GEARS OF WAR FAQ
Originally posted by:
Havoc DOW
There is alot of hype surrounding this game as we near it's release date, and alot of unawnsered questions, so I decided to do some research and compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions about Gears of War. The following information is acccurate and, where possible, links are provided with more to be added as and when I have time.
What is Gears of War?
Gears of War is a third person tactical action/horror game. It combines the most enjoyable elements from tactical shooters, such as cover, slower pace, and squad based gameplay, with some of the most thrilling bits from horror games, such as nightmarish monsters, and shocking scares. Lots of blood, lots of swearing, with kick *** dialogue! Volumetric blood and blood splats on the "camera" will ensure a gore-tastic experience!
What does the title of the game refer to?
Soldiers in this universe serve in the Coalition of Ordered Governments, or the COG, and so they're known as Gears.
What are the game's features?
First and foremost, Gears of War is about cover. To survive you need to take cover; running and gunning in this brutal world will only get you killed. If it looks like you can take cover, you can: dive against a wall, blind-fire your gun around a corner, climb over a wall, and race for the next safe spot. Also, in Gears you'll never fight alone. As a member of Delta Squad you'll fight side by side with some of the toughest soldiers around. In fact, you can play through the entire game cooperatively with a pal.
What's the Gears of War setting?
Gears takes place on the war-ravaged world of Sera. Humanity was enjoying a renaissance period for years. Enormous, beautiful cities were erected, and the arts were celebrated. Then the Locust Horde burst forth from the depths of the underground and proceeded to lay waste to everything. In the game, Epic try to give the player a sense of the beauty of that civilization, and the sadness of its destruction.
Can you give some background on Sera?
Sera is a very Earthlike planet that has been ravaged by many years of war. On Sera, humanity has a level of technology very similar to that which we have on Earth. The key difference is that Serans have not put much effort into space exploration; the only major feat they've managed to accomplish in that area is a satellite network that's used for orbital laser platforms. Sera also has a very porous underground known as the Hollow. This is the place the Locust call home.
Can you give us a brief overview of the story behind Gears of War?
The humans of Sera have been fighting a decades-long war over the miracle energy source known as Imulsion when a new enemy appears: The Locust Horde. Erupting from underground warrens, the Horde attacks humanity, and overnight more than a quarter of the planet's population is massacred. What remains of the human military flees to Jacinto Plateau, where they make a final desperate stand against overwhelming forces.
Who wrote the story for Gears of War?
The writing team was comprised of Cliff Bleszinski, Eric Nylund, and Susan O'Conner. They worked together to make sure that you gave a damn about the humans in this universe.
Tell us more about the "good guys" of the game, the Coalition of Ordered Governments (COG).
Long before the Pendulem Wars, the Coalition of Ordered Governments (COG) existed only as an obscure world government philosophy in the mind of the fanatic socialist, Alexiy Desipich. Its austere canon was based on eight guiding values: ORDER, DILIGENCE, PURITY, LABOUR, HONOUR, LOYALTY, FAITH and HUMILITY. As the Pendulem Wars continued, however, the COG grew into a legitimate, albeit a minor, political party. After Emergence day, COG leaders were the only ones willing to take the nessacary steps to survive the epic devastation. They ratified the Fortification act, which established martial law and transformed Jacinto Plateau into an unassailable fortress. The COG's methods proved wildy popular, depsite the fact that they temporarily abridged civil rights. Only under the protection of the COG will humanity prevail.
Who are my squad members in Gears of War?
Marcus Fenix
Prisoner number: 098356-GX. Standing at 1.85 metres tall and weighing 105 kilograms Marcus Fenix is the son of the famed military scientist Adam Fenix, Marcus established a reputation as a brilliant soldier during the Pendulum Wars, earning numerous field promotions and decorations. He was on a fast track to an outstanding military career until the war with the Locust Horde. When the Horde breached Jacinto Plateau's defenses, Marcus defied orders to save his father, who was under siege at East Barricade Academy. He was too late. Marcus was charged with dereliction of duty and was sentenced to 40 years in Jacinto Maximum Security Penitentiary. He narrowly avoided execution due to his exemplary tours of duty in the Pendulem Wars. Four years into his sentence, the Horde overtook the penitentiary but Marcus was rescued by his best friend Dominic Santiago, so that he could rejoin the fight against the unstoppable Locust Horde.
