Gears 3 Beta [Archive] - Colony of Gamers

aVaKus

04-05-2011, 07:34 AM

Roll call time. Who's in?

Enlist in the most explosive gaming event of the spring: the Gears of War 3 Multiplayer Beta!

Get into the Beta by preordering Gears of War 3 through select retailers. The Beta begins April 25 and ends May 15.

For those of you who purchased the Bulletstorm Epic Edition (on Xbox 360 only), you get early access to the Beta, beginning April 18.

Three new multiplayer modes and four exclusive maps will be rolled out during the Beta period -- all running on dedicated servers. This is your chance to help shape the most anticipated game of 2011.

In the Beta you can play Team Deathmatch mode on the four new maps (Thrashball, Checkout, Trenches, and Old Town); Capture the Leader and King of the Hill gameplay modes will be added later in the Beta period. Also, be sure to look out for a surprise event weekend that you won't want to miss.

Not only will you get an early taste of the final chapter in this blockbuster trilogy, but you'll also have access to exclusive content that you can permanently unlock and carry over to your Gears of War 3 gamer profile when the retail game launches on September 20.

Exclusive Beta Unlockables

Flaming Hammerburst - Complete one match by Sunday, April 24 to permanently unlock.
Flaming Lancer - Complete one match during the week of April 25 to permanently unlock.
Flaming Sawed-Off Shotgun - Complete one match during the week of May 2 to permanently unlock.
Flaming Gnasher Shotgun - Complete one match during the week of May 9 to permanently unlock.
Beta Tester Medal -- Wear it proudly, Gear. - Complete one match in the Beta to permanently unlock.
Thrashball Cole -- Unlock Thrashball Cole to play as Augustus Cole as he was before Emergence Day -- a legendary Thrashball athlete known for his ferocious, flamboyant style. - Complete 50 matches in any game type to unlock for the Beta period. To permanently unlock, complete 10 matches as Thrashball Cole during the Beta period.
Gold-Plated Retro Lancer -- Before the chainsaw bayonet was deployed at the beginning of the Locust-Human War, the original Lancer assault rifle had a large fixed blade. - Complete 90 matches in any game type to unlock for the Beta period. To permanently unlock, score 100 kills with the Gold-Plated Retro Lancer during the Beta period.

Vermillion

04-05-2011, 07:41 AM

Reminds me that I still have to get my beta code from Gamestop. I always forget.

I'm in like Flynn.

SpacemanSpiff757

04-05-2011, 07:50 AM

I'm in.

(too short)

Narradisall

04-05-2011, 08:24 AM

A friend of mine bought me bullet storm epic edition, so I'll load that up tonight and see if I can register.

violent

04-05-2011, 08:26 AM

I'll be there.

Gerbs

04-05-2011, 09:33 AM

I'm down. I've got the bulletstorm early access but I'll be away from my 360 from the 16th to the 25th. I'm going to try to talk my brother into using my account to play a match or three so I can unlock the flaming hammerburst...

TheSilentDeath

04-05-2011, 10:31 AM

Just pre-ordered this from Gamestop since it looks as though Amazon isn't doing the beta codes (or they haven't updated the site saying that they are). It also looks like Gamestop is doing beta codes with the regular edition as well as the epic edition so it doesn't seem that it is necessary to pre-order the epic edition. I expect to rent Bulletstorm again so put me down as being there on the 18th.

Narradisall

04-05-2011, 10:34 AM

Oh, I thought I could download this now... and it unlocked on the 18th, seems not.

I shall await the 18th to kill people online then!

aVaKus

04-08-2011, 12:14 PM

Gerbs

04-08-2011, 07:10 PM

I want to have as many people to play with as possible so I'm gonna try to add everyone who I don't already have to my Live friends list. I plan on playing the hell out of this beta.

I really miss the old CoG Gears 2 nights. :(

I hope I somehow magically got better at Gears over the last two years. I always try to play in a way I think will get me fat kills buy I almost always lose firefights.

aVaKus

04-09-2011, 11:06 PM

I hope I somehow magically got better at Gears over the last two years. I always try to play in a way I think will get me fat kills buy I almost always lose firefights.

I hope the same happens for me. When it comes to fighting from a distance I can hold my own, but close up my shotgun only seems to fire confetti. :(

I'm excited to see how the dedicated servers do. I got so tired of the inconsistencies from match to match.

ThievesAmongUs

04-09-2011, 11:57 PM

I'm in like Flynn.

Flynn Lives !

