really chainsaw the Locusts in the taint?

You actually flip the chainsaw over and you go taint to throat, and you cut them in half that way. It's rather unpleasant.

What's located down there on a Locust?

We've yet to reveal that. What's behind a Locust's codpiece may or may not be revealed in a Gears sequel.

You said that the scene we watched you play today was the game's action turned up to 11. Are there scenes that are like a two or a three?

Yeah, you've got to ratchet it down a little bit here and there. So we've got some parts where you might have to be careful about where you're going, how much the Locusts are alerted to your presence, things like that.

At this point it seems like the Gears of War audience has already bought Xbox 360s. Are you trying to reach a new audience?

We're selling Gears of War 2 to every single guy who bought an Xbox 360 for Grand Theft Auto IV. As well as the guys who like Call of Duty 4 but might not be Halo fans. I still think there's plenty of room to go. I think we're going to make it more girlfriend-friendly, with individual difficulty settings. It's a beautiful game with beautiful vistas, with an actual human story that I think will appeal to a broader audience.

How do you make a game girlfriend-friendly?

You do jump-in, jump-out co-op. You have configurable difficulty settings for the other player. You have very cool and bad-ass main characters that have a very human side. And you make sure that the female characters in your game don't have ginormous tits and aren't bad stereotypes.

What are the female characters in Gears 2 like?

I've always made sure, working with the art department, that Anya is strong-willed but also very mother-like to the squad. She has a very modest chest and doesn't look like some sort of heavy metal movie fantasy.

The Dizzy character is pretty hilarious too.

You know, he's a flavor character. He's not completely throughout the single player campaign, but he's fun. The fact that he's not in single-player a tremendous amount means we can have a little fun with him. It's fun playing as him in multiplayer, because he has a hat on his head that can get shot off.

You can actually adjust difficulty levels based on the player even in a co-op game. How does that work?

It's just a number of tweaks, number-wise, behind the scenes as far as player health and player weapon damage. We know which pawn is which, and we know what all the variables behind the scenes, so we can control all that. We have the splits, where one player goes one way and one goes another way. Those co-op splits, that's where it really kicks into high gear as far as players being able to be in their own difficulty. We found in Gears 1 that a lot of players had a tough time, dying during those splits. We're making casual difficulty truly casual.

In Super Mario Galaxy, you can add a second player and they can just do support stuff while the first player handles the main action.

I thought that was going to be so totally lame, but it turned out to be awesome.

Can you do something similar in Gears of War 2?

You can do that. That's the great thing about Gears gameplay -- if the sequence is overwhelming for your significant other, he or she can just sit behind cover, blind fire a little bit, and you can handle all the shenanigans. But as far as the number of players in co-op, and what we're doing with co-op, we've yet to announce too much of the feature set. So you'll have to wait until a future date to see what we're doing.


http://blog.wired.com/games/2008/05/cliffy-b-gears.html#more

It's just such a shame that Epic was able to create a really fun and addictive MP experience, only to have it dictated mostly by host advantage and gamers that will b*tch or quit after losing even just one round. How can such a great game bring out the absolute worst in the people playing it?! Is this the price of realism + a quit option? People enjoy it so much that if they don't win they say horrible things and behave in disgusting ways? Dumb!
I say, there should be severe penalties for quitting during MP. People should consider time needed, other responsibilties, parents, mates, yardwork, dinner, etc. before joining a match! I understand those quitting due to lag-which also needs to be worked on greatly. And if you play for achievements, good luck on getting 10,000 kills. But GOW is a beast of a game. It's just too bad it brings out the beast in most people playing it-in a bad way. Hopefully Epic gives it some much needed tweakage in balancing and hit detection in GOW 2. And also some sort of instant death for any sore loser who quits. A real one.




Go CAVS!
KG is my boy, but I gotta go for the underdog in this one.
Who doesn't wanna see LJ against KB?!

Looks to be possibly best graphics EVER. Wow.

::holds in laughter:: ::sigh:: Are you serious?

IGN has some more info up (Link (http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/873/873836p1.html))

Some items of note:

You are no longer invincible during the chainsaw animation
Shotgun and active reloads are unchanged
There are multiple finishing moves (like the upside-down chainsaw) including one with the torque bow that they didn't give details about.
Using a guy as a shield (like in the video) will result in him getting chewed away at by the bullets and will have to be discarded eventually (awesome)


Is it November yet? How about now?



I only played the game the first 2 weeks or so but what I remembered was the Chainsaw move was never invincible. All you did was go up to him and once they were done you would do it to him.

And hopefully you can remove the noob guns.

[QUOTE=danieloneil01;13897167]I only played the game the first 2 weeks or so but what I remembered was the Chainsaw move was never invincible. All you did was go up to him and once they were done you would do it to him.
QUOTE]


Yes, the chainsaw animation Is invincible, you had to wait until they were done to kill them, not In "2" You can kill them before they finish.

It's just such a shame that Epic was able to create a really fun and addictive MP experience, only to have it dictated mostly by host advantage and gamers that will b*tch or quit after losing even just one round. How can such a great game bring out the absolute worst in the people playing it?!!

The real question is how do you not notice this with every multiplayer game?

Online gaming is really fun, but thats often in spite of the people on the other end. There's a reason why most Unreal Tournament gamers only play botmatches (according to Epic).

First Gears 2 multiplayer details
Saturday 24-May-2008 10:03 AM Player count upped, new gameplay and modes revealed
7 CommentsThe first details for Gears of War 2's multiplayer mode have emerged and it all sounds bloody brilliant.

The sequel to one of the most-played Xbox Live games will up the player count from eight to ten, with five-on-five gameplay options. Nice.

New gameplay mode, Wingman, sees ten players face off in teams of two. And Epic has invented its own take on the typical CTF scenario with 'Meatflag', in which the flag is a (presumably CPU-controlled) character who runs around the centre of the map trying to defend himself, while teams attempt to shoot him down and drag him back to base as a 'meatshield' (like a hostage).

Advertisement:
Assassination mode has been renamed Guardian, and changes to the gameplay see team members respawn endlessly until the team leader is killed. The game ends only when the leader is dead and then everyone else on the team is killed.

Two new maps are detailed: River and Security. River is a symmetrical map, with two houses with sniping towers connected by a thin path and a river.

Security is said to be a long, thin map with two "power weapons" being guarded by deadly laser turrets at either side of the map. These turrets can be deactivated for 20 seconds by pressing a button in the centre of the map, apparently. Interesting.

A new weapon, called the Medusa, is described as a "power weapon" that shoots six shells with each shot - so like a powerful shotgun, we imagine. Bullet Shields - carry-able metal shields to guard you from enemy fire - have also been added. These shields can apparently be stuck into the floor to create new fixed cover.

The executions on each weapon will vary. The Sniper Rifle can, according to NeoGAF's report from X360 magazine, be used as a club to beat opponents to death.

As well as grenade now being attachable to any surface - not just enemies - a new Poison Grenade emits a green gas that's fatal to anyone within close proximity. Stick one of these to an enemy and not only do they die, but they're be deadly to others, too.

