Gears of War: Judgment Takes You Back to the Beginning

@Branthog said:

@ck1nd said:

@Branthog: Exercise a little discipline and calm down. I, for one, am excited to play another Gears of War addition and I shouldn't be made to feel like I have to wait a decade to do so. If you don't want to support GoW:J, just ignore it and play what you want. This sort of negativity is childish.

Suggesting the age-old house frau platitude toward kindergarten children throughout the ages to not say anything if you can't say anything nice is what's childish. How meaningless it would be if the entire point of being an enthusiast of things and discussing them online was only to blow smoke up their ass, without any critical or negative points?

It's an entirely relevant point of critical complaint to be fed-up with everything becoming a franchise and then that franchise being milked to shit in very blatant and shameless iterations, until people stop buying into it. Where it takes discipline is in saying "we've told our story, now it's time to move on to something else". If the story has been told, it's time to do something else. If the mechanics of the series are fun and enjoyable, apply them to another story. Life is too short to just keep putting out, say, Star Wars for a living.

Gears was done with the third game. They told their story. Time to move on. Unless you're just cynically milking the stupid audience of gamers that will constantly throw you money, until you've finally worn your baby down to something that is a xerox of a xerox of a xerox and everyone has finally become tired of it. And then doesn't remember your series as the awesome game with a great story to tell, but that exhausted piece of shit with no integrity. Assassin's Creed has done the same thing, though differently. They were set for a trilogy. A story to tell and be completed in three games. Instead, it has been five and is looking to be more (and annually, a that) and they've played around with the numbering so as to still claim it is "a trilogy". Same goes for Halo, which told its story at least a game ago.

The same goes for television. Babylon 5 had a five year story arc and the whole story was known from day-one. RIght down to knowing what the final scene of the final episode of the final season would look like. And they stuck to it. Counter that with, say, Sons of Anarchy. A show that was great and could have had a succinct story to tell within a few seasons, but meandered back and forth and globe-trotted needlessly. Then should have come to a great close in the fifth season, a couple weeks ago. Instead -- like so many shows and video games -- it has been renewed for a sixth season and probably (as I understand it) a seventh. It is making money, so let's just keep milking the ever-loving shit out of it until people stop watching and don't give a fuck about it.

Once you've told your story, move on. Spitting out a half dozen games beyond that (a very Lucas thing to do, of course) is a very cynical and lazy thing to do. It says "we want the money too much to kill our darling and we're too lazy to risk doing something new and since gamers are too stupid to demand something new and creative, we'll just keep putting out this same line until the diminishing returns have made it unprofitable".

And while game development isn't necessarily a zero-sum game, it does have certain built-in limitations for investment production. No wonder Cliffy moved the fuck on from Gears. He's probably exhausted from the same constant bullshit. Same with the guy from Assassin's Creed. And the Bioware guys. The companies (and publisher) want to keep milking those tits while the creative minds behind them have spent their wad on that topic and are ready to do something more. But publishers are shying ever-more away from the risk of development new content and (even have publicly stated) are just going to keep spitting out existing "IP". Fucking cynical. (And that's going to hurt, in the long run, when their garden goes bare, because they have been focusing on the fruit they've already picked at the cost of maintaining and fertilizing their garden so they'll have something to eat after the fruit has rotted).

They're fucking cynical.

This applies to all franchises, including the ones I like (which would include Assassin's Creed, Gears of War, and so on).

On the other hand, take your own advice -- if you don't like my negative critique of a game or industry, just ignore it and read other comments. Or . . . actually . . . don't. Because it's entirely reasonable and valid for people to express contradicting viewpoints and criticism, both negative and positive. Both in judgement of the cynical money-grabbing of running franchises into the ground as long as you can and in supporting them. Because, you know, this isn't kindergarten.

*shrug*

Well said, but I'm doubtful that it'll gain much traction. I've never been around a larger group of people who have shown more disdain and ridicule towards discriminating tastes than I have in this community. I know the general sentiment extends beyond GB, but it's still no less irritating running into these people who couldn't be more content not giving a damn, meanwhile they're just as complicit in driving down the quality, it's just that they're too stupid to realize.

Must be nice to live in a world where everything is an anecdote to your meaningless, bumbling existence... Meanwhile, the rest of us our breaking our goddamn backs over here.

I would be more interested in a Gears sequel rather than a prequel. I'd much rather hear more about the totally-unexplained relationship between the queen and marcus' dad.

Beat this franchise to death, Microsoft!!!

This all just seems silly.

@Branthog: In short, businesses only exist if they are making money. Franchises make money and thus are good for business, but can also be bad for creativity.

@Branthog: Exercise a little discipline and calm down. I, for one, am excited to play another Gears of War addition and I shouldn't be made to feel like I have to wait a decade to do so. If you don't want to support GoW:J, just ignore it and play what you want. This sort of negativity is childish.

Gears of War: Black Ops

I'd be interested if it was on PC, not interested in consoles.

I loved the first game on PC, controls so much better with keyboard and mouse and looks better + I loved making maps for it.

@Zamir said:

I don't often think the Bombsquad are way off point, but man, Baird was awesome. He was the ONLY enjoyable character in the first game because he had to deal with Marcus', Dom's, and Cole's macho bullshit. Then over the course of 2 and 3 I quite enjoyed his smarmy and sarcastic commentary as the inverse to everyone's introspective moments. He's STILL my favorite Gears character.

Is it just me or did the COGs get... less chunky? Maybe I just haven't played a Gears game in a long time.

This looks cool. I'll be picking it up.

@SoothsayerGB said:

Wonder if CliffyB is trying to distance himself from the franchise so that he can't be blamed, if this game goes over sour.

