Around The World...Again 11/14 FFF Recap

posted by SweetTea023

Sat Nov 15, 2008 at 05:45:21 AM EST

It's 4:30 AM.  I just got done playing Horde, Warzone, Submission, Meatflag, Wingman and then even MORE Horde. A journey that started around 10 PM CST and ended SIX hours later.

THIS IS FRAGFEST!!!

I played just about every gametype Gears 2 had to offer with David, Jason, JayFresh and more hailing from California representing the 1UP Community.  Also by my side for the night was our good friend N'Gai Croal from Newsweek's LevelUp blog and my Wingman partner 'till the end, Chantal who kept me company for the hour or so we tried to get Xbox Live to work. (And who left me ammo-less ;)

This was a night of laughs, stolen ammo, 28 rounds of Horde on hardcore, bloody locusts and broken internetz...Truly, only Avatars could have made this experience more enjoyable.

But the best part was going to bed around 4:30 AM and still seeing 14 GearHeads online playing Gears 2. Oooooh yeaah baby!

I've got some hilarious stories and cool pics from the night inside.
So, what's your story?

  • ::

As I said, there was a host of 1UP staff that joined in on the FragFest mix (whether they knew it or not) as we played almost every gametype available.  The cool thing was there wasn't a single match I didn't like. Not a match, not a map and not a game type. It was all fun and unique in it's own way.

While Chantal and I spent most of the beginning of the night reviving each other (and then getting blown up seconds later) we seemed to hit a groove later in the night and while we lost our Wingman match, our strategy of hiding and setting traps will be used for years and years to come!
Also, Chantal's friend Vegas joined us for the evening and added to the fun with his own skills.  

But what kept me playing Gears 2 until the wee hours of the morning was a game of Horde on Gridlock.  N'Gai, GV Jason, mincish, thirtywoutside and I all teamed up to take on the Horde on the hardcore difficulty.  By staying in a side tower and using the shields to our advantage we not only survived, but thrived.  And to survive is the thrive, right?

We finally had to get off because of pure exhaustion from the night (It was after 5 N'Gai's time!) but the memories of stuck Tickers, sweet headshots and defeating 28 rounds of Locusts will not soon be forgotten. Thanks for the memories, guys!

Post your own FragFest Stories!

(written with little sleep...apologies for anything that doesn't make sense!)


Tags: 11-14-2009 Recap (all tags)

Comments Disabled | 38 comments

  •  I got to play (none / 0)

    maybe one full game. Then live kept crapping out on me so I didn't get to get another game in. I eventually gave up.

    I'm gonna saw me up some of that sex locust.

    by Jambi Bum on Sat Nov 15, 2008 at 06:30:59 AM EST

  •  Levels 37-39 Insane on Day One. (none / 0)

    Read 'em and weep! It was terrifying. First time playing any Horde.  I didn't even know the names of those monsters and was shouting out "Flailers" for the "Maulers".

    Blankman and Infidel basically beat level 38 (I think it was) by themselves. Incredible.  At least 3 of us survived Level 39! As Zos was saying though, all the stars have to be in perfect alignment, before the Horde Universe allows you to pass.  I think, however, if a team of AAA skilled Gearheads got together to beat the Horde, those stars would be scared shitless and would stand in the sky wherever the Gearheads asked them to.  I predict that the Horde will be beaten, on Insane, Day One, before next Friday, certainly before December.

    The FFF was lots of fun after I got rested up and Live started working again.  I am still getting used to Gears 2 Execution gameplay (so many more options), and the maps themselves.  It is an interesting experience playing a game that I am so familiar with, yet is all so new.  It felt a little like my eyesight was blurred and my ears were full of cotton.  I could feel this sensation lifting, however, as I became more familiar with the weapon locations, and the maps. I realize just how significantly I rely on map knowledge and my ability to articulate locations and situations.

    Oh, and Really Doe was running around with his shottie out like a naked NFLer in the showers.  Owning left and right.  Crazy.  Who woulda thunk?

    All that is gold does not glitter.

    by 3Suns on Sat Nov 15, 2008 at 08:00:35 AM EST

    •  Really Doe (none / 0)

      should be illegal with that shotty.  I think that Im gonna have to stick with my lancer if Im on a west coast host.  Cuz for some reason I just couldn't get anything with that shotty when I needed it.  Host advantage is gone for the most part but when dealing with a west coast host and being up in the great white north thats an equation that comes with the answer zoids shotgun is useless.  