And lastly, a new screenshot mode has been added for players who've been killed in game modes where they can't respawn. While they wait, players can fly around in a free-cam mode and take snaps of the action, which can then be uploaded to an online community source.

Again, we can't bloody wait.


http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=189580

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=189580

Thanks for the info, jigga. This game just keeps expanding and getting more and more sick! It's going to be so on.;)

holy crap..

10 players!!
MEATFLAG - LOL..
laser turrets
stick grenades to anything (stick it to a rock and the enemy chasing you will be in for a surprise)
poison grenades!!!!

I cannot wait for this game...they may just top what they did in Gears 1.

they may just top what they did in Gears 1.

Maybe by just a lil' bit.:confused::confused::confused:

Gears of War was the best game ever to play while drunk, This version is going to be a total slosh-fest for me and my pals, Can't Wait!

More details confirmed
http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/2008/05/24/gears-of-war-2-x360-multiplayer-details-confirmed/

Gears of War 2 X360 multiplayer details confirmed
Posted May 24th 2008 11:55AM by Dustin Burg
Filed under: News


Wow, it was actually all true! Thanks to loyal X3F reader Rhemelious, we were given the opportunity to view each and every page of the exclusive Gears of War 2 article that appears in next month's issue of UK magazine X360. The same issue that was rumored to reveal all kinds of new and exciting GoW2 multiplayer details. Well, after giving it a thorough read (sorry, it's kind of illegal to post magazine scans), we can 100% confirm its contents and say that the rumors are indeed true. The new weapons, gametypes, game modes, features and options are all true! So, being the obsessive Gears fans we are, after the break we posted our own recap of what we found inside the pages of X360. Yes, the list is long, but we organized the new GoW2 information the best we could. Believe us, you'll want to jump towards the break, because there's a mountain of juicy delicious Gears 2 details. We're so happy ...

[Thanks, Rhemelious]

List of Juicy GoW2 Details from X360 Magazine

Ten person, 5v5 online multiplayer.
Yes, Gears of War 2 will have a Halo-style matchmaking system.

There will be respawning multiplayer modes, but the focus is still towards traditional non-respawn gaming.
Multiplayer game modes:
- "Guardian" game mode: A remade version of Gears' Assassination game mode where the objective is still to kill the other team's leader, but players keep respawning as long as their leader is alive. Opponents' leader will be marked on the HUD to keep the game moving along.
- "Wingman" game mode: You and a buddy team up, sharing a single character model in this five teams of two game mode.
- "Meatflag" game mode: A CTF-style mode where the "flag" is actually an AI-controlled player who'll wander the map and attempt to kill anyone who gets near. To "capture" him, you'll have to first down, then escort him as a meatshield all the way back to your base, all while your opponents are trying to kill you and shoot at the "flag". Because, if shot at enough, your meatshield flag will break free, go berserk and deal out the pain. Respawning will be featured in this game mode as well as stats for the amount of kills the AI-controlled flag dished out
Multiplayer maps:
- Around a dozen maps will be included on disc.
- "Gridlock": A remake of the Gridlock we've all come to know and love, but taken over by vegetation, old age and now featuring a beautiful sun-setting glow.
- "River": Symmetrical map featuring a house and a sniper tower separated by (you guessed it) a river.
- "Security": A long, thin map with "verandas" on each side that are sealed off by red laser bars. In the center of the map is a button to deactivate all the security for roughly 20 seconds.

Fishing moves when an enemy is downed:
- "X" button: Traditional curb-stomp.
- "B" button: Melee attack that will be weapon specific. (Longshot sniper rifle will be used as a golf club of death.)
- "Y" button: Flips your opponent over and let's you punch in their face ... UFC style.
- "A" button: Use your enemy as a "meatshield" that limits your weapon choice to a pistol. And, yes, your meatshield can and will disintegrate in your arms after taking on enemy fire. If they don't get ripped apart, you can always dispense of your meatshield with a good old snap of the neck.

Random weapon location respawns will be used, but only for certain weapons not including power weapons, pistols or grenades.

All weapons have a variable amount of "stopping power" that'll slow down an opponent's running or diving abilities.
Weapons:
- Players will have the option of spawning with the chainsaw-equipped Lancer or the newly modified Locust Hammerburst.
- "Scorcher" weapon: A flamethrower that we're promised will produce some uber-realistic fire.
- "Medusa" weapon: A new Locust pistol that is said to be extremely powerful, pumping out five to six rounds per shot downing enemies in a few shots. Said to be the perfect compliment to a meatshielder.
- "Hammerburst" weapon: Changed a bit, now requiring players to pump the trigger as fast as possible (think Halo 3's Carbine). Though, recoil will increase the faster it's fired.

Grenades:
- Can be stuck to people, walls, the floor and any other surface to be used as a makeshift proximity mine.
- As before, players will spawn with one smoke grenade.
- Smoke grenade: Now carries a "stun" effect that "ragdolls any player within their blast radius".
- Poison gas grenade: Spews poison that will kill anyone who lingers in its poisonous cloud.

Chainsaw Duels:
- Whoever does the quickest amount of "B" button tapping will be victorious.
- Your teammates can help give you an edge in the duel by shooting the opponent which will give you the upper hand on the "B" button mini-game.
- No duel will occur if a player is chainsawed from behind. Instead, the sexy "butt to head" chainsaw animation will kick in giving the attacker and instant kill.

The cover system has been subtly reworked, where players' gun and body sit tighter to cover making it harder for your enemies to get an attacking angle.
Bullet shields described as "metal bucklers" that can be carried as indestructible cover. The trade-off being that only a pistol can be wielded and movement is slowed dramatically. One benefit of the bullet shield is that it can be planted into the ground for mobile cover, though we're told enemies can kick it over if they get close enough.
Once killed in a non-respawn game, players will enter a "dynamic battle-cam" that floats above the action.
Also available (when dead) will be a Ghost Cam where players can view the action from the battlefield and take screenshots that can be uploaded online similar to Halo 3.

Hammerhead Grunt Locust revealed and named as such because of his shark looking helmet.
The GoW2 Collector's Edition may include a weathered looking Polaroid of Dom's wife, the same one seen at the beginning of the game.
Development on Gears 2 is roughly at 65% complete.
Don't count on Call of Duty 4 style XP or perks, Cliff says they will not be adding these types of character building elements to the Gears universe.

http://www.recenzeher.eu/screenshot/gears-of-war-2/0/

New screen shots

The real question is how do you not notice this with every multiplayer game?

Online gaming is really fun, but thats often in spite of the people on the other end. There's a reason why most Unreal Tournament gamers only play botmatches (according to Epic).