Lekon

04-10-2011, 01:38 AM

I hope I somehow magically got better at Gears over the last two years. I always try to play in a way I think will get me fat kills buy I almost always lose firefights.

*Dusts off the ol Chainsaw*

It's on, bitches.

Lekon Chainsaw Massacre. Part 3.

Narradisall

04-11-2011, 05:27 AM

So, I can start cutting things up next Monday yes?

Waiting.... Waiting.....

violent

04-11-2011, 08:52 AM

I'm gonna have to go in-store to place my preorder seeing as they do not have in-store pickup for online orders of the Limited Edition. I should be there Monday time permitting.

aVaKus

04-11-2011, 11:57 AM

I preordered the uber edition of Gears 3 but I have no idea what it comes with. Anyone heard any info/rumors on it yet?

Narradisall

04-12-2011, 04:48 PM

Stolen from the interwebs (I'm assuming uber means epic)

You get a poster, cog tags, special feautures disk, and a model of marcus pheonix.
So I would recommend canceling your pre order and just order the limmited edition version, its only £10 more than the standard version and you get everything excet the model (so in reality your paying £50 for a marcus pheonix model.

aVaKus

04-13-2011, 07:14 AM

Stolen from the interwebs (I'm assuming uber means epic)

Yea, I didn't know what they were officially calling it.

Gerbs

04-15-2011, 06:25 PM

I'm so going to hang those CoG tags from my rear view mirror.

Narradisall

04-17-2011, 01:55 PM

Gears 3 Beta option is up on Bulletstorm menu now. Just takes you into a screen telling you it will be up soon.

Looking forward to my curb stomping tommorrow!

Talanvor

04-17-2011, 03:32 PM

Bah! I was supposed to get a code for the beta but now I have no idea.

That little digger weapon looks like it's going to be a pain in the ass.

Narradisall

04-18-2011, 06:00 AM

Still wasn't up for download this morning. Stupid time differences.

aVaKus

04-18-2011, 06:15 AM

I started my download before I left for work this morning. Will be on around 5 this eve. I'm now actually hoping portal 2 doesn't release early so I can have a full evening with the beta.

Narradisall

04-18-2011, 06:21 AM

Damnit. I knew the moment I left the Americans would wake and set the downloads up.

Well time difference is a double edged blade my friends! I shall be home and chainsawing people in the face while you sup the the teet of your corporate masters.

Narradisall

04-18-2011, 11:58 AM

So far so good. I'm hoping the levelling I'm doing will carry over. Looking to unlock the cool beta stuff though

aVaKus

04-18-2011, 12:03 PM

3 more hours for me :(

Does it look any better than 2?

EnderSin

04-18-2011, 12:13 PM

The graphics are a bit better, but where they improved most on the graphics where on weapons effects. The mortar and ink look so much better now.
*edit* also the flaming weapons look sick the colors on the gun appear to move some and change different shades of red orange and yellow

Narradisall

04-18-2011, 12:19 PM

I'd say look wise it's not too much different. In probably not the most graphically minded person, but I think they squeezed all they can out the 360.

Play wise it's good fun. The map alterations such as the game timer falling on the thrashball court are fun additions.

Chainsaw insta kills are balanced more, in such that you have to cord start it like you would with a chainsaw. Therefore there is a period when up press and hold b where you don't just suck them into the chainsaw instantly.

Retro lancer stabs however are fucking hilarious. Watching someone charge across a map and ram a bayonette into someone is highly amusing.

The digger is sick.

Narradisall

04-18-2011, 12:24 PM

Executions are now just y and the new ones are just as nasty.

Flame grenades are great! Caught someone face on with a hip throw. I can still hear him scream!

Narradisall

04-18-2011, 12:28 PM

Oh yeah and weapon pick ups require holding x till a bar fills. Prevents that insta grab wall bouncing bs of 2.

Vermillion

04-18-2011, 12:29 PM

Weird. I thought the beta started next week. Is that just for people pre-ordering GoW3 and those of us with the Bulletstorm pre-orders get in early?

Guess I know what I'm doing tonight...

Narradisall

04-18-2011, 12:32 PM

My shotgun still seems to fire pleasant aromas at the enemy though. Bullet lag is better than before with dedicated servers, but I'm guessing they are in the US.

Narradisall

04-18-2011, 12:34 PM

Bulletstorm ppl get in today, pre orders next week.

Vermillion

04-18-2011, 12:51 PM

Bulletstorm ppl get in today, pre orders next week.

