Swimming with Sharks: Multi-Player Gears 3

In just two short days the gaming world will experience the official release of Gears of War 3, and there will be much rejoicing. I know the first bit because that is the official published release date and it is mentioned in the embargo notice that came with my copy of the game last week (note: the embargo lifted on the 15th so I am not breaking it by writing this).

I know the second bit because I have been playing the game since Thursday last and there has been much rejoicing among the three distinct groups of gamers who have the game right now: games journalists, a much smaller group of people who know the right people, and the gamers who received their games early by accident.

Gears 3 is the final entry in the three-story-arc that details the adventures of Delta Squad and its ongoing battle against the alien invaders called Locust, and now also a new threat called Lambent, whose creation and existence was covered in the last game, Gears of War 2. It is a dark story with many personal threads to it, and in this third and final chapter all things are possible, including a shot at redemption for COG and the Gears, and for that matter humanity itself, but only with your help.

When the game goes live across the planet two things will happen -- gamers who love the story will delve deeply into the campaign, where they will find answers to questions that bother them still, and the sharks will descend upon the multiplayer side of the game. Correction: more of the sharks will descend upon the multiplayer side of the game.

Confused? Bear with me for a moment and all will be explained.