Gears: (FREE!) Maps & Auto-Update Coming 1/10

[Wondermonkey]

It looks like Australian game site mygen has loose lips when it comes to top secret information. They've broken news (possibly prematurely, Microsoft is going to be disappointed!) that two new Gears of War maps will be available on the Marketplace this Wednesday, January 10th.

The first new map is called Raven Down and takes place near a King Raven crash site in the middle of a city with cars, debris, and building matter strewn all over the place. Think Gridlock with lots of broken stuff and a King Raven in the middle. The second map is called Old Bones and is pretty much an abandoned human museum all decked out with arches and columns. It's very fancy indeed.

Also, the Discovery Channel is sponsoring the map pack so this content is, hold your breath, 100% FREE! They're also giving away 2 million Microsoft Points later in the week. Be sure to check out ReadyAimFire when the site goes live later in the week to learn more about the contest. Gosh, we just love you Discovery Channel and your educational animal shows. Again, we believe this was embargoed information which means it wasn't supposed to be released until earlier in the week. So feel privileged and wait patiently, we're getting new Gears maps in a few days! More pictures after the jump.

Update 1: Mark Rein has officially confirmed on Epic's forums that this news piece is real. He also added that an auto update will be released prior to the maps being offered, hopefully fixing some buggy issues. Finally, Mark stated that the new maps will be available on the 10th, not the 11th of January.

original source.

Raven Down






Old Bones

[dmiller68]

Very cool, thanks for finding the news... I pumped I haven't played GOW in a couple days, I'm going through withdraws...

[Quo]

very niiiiice. Can't wait to give it a try.

[Statham Guy]

mmm...pretty. I need to start playing more Gears of War online matches.

[Wondermonkey]

Directly from Mark Rein:

A Gears of War update should start pushing through the system at some point tomorrow, Tuesday January 9, 2007 prior to the two new multiplayer maps being available on Xbox Live Marketplace on Wednesday January 10, 2007.

The maps, plus an introductory video featuring Gears designer Cliff Bleszinski, are free thanks to the kind sponsorship by the Discovery Channel's Future Weapons series which launches next Monday January 15th, 2007. Be sure to check out the show to see some really cool firepower. I expect game designers all across the country will be watching the Future Weapons series very carefully looking for ideas for their future games

Here is a list of what was addressed in this update:

• Fixed aspect ratio distortion when using VGA cable with 4:3 displays at resolutions higher than 640x480
• Fixed voice issue with new players joining Player Match games in progress
• Players can now get the Achievement for "Dish Best Served Cold" when using Troika turret to kill RAAM
• Fixed rare situation where host could loop countdown and never start match
• Fixed rare situation where players could get stuck after chainsawing in multiplayer
• Reduced Grenade Tag melee distance
• Enabled “Strict” NAT check on host to prevent possible connection issues
• Optimized server browser queries to return results more quickly and prevent scroll bars from hiding quality of service icons
• Reduced number of possible revives in Execution to match Warzone
• Removed host name from Ranked match server browser
• Disabled security cameras in Ranked matches
• Ranked matches now require balanced teams (3v3 or 4v4)
• Increased penalty for quitting a Ranked match to -50 points
• Added additional cheat detection code
• Additional housekeeping updates

BTW, click here to check out Discovery Channel's Future Weapons series. Be sure to check out the Weapons Zones and see some of the amazing things they showed last season. There was a huge email thread going around Epic about the Metalstorm (which they say is the "potentially the world's most powerful automatic weapon"). It is lacking a chainsaw for close-up combat but it is still pretty cool.

[D_Litch]

Removing Host names? Sh*t!

Awesome @ the maps though! I will be wrist deep in those maps the night they come out.

[Wondermonkey]

That update sounds awesome, and I'm so happy they addressed things like host name in ranked games (too easy for people to get their friends in), grenade tag distance, and disabling of security cams in Ranked matches (direct chat losers giving their living teammates tips where the enemy is).

[Peench]

Awesome. I like this one "Reduced Grenade Tag melee distance"

Very cool that we're getting free maps too. Sweeeeeet!

[Woundup]

Originally Posted by Peench

Awesome. I like this one "Reduced Grenade Tag melee distance"

Very cool that we're getting free maps too. Sweeeeeet!

well now all we got to do is get you to play some GOW with your GOD teamates. Once again I will have to carry you during our next tourney game because you haven't played in so long.

[Jon Liu]

Outstanding!! I cannot wait for this! As fun as it is to play with "Friends" or people you know on ranked matches, I find it more frustrating because of the fact that you get a team of 4 that you would go against that have been playing for hours and "work together." Which sucks when the opposing team (team you're playing with) have not played together and rarely work together and do their own thing.

[GoatMother]

sweet, more maps and free!

[Vidguy]

Originally Posted by Peench

Awesome. I like this one "Reduced Grenade Tag melee distance"

I refuse to quit..it's like a drug...must.grenade.tag....

I'll just get more up close and personal. I'll give a hug at the same time. You know...a manly kinda hug..not a wussy ....must.grenade.tag....

[wizz1e]

I disagree on removing the host name from the search results. I think it should be the exact opposite actually where you can create a party of 4 and go into ranked matches together.

[Wondermonkey]

Originally Posted by wizz1e

I disagree on removing the host name from the search results. I think it should be the exact opposite actually where you can create a party of 4 and go into ranked matches together.

I'm good with the player matches for that right now. I'm sure somewhere down the line they will release a matchmaking system where it takes into account the TrueSkill of everyone in the party, unfortunately the TrueSkill matching system in Gears only works by yourself in Ranked Matches.

I'm gald they took the host name out. I'm sick and tired of getting into Ranked matches and realizing the other team all knows eachother and half the people on my team don't even have a mic. That's too much host advantage.

[Serren]

Awesome news!

I have been thinking about this game since playing Sat. night with a bunch of you. I think we need to switch over to non-Execution. With Execution, the Lancer rifle is nearly worthless. The shotguns is the prime gun of choice now do to this. In ranked matches, all I see are people charging with shotguns. Boring.....

In Execution, the Lancer is more of a nuisance then a threat. And I think that is not right. What do others think? Maybe a new thread?

[wizz1e]

I'm always open to new game types so long as weapon swapping isn't involved.