While Microsoft may not want Epic to release future Gears of War maps for free, today's update will not only cost the low price of zero dollars, it will also fix some common annoyances and bring the brand new game mode, Annex, into the mix.
As seen in the above video, Annex is very similar to King of the Hill -- you score points by staying alive in certain territories. But unlike other modes in Gears of War, Annex will feature respawns every 15 seconds which should spice up the action quite nicely.
More details for Annex and everything else included in the update can be found after the break.
Don't let the lull in gunfire and grenades fool you. "Gears of War ®", rated M for Mature, is readying its next deadly onslaught with an upcoming title update, currently set to siege Xbox LIVE on April 9 at 4:00 p.m. PDT. In addition to the small-arms fire of a few impactful adjustments to the title's multiplayer battles, the "Gears of War" title update will deliver an explosive and game-changing new multiplayer mode known as Annex.
In Annex, gamers seize victory by keeping control over key map locations, or objectives, long enough to collect a winning number of points. Every map contains two to five identified objectives available for capture, with one objective active at a time. Objectives are based on map weapon-spawn locations and have a potential value of 60 points toward either team's score. Teams collect those points by maintaining ownership of an objective until all 60 points have been distributed. Every second that a team controls an objective, the team gets one point. When an objective falls to zero points, the next objective is selected at random.
And while defending their objectives against the onslaught of Xbox LIVE opponents, gamers may notice the following minor adjustments to "Gears of War":
VGA Cable Support: Monitor resolution widths greater than or equal to 1280 now render as letterbox. In particular VGA users running at 1280x1024 will now see the game in full 720p (1280x720) resolution in letterboxed form.
Adjusted Assassination Multiplayer Gametype: Leader no longer has to unlock weapons and now has to be executed to die.
Adjusted Boomshot: Splash damage to be more effective rendering targets down-but-not-out
Adjusted Hammer of Dawn: Aiming will be more forgiving of moving targets
Adjusted Roadie Run: Reduced frequency of accidently grabbing cover while running
Kill Message Ticker: Ticker can now be seen while down-but-not-out and spectating
General: Addressed a number of possible exploits in multiplayer
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Some of these "annexes" seem like they're placed in the most inappropriate places as far as typical Gears of War gameplay. A lot of them afford no cover. This would be fine if you play it like there were in the video above (just charge in firing), but anybody who's been playing the game for more than twenty minutes knows to hang back in some cover and take out exposed enemies.
I think the whole point in the spots being in open places is to make it a challenge to defend. Otherwise if they were in places with a ton of cover, whoever got there first would have an easy time defending and would easily rack up points.
Wow, I thought MS had said this wasn't coming out today. I guess CliffyB started muttering "Gears of War 3 going to PS3" under his breath enough to get their way. :)
Looks like that psych paper isn't getting done tonight... Good to see a lot of these fixes though, as well as Epic staying with their reputation of providing content after one of their games comes out.
From reading a few previews, I found out you don't need to stay in the ring for it to be your territory. You can claim it, and then take over to hold of the other team.
1-Weapon/Revive/Curb Stomp Slide is gone, bummer. I thought I saw a guy crab walking still, but it could be some lag I was experiencing. I hope it was lag.
2-Annex is a game that is NOT suited for uneven teams. The team with the extra man has a ridiculous advantage.
I just got done playing three straight hours of Annex games. I love this mode, it's the best multiplayer gaming experience I've had with Gears of War. I usually really suck at multiplayer, but with infinite respawn and tight quarters fighting, even I get get lucky. The game shoulda shipped with this mode, it's most excellent. Should make getting multiplayer specific weapon kills achievements easier than ever.
This is a great addition, but I already saw guys ignoring the "hill" and just racking up kills and spawn camping. I remember seeing a quote from Cliffy B where he said that's one of the things they were trying to avoid. Still an amazing addition though.
Wow dude, playing this on tyro station is so fun. I've been playing that one map over and over. Seeing a whole team get wiped out by a train is priceless. But damn, some of the glitches are still present, I've seen several people weapon slide. \:
Ok.. a few things. i'm less that fully impressed with this update. First of all, fuck glitches and you bitches who use them should die in a fire. Second, what's the f'in deal with going to change weapons and getting stuck in the 'weapon change' animation and not being able to pull out a gun until you die?
Third, why, for the love of all the little green fairies in your mom's vagina didn't they add the ability to change the freakin gametype without dumping the room and restarting??? It may not matter to guys who have no friends and play ranked all the fucking time, but those of us who do occassionally get a group of 8 friends together to play a match would appreciate not having to recreate the room just because we'd rather play until 5 wins instead of 3.
As far as I've seen so far, you spawn in the regular spots, the only randomness is which side you'll spawn on. So on maps with 2 spawns (i.e. most of them) you just wait by the entrance.
nope. you respawn either at your spawn or their spawn. I checked the spawn camping and it technically can be done but due the fact of people running away once they spawn its difficult. again people how spawn camp waste their time because if you are looking for an easy kill is better to take the spots rather than wait from someone of the other team to spawn.
They can leave you bleeding but when fight gets intense chances are you get shot and die unless you die in a non spot zone. Great addition to the gears multiplayer modes.
To eliminate that bleeding thing it would be cool to press a button to take your gun and shot yourselve in the head hehe
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Contest:
4:10 PM on 04.09.2007
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From reading a few previews, I found out you don't need to stay in the ring for it to be your territory. You can claim it, and then take over to hold of the other team.
im so damn pissed
The summary:
Go to dashboard and network settings, and test your xbox live connection.
After finishing, take out your gears city and reboot your xbox. After it signs in and everything, just pop your cd and it will work.
2-Annex is a game that is NOT suited for uneven teams. The team with the extra man has a ridiculous advantage.
Overall, great update, Annex is a lot of fun.
Third, why, for the love of all the little green fairies in your mom's vagina didn't they add the ability to change the freakin gametype without dumping the room and restarting??? It may not matter to guys who have no friends and play ranked all the fucking time, but those of us who do occassionally get a group of 8 friends together to play a match would appreciate not having to recreate the room just because we'd rather play until 5 wins instead of 3.
Frakking rediculous.
They can leave you bleeding but when fight gets intense chances are you get shot and die unless you die in a non spot zone. Great addition to the gears multiplayer modes.
To eliminate that bleeding thing it would be cool to press a button to take your gun and shot yourselve in the head hehe