Zune of War, official Gears of War 2 branded Zune revealed

by Xav de Matos { Oct 1st 2008 at 10:45AM }

When a company has the luxury of owning the rights to two of the industry's hottest franchises (read that, not the hottest but two of the hottest) you try a little thing called Aggressive Marketing. Aggressive Marketing is a wonderfully terrible thing. It has spawned the likes of Halo branded Mountain Dew, don't kid yourself it was terrible. It makes rotating ads for summer movies a consideration in the map design process (Sup, Rainbox Six Vegas?) and it adds a logo to expensive electronics in hopes of catching the hardcore of guard.

In the market for a Zune? Microsoft has revealed that a limited edition Gears of War 2 Zune bundle will begin shipping on November 7 for $280. The laser-etched "Crimson Omen" plastered 120GB media player comes pre-loaded with 244 pieces of Gears of War media - the soundtrack, concept art, behind-the-scenes videos and other content you've probably already seen here at X3F for free.

[via Engadget]

Tags: epic-games, gears-of-war-2, marketing, zune

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Doll @ Oct 1st 2008 10:56AM

That is sweet. If i didn't have an iPod, I would consider switching to Zune right now.

Gabriel @ Oct 1st 2008 1:45PM

No, seriously, ditch iPod and get a Zune or a Sansa. One of the new functionalties for the Zune allows you to identify a song when you're listening to FM radio on your Zune and download it directly to the Zune. The 30 gig can't do this but it can cue up a song to download next time you connect your device. They're also about to expand the games on the Zune (you get two games just for upgrading to firmware version 3.0) and more are sure to come. The better control option is definitely on the new Zunes. Zune also has DRM-free MP3s available for download as opposed to iTunes, which forces you to buy their proprietary format. If you buy a DRM free MP3, you can use it on any device. Why would you buy music that you can't take to any device you want? iPod and iTunes as a combination are overrated. Do yourself a favor and get a Zune. You could also get a Sansa if storage capacity isn't a big deal. Sansa has some of the best overall sound quality and flexibility (more supported file-types) out of all of the MP3 players. Download DRM-free MP3s on the Zune marketplace or download from Amazon.com, where everything is DRM-free. Zune and the Zune marketplace altogether are just integrated better without forcing you to buy a proprietary format. Seriously, don't stick with the flock on this one.

OrgunDonor @ Oct 19th 2008 4:43AM

I'm in the same boat as you, if I hadn't of recently brought another iPod to replace my older one then I would have gone for a Zune... But I'm going to have to say so no to changing to Zune at the moment, the iPod touch is very nice, and much better then anything else I have used, granted iTunes could be better, but I've definitely gotten used to it now, and does what it does... But you are not constrained to buying just from iTunes so that whole proprietary format thing is, and always will be, a rubbish argument.

JerkfacedFed @ Oct 1st 2008 10:57AM

giving my 80gb to my brother and getting this. hell yea

Knight Marquise @ Oct 1st 2008 10:58AM

Don't kid yourself Xav, game fuel was damn awesome. It could give me the shakes faster then Full Throttle. :)

cranium @ Oct 1st 2008 12:36PM

I loved game fuel. Every time i pass mountain dew at a store I keep an eye out just in case some never got bought. I hope they bring it back for Gears 2.

After all, it was called 'game fuel: halo 3 edition'. that makes "game fuel :Gears of War 2 editon" highly possible.

jarhead906 @ Oct 1st 2008 12:59PM

Like he said, don't kid yourself, it was terrible.

It tastes like someone took Live Wire Mountain Dew and squirted in some generic grape-flavored cough syrup.

dark_inchworm @ Oct 1st 2008 2:41PM

GF was awesome dammit!

And don't bother looking, cranium... I have the most recently produced case I could find and it's quite flat and nasty now. Got about 8 cans for memorabilia though!

offday @ Oct 1st 2008 3:28PM

I agree with the smart ones here. Game fuel rocked.

Now Pepsi Blue, there's another story.

NukeAssault @ Oct 1st 2008 4:02PM

Those kinds of drinks don't do squat for me... But out of all the ones ive tasted i liked Bawls.

Dark Caboose @ Oct 1st 2008 10:59AM

1. The Halo Mountain Dew rocked like there was no tomorrow.
2.Why reference the Halo soda when you could reference the Halo Zune?
3. I still have a 12 pack and two 2 liters in a cabinet next to my "cat helmet"

DjDATZ @ Oct 1st 2008 11:02AM

Now Dustin has an excuse to get a Zune.

joeybeast @ Oct 1st 2008 11:06AM

Why didn't they put the gears logo on the squicle

Jay @ Oct 1st 2008 11:06AM

I'm sure Dustin has his on pre-order already somehow. :)

NeoK-182 @ Oct 1st 2008 11:16AM

if i only had the money. this would look great next to my Halo 3 Zune 30.

Huey2k2 @ Oct 1st 2008 11:17AM

Let me guess, this won't come out in Canada until several years after it is released in the US.

I had to import my 80gig Zune way back when to get it, don't make me have to import this too.

Flakundenga @ Oct 1st 2008 3:14PM

Not to mention that if it does indeed come it would be more expensive as well. Sucks if it doesn't come here cuz I am in the market for a 120GB Zune...

Flakundenga @ Oct 1st 2008 3:38PM

Hey I did some digging around and good news:

"The special edition devices will also be available online at Amazon.ca, BestBuy.ca, FutureShop.ca and TheSource.ca in Canada, for an estimated retail price of $279.991 (U.S./CDN) and will begin shipping to customers starting Nov. 7."

Yeah!!!! Here's the link:

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2008/oct08/10-01ZuneGears2PR.mspx

Rick @ Oct 1st 2008 11:18AM

Haha, Zune.

Sales of this model should at least top 3, possibly 5 units. I'm sure the internal sales target is at least 20. Microsoft is likely to bank around a cool $1,400. Not too shabby.

Sarge @ Oct 1st 2008 11:25AM

@*%&!!! I just got a 80gb Zune 3 months ago. I would have been all over this. Well I could always use a spare.

MC Double Def DP @ Oct 1st 2008 11:31AM

If I didn't already get a 120 gig zune (not to mention I put it straight into a leather case which would cover the backside completely) I would consider this one.

As a former iPod 5g video owner, I really love the Zune's larger screen and firmware 3.0 features.