DailyTech - Gears of War Officially Headed to the PC

Submit News

Blog: Software Gears of War Officially Headed to the PC
Marcus Yam (Blog) - July 11, 2007 12:21 AM

29 comment(s) - last by sxr7171.. on Jul 16 at 12:53 AM

Gears of War on Games for Windows XP and Vista

Epic Games has always been a developer that strongly supports the PC platform. While it’s biggest mass market hit may on Xbox 360, the North Carolina-based developer isn’t about to leave its PC fanbase out in the cold.

It should be no surprise then that Microsoft announced at its E3 press conference on Tuesday evening that Gears of War will be heading to the PC Games for Windows platform for this holiday season.

CliffyB took the stage to detail the differences between the PC and Xbox 360 versions – and for diehard Gears of War fans, there may be a good enough reason to pick up the PC version too. For the year-long (and make that one long year to be without Gears of War) wait, the PC version will be getting five new single player chapters and new multiplayer maps and modes.

SPOILER ALERT START:
Okay, this really is not a huge spoiler, but one feature mentioned by CliffyB about the PC version is the chance to fight the giant Brumak thing. I was disappointed that we got to see the awesomeness of that thing while playing the Xbox 360 version, but never got to fight it. I always figured that we would finally get to beat that thing down for Gears of War 2, but it looks like it will be done in the PC version.
SPOILER ALERT END.

From the sounds of it, the PC version will not be Live online compatible with the Xbox 360 version, though I wouldn’t be surprised if the PC’s bonus content eventually made its way over to Xbox 360 as downloadable content. I’m not getting my hopes up that it’ll be free content right away, though I have faith that Epic will push Microsoft to eventually distribute it at no charge. I also wouldn’t put it past Microsoft to create a “Game of the Year Edition” of Gears of War for Xbox 360 that will include all the PC content.

Back to the PC version, what will please many, many gamers is that Gears of War on Games for Windows will work with both Windows XP and Windows Vista. Given Microsoft’s recent habit of putting games that don’t require DirectX 10 on Vista only (Halo 2, Shadowrun), it’s possible that Epic had to make a case for allow the game to run on Windows XP. If that is indeed the case, then Epic Games, I thank you – not because I run Windows XP (because I am already on the Vista bandwagon), but because Gears of War should be played by as many people as possible.

Comments

Threshold

Username
Password
remember me

This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled

Windows XP

By WayneG on 7/11/2007 2:12:36 AM , Rating: 2

Shame really... means that we won't see DX10 Gears of War or Windows Live enabled. Good for some, bad for others!

RE: Windows XP

By LiptonGreenTea on 7/11/2007 3:10:33 AM , Rating: 1

Who cares, one less reason to buy an Xbox360. Who needs an Xbox360 in the first place, when its good games are on PC?

Parent

RE: Windows XP

By Griswold on 7/11/07, Rating: 0

RE: Windows XP

By HaZaRd2K6 on 7/11/2007 10:57:52 AM , Rating: 1

quote:
Halo for PC is a technical debacle...

Ahh, but it's not. Probably just a typo, but the original Halo was originally a PC game, then ported over to Xbox, then back to the PC. Halo 2, on the other hand, I'll agree with you...

Parent

RE: Windows XP

By Anh Huynh on 7/11/2007 2:03:53 PM , Rating: 2

The original Halo was a Mac game, ported to Xbox then to PC/Mac again.

Parent

RE: Windows XP

By thatguy39 on 7/11/2007 3:25:22 PM , Rating: 2

quote:
The original Halo was a Mac game, ported to Xbox then to PC/Mac again.

Actually it went Mac>PC>Xbox>PC/Mac

Parent

RE: Windows XP

By RMSe17 on 7/12/2007 10:47:03 AM , Rating: 2

Original Halo game died. What became of it is practically nothing compared to original ideas of game play. It was supposed to be a near-massive multiplayer online shooter game, like Tribes on steroids, with more players, much larger maps.. What we got was yet another mostly first person campaign game with a sad excuse of a multiplayer mode that in my personal opinion was not as good as Tribes (any) or UT (any). I will give it props for a well designed cooperative multiplayer mode for the story line, something that is fun, and is sadly lacking out of all the new PC first person shooters.

