Gears of War boardgame from - who else? - Fantasy Flight

Barnes--you probably know everything there is to know about the plot in that 1 sentence. It's an incredibly visceral, tactical and deliberately paced shooter, but I wouldn't tout it's plot to anyone...

This is the first licenced FFG boardgame where I know nothing about the actual licence.

It's like they are abandoning me.

Between this and GTA, sounds like the kids are abandoning you with their new fangled franchises.

This could be cool. All I know about Gears of War is that it's extremely popular with critics and games. And that my brother who has never gotten into FPS on PC or consoles bought an Xbox 360 just so he could play GoW with his buddy online. That's the kind of power the game has. Never played it personally myself.

For the record, Tannhauser wasn't a FFG designed game, just printed and distributed by FFG in the USA. It's actually French!

As for your worries about FFG spreading itself too thin, ask yourself this: Does the announcement get your more excited or less excited? If it makes you more excited then no, I don't think FFG is stretching itself out too far.

I mean hearing that another adventure game coming out doesn't make me think "Oh, well I already have Arkham Horror, Prophecy, Buffy: The Vampire Slayer and Descent + expansions" it makes me think, "Wow! Another awesome sounding adventure game to add to my collection."

True that, metalface. True that.

The one thing I do know about Gears of War is that you have to press X to heal someone. I know this because I cut my finger and a friend made some joke, "he's bleeding out, press X, press X", cue much laughing as I try to stop the blood gushing out of my finger on to my kitchen floor. I assume this is what they say to each other when play multiplayer Gears of War. Sigh.

Actually, it's funnier and even more 10 year oldish than that, because you don't just press X next to a downed comrade, your character actually shouts something randomly stupid at them--"GET UP YOU PUSSY!"--as well.