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Monday, 9 October, 2006 – Gears of War News
CLiffyB On EGM Live* 16:39 PST | redef | Print News | Mail News Electronic Gaming Monthly’s latest Live* proadcast features CliffyB. It consists of 46 minutes of candid discussion between the EGM folks and Cliffy concerning topics such as the GoW/Texas Chainsaw Massacre event, the length of GoW’s gameplay, forums, hair styles, inspiration for game design, and a whole lot more. It's a very worthy listen!
CliffyB Interviewed 15:43 PST | redef | Print News | Mail News FiringSquad has interviewed our beloved CliffyB. As I’m sure you could guess the interview concerns Gears of War, and has plenty of informative and intriguing non-informative replies (like the one below for instance).
FiringSquad: We have seen how good the game looks, but can you tell us how does it uses the Xbox 360's multiple processors?
Cliff Bleszinski: I’m not a programmer. It uses the processors. It looks hot. Ask me about the chainsaw!
Saturday, 7 October, 2006 – Gears of War News
CliffyB On Co-op Dynamics 22:40 PST | redef | Print News | Mail News CliffyB has updated his blog with some comments concerning the dynamics that have emerged in Gears of War’s co-op. Player’s don’t merely cooperate to accomplish the goal of beating the game, but they also compete with each other for resources and other sorts of things. Here’s an excerpt:
However, one side effect of all of this cropped up. As fate would have it we didn't always include two of everything in the game. One player can sometimes hog a turret, or a torquebow, or the Hammer of Dawn.
[...]
Players would start to figure out that we weren't always that generous with extra goodies in co-op and started competing for goodies. Racing to a turret. Stealing grenades. Swiping the sniper rifle.
CliffyB: GoW An X-Y Axis Platformer 22:34 PST | redef | Print News | Mail News TeamXbox is providing a video clip of CliffyB explaining why Gears of War’s movement, due to its unique level design and cover system, is more like a X-Y axis platform game than an actual 3D shooter. It’s a fairly short clip at around a minute and a half, but very interesting.
What influenced you artistically as you developed your skills and style?
My entire life I’ve been a rabid fan of video games, sci-fi, horror, comics, toys, etc. I have a huge art collection and am extremely humbled by all of the talented artists in the world making cool stuff. It would be impossible to narrow it down or find one source of inspiration.
I think the biggest thing that has contributed to my progression is working with so many amazing artists and seeing the incredibly cool stuff they produce on a daily basis. It’s very scary and motivating at the same time because you are surrounded by so much talent. You literally have to grow and advance on a regular basis because you don’t want to let your bros down.
GS: The pairing with Texas Chainsaw Massacre is only going to be done in four cities. Is this sort of an idea that is a test for future projects? It's a fairly new idea what you're doing.
CD: Yeah. I don't think it's ever been done before, kind of a double billing, if you will, a first public viewing for both a film and a game. I think it's something we definitely would do or consider doing in the future. I think it's just a matter of finding a synergy, a partner where it's mutually beneficial to both. I mean, you couldn't think of two properties that kind of align so well that are both launching around the same kind of launch window. And on top of that, it's all taking place in the month we go gold for Gears and the movie premieres. So there's a lot of synergy within a one-month period of time.
Joystiq On GoW 23:41 PST | redef | Print News | Mail News Joystiq has posted some impressions of Gears of War based on their experiences from the public demos after viewing Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Their impressions are unique in that they also include some comments from the fans who also had a chance to play. Here’s an excerpt:
The duck and run system seemed buggy at first, but once you actually use it a few times, it becomes easier to understand. You use the same button to run and to duck/cover, so if you run too close to cover you'll end up crouched there. Use the sprint feature sparingly, unless you are trying to hit the afterburners and run away "like a chicken!," as one audience member kept shouting.
GOW, he continued, "wasn't cheap but didn't cost the crazy figures you hear other companies quoting of $20, $30 million". Rein made similar comments in an interview with GI.biz last year, where he accused "big companies like EA" of "going around trying to scare people".
New SP + MP Gears Videos 9:05 PST | RaptoR | Print News | Mail News A post on the Official GoW Forum links to four new videos of Gears of War, showing single-player and multiplayer action. The multiplayer video in particular is stunning, and seems to confirm that you'll be able to play as a member of the Locust horde.
MS Marketing Guy on Gears, Emergence Day Events 4:53 PST | RaptoR | Print News | Mail News GameSpot has interviewed Microsoft Marketing Director Chris Di Cesare about the importance of Gears of War for Microsoft this holiday season, as well as some of the cool events that the software giant has planned to coincide with Emergence Day.
Another event that we're going to be having closer to when the game goes gold at the end of the month is being held at a cemetery location where you get a chance to play the game, and there will be celebrity guests. But all of them are hands-on play of Gears of War before it's officially available. And then the last event is going to take place at a Fright Night-like location, so it's a part of Great Adventure [theme parks] where we'll be taking over the park in the evening and also having a private performance by Megadeth and having Gears of War playable. But also it'll be the first time Megadeth--who obviously through Gigantour became big Gears of War fans--are going to do their first performance of a Gears of War set, if you will, or perform a Gears of War song that they've scribed and will be a part of the new album. So you know, Megadeth and Gears of War, Texas Chainsaw and Gears of War, cemeteries. They all have this theme of giving gamers a chance to play the game before it launches, but then having some fun extracurricular activities.
Head over here for the full interview (thanks hal).
GoW Backstage Pass Contest 23:06 PST | redef | Print News | Mail News Two lucky Gears of War fans will have the opportunity to visit Epic’s offices and preview GoW for four days. Microsoft is holding a contest that’s open to US and Canadian residents, and all you need do is fill out a quick form. Here’s a little description:
Actually we’re giving away TWO Grand Prizes. Here’s what the two lucky randomly selected winners will score: A four day/three night trip for the winner and one guest to Epic Studios in Raleigh/Cary, NC to play the Xbox®360 title Gears of War. Includes round-trip economy class air transportation from major airport closest to the winners' homes to Raleigh, North Carolina, double occupancy hotel accommodations; roundtrip airport transfers; meals; and a tour of Epic Studios.
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