Gears of War 3: Raam's Shadow • Eurogamer.net

Gears of War movie is still go, gets Avatar screenwriter

Fenix rising.

The Gears of War movie is still trundling forward and it's even secured a screenwriter.

UPDATE: CliffyB won't be working on the next Gears... at all.

UPDATE: Gears of War creator Clifford Bleszinski has confirmed that he will not be working on the next Gears game in any capacity.

"I'm not going to move to Vancouver and work on it," Bleszinski said on his Clifford Unchained blog. "I'm not going to consult on it."

This isn't so say that he's bitter about the change. In fact, he's looking forward to this new take on the series given how well Microsoft handled the Halo property after giving it to newcomers 343. "343 knocked it out of the park with Halo and I think Black Tusk will do a fantastic job with Gears," Bleszinski stated.

But he's not going to hurry his trunks off yet.

Doors open in the video games industry for someone like Cliff Bleszinski. He's famous in these parts. He left Epic Games in October and got away from it all, put some trunks on, went on holiday and spent time with his wife. Now he's had his break, what does he plan to do?

Cliff Bleszinski on mixing Unreal with Skyrim to make "SciFi-Rim" and more

Plus: "Mark my words, VR is coming back in a BIG way."

Cliff Bleszinski came across very well in an Ask Me Anything session on Reddit at the weekend.

Title Update 4 will be rolled out today for Gears of War 3

Raam: a Lambent on revenge?

Title Update 4 will be rolled out today for Gears of War 3.

Epic Games announced the roll-out time as 2am PT (9am GMT) on its website. So it should be out. Can you see it?

Improvements

VideoGears of War 3: Raam's Shadow trailer

Eurogamer review online now.

Sonic CD, Trine 2 Xbox Live Arcade release dates

Microsoft dates the rest of 2011's XBLA, DLC and deals.

Sega classic Sonic CD will be available to download from tomorrow on Xbox Live Arcade for the pocket money price of 400 Points, Microsoft has announced.

Sonic joins the previously PS3-exclusive Joe Danger, the diminutive racer whose Special Edition for XBLA includes extra gameplay modes and characters.

Fairy tale puzzle-platformer Trine 2 then rounds out the year's XBLA releases on 21st December.

Epic investigating, asks fans to be patient.

Gears of War 3 Season Pass owners are currently unable to get the Raam's Shadow DLC for free - as they should.

Gears of War 3: Raam's Shadow Review

Raam'd and dangerous.

Of the great many pock-faced star warriors of the Locust horde, none could make for a more enjoyable playable antagonist than General Raam: nine feet tall, mute (which, when you have Epic's writers putting words in everyone's mouths, is a significant bonus) and wielding a serrated sword and a swarm of weaponised bats.

Two minutes in his ogre-ish boots, and Marcus Fenix and the rest of the Delta Squad seem like plimsoll-wearing hipsters. He is a brute with bulk that a steroid-hooked Gears soldier could only dream of, and as such, playing as Raam amplifies the power fantasy of Epic's shooter to an unprecedented level.

With a sweep of the right analogue stick, you order his attendant cloud of Kryll to eviscerate human soldiers ducked behind upturned taxis with the vigorous bite of a flock of piranha fish. Clumps of glistening man-stuff drop to the floor like so many butchers' offcuts. Flanked by Mauler and Theron Elites, you swagger through the human capital Ilima City, fixing two golden eyes on humanity's meagre achievements as they crumble all around, spurred on by the encouragements of your plum-voiced queen.

"We could be faced with the console transition at some point."

If Epic makes another game in the Gears of War franchise - highly likely give its success - the developer will make sure it feels "fresh and new".

Epic Games founder Tim Sweeney enters AIAS Hall of Fame

Unreal.

Epic Games founder Tim Sweeney is to be the newest member of the notable AIAS (Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences) Hall of Fame.