[ Update no.3: We have received another Reply from Epic. It seems that spamming them will not do any good because MS generates the codes. It’s still 5am in Redmond, so we will have to wait a little to get some answers but it seems like answers is what we will be getting.
Hooray for not being ignored! ]
[ Update no.2 : Mike Capps from Epic has replied! He say’s the following:
“Hi nick. News to me, let me check!”
There may be hope yet! ]
[ Update: I have just emailed Mike Capps, the president of Epic Games to see if there is any sort of arrangement that can be made for South African gamers. Hopefully we will have a response soon with regards to the codes. ]I really hope that I get proven wrong on this one because if I don’t, it will be a pretty sad piece of news for us South Africans.
As you all know, a few South Africans have been able to get their hands on copies of Gears of War 2 a few days early. I got the chance to speak to someone who has already gotten a copy and has played a sneaky multiplayer session with a few other of the lucky folks who got it early as well.
The problem is that none of them could find the “Flashback Map Pack” code in their Gears of War 2 boxes.
Say it ain’t so. More after the jump.
While there is a small chance that the early copies didn’t have the codes, I very highly doubt that there is any difference between those copies and the ones that will be available on Friday.
If this is true, it may mean that South Africans are going to completely miss out on the recreated maps from the original Gears of War. The truth is that South Africa isn’t officially supported for Xbox Live but one would think that because we get the same stock as Europe, we would have the codes packaged in.
At this point I am just sincerely hoping that the guys I spoke to were just hopelessly blind and couldn’t find the codes that are actually there. Problem is that it isn’t really likely.
If we are lucky, the maps will become available over Xbox Live to everyone after a short while, even though a lot of South Africans will need to resort to special measures to bypass the region block on all of the Gears of War 2 content.
Last Updated: November 6, 2008
Aequitas
November 6, 2008 at 12:56
If this turns out to be the case, that we didn’t even *get* the codes, then epic can expect a massive amount of e-mail from me (and hopefully everyone else) complaining about this .
I’m more than willing to send 5 e-mails a day asking where my codes are.
bokka1
November 6, 2008 at 13:02
I will too or I want a refund on a part of my purchase price.
Goose ZA
November 6, 2008 at 13:05
Epic Fail?
jimmytheediblewyrm
November 6, 2008 at 13:05
My fellow South African gamers… prepare your pitch forks and burning torches… tar and feathers are optional, but welcome…
They probably just figured “well hey, they dont have Live there anyway, so lets save a few bucks on printing and packaging”…
But, we shall see tomorrow eh?
Goose ZA
November 6, 2008 at 13:06
I really don’t know why they didn’t just include it on the disc. Seriously… why make it DLC?
bokka1
November 6, 2008 at 13:09
I think it is to do about second hand sales and piracy. I may be wrong.
janrik
November 6, 2008 at 13:11
That is very very wrong.
RA1NKING
November 6, 2008 at 13:12
I will send 50 mails a day… Its pathetic , we have put down money specifically to receive our gold lancers and map packs.
We could all have waited and bought second hand for cheaper if we knew there wasnt gonna be no map packs..
EPIC FAIL…..
Bboy
November 6, 2008 at 13:19
😯 😯 😯 😯
Bboy
November 6, 2008 at 13:20
👿 👿 👿 👿
Bboy
November 6, 2008 at 13:20
ARRGHHHHHH!
Goose ZA
November 6, 2008 at 13:21
Problem not just in SA…
http://forums.epicgames.com/showthread.php?t=631093
Syph1n
November 6, 2008 at 13:26
Be honest with yourself Ra1nking. You would not have waited.
Goose ZA
November 6, 2008 at 13:34
Apparently it’s on the free Live Trial card (According to epic forums). Get your friends to check again.
Nick
November 6, 2008 at 13:43
The voucher is fairly large and can’t really be missed. This could be a sad day for us… 🙁
Syph1n
November 6, 2008 at 13:43
Sorry Guys. Just opened one (im in a retail store). There is no scratch card whatsoever..
Nick
November 6, 2008 at 13:44
:((
Gnarkill
November 6, 2008 at 13:45
Yep,the limited editions have a card inside the steelbook that contains,all three codes ie.Gold Lancer,Map Pack and 48 Hour Trial.
If my card ain’t inside the box there’s gonna be hell to pay,even worse than pitchforks. 👿
Nick
November 6, 2008 at 13:52
Squirrely just posted on the forums that he got 3 X Limited Editions and there are no 48hr codes, gold lancer codes or map pack codes.
This really sucks big
Nick
November 6, 2008 at 13:55
Anyone got CraigN’s number? Maybe our MVP can save us all!
Paradox ZA
November 6, 2008 at 14:04
No Gold Lancer Code !!
Madness –
This is all a joke right ? Someone tell me its a joke !
bokka1
November 6, 2008 at 14:07
That is the first thought that came to mind. I think he is hiding somewhere.
vir0 ZA
November 6, 2008 at 14:18
Does it come with the disc at least?
StigSmash
November 6, 2008 at 14:21
I am lighting my tourch as we speak!
StigSmash
November 6, 2008 at 14:22
I really do hope that this is just some mis-understanding. Or maybe we are going to see alot of goldern lancer codes etc showing up on gumtree and those sorts of places.
StigSmash
November 6, 2008 at 14:26
I have submitted the article to Digg so those with accounts digg it!! We need some awareness!
baba
November 6, 2008 at 14:30
Screwed again…
1st with (promised) Live
2nd blocked download content
3rd blocked credit cards
And now with this, urguably the biggest 360 game ever!