Dominic Santiago
Dom is a vocal, colorful and yet practical soldier. He's loyal to a fault, especially with his friends, and has no patience for those that think of themselves first. Dominic has always believed in his country and his leaders, but his faith has been slipping in the face of this endless war. Dom lost his wife in the Emergence Day cataclysm. For him, the fight against the Horde is deeply personal. By testifying in Marcus' defense, Dom prevented an execution, but was forced to accept the heavy judgment the military tribunal handed down to his childhood friend. Never forgetting, Dom seized his first opportunity to save Marcus' life, and convinced Lieutenant Minh Young Kim to enlist Marcus into his squad.
Minh Young Kim
Lieutenant Kim is a proud, dedicated and ambitious soldier, a by-the-books believer in all things COG. To Kim, the Coalition of Ordered Governments is humanity's only hope for survival and feels that it is an honor and privilege to serve as a Gear. Kim moved quickly through the ranks, but after a run of bad luck he was left leading the misfits of Delta Squad. Feeling undervalued and overlooked, Kim has something to prove. Only the strength of Dom's faith -- and the scarcity of experienced soldiers - convinced Kim to consider bringing former prisoner Fenix into his squad.
Augustus Cole
Cole, aka "The Cole Train", is an adrenaline junkie and former professional thrashball player. He craves action, and prefers to take the most direct path to the Locust Horde in any situation. What he lacks in finesse, he makes up for in raw energy. Along with his child-like enthusiasm and charm, Cole is supremely confident in his own abilities to overcome anything, regardless of the odds—and he hasn't been proven wrong yet. Cole and Damon Baird have served together for years, and he treats Baird as he would an older brother with a younger brother's license to torment.
Damon Baird
Despite being a reluctant and cynical soldier, Baird excels at the military life. Baird is perfectly capable of being a successful officer, but has never been promoted due to his poor attitude, short temper and his unwillingness to take on any responsibility. Baird's greatest strength is his intelligence. He not only fights the Locust, but he studies and observes them as well. He's the closest the COG have to an expert, and when Baird tells his comrades to be quiet and listen, they know it is in their best interest to do exactly that. Baird's only motivation is self preservation. He's willing to do whatever it takes to get through the war alive -- even march along side a troublemaker like Fenix.
Jack
"Jack-of-all-trades" bot assigned to assist Gears in the field. Provides tactical assistance via live uplink to HQ's TAC-COM, moderate field surgery capabilities, various cutting and welding arms, and spectal analysis. A fairly decent can opener.
Anya
Little is known about Anya at this time. What is known is that she works at HQ and often is the voice in your helmet, giving you strategic information and instructions.
Colonel Hoffman
Little is known about Colonel Hoffman at this time, though we do know that he has personal history with Marcus Fenix..
Carmine
Little is known about Carmine at this time, however we do know that Carmine is a soldier in the Red Shield.
Who or what is the Locust Horde?
We don't know what they are... Most scientists believe they're a mutated version of Sera's native life forms. A minority claim they're aliens. Ask any Gear and they'll tell you they came straight from ***. We know they live underground. How and exactly where are impossible to determine, however, because the cavern systems in Sera's mantle are, for all paractical purposes, endless. As a result of dwelling in perpetual darkness they have an aversion to light... one of our few advantages. All attempts at negotiating with the Locust have failed, and all overtures of peace have been awnsered with violence. The only conclusion that we can draw from their actions is that they want every last man, woman, and child dead!
Are the Locust all the same, or are there any variations?
Any good army is going to have a diversified force, and the Locust have many tricks up their sleeves. Here is the known Locust forces so far:
Drone
A thick-skinned humanoid who takes cover just like a COG soldier, they have a tough hide so use your Shotgun at close range for best lethal effect. They are 2 metres tall and wiegh around 120 kilograms. Contrary to the "mindless hordes" rumours you might hear, they're capable of setting up ambushes, lures, and sniping when ordere, they'll throw their lives away by the thousands to kill one entrenched Gear. Never seen one loose morale and bolt. They use a special formation which is known as Troika cabal. A 3 part team operating a high ROF pulse like projectile gun that makes the Gears .50 calibers look like pea shooters. Avoid!
Boomer
This is one of the heavier units: He's a 7-foot-tall walking tank. And he's hungry.
Nemacyst Air Spores
These are the Locust Equivalent to AA (Anti-Aircraft) weapons.
