RipTen Videogame Blog » Gears-of-War

False But Funny: Epic’s Unreal Engine Powers Chevy Super Bowl XLVI Spot

Chad Lakkis — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:00:11 +0000

It’s customary for me this time of year to browse the internet in search of the upcoming Super Bowl commercials, partly because I am not patient enough to wait for the big game, and partly because I can.

Well, stumbling upon the Chevy Silverado Super Bowl XLVI spot reminded me of a video game franchise I love very much. If you’ve ever played Gears of War, you know that critics of the Unreal Engine often refer to the game as “Greys of War.” Now, I happen to think the subject matter itself plays a huge part in the game’s overall color palette, but even I can admit the resemblance in the video below is pretty darn funny. Check it out for yourself.

Also, fans of RipTen need not worry. Dave Oshry does not drive a Ford.

Epic Games Has Equally Epic Schedule For 2012 D.I.C.E. Summit

Curt Hutson — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:30:14 +0000

Epic Games is in the mood for some celebrating and has decided to kick off the festivities at the 2012 D.I.C.E. Summit with all of its all-star, game industry buddies. Let the jealous feelings commence.

What are they celebrating exactly? Well, most don’t realize this, but Epic Games has been around for (drumroll, please) 20 freaking years! Founded by Mr. Tim Sweeney, Epic had released a myriad of games, many of which no one has ever heard of, way before Gears of War and Infinity Blade entered the scene — an admirable achievement.

Epic is starting with a lecture titled, “Technology and Gaming in the Next 20 Years”, then Epic president and AIAS board member Mike Capps will lead the panel, “Staying Around, Playing Around.” Here he will be joined by Blizzard Entertainment EVP of product development, Frank Pearce, and Insomniac Games founder and CEO, Ted Price, where they’ll give some solid advice on how to be successful, something they obviously have experience with.

Sweeney will be inducted into the AIAS Hall of Fame and Epic Games will most likely sweep most of the awards their games are being nominated for. The awards gala will proceed the ceremony, but, let’s be honest, everyone will be waiting for Epic Games’ after-party — which, with so much to celebrate, could last a fortnite.

It seems the the Epic Games crew will be heading to the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas next week carrying bags packed with extra swagger… but they’ll leave some room for those awards.

Five O’Clock Fan Art: Marcus Fenix Blue Balls Master Chief

Dylan Duarte — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:12 +0000

You may not know this but Microsoft’s fine print does not allow the ammo from one Xbox exclusive hero to damage another Xbox exclusive hero. Unfortunately for Master Chief, they forgot to add Chainsaw Bayonets to that list.

Five O’Clock Fan Art is perfect for wrapping up the work day. You don’t want to think anymore, you just want to look at awesome things. And there’s nothing more awesome than a well crafted piece of video game fan art. If you don’t agree, what the hell are you doing at a gaming blog?

Cooly whipped up this creation to cheer up a sick sibling. I’d love to see what he does for holidays and birthdays.

Awesome Left 4 Dead Fan Film Features Way Too Many Cameos

Dave Oshry — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 01:05:17 +0000

Fan films come in all shapes and sizes. Large, small, dead and undead.

This latest fan film by Northern Five productions and AirsoftGI catches up with the cast of Left 4 Dead as they take down the unrelenting zombie menace.

However, just when they think that all hope is lost, it’s time for some random cameos!

Yeah, I don’t get it either.

Still a damn fine production however – with or without Team Xbox coming to the rescue…

Five O’Clock Fan Art: Gears of War 3

Dylan Duarte — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:20 +0000

Deviant Art recently hosted a contest to see who could whip up the finest piece of Gears of War fan art and this little diddy took first place. Well done, little diddy.

The Gears of War 3 Horde Command Pack is now available.

Five O’Clock Fan Art is perfect for wrapping up the work day. You don’t want to think anymore, you just want to look at awesome things. And there’s nothing more awesome than a well crafted piece of videogame fan art. If you don’t agree, what the hell are you doing at a gaming blog?

I suppose Aeonsend had something to do with little diddy.

Hands on Mass Effect 3 Co-Op, Why it’s a Good Thing

Dave Oshry — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 22:00:57 +0000

When the world finally learned that the Mass Effect series was in fact getting multiplayer, just as many people were concerned as were elated.

“Get yer Call of Duty outta my Mass Effect!!” The roleplayers cried.

However, when Commander Shepard himself (in the form of series producer Casey Hudson) explained that the game would only be getting co-op and not some CoDified competitive multiplayer, people clammed down a bit.

“Co-op? Oh, well that’s cool, everyone likes co-op”

Indeed. Pretty much everyone does like co-op, and thanks to the wonders of wi-fi, even people without friends can enjoy the co-op in Mass Effect 3.

I recently sat down and got to enjoy some ME3 co-op and I’m going to tell you why I think it’s a good thing and why you’ll probably like it as well… or hate it… or be indifferent.

Come With Me If You Want To Live.

In this new “Galaxy at War” mode you and three friends will push onward to victory as you fight off the Geth and other intergalactic bad things that want to kill you. First up you’ll pick your race and class. All the notable races and classes are present here so yes, you can be an Asari Biotic and finally feel what it’s like to play as Liara… woo…

Anyhow, I decided to go in as a human soldier becuase when youve only got a 40 minute press demo, it helps to go with what you know. Hooyah!

Once everyone is locked and loaded we’re tasked with objectives to push, the only problem is there’s baddies who want to push back. Capture objectives, kill things, that’s the jist of it. Waves of enemies will come at you while you try to push for said objectives and yes, it feels a bit like Gears of War’s Horde mode – which isn’t a bad thing. In fact, if you’re familiar with Horde mode, you’ll feel right at home here. It didn’t feel quite as polished as Gears, but the game obviously isn’t finished and something something alpha, beta, omega builds are not the final product something something grain of salt.

