Gears of War 3 includes "special" unlocks if you have other Epic games. To the second-hand bin, now!

Or just borrow your friends' copies and make a quick save file

Words: David Houghton on December 21, 2010

Yep, that's the word from Lord Clifford of Bleszinskishire. Gears of War 3 will include special unlockable content if you've played other Epic games. No word on what yet, or exactly how it'll work, but it'll most likely be a case of Gears 3 opening up little game-specific presents when it finds the right save files on your hard drive. Like Psycho Mantis, only with less levitating gimps. Either way, Cliff has given a few titles as examples.

Previous Gears games, Unreal Tournament 3, Shadow Complex, the upcoming Bulletstorm... It's the usual current-gen suspects. I'd be willing to bet that we're looking at new character and weapon skins for multiplayer (particularly given that Gears' Marcus and Dom made an appearance as reskins in Lost Planet 2), but hopefully there'll be something a bit more imaginative on offer too. A 2D Gears level for Shadow Complex players? A "tether Locust and kick them at Dom's bayonet" minigame for Bulletstorm players? Basically, no chance. But we can but dream.

Of course, if my guess at the unlocking mechanics is correct, it would be entirely possible to subvert this little Epic Games loyalty scheme by just borrowing or renting copies of the above (bar Shadow Complex), setting up a save file and waiting for your free stuff. But then again, that still means more people playing and probably enjoying Epic games, so as viral marketing goes it's still a sound tactic. Gah! You win again, dark lord Bleszinski!

What do you reckon this little lot will entail? And what are you hoping for? However crazy, all ideas are welcomed.

Platforms:

Xbox 360, PS3

Topics:

Microsoft

17 comments

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VertigoO - December 23, 2010 4:22 a.m.

i just wish they would make customizable characters for multiplayer
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ChuckB - December 22, 2010 9:23 a.m.

Hope it'll be teh way of the Battlefield Veteran website because I'm sure plenty bought UT3 on PS3 and PC and will get Bulletstorm for PS3 and PC.
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shorty06 - December 22, 2010 3:34 a.m.

I must say that I read this because the first words I saw on the main page were "Lord Clifford of Bleszinskishire". It is pretty schweet to be getting something extra, even if it is just mp skins. Not that we need to get any extras for playing their great games. Winky Face
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kor2disturbed - December 21, 2010 10:03 p.m.

Yaaay! I played all the games up there! (except bulletstorm obviously)
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Spybreak8 - December 21, 2010 8:45 p.m.

I love when developers do this. I liked getting rewards for having previous iterations of the franchise I was playing, (perfect example NFS: Hot Pursuit did this).
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Ravenbom - December 21, 2010 8:17 p.m.

What is going on in that picture? Seriously, that guy looks like he's wearing a bandoleer made out of dicks. I've played many other Epic games and I don't remember any belts or clothing made out of dicks.
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IAmARobotWhoTurnsIntoATruckAndIFindNoLevityInThis - December 21, 2010 7:38 p.m.

As i was just about to say, they're just piling up reasons for you to play Bulletstorm.
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g4m3rk1dd - December 21, 2010 6:57 p.m.

all this does is make me want to buy and play bullet storm even more...so many reasons to buy the game already...
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Bloodstorm - December 21, 2010 5:25 p.m.

Its not really a new concept. They did this with Gears 2, unlocking Raam and Kim by looking for certain achievements or something like that from Gears 1. Same thing, just including all Epic titles.
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LarzimusPrime - December 21, 2010 5:18 p.m.

This is awesome, may have to go fill in some gaps in my Epic collection, I really cant wait for this game...
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WickedSid - December 21, 2010 5:12 p.m.

@PanzerDSS, And RAAM, and A. Carmine, were there others? I haven't loaded up Gears 2 in quite a while.
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PanzerDSS - December 21, 2010 4:34 p.m.

I like stuff like this. It's not a huge deal, but it's something. I think they did it in Gears 2 with the Sgt. Kim skin, didn't they?
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batman5273 - December 21, 2010 4:21 p.m.

Well one thing that Rod Ferguson stated what a special unlocks if you have the achievements for Seriously 2.0 and Veteran Gear (100 rank.) But he has not revealed what they are. But that it would similar to the unlocks in GOW2. You simply can't just have a save file, you have to obtain specific achievements in other games in order for the GOW3 unlocks to be obtained
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CaptainSalmon - December 21, 2010 4:14 p.m.

I'm guessing it'll probably be in the same pedigree as the GoW 1/2 crossover. I.E. Your guess of MP skins. Shame I've played all of these games (new, I might add ;D), and have no intention to pick up Gears 3.
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Baron164 - December 21, 2010 4:09 p.m.

As with Gears 2 and Gears 1 to unlock stuff in Gears 2 you needed Gears 1 achievements so I imagine it will be something similar to that. If you have certain achievements in other Epic games it will unlock stuff in Gears 3.
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tareq - December 21, 2010 4:01 p.m.

I want my golden lancer from GOW2 to carry forward
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CapnDuran - December 21, 2010 3:57 p.m.

A Lost Planet tie in would be very nice, I realise it's not and Epic title, but they had that thing with Capcom on LP2 (Greatest game ever, don't care what anyone says >:C) Also it's probably just skins, but that's never a bad thing.
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