Gears of War 2 getting new experience-based ranking system, new maps
Gears of War 2 executive producer Rod Fergusson has revealed that an all-new experience-based ranking system is coming with the game’s third title update, acting as a precursor to the upcoming Snowblind map pack. Title Update 3 will also have a new auto-balancing feature that swaps in bots to replace players who drop out in the middle of a match and four new maps. Details after the jump.
Gears of War 2 executive producer Rod Fergusson has revealed that an all-new experience-based ranking system is coming with the game’s third title update, acting as a precursor to the upcoming Snowblind map pack. Fergusson told GameSpot that the new system is their answer to gamers’ problems with the TrueSkill system:
Basically, it was a matter of listening to what people were saying about the TrueSkill system. We spent a lot of time on the forums and talking with other players, and we were noticing that people were sort of plateauing really quickly. … So to remedy the issues, we figured we should impose a system where people could earn experience; even if they lost the match they would feel like they’re moving up the ladder. We want them to feel like they’re progressing, gaining levels of experience in multiplayer play.
Level cap has been set at 100. On their way to the top level, players will gain the following level-based Achievements: Rookie Gear (level 5), Seasoned Gear (level 15), Battle-Tested Gear (level 25), Battle-Hardened Gear (level 50), and Veteran Gear (level 100). The last two require the Snowblind map pack. There are also four other unnamed achievements.
Once the new system is in place, the old TrueSkill rankings be hidden but it will still be used under the hood to “set up the most competitive matches possible”.
The free title update is slated to come out on March 24, a week before the Snowblind map pack. Title Update 3 will also have a new auto-balancing feature that swaps in bots to replace players who drop out in the middle of a match and four new maps (Grindyard, Courtyard, Under Hill, and the return of Gears 1‘s Fuel Depot).
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Via GameSpot