Come At Me Bro

That’s not to say it’s easy. Even with my Soldier’s concussive shot leveled rather high I was having my ass handed to me by hard to avoid snipers and footsoldiers alike. I was constantly being revived by and having to revive my teammates until we eventually all died and failed on what was one of the final waves. We did eventually make it past said wave on a second playthrough, only to be killed by a giant mecha-boss which totally wasn’t my fault for running in and trying to stab it with my omni-blade. Such is the life of an interstellar spec ops group NOT led by commander Shepard. But I digress…

Even when you die, your experience will be carried over. This means that every time you play, your life will be a bit easier. The gameplay feels just as it does in single player, except that in single player your NPC teammates won’t go and try to stab the boss with their omni blade or accidentally throw a grenade at you. But that’s what co-op is all about really, yelling at your friends because they suck and are single-handedly causing the galaxy to implode.

As Usual, the Salarians Are No Help...

Now, what people seem to be the most worried about is that the co-op will detract from the single player experience or that since you can increase your “Galactic Readiness” level by participating in the co-op, that you have to play it. Well, you don’t. You can, and it will help get your galatic troops ready for the final battle with the reapers sooner, but you can also completely ignore the co-op and get the exact same end game results just by playing the single player. Think of it like a paid transaction in a F2P MMO… that you don’t have to pay for. Sure, you can buy your way (or in this case fight your way) to better unlocks, but you could also just grind them out. You can take the donkey to the top of the rim, or you can take the tram. It is the same price.

Think about it, would you rather play some Horde mode to help increase Shepard’s “Galactic Readiness” levels or would you rather scan and probe planets for hours on end? If you said scan and probe planets I hate you by the way…

People also seem to be irriatated by the thought that this mode is what delayed Mass Effect 3 and that it’s taking valuable resources and manpower away from the single player game. I hope these people know that two different studios are working on the game at this point. The main team (led by Commander Hudson) is at BioWare Edmonton and a completely separate team is developing the multiplayer at BioWare Montreal. There’s actually another team developing Mass Effect 4 at BioWare Mordor, but they’re not talking about that yet.

We're All Gonna Die...

What it all boils down to is this:

If you like this sort of thing, it’s there for you and your friends and it will add to your single player experience.

If this just isn’t your bag, you can completely ignore it and you will be no worse for wear.

However, this one believes the Hanar should be a playable race… just sayin.

Mass Effect 3 brings the war home on March 6th, 2012.

For more, check out our interview with series producer Casey Hudson.

Gears of War 3 ‘RAAM’s Shadow’ DLC Announced – Available Dec 13th

Garrett Hartman — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 16:44:59 +0000

Epic has announced a new set of Gears of War 3 DLC titled “ RAAM’s Shadow” which will be available December 13th.

Differing from the Horde Command Pack which is available at the first of next month, RAAM’s Shadow brings an additional 3 hour campaign mission, six new multiplayer characters, the Chocolate Weapon Set and an additional 250 Gamerscore. As a special treat, gamers will be able to play as the legendary General RAAM to “storm the human stronghold”.

RAAM’s Shadow takes place in Gears’ storied past and will feature a few familiar faces including Lt. Kim and Tai Kaliso. The story from the press release:

“RAAM’s Shadow drops players into the events of Sera post-Emergence Day, as Zeta Squad is enlisted to evacuate Ilima City and protect the citizens against a Locust Kryll storm. Taking on the infamous Locust leader from Gears 1, General RAAM, Zeta is led by Michael Barrick (from Gears comics fame) and comprised of familiar faces such as Lt. Minh Young Kim (Gears 1) and Tai Kaliso (Gears 2), and also includes a new female comrade, Alicia Valera.”

RAAM’s Shadow will run you 1,200 Microsoft Points, unless you own the Gears of War 3 season pass which includes the first four DLC at 30% off. Gears of War creator Cliff Bleszinski made a few comments about the season pass and what will be included in this batch of DLC:

“When we announced the Gears 3 Season Pass, we immediately started getting hundreds of questions from fans about what the game add-ons would be. We’re really excited to be lifting the curtain on the first two releases, first with the Horde Command Pack and now with RAAM’s Shadow, which gives fans a new perspective on the Gears universe and is also the biggest DLC release we’ve ever made.

“We’re really excited to be lifting the curtain on the first two releases, first with the Horde Command Pack and now with RAAM’s Shadow, which gives fans a new perspective on the Gears universe and is also the biggest DLC release we’ve ever made.”

“RAAM’s imposing size and strength, along with his Kryll shield, make him one of the most powerful and daunting foes in the Gears’ universe. We think fans are going to have a blast unleashing hell upon the poor humans for the first time in a campaign setting.”

I don’t know about you, but extra campaign DLC definitely piques my interest.

What LEGO Gears of War 3 Would Look Like – ‘Bricks of War’ Kicks Ass!

Garrett Hartman — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 20:29:50 +0000

Ever wonder what the Gears of War Trilogy would look like made out of LEGOs? If you have I’m sure it looked something similar to “Bricks of War” – A stop-motion animation based on the Gears of War franchise.

Thanks to Kooberz Studios, you can watch LEGO Marcus and Dom open a can of Whoopass on a group of Locusts. Watch to see some of the more popular weapons such as the lego Hammer of Dawn.

Check it out below!

And if you’re wondering how challenging it may have been to make Bricks of War, then watch “The Making of Bricks of War” below.

