Gears 2 can beat Resistance 2 - Kim

By Tom Bramwell Published 14 May, 2008

It did it the first time around, he says.

Microsoft's Shane Kim believes that Gears of War 2 will be the biggest game of the year and points to the first game's performance against Resistance: Fall of Man on PS3 as evidence of this.

"They launched with Resistance and we've sold nearly 5 million units of Gears of War 1. I think we won that battle," Kim told Eurogamer in an interview to be published soon.

"That's why I believe it's going to be the biggest title this holiday. Killzone's out of the holiday, despite some of the earlier statements that were made. We'll see what happens with Resistance 2, but we've gone head-to-head before. I still feel very confident in the quality [of Gears of War 2]," he explained.

Sony was not immediately available to confirm Resistance: Fall of Man's current sales figures, but it's worth bearing in mind that the PS3 first-person shooter was a launch title, whereas Gears of War was released on a system with an already-large installed base.

Kim, corporate vice president at Microsoft Game Studios, was speaking at Xbox 360's Spring Showcase event in San Francisco where Gears of War 2 was on display and lead designer Cliff Bleszinski demonstrated the second level of the game, called Assault, to journalists.

However, when we asked Kim where Gears of War 2 would sit on the scale of badass firmly established by Cliff Bleszinski and brand manager Kudo Tsunoda in Eurogamer's interview earlier today, he refused to be drawn, except to say, "We want a more badass sequel, right, whether that's 12 or 11 or ten. We just want it to be more..."

Check out the full Shane Kim interview later this week more on this and other Microsoft-related topics.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (70) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • JayeM #1 4 years ago

    Well, obviously.

  • spazmo #2 4 years ago

    wickid

  • Widge #3 4 years ago

    I want to purchase a scale of badass

  • penhalion #4 4 years ago

    "Gears of War was released on a system with an already-large installed base."

    Er was it! When the heck did that bit of mis-information become fact?

  • Widge #5 4 years ago

    anything written on the internet is fact

  • MightyMouse #6 4 years ago

    That may be the least surprising thing ever said, anywhere, by anyone.

  • NickD7 #7 4 years ago

    Breaking news!!!!

    Mike Tyson can beat up my dad

  • bitesize #8 4 years ago

    anything written on the internet is fact

    not unless you write fact after it in caps - FACT!

  • Erinan #9 4 years ago

    Honestly, EG, no news is better than pissing contests. We need more women in the video game industry for god's sake.

  • NickD7 #10 4 years ago

    This is what Gears 2 will do to Resistance 2

    [link url=http://i32.tinypic. com/f080pk.gif
    ]http://i32.tinypic. com/f080pk.gif
    [/link]

  • Eraysor #11 4 years ago

    Booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooring.

  • Widge #12 4 years ago

    bitesize is correct - FACT!

  • JediMasterMalik #13 4 years ago

    @penhalion - That's relatively true, how is it misinformation?

  • AL7AIR #14 4 years ago

    So what? I enjoyed Resistance and I enjoyed Gears of War ... Single player as well as multi player, so I don't see why I wouldn't pick up both sequels.

  • HolyJebus #15 4 years ago

    "Microsoft's Shane Kim believes that Gears of War 2 will be the biggest game of the year "

    I believe he says it'll be the biggest game of the holidays, hardly the year, or have ye already forgotten about GTA since ye had no sales news about it today :)

  • Jtyettis #16 4 years ago

    Well of course it is going to beat it.

  • Anthony_UK #17 4 years ago

    What a stupid obvious thing to say, as awesome as gears was (Better than Fall of Man IMO). Like the article says Gears was a second/third generation title on the 360 which already had a fair size installed base at the time. Fall of Man was a release title for the PS3 for god sake!

    Edited by 1 at 14/05/08 @ 16:26

  • DrDamn #18 4 years ago

    GoW lunched into a market of ~5m consoles. So I guess it depends on what your definition of "already large" is. Resistance has sold about 2.8m copies so far. Which considering it wasn't that great a game is surprising. Besides where are the people saying GoW it isn't a FPS?

  • Khanivor #19 4 years ago

    Forgot to mention Resistance was officially bundled with many machines.

    EG in Sony bias shocker!!!!

  • zoch #20 4 years ago

    gears of war 2 isn't going to be game of the year metal gear solid 4 is can't wait play that game!

  • phatb0y #21 4 years ago

    Fuck me. These interviews/statements are getting more like pre-match wrestling banter by the day.

    Still, as long as Cliff Bleszinski gets hit with a set of step ladders I won't be complaining too loudly.

    Insomniac need to recruit Paul Bearer asap.

  • SeesThroughAll #22 4 years ago

    Forgot to mention Resistance was officially bundled with many machines.

    EG in Sony bias shocker!!!!

    So was Gears, so what??

