Gears of War hits Nov. 12, Epic Games announced today. The much anticipated Xbox 360 game will come in two flavors, an increasingly popular way of eeking out a bit of extra cash for triple A titles. The standard version will sell for $60, while the limited collector's edition will sell for $70.

The limited edition version will come with a bonus DVD featuring an inside look at the making of the game and an official Destroyed Beauty art book in a collectible metal box.

"Gears of War represents the emergence of a thrilling new franchise for Xbox 360 and is the must-have game of 2006," said Shane Kim, general manager of Microsoft Game Studios. "Combining the best in innovative gameplay, next-generation graphics and interactive storytelling, Epic has harnessed the extraordinary power of Xbox 360 to create an extremely powerful and immersive entertainment experience."

"Our vision is to deliver a one-two punch of cinematic action paired with a thrilling and compelling interactive experience," said Cliff Bleszinski, lead designer at Epic. "With Gears of War we've created a title that will place gamers directly in the shadows of a ravaged world, surrounded by the beautiful remnants of a destroyed city and the horrific dangers that hide in the rubble."

Brian Crecente