Gears of War 3 First Week Sales Hit Three Million Units

Sam Naylor — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 14:04:15 +0000

Cliffy B’s pockets have started to overflow with money so much that it is contributing to rising sea levels. Gears 3 sold more than 3 million in its first week.

Major Nelson reports that with the huge sales figures for Gears of War 3 the franchise is now “beyond one billion dollars in lifetime sales”.

Whoever made that little gif of Miyamoto and Iwata shouting “It prints money!” needs to make a new one, I think. Congrats to Epic on making such a fantastic series. They deserve sales figures like these.

Gears of War 3 Takes DLC To a New Low

Chris Carlson — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 05:30:39 +0000

Epic Games have finally brought Gears of War 3 before us, but their attempt at DLC is the most pathetic approach I’ve seen this console generation. Before I dig into this issue, I want to clear a few things up. I’ve purchased every Gears of War title at midnight, including Gears of War 3.

I absolutely adore the series. In fact, if you were to have me select only one new IP this generation not to miss out on, and skip the rest, it would be Gears of War. I’m not telling you these things to make you believe my claims are legitimate. I’m telling you these things because I’m utterly disgusted as a fan, and I’m disappointed in Epic’s decision on how to handle Gears of War 3‘s DLC.

Normally when a company chooses to provide DLC that’s a blatant rip-off, I tend to ignore it and not purchase it. In fact, I’d make jokes about it and laugh it off. The difference is, Epic Games is known for listening to their fans, giving them what they want, and being very loyal. However, their decision to make their fans pay to unlock content already on the disc is a disgrace to their community. Paying for on-disc content isn’t something that hasn’t been done before, but Epic Games took it a step further.

You remember when you beta tested Gears of War 3 back in April and got to use that sexy urban camo? Did you realize that five months later, in order to use that camo again you would have to pay $3? Not only were you participating in a beta to make the overall product better, you were also “testing” paid DLC that had been completed nearly half a year before release. Take a look at this screenshot captured from Gears of War 3 multiplayer.

Pink Lancer Day 1!! Fuck Yeah!!! Oh wait, I need Microsoft Points.

Notice the pink lancer? Yeah, the one you can purchase for $3. This screenshot was taken from gameplay footage shown back in January of 2011. Nearly 10 months ago, Epic Games has shown off the pink lancer and even boasted about how players can choose a pink lancer if they wanted too. Not only was that a partial lie -since you must purchase it separately-, we were looking at screenshots from DLC nearly a year before release.

It only gets worse from here. Have you played a match with all bots yet? Manage to see characters like “Big Red Dizzy” and wonder how to unlock them? Too bad, you can’t. That’s even more on-disc DLC in which you’ll have to purchase at a later date. The most pathetic part of all of this, is Gears of War 3 offered $75 worth of DLC before the game was even out. More than the actual game cost, but for less content than the actual game we purchased.

Epic Games also took the approach of “pre-ordering” DLC before it becomes available. Paying $30 for the season pass will grant you the first four pieces of DLC at no additional charge. As long as that specific content isn’t locked on my disc, I’m perfectly fine with that. Do your thing Epic. But locking away multiple characters, 20+ weapon skins and god knows what else, is just wrong. If the game shipped with more than 4-5 weapon skins (disregarding the beta unlocks) and offered more at a later date that wasn’t included on the disc, I probably would have purchased all of them. Sadly, that’s not the case.

Want all these purty weapon skins? $45 please.

Lets take it further than that. Have you happened to look at the leaderboards? Specifically for Horde or Beast Mode? Try it, then hit left once on the D-pad and look at what pops up. Oh, what’s that you ask? A map that’s not even playable yet, like Blood Drive for example, or Azura. Now, I’m not going to harp too much on this, mostly due to the fact I have no physical proof these maps are already on the disc and awaiting “activation”. I have however, seen “leaked” footage of these maps being perfectly playable. So it’s indeed possible these three maps are already on the copy you paid for, but it’s not definite.

This may not mean much, but I’m glad to see the Xbox Live community rate these “weapon skins” down to one and two stars on the marketplace. I’m sure a bunch of silly stars with a number planted next to it means nothing to Epic, but to me though, that’s saying I’m not alone, and many others agree with such juvenile behavior from such a well respected company. Surely, this isn’t the first article you’ve seen written on this subject.

I love Gears of War, and I still love the work Epic has done and they will not lose me as a fan. They have however, lost a lot of my respect and have me on a thin line between not purchasing future Gears of War 3 DLC and supporting such behavior. I’ve seen some damn pathetic attempts to rip gamers off (Resident Evil 5 “Multiplayer”), but Epic has gone too far to the point where they disrespected their fans, and ultimately embarrassed themselves. I can’t express how frustrated and angry I was on September 20th around 12:30AM launching Gears of War 3; selecting my weapons, then going to choose a weapon skin and see nothing but a bunch of dollar signs with locked content. I was downright furious.

The worst part of it all, I defended Epic Games before I was aware of the weapon skin announcement. They made the announcement shortly after I finished my writing for that day, and some random person in my XBL party was talking about them having $45 worth of weapon skin DLC. I actually told the guy whoever informed him of this false information was a damn moron because, “Epic Games would never do something like that!”

I was so quick to defend a company I had much respect for that I made myself look like a total ass. Not only do I now feel like a complete dick for doing so, I feel ashamed that I stuck up for a company that was stabbing me -and its fans- in the back as I was praising them. Never in a million years would I have guessed Epic Games of all developers would do something so shady. So my question to you Epic is;

“Why?” Did Microsoft have something to do with this? Did you wake up one day and decide Gears of War wasn’t making you enough money? I can not see one legitimate reason to charge forty-five dollars for some damn weapon skins and locking multiple types of DLC on the disc I’ve already purchased. I feel betrayed and used, taken advantage of, by a company that I never thought would stoop this low.

