New, Better, More: Epic's Approach to Gears of War 2

[Evil Avatar]

Gamasutra has posted a long conversation (http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3773/new_better_more_epics_approach_.php) with Epic Senior Producer Rod Fergusson, talking about Epic's "New, Better, More" philosophy and how that applies to Gears of War 2.

For Gears 2, we really started off with this process called, this idea of just "New, Better, More." We just decided to, across probably 15 different systems in the game, from animation, to gameplay, to story, to weapons -- we just looked at them and said, "What would we like to do new, what would we want to do better, and what would we want to do more?"

And so we went through, and we actually created this huge list of things, and we went through multiple [processes of] narrowing down, and came up with our top list of, you know, "Here's the top 35 things that we definitely want to make sure gets into Gears 2." And it was like, bots was number one on the list for things that we wanted to get in, and be part of that experience; as well as things like the party system, and taking more time to ensure that what we were conveying in the story was actually getting across to the player.Lets hope that the 'more' part applies to the MIA storyline from the first title.

[DeathtollWRX]

I simply can't fathom anyone who bought Gears one not buying Gears 2. I was playing with Evil yesterday and I came to the realization that Gears of War is still one of the best looking and intense action games to ever come out.
I hope this game outsells the original, We as gamers need more games of this caliber. We need to show the big companies out there that we are willing to shell out cash for big budget titles. Personally i'm getting the version with the life size Chainsaw/Gun.

That being said the game so far looks stellar and will probably be a game by which all others that follow it will be judged. Could this be Xbox360 game of the year? Could Gears of War 2 sells more consoles?

[Lance Uppercut]

Between this, Spore, and Fallout 3, Christmas is looking to be very, very fun.

[Grifter]

I simply can't fathom anyone who bought Gears one not buying Gears 2. I was playing with Evil yesterday and I came to the realization that Gears of War is still one of the best looking and intense action games to ever come out.
I hope this game outsells the original, We as gamers need more games of this caliber. We need to show the big companies out there that we are willing to shell out cash for big budget titles. Personally i'm getting the version with the life size Chainsaw/Gun.

I Agree completely.

[trip1eX]

New. Better. More.

Wow. Here I figured they had me fooled. I thought they were going the...

Old. Worse. Less.

Route.

[KidCactus]

I simply can't fathom anyone who bought Gears one not buying Gears 2.
I don't think I'll be buying Gears 2, didn't have that much fun with the first one to be honest.

[*raoul]

I would be surprised Gears 2 is not my favorite game of the year.

[Wedge]

As long as they have fixed the shitty network code from the first one, this could be my GotY. If they haven't, I'll put it on the shelf pretty quickly.

[bean19]

I'll rent it. The multiplayer didn't sell me on the first one, and it was a short game. If the multiplayer is fantastic (like CoD 4 fantastic) I'll be picking it up.

[Evil Avatar]

Because the franchise has gotten so big that when you're worrying about comic books, and novels, and movies, and just continuity of the story bible; there's a lot more to worry about in Gears 2 than Gears 1, where we were just focused on gameplay. So yeah, it's nice having those extra production assistants to stay on top of the schedules and those sorts of things.

Production assistant in charge of the storyline bible - that must be a cake job! Where can I get an application? :p

Great article, but there was a lot of emphasis on 'story', which was the only area Gears was totally lacking it. I find it a little concerning that the interview focused so much on story when it was obvious that telling a story was totally ignored in the first game. I don't trust people who talked about Gears like it had a story and had a game world when it obviously didn't.

[RevXwise]

Production assistant in charge of the storyline bible - that must be a cake job! Where can I get an application? :p

Great article, but there was a lot of emphasis on 'story', which was the only area Gears was totally lacking it. I find it a little concerning that the interview focused so much on story when it was obvious that telling a story was totally ignored in the first game. I don't trust people who talked about Gears like it had a story and had a game world when it obviously didn't.

Hahaha, I agree completely. I have beaten the first Gears of War game a few times now (albeit in a completely drunken stupor) and I really have no idea what the story was about. Something about aliens and you being a prisoner?

Hopefully this game will surprise us and have an awesome storyline. I don't really care that much, though, since Gears of War has always been about awesome gameplay.

[DeathtollWRX]

Here's the story.

Aliens who aren't aliens just another society living underground decide to take over.

You are released from jail to aid the resistance of your fallen civilization. you were jailed as as traitor becuase you disobeyed oreders to save your father.

You are badass. You are buff and you got guns and wise cracking teammates.

