Gears of War 2 Soundtrack Details

Sumthing Else Music Works today revealed the contents of the official Gears of War 2 soundtrack. The original soundtrack from the upcoming Xbox 360 action video game will be released on Nov. 25, 2008 to retail outlets through Nile Rodgers’ Sumthing Else Music Works record label and for digital download at www.sumthingdigital.com.

Gears of War 2 The Soundtrack features a new original music score composed by Hollywood composer Steve Jablonsky (“Transformers”, “The Island”, “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre”) and recorded with the Skywalker Symphonic Orchestra and Chorus at the world famous Skywalker Sound.

Gears of War 2 is set for released on Nov. 7. Full track listing after the jump, folks:

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Gears of War 2 Gold

Marcus Fenix and Delta Squad are on the move! Microsoft announced that epic Games’ second game in the popular action game series, Gears of War 2, has gone gold. Available exclusively for the Xbox 360, Gears of War 2 will hit retail on Nov. 7 on a worldwide basis.

Gears of War 2 tells the story of humanity’s last stand against the underground Locust Horde, and is the follow-up to one of the most popular Xbox 360 games in history. Gears of War 2 offers a brand new storyline, single-player campaign, new gameplay elements, and new extensive cooperative online play. Gears of War 2 is rated “M” for Mature by the ESRB and will be available exclusively on Xbox 360 with an M.S.R.P of $59.99 for the Standard Edition and $69.99 for the Limited Edition.

CliffyB Dings COD Method of Development

In an interview with Develop Magazine, Epic’s Cliff Bleszinski said that the Call of Duty method of developing games convolutes a franchise. Bleszinski made the comments in reference to a question about outsourcing Gears of War 2.

“We’ve got a lot of ideas about where the franchise will go. But sometimes I feel a franchise loses something when it’s shifted off to another shop,” said Bleszinski. “You get the primary studio that really understands about the franchise, and sometimes the other studio that takes it over can do well, but there’s something lost in translation, like the game’s soul has gone.”

The Call of Duty method he refers to is the switch-off between two of Activision Blizzard’s two internal studios: Infinity Ward and Treyarch, who have taken turns developing the franchise over the years. While there is some merit to the comment, Epic has certainly had its share of outside help in developing some of its prior core franchises like Unreal Tournament and Unreal. The company’s first title in the Unreal series had a lot of serious help from Canadian developer Digital Extremes, who also helped the company develop Unreal Tournament.

Still the point is valid. When publishers own IP rights they also have the power to decide who develops sequels and follow-ups. For example BioWare’s Neverwinter Nights 2 and Knights of the Old Republic 2 were developed by Obsidian Entertainment. While these games were certainly solid endeavors they didn’t quite stand up to the level of the BioWare originals.

Perhaps Bleszinski is simply looking forward, instead of back. You can read the comments in the full context at Develop Magazine.

EA Signs Pact with Epic Games

Electronic Arts and Epic Games announced that they have signed a publishing agreement for an all-new action title for the PC, Xbox 360 and PS3. The title in question will be an all new, original intellectual property to be developed by the fine folks at Epic’s People Can Fly studio in Poland.

People Can Fly are best known for creating the popular first-person shooter Painkiller on the Xbox and PC. That game, in my opinion was hot, so I have high hopes that People Can Fly will create something just as compelling and fun.

Legendary Backs Gears Film

Legendary Pictures has picked up the Gears of War movie, according to a report in Variety today. The company responsible for the ultra popular Dark Night film has signed on to co-finance and co-produce the New Line project based on Epic’s popular action game series for the Xbox 360.

The film was set up at New Line last year, with Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey producing through Temple Hill and Gears of War lead designer Cliff Bleszinski is on board as the executive producer and as a consultant representing Epic, which owns the rights.

Len Wiseman is directing Gears, while Chris Morgan is writing the script. New Line is also working on the equally daunting World of Warcraft movie project. Because Legendary is a part of Warner Bros. the movie studio giant now has its fingers in the film as well.

The Gears of War film is pegged for release sometime in the summer of 2009, But Warner Bros. hasn’t given the film an official date.

Source: Variety

Del Rey Reveals Gears of War Book Trilogy

Epic Games and Del Rey (an imprint of Ballantine Books, which is a part of the Random House Publishing Group) announced today that it will publish three novels set in Gears of War video game universe. The first novel, Gears of War: The Battle of Aspho Fields, written by Karen Traviss, will go on sale October 28, 2008.

In the book, the last human stronghold on Sera prepares for another onslaught from the Locust Horde, as ghosts come back to haunt Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago. The return of an old comrade threatens to dredge up an agonizing secret Marcus has sworn to keep about Dom’s brother that could end the popular partners’ friendship forever. And when I say partners, I don’t mean domestically, for the record..

Del Rey editor Keith Clayton promises the Gears of War books will remain true to the spirit of the game, which is probably a smart idea if you want Gears fans to read them. For our contribution to making promises, We promise you’ll love this preview of Gears of War 2.

Rock & Roll & Gears of War 2

“Go to the concert without me, i’m in the shit here..”

Gears of War fans that want a taste of Gears of War 2, like to rock out and want the chance to win a free copy of the game when it is released will probably want to pay attention to Epic and Microsoft’s special Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival contest.

The public will be given the opportunity to attend the first annual Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival and win additional prizes from Epic Games and Xbox 360 - but to win you’ll have to pay attention to the radio.

Now that’s old school. What is this crazy device you speak of, James?, you might be thinking. Well when I was a boy it was a strange and giant wooden case with a glowing green eye (no bullshit on that part - it had a f***king glowing green eye!) lots of test tubes inside and a giant dial that said AM and FM. But I digress.

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