Gears 2 Add-on Gets Price Shuffle
Epic is listening to the fans and making changes. We've got the details and much more.
May 29, 2009 - Earlier this month, Epic Games announced a big expansion for Gears of War 2 called Dark Corners that would include a new campaign level and seven new multiplayer maps. The news hit with mixed reactions. While many were excited to get more maps and levels, the way it was priced touched a nerve. Dark Corners was announced with a price tag of 1600 Microsoft points (US $20), the same price as a compilation that would include Dark Corners and all previously released downloadable maps.
Well, Epic was listening. In this exclusive interview with Rod Fergusson, senior Producer at Epic Games, we're told that Epic and Microsoft are making a change to how Dark Corners is priced and how the All Fronts compilation will be made available.
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IGN: You've made some changes in the Dark Corners release plan since it was first announced by Microsoft on May 6th. Why the change?
Rod Fergusson: Originally, there were two ways to get Dark Corners: either through Xbox LIVE marketplace or as part of the "Gears of War 2: All Fronts Collection," a compilation of previous Game Add-ons, available exclusively at participating retailers.
Some consumers found the pricing confusing (Dark Corners was priced at 1600 MS points, All Fronts at $20 US), and wondered if this was a plan to get the more serious "Gears of War 2" fans to 'pay twice' for content that they'd already bought on Xbox LIVE. Another complaint was that "All Fronts Collection" wouldn't be carried by retailers in their country or region, and they'd be left out of the deal.
So while the "All Fronts Collection" was designed as a limited promotion to bring new players into the fold, it also upset some of the fans who've been loyal to Gears of War for a long time, which was certainly not our intention.
IGN: So what's the new plan?
Rod Fergusson: First, we decided to make Dark Corners available for 1200 points on Xbox LIVE Marketplace, a reduction from 1600. Don't get me wrong, Dark Corners is the biggest Game Add-on we've ever released, and it was a good deal at the old price, but based upon community feedback this just felt like the right thing to do. Also, we've decided to release the All Fronts Collection on Xbox LIVE Marketplace in order to make it available to the widest audience possible. The All Fronts Collection will be priced at 1600 Microsoft Points, and both offers will be available July 28th at 12:00 AM GMT in twenty-five countries around the world.
IGN: As a 1200 Microsoft point download, will Dark Corners offer more achievements than a typical add-on?
Rod Fergusson: With Dark Corners, we've raised the total gamerscore available in Gears of War 2 to 1,750, the maximum amount available for a single title on Xbox LIVE. The Dark Corners Add-on includes 13 new Achievements for a total of 325 new gamerscore.
IGN: Where in the story does Road to Ruin fit? What questions will it answer?
Rod Fergusson: "Road to Ruin" takes place immediately following the death of Maria. We initially intended to give players the choice to don the Theron armor and sneak around the Locust Hollow, or go in guns blazing. But for pacing reasons, we ended up cutting that chapter last summer. It didn't feel quite right for the flow we were going after, and since so much of the game was taking place below ground already, we decided to focus on the other chapters. That said, there's some great gameplay moments in there, and even an old friend to find along the way. We really hope that fans enjoy returning to the campaign, getting a look behind the curtains and seeing what might have been.
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A new campaign level is coming.
IGN: About how long will it take players to complete Road to Ruin?
Rod Fergusson: As with all campaign content, the time it takes to complete it will vary based upon the difficulty setting and the player's skill. We're not going to put an hour/minute designation on "Road to Ruin" but it's on par with other campaign chapters. Also, with two totally different ways to approach the content (both playable in co-op) it should have some great replay value, especially if you want the three Achievements for completing it.
IGN: How will the new stealth mechanics work for the campaign mission?
Rod Fergusson: We can't share any details just yet, but look for more information to be revealed at E3.
IGN: Will any new enemies appear in Road to Ruin? If so, what will they be?
Rod Fergusson: You'll have to wait and see what we have in store for new the scene.
IGN: Are any new multiplayer game modes or weapons being included with this add-on?
Rod Fergusson: "Gears 2" shipped with ten different game modes, including favorites from the original and all-new modes like Horde, and from a gameplay variety standpoint we've been very happy with how they've been received. So for the post-release updates, we've focused on things like gameplay tuning, balancing, and the addition of things like the Experience System in our third title update. With Dark Corners, we focused on the new maps themselves, such as 'Nowhere,' which features a new desert environment and weather effects.
IGN: Are any further improvements to matchmaking being made to coincide with this download?
Rod Fergusson: We're constantly seeking to improve the multiplayer experience in "Gears of War 2." In fact, we have a fourth title update in the works, but we don't have any specific features to confirm just yet beyond the addition of earning multiplayer experience in Horde mode.
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