Hunter
This has less armor than the Boomer, but he wields the Torque Bow, an extremely powerful makeshift explosive crossbow.
Brumak
Standing at 12+ metres tall, this is a very large and heavily armored beast, that was bred by the Locusts from smaller native apes, weighing in at over 10,000 kilograms; they can also be ridden into battle by Drones, and some have been rumoured to be armed with energy cannons. They are deadly at close range and it is recommened that you blast them with high explosives from a safe distance.
Special note: Drone mounted armoured variations have been reported. Rumours of Brumak carrying energy cannon(s) cannot be confirmed.
Berserker
Standing at 2.2 metres and weighing around 260 kilograms this is a very slow, but extremely strong monster that can build enough momentum to smash through walls. With their fused fists they can obliterate Gears with a single blow. They are the females of the species, and use scent and vibration to detect their enemies. In your first encounter with this menacing foe, the only way to survive will be to find a powerful energy weapon carried by one of your squad. The problem is, that person is dead, you must survie the creatures attack long enough to find the weapon on a battle field littered with bodies.
Theron Guards
They are very smart officers that command the Drones.
Wretches
These are these creepy little things that scurry around any surface; they're like man-sized roaches. The Wretches are a delightful little pain in the ***. They climb all over the place, zip in for a quick swipe, and leap back up to the ceiling before coming back after you. Luckily they’ve got relatively low health. It’s tricky enough targeting these little bastards; but if you time it right with the shotgun they’ll leap at you and you can gib them mid air.
Corpser
This monstrosity is even bigger than the Brumak. This giant arachnid digs tunnels through the ground for Drones to travel through.
Kryll
These are bat-resembling flying Locusts, which fly in huge swarms, and are afraid of light.
Grenadier
Equipped with grenades and a Shotgun this monstosity will charge you down and is tough as ***!
Troika Gunner
A gunner in the Locust army that operates turrets. A Troika can cover around half the map with the turret it is manning, but you learn after a while where it's blind spots are. It takes a lot of teamwork to take down the gunner, and if you're unlucky his team is with him protecting him and ready to take the turret.
Theron Sentinel
What technology is Epic using to build this game?
Engine
They're using their in-house engine, Unreal Engine 3.0. They've got the best next-generation solution out there, with tools that allow developers to rapidly prototype and solutions that help keep teams a manageable size. You can learn more about it here. Mark Rein has said GOW will be the main showcase for what the engine can really do!
Loading times
The Unreal 3.0 engine allows for streaming of level data - in a similar way to how the Halo series deals with level progression. Epic do not want us to see loading screens. Thanks to multi-threading this shouldn't even be noticeable as we play through the single player campaign without a loading screen.
Frame rates
The engine has since been optimised and significantly configured to perform multi-threading (more than one process at once) giving good performance boosts. Quite how much remains to be seen, but the target is to have a steady 30 fps (60 fps just ain't gonna happen).
V-Synch
The game will have V-Synch enabled. However, this will be a dynamic V-Synch implementation which will allow the game to remove V-Synch if the frames drop due to heavy load in order to raise frame rates.
Decal and body stay
Decals (bullets holes, blood splats) will remain for relatively short periods of time, certainly based on the E3 demo. In a similar way, bodies appear to vanish reasonably quickly, though again the E3 demo indicated this may be out of view. These are unfortunate facts, but a necassary trade off to ensure good frames per second and available video resource when they're needed.
Lip synching of scripted and player LIVE! speech
It has been confirmed by Mark Rein that there will be no lip synching of LIVE player chat - only lipsynching of scripted / voiced cut scenes and one liners (including screams from the characters etc).
Voice controlled NPC squad members
Though you won't need to nurse maid your NPC squad mates you will be able to order them using your MIC. Details are vague at present, however this technology has been in use by Epic since UT2004, so don't be so surprised.
Resolution
Gears of War will run at a native resolution of 720p, but can be upscaled to 1080p.
How does having the game third person perspective affect the gameplay?
Free of the first person view you can do a ton of things with the game and character that you couldn’t do otherwise. When Marcus communicates with headquarters his finger goes up to his ear, his head lowers, and you see him chatting. If a grenade goes off nearby he cringes; when he slams into cover you see him grimace. In first person all of this is lost and all you see is this gun in front of you.
What are the games controls?
