First Gears 3 DLC make-up announced!

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**Kanluwen**

http://majornelson.com/2011/10/04/gears-of-war-3-horde-command-pack-available-nov-1/

Today Microsoft and Epic Games announced the Horde Command Pack game add-on for Gears of War 3 is launching Nov. 1.

While you review the high rez screen shots I’ve posted, here are the details directly from the press release (with my emphasis) :
Taking you deeper into the fight with three explosive new maps, three new playable characters, two new weapon skins, and additional achievements worth 250 Gamerscore, the Horde Command Pack also includes new fortification upgrades to help you mow down the Lambent and Locust threats in the fan-favorite Horde mode.

Available for 800 Microsoft Points or for download automatically to consumers who have purchased the “Gears of War 3” Season Pass, which entitles you to the game’s first four game add-ons at a 33 percent discount, the Horde Command Pack includes:

Three spectacular new maps:

* Blood Drive – The Jacinto Medical Plaza was overwhelmed by evacuated citizens after the government-sanctioned Hammer Strikes, and the ensuing riots quickly turned this safe haven into a dangerous inferno. An abundance of high ground and funneled choke points make this map a returning favorite to Horde.
* Rustlung – Once the pride of the Royal Tyran Navy, the foredecks of this decommissioned battleship are now riddled with bullet holes. Any team with the fortitude to hold the exposed central torpedo bay will find that the ship’s Loader has been replaced with a battle-ready Silverback mech suit.
* Azura – This island resort was once the exclusive domain of Sera’s educated elite, but the tranquil water gardens and lush foliage have become a hotly contested combat zone. Dual snipers overlook a powerful explosive weapon, while the defensive central platform may be your last resort of retreat.

New fortification upgrades:

* Command Center – A brand new type of fortification that allows you to call in fire support from sniper teams, mortar strikes and even multiple Hammers of Dawn.
* Decoy Upgrade – A new fortification level that turns your decoy into an Onyx Guard bot that will fight in your defense.
* Sentry Upgrade – This upgrade adds a fire bolt sentry that deals much more damage and is very effective against Berserkers.
* Silverback Upgrade – This advancement allows you to upgrade your Silverback exo-suit with devastating rockets and extra levels of repair cost reduction.

New characters:

* Onyx Guard
* Big Rig Dizzy
* Bernie

New weapon skins:

* Team Plasma
* Jungle Camo

Also playable in Beast mode and privately hosted Versus matches, the Horde Command Pack promises to extend your “Gears of War 3” experience with countless hours of multiplayer mayhem on Xbox LIVE.

Feth! Yes!

**NoBaconz4You**

I refuse to purchase this. You realise this content is already on the disc? For example, the bots can play as those characters, whereas there are not choose-able by the player? And the rockets for the silverback are usable in campaign, but not in Horde (atm) when you brace (the models and textures are there FFS).

Don't even get me started on the whole 'gun camo' business either lol.

Sorry EPIC, you've just lost a fan.

**Slarg232**

QUICKLY ROBIN, TO THE HORDE CAVE!

No Battle Butterfly?

**Kanluwen**

I like how you focus in on the "rockets for the Silverback being usable in campaign" while also saying that "the bots can play as those characters"(which they can't, excepting the Onyx Guard in the last stage of Beast Mode).
Bernie is a character who we never actually see fighting during the campaign, so the animations may or may not be on the disc.
"Big Rig Dizzy" is an entirely new skin, which was in neither Gears 2 OR Gears 3.

Let's ignore the 3x new upgrades for fortifications in Hordes.
Let's ignore that you can now call in Mortar and Sniper team support, along with having the 'Big Daddy' Hammer of Dawn fire.
Let's ignore that you can upgrade the Decoy to being an Onyx Guardsman, who will be a bot which will man gun emplacements and generate cash for you without needing to be repaired.
Let's ignore that there's another level of Sentry upgrade which will actually make Sentries useful against Berserkers.

Heck, while we're at it let's ignore that there's 3 new maps--of which, only one can realistically be called a 'rehash'(Blood Drive).

And really, who cares about the weapon skins? If people want to buy them, so what?
It's no different than the "Get Started" packs that BFBC2 had, where one spends 400 MS Points to get all the weapons unlocked and an 'alternative' camouflage skin for the character.

**Necroshea**

NoBaconz4You wrote:I refuse to purchase this. You realise this content is already on the disc? For example, the bots can play as those characters, whereas there are not choose-able by the player? And the rockets for the silverback are usable in campaign, but not in Horde (atm) when you brace (the models and textures are there FFS).

