Gears maps are defo free

By Tom Bramwell Published 9 January, 2007

Plus, full patch changelog.

In case it wasn't clear from the Discovery Channel's bizarro sponsorship of this week's Gears of War map releases, it's all for free. All you'll have to pay for is the equipment you're using to take possession of Old Bones and Raven Down on the morrow.

Not only are the maps free, but the Discovery Channel's also giving away a massive two million Microsoft points (GBP 17,000 / EUR 23,260, since you were wondering) in the near future through its www.readyaimfire.com website (edit: a reader points out this is only for Americans - bloody Discovery Channel).

In the meantime, Epic Games' Mark Rein says the promised Gears patch "should start pushing through the system" sometime today, 9th January, ahead of the maps' release tomorrow. Helpfully, he's also served up details of what's been changes, and - yes - the VGA aspect-ratio bug is among the fixes.

The full list of changes:

  • 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
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. Follow him on Twitter.

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

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Comments (24) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • asphaltcowboy #1 5 years ago

    Glad to see tagging taken down a bit. Still think there needs to be shake on the sniper rifle whilst you're taking damage... but never mind!

  • morriss #2 5 years ago

    Grenade tagging is the worst problem, so I'm glad they've fixed it.

  • ram #3 5 years ago

    no mention of fixing the massive advantage the host has with the shotgun Great that tagging effectiveness has been fixed.

  • Der_tolle_Emil #4 5 years ago

    I don't play Gears of War that often but I am glad to see they fixed grenade tagging. At first I thought it was just me but after a while I suspected that it was a bit broken. I guess I was not overreacting and it was imbalanced.

    I agree about the sniper rifle too. It is a bit frustrating when you are face to face with an enemy, unloading half of your magazine and you still die because aiming with the sniper while being attacked is a bit too easy. Especially because you have quite a lot of time to do so.

    Edit: @Ram: This problem would be hard to fix. Though I agree that the shotgun clearly shows that the netcode has problems. Using the shotgun is like rolling a dice most of the time.
    Edited by Der_tolle_Emil at 09/01/07 @ 09:33

  • Roamer #5 5 years ago

    I'm all against patches on console games, but this one seems justified. Online conditions are difficult to replicate during QA, I guess. Still, the lax attitude Microsoft is showing in their quality assurance is a bit troubling.

  • ram #6 5 years ago

    Yep I imagine it would be difficult to fix. Fixing the browser should help a bit though, so now you can see the connection quality.

  • Bertie Verified Senior Staff Writer, Eurogamer.net #7 5 years ago

    Grenade tagging lovezor.

    The voice comm fix is hugely relieving, and I've gotten myself stuck after chainsawing a few times. Also nice is NAT check, we've had lots of problems with certain people not being able to connect to various games.

  • king_skins #8 5 years ago

    No ability to for the host to change the game set-up once you have created a game :(

  • Der_tolle_Emil #9 5 years ago

    Roamer: I agree that the possibility to patch games tends to rush games. Gears of War though runs quite fine without a patch and just looking at the release date (near PS3 launch) it was clear that this game had to be out.

  • DutchDemons #10 5 years ago

    good that they fixed the tagging, that became really annoying.

    I am not happy with the 'Removed host name from Ranked match server browser'. This way it will be virtually impossible to have friends join your ranked game. Not only will this increase the waiting time, but it will decrease the fun. I prefer playing with people i played before (aka 'friends':-) ), rather than total strangers.

    but also...yay! Free maps!
    Edited by DutchDemons at 09/01/07 @ 10:14

  • peteb #11 5 years ago

    im annoyed the free points giveaway is only for the US. although i can't say im surpised, hopefully they will win some points and download other stuff to play, leaving Gears alone. if only.

  • brooza #12 5 years ago

    "Full changelog"
    "Additional housekeeping updates"


    WHAT ARE THEY DAMMIT!

  • peteb #13 5 years ago

    yea "housekeeping"... does the furniture in the maps get a good dusting?

  • AcidSnake #14 5 years ago

    What's grenade tagging?

  • peteb #15 5 years ago

    when someone runs up to you and sticks a grenade on you. has same effect as a stuck plasma grenade in halo 2. meaty death.
    Edited by peteb at 09/01/07 @ 10:41

  • Skooch #16 5 years ago

    "Removed host name from Ranked match server browser"

    Good - this will stop me getting my ass handed to me by clans online who meet up in ranked matches.

    "reduced Melee nade tag distance"

    Bad, but good once I have got the tagging achievement :D I am at around 80 tags so far so not too far to go.

    @ Roamer - You seem to know a lot about Microsoft's certification testing? Care to enlighten us all? Real-world conditions are impossible to recreate in a lab for the pure fact that a testing lab is not the whole world. What we are seeing is fine-tuning of a title to fix minor aspects of a game. Gears is one of the cleanest and finest online experiences available, and is soon to be made even better - yet you just seem interested in tarring a process that has resulted in a killer app for the 360 platform.

  • Skooch #17 5 years ago

    @Acidsnake - the problem was that any one with a grenade in their hands had a 10ft long arm with which to tag you (not literally, of course). It's similar to the 10ft long chainsaw on the end of the lancer rifle... :D

  • Pob #18 5 years ago

    What's grenade tagging?

    when someone runs up to you and sticks a grenade on you. has same effect as a stuck plasma grenade in halo 2. meaty death.

    Except that they can be about three metres away and still stick it on you.

  • AcidSnake #19 5 years ago

    Ah, now I get it...
    Seems like a serious bug then?
    Luckily they've fixed it...

    I really want an X360 now, Gears really looks like great fun with tremendous support...
    However with the rumours these days of a new quieter 120GB HDMI 360 coming up I just don't know anymore...

  • ZuluHero #20 5 years ago

    im confused - are the new maps MP or campaign?

  • Skooch #21 5 years ago

    Multiplayer

  • Skooch #22 5 years ago

    "Reduced number of possible revives in Execution to match Warzone"

    Anyone know any more about this - was there a revive limit beyond which the player would just die? I play Gears a lot but haven't encountered this...

  • alpha-0ne #23 5 years ago

    "Increased penalty for quitting a Ranked match to -50 points "

    Excellent ill be playing again now this annoyned me so much

    the raven map looks great

  • DutchDemons #24 5 years ago

    meh..50 points if you quit early.

    I haven't seen anyone who cared about ranking so far. most of the online people i know care for achievements, not rank. So i think the % quitters will remain the same.

    I think people quit (aside from disconnecting) because they can't stand the fact they're loosing, not because they want to save points.
    Edited by DutchDemons at 09/01/07 @ 11:50