Gears of War Update starting 9-Jan-2007

[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

[Wtaps Milspex]

• Fixed voice issue with new players joining Player Match games in progress
• Reduced Grenade Tag melee distance


Yeah!!!!

[Shadow Snipe]

Kickass!!!!!!

Thank God that the Voice problem is fixed.

• Removed host name from Ranked match server browser

Thank you EPIC, this may keep the people at bay that want to play with there buddys.

[Wtaps Milspex]

• Added additional cheat detection code

double Yeah!!!!!

[vronsky]

Thanks Epic!

[T35513R]

Thank you Epic, you are the best!!!

[Hickeroar]

Seems to me that they pretty much included everything in there that players have been whining about since day one...

[Copacetic 3da]

thank you thank you thank you.
the voice issue is so annoying. and happy the other issues will be fixed as well.

new maps you say XD i'm not complaining =p

[sirt0kesal0t420]

What about the whole you getting chainsawed and the chainsawer is invicinble deal? does that fall under the getting stuck after chainsawing someone?

BTW epic u rock for fixing the tagging!! \m/

[ChiefMegadeth]

Wow thats awesome cant wait,i hope player matchs are customizible so we can really get the ball rolling...freedom is goldie

thanks Epic for making a amazing game
and your only getting started haha wicked
hopfully heaps new game modes more single player campain

oh i cant wait see ya
keep it heavy!!!

but why did you remove host name,playing ranked with friends is the best thing
damn that sux add in clan matchs then please...