      Oct 21/08 Nov 7/08

      by carr on Sat Nov 15, 2008 at 10:19:39 AM EST

      [ Parent ]

    •  You are definitely correct about Horde and... (none / 0)

      Really Doe.  He's more like a naked NFL-player that's on steroids running around pissing on everyone that he comes across!  LOL  As far as Horde goes, we were three baddies away from clearing Wave 40!  So freaking close that it was truly painful to bear since every tenth level is when they throw the entire damn house at you, screw the kitchen sink!  Damn, we got the skills and teamwork to crush Insane, but it will take us a little longer.  Regardless, It was a blast last night.  BTW: Infidel is ridiculous with a Hammer of Dawn!  He got thirteen kills on Wave 39 with it.  My goodness!

      Friends don't let friends two-piece.

      by Blankman on Sat Nov 15, 2008 at 12:52:00 PM EST

      [ Parent ]

    •  LOL really doe (none / 0)

      but the thing is, not once did i feel like he got a kill besides of anything but skill. And in addition, it felt much more balanced and i saw really doe get some nice torque shots :)

      Not all who wander are lost

      by Zoso Fan on Sat Nov 15, 2008 at 03:03:27 PM EST

      [ Parent ]

      •  Yes, I totally agree, (none / 0)

        and I was really happy for him because I had heard a lot of people say that when Gears 2 came out, he was just gonna get owned.  Not only did he adapt, but he was out there getting kills with the other weapons as well.  It was just that his shotty is still his primary weapon, and it was hilarious to see.  He is fast as lightening, and only needs one shot when he gets close up.

        All that is gold does not glitter.

        by 3Suns on Sat Nov 15, 2008 at 06:40:04 PM EST

        [ Parent ]

  •  Fave (none / 0)

    moment of the night was on Gridlock when 4 of us were down and out and only infedel left.  Well he decided to take out 4 guys with 2 booms and it was classic!  It was great listening to all the tweaks that gearheads would like to see in the patch that should hit sooner rather than later.  Smoke nades have become and integeral part of the gameplay.  And while I see what Epic wanted to do with them they're just too powerful.  Maybe a stun but Im not sure that the failed backflips onto your ass are necessary.  Nade radius is way too big and the chainsaw well we all know what we think of that.  But even with the problems that come with a newborn baby there was still nothing but love being shouted throughout the night for our beloved sequel to GoW.  FFF should have GoW2 in the tray for many many months to come.  

    Oct 21/08 Nov 7/08

    by carr on Sat Nov 15, 2008 at 10:26:06 AM EST

    •  Yes, we were all up at sniper when (none / 0)

      Infidel dropped the boom.  It was SO embarrassing.  (and if I recall correctly, he got all four of us with ONE round).  In any case, the Boom WORKS!  the Boom WORKS!  the Boom WOKRS!  As far as I am concerned it is perfect.  It does exactly what you would expect it should.  I am so happy about that.

      All that is gold does not glitter.

      by 3Suns on Sat Nov 15, 2008 at 06:44:24 PM EST

      [ Parent ]

      •  sorry to shit on your parade here (none / 0)

        but its not quite perfect. I've only see it happen in one match but the boom hit him in the side of the face and exploded, but did no damage. Really doe was there, so was Grymm, I forget who else, but they can vouch for me on that. While its much more consistent, its not totally without shenanigans :P

        by BoxinLeprechaun on Sat Nov 15, 2008 at 07:45:18 PM EST

        [ Parent ]

        •  Agreed =/ (none / 0)

          by SweetTea023 on Sun Nov 16, 2008 at 12:11:34 AM EST

          [ Parent ]

        •  what online game is completely without shenanigan (none / 0)

          The boom is fixed. lol When its only happened once for you. I personally haven't had it fail once. And i use it a good amount.

          Not all who wander are lost

          by Zoso Fan on Mon Nov 17, 2008 at 10:38:22 AM EST

          [ Parent ]

          •  Yep, it's worked for me every time that... (none / 0)

            I've used it.  Perhaps the network latentcy is what affected your shot Boxin.  I don't know.  I will say that the Boomshot is no longer a 50/50 weapon like it was in Gears 1.

            Friends don't let friends two-piece.

            by Blankman on Mon Nov 17, 2008 at 11:20:26 AM EST

            [ Parent ]

            •  haha yea (none / 0)

              its more like 99.1/0.1 :P but it wasnt my shot, it some other dude, and I was just watching.

              by BoxinLeprechaun on Mon Nov 17, 2008 at 12:12:52 PM EST

              [ Parent ]

            •  You need to realize that both of you (none / 0)

              have Fios. Personally, I've had it happen 2 or 3 times in ranked, and yesterday I saw the same exact thing happen to Zoid. Its definitely not fixed, its just better than the original. I'd say its about 85/15 :)

              IMG tags STILL arent allowed..

              by RoBBins0096 on Mon Nov 17, 2008 at 01:42:43 PM EST

              [ Parent ]

              •  Fair enough. (none / 0)

                The reason why I think that the Boomshot's or any weapon, in general,  dependability is spotty on Public games is primarily due to whoever is hosting the match.  If you've got a garbage connection from the host, expect a fair amount of latency.  Remember when we jumped into a Public game against people from Ireland?  They were hosting it rather than my connection hosting the game.  The lag was at least two seconds behind.  Yes, having Fios doesn't necessarily guarantee that any weapon will function as intended, but the speed that information is relayed back to the other gamers' boxes makes a huge difference.  Since the netcoding is not based on client-side hit detection, it's imperative that the host has a solid d/l and u/l speed.  