No more GOW Ranked for me! Since I no longer care about achievements anyway, there's really no reason to play Ranked. It's become a big waste of time. That's where my frustration comes from with GOW MP (Ranked). First, you search for a room with little or hopefully no lag (5 to 10 min.) then as soon as you win or lose the first round (I've found that it really doesn't matter which one), someone quits and permanently handicaps their team for the rest of the game. Unless everyone follows he or she out the door (which is very normal), until eventually there's no one, and you just wasted at least 15min.
With player matches, there's the open door, the players come and go, and you don't have to waste time waiting for others to join before you can begin the match and get back into the action. I'm not sure of alot games MP structure, but I like the open door concept. There's still the cheaters and people who shoot their teammates, but you just search for or host a custom game and voila.
COD4's MP structure is very easy also. They don't even offer Player matches, But, when someone leaves, there's always other players waiting to jump in.
So, that's why I notice it more in GOW. It took me a while to figure it out, but yeah, GOW Ranked is just not worth it anymore. I thought Ranked matches would offer the best skilled opponents. And it does, but, it also offers the biggest sore losers ever. It also seems like those who prefer Player matches have more fun. And it's good being able to invite people, and be invited into a match.
It seems like GOW created a Ranked mode meant to be taken seriously (no party invites and no weapon swapping). But all I find are players who mostly just skip from match to match after 1 or 2 rounds, ultimately ruining their teams fair chance at winning the match. Sure, when the new game comes out, every room will be full, until after a few months, and then everyone will turn into the biggest babies you've ever seen.
Player matches FTW....and FUN!:)

I like madden too. But I just keep getting stuck with morons who go for it on 4th and 30. Or onside kicks in the 1st quarter and get it. When I get a normal person who knows how to play football its pretty fun.

you like anything you can play on your ps3

No more GOW Ranked for me! Since I no longer care about achievements anyway, there's really no reason to play Ranked. It's become a big waste of time. That's where my frustration comes from with GOW MP (Ranked). First, you search for a room with little or hopefully no lag (5 to 10 min.) then as soon as you win or lose the first round (I've found that it really doesn't matter which one), someone quits and permanently handicaps their team for the rest of the game. Unless everyone follows he or she out the door (which is very normal), until eventually there's no one, and you just wasted at least 15min.
With player matches, there's the open door, the players come and go, and you don't have to waste time waiting for others to join before you can begin the match and get back into the action. I'm not sure of alot games MP structure, but I like the open door concept. There's still the cheaters and people who shoot their teammates, but you just search for or host a custom game and voila.
COD4's MP structure is very easy also. They don't even offer Player matches, But, when someone leaves, there's always other players waiting to jump in.
So, that's why I notice it more in GOW. It took me a while to figure it out, but yeah, GOW Ranked is just not worth it anymore. I thought Ranked matches would offer the best skilled opponents. And it does, but, it also offers the biggest sore losers ever. It also seems like those who prefer Player matches have more fun. And it's good being able to invite people, and be invited into a match.
It seems like GOW created a Ranked mode meant to be taken seriously (no party invites and no weapon swapping). But all I find are players who mostly just skip from match to match after 1 or 2 rounds, ultimately ruining their teams fair chance at winning the match. Sure, when the new game comes out, every room will be full, until after a few months, and then everyone will turn into the biggest babies you've ever seen.
Player matches FTW....and FUN!:)

I agree, and I think that any game that has on-line achievements will have this problem, as people play for that reason only. In part that is the success of CoD4 in that there was an incentive in on going playing with ranking up and then getting perks etc but no achievements for it. A better solution would be to allow people to get the weapon kill achievements in any mode (ranked, unranked, campaign) kind of like with R6V, and assign different value to the points (with the most value in insane/ranked). This way people playing for achievements, can play in any mode.

The thing that I hope gets sorted out is the leaving once games start. It happens all the time playing ranked games, where after 1-2 rounds someone quits (usually my team since the other team is usually full of friends), and then the rest of the game sucks as we are at a disadvantage. I have never quit, even when it is 4 v 1, and what I would like see happen is either severely punish the person who is leaving (take away 10 kills or something) or allow rebalancing of teams between rounds, or allow people to join in middle of ranked games. Halo does a good job with this by removing rank. I think the matchmaking like Halo might actually work because GoW is such a team based tactical game that random groups of people usually loose to people who play together (thus people quit quickly). Plus it might make getting into rooms and starting games faster (I usually join a room that has more than 5 people in it, though there are many rooms with only 1-2 people). Hence the waiting between games might be less.

All in all, I am looking forward to this game. Epic has done a wonderful job so far, and I am sure they will continue to polish the multi-player even more. As a side note I am looking forward to UT3, mainly because I suspect it will be better (from a graphic point of view) than GoW, and GoW2 can only be better than UT3.......

OFFICIALLY CONFIRMED

-Battlefields will be much larger than in the previous installment.

-There will, in fact, be chainsaw dueling in single player as well as multiplayer.

-There is a new poison grenade, which will kill anybody it hits and slowly drain the health of anybody around it.

-The "meat shield" is usable in both single player as well as multiplayer.

-The cover system is no longer as clunky, and has been edited to further prevent people "sticking" to walls and such

-The story begins six months after the original ends.

-A new pistol called the "Gorgon Pistol" is available, firing a six-round burst much like the hammerburst from the original.

-The hammerburst is now a semi-automatic gun.

-There is now a larger difference in active-reloading from gun to gun.

-Drop-in/drop-out co-op.

-Blood trails will allow you to track your prey much more effectively in case they decide it's time to run away.

-A new war journal to keep track of your endeavors.

-A much more emotionally evocative story that will be much deeper and more interesting than in Gears.

-Difficulty settings modified. Casual is now much easier, while Insane is harder.

-Weapon-specific melees. New kinds of executions.

-At least two new species of Locust. At least one more chainsaw method. 5 vs. 5 online battles.

-New online mode called "Wingman," where it's essentially a 2v2v2v2v2 game.

-Gridlock is a multiplayer map.

-The ability to have each player use their own difficulty setting in co-op mode.

-Completely destructible environments.

-Enhanced physics.

-You can be damaged and killed whilst chainsawing.

-Longer campaign.

-More usage of vehicles in campaign.

-A new "dynamic-conversation camera" used during cutscenes to give them a cinematic feel.

-The addition of a flamethrower, dubbed "Scorcher."

-Assassination game-type renamed to "Guardian."

-Unlimited respawns until each team's respective leader dies, at which points player cease respawning.

-Matchmaking! New game-type dubbed "Meat Flag."

-Sort of like Capture-the-flag but the flag is a human player who stays in the center of the map.

-Each team must down this player to be able to drag him back to their base.

-Getting damaged slows you down. You can now choose which weapon to spawn with in multiplayer:

-Lancer or Hammerburst. Portable cover.

-These are big metal things that you can carry around and shove into the ground to act as make-shift cover.

-You can only use your pistol while carrying one, and they can be destroyed by enemies that get too close.

-Grenades can be manually stuck to anything, meaning you have to "tag" the object like you would a person in the original Gears.

- Smoke grenades now stun enemies as well.

- While waiting to respawn, you may fly around the map and take screenshots of the action which you can then share with your friends.

- One confirmed new map: River

- A symetrical map, each team gets a sniping building and some flat land, which is divided by a river.

- One confirmed new map: Security

- A long narrow map.

- Power weapons guarded by laser-turrets th cannot be destroyed and will kill you if you attempt to get to the weapons.

