Even Gears Of War 2's Marketing Is Bigger, More Badass

The Gears 2 development team have a motto: bigger, better, more badass. It's inscribed, in blood, atop their monitors, and every morning, they gather in a circle, wearing dark hoods, and chant it in latin. But it doesn't just apply to the development of the game. Oh no, according to Epic artist Pete Hayes, it applies to the marketing as well. Witness Dude Huge and his toy Lancer. Or this comment from lead writer Josh Ortega:

The first [Gears] was good and if we can find a way to do ten times better, than I'd be impressed. That sounds hard, but sure, why not? I say the original Gears was like the ten, but sure, let's go to eleven. Like Spinal Tap, right? Let's go to eleven.

Cocky? We like to think they're just not taking the lead-in to this game as SERIOUSLY as some other developers do (though few developers get the luxury of working on a guaranteed million-seller).

Lead GoW2 artist and writer talk Lancer polys, deaths and comics [X3F]

Gears of War 2 mastermind Dude Huge has confirmed that A). Gears of War 2 is 85 - 90 percent done B). "batshit insane" and C). has more colors. According to Dude Huge:

We kind of actively aimed for the de-saturated look, but its since become de riguer for this generation of games. I think that's why something like Mirror's Edge has become kind of like an oasis in the desert of E3 — 'Look! There's a red crate! I love you!' ...We actually have a little more color in Gears 2 — reds, oranges. Hopefully you've noticed. What I can tell you is that if there was a Gear 3 it'll be a total disco town: purples, pinks and greens everywhere!

"If" there was a Gears 3, oh please.

Gears 2 "85/90%" complete [CVG]

Gears 1 on PC looked cleaner! Now with added Brumak! It was a flagship title for the Games For Windows Live push! So Gears of War 2 will be bigger, more badass, right? Wrong. So wrong. Dude Huge has told IGN that Epic have "decided we're not going to do a PC version this time around". Could mean just that, there won't be a Gears of War 2 on PC. Or it could just mean that when it does come to PC, Epic won't be the team behind it. Who knows, maybe Gearbox will have a spare team lying around, we hear they're open to that kind of wet work.

Gears of War 2 Achievements and More [IGN] [Image]

New Gears Of War 2 Action Figures

The National Entertainment Collectibles Association (NECA) continue their almost single handed quest to collect all the dust in the northern hemisphere with their range of shelf-filling collectibles.

Next up is a set of Gears of War 2 dolls action figures we first saw some advance shots of in June.There is a new Marcus Fenix figurine, an even 'orribler looking Locust Theron Guard and two more of Marcus' chums from Delta Squad.

As usual, the models are absurdly detailed, not that the people who will buy them will ever take them out of the packaging to find this out. Honestly, NECA could really save on manufacturing costs by only modeling the front bits. The savings on plastic alone could treble their 3rd quarter operating costs.

Gears of War Series 2 Action Figures Revealed [Team Xbox]

The British Board of Film Classification website has revealed the contents of the bonus DVD that ships in the Gears of War 2 more expensive edition, detailing the run times and subjects of the various vignettes found on that shiny silver circle. Without giving too much away, there are captures covering various characters, vehicles, locations, and creatures featured in the game, along with a couple of specials bits and a lengthy feature called "Beneath the Surface", which apparently froze after 6 minutes, 50 seconds.

I've posted the full listing after the jump, so if you're curious, go ahead and take a peek. Just be warned, the content has been rated M by the BBFC.

Microsoft Unveils PAX Schedule

Microsoft have finalized the list of demos they will be bringing along to PAX next weekend.

Those champing at the bit for more glimpses of Gears of War 2 will not be disappointed — there will even be a couple of Gears signing sessions, should you have any merchandise you need to boost on eBay.

Other demos we would class as 'eagerly awaited' are Halo Wars and Project Origin, but MS will be showing off their new Games Creation and 'Mashups' tool PopFly as well as more info on the New Xbox Experience.

It is those 'TBA' demos on the Saturday & Sunday afternoons, that have us intrigued, though. What could it be? Is it a new game? Could it be the long awaited Next-Gen updates of Minesweeper and Freecell? Have they finally gone mental and are bringing out a portable Xbox?

Exciting!

Full schedule after the jump..

Gears 2 - Multiplayer DLC Already On The Way

In what is hopefully not just an oblique way of saying that Gears Of War 2 will a bit on the short side, Cliff Bleszinski has revealed that the first GoW2 downloadable content will arrive shortly after the game's release.

Speaking to Joystiq at X'08 Canada (not the Leipzig GC, as previously noted), Bleszinski confirmed that Epic is already working on the DLC, which will be "multiplayer map focused".

Cliffy also had some news for potential Gears achievement hunters — the game will let you "chip away" at achievements in every mode and will incorporate a little pop-up display to indicate that you have just done something that could lead you to completing an achievement.