    Oh, you're joking. Ok.

  • HolyJebus #23 4 years ago

    Not that I care about console wars, but Halo 1 was a release title and sold more then pretty much any second or third generation game, so i'm not sure if how long the console was out is a valid argument. It's how many consoles are sold now, which are close enough between PS3 and 360. But as I said, couldn't give a fup.
    Edited by 1 at 14/05/08 @ 16:36

  • Psychotext #24 4 years ago

    Erinan: Because women never bitch and snipe at each other... ever.

  • Weezer #25 4 years ago

    I'm a fan of the 360 and a fan of Gears of War... and even I think that Kim's comment was unwarranted and a bit wanky.

    Just leave it - let sales do the talking.

  • space_ace #26 4 years ago

    uwe boll will beat both g2 and r2

  • Laika #27 4 years ago

    Can someone tell me why it's important if Gears beats Resistance?

  • loopy #28 4 years ago

    "I love how enthused everyone is with how they're console will be the best, have the best game and make them the coolest on the playground. I'm more hopeful they'll both raise the standard of shooters for the better. I'm obviously just bat shit crazy."

    Amen to that (not that you're bat shit crazy, the other bit :p).

  • Psychotext #29 4 years ago

    vercetti102: Microsoft are the publishers. That means to all intents and purposes they own the game.

  • miiiguel #30 4 years ago

    When a publisher thinks if he prefers to have a GOTY award or an olympic pool full of money, I kinda think he'd prefer the later.

    vercetti102, MS owns Gears IP, so I realy, realy doubt that will ever happen. But, it's a mad world..., and yes it has to do with him, closely. Epic even said that Gears had an important role when defining 360's architecture.
    Edited by 2 at 14/05/08 @ 16:51

  • themorganator #31 4 years ago

    Eurogamers quest for site hits jumps to new levels of pointlessness with more fanboy baiting twaddle.

    and, I fell for it..

    GOW2 is going to pown Resistance 2. FACT

  • Colin8703 #32 4 years ago

    Saying it's going to be the biggest game of the year is a bit daft.

    I've heard about this game called Grand Theft Auto 4.

    It did quite well apparently.

  • Madlax #33 4 years ago

    A small scale shooter with 5 vs 5 maximum matches, Vs a large scale shooter with 60 player matches. Shane kim never fails to amuse me.

    I think he's worried that Gears 2, while still visually impressive, isnt receiving the same hype treatment of the first game, it will still sell well though, the entire resistance vs gears 1 thing is flawed, thats a launch title against a 2nd generation game on a system with a much larger install base at the time (as Eurogamer has kindly mentioned).

    Things will be different this time, Resistance 2 is a 3rd gen title from Insomniac, if anything, gears will no longer have a visual advantage over resistance 2, but resistance 2 will certainly have a scale advantage over gears 2. not that it matters much to fanboys, but for new system adopters it may very well do.





  • Greychapter #34 4 years ago

    Doesn't Call of Duty usually launch in November? I have a feeling that may sell a few copies.

  • noresalenocopy #35 4 years ago

    Next-Gen, it's all gone 'wanking for coins' crazy.

    I'm looking forward to getting both, different games and all.
    Edited by 1 at 14/05/08 @ 17:24

  • Yaz #36 4 years ago

    Madlax wrote: "A small scale shooter with 5 vs 5 maximum matches, Vs a large scale shooter with 60 player matches. Shane kim never fails to amuse me."

    Well, as yet we don't know the full scale of the battles for GeOW2 (it's certain to be more than the first game), and I don't think Kim is worried about the hype surrounding GeOW2, but yes, it was flawed for Resistance to be compared to GeOW in that way.
    Edited by 1 at 14/05/08 @ 17:33

  • #37 4 years ago

    As much as i want GOW2, Id be pretty worried concerning how RFOM2 is able to do 60 man battles and GOW2 cant. Infact i believe theres even more enemies on screen at once in RFOM1, or so im lead to believe than the original GOW.

    Either way, trust MS mouth piece PR to say something like that.

    /blames americans.
    Edited by 1 at 14/05/08 @ 17:34

  • anamenos #38 4 years ago

    easy win for GOW2

  • Peew971 #39 4 years ago

    @ Greychapter: In case you were on another planet, COD5 goes back to WWII and is developed by Treyarch rather than Infinity Ward. This isn't great news.
    I wouldn't bet on it against these 2 titles (on their respective platform).

  • ElNino9 #40 4 years ago

    Gears will sell more. Why? 'Cos it's more badass you know... :D

  • warbo #41 4 years ago

    Madlax, Gears of War was a 1st generation title for Xbox 360. EPICs 1st Xbox 360 game. 1st proper UE3 game.
    Edited by 1 at 14/05/08 @ 17:41

  • RandomTerrain #42 4 years ago

    Biggest game of the year? Who's he trying to kid?
    Ever heard of Metal Gear Solid or GTA?