We gave Gears of War 3 a 10/10 in our RipTen Review… but between a Rip and a Ten? This DLC plan gets buried.

To conclude my rant, I have created what I believe is one of the most awesome weapon skins of all time… for free of course.

Dom From Gears of War Makes a Dying Kid’s Wish Come True

Dave Oshry — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 23:41:48 +0000

If you were dying of cancer and the Make a Wish foundation could grant you one wish, what would it be?

Well, if you were a huge Gears of War fan obviously it would be to meet Dominic Santiago in real life! Ain’t that right, bitches?!

Luckily, Carlos Ferro, the voice of Dom was kind enough to get suited up and equip a lancer to make this kid’s wish come true!

Wait… what the hell.

For more on Gears of War be sure to check out the RipTen Review of Gears 3!

Highlights From The Gears of War 3 Launch Event In Times Sqaure

Chris Carlson — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 22:22:03 +0000

When it comes to games like Gears of War and Halo, Microsoft doesn’t fuck around. They go big, and I mean big. In case you couldn’t make it out to the huge launch event in NYC the other night, we got you covered.

Inside the Best Buy theater is where all the action took place, and some lucky gamers were able to make it inside and play Gears of War 3 hours before it launched. Below are some of the highlights from the event we hope you enjoy. And yes, be very jealous of that “Epic” chopper that was given away. Trust me when I say, the pictures don’t do it justice. If you’re actually reading this, chances are you haven’t picked up Gears of War 3 yet. What the fuck is wrong with you? Are you on the edge? You shouldn’t be, just check out Chad’s review and find out why!

Fans were lined up outside the Best Buy Theater all day anticipating the release of Gears of War 3

This Marcus statue stands well over 6 feet tall from inside the theater

It's the Cole Train baby! Woo!

Rod Fergussion, Cliff Bleszinski, and Paul Jr.

This lucky son of a bitch won a Gears of War 3 inspired chopper built by Paul Jr!

Yes, it's sexy. Be jealous.

Gears of War 3 – Epic Achievement Completion Guide with Video

Ripten Staff — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 18:47:05 +0000

The Gears of War series has thrilled gamers for more than five years ending on a crescendo with Gears of War 3. Read our Gears Of War 3 review. Those who wish to improve upon their gamerscore and find the hidden achievement will find everything they need in this guide.

Other Ripten Gears of War 3 Guides:

Achievements:

Marcus, It’s Your Father ( 5G) - Story Progression in Prologue (Standard or Arcade).
Swimmin’ in Glowie Gravy (10G) - Story Progression in Act 1 Chapter 2 (Standard or Arcade).
We Struck Gold, Son! (10G) - Story Progression in Act 1 Chapter 3 (Standard or Arcade).
My Turf! Cougars Territory! (10G) - Story Progression in Act 1 Chapter 5 (Standard or Arcade).
Putting it Scientifically… (10G) - Story Progression in Act 1 Chapter 6 (Standard or Arcade).
Okay, Now We Find Hoffman (10G) - Story Progression in Act 2 Chapter 1 (Standard or Arcade).
Oh Yeah, It’s Pirate Time (10G) - Story Progression in Act 2 Chapter 5 (Standard or Arcade).
Thanks For Flying GasBag Airways (10G) - Story Progression in Act 2 Chapter 7 (Standard or Arcade).
Anvil Gate’s Last Resort (10G) - Story Progression in Act 3 Chapter 1 (Standard or Arcade).
Was it Good For You? (10G) - Story Progression in Act 3 Chapter 2 (Standard or Arcade).
Lost Your Good Driver Discount (10G) - Story Progression in Act 3 Chapter 3 (Standard or Arcade).
Brothers to the End (10G) - Story Progression in Act 3 Chapter 5 (Standard or Arcade).
Think You Can Handle That? (10G) - Story Progression in Act 4 Chapter 3 (Standard or Arcade).
Baird’s Favorite Kind of Toy (10G) - Story Progression in Act 4 Chapter 5 (Standard or Arcade).
Welcome To -redacted- (10G) - Story Progression in Act 4 Chapter 6 (Standard or Arcade).
Look at That, Instant Summer. (10G) - Story Progression in Act 5 Chapter 2 (Standard or Arcade).
Ok. Faith. Yeah. Got It. (10G) - Story Progression in Act 5 Chapter 5 (Standard or Arcade).
You’re Dead! Now Stay Dead! (10G) - Story Progression in Act 5 Chapter 6 (Standard or Arcade).
Ready for More (50G) - Complete all campaign Acts on Casual or Normal Difficulty (Standard or Arcade).
Ain’t My First Rodeo (50G) - Complete all campaign Acts on Hardcore Difficulty (Standard or Arcade).
That’s Just Crazy (75G) - Complete all campaign Acts on Insane Difficulty (Standard or Arcade).
Collector (5G) - Recover 5 Campaign Collectibles (any difficulty, Standard or Arcade).
Pack Rat (10G) - Recover 20 Campaign Collectibles (any difficulty, Standard or Arcade).
Hoarder (15G) - Recover all 42 Campaign Collectibles (any difficulty, Standard or Arcade). In our Gears of War 3 – COG tag and Collectibles Location Guide
Remember the Fallen (15G) - Recover all 15 COG Tags during the Campaign (any difficulty, Standard or Arcade). In our Gears of War 3 – COG tag and Collectibles Location Guide
My Fellow Gears (50G) - Complete all Campaign Acts in Co-op (any difficulty, Standard or Arcade).
We Few, We Happy Few… (50G) - Complete all Campaign Acts in 4 player Co-op (any difficulty, Standard or Arcade).
Level 5 (5G) - Reach Experience level 5.
Level 10 (10G) - Reach Experience level 10.
Level 15 (15G) - Reach Experience level 15.
Level 25 (25G) – Reach Experience level 25.
Level 50 (50G) – Reach level 50.
Judge, Jury and Executioner (10G) - Get a kill with every possible execution finishing move (any mode).
Wreaking Locust Vengence (10G) - Get a kill with every Locust monster in Beast mode (any difficulty).
Enriched and Fortified (10G) - Complete all 50 waves of Horde mode (any difficulty, any map).
It’s All About the Loot! (25G) - Earn the Bronze “Loot Courtesan” medal.
All for One, One for All (10G) – Earn the Bronze “Force Multiplier” medal.
First Among Equals (25G) - Earn the Silver “Number 1″ medal. – Need to achieve the highest score in Arcade Mode 60 times. It can be done with two controllers. From Video: This is a great way to earn progress towards most of the Arcade medals in Gears of War 3, plug in a 2nd controller and play split-screen to get credit for beating the other player. I did the video solo so it will be easier to see but I always farm this with a 2nd controller plugged in.
Award Winning Tactics (25G) - Earn at least one Onyx medal.
Seriously 3.0 (100G) Reach level 100 and earn every Onyx medal.
Welcome to Versus (10G) - Kill 10 enemies in Team Deathmatch (Standard or Casual).
The Versus Sampler Platter (10G) Complete one match of all six Versus game modes (Standard or Casual).
Welcome to Horde Mode (10G) – Survive the first 10 waves of Horde mode (any difficulty, any map).
Welcome to Beast Mode (10G) - Survive all 12 waves of Beast mode (any difficulty, any map).
Welcome to Arcade Mode (10G) – Complete 5 Arcade Campaign chapters in co-op (any difficulty).
Welcome to the Big Leagues (0G) – Demonstrate your skill in Casual Versus multiplayer.
Wait, What Time is it? (10G) – Earn the maximum Consecutive Match Bonus in Versus multiplayer (Standard or Casual).
Lambency (50G) – Execute an Epic employee, or someone who already has Lambency, in Versus multiplayer (any mode). – This is easy because you just hasve to execute someone who executed someone who executed an Epic employee.
Socialite (70G) – Earn the Onyx “War Supporter” medal. – Achievement requires you to participate in 30 events, that will be coming up in the gears of war 3 event calender.