CliffyB is distancing himself from the whole industry, that dude is on a well deserved break from videogame making in general.

For me it depends what they do with the multiplayer. The single player looks like just more gears.

@Branthog: This is exactly how I feel. Even Halo: ODST and Reach were unnecessary, never mind Halo 4,5 and 6.

@Pixeldemon said:

To people who say "this is too soon", you can probably thank MS and Sony for drawing out this console generation an extra year (or more) and forcing studios to create filler titles with guaranteed sales potential. I am looking forward to playing this for the gameplay, and I hope they have balanced and fine-tuned the multiplayer component, as it has huge competitive potential.

Im sorry but I'm gonna go ahead and blame publishers for that, having a longer generation than normal should be no excuse for more sequels and spin offs. Now is the perfect timing for a new IP, large install base and most developers knows the hardware in their sleep.

It looks too similar to the other Gears games.

Chicks dig the Baird, and so do I.

#yearofthemustache

For some odd reason, when I say Gears of War: Judgement to myself, I start giggling.

Can't say I'm excited for this one, but then again I was much the same with 3. Didn't follow it at all until the QL hit, and that game was pretty good.

2013 goty

If this gives us a view of what the world looked and functioned like pre e-day, I'll be happy

So there were women in the COG army from the beginning, now? That's... convenient.

(I personally liked the idea that the COG were a bunch of war-hungry chauvinists who only had their minds changed by the impending apocalypse-- that seemed a lot more fitting to their world. But I guess this is a more sensible choice, in a "CYA" kind of way.)

I like what Gears has done gameplay wise but I'm so fuckin' sick of the macho bullshit, will be passing this up for sure.

"All these new enemies and weapons in our prequel are not in any of the other Gears games because of..." videogames :P

I'm ready for more Gears! Bloody love these games, especially for the campaign coop, and the idea of playing as a squad lead by Baird is rather appealing.

@Bwgmon said:

@Colourful_Hippie said:

I'll play it but I know it won't be a jump like 2 to 3 was and I doubt it'll hold my attention as long as 3 did.

Wait, I take that back.

Does this mean we'll get to poke fun at flashback deaths again? You know what I'm talking about, shit like:

"And that's when the Locust chainsawed me in half and shoved a grenade up my anus, your honor."

"Okay Baird, we get it. You got eviscerated four times in one afternoon, now please stop bullshitting the courtroom."

I love when games go this route just because it becomes so silly.

All I want is to play as Cosmo Kramer...better yet, have Kramer be the judge.

I am probably gonna pass unless there is something special about this new gears.

Is a shame that the incredibly talented PcF team didn't get to make Bulletstorm 2 but oh well I like Gears and I'll get this when its affordable.

@CharAznable said:

As someone who really enjoys Gears games, I'm finding it very hard to care about this one.

Same here. I will probably pick it up during a sale, not day one.

Adding this to the "Nah, I'm good" page.

I definitely don't understand the hate directed towards this. Gears 3 was incredibly fun, with some of the best, most skill-based multiplayer of any recent shooter.

To people who say "this is too soon", you can probably thank MS and Sony for drawing out this console generation an extra year (or more) and forcing studios to create filler titles with guaranteed sales potential. I am looking forward to playing this for the gameplay, and I hope they have balanced and fine-tuned the multiplayer component, as it has huge competitive potential.

Yeah, yeahyeahyeahyeah, group hug

No, sorry. Also, fuck IGN readers. Most anticipated game? Really? Lol, man.

@Colourful_Hippie said:

I'll play it but I know it won't be a jump like 2 to 3 was and I doubt it'll hold my attention as long as 3 did.

Wait, I take that back.

Does this mean we'll get to poke fun at flashback deaths again? You know what I'm talking about, shit like:

"And that's when the Locust chainsawed me in half and shoved a grenade up my anus, your honor."

"Okay Baird, we get it. You got eviscerated four times in one afternoon, now please stop bullshitting the courtroom."

I love when games go this route just because it becomes so silly.

@lclay said:

Don't care even a little bit.

As someone who really enjoys Gears games, I'm finding it very hard to care about this one.

I YAM HOARSE SHOUTY RUSSIAN MYAN!

They've gone with the strange pastel faces from GoW3 then I see.

@Rhaknar said:

@SoothsayerGB said:

Wonder if CliffyB is trying to distance himself from the franchise so that he can't be blamed, if this game goes over sour.

Cliff isnt even at Epic any more, what does he care?

Because whether he likes it or not, Cliff's name is attached to the brand. He always presented the Gears series at E3 was the face of Epic. I highly doubt he left Epic to avoid the fallout if this game does poorly, but it's always nice to have a franchise you worked on retain its good reputation.

I love me some Gears of War, but this is way too soon. Sure another team is developing it, but it might as well be Epic itself because it looks EXACTLY like Gears 3.

It's hard to imagine why so many people involved with the Gears franchise are leaving Epic... oh wait, it's not.

I don't want to play this just because I hated the story of Gears of War 3 then that crappy Zeta Squad add on that broke continuity. But why would anyone really buy this? You're not getting anything useful out of it story-wise, we all know what happens after Emergence Day, we don't need to see a sub plot get it's own game.

@Jackel2072: I think people can fly would as well.

@SoothsayerGB said:

Wonder if CliffyB is trying to distance himself from the franchise so that he can't be blamed, if this game goes over sour.

Cliff isnt even at Epic any more, what does he care?

Rather have bulletstorm 2.

That is some gears of war looking gears of war.

I will take more gears. I like gears.

Don't care even a little bit.

So much meh... Looks just like the other three gears.

Only interested in this because of Tom Bissell and People Can Fly.

I hear the Horde + Beast merger mode is pretty good though.