Gears 2 bonus maps leading antiresale DLC wave

Discussion in 'Gaming Hangout' started by xzKinGzxBuRnzx, Oct 5, 2008.

  1. xzKinGzxBuRnzx

    xzKinGzxBuRnzx The Feature Man

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    YAY, Gold plated hammerburst! Below is what Gamespot said.

    New copies of Epic's anticipated Xbox 360 shooter will come with token for five reworked maps from 2006 original, Rock Band AC/DC track pack, Dead Space, and NBA Live offering similar incentives to first-time buyers. Specialty gaming retailer GameStop is on an impressive run, stringing together quarter after quarter of massive revenues and company-best profits. The retailer has attributed a large part of that success to the booming second-hand market, where gamers can purchase preowned copies of games at a discount rate over new copies of the same title. The practice has drawn withering criticism from within the industry, however. Many gamemakers have expressed outrage at GameStop's practice of aggressively pushing used game sales, the proceeds of which go entirely to GameStop. Sales of new games also benefit GameStop, but also remunerate the people who actually developed and published the game.

    Escalating beyond hollow saber-rattling, Electronic Arts has begun to take a stand against the resale market. Last week, the publishing giant took one of its boldest steps toward cutting out the brick-and-mortar middlemen, releasing Criterion Games' well-received racer Burnout Paradise as a digital download through Sony's online PlayStation Network store at a budget $29.99 price point.
    EA Publishing partner Epic Games has plans of its own to counteract the resale market. Speaking at an event promoting Gears of War 2 yesterday, Epic design director Cliff Bleszinski said that all new copies of the upcoming Xbox 360-exclusive shooter will include a free voucher to download the Flashback Map Pack. The map pack includes five online battlegrounds from the 2006 original Gears of War: Canals, Gridlock, Mansion, Subway, and the Tyro railway station.

    Epic also plans on awarding those who pick up a new version of the game during midnight launch events at participating retailers. Those who pick up the game in the wee hours of November 7 will receive a redeemable token for a special-edition in-game gold-plated Hammerburst assault rifle, which can be used in the online portion of Gears 2. The eminent designer noted that both the map pack and the gold-plated Hammerburst assault rifle will not be available for download as DLC at a later time through Xbox Live.

    Epic's move is just one more example of EA's push back against the resale retail sector. Shacknews noted the publisher launched a similar initiative with NBA Live, where gamers can redeem a code for free access to the 365 real-time update (otherwise available as a $19.99 download). The EA-distributed Rock Band 2 sports a one-use code found on the game's manual for 20 free downloadable tracks, and the newly announced Rock Band AC/DC Track Pack comes with single-use code to transfer its 18 songs into Rock Band and its sequel. Then there's Dead Space, which EA will upgrade witha free downloadable space suit with in-game benefits to those who purchase the sci-fi horror game within two weeks of its October 14 release.

    Source
     
    Last edited: Oct 14, 2008
  2. Trebor

    Trebor Dolphin Fan

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    Links in yellow *Trebs eyes hurt*. Anyway nice to know we can get the old GOW maps again. I really liked Canals and Gridlock. Pretty sure Subway was part of Epics DLC was it not? Anyway good to see the industry trying to beat resales. I hardly ever buy any used games unless I can't find them anywhere else or I feel the price of a brand new game isn't worth my money.
     
    Last edited: Oct 8, 2008
  3. xzKinGzxBuRnzx

    xzKinGzxBuRnzx The Feature Man

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    So sorry Trebor for the yellow links. I've changed them to blue as you can see. Also yes, I do believe Subway was a DLC map.
     
  4. InsaneNutter

    InsaneNutter Resident Nutter Staff Member

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    Nice free DLC from day one, that’s what we like to hear.

    I wonder if they just couldn’t fit them on the DVD?

    Anyone know if there is anymore more DLC planned for soon after the launch?
     
  5. Slaz

    Slaz Roast as you make toast!

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    Oh for another question regarding a rumor, does the Seriously achievement in GoW1 really create a sort of (small) status seen in GoW2 multiplayer profiles?
     
  6. InsaneNutter

    InsaneNutter Resident Nutter Staff Member

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    Not sure about that particular achievement but the achievements you got in gears 1 affect stuff in gears 2.
     
  7. xzKinGzxBuRnzx

    xzKinGzxBuRnzx The Feature Man

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    How? As I've never heard of something like that. I have all my acheivements except the last two cog tag achievements. I supose I could get them, just it would require me play the campaign again.
     
  8. InsaneNutter

    InsaneNutter Resident Nutter Staff Member

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    I think they will just allow you to unlock new skins and stuff for multiplayer and small bonuses like that. If I could remember where I read it I would link you to it, as you have most of the achievements you should get any stuff like that anyway.
     
  9. MunkyMagikUK

    MunkyMagikUK Digiex Blogger

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    If you have certain achievements from the first game you can unlock characters for the multi player aspect of Gears 2 such as RAAM, as well as other stuff i'm sure.

    Also, the seriously achievement on Gears 2 has been bumped up a wee bit to 100,000 KILLS ONLINE! :|
     
  10. InsaneNutter

    InsaneNutter Resident Nutter Staff Member

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    Thanks for explaing what can be unlocked, I knew it was something to do with multiplayer stuff.

    Don’t forget all your campaign kills count towards that, with modes like Horde that might actually end up not been that hard to get if you play a few games each day.
     
  11. MunkyMagikUK

    MunkyMagikUK Digiex Blogger

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    Do they? I wasn't aware of this, and therefore may not quite be as bad, I thought it was purely Online matches, not including Horde.

    As for what it unlocks, some of it is in the leaked game manual I think you posted, or at least that's where I think I saw it!
     
  12. InsaneNutter

    InsaneNutter Resident Nutter Staff Member

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    Found the info on that achievement:

    The Seriously 2.0 achievement's 100,000 kills are taken from EVERY game mode spread across the entire game. Meaning that every kill in campaign single or co-op, ranked or social multiplayer matches and even Horde games count towards the 100,000 kill finish line. Also, there will also be an achievement tracker notification that will randomly pop-up and update you on your Seriously 2.0 progress.

    Link
     
  13. Trebor

    Trebor Dolphin Fan

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    I think I heard that if you have Gears 1 and have a profile of the game you can choose to play as Anthony Carmine in MP in Gears 2. So both bros will be together (Y) I'm sure we'll know what things you can unlock for having the first game (achievements etc) soon.
     

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