Here are the confirmed controls for Gears of War:
A=Cover/context senstive, Hold A for fast run aka "rodie run"
Y=point of interest
X=use/Interact, revive(in multiplayer)
B=melee(hold for chainsaw)
RB=reload
LB=objectives/squad status
RT=fire
LT=hold for "aim mode"
L analogue=movement
R analogue= aim / click for zoom with sniper
D-pad=press up for pistol, down for grenades, left or right for other weapons
You can find a screenshot of the control system
here.
You will be able to change the settings for the Invert Y axis, Sensititivity, Vibration, Analogue Sticks , and both Triggers. You can find a screenshot of the control settings menu
here.
What can you tell us about the singleplayer?
Game length
In the single player game there'll be five Acts total, each broken up into chapters. Apparently the game will be a minimum of 12 hours long on the easiest difficulty setting.
Campaign difficulty
There will be three levels of difficulty in the final game; Casual (Easy), Hardcore (Normal) and Insane (Must be unlocked first!).
Taking cover
The use of cover has existed since the advent of the shooter, and it has progressed in many forms. This past generation introduced new elements such as destructible environments and the ability to go prone, but Epic is taking it a step farther by creating a deeper and more useable cover experience through context sensitivity and intuitive controls. Although cover is the key to survival in Gears of War, it is transient, so cowering behind an object for an eternity is no longer an option. Enemies can easily blow away different types of cover you use, leaving you vulnerable to shell-shock. Likewise, enemies have the same tools at their disposal, and the advanced AI ensures they’ll use it just as effectively as any human would. And throughout all of this, gunfire is blazing over your head and explosions are becoming second nature. Gears of War is setting the stage for a frantic and lethal battlefield with each and every encounter, and the dynamic cover will add another grizzly layer to this. Your character can use almost every single in-game object for cover, whether it's a wall, fence, or even a demolished car. When you run up to an object, you'll automatically take cover behind it, great for cover to cover sprints. While taking cover you can pop up for fine-tuned weapon aiming or simply press the fire button for some kick-*** blind firing but just remember that your cover can take damage too, stay there for too long and you may not have any cover at all! The cover system has turned out extremely well. It's basically a platform game on the X and Y axis; instead of leaping up into the air like in many other shooters you're leaping through the environment. Slamming into cover, hurdling over it, slipping and shooting around corners, all of it wrapped up with a tight polish pass.
The "Roadie run"
Epic Games has also added the "Roadie Run." The name "Roadie Run" comes from concerts where Roadies had to crouch and run short distances across the stage so as not to be seen. Once you use this feature, you’ll wonder how you lived with out it. For those who don’t know, rodie running is traversing the terrain while bending down or squatting at the same time not to expose yourself completely. "Roadie Runs" can be performed simply by holding down the ‘A’ button while running. Use this with the simple cover mechanic and you can more along the battlefield rather safely (although your field of vision does suffer slightly).
Active reload
There is also an optional mini-game called "Active Reload" based on reloading click timing can either improve your weapons damage temporarilly or - if done badly - jam your weapon for a second. Jamming is also accompanied by a curse / noise - making it a tactical queue to your enemies and allies alike! It will work like so; you press the RB to begin reloading - somewhere during the reload process (marked by a vertical bar moving across the ammo indicator, left to right) the ammo indicator will flash for a fraction of a second - hit the RB again to receive the bonus (decreased reload time and increased damage). The damage affect will last to the end of the current clip, or for so many seconds (ie you if your out of combat for a while the bonus is lost). The muzzle flash will include a blue heat edge to it to indicate the extra power. Every consecutive time you attempt active reload it becomes harder to time correctly.
Using weapons
You're able to hold two main weapons at a time, in addition to a pistol and grenades. These are visible at all times being carried on your characters back. When changing weapons for one that is not in your inventory you will drop the one you currently have equipped or (in the case of pistols or Bolo Grenades being equipped) had equipped. Switching armaments is mapped to the D-pad on the controller, making switches quick and painless. The grenade system is probably the most impressive weapon feature and utilizes a unique targeting system that shows you exactly where a tossed grenade will land. When you pull out a grenade an arc will appear and will change pitch and direction as you aim your throw. You can even cook a grenade and the arc will decrease in length to show you where it will explode once you've thrown it. While the visuals for the grenade mechanic are still in a work in progress state, it's uniqueness should prove to be both fun and handy once you get in serious battles. You can also melee with your grenades.