                Friends don't let friends two-piece.

                by Blankman on Mon Nov 17, 2008 at 02:31:54 PM EST

                [ Parent ]

                •  Funny thing was (none / 0)

                  when it happened to me there were 2 guys standing side by side I shot one killed him. (eventhough both should've died) Then the second guy went into cover not knowing that I was right behind him, then I shot my 2nd one hit him directly.  He stayed in cover for another second or so and then ran.  So its not like I was leading him or I was running.  We were both standing still before during and after the shot was taken.  Mystery to me, but it is better than it was before so that has to count for something!

                  Oct 21/08 Nov 7/08

                  by carr on Tue Nov 18, 2008 at 04:56:08 AM EST

                  [ Parent ]

              •  FIOS didn't help the boom at all in GOW1 (none / 0)

                Not all who wander are lost

                by Zoso Fan on Tue Nov 18, 2008 at 07:15:18 PM EST

                [ Parent ]

  •  I (none / 0)

    went to a friends house and we played horde for 2 hours straight on insane. We only got to level 20

    "Hold on tight spider monkey!" -Twilight

    by Wangler1316 on Sat Nov 15, 2008 at 10:40:46 AM EST

  •  I fell asleep for the 8 pacific time (none / 0)

    But got up at 5am ET, to see several gears on.  3Suns / Blankman, etc.  but they must have been full since they didn't reply to me.

    I hooked up with Savage and him and i did horde mode for some time, which was a riot, then we went to multiplayer and Meewash (sp?) from Poland (yes the country) who is on my friends list and loves gears played on our team.  I played to about 7:30am.  Good times.  I will be able to play later tonight.

    Loving the game so far...

    You will meet your maker, the "chainsaw" and POLANDSTYLE

    by Polandstyle on Sat Nov 15, 2008 at 12:45:03 PM EST

    •  Have you (none / 0)

      seen a Dr. with ref to you're sleeping paterns.  They seem to be a bit off?!?!  You missed a great night!

      Oct 21/08 Nov 7/08

      by carr on Sat Nov 15, 2008 at 12:49:35 PM EST

      [ Parent ]

    •  Poland, sorry about that. (none / 0)

      I missed your invite request somehow.  I honestly don't remember seeing a message from you.  Our room was full almost the whole time, and when we finally switched to Horde, it was full until we all quit.  The options for Bots and the variety of modes makes it so that you can always get a good match in while waiting for for the last spot to fill up. Anyway, glad to hear you hooked up with Savage.  At various times in the evening, when I spot would open briefly, I sent him invites as well hoping to game with him.

      All that is gold does not glitter.

      by 3Suns on Sat Nov 15, 2008 at 06:52:10 PM EST

      [ Parent ]

      •  Hey Poland, (none / 0)

        Your messages were there when I turned on my machine this morning.  Probably were there last night but when it got so late, I stopped checking. Didn't think anyone would be coming on anymore.

        (up to level 48 tonight!...so far...pushin' for 50)

        All that is gold does not glitter.

        by 3Suns on Sun Nov 16, 2008 at 01:19:42 AM EST

        [ Parent ]

  •  Me (none / 0)

     Papi, my brother BigDaddyCB1,Damn Boris, Papi's friend, sorry can't remember how to spell his GT.  We played horde on Hardcore on River and made it to level 20 and were getting destroyed lol.  It was a blast for sure.  Xbox live was acting wacky last night because all 5 of us got knocked off xbox live a few times.  Then I got in Blankmans room and had a ton of fun.  It was great to finally get to play Gears 2 with Suns :)  Then I got kicked off live again while playing in Blanks room and just gave up and went to bed.  Anyone up for some Sat. frag fest?

    by GearsChrisB on Sat Nov 15, 2008 at 04:14:54 PM EST

  •  Photos (none / 0)

    Papi bringing the pain!

    Showing the locust how Gearheads roll

    Nooooooo!!

    Explosion!

    by GearsChrisB on Sun Nov 16, 2008 at 02:43:59 AM EST

Comments Disabled | 38 comments