Guess I'm leaving work early today to start downloading...

aVaKus

04-18-2011, 12:52 PM

Thanks for all the info Narradisall, I'm getting really excited to play now. Only 1 more hour til I can leave work. 2 til I'm playing :)

Narradisall

04-18-2011, 01:09 PM

The digger gun is my new favourite weapon. Bit tricky to get the hang of the shots but on e you do it's awesome sauce. Channels right under cover too, but need a direct hit or to hit a wall behind them.

TheSilentDeath

04-18-2011, 01:25 PM

I am in the process of downloading this as I type this. Also are the dedicated servers actually working now? I know that in the friends and family beta that started a few days ago the dedicated servers were not working so I figured I'd ask.

Narradisall

04-18-2011, 01:32 PM

I'm only assuming these are the dedicated servers. No lag so fr.

Loving the ability to press b while dead and bring up a map with weapon spawns.

Also pressing LB gives you an x-ray type vision showing you all the weapon locations. Very handy for learning the maps.

MalReynolds

04-18-2011, 01:33 PM

everyone add me

Narradisall

04-18-2011, 04:27 PM

Weird I couldn't seem to get parties working.

Got about 25 matches down. Pretty food so far. Be interesting when they unlock some more modes as the weeks pass.

Narradisall

04-19-2011, 06:10 AM

I'll likely be loving myself to death on Portal 2 tonight. If anyone fancies getting a group going on the Weekend or a set weekday, I'd be up for it.

Started not sucking about 20-30 games in last night.

Plus unlocking the weapon specific executions is... interesting. Lots, and I mean LOTS of unlockables in the MP.

aVaKus

04-19-2011, 12:48 PM

Got maybe 10-15 matches in last night, and I've enjoyed what I've played so far.

However, I do think the Sawed-Off is overpowered. It was annoying to insta-splode everytime someone got near me, and the kills I got with it always felt cheap (except for one situation where it was 2 vs 1 and I managed to take them both out with a single shot :) ). The gnasher on the other hand has become a quick favorite. I hated it in the past 2 games, but now (with the help of dedicated servers) I can actually hit what I'm aiming at. It's a great close to short range weapon.

I'm really digging the Digger (heh) and impaling people with the Retro Lancer will never get old. Longshot seems to have more aim assist (pulled off several from the hip headshots) but the Torque Bow does not. Lancer fires the same as before but now requires a second or 2 of pull starting to get the chainsaw running. Incendiary grenade was a nice addition and happy to see the smoke grenade stun is back when they go off at close range. (Something interesting I learned, grenades can be used when impaled. I was impaled while holding a smoke grenade, when I set it off it instantly downed my killer.)
Tagging a meat shield and kicking him into a crowd is also a nice touch.

A few people I was playing with mentioned some lag issues, but the most I ever saw was a hiccup or 2 in player movement. The dedicated servers seem to have fixed my biggest complaints with the previous game. (Host advantage, hit detection)

Lots of little tweaks and additions all around and almost all of them I like. I'll def be spending a lot of time with this beta. (After I beat Portal 2 ;))

Talanvor

04-19-2011, 12:57 PM

I seem to have finally gotten a code for this. But do I play this or Portal 2? Decisions!

And man is it slow downloading Portal 2 from Steam. Game must be enormous.

Narradisall

04-21-2011, 06:05 AM

So, now I've played Portal 2 and will let it digest a bit before I give it another go. I'm back on the Gears 3 train! Choo Choo!

Anyone going to be playing tonight or over the weekend? I played 30 games in one evening so I'm sure I can get my shiny Cole Train suit for the main game.

(Does anyone know if all those execution unlocks etc carry over, or will it all be reset?)

aVaKus

04-21-2011, 06:12 AM

I def will. Finished up portal 2 and my mind is still swimming from it. Some chainsawing should help with that.

Narradisall

04-21-2011, 06:22 AM

I def will. Finished up portal 2 and my mind is still swimming from it. Some chainsawing should help with that.

I'm starting to fall in love with the retro bayonetting. :D

Shame the long distance shooting with that lancer is garbage. :(

aVaKus

04-21-2011, 06:57 AM

I'm starting to fall in love with the retro bayonetting. :D

I need to learn the appropriate distance you have to run to build up enough momentum to successfully impale someone. Most of the time I just seemed to bounce off everyone. :(

Narradisall

04-26-2011, 04:00 PM

So I've been on and off the beta for the last few days. Where's the peeps at?

Got my Cole Train and Golden Retro Lancer unlocked for retail, yay!

Must say, favourite execution so far, the downing someone, picking them up and then selecting grenade, sticking it to them and kicking them forward to explode.

I actually managed to pull it off with a frag, killing two of his team mates who were charing to shotty him away as my cover. Awesome.