Fighting the enemy
Locusts can spawn into areas via emergence holes, which are yawning gaps in the ground. Lobbing in a grenade closes up the hole, preventing more Locusts from spawning into the area. Also, staying in the light will be key to your survival in Gears of War, since the Locust, being subterranean in nature prefer darker spots. One of the big things about the darkness in Gears is that there exists a type of Locust that specifically feeds on anything that goes into the dark. The point of creating light is so that you never have to see that.
Hand to hand combat
A hand-to-hand combat system will also be included in Gears of War, in the form of a mini-game (as in Resident Evil). You can melee your foes with grenades and stick them on their heads. (This is especially fun with smoke grenades, by the way.) There are also some secretly talked about finishing manouvers such as putting a grenade into a locusts mouth, and the stamping on their head crushing their skull.
Let us not forget about the ever so loveable Chainsaw attachment. We've all seen it. The human "Lancer" comes with a chainsaw blade under the barrel. Get in close enough to an enemy and hold "B" to engage the attack.
The chainsaw must be started up before hitting the enemy.
Getting shot (even by a single bullet) while using the chainsaw will make you stumble / stall the chainsaw
Chainsawing can be interrupted by allies if you're taken down - this has to take place before the animation is so far through
Epic have made chainsawing more difficult since E3 2006 (where it first debuted) but details have not been given.
The chainsawing animation is set to the front (face to face). Cliffy B has confirmed the locust will twist around to face you (to make it more intimate).
The chainsaw can be revved without any target by pressing B, you can speed up the revs by pulling the Right Trigger.
Down but not out!
Another feature is the "Down but not out" scenario. An opponent may not be killed (indicated by them hunched over on their knees) when you actually shoot them (the grenade launch, or shotgun to the head will be 100% death). As they get shot, a red gear symbol will appear on the screen, this means that two or three more shots and they'll be "Down but not out" at this point. You can finish them off, by either curb stomping (X button, a kick to the opponent), saw them with the Lancer (B button), or shoot them again. With that said, an opponent may be revived by a teammate if their death level does not hit 100% (the player can repeatedly tap A fast to keep the level down, unless an opponent finishes them off) as long as it is done within 15 seconds of them going down or they will just die anyway..
Save points
Save points will be generous, and Gears of War is designed in 10- to 20-minute segments for gamers who don’t have 45 minutes to devote between saves. Still, Epic assures us gamers that those 10 to 20 minutes will be some of the most intense that gamers have experienced. Also, there are "water cooler" moments, given their title because they are supposed to be those moments that are really memorable, and you want to brag about to everyone.
Squad AI
Gears of War takes squad-based combat to the next level. Epic is developing a highly advanced game that allows computer-controlled characters to behave like intelligent human beings. They’ll make their own decisions, treat their own wounds, return fire, and seek cover when the action gets hairy. They’ll still take orders from you, but they don’t need to be babied. They’re highly trained soldiers, and the design reflects this.
How many weapons are in Gears of War?
There are at least 13 weapons I know of so far:
COG weapons
Rocket Launcher, Gnasher (Shotgun), Lancer
Assault rifle with chainsaw bayonet) Fires automatic rounds in almost a straight line while aiming. The shots also seem to not always hit the center of the cross hair, meaning, within that crosshair, the shots spread somewhat and cause more of a random hit than actual precision., Longshot (sniper rifle), Snub pistol : Single shot, the shots seem very accurate but not over a long distance. Not too sure about the caliber of bullet either. , Bolo Grenade (Frag Grenades, Smoke Grenades, and Flash Grenades). Hammer of Dawn Playing solo you first paint a target with a laser sight, targeting a specific area. Next sit back and watch fire rain down on the unlucky Locusts from an orbital COG sattelite weapon. You can move the laser using your painter to chase your enemes around the map. In co-op mode you can combine your laser targeting with a friend's to harness a destructive beam significantly more powerful than simply twice your solo effort., Gatling Gun This is mounted on the King Raven helicopter.
Locust weapons
Hammerburst : Fires 6 round burst shots, these seem to go in a straight line with little to no spread at all within the cross hair itself., Boomshot (basically the equivalent of a brute shot, except when shot, the one grenade splits into multiple grenades), Bologrenade (Frag Grenades, Smoke Grenades, and Flash Grenades), Torque bow (Crossbow that shoots explosive arrows, The longer you hold down the aim button, a reticule bends from a wide arc into a straight line, as if you were pulling a bow string taught. A short pull will allow you to shoot arrows into the air that drop into enemy flesh; a long pull will produce a devastating shot that, if landed, would cause the afflicted to explode). The Magnum is a high-powered pistol that deals tremendous damage. Troika: A Locust turret.