Don't even get me started on the whole 'gun camo' business either lol.

Sorry EPIC, you've just lost a fan.

I'm with you. It's one thing to make DLC down the road, but week 1 DLC announcement? Hell no!

**Slarg232**

Necroshea wrote:
NoBaconz4You wrote:I refuse to purchase this. You realise this content is already on the disc? For example, the bots can play as those characters, whereas there are not choose-able by the player? And the rockets for the silverback are usable in campaign, but not in Horde (atm) when you brace (the models and textures are there FFS).

Don't even get me started on the whole 'gun camo' business either lol.

Sorry EPIC, you've just lost a fan.

I'm with you. It's one thing to make DLC down the road, but week 1 DLC announcement? Hell no!

Same Day DLC's say "Evening Sir!"

**SilverMK2**

Sounds cool to me

**NoBaconz4You**

Kanluwen wrote:I like how you focus in on the "rockets for the Silverback being usable in campaign" while also saying that "the bots can play as those characters"(which they can't, excepting the Onyx Guard in the last stage of Beast Mode).
Bernie is a character who we never actually see fighting during the campaign, so the animations may or may not be on the disc.
"Big Rig Dizzy" is an entirely new skin, which was in neither Gears 2 OR Gears 3.

Let's ignore the 3x new upgrades for fortifications in Hordes.
Let's ignore that you can now call in Mortar and Sniper team support, along with having the 'Big Daddy' Hammer of Dawn fire.
Let's ignore that you can upgrade the Decoy to being an Onyx Guardsman, who will be a bot which will man gun emplacements and generate cash for you without needing to be repaired.
Let's ignore that there's another level of Sentry upgrade which will actually make Sentries useful against Berserkers.

Heck, while we're at it let's ignore that there's 3 new maps--of which, only one can realistically be called a 'rehash'(Blood Drive).

And really, who cares about the weapon skins? If people want to buy them, so what?
It's no different than the "Get Started" packs that BFBC2 had, where one spends 400 MS Points to get all the weapons unlocked and an 'alternative' camouflage skin for the character.

Big Rig Dizzy is playable by bots actually, and I'm willing to bet the animations for Bernie are exactly the same for the other females in MP (Sam/Anya)

Let's ignore the fact that I have an opinion, and am disappointed with whoever's decision is was to do this.

The thing I am annoyed at is the following trend of developers cutting content (or 'disk locking' it) and then charging extra say a month after release. Sure they have the right to, and I can choose not to purchase it, but the way things are headed doesn't look good. More and more developers will continue this, and more content will be lost, and bought back for greater prices.

**Necroshea**

NoBaconz4You wrote:The thing I am annoyed at is the following trend of developers cutting content (or 'disk locking' it) and then charging extra say a month after release. Sure they have the right to, and I can choose not to purchase it, but the way things are headed doesn't look good. More and more developers will continue this, and more content will be lost, and bought back for greater prices.

I've got a friend who I spoke with none too long ago about this subject. I told him it's bull that they make a game, the lock some of it make more money out of you later on. All he said was "well they can do whatever they want to do". I told him what's stopping them from making a game you have to pay money to finish? Or a game that you have to pay extra for multiplayer? In response to every question, he simply said "because they can".

So, based off of him, and how people seem to echo his words, the best answer I can deduce from the situation is that consumers, on average, are idiots (no big surprise there). They will never see a company in a bad light, and they will never have the urge to think that maybe things aren't right with what the devs are doing.

Worst thing about it is there's nothing sensible people can do about it. For every one person who finds it wrong and speaks with their wallet, ten more file in to throw money at whatever company.

I wonder how far this will go.

**Oshunai**

@Kanluwen. We do see Bernie as a playable character for a small portion of the campaign, showing all her animations and combat dialogue are infact on the disc. During the starting sections of Act 3, after you defend the base from Locust attack, one of the four players gets to play as Bernie, helping Dom defend the walls whilst Marcus and another character ride out to rescue Sam and Anya from Lambent attack. Just a small correction

Honestly, I probably will buy this regardless of the maps already being technically on the game disc. The Horde extra content, whilst not spectacular as an addition is also good.

The whole weapon skin thing does bother me, but if people want to spend extra money to buy silly colours for their guns, that isn't really any of my business.

**Kanluwen**

If the weapon skins were part of the Season Pass' price, then yeah I'd have a problem with it.

As it stands: 2400 points for 3 map/character packs and campaign content?

That's actually cheap.