- These turrets can be turned off. New controls for downed enemies: X Button [Curb stomp] B Button [Melee] Y Button [Punch in a downed opponent's face] A Button [Use enemy as meat-shield


http://gearsofwar2forums.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=33

Wow sounding quite awesome. They really have the hype machine going for a game that doesnt come out for six more months. Why do they do this? To toture people. Now I need a shooter to hold me over, GTA is great but its not quite the full fledged war type gameplay this makes me want to play. I guess I will break Gears one out again.

Wow sounding quite awesome. They really have the hype machine going for a game that doesnt come out for six more months. Why do they do this? To toture people. Now I need a shooter to hold me over, GTA is great but its not quite the full fledged war type gameplay this makes me want to play. I guess I will break Gears one out again.

My son and I have been playing all week now on Insane.

I just read this months EGM feature on GOW 2 multiplayer! Yes! The Lancer and pistol will be more powerful, slowing down those who just charge with the shotgun. That bit if invincibility is a big part of the MP physics that is hard for me to accept still. Well, it seems Epic definitely knows how weird it is and is correcting it. That'll slow the game down and make it even more realistic!
But the real kicker-for you whores-is that supposedly when working towards the MP Achievements, only one credit will go towards that specific Achievement per round. So, even if you get 5 chainsaw kills, only one will actually be credited-to encourage using different weapons.

"And the new Achievements will help make sure players aren't running around like jackasses, trying to complete their "Kill 100 enemies with chainsaw gun/grenade tag/curb stomp/etc." goals."-EPIC

Gameplay scenario: Shoot and down one opponent, pick up and use as a Meat Shield, knee cap another opponent, break your Meat Shield's neck, curb stomp the other, or use the new beat down execution-pretty badass.

Will that mean people will join a match, get their one gernade tag for that match, drop and join another match for their next gernade tag? Or do they actually have to finish the game for the tag to count. I hope its option #2.

The way it currently works (I think) is that kills do not count until the game is finished, and also do not count if there are less than 6 people playing (3 on each side). As it is currently even if all your teammates leave, and you die every round, it does not count towards the stats and similarly if you leav mid game, alll the kills you collected will not count.

I just read this months EGM feature on GOW 2 multiplayer! Yes! The Lancer and pistol will be more powerful, slowing down those who just charge with the shotgun. That bit if invincibility is a big part of the MP physics that is hard for me to accept still. Well, it seems Epic definitely knows how weird it is and is correcting it. That'll slow the game down and make it even more realistic!

Ugh, this is the only thing about the game that doesn't have me excited. The game really is one tenth the fun when it turns into a lancer whore fest of people just camping back behind cover with the lancers for 15 minutes. I'm no shotgun rusher, but I still hate the lancer whores since the last update. It was perfect after the 1st update, but before the 2nd one.

Other than that everything sounds all kinds of awesome. I wasn't really that excited about Gears 2 when it was announced since I still play Gears 1 every day and didn't feel I'd need a sequel for another year or two, and figured Gears 2 would just be Gears 1 with new maps and weapons. But they're really not just giving this the standard sequel treatment, it sounds like they're going above and beyond and this game just sounds amazing.

I don't think I've ever been more excited about a game.

Hi guys, so my cousin works at Epic, and today they held like a special showing type thing to family and friends of the employees today and I got to play Gears 2 for like three hours!

I didn't get to meet Cliff (bummer =P), but got a ton of info from playing the game, some things I can tell you guys and some I cannot.

http://neocrisis.com/content/view/1596/41/
Campaign:



-Will be divided into 4 Acts, with 6 chapters in each Act. Each chapter should take like 30 minutes to complete, So your looking at around a 12 hour long game possibly?
-COG tags have been replaced with war journals.
-Raven helicopter playable! Well, from what I saw it was Marcus, Dom, and Carmine (with Dizzy piloting) the Raven, with everyone shooting these new bird like creatures.
-Four player co-op confirmed
-Cole and Baird won't be introduced until the second act. The story will then shift to 2 seperate ones, Marcus's and Dom's. Marcus will have himself, Dizzy, Carmine, and Colonol Hoffman in his squad infiltrating the locust. Dom will have himself, Cole, Baird, and Tai with him looking for Maria.
-The Raam locust will appear again with signature turrets. (not a boss though)
-The Locust Queen will make an appearence but won't be a boss
-A main character will die that was in Gears 1.


Multiplayer:

-I got to play 4 maps. River, Gridlock, Subway, and Security.

Gridlock is pretty much the same physically except there is a ton of vines and trees everywhere and there is shallow water at each of the spawns. (like canals).

River is alot like Canals but bigger. What I like is there are two sweet sniping spots and little cabins like in that really dark map in Gears 1 (forgot what's it called it was DLC).

Security is ok for games like Warzone but awesome for Meatflag. The switches like in Garden return except these are giant ass lasers. The overall feel is like War Machine / Clocktower love child. Yeah, there's also a turret.

Now Subway, holy ****. Complete turn around from Gears 1, this is now my favorite map. You know those non moving trains in the first one? Well now they move! They actually stop as well! They'll go around like 3 times, (and when they move it shakes the whole map) at which you can get pwned by them. They'll then stop for like 30 seconds, in which you can get on and fight with someone else. If your still on while the train goes again, your controller will rumble and you'll be in complete darkness (you can still fight the guy). You can then get off when it comes back. Pure Awesome.


Weapons:

-Lancer is improved, my new fav weapon.
-Hammerburst is like Halo's Battle Rifle. I like it alot just it doesn't have a chainsaw... bummer. I can totally see the experienced players using this one over the lancer though.
-Boomshot's active reload shoots out both rockets at once (if you have 2 ammo) but other than that it's the same one we love from Gears 1.
-Torque Bow's active reload gives you a shorter charge time, which is sweet.
-Snub Pistol is weaker
-The Revolver is actually useful now, if you don't have an active it sucks, but with one it shoots double the speed and can down a guy fast.
-The poisen grenade is the same fog of death used in Garden.
-Shotgun is unchanged
-Smoke's make a noise and set a guy back (like if a guy is near a nade in Gears 1) and it's really funny when you tag someone!
-Sniper is unchanged.
-Flamethrower is pretty awesome. The fire in it is amazing! it's a pretty short ranged weapon and you are slightly slower if it's equipped but it's good for clearing out a tight area. You can down a guy with one melee also.
-The Hammer of Dawn is bigger but other than that it's not changed at all.
-Gorgon Pistol. You guys have seen it =P
-The guys at Epic were teasing that another weapon was in the works that I didn't play.

Gametypes:

-King of the Hill. (Annex has been axed. You have the option however to set "Player Presence" to Yes or No, so it's basically there)

-Warzone. (same as Gears 1)

-Execution. (same as Gears 1, can use the new "Y" button executions)

-Wingman. (You guys know =P)

-Meatflag. (You guys know =P)

-Team Deathmatch. (Warzone but with respawns. There is a set death count a team has to reach)

-Guardian (You guys know =P)

Thanks man! That campaign is gonna be sooooo badass!

http://neocrisis.com/content/view/1596/41/
Now Subway, holy ****. Complete turn around from Gears 1, this is now my favorite map. You know those non moving trains in the first one? Well now they move! They actually stop as well! They'll go around like 3 times, (and when they move it shakes the whole map) at which you can get pwned by them. They'll then stop for like 30 seconds, in which you can get on and fight with someone else. If your still on while the train goes again, your controller will rumble and you'll be in complete darkness (you can still fight the guy). You can then get off when it comes back. Pure Awesome.