Will there be vehicles?
Yes but they are not confirmed for multiplayer yet and are very unlikely to be included due to the size of the multiplayer maps and the large empthasise on cover. At present all I know of is:
King Raven "Dual-Bladed" Helicopter
Has medium armour, is armed with a Gatling Gun, and is capable of carrying upto 12 Gears into the warzone. Can reach a top speed of 180KPH. Vulnerable to Nemacyst Air Spores.
Armadillo
As far as I know this is a COG APC.
Locust don't use vehicles but rely on organic modes of transportation such as the Corpser and Brumak.
What are the game's multiplayer features?
Co-op
Epic are leveraging coop play significantly in this game. Player one is Marcus and if he wants he can invite anyone to join as player two as Dom. This can happen locally or on Xbox Live! Such support will come in handy during the game’s "open-ended" segments, with aspects of each level designed for flanking and other non-linear tactics. In a nice nod to pick-up-and-playability, the co-op options will also be available at any time, so if a friend sees you playing online, he or she can join your in-progress campaign to battle the Locust with you immediately.
Versus
You've got a great versus mode that so far confirmed involves the COG taking on the Locust in War Zone, Execution and Resurrection. War Zone is a four-on-four team deathmatch-slash-last man standing. That action is fast, furious, and friggin' fun.
CliffyB broke down the other two mysterious multiplayer modes for us. Execution is described by Cliff as "Kill the Leader." The leader is the only one that can pick up different weapons on the map, and the round is over when a bullet is lodged securely in the skull of a team leader, which is usually the highest-ranked player on either team.
Resurrection is very much like War Zone, except fallen opponent aren't "dead" until you finish the job. After you take down an opponent, he will remain unconscious for about 30 seconds. After that, he will revive and live to fight the good fight. As a trained killer, you will learn to finish the job by killing an incapacitated yet breathing soldiers in the field.
Both modes are interesting, yes, but it's clear that Epic wants the multiplayer game to remain team-focused throughout.
Spectator Mode
There will be a fully functioning spectator mode in Gears of War. As a spectator you can choose to watch the rest of the match either from a vantage point that gives you a view of almost the whole map, or from an over-the-shoulder camera following one of your colleagues. You can cycle through the different camera views by pressing the left and right triggers.
Match options
It has been confirmed that there will be a ton of options for configuring multiplayer matches but not all of those options have been announced yet. We do know that there will be some customisation of the maps in Gears ofWar but that it will more than likly amount to closing off areas of a map and weapon placement rather than any form of map editor.
Matchmaking
There will be three types of match; Ranked and Unranked. For unranked matches, you can create either a all public match (which will be filled by people searching for games) a public match with private slots, or an all private match. For example, if I want to play with me and 2 other friends, I set up a public match with 2 reserved private slots and send invites to my pals. They join, filling the private slots; public players fill the remaining slots. Me and my private slots will remain in the same games, round on round, game on game (no need to re-invite).
In ranked matches you will not be able to choose the opposition or choose your squad mates. Not much else is known at present though more will be posted as soon as reliable information is gathered.
Compatibility
The game will support play over Xbox Live, through system link, and via split screen. Only two players can play split screen on any one TV. Setting up an offline two on two match will require two Xbox 360 units connected via system link, with two players going split screen on two televisions.I am unsure if two players can play online split screen on the same console. Splitscreen is horizontal.
Map design
One thing you'll notice is the outstanding level design, each of the ten multiplayer maps has a certain theme to it Mansion: destructible cover with the ratty old couches; Fuel Depot: explosive sections of the level; and so on). Clock tower, where a bridge separates the friendly and enemy bases. Gridlock isn't very big, but it features no end of environmental features to take cover behind. Stairwells, burned-out cars, and archways are the cover spots of choice. Tyro Station's gimmick is a speedy locomotive that barrels down the middle of the stage every minute or so, killing everything in its path. Escalation is a series of terraces that you will have to work up -- or down- to complete your mission. The Mausoleum is like an onion, each layer ready to be pulled back. While symmetrical, the map is circular, so sometimes you'll be on the move and other times you can hide in the halls.