X08: Cliff Bleszinski talks Gears of War 2 [Joystiq via Xbox360 Fanboy]

Why Gears of War 2 Won't Be At Leipzig

Leipzig's Games Convention will be Gears of War 2-less. While the game got top Microsoft billing at E3, Gears of War 2 won't be at GC. Explains Epic's Mark Rein:

Microsoft doesn’t show Gears 2 at Leipzig because they don’t sell the game in Germany.

Gears of War 2 won't be sold in Germany due to the country's restrictions on game violence. Bummer.

Rein confirms Gears 2 as Leipzig no-show [VG247]

We were told those overpriced, overblown replica Lancer rifles from the Gears of War universe didn't work! Well. We were lied to. Sort of. Because while they don't actually shoot real bullets, and don't actually feature working chainsaws with which to grind your enemies into chorizo fodder, they do do...something. And that something is simulate a working chainsaw, as the gun rumbles and makes a chainsaw noise. Does this justify the extortionate price tag? No. Does it explain why Dude Huge looks so damn excited every time he's snapped holding one? Probably!

Gears gun replica selling "like hot cakes" [Eurogamer]

Epic Boss: Lower Scores for PC GoW are "bullshit"

Get Your Gears of War 2 Lancers!

Amazon.com has announced an exclusive Gears of War 2 Lancer. Yours for a mere US$139.99! Out November 7th, the life-sized replica of course doesn't work, but hey, don't let that stop Dude Huge from pretending it does. Look how much fun he's having! If that is not a blast, will someone please tell us what one is?

If you pre-order the Lancer, you even get the standard edition of Gears of War 2, free of charge. And that's not a bad deal at all.

Gears of War 2 Amazon.com Exclusive Lancer [Amazon]

Gears of War 2 will be providing the option to turn the game into a more family-friendly affair. The "Mature" rated game will ship with parental control options that will change blood into sparks and remove all bad language. "Eat snot and diet", anyone? Anyone?

Gears 2 given violence filter [MCVUK]

Gears Author Ponders Lancer Cleaning

By John Gaudiosi

SAN DIEGO, CA—Cliff Bleszinski, design director at Epic Games, was the featured speaker on the Comic-Con International “Xbox 360 Gears of War Showcase” panel, over the weekend. Sitting alongside was comic book writer Josh Ortega, who worked with him on the Gears of War 2 story, and New York Times best-selling author Karen Traviss (Star Wars: Republic Commando), whose first of three planned Del Rey novels, Gears of War: The Battle of Aspho Fields, hits store shelves October 28.

Travis received an e-mail from her Del Rey Editor, Keith Clayton, asking if she could do a fast turnaround on a military game tie-in. After asking around and being told that Gears of War was “Traviss town” material, she acquiesced.

“If I don’t like something, but I’ve taken the money, I maintain a tactful British silence if asked for my opinion on it,” said Traviss. “I certainly won’t lie and gush over it, but I won’t talk it down either. So if I say I love something, I love it. And I bloody well love Gears.”

Gears Of War Movie To Be Pro Wrestler-Free

At today's Gears of War panel at Comic-Con, Cliff Bleszinski from Epic Games was asked about the Len Wiseman directed movie based on the IP. Bleszinski, the executive producer on the Hollywood adaptation, says he has high hopes for the film.

"Look, we know that video game movies have been pretty bad," Cliff admitted to the crowd, attempting to assuage their fears that the Gears flick will suck. "But just think how bad comic book movies were for such a long time. We hope [the Gears of War movie] will change that."

Cliff Bleszinski presented Gears of War 2 to Comic-Con attendees today, walking fans through the Sinkhole level shown last week at E3. While that gameplay session may be old news to Gears fans, Dude Huge had two new announcements for the crowd.

The first was that Steve Jablonsky, composer on films like Transformers and the Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake, was working on the score for Gears of War 2. Jablonsky was said to have been at Skywalker Studios working on the final mix of the soundtrack.

Even more interesting was the announcement that Gears of War 2 would feature "linked Achievements." In short, goals reached in the original Gears of War will carry over to the sequel, giving the player bonuses. Cliff listed three examples of how linked Achievements will work.

Keep in mind, some may be light spoilers.

NECA Pimps Gaming Toy Line Up At Comic-Con

Gears of War Movie Closer To Getting Made

The Gears of War movie has a co-financer and co-producer. Meaning? Meaning that we're closer to seeing it on the silverscreen. According to Variety, Legendary Pictures is co-financing the Gears movie with New Line. (Legendary recently financed The Dark Knight and are adapting World of Warcraft.) The head of Legendary, Thomas Tull (pictured), is apparently a big gamer, so that should hopefully ease concerns. Somewhat. Live Free or Die Hard director Len Wiseman is attached to helm the project.

Legendary Pictures co-financing "Gears of War" movie" [The Cut Scene]

Phil Spencer Talks Gears of War 3

Gears of War 2? That's so 2008. We ask recently promoted Microsoft Games Studio head Phil Spencer about Gears of War 3. We heard during the show that story for the Gears of War trilogy has been completed, so what about the game design?