EPIC IS KING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wish my cousin worked at Epic. Lousy good-for-nothing bum cousins.

-Four player co-op confirmed
Which I put in the spoiler

Sounds good --

Torque bow active reload shorter charge time -- not sure I like this..it's fine as is.

Weaker pistol -- I hope this means 3 melees to down people (unless of course they are seriously damaged at which point one melee will do the trick), ala hammer of dawn?

I hope they turn the train volume down on any levels that are going to use it -- it is just too loud on Tyro Station. I hate turning effects down because that turns EVERYTHING down.

On gridlock, any idea what the weapon placements are? Right now, it's hammerbursts in the towers overlooking the archway, boomshot in the archway, nades in the middle and sniper in the tower.

It would also be cool if you could shoot stuff in the environment (like the big statue or bell in gridlock on the top?) and have it come down on an enemy and kill them.

jigga, how were the new 'B' button executions? Were they as fast and easy to use as just melee'ing someone in Gears 1 or did they slow you down some?

jigga, how were the new 'B' button executions? Were they as fast and easy to use as just melee'ing someone in Gears 1 or did they slow you down some?

FreeBaGel,

I see it reads out that I played it but I only copied over what was from the website link. Ask me in November though if you don't beat me to it first. :D

Whoops, lol

Cliffy B Says Gears 2 Netcode Will Slice Through Host Advantage


Anyone who's played Gears of War online has felt it. That fraction of a second of anxiety that comes after every shotgun blast, where you wait for the game to figure out whether or not the information representing your shot actually went through fast enough to register as a hit. Of course, if you're the one hosting the game, you never have this problem - in fact, your weapons are basically the finger of god, destroying anything they point at. Hence the term, 'host advantage.'

The fact that gamers still play Gears of War in spite of this problem is a testament to the strength of the core gameplay, but even the most strident defenders of the game wont argue that host advantage is a massive pain in the ass.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Gamepro, Cliffy B - sorry, Cliff Bleszinski - finally confirmed that Epic was taking care of the number one item on just about every Gears of War fan's wishlist for the sequel.

What feedback did you receive from the multiplayer modes in Gears 1?

People loved it but they didn't like the host advantage. They got tired of the shotgun inconsistencies. We're fixing all of that. They didn't like the randomness of the chainsaw, so we put the chainsaw duel in -- may the best man win! A lot of players wanted respawning, but we added in some modes for downloadable content on Gears 1 that added respawning, but even then it was a 15-second cue. So we have game modes now, like Guardian, where players cycle in and out a lot more often. And Wingman, which is kind of like our version of Last Man Standing Free-for-All, where you have five teams of two each. So it's you and a buddy versus the world, which feels really good. We've added a lot more depth to the multiplayer.



Mr. Bleszinski (hey, you never know, he maybe ask to be called Mr. after Gears 2 sells 6 million copies or so) also dropped a few new pieces of info regarding improvements to the cover system.


Is Epic streamlining or refining the controls in Gears of War 2?

Eight billion tasks have been cycled on for improving the cover system. You can interrupt the swat turn and go right into a roady run so you're not stuck swat turning. The angle of cover entry for roady run has been tweaked so you don't necessarily get cuked into cover as often when you roady run. Mantling's a little more crisp. Just evading into cover is more crisp. Every single last action has been tweaked. The angle at which you cover slip when you move forward has been tweaked. Every single bit of the cover system has been massaged this time. I went back and played Gears 1 and I still think it's a great cover system, but what I missed was tremendous and I'm so happy with a lot of the results that have come out of the tweaking for Gears 2.


There were some complaints of players getting "stuck" to walls when trying to hide behind scenery. How will you refine that?

I felt like the Gears cover system worked like 85 percent of the time and we want to get as close to 100 percent as we can. We also offer an alternate control scheme, which is pretty similar to Uncharted, where we decouple the cover and the evade button so players can have those on separate buttons if they want.


So you played Uncharted and thought their cover style was a good idea?

Well, we thought some players would want it. Personally, I can't stand it. I like our system, but it's okay to have that option. I don't like my Y-axis inverted but some people do, so we want to make everybody happy.



The more we hear, the more we like. Good to know Cliffy plays shooters the right way, non-inverted.


http://360.kombo.com/article.php?artid=13201

I like every single thing I read about this game. Can't wait.

Microsoft's Kudo Tsunoda

Interview by Ellie Gibson
Wednesday
Page 1 of 2. Page 2

Until January this year, Kudo Tsunoda was best known for producing the Def Jam and Fight Night series. Well, that and sporting ridiculous sunglasses at all times, and wearing the kind of clothes and jewellery more usually seen on rap stars than people who make videogames for a living.

Then it was announced Tsunoda was to join Microsoft Game Studios to work on "an upcoming Gears of War title". To no one's astonishment, that title turned out to be Gears of War 2. Eurogamer caught up with Tsunoda, and his sunglasses, to find out what he's got to do with it all, how the game is coming along and just what "more badass" actually means.

Eurogamer: Can you explain your role in the development of Gears of War 2?

Kudo Tsunoda: Obviously the people at Epic do an awesome job of making the game. Gears 1 was just stupendous and Gears 2 is coming along really well. Someone like Cliff [Bleszinski] has such a great vision for the game, and it's about being able to enable his creativity as much as possible. There are all kinds of good resources Microsoft can bring to the table, and my job is to facilitate all that stuff for Epic and Cliff and all the people working on Gears of War 2.

Also when it comes to playing the game, it's good sometimes to have a little outside perspective. We can lend that and give feedback. The great thing about working with Epic is all they care about is making the best game possible, so they're always happy to work on everything in as collaborative a manner as possible. We're trying to do everything we can to make sure Cliff's vision and what Epic wants gets into the game.
Are you tired of these screenshots yet? Of course you're not.

Eurogamer: Can you give us any examples of feedback you've given so far?

Kudo Tsunoda: I think if you've played Gears of War 1, it's clear there's stuff you'd want to improve on in Gears of War 2. The story wasn't necessarily as robust as it could have been, and that's stuff we're really going to blow that out in Gears of War 2. We've got Josh Ortega who's a great comic book writer, and he's totally focused on the story. We want to do a much better job of that.

When you look at the gameplay - it's great, but I don't think there's ever that sense of a giant, epic war. In Gears of War 1, it's the Locusts versus the Cogs, but when you're playing it's more like you and one other person fighting a small entourage of Locusts. In Gears 2, we're blowing that out to give you a much grander sense of battle.