The Canals map is a basic multiplayer setup, with a knee-deep river crossing a war-torn urban landscape, covered by bridges and filled with giant boulders that provide useful cover. Also confirmed are Roof Tops, and War Machine.
All the maps will have customisation options although the options have not been released yet. This could be anything from closing off some areas of the maps to weapon placement. Across all maps there are multiple paths that all lead to several natural "stand-off points" where opposing players will eventually butt heads and the battle will be decided. At these points, a lot of different things will happen. Good teams will work together. One player, for instance, can lay down suppressing fire on an enemy behind cover, while another player works his way up in a flanking maneuver. At the same time, another player can co-op up in a second-story tower with a sniper rifle and cover him. At the same time, the final player can slip unnoticed along through a building on the edge of the map and slip behind the entire enemy force. Of course, the enemy is trying to do the same thing to you the entire time, resulting in some tense standoffs.
Weapon placement
Weapons are placed strategically around the map, usually in places that are wide open to enemy fire, making it a bit of a risk, reward situation. Players come equipped with an assault rifle, shotgun, pistol and grenades. You always have slots for grenades and pistols, but you'll drop either the rifle or shotgun when you want to pick up another big weapon, like the Sniper rifle, Rocket launcher or the Gatling gun.
Character skins
The default skins look like regular grunts, with functional-looking armor, shaved heads (for the humans at least), and very few distinguishing features. Fighting alongside three players who are all using the same default skin isn't jarring in any way, but there's definitely something neat about being in a squad where everybody looks different. Before each round gets underway, you can use the bumper buttons on the Xbox 360 controller to choose a skin. My preferred COG skin made me look like an officer of some kind, with a different uniform, a black hat, and dark face paint. When playing as a Locust, I opted for a character who was wearing his armor under a robe that flowed quite convincingly when I moved. Here is the list of multiplayer skins known so far:
COG
Minh Young Kim
Col. Hoffman
Marcus Fenix
Augustus Cole
Damon Baird
Dom Santiago
Carmine.
Locust
Theron Guard
Drone
Trokia gunner
Theron sentinel
Clan support
It has confirmed there will be no clan support on release. Don't be so surprised here - remember that Clan support needs a database infrastructure for it to work, and that takes time and money to setup. This will be mitigated by the low game sizes (4v4); it will be relatively easy to hook up with 4 friends. In addition, there is some speculation (a big RUMOR on that one) that XBOX LIVE may be modified at a later time to support clans natively.
Rankings
Ranking is by points, not kills. You do get points for each kill, but you also get scored for executions, reviving teammates, melee hits, chain saw kills, head shots with the sniper rifle, doing any type of damage, or grenade-tagging someone. These are shown at the end of a match.
What are the games achievements?
Prison Breakout 10G: Completed tutorial level on any skill level
Completed Act 1 on Casual 10G: Complete Act 1 on Casual Difficulty
Completed Act 2 on Casual 10G: Complete Act 2 on Casual Difficulty
Completed Act 3 on Casual 10G: Complete Act 3 on Casual Difficulty
Completed Act 4 on Casual 10G: Complete Act 4 on Casual Difficulty
Completed Act 5 on Casual 10G: Complete Act 5 on Casual Difficulty
Mercenary 10G: Complete all acts on Casual Difficulty
Completed Act 1 on Hardcore 20G: Complete Act 1 on Hardcore Difficulty
Completed Act 2 on Hardcore 20G: Complete Act 2 on Hardcore Difficulty
Completed Act 3 on Hardcore 20G: Complete Act 3 on Hardcore Difficulty
Completed Act 4 on Hardcore 20G: Complete Act 4 on Hardcore Difficulty
Completed Act 5 on Hardcore 20G: Complete Act 5 on Hardcore Difficulty
Soldier 20G: Complete all acts on Hardcore Difficulty
Completed Act 1 on Insane 30G: Complete Act 1 on Insane Difficulty
Completed Act 2 on Insane 30G: Complete Act 2 on Insane Difficulty
Completed Act 3 on Insane 30G: Complete Act 3 on Insane Difficulty
Completed Act 4 on Insane 30G: Complete Act 4 on Insane Difficulty
Completed Act 5 on Insane 30G: Complete Act 5 on Insane Difficulty
Commando 30G: Complete all acts on Insane Difficulty
Time to Remember 10G: Recover one-third of the COG tags (on any difficulty)
Honor-Bound 20G: Recover two-thirds of the COG tags (on any difficulty)