Parent

RE: Windows XP

By Flunk on 7/13/2007 11:31:19 AM , Rating: 2

Not all, what about Half-Life 2?

Parent

RE: Windows XP

By Flunk on 7/13/2007 11:32:00 AM , Rating: 2

Nevermind, I didn't read that post right

Parent

RE: Windows XP

By Kamasutra on 7/15/2007 7:32:20 AM , Rating: 2

Who is it bad for? How about "Good for some, better for others"? People using Windows XP to play the game shouldn't expect to use DirectX 10. And Windows Live being disabled on the platform is better than the game not being on it at all.

Parent

Something to be happy about

By Misty Dingos on 7/11/2007 3:14:17 AM , Rating: 3

PC user that I am I will admit to being a tiny bit jelous when the commercials for Gears were running on the TV. I wanted that game to be on the PC. I guess I just had to wait a while.

I guess the only thing to say then is. Killem all and let god sort them out!

RE: Something to be happy about

By Screwballl on 7/11/2007 10:15:13 AM , Rating: 2

That is exactly how I felt... jipped that Microsoft was bringing this game at launch time to ONLY the 360.

This feeling was only made worse when I stopped at the local game store where they had the game hooked up to a high res monitor and I stood there and played it for an hour with the wife stopping in to check on me occasionally. I walked away satisfied with the feel of the game but also disheartened that this was not available for my new Core2Duo E6600 PC that I recently built.

This story is good news and I only hope that it will not be a simple port but rather made to feel right at home on the PC.

I am also hoping there is some sort of co-op mode online (for free) and eventually a MMO portion of this game for PC users and maybe a software update to the consoles would allow more to join (but NOT through Live!, that is a joke).

Parent

RE: Something to be happy about

By indianpunk on 7/11/2007 11:34:44 AM , Rating: 2

Something more from keeping me going the console way though i being on the pc gaming side i believe we lost the battle with consoles early this year (maybe last year as well )

But bloddy hell Get more games for pc plz plz plzzzzzzzzzz

Parent

RE: Something to be happy about

By Screwballl on 7/12/2007 11:56:37 AM , Rating: 2

gaming always slows down a few nothces for the PC whenever a new console is released... as soon as there is a new video card or processor out for the PC, games pick right back up and the consoles are shoved back into the shelf...
although I still play my Dreamcast on occasion... when it works...

Parent

RE: Something to be happy about

By sxr7171 on 7/16/2007 12:53:35 AM , Rating: 2

Yeah Dreamcast really is a sick console.

Parent

RE: Something to be happy about

By Rocket321 on 7/11/2007 11:16:39 AM , Rating: 2

Same here and this news just made my day! I'm really looking forward to the holiday season now.

I too and concerned if my old 6600gt will be able to cut the mustard with this game, but hey, if not I guess a new vid card might round off the holiday season nicely :)

Parent

Gears on PC? Gears on PC!

By novacthall on 7/11/2007 8:46:39 AM , Rating: 2

I find myself torn over this news.

On the one hand, I'm enthusiastic because Gears of War was a fantastic work with a premise that may not be unique when it comes to science fiction, but is genuinely well thought out on the whole, and fully deserves to be enjoyed by as many people as could possibly play the game. I found myself really enjoying getting caught up in the (often times unspoken) past of Sera. Additionally, the cover system, while also not particularly unique, was superb in its implementation and execution and was essential to gameplay. All things considered, these two points worked strongly in favor of Gears of War, quite in spite of its brevity.

And on the other hand, we have its brevity. Gears on the 360 was short, but sweet. Gears on the PC will be five chapters less short, and presumably sweeter in proportion. Until we see the system specs, I can't say whether or not I'll be able to run the game on my PC, but I can only hope Microsoft will consider bringing Gears of War II: Hyper Fighting Tournament Edition Alpha 3X back home to the 360 at some point in the future for all those who felt slighted by Gears and can't drop money on a computer on which to play it.

RE: Gears on PC? Gears on PC!

By webdawg77 on 7/11/2007 8:57:05 AM , Rating: 2

quote:
Gears on the PC will be five chapters less short, and presumably sweeter in proportion.