The gameplay could sometimes be a little repetitive in Gears of War 1. It's like, okay, you move forward a little bit, duck and cover, pop a few guys, move forward a little bit, duck and cover, pop a few guys... You had a great toolset for things your character could do, and we're blowing that out in Gears 2 to put you in a much wider variety of gameplay situations.

Eurogamer: Going back to what you were saying about the storyline, there were criticisms that Gears 1 was too over-the-top macho, with all these big men strutting about being ever so tough and American... Has that changed now?

Kudo Tsunoda: Yeah. If you look at the character line-up from Gears 1, they were very stereotypical characters. There wasn't much variety between the different types. That's something that not only in the development of existing characters we're changing up, but also adding some new characters that add their own individual flair to it.

Eurogamer: What about suggestions Cole Train was a racial stereotype? How do you respond?

Kudo Tsunoda: People take away from games and different characters what they want. Clearly, as you're developing the characters, you're not like, 'Hey, we'd like this character to be stereotypical.' From a game-making perspective you want to get as much uniqueness and variety with the characters as possible, for them to have individual flair and for people to identify with them. You don't want to build stereotypical characters, not just racial stereotypes but stereotypes of any kind.

Eurogamer: I know Gears 2 isn't out till November, but do you have any plans regarding Xbox Live yet? Will there be a playable demo and downloadable content?

Kudo Tsunoda: We don't have any announced plans on the demo side yet. We don't have any announced plans on the demo side yet. For sure, Gears is the kind of game that anybody who plays it gets addicted to. My girlfriend isn't necessarily into big action shooters per say, but when I started playing Gears 1 we got into the co-op, and now she's a huge Gears fan... But we don't have any announced plans on the demo as yet.

As for downloadable content, Gears definitely lends itself to that, but we don't have any plans announced yet. Any kind of big blockbuster franchise is going to have additional downloadable content. I think it would be crazy to say there's not going to be any for Gears 2. That's something that's more or less expected out of big franchises. I certainly wouldn't think it's crazy talk to think there might be some downloadable content in the future.

Eurogamer: Cliffy B's tagline for Gears of War 2, as he tirelessly reminds us, is 'Bigger, Better, More Badass'. I understand the first two, but can you explain just how one makes a game 'more badass'?
Throw one of those sock grenade things. That'll show 'em.

Kudo Tsunoda: For one, there are a lot of different abilities we're giving the main character in terms of things you can do in combat. Also you're put in a lot of different gameplay experiences, a bigger variety of scenarios, so you feel like you're not just mastering one thing that carries on throughout the entire game. To be successful you've got to master a wide variety of combat situations.

It's not like you get one thing down and you do that for the entire game. It's really giving you that badass feeling of being able to conquer a variety of situations, using your own tactical strategies. There's bigger and better on the weapons side. Yes, we expand the characters' abilities, and yes, you're going to have a hundred Locusts all swarming plus these giant boss characters that are going to be bigger and better.

Eurogamer: And more badass, presumably.

Kudo Tsunoda: Giving you the more badass feeling is about being able to master a wide variety of different kinds of combat situations.

Eurogamer: So on the badass scale, if 10 is maximum badass and one is not very badass at all actually, where would you put Gears of War and its sequel?

Kudo Tsunoda: I'd give Gears of War 1 an eight. Gears of War 2... 11. We're taking it to 11.

Eurogamer: Badass.

Eurogamer: What about suggestions Cole Train was a racial stereotype? How do you respond?

Kudo Tsunoda: People take away from games and different characters what they want. Clearly, as you're developing the characters, you're not like, 'Hey, we'd like this character to be stereotypical.' From a game-making perspective you want to get as much uniqueness and variety with the characters as possible, for them to have individual flair and for people to identify with them. You don't want to build stereotypical characters, not just racial stereotypes but stereotypes of any kind.

Eurogamer: I know Gears 2 isn't out till November, but do you have any plans regarding Xbox Live yet? Will there be a playable demo and downloadable content?

Kudo Tsunoda: We don't have any announced plans on the demo side yet. We don't have any announced plans on the demo side yet. For sure, Gears is the kind of game that anybody who plays it gets addicted to. My girlfriend isn't necessarily into big action shooters per say, but when I started playing Gears 1 we got into the co-op, and now she's a huge Gears fan... But we don't have any announced plans on the demo as yet.

As for downloadable content, Gears definitely lends itself to that, but we don't have any plans announced yet. Any kind of big blockbuster franchise is going to have additional downloadable content. I think it would be crazy to say there's not going to be any for Gears 2. That's something that's more or less expected out of big franchises. I certainly wouldn't think it's crazy talk to think there might be some downloadable content in the future.

Eurogamer: Cliffy B's tagline for Gears of War 2, as he tirelessly reminds us, is 'Bigger, Better, More Badass'. I understand the first two, but can you explain just how one makes a game 'more badass'?
Throw one of those sock grenade things. That'll show 'em.

Kudo Tsunoda: For one, there are a lot of different abilities we're giving the main character in terms of things you can do in combat. Also you're put in a lot of different gameplay experiences, a bigger variety of scenarios, so you feel like you're not just mastering one thing that carries on throughout the entire game. To be successful you've got to master a wide variety of combat situations.

It's not like you get one thing down and you do that for the entire game. It's really giving you that badass feeling of being able to conquer a variety of situations, using your own tactical strategies. There's bigger and better on the weapons side. Yes, we expand the characters' abilities, and yes, you're going to have a hundred Locusts all swarming plus these giant boss characters that are going to be bigger and better.

Eurogamer: And more badass, presumably.

Kudo Tsunoda: Giving you the more badass feeling is about being able to master a wide variety of different kinds of combat situations.

Eurogamer: So on the badass scale, if 10 is maximum badass and one is not very badass at all actually, where would you put Gears of War and its sequel?

Kudo Tsunoda: I'd give Gears of War 1 an eight. Gears of War 2... 11. We're taking it to 11.

Eurogamer: Badass.

http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=154063&page=2

Feature: Cliff Bleszinski talks controls, enhanced multiplayer in Gears of War 2

Gears of War 2 lead developer Cliff Bleszinksi talks destructible environments, chainsaw duels, and explains why you won't be able to customize your guns in Gears of War 2.

Hot Gears of War 2 Links:
Gears of War 2 Screen Gallery
Feature: Gears of War 2: Nine new gameplay details
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Gameplay: Gears of War 2: New Gameplay Footage
Trailers: Gears of War 2 Announcement: Behind the Scenes
Trailers: Gear of War 2: Exclusive GDC Trailer!
Cliff Bleszinski has spent the past 10 years in the Raleigh-Durham area, which has become something of a hotbed of game development with the recent studio announcement by Insomniac Games and established developers like Epic Games, Red Storm Entertainment, Virtual Heroes, Funcom Studios, Icarus Studios and Vicious Cycle Software. Bleszinski has grown as the surrounding area has blossomed and Epic Games has become a major two-pronged force in the game industry with its Unreal Engine 3 technology and its original franchises like Unreal Tournament and Gears of War.

Bleszinski, who's now 33, currently serves as the lead games designer at Epic. The first Gears game bought him critical accolades, record global sales, and a brand new Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder. With Gears 2 shipping this November, Bleszinski took some time to discuss his latest creation with GamePro in this exclusive interview.