For the Fallen 30G: Recover all of the COG tags (on any difficulty)
My Love for You Is Like a Truck 30G: Defeat a Berserker on Hardcore Difficulty
Broken Fingers 30G: Defeat a Corpser on Hardcore Difficulty
A Dish Best Served Cold 30G: Defeat General RAAM on Hardcore Difficulty
Zen and the Art of Reloading 10G: Perform 25 perfect active reloads (on any difficulty)
Zen and the Art Part 2 20G: Perform 5 perfect active reloads in a row (on any difficulty)
Clusterluck 20G: Kill 3 enemies at once 10 different times (on any difficulty)
A Series of Tubes 20G: Host and complete 50 ranked matches
Dom-curious 10G: Complete 1 co-op chapter as Dominic Santiago on any difficulty
Domination 20G: Complete 10 different co-op chapters as Dominic Santiago on any difficulty
I Can't Quit You Dom 30G: Complete all acts in co-op as Dominic Santiago on any difficulty
Don't You Die On Me 10G: Revive 100 teammates in ranked matches
Fall Down Go Boom 20G: Kill 100 enemies in ranked matches with the Boomshot
Pistolero 20G: Kill 100 enemies in ranked matches with a pistol
The Nuge 20G: Kill 100 enemies in ranked matches with the Torque Bow
I Spy with My Little Eye 20G: Kill 100 enemies in ranked matches with the Longshot
Don't Hurt 'Em 20G: Kill 100 enemies in ranked matches with the Hammer of Dawn
It's a Massacre 10G: Kill 100 enemies in ranked matches with the Chainsaw
Curb Appeal 20G: Kill 100 enemies in ranked matches with the curb stomp
Capital Punishment 20G: Kill 100 enemies in ranked matches with an execution
Is It a Spider 30G: Kill 100 enemies in ranked matches with grenade tag
The Money Shot 20G: Kill 100 enemies in ranked matches with a headshot
Always Remember Your First 10G: Finish playing a versus ranked match
Don't Hate the Player 10G: Finish with the highest points in a ranked match
Mix It Up 20G: Win a ranked match in every versus game type
Around the World 30G: Win a ranked match on every versus map
Can't Touch Me 20G: Win 10 ranked matches without losing a round
Seriously ... 50G: Kill 10,000 people in versus ranked match total
When will Gears of War be released?
In North America Emergence Day is November 12th. What that means is November 12th is the date by which all of the stores in North America will have the game on their shelves and for which Microsoft tells us they're going to organize some cool Emergence Day event. However to get to stores in time for that the actual game will ship on November 7th. Some stores, like EB & Gamestop, will, at their own additional expense, park their trucks at Microsoft's warehouse and start taking deliveries at midnight on the 7th in an effort to get it to their stores right away - in some cases possibly even that day or a day or two later. The big boys, like Wal Mart and Best Buy, have too many stores and are too complex to do that so they'll ship it through their distribution centers and spinkle it into theirs stores as best they can. What Microsoft tells us is if Epic ship on the 7th then 12th is the safe date for when all the stores will have the game and that's why it will be Emergence Day. We only have solid details like this for North America at this point in time. It’s a little different in every region around the world. Europe, which is a huge market for us, they ship the game to retail on Nov 17th 2006. From country to country supply chains and delivery dates of product can vary, but in general Nov 17th 2006 is Emergence Day for Europe and you’ll see the game in stores from that day forward. For Australia/New Zealand their ship date is November 24th 2006. Japan gets the game in December 2006. We're waiting for details on other territories but that's what we know so far.
NOTE: Gears of War has officially gone gold!
What platform is Gears of War going to be released on?
Gears of War will be released on the Xbox 360, and on PC at a later date (which will contain bonus content)
Will there be a pre-release demo?
There will be no pre-release demo, Epic are concentrating all their resources on making a great game that is fully ready and playable in time for its release date, although I would surely expect one very soon after its release at least.
Will there be any Downloadable Content
Mark Rein and Cliffy B have both confirmed there will be strong Downloadable content post release; chiefly patches and extension to the mutiplayer campaign. Epic have sighted their previous support of UT products to support this; however there has been no clarification on the cost (if any) of these expansions across Xbox Marketplace. Pre-release content has not been officially discussed at this point although Clffy B has hinted at consideration of multiplayer versus maps..
Gears of War FAQ 