Secret Achievements:

Respect for the Dead (5G) -Your respect for the dead earned you access to Griffin’s special weapons stash.In Act 4 chapter 1 (Ashes to Ashes) do not destroy (touch or shoot) any dead ashes people along the way to griffin’s building. It’s ok if it broke up by ashman traps or polyps explode.This is just after you get permission to see Griffin on your right side. The room is blocked by a barred fence. When you move close enough and have shown respect for the dead, the women in the room will open it for you. Inside are some good weapons.

Gears of War vs. Resistance – An Epic Rivalry Concludes and Everybody Wins

Garrett Hartman — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 03:00:16 +0000

In early November 2006, one of the greatest franchise fights of this console generation began: Gears of War vs. Resistance. It started as a battle between exclusives to showcase the capabilities of each respective console. Surprisingly, both series had many parallels and further cemented the rivalry by releasing each successive game in the same month, with release dates often less than two weeks apart. Two Sci-fi shooters designed by respected studios featuring characters fighting for humanity’s survival against far more powerful mutated alien invaders. While there is no doubt that the Gears of War series proved more dominant, the Resistance series has more than held its own in many respects as one of the PlayStation 3′s standout franchises.

The rivalry has included six games, three from each studio: Gears of War, Gears of War 2 and Gears of War 3 from Epic vs. Resistance: Fall of Man, Resistance 2 and Resistance 3 from Insomniac Games.

Origins

Back in November 2006, the Xbox 360 had been basking in the sun for a year as the only “next gen” console. This was soon to change with the coming release of the of the Nintendo Wii and PS3. Out of the new contenders the PS3 was considered the more likely rival with expected greater computing power and graphical capabilities.

Prior to the PS3′s release, two major exclusives were being trumpeted to showcase the system’s prowess : one being the now infamous Killzone 2 “gameplay” trailer and the other being Resistance: Fall of Man. Both were hyped to be superior to anything found on the Xbox 360.

ORLY?!

At the time, Microsoft had not released a console defining game. Halo 3 was still in development and would not debut until 2007. Microsoft knew they needed a champion – a showcase title to release as a counter to the PlayStation 3. Luckily a young and ambitious developer from Epic games named Cliff Bleszinski had an idea for a 3rd person shooter which involved using cover and tactics. It was a new approach Cliff came up with after enjoying paintball outings with friends. Rather than a simple backstory, the ambitious Cliffy B created a complex sci-fi adventure featuring inhabitants of the earthlike planet of Sera in a desperate situation fighting for existence against a recently emerged overwhelming menace – the Locust. As the first Xbox 360 game using Epic’s propriety Unreal 3 engine, early in development Gears looked amazing and after it won several “Xbox 360 Game of Show” awards at E3 2oo5, Microsoft was sure they found their champion.