Epic has made a lot of buzz about their new Unreal Engine 3 tech, but how will this make the world of Gears of War 2 come alive? We've heard of better lighting, better water effects, and "soft body processing." It alls sounds fancy, but how will it improve Gears 2 from a gamer's perspective?

I think you can directly look at every single tech video we've released and you can extrapolate a lot of how that's going to be used in the world. When you see hundreds of Locusts pouring out into the street and you're unloading a certain unannounced weapon into them, you're going to be a happy camper. Just the other day I was driving in this icy level with a tank and power-sliding through Locusts and Gus goes, "Locust roadkill, baby. Squish. Squish. Squash. Squash." It was just freakin' great. And then when you shoot you're knocking over trees because we have more destroyable objects and you shoot your Boomshot and everything shatters apart. Gears was heavy and Gears was chunky and Gears felt satisfying. And Gears 2 is just really taking that to the next level. It's just cooler and more visceral.

Will the new tech allow for destructible environments? If so, how might this impact gameplay?

That's what the fractuables allow. You really feel like you're chipping away at stuff and really interacting with the world. In a game like this, not only does Marcus slam into the wall, but shooting is your base form of interaction. When you're targeting a guy and he goes back behind cover and you have another unannounced weapon which is doing serious damage...We have this whole chart of things we've announced and things we haven't...I always have to cross-reference it in my head. Let's just say we leverage as much as we can whore the feature.

Will there be any character customizations or weapon customizations in Gears of War 2? If not, why so?

We're not really that kind of game. We're not going to allow you to bling out your gun. The Lancer's a Lancer, Gus is Gus, and Marcus is Marcus. Those are the identities we're sticking with.

There was one vehicle scenario in the first game. Are more vehicles something that would enhance Gears 2?

Absolutely. We've already announced the Centaur. And there are other levels that are unique in a similar vane to that. There are some really nice surprises that haven't been announced.

http://www.gamepro.com/microsoft/xbox360/games/features/193148.shtml

I don't see why MS or Epic don't provide dedicated servers, it makes for a far superior gaming experience.

I don't see why MS or Epic don't provide dedicated servers, it makes for a far superior gaming experience.

I am still looking for it but Cliff mentioned in one article about the new cover system will have options which one of the options is inspired by Uncharted. So you have a choice. You came to mind because I remember when it came out that was one of the issues you had. Still looking. Will post when I find.

As for dedicated servers, I don't have any lag issues across the board and for as long as I have been play co-op and muliplayer for Gears I don't get lag.

I am still looking for it but Cliff mentioned in one article about the new cover system will have options which one of the options is inspired by Uncharted. So you have a choice. You came to mind because I remember when it came out that was one of the issues you had. Still looking. Will post when I find.

As for dedicated servers, I don't have any lag issues across the board and for as long as I have been play co-op and muliplayer for Gears I don't get lag.

Well I've always wanted Gears 2 and Uncharted 2 to add in the ability to duck anywhere.. Now that I think about it(MGS4 made me think of it) even going full on prone might be nice, but ducking in the open so you can use stones, etc to help you out without being right next to them would be very nice.

I wish my experience was the same as yours for non-dedicated server based games. I'm using Comcast with the $10 speed boost upgrade (S.F. Bay Area). Pretty much everybody on my friends list shared similar experiences in the games I've played.

I don't see why MS or Epic don't provide dedicated servers, it makes for a far superior gaming experience.

Dedicated Servers Cost money, and Dedicated Servers eventually go away. Another thing, the lag issue doesn't affect everyone......and for that matter, dedicated servers don't magically fix the lag problem either..someone on a bad connection is still going to have a sub-par game experience.

While P2P isn't perfect, and Gears is one of the worst host-advantage offenders, supposedly Gears2 they are addressing that as they have heard the screams and seen the YouTube videos.

Well I've always wanted Gears 2 and Uncharted 2 to add in the ability to duck anywhere.. Now that I think about it(MGS4 made me think of it) even going full on prone might be nice, but ducking in the open so you can use stones, etc to help you out without being right next to them would be very nice.

The only problem with "Going Prone" is that its designed to be used when movement and mobility aren't first on your list of priorities, but accuracy is. IE: long-range engagements.

Because of the way online shooters move (ie: FAST!), going prone just makes you an easy target....besides in Gears you could crouch pretty low behind alot of those low stones and get some cover....

I was hoping for more of a cover system like Vegas..where its all up to your left trigger if you want to attach or not..>Gears feels needlessly complex and fugly after you get used to the covering in Vegas....so does GRAW for that matter<.....

Dedicated Servers Cost money, and Dedicated Servers eventually go away. Another thing, the lag issue doesn't affect everyone......and for that matter, dedicated servers don't magically fix the lag problem either..someone on a bad connection is still going to have a sub-par game experience.

While P2P isn't perfect, and Gears is one of the worst host-advantage offenders, supposedly Gears2 they are addressing that as they have heard the screams and seen the YouTube videos.

Just my experience in general. Dedicated servers tend to be much more enjoyable. Sure they may go away one day, I'm fine with that. I move on to games as well. They also could offer the option for both, playing on dedicated servers and P2P.

As for the money, I'd pay double of what they charge now if that is what it took for better gameplay, if they had that option that is.

The only problem with "Going Prone" is that its designed to be used when movement and mobility aren't first on your list of priorities, but accuracy is. IE: long-range engagements.

Because of the way online shooters move (ie: FAST!), going prone just makes you an easy target....besides in Gears you could crouch pretty low behind alot of those low stones and get some cover....

I was hoping for more of a cover system like Vegas..where its all up to your left trigger if you want to attach or not..>Gears feels needlessly complex and fugly after you get used to the covering in Vegas....so does GRAW for that matter<.....

Well GoW is a slow online shooter, still in a fast one there is still times where having a crouch ability would be beneficial for certain styles of play.

Hmm, GRAW doesn't have a cover system (oh you must be speaking of the single player which I don't care for.). Online though is a different engine, one of my favorite games (again would be so much better with dedicated servers. I can only imagine doing big missions with a ton of friends, no lags, drop outs, etc.. Seemless joing in, etc Do it for GRAW 3 please :D )

I really don't have a problem with the cover system...when I get killed getting stuck to cover, it's usually because I'm trying to do too much, instead of jumping out of cover and then making my next move.

I was an avid PC gamer prior to getting my 360. Dedicated servers are nice, but they are certainly not the holy grail. If the problem is on your end, then you're still going to lag. You are also at the mercy of the location of the server, etc. Sorting through server lists and joining a "room" is the thing that I miss least about PC gaming, that sucks.

Also, many of us are still playing the heck out of Gears a year and a half after release. If they had dedicated servers, they would almost certainly take down the Gears 1 servers when Gears 2 came out, and what if you ended up not liking Gears 2 and wanted to keep playing Gears 1 (this certainly would not be the first time this happened)? No can do, Gears 1 would be gone.