  • Trigga_Tybalt #43 4 years ago

    the problem i had with gears is its too samey. i played it for 10min and felt like i had seen everything. when i played it again at a later point in the game with my bro nothing was new and when i saw my mate beat the final boss it confirmed my suspicion that i had seen everything that game had to offer in the first 10min. resistance wasn't exactly an amazing game but it at least offered up some variety. and making the sales boasts like they did with GTA is pretty weak considering the install base.

    anyway we all know mgs4 and gta before it will be better than both of them ;)

  • seasidebaz #44 4 years ago

    both games will look nice, but probably be shit.

    just like the prequels.

    sorry, but someone had to say it.

    although epic do make good tech demos, and insomniac do make good games featuring a robot and a mutant cat.

  • TriggerHippie #45 4 years ago

    Isn't this a case of apples and oranges? If they were both vying for the same customers then there might be a case for 'winning' but these games arent even on the same format. Sick and tired of all the dick measuring thats going on at the moment. Make a good game and we'll buy it. Now shut up and get back to work.

  • #46 4 years ago

    @MrMilad
    And please, stfu about "omfg but 60 vs 5" Gears is that way because it's supposed to be that way, the nature of the gameplay and the way Epic intended the multiplayer to be dictated small team sizes.

    And you work at Epic so you know this is an objectionable fact?

  • Triggerhappytel #47 4 years ago

    Firstly, the Gears IP belongs to Epic games (unless MS has bought it since November '06, and I doubt Epic would have sold it). Which means Epic can partner with whichever publisher they like, and release it for whichever console they want, unless MS got them to sign an exclusivity contract for N number of years or sequels.

    Secondly, shut up Shane Kim, no-one old enough to legally buy the game cares.

  • septimus #48 4 years ago

    Well duh. Bit of a cock comment.

    It will probably do it again as Resistance, while being okay, is just doom with prettier graphics. 60 player co-op with small teams sounds better than the standard matches in GoW though. Nothing beats GoW co-op though (except maybe RV61/2).

  • makeamazing #49 4 years ago

    Ah what is wrong with these companies. Comparing sales of one game to another.. who cares.. at the end of the day what matters is that the product sells and makes them (the company) money.

    I hope Sony at least be quiet on this, but somehow I dont think they will.

  • Xerx3s #50 4 years ago

    "gears of war 2 isn't going to be game of the year metal gear solid 4 is can't wait play that game! "

    I think that you will find that that depends on pov.

    I see the usual "persecution complex" people are present in force as usual, sprouting their rubbish.

  • Apologie #51 4 years ago

    Both games will be great... why the comparison??? the only major difference is that we will see a bigger improvement over REsistance 1 (graphically and in terms of multiplayer) at least that's what i think...., GOW 2 will be more of the same, with more enemies and bigger battles (wich is not bad at all) but graphically very similar to it's first installment.

    Th biggest games of 2008 will be GTA IV and MGS4... thouse compete in a league of they'r own, RFOM2, GOW2, HAZE, Ninja Gainden 2, Motorstorm 2, Little Big Planet etc... will be good but not epic.
    Edited by 1 at 14/05/08 @ 18:22

  • Triggerhappytel #52 4 years ago

    Can we please agree that GoW should be God of War and Gears should be Gears of War. It can get very confusing. GeoW is also acceptable.

  • Madlax #53 4 years ago

    "Th biggest games of 2008 will be GTA IV and MGS4... thouse compete in a league of they'r own, RFOM2, GOW2, HAZE, Ninja Gainden 2, Motorstorm 2, Little Big Planet etc... will be good but not epic."

    I beg you to differ. ;)

  • Widge #54 4 years ago

    GOW2 also doesn't really need hype this time around as its playing to a captive audience so to speak.

  • drumbaby #55 4 years ago

    Why mention it unless you're bricking yourself over steadily diminishing returns?

  • captainrentboy #56 4 years ago

    What's the genre of Two of the most hyped upcoming games for the PS3, Confounder? A clue, one of them is actually in the title of this particular news story.
    Saying that the 360 covers only one game genre is an 'insult' that's about 18 months too late I'm afraid.
    Infact bar Singstar-esque titles, the 360 has pretty much covered all bases. :/

  • #57 4 years ago

    captainrentboy isn't the majority of games on the 360 shooters?

  • anamenos #58 4 years ago

    Bigest game of the year will be Gears of war 2 and GTAIV second..

  • des #59 4 years ago

    Shane Kim-expert for bloody obvious things

  • Xerx3s #60 4 years ago

    "captainrentboy isn't the majority of games on the 360 shooters? "

    2004 called, it wants it's uninformed prejudice back.