Just remember that there were only five acts in GoW. The five chapters mentioned were only parts of the five acts. It won't make the game that much longer considering that there were 30 chapters already. 5 / 30 = 1 / 6 more gameplay.

Of course, the chapters could be really long, but that wasn't the case with any of the other 30 chapters.

Parent

RE: Gears on PC? Gears on PC!

By novacthall on 7/11/2007 9:45:28 AM , Rating: 2

quote:
Just remember that there were only five acts in GoW. The five chapters mentioned were only parts of the five acts. It won't make the game that much longer considering that there were 30 chapters already. 5 / 30 = 1 / 6 more gameplay.

That's an excellent point, and I admit openly my error with my initial post: I had forgotten the story structure breakdown (Act:Chapter) and mistaken this to mean five more acts. My mistake.

So basically we're looking at an extra chapter tacked onto the existing story somewhere. While you're right that the previous chapters were not, by any stretch of the imagination, long, I suggest to anyone who loved Gears of War that more gears is better.

Parent

RE: Gears on PC? Gears on PC!

By webdawg77 on 7/11/2007 10:35:49 AM , Rating: 2

I whole-heartedly agree that more Gears is better :)!

Parent

RE: Gears on PC? Gears on PC!

By HaZaRd2K6 on 7/11/2007 10:56:27 AM , Rating: 2

quote:
Until we see the system specs, I can't say whether or not I'll be able to run the game on my PC

Yeah, I know that feeling. Thankfully, I've just upgraded to an 8800GTS 640MB so I should finally be golden :) I think this is actually the first time I've ever had a current-generation card, though knowing my luck they'll do a re-spin on the silicon and put the VP2 processor in it in a week's time -.-

Parent

Great News !

By henrikfm on 7/11/2007 5:04:55 AM , Rating: 2

I hope the PC version won't be an "emulator" of the Xbox360 game. Epic should do a great conversion of the game for the PC, adapting controls from Xbox controller to mouse+keyboard.

This way we won't see the crap that Resident Evil 4 for PC is (a pity because it's a great game).

Go Epic plz do the jo well!

Epic... they know how to do PC games

By hardwaremister on 7/11/2007 10:58:46 AM , Rating: 2

Well... for sure they will get most of the stuff from the original GoW, but c'mon!... we're talking about Epic!

They are VERY seasoned developing absolutely flawless games on the pc, so i don't fear they will suddently lack control over coherent usability in the pc port of this game!

GoW will be a big hit on the PC! They Ue3 is really scalable and can be easily be tuned by them to perform more than OK in a wide pallete of hardware... after all, that's part of their expertise.!!

Crossing my fingers

By FITCamaro on 7/11/2007 6:09:35 PM , Rating: 2

That they will make the online play compatible with the Xbox 360 crowd. Such a great game it deserves it.

Gears of War coming to PC

By rushfan2006 on 7/13/2007 1:01:42 PM , Rating: 2

this is cool news, as I'm a huge PC gaming fan - and the only console I have right now is the "regular" Xbox (which I never play..lol).

Gears is a very cool game, beautiful graphics -- my nephew has it...I've no doubt it'll look just as good on PC , possibly better for some with insane home machines.

BUT....while its gonna be cool...its hardly the top game I'm waiting for on PC.....

Quake Wars: Enemy Territory (personally I think this will make me forget to play Gears of War on PC)

Warhammer Online (as a current WoW fan...I'm itching for much more serious PvP ...and I already enjoy the Warhammer universe so this game is a no brainer for me).

Starcraft II

there are a few others..but I actually forget their names...lol...

YES!!!

By scrapsma54 on 7/15/2007 1:59:10 AM , Rating: 2

Finally I get to play it!! I can't wait to run it on my ati x1950pro.

Everyone go get a PS3!

By daBKLYNdoorman on 7/11/07, Rating: -1

RE: Everyone go get a PS3!

By Screwballl on 7/11/2007 10:25:18 AM , Rating: 4

Welcome to a story about a game! It was a great story filled with magical and enchanting news about a fantasy coming to the strongest gamers house called the PeeCee.
Up the street in the house of fanbois, they came down to see what all the hubub was about and stuck his nose into something that was completely unrelated. This boi was shunned and downvoted as low as was possible and branded "He with too many drugs on the brain".

heh just had to....

Parent