Epic releases Gears 2 map pack News

15 December, 2008

Epic has released three new multiplayer maps for Gears of War 2.

The Combustible Map Pack is available now on Xbox Live Marketplace for 800 Microsoft Points (GBP 6.80 / EUR 9.60) and weighs in at 79MB.

The three maps are Flood, where players duke it out amidst lakes of imulsion, with tides that rise and fall; Gold Rush; and Fuel Station, which seems to be derived from the petrol station bit in Gears of War 1, except you can get on the roof.

However, there are already some angry people on the Epic forums moaning that the developer still hasn't fixed lag issues despite a matchmaking patch released in November.

There's a Combustible Map Pack trailer floating around from the Spike Video Game Awards in the US last night that shows off the maps, which we'll try and dig out for you as soon as possible. (Update: Major Nelson reports that the trailer's also downloadable on Live, so you can find it there for the time being.)

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asphaltcowboy

15/12/08 @ 10:08

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Yeah, I'd rather they fix matchmaking. We were waiting for 5-10 minutes trying to get a game yesterday with a team of 5. In the end, we just made it private and tried to get a few more people in. Twas a bit disappointing really! Oh and 800 points is a little steep!

Jonesie2k

15/12/08 @ 10:11

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this is ridiculous. they have sorted the getting into games problem, but every other game or so i still get awful, unplayable lag. it really is a good game when it all works, one of my favs. but with cod 4 and 5, halo and fallout etc in my collection my patience really is waring thin with it quickly. they must sort out the lag in game asap or risk losing a lot of players

Pinewood_Groves

15/12/08 @ 10:11

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800 pts for three maps? Does it come with Brumak Armour?

HolyJebus

15/12/08 @ 10:15

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This is a bit of a piss take alright. If anything they should be releasing these for free to make up for the connection problems.

HolyJebus

15/12/08 @ 10:33

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And now Epic have deleted the thread EG linked to of unhappy customers. They really aren't doing themselves any favours at the moment. I read the thread before it was deleted and it wasn't anything crazy, just disappointed players. These guys need to take some lessons from Valve and Bungie.

rhubarbandcustard

15/12/08 @ 10:35

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As a point of principle do NOT buy dlc released this closely to the retail launch.

DLC should be where a developer continues to support a game after release. In this case they have simply held back content that had been already completed.

I love Gears Of War and Cliffy B is an entertaining personality in an industry full of bland.

But on this occasion Cliffy baby... fuck you.

Xerx3s

15/12/08 @ 10:38

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They've got to be joking. 800 points for the big halo 3 map packs is already taking the piss, what makes them think that this is worth 800 points?

stepneg

15/12/08 @ 10:47

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No sale, at least make sure the f**king game works properly, 800pts so I can spend even more of my gaming time sat in matchmaking, no thanks.

KujiGhost

15/12/08 @ 10:52

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I agree that these have been released suspiciously close to the release date. The game only came out, what, a month ago?

cabbadgecase

15/12/08 @ 10:52

#10

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DLC should be where a developer continues to support a game after release. In this case they have simply held back content that had been already completed.

This

The_Inquisitor

15/12/08 @ 10:58

#11

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I'm glad I haven't bought the game yet. There are more games deserving of an immediate purchase from what I hear. I'll get it in the New Year though.

asphaltcowboy

15/12/08 @ 11:00

#12

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I don't buy the 'they should have stuck it on the disc' argument. It's entirely possible that they simply weren't ready for release, which is fair enough assuming they're well-made, balanced and fun. I'd be tempted to pick this up (yes, even at 800pts) had they fixed the matchmaking problems.

@The_Inquisitor: Er, I'd argue it's one of the best games this year... :p

Edited 1 times, most recently on 15/12/08 @ 11:01

nbnz

15/12/08 @ 11:01

#13

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Funny Epic have deleted that thread.

Anthony_UK

15/12/08 @ 11:05

#14

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I've not even played all the maps included in the game due to the stupid matchmaking! I'd pretty much given up on the multiplayer side of thing till I tried it last night. The matchmaking was fixed to an extent (3 mins is still to long coming from COD) but I didn't experince much lag. But chucking this map pack out now, so soon after relase for that price after all the problems is a joke!