As far as the cover system goes, the R6V cover system gets a big fat "meh" from me. It would probably work better in Gears than it does in R6V, where a couple shots takes you down and the guys try and drink a cup of coffee on their 3 second trip from cover to an aiming position. When watching videos of any decent R6V player they pretty much only use the actual cover button to look around corners, whereas in Gears the elite players actually use cover the way it was intended because unlike in R6V, it actually helps you tactically rather than hurts you.

Hmm, GRAW doesn't have a cover system (oh you must be speaking of the single player which I don't care for.). Online though is a different engine, one of my favorite games (again would be so much better with dedicated servers. I can only imagine doing big missions with a ton of friends, no lags, drop outs, etc.. Seemless joing in, etc Do it for GRAW 3 please :D )

Actually GRAW online does have a cover system, if you get up close to a surface and press..hmm..the left or right shoulder buttons...you can peek out around corners (or press left/right on the D-pad).

But its so unbelievably clunky and useless (only useful maybe against bots) that nobody uses it.

Microsoft: New Gears 2 Screens, Concept Art Tomorrow
Posted by x3sphere at June 24, 2008, 4:51 pm

Microsoft just sent along a note revealing that new screenshots and concept art from Gears of War 2 will be released tomorrow at 9 a.m. PDT.

The screens will showcase the new Locust Rockworm and snow-capped locale of Landown. Additionally, screens from the competitive multiplayer aspect of the game will reveal all-new gameplay modes, maps and weaponry.


http://exophase.com/xbox360/microsoft-new-gears-2-screens-concept-art-tomorrow-5990.htm

A very good multiplayer preview from IGN.

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/884/884154p1.html

http://www.n4g.com/xbox360/News-161650.aspx

4 minute multiplayer video.

That last 4 minute video showed off a lot of the new stuff.

The more I see of Gears 2 the more I think it's going to play *totally* differently from Gears 1. Much more reliance on turtling up in a safe spot and much less being able to move around with an enemy in view but moderately far away with no power weapon.

The lancer/hammerburst slowed that guy down to a crawl, and the damage was definitely not scaled back at all vs. Gears 1. If anything it was pumped up even more, and if they really have optimized the netcode so that everyone has a host-like connection those things are going to drop you SO fast. Smoke grenades stun really hard and keep you stunned longer than a regular grenade's stun did (which means everyone is going to be using theirs and there is going to be smoke everywhere), and the proximity for grenades when you stick them to a wall seems like a very large radius.

It also showed a lot of the scorcher. The graphics on that fire look incredible.

Microsoft: New Gears 2 Screens, Concept Art Tomorrow
Posted by x3sphere at June 24, 2008, 4:51 pm

Microsoft just sent along a note revealing that new screenshots and concept art from Gears of War 2 will be released tomorrow at 9 a.m. PDT.

The screens will showcase the new Locust Rockworm and snow-capped locale of Landown. Additionally, screens from the competitive multiplayer aspect of the game will reveal all-new gameplay modes, maps and weaponry.


http://exophase.com/xbox360/microsoft-new-gears-2-screens-concept-art-tomorrow-5990.htm

those new screens are up ... http://forums.exophase.com/showthread.php?t=7632

That last 4 minute video showed off a lot of the new stuff.

The more I see of Gears 2 the more I think it's going to play *totally* differently from Gears 1. Much more reliance on turtling up in a safe spot and much less being able to move around with an enemy in view but moderately far away with no power weapon.

The lancer/hammerburst slowed that guy down to a crawl, and the damage was definitely not scaled back at all vs. Gears 1. If anything it was pumped up even more, and if they really have optimized the netcode so that everyone has a host-like connection those things are going to drop you SO fast. Smoke grenades stun really hard and keep you stunned longer than a regular grenade's stun did (which means everyone is going to be using theirs and there is going to be smoke everywhere), and the proximity for grenades when you stick them to a wall seems like a very large radius.

It also showed a lot of the scorcher. The graphics on that fire look incredible.

GREAT VID AND SCREENS!!!! Yeah, I agree with all of this. I sure hope this is a totally new experience. Well, not totally new. As great and realistic as GOW plays, it's only a few adjustments away from being.....even better! Slowing someone down who's running towards me adds alot of realism-one of the best upgrades IMO. Yep, people will be taking cover alot more. The game is going to get alot more tactical and action-packed! Host-like connection for everyone?-hope so! BUT, the executions!!!!!!! Beating someone to death!!! Stabbing someone with a gun!!!! New guns, fire, shields, dual chainsawing, destructible environments....!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS will be THE game (for action)!!!! I smell a weeks vacation! Bless you, EPIC!:p

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/234405.html

Oh man Video 3.

They surely like to see us suffer don't they.

It is November yet??? i wish :(

They surely like to see us suffer don't they.

You know what? I am not posting any more vids :D

Gears of War 2 vs Gears of War Graphics Comparison

http://www.videogamer.com/features/article/27-06-2008-450.html

http://vitosverdict.com/wp-content/Games/Gears%20of%20War%202/Screens/3half.jpg

I like the artwork from EPIC. The new characters look even dirtier and grimier, except the lovely Maria, of course. Dizzy is very intriguing-with his cowboy hat and all-badass. But, what about Anya? Remember the look on Marcus's face when he saw her get out of the chopper? I also like it when soldiers from the same unit all bear the same symbol, but have their own unique gear and suits.:)

And that is just with tweaks to the current engine. I wonder if Epic could top it and bring a all new engine to GOW 3 with the 360. By then the system should be just about maxed out. I cannot wait until GOW 2 comes out. Just sucks having to wait until November. :/

Gears of War 2 vs Gears of War Graphics Comparison

http://www.videogamer.com/features/article/27-06-2008-450.html

man, to be honest - in all those screenshots, i think gears1 looks way better. Seems like there is no color in the gears2 shots. Its all that greenish color.


imho of course

Gears of War 2 Multiplayer Hands-on (Xbox 360)

http://media.teamxbox.com/games/ss/1942/full-res/1215358389.jpg
http://media.teamxbox.com/games/ss/1942/full-res/1215358388.jpg

http://previews.teamxbox.com/xbox-360/2025/Gears-of-War-2/p1/

I finally got my copy of UT III, and decided to watch the GoW2 'trailer' they had. OMG this game is going to be outstanding. I did not think it was possible, but the graphics looked better, more detail, more texture, and more color. The different multiplayer modes, the different ways to kill people, the different ways to use chainsaws, new maps, new bosses, new weapons, etc etc. If the host advantage really does get fixed, nothing will touch this game for years. Even now, there is a huge community that still plays GoW (perhaps #3 multiplayer game on Xbox after CoD4, and Halo3), despite new additions like battlefield, UT III etc).

With that being said, I like UT III, really smooth and good graphics, but to be perfectly honest, the graphics are no way as nice as GoW 1. There was 1map, for example) with a large waterfal in the background, the waterfall looked pretty bland, no textures (it would have been nice to have the water flowing) and looked pretty bad. Similarly the character models are also a little bland compared to GoW models (for example when looking at teammates or enemies, they details and textures were lacking). Perhaps a tradeoff in order to have an extremely fast moving game???