  • Yaz #61 4 years ago

    MrMilad wrote: "And please, stfu about "omfg but 60 vs 5" Gears is that way because it's supposed to be that way, the nature of the gameplay and the way Epic intended the multiplayer to be dictated small team sizes."

    DeamonB replied: "And you work at Epic so you know this is an objectionable fact?"

    Actually, MrMilad is correct. Cliffy B has discussed this issue a number of times. I couldn't find the specific interview I'm thinking of, but here's an interview where CliffyB discusses Gear's multiplayer game;

    http://uk .xbox360.ign.com/articles/761/7...

  • Kenshin001 #62 4 years ago

    Resistance 2 will have 8 player co-op and 60 player online. Sounds a lot more fun.

  • Calgon #63 4 years ago

    MGS4 is going to sell mainly only to those that have followed MGS from the beginning up untill MGS3... which just isnt in the same league as GTA... check the figures for yourself. The MGS series on some levels I feel is more overrated than Halo's are by its fans... thats not to say either of them are bad though... and the main point is each game sells to the same audience its not going to be a big pivotal system seller, sure there are those waiting for it yes like there were Halo fans for Halo3(infact Halos typically have sold more units IIRC).

    GOW2 could well go on to outsell all of the top PS3 games... except IMO for PS3 sales forget Resistance2, Killzone2 and even LBP(sorry but Im a none beleiver I dont think this will attract casuals... it will sell to the hardcore mainly and even they will get bored of it after while)... GT5 is probably the standout title because Polyphony Digital seem to have the biggest budget for any racer out there(and the longest dev cycles) and racers sell the world over.

    I do wonder how much GT5 has cost them and what would become of them if it didnt perform sales wise(Im pretty sure it will), they seem to do this every time aswell and its worked for them.
    Edited by 1 at 15/05/08 @ 02:19

  • peterfll #64 4 years ago

    How Badass? BAAAADASSS - like on a scale - like - of 1200%!!!!!

    I say: Badass OFF.

  • Beano #65 4 years ago

    I'm pretty sure GoW2 actually will "beat" R2 (sell more units) since the first own was very popular and a solid game (but very overrated and style-over-content) and sold 360 hardware. R:FoM was very overlooked and many still classify it as a "bad game" - eventhough they have only seen or played the start of the campaign which was a bit dull and looked like another WW2 shooter.
    But the online portion was (and still is) brilliant and better that Halo and COD4 IMO. GoW2 looks like more of the same but "bigger and better" while R2 will take the game to the next level - especially in online multiplayer and co-op. I double GoW2 will "beat" R2 reg. quality knowing Insomniac.

  • Widge #66 4 years ago

    Resistance 1 was alright, it played like a mash of HalfLife2 with the odd bit of Day Of Defeat visuals sneaking in.
    The opening levels were dire and got much better once you were out of York. In fact the game got bloody nails halfway through on basic difficulty. I've tended to quite happily mow through FPS games but this one really got you. Nasty aggressive AI!
    The multiplayer wasn't enough to tempt me away from Warhawk either.

    Can't benchmark it to Gears as I've never played it, but I'll say it didn't impress me as much as playing the likes of Halo for the first time.

    Resistance 2 really needs to work on its opening level to make it frankly kick arse for people to sit up and notice. Intrigued to see how the 60 player multiplayer works out though. Would be intrigued to see full scale battlefield action going on, thats what I liked about Warhawk... the massive map wide skirmishes that happen. Fantastic.

  • Sevket #67 4 years ago

    I will get both anyway so I really don't care. But Gears of War 2 has a slight age since I am not a fan of FPS genre and never will be

  • Razorus #68 4 years ago

    Is it that hard to beat Resistance? The first game was wack. I'd be more worried about MGS4 if I were them.

  • muscleblade #69 4 years ago

    "I'd be more worried about MGS4 if I were them"

    No need to worry. Ninja gaiden 2 takes care of MGS4. MGS is a game that will be great, but isnt for everyone more a fan thing. The same can be said about Ninja Gaiden 2. Im a Ninja Gaiden fan so i own the right console regarding my taste in games. Gears of war 2 is GOTY imo. GTA IV is good but overrated imho.
    Edited by 1 at 15/05/08 @ 11:58

  • Beano #70 4 years ago

    "Gears of war 2 is GOTY imo"

    Wow.. you have played allready?

  • Madlax #71 4 years ago

    "No need to worry. Ninja gaiden 2 takes care of MGS4"

    There is a joke in that sentence....somewhere, but my sarcasm meter is broken, so i,l pass. ;)

  • Les #72 4 years ago

    Of course GeOW2 will beat Resistance. 100% of 360 users will buy it while the PS3 demographic is far more diverse. When it comes to the quality of the game though, Insomniac must really screw up if they'll compare unfavourably with Epic dross...