As someone else said they should release it for free to get people interested again!

Edited 1 times, most recently on 15/12/08 @ 14:05

Skooch

15/12/08 @ 11:05

#15

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Love Gears 2 but the wait for matchmaking is really getting tiresome...when they fix that I will probably splash out on the map pack, but not before.

Slim

15/12/08 @ 11:08

#16

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This'll make the matchmaking worse too, wait 15 mins for a game then get dropped because you don't have the map..

stodgypudding

15/12/08 @ 11:10

#17

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I'm not paying 800pts for this, it's shame so many others will.

Pirotic

15/12/08 @ 11:15

#18

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The match making is a joke, I'm having to bloody play my DS while waiting for it to find a match.

CreepinJesus

15/12/08 @ 11:29

#19

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800 points!? Clearly, Bungie have had a bad influence on the market...

I still haven't got myself Gears 2 :|

Progguitarist

15/12/08 @ 11:39

#20

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800 points? No thanks. Im not even that fond of the multiplayer to begin with.

Monkey_Puncher

15/12/08 @ 11:53

#21

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I don't have issue with the price, I have issue with the fact they still haven't fixed the fucking matchmaking. As said though, these should be released for free really to make up for the wanked up online multiplayer that has barely worked since launch.

Cronan

15/12/08 @ 12:32

#22

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The link to the Epic forums no longer works, because Epic keep killing threads there. Please fix it.
No way am I buying this DLC, until they fix the b0rked multiplayer in this game.

RustyBullet

15/12/08 @ 12:34

#23

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Totaly agree. Fix the game first, and this time do it right. What with lag issues and the bingo of have i got a gun or not this round.The online is a joke. Epic.... yea epic balls up.

RedSparrows

15/12/08 @ 13:08

#24

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'This'll make the matchmaking worse too, wait 15 mins for a game then get dropped because you don't have the map.. '

If it's matchmade that shouldn't happen.

Raajaa

15/12/08 @ 13:15

#25

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ditch this trash - don't get it and send Epic the message that people won't stand for broken multiplayer/promises. Hit 'em in the wallet and they'll take notice. GOW 2 FTL

CHACK

15/12/08 @ 13:29

#26

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DO NOT BUY - DONT BE SUCKERED BY EPIC

As if Cliffy B needs another reason to buy another Lambo.

Boycott it - they need to fix matchmaking - not fleece consumers for more cash.

The_Inquisitor

15/12/08 @ 14:14

#27

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@ asphaltcowboy

I know, but I'm trying to limit my purchases. And if I can have a good old moan at the same time... well, bonus.

Man_s

15/12/08 @ 14:25

#28

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After all the problems the game has that have yet to be fixed, including bugs that were present in Gears 1 and fixed afterwards, this is absolutely ridiculous. Do they not understand the damage this does to their image as a studio? I realize it's probably Microsoft that wanted this to be paid for, but still... In Gears 1 we had one map pack for free then 800 points for 4 maps. Now it's 3 maps, one of them a port from Gears PC, for 800 points sensibly 1 month after release... This is just incredibly stupid, and so are the people that buy in to this.

TruWari3r

15/12/08 @ 14:35

#29

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Fix the Boomshield/Shotgun glitch, please pretty please with sugar on top!!

It's the favorite glitch for cheaters in MP and it's very very annoying.

Kyledanutmeg

15/12/08 @ 15:27

#30

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wow they are really taking the piss are'nt they for 3 shitty maps and a game they have yet to even fix like hell im gonna pay :@

grav

15/12/08 @ 15:28

#31

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well i gave up on this game a week or so ago due to the constant unplayable lag. i was getting 1 in 5 games that were anygood and having to wait up to 5 minutes to find a game.

been playing cod5 and whilst not such a great game no lag and i can get into games quickly. I won't be bothering with the map pack or any more gow2 unless they fix the lag problem.

Dark_Wolf_1991

21/12/08 @ 16:09

#32

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Epic games doesnt care about their games or fans..... They just want your money just like EA games.

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