This is the greatest story ever told! It's freaking better than Casablanca and Gone with the Wind.


on a side note.. for some reason people are adding me to their friends list, They say somewhere I am listed as someone who plays co op Gears of War on insane and it's not from Evilavatar!


I don't have problems with the netcode, it seems just as good as any other client hosting based console game out there. (which is almost garbage) The netcode is good enough to have somewhat fair matches... it was a far cry from what Castle Crashers or most other online games give and it was almost a launch title.

[Lance Uppercut]

I'll rent it. The multiplayer didn't sell me on the first one, and it was a short game. If the multiplayer is fantastic (like CoD 4 fantastic) I'll be picking it up.

Your criticism is something I can identify with. The single player and co-op was phenomenal, but way too short. I wasn't sold on the multiplayer. But with the addition of bots and this new Horde Mode, I think I'll give the multiplayer a chance for this one.

[menage]

I simply can't fathom anyone who bought Gears one not buying Gears 2. I was playing with Evil yesterday and I came to the realization that Gears of War is still one of the best looking and intense action games to ever come out.
I hope this game outsells the original, We as gamers need more games of this caliber. We need to show the big companies out there that we are willing to shell out cash for big budget titles. Personally i'm getting the version with the life size Chainsaw/Gun.

What, a linear shooter in a pretty generic universe doing the duck, pop, shoot mechanic all the time. I'm exaggerating a bit off course. But I don't think I need many more games of this. There really isn't a lack in the shoot the alien dep.

I don't quite get the notion of us sending a message to major company's we need more of this. 5 million buyers already told us so. Want to send a message, buy Braid or Viva Pinata 2. They need it more than this.

This does look better than the first one though. At least it has the spectacle I sorely missed in the first one. Like a Brumak fight and better setpieces which are actually part of the gameplay instead of the same corridor with a different background.

[Purple Santa]

I don't quite get the notion of us sending a message to major company's we need more of this. 5 million buyers already told us so. Want to send a message, buy Braid or Viva Pinata 2. They need it more than this.



I think this is the "hardcore's" call to arms due to the casual games invasion. Which ironically enough you point out games such as Viva Pinata 2 need more help being sold...I totally agree. GOW sold enough...will certainly sell more and despite the hysteria elsewhere...big games will be made...and sold in bunches...

I'm actually tempted to rent GOW 2...after all the ducking/cover/shoot in Uncharted I did maybe I can give it a shot ...I just want to see what all the fuss is about...I feel almost left out ;)

[menage]

I think this is the "hardcore's" call to arms due to the casual games invasion. Which ironically enough you point out games such as Viva Pinata 2 need more help being sold...I totally agree. GOW sold enough...will certainly sell more and despite the hysteria elsewhere...big games will be made...and sold in bunches...


Yeah, I know those 2 examples might seem like the total opposite. Casual as you say. But I just meant to illustrate that original concepts like Braid or something different like Okami for instance do tend to not sell. I'm not into Barbie's deep sea adventure either:P. But I do like an original concept, and they get snuffed out pretty quickly these days. While deep down these are gamers games as well. Just because it doesn't have space marines and a BFG.

I see everyone buying Gears 2 (hell, maybe even me, if I'm convinced it wil be more varied), but VP2 sadly not so much, while it's a really fun and creative experience (based on 1).

Also, seeing as we got Killzone 2, RS2, CoD5, Fallout 3 and Gears 2 coming, I don't see a dire need for a call to arms indeed. They are all terrific games no doubt, but those games will sell themselves.

[king3567]

I see everyone buying Gears 2 (hell, maybe even me, if I'm convinced it wil be more varied), but VP2 sadly not so much, while it's a really fun and creative experience (based on 1).

.

I am getting both. Gears, to me, is what being a hardcore gamer is all about. I have never had so much fun with a shooter and to me it just blows stuff like Call of Duty and Halo out of the water. Of course, I spent an unhealthy time on the first one and, not to sound so narcissistic, I was pretty damn good and even got seriously... legit. I probably spent 300+ hours on the multiplayer and it pretty much only had one mode. I can't fathom how awesome it's going to be having all these new varied modes and the horde mode. I love modes where you and a few buddies have to face unfair odds on the defensive side.

On the other hand, I enjoyed Viva Pinata a great deal too. It was a great game for when you wanted to just kind of relax and was only as stressful as you wanted it to be. It had great pacing too, starting off with nothing and you build up your garden from there until eventually you run it into the ground and become desperate but then you come back and money is no longer an issue. It was a great time and 2 looks to continue this trend.

I find ironic though that half of the core gamers won't even give Rare a chance now, even though everything they've produced this generation has been awesome.