Sony was also in a desperate position. The PS3 launch needed marquee titles and as the launch date came closer more than a few expected titles would be delayed. Luckily Insomniac’s Resistance: Fall of Man would be ready. Resistance was developed as a “Halo Killer”. Insomoniac looked at the popular FPS’s of the time: obviously the console king Halo and World War 2 shooters such as Call of Duty. What they created was an alternate timeline sci-fi shooter which took place in 1950′s England. This world, while similar to ours, never experienced the second World War. Instead they faced an alien invasion which extended beyond simple miltary conquest with futuristic weapons, as the enemy Chimera could spread by virus. The focus would be entertaining and innovative weapons. Sony had found its first “killer app”.

The stage was set for battle with the success of each competing title tied at least some part to the success of their consoles. The two Sci-fi shooters with more than a few similarities debuted just a week apart.

This is 'Slightly' More Scary A Nazi Invasion

Resistance: Fall of Man vs. Gears of War

Gears of War debuted first on November 7th, 2006 to universal critical acclaim with an aggregate score of 94% on Metacritic. Critics praised the game for its graphics, solid gameplay, innovative cover system, multiplayer and reload mechanics. Resistance released ten days later on November 17th as the most celebrated launch title for the PS3. Fall of Man received generally positive reviews from critics. The game received an average score of 86% on Metacritic as reviewers enjoyed the game’s setting, story, variety of weapons and 40 player multiplayer.

Although Gears of War outscored Resistance by an average 8% points, many critics were divided as to which exclusive was superior. Furthermore, Gears lead in sales which could easily be attributed to the higher install base at the time of Xbox 360s.

Screw You Major Nelson!

Head to head, both had their strengths and weaknesses. Critics praised the story in Resistance while many described Gears as being “shallow” and a “missed opportunity”. Clearly, Gears had better graphics and distinguished itself with a excellent cover system, but Resistance had more interesting and varied weapons. Both games had excellent but far different multiplayer components however.

All in all both titles could claim victory because both had accomplished their individual goals. Gears of War raised the bar for console graphics proving that Microsoft’s console would be able to compete, while Resistance gave the the PS3 the killer app it would need to sell consoles in the first place.

Like with any good fight, the first round ended, both combatants had gotten a feel for each other and adjusted their tactics for round two.

RipTen Review: Gears of War 3 (Xbox 360)

Chad Lakkis — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 07:00:25 +0000

As I prepared to dig into Epic Games‘ third and final installment of the Gears of War franchise a few days ago, I couldn’t help but feel as if it had been forever since I reviewed Gears of War 2. In fact, it seems like forever since I’ve done much of anything these days besides prepare for my upcoming wedding, gather paperwork for my banker to help close on my house, and count down the final days of bachelorhood (T-minus 19 days and counting).

The original Gears of War hit store shelves just about five years ago. That’s roughly six months before I launched RipTen.com and nearly one year after I met my soon to be wife. My relationship with her, the site, and the game itself have all evolved since then.

Diligence drove me (literally) to pick it up the moment it became available, and the rest was history. Marcus, Dom, Cole, and the cover-based combat, quickly became as familiar to me as a basement full of childhood toys. Like a cardboard box, Gears of War 3 metaphorically tucks the franchise away, keeping it safe and dry up on a shelf between my He-Man action figures and my treasured comic book collection.

As far as sequels go, Gears 3 is more of a gradual change from Gears 2 – refined not reinvented. It’s got enough new features to help it feel fresh without all the unnecessary alterations that would otherwise leave it feeling foreign. While there are a slew of new weapons, playable characters, and levels to blast your way through, story is king in the the third and final installment, thus ensuring that the Gears trilogy wraps up with a gratifying and fitting ending that fans will be proud to replay for years to come.

In breaking the game down, one aspect at a time (spoilers aside), I’d have to say that outside of the plot evolution, the addition of four-player co-op makes Gears 3 the perfect game for your man cave … especially if your man cave is equipped with four 60 inch flat screens and just as many 360 consoles. It adds diversity along with my personal favorite, “strategery” to the campaign, boosting its replay value when paired with the multiplayer component. It’s like multiplayer for the guy that doesn’t want to get sniped by the same eleven year old kid over and over again.

Regardless of your age and/or skill level, Gears 3 multiplayer doesn’t disappoint. All of the traditional mutliplayer versus modes are back and ready for camping. The addition of barbed-wire defenses and decoys spice up the return of Horde Mode, helping you divert and slow the opposition in order to stay alive just a little bit longer.

If speed is your thing, you can try your hand at the new Beast Mode, which puts you behind the wheels of various Locust characters in a race to kill as many COGs as you can before the clock hits zero. Your gameplay experience and bottom line contribution in Beast mode varies drastically based on the type of Locust you pick. Familiar entities such as the Ticker gnaw through defensive roadblocks, while newer additions such as the Serapede quickly slither around the level like Barry Sanders in his prime.

The voice acting in Gears 3 is top notch as far as video games go, and the cast behind the Delta Squad once again does an amazing job delivering the sometimes cheesy yet always funny one liners that make Gears the third person gold standard experience that it is. From Cole’s child-like charm to Fenix’s grizzled focus — the cinematic dialogue and in-game call outs are always character appropriate and on point. One scene in particular (which I won’t spoil) features a very fitting musical tribute that adds just the right amount of emphasis to the moment without going overboard.

The overall graphics, gameplay experience and presentation of Gears 3 is what we’ve come to expect, with a few enhancements spliced in to keep things on the up and up. The addition of ammo swapping proves that giving is not always better than receiving, as I often found myself ignoring the “I’m out” calls echoed by my squad members. Campaign level design and transition from one area to the next is no doubt fun and fast paced, with more than enough variety to keep you busy, though I personally give a slight edge to Gears 2 in this department.