And if Kalahari don’t deliver my game tomorrow I’m not playing xbox for a month at least!
Nick
November 6, 2008 at 14:36
dugg!
Nduimiso
November 6, 2008 at 14:46
dugg as well
Tarryn
November 6, 2008 at 15:00
:<
enstuff
November 6, 2008 at 15:02
dugg!
ScurvyJimBeam
November 6, 2008 at 15:24
Only reason I pre-ordered the Collectors Edition was for the gold lancer. I want my R100 back!
jimmytheediblewyrm
November 6, 2008 at 15:30
Erm… you realise you can “earn” the gold lancer through play right? Its just like the gold edition of bad company…
Wesley
November 6, 2008 at 15:37
Well im not suprized , we all should of seen this comming 🙁 These sneaky money wolfs probably did they’re home work on all the countries without LIVE and sent us the Specail Limited Edition no scratch card box sets… WOW talk about getting stabbed in the front
Wesley
November 6, 2008 at 15:38
haha good one
LazySAGamer
November 6, 2008 at 15:39
Dugg… like I would skip this opportunity 🙂
Wesley
November 6, 2008 at 15:39
Looks like you should of ordered from the UK then you wouldnt of had this problem… Man damn M$ for boi cotting us ’cause of no LIVE support
Wesley
November 6, 2008 at 15:40
I dont really wanna agree but looks like it yeah. Gonna have alot of pissed off South Africans tomorow
DarkDragonZA
November 6, 2008 at 15:51
This sucks big time. This is why 90% of us bought the CE!!
👿
Macethy
November 6, 2008 at 15:55
I’m pretty sure the scratch cards come with the normal edition.Anyways doesn’t bother me much,I don’t play on Live so the bots can keep me entertained on the few maps in the box.
Strife Lives
November 6, 2008 at 16:18
well. . .I just got a copy . . .its a normal ed and theres no card.at all.nothing. Msft. . .u suck.
SlippyMadFrog
November 6, 2008 at 16:19
Check this out:
http://www.co-optimus.com/article/802/Gears_of_War_2_Copies_Missing_Map_Pack_Codes.html
It seems like it’s an international issue, not just South Africa
Aequitas
November 6, 2008 at 16:34
So have you contacted someone at MS Nick? Or is Epic actually looking into things?
Strife Lives
November 6, 2008 at 17:52
You guys. . .we sit back and signed the xbl live petition. . .still we wait.Do you think we could blow this up even bigger? Like maybe. . .an N4G article just in time for the launch day of GeOW2!
Osculim
November 6, 2008 at 21:01
It wouldnt really bother me im not a fanatic like you guys i got the 1st one on pc so im happy with that. But i do find it unfair to you guys for not getting the maps you pay the same price for as everyone else.
LazySAGamer
November 6, 2008 at 21:56
I don’t think this article has any chance of going big on N4G or any of the aggregator sites…
But just because we got ignored for Local Live Support is no reason to sit back and accept the problem now
ewie
November 7, 2008 at 09:34
Title should just have been –
no flashback map codes in gears 2 retail copies..
FaZo
November 9, 2008 at 11:18
Excuse my naivety but what is epics email address so I too can start spamming them?
Miguel
November 11, 2008 at 09:28
I’m so upset. I was looking at the playlist wondering “WTH is this flashback?” Did research and found out about the maps. searched frantically for the code and there was nothing obviously. I’m so upset. It’s like I’ve payed for a quarter of a full product. And also what happened to the golden lancer? I suppose that got stripped cause of Xbox live thing too
LazySAGamer
November 11, 2008 at 10:16
We would share it but then they would shoot us 🙁
Though as Nick mentioned it’s not in Epics hands anymore.
Felipe
November 15, 2008 at 06:13
Microsoft has done the EXACT same thing in Brazil.
We’re also complaining a lot, but Microsoft seems to pretend there’s no problem at all, and keeps ignoring us.
Luke
November 23, 2008 at 17:25
Can somebody please help me, i have recently bought gears of war 2 limited addition brand new and sealed when i opened it i found that i had NO CODES for the golden lancer or the flashpack maps everything else was there except that, i took it back to the shop and all there copys were exactly the same!! if anyone know the email address for mike capps president of epic games could you please let me know as i would like to adress this problem this is a big issue on the island of Malta were im from not 1 copy has the maps of the golden lancer code. thanks
dsfghyjukl
November 23, 2008 at 21:21
😯 😯 😯 😯
LazySAGamer
November 24, 2008 at 01:01
Hi Luke,
We are in discussion with Epic and Microsoft at this time and will update the site as soon as we have a final answer.
There may be a light at the end of this tunnel
Mad Dogg
December 1, 2008 at 23:01
I’m just so angry right now everybody has no comment xbox.com major nelson everybody this is a ripoff & it’s so unfair
Miguel
December 2, 2008 at 10:27
🙁 I’m so not going to play this until I get my codes 🙁 I bought the limited edition partially for that reason which may be lame but I still want what I payed for.
m0rph1us76
December 2, 2008 at 20:22
I’ve never in my life catagorised myself as a fan boy as I have always owned ALL the latest and greatest consoles. I must say however that over the past four months ,all the multiplatform games I have bought (11 odd in total) were on the PS3 purely out of rebellion of Microsoft ignoring us now for two years. With the first exclusive I buy, I get this sh!t with the codes. I know it’s a case of cut off your nose to spite your face, but this was officially my last XBOX purchase. Well done Microsoft for alienating another XBOX Live user and in the process losing