Old Town Map has the boomshot back, which is always fun.

I suck with the 'One shot' gun, yet can somehow always get killed by it, even though it provides a massive beam trail telling me its trying to lazor me.

I do like the matchmaking, seems a lot quicker to me now. Also, the game shifting the teams each match is nice, helps even the games up somewhat. I don't know how that (or if it does at all) effects when you enter games as a party.

Looking forward to the full game. Got to get my co-op on with some friends!

Talanvor

04-27-2011, 02:49 PM

I do like the matchmaking, seems a lot quicker to me now. Also, the game shifting the teams each match is nice, helps even the games up somewhat. I don't know how that (or if it does at all) effects when you enter games as a party.

Wow, maybe I'm playing at different times but the matchmaking seems to be just as slow as GoW2 was. Also for some reason the "balancing" isn't actually, well, balancing anything. I've been on plenty of teams where it was me and 2 other people below double digits in rank plus bots against a fully human team that had players with ranks beyond 20. To start a new match.

It's a beta so I'm not surprised there's issues. I'm still having fun with it though.

Narradisall

04-27-2011, 05:12 PM

Wow, maybe I'm playing at different times but the matchmaking seems to be just as slow as GoW2 was. Also for some reason the "balancing" isn't actually, well, balancing anything. I've been on plenty of teams where it was me and 2 other people below double digits in rank plus bots against a fully human team that had players with ranks beyond 20. To start a new match.

It's a beta so I'm not surprised there's issues. I'm still having fun with it though.

I don't know if the matches are segregated on EU/US, I assumed all the servers were US based and all the Beta pool was together. It's not taken me more than 1 min to find any game though. I've played over 100 now and it seems pretty darn quick compared to the Gears 2 wait times.

It's not really 'balanced' in the team picking, it just seems to randomly jumble them about, but it means if you play say, 5 games in a row, you won't have people bailing out of the 'crap' team after the first lost match as each team is randomly picked each new match. That's what I meant. Sometimes I get bad teams, sometimes good, but at least I don't have to exit and start a new game if I'm stuck with a hopeless team.

Talanvor

04-27-2011, 06:33 PM

I don't know if the matches are segregated on EU/US, I assumed all the servers were US based and all the Beta pool was together. It's not taken me more than 1 min to find any game though. I've played over 100 now and it seems pretty darn quick compared to the Gears 2 wait times.

Well I've been playing afternoons (US time), that might be a factor. The ranked match searches take a lot longer than player matches, so I've just stuck with those. Also I'm not so sure if these servers are really dedicated, I've seen host migration happen during rounds.

It's not really 'balanced' in the team picking, it just seems to randomly jumble them about, but it means if you play say, 5 games in a row, you won't have people bailing out of the 'crap' team after the first lost match as each team is randomly picked each new match. That's what I meant. Sometimes I get bad teams, sometimes good, but at least I don't have to exit and start a new game if I'm stuck with a hopeless team.

Are you playing mostly ranked? The player matches keeps the same people and just moves them onto the next match, that's where I was complaining about the balancing not happening. The ranked matches I've played exit out after each match to search for new opponents. That's mainly why I've stuck to player matches.

Narradisall

04-28-2011, 10:18 AM

Talanvor

04-28-2011, 12:17 PM

Ahhh. That may be it then.

I haven't played a single ranked game yet. It's all just been player matches for me. Since leveling up, unlocking the characters skins etc could be done in player, I've seen no reason to play in ranked.

Yeah, just takes longer and a lot more people are in player matches. I'm not even sure why there's ranked matches available. Well I suppose that'd be part of the beta. :D

TheSilentDeath

05-09-2011, 02:32 PM

I've got an extra beta code from the never fight alone phase if anybody wants it. First person to pm me gets it.

Drayven

05-09-2011, 02:41 PM

I also have 2 codes if anyone needs one.

Talanvor

05-09-2011, 03:19 PM

Holy crap I got 2 codes too, just send a PM if you want one.

Narradisall

05-09-2011, 04:47 PM

I just noticed I got a code today as well. Seems we have an abundance about!

aVaKus

05-10-2011, 07:06 AM

I have 1 extra code if anyone wants it.

Narradisall

05-10-2011, 07:06 AM

My code is gone already. No one seems to be leaping on them though, I think people might not be checking this thread for such things (or they hate Gears/fun).

aVaKus

05-10-2011, 07:13 AM

I really don't understand all the Gears hate. I've always loved them. A good friend of mine and I beat the first one over 50 times. (I'm not exaggerating) For some reason we just kept playing and having a blast with it. Then we made little games of it to challenge us even more. Our crowning achievement was when we beat the campaign in a single sitting, on Insane, without dying.

Narradisall

05-10-2011, 07:17 AM

I don't think I love it.... that much.

I like it because the cover/shooting mechanics seems a lot more solid to me than the twitch based CoD shooters etc, where in MP people just run around like a pleb shooting anything that moves and you die instantly.

Ofc Gears has stupidity in the wall bouncing turds, but for the most part it's teamworker, using cover, covering fire and outflanking. Much more fun. For a new IP and early title I think it's done well for itself.

aVaKus

05-10-2011, 07:27 AM

I hate the wall bouncers. I put 637 rounds up their nose and they still run right up and one shot me with that fucking sawed off.

Drayven

05-10-2011, 07:28 AM

I actually gave both of mine away then realized I had someone else that might want one so if you have a spare lemme know. Assuming of course everyone here that wants one has gotten one.

aVaKus

05-10-2011, 07:33 AM

I'll PM you my extra one Drayven.

Drayven

05-10-2011, 07:49 AM

Thanks, already taken care of though :)

aVaKus

05-10-2011, 07:52 AM

Still have 1 code. EvoG beat me to Drayven.

Talanvor

05-10-2011, 01:49 PM

I hate the wall bouncers. I put 637 rounds up their nose and they still run right up and one shot me with that fucking sawed off.

Yeah, getting blasted with the sawed off is generally a pain in the ass. If I know someone has it I'll try and keep distance while popping them with the hammerburst. Then I run into the guy with the sawed off/retro lancer. That thing does amazing damage.

Narradisall

05-10-2011, 04:44 PM

Yeah, one annoyance about having my trusty old Lancer/Shotty combo, is I get decent aim, shooting and reloading, but compared to the other people, hit for hit it just doesn't pan out. You have to load a whole clip of the lancer into someone to bring them down, yet a hammerburst or retro you get hit 5 times and you're down (although lord knows how they pull it off with the shitty retro recoil).

I've seen someone take out 3 clumped up people with a single sawed off shotgun blast. It was brutal.

digitalErich

05-10-2011, 04:46 PM

Talanvor

05-10-2011, 05:05 PM

I thought in those dev diaries for Gears 3 they talked about reducing the shotgun effectiveness in Gears 3, or am I making that up? I'm not in the beta, but it sounds like it's more of a powerhouse than in 2.

Honestly I'm not really seeing that. You can still blast people to pieces with the gnasher, but maybe they meant you had to be a little more accurate with it. Aiming rather than hip firing makes a world of difference.

The sawed off is a different beast. It's a high risk/high reward weapon. You only get one shot because the reload on that is amazingly long. I think the boomshot is actually faster to reload.

The only weapon I have a problem with is the retro. I think it does even more damage than the hammerburst while still being an automatic.

Narradisall

05-11-2011, 07:19 AM

Yeah, the gnasher is still about the same I think, although you need to be a little more accurate, but most people in 2 would aim/fire in quick burst successions anyway.

The radius on the Sawed off is pretty wide, but its range is garbage. Ofc you only have one shot, and it's the longest reloading weapon, but man that one shot is almost a sure fire death at anything other than a good leaps distance away.

But then you also have the 'One shot' as well... least that gives you warning on its aim and is tricky to keep straight.

aVaKus

05-11-2011, 07:58 AM

I hated the gnasher in the past 2 games (mostly do to host advantage issues) but I love it in this game. I'm consistently able to hit my target and have managed to rack up quite a few kills with it.

People who use the sawed off can die in a fire. I think its abused way too much in the game already.

I don't mind the one shot at all. It announces itself when its being used and it keeps people moving. I love stirring up a group with it and watching them scatter.

Narradisall

05-11-2011, 08:42 AM

Only worrying thing, is gunplay has been GREAT this game. No lag, and like you say, shotgun play can actually be accurate.

Week 4 though, the games I've played have gotten laggy. Not sure if they are stress testing or whether it's getting pounded by a ton of new people coming in. I just hope it's not standard, as the previous 3 weeks have been nigh flawless.

aVaKus

05-11-2011, 09:58 AM

Servers are probably getting too full and a lot of games are being bumped to P2P. I seriously doubt they are gonna add new dedicated servers in the final week of the beta.

I just hope Epic has plenty of dedicated servers running when the full game releases. I remember back when the first L4D came out, even connecting to a server was tough and if you were actually able to the game was usually laggy. Luckily Valve added new servers quickly.