New toys like the Digger Launcher and Incendiary Grenade are thrown into the mix of more than already sufficient artillery options, and while I did use them from time to time (mostly situational), I shamelessly admit to sticking to the combination of Lancer and Shotgun whenever possible. Then again, I fell in love with my turkey sub being made a particular way at seventeen, and I’m still eating it the same way nearly sixteen years later. Sporadic? No. But it tastes good.

From a purely visual standpoint, the contrast between the rich detail you experience in third person perspective and the pixelation you see when the in-game cinematic bring you up close and personal (as they seem to do more often than ever before in the dramatic conclusion) work against each other. It’s not broken by any means, it’s just a far better experience visually from a third-person perspective. At the end of the day, if Gears 3 was a girl, you wouldn’t kick her graphics out of bed in the morning, but you might roll over once in the opposite direction to distance yourself from the morning breath.

Gears 3 also introduces playable female characters, as well as a few new strapping young lads to gaze upon. Unfortunately, while the pacing and focus of the third installment gets us to a fitting end with no shortage of memorable and sometimes moving moments along the way, the writers could have added a little more back-story to flesh out and familiarize us with the newer faces without straying too far off the main course. That said, I applaud the team for not going with the “let’s have them all meet up in a metaphorical church” type ending (see LOST if you’re lost.)

Considering how much I loved Gears 2, there was one aspect of the second installment that left me feeling a little jipped in the end. As noted in my review at the time, I felt that the final encounter between you and the primary villain could have benefited from a slightly clearer establishing shot. That said, Gears 3 does a far better job of making sure there is no doubt in your mind that the battle you are about to take part in is epic in relevance and proportion. In fact, all of the boss battles are extremely gratifying.

Minor nitpicks (and I do mean minor) aside, I absolutely loved Gears of War 3 from start to finish, and will most certainly be playing through it again once I am settled into my new home, and the craziness that is my life at the moment settles down in a few short weeks.

If you are a long time fan of the franchise like myself, or a newcomer on the market looking for an action packed third-person shooter, rest assured that Gears of War 3 will meet or exceed your expectations, and maybe even leave you reaching for a Kleenex when it’s all said and done.

Here’s the Rundown:

+ Fitting conclusion
+ More of the same ‘can’ be a good thing
+ Extremely gratifying Boss Battles
+ Jam packed with love for the Cole Train
- Not so jam packed with love for the Jace …Train?
– When did we start hating pre-rendered cinematics?

Learn more about the RipTen scoring system and what this score means. Visit our review scoring page

Gears of War 3 was developed by Epic Games and published by Microsoft. It was released on September 20th, 2011 for $59.99 exclusively for the Xbox 360. A copy of the game was provided by the publisher for the purposes of this review. The campaign was played to completion and multiplayer was played with developers who were much better than Chad. He shed a tear as the credits rolled and he’ll continue to weep until another Gears project is announced.

New Video Game Releases: 9/19 – 9/25 (Gears of War 3 Edition)

Garrett Hartman — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 16:18:28 +0000

Just another release week? Hardly. With Gears of War 3 releasing, lancers are revving, brumaks are stomping and the Coletrain is ready to roll baby, making this one of the most anticipated release weeks of the year!

“Yeah. Wooo! Bring on Sucka, this my kind of sh*t!” Unless you live under a rock or find yourself unfortunate enough not to have an Xbox360, the big release this week is the massive Sci-fi shooter that brings the Gears trilogy full circle with Gears of War 3. Marcus and Delta squad reunite for perhaps the last time to save the planet Sera against not just the locust, but the mutated minions of the Lambent. With rave reviews and a mountain of pre-orders, this week belongs to Gears 3.

What else? Finally, the PlayStation 3 sees the release of Child of Eden with full PS move compatibility!

Expect quite a few multiplat releases this week with Supremacy MMA, f1 2011 releasing on both the Xbox 360 / PS3 and Burnout Crash, Resident Evil 4 HD releases on XBLA and PSN.

The PC hits it big with deuling RPG’s Drakensang: Complete Saga and Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes, the PSP brings out more for fans of JRPG’s with Persona 2: Innocent Sin and all of the Big N’s releases this week are for the kids.

Pick of the Week: Do I really have to say it? The Gears of War series is what brought me into this generation of of gaming. I have NEVER been so psyched for a game – Gears of War 3.

And just to celebrate – The Cole Train Rap:

PlayStation 3

Burnout Crash! (PSN)
Child of Eden
F1 2011
Resident Evil 4 HD (PSN)
Supremacy MMA

Xbox 360

Burnout Crash! (XBLA)
F1 2011
Gears of War 3
Gears of War 3 Limited Edition
Gears of War 3 Epic Edition
Resident Evil 4 HD (XBLA)
Rotastic (XBLA)
Supremacy MMA

Wii

Barbie: Jet, Set & Style
Chuck E. Cheese’s Super Collection

Action-Strategy 4 Pack
Bunch of Heroes
Drakensang: Complete Saga
Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes
Rig ‘n’ Roll: Cut-Throat Highway

3DS

Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection

Barbie: Jet, Set & Style
Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2
Harvest Moon: The Tale of Two Towns
Kirby: Mass Attack

PSP

Persona 2: Innocent Sin

Gears of War 3 Install Size Revealed

Chris Carlson — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 17:00:28 +0000

Gears of War 3 is almost upon us, but in preparation for the trilogies end, you may want to clear some room on your HDD. Gears of War 3 will take up a whopping 7.5GB if you wish to fully install the game reports Vgarabia.

Previous Xbox 360 titles only had a max storage of 6.5GB, so it appears Gears of War 3 takes full advantage of the new disc format Microsoft beta tested a few months ago.

Gears of War 3 revs up exclusively on Xbox 360 on September 20th.

Gears of War 3 Season Pass Gets Hefty Price Tag

Chris Carlson — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 13:45:57 +0000

Epic Games seem to be taking the pre-order DLC route with their upcoming major release, Gears of War 3. The Gears of War 3 “Season Pass” will give gamers access to the first four installments of DLC “over the course of the next year”, with November being aimed for the first release.

The Season Pass will be available upon the games release for 2400 MSP ($30). Microsoft says the the Seasons Pass is a 33 precent discount on the regular price of the four add-ons if bought separately.

The DLC will offer both single player and multiplayer, and as a bonus, all gamers who purchase the Seasons Pass will be an exclusive “Liquid Metal Weapon Set” for free.

Gears of War 3 is set to release September 20th exclusively on Xbox 360

[Source: Shacknews]

New Gears of War 3 Multiplayer Screens Look Spectacular

Chris Carlson — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 22:00:59 +0000

Following the announcement of the full map list for Gears of War 3, Epic Games have released new screenshots from every map in the game. If you played the Gears of War 3 Beta, you know just how much of a graphical improvement it is over its predecessor. These new screens show off just how beautiful the game looks.

Gears of War 3 is set to release on September 20th exclusively for Xbox 360.

Gears of War 3 Full Multiplayer Map List Revealed

Chris Carlson — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 13:30:22 +0000

Epic Games have released a first look at the complete lineup of Gears of War 3 multiplayer maps. Epic Games announced that the fan-favorite, Gridlock will be making a return and brought along a nice video to share. Below is a list of every multiplayer map in the game, including a description with each one.

Checkout – Checkout’s combat takes place in the carcass of an abandoned superstore. The shop owners tried to move their inventory with a closeout sale in the weeks leading up to the HOD evacuations, but ultimately had to walk away and leave everything to time and history. The intense close-quarters combat of the store aisles makes every decision important. Weapon selection is key, cover is essential to survival and every move has an impact. When facing your enemy, remember what the sign says: “Everything must go.”

Drydock – Much has been written about the beauty of Seran culture, but people often forget the backbone of industry upon which it all relies. This shipyard stands full of undelivered goods and the necessary tools of a society’s infrastructure. Its most prominent landmark is the rotting husk of a cargo ship that will forever stand in Drydock.

Gridlock – This ashen street was once a bustling tourist destination known for its quaint inns and waterfront cafés. Even the water is gone now, replaced by the burnt shell of a crater that stands as a testament to the loss of Seran humanity.

Hotel – Small island resorts such as this one catered to the opulent tastes of vacationing Serans. But as the Lambent infection spreads across the globe, tides are shifting to flood once popular beaches, and fierce winds batter and push at the walls of humanity’s creations.

Mercy – This area was once a bustling town square filled with people, but it never recovered from the UIR mortar shellings of the Pendulum Wars. Emergence soon followed, and the already heartbroken residents were shown no mercy by Locust forces, leading to an almost immediate evacuation. This large and open central square is surrounded on all sides by sheltered passageways and buildings. A raised dais yields powerful weaponry and a view of virtually everything within range, but the power located there must be hard-earned and well-protected to provide any lasting advantage.

Old Town – Several remote areas of Sera managed to stave off the impact of Emergence for quite some time. Island towns such as this one were able to sustain themselves with small farms and a steady bounty from the ocean. But all good things must come to an end, and eventually they could hide no more. This is an excellent map for team-based play, with multiple areas that are well-suited to both attack and defense scenarios. A well-executed plan will often reap great rewards, and an enemy caught unaware can be flushed into a trap like a chicken free of its coop.

Overpass – As the Lambent infection spreads across Sera, the planet is quite literally falling apart. And as the substrata beneath this forgotten overpass begin to disintegrate, the entire city block is collapsing along with it, sliding into a vast underground cavern. Head for the high ground or you just might slide along with it. Battles in this highly dynamic map often focus around the elevated Overpass, where teams can hole up and take advantage of the protected position and emplaced weaponry located there. But gaining the high ground can also be a trap, as the team left below will most assuredly use mortars and orbital lasers to regain their lost footing.

Sandbar – This observation post once had a commanding view of the distant horizon. Never threatened, it was thought to be impenetrable due to its unpredictable coastline and the constant shifting of sandbars along the shallow water of the coastline. And it never did fall; it was simply abandoned when humanity fled from a threat that nobody could ever see coming.

Thrashball – This stadium was once home to a different sort of national hero, one who fought for honor and glory, instead of scrambling for survival. The invigorating roar of the crowd has been replaced by the melancholy moaning of wind in the empty stadium seats. Stadium matches are no longer restricted to the playing field, and the team that controls the concession stands earns a great advantage. The scoreboard still keeps track of every point earned, but its frayed support cables also make it a precarious trap for anyone foolish enough to run underneath it.

Trenches – The Locust have begun to carve mines and tunnels into the rocks of the Seran Deadlands, eking out any existence that resembles the underground passages of the Hollow they once called home. But this harsh environment is as relentless and unforgiving as any enemy they’ve ever had to face. The Locust Trenches are small and tight, with clean lines of sight across virtually the entire battlefield. The central hill leads to a fortified bunker with a strategically important vantage point. Once taken, it is rarely surrendered, unless opposing forces can manage to sneak up under the cover of a passing sandstorm that leaves everyone blind for a short while.

Gears of War 3 is set to release on September 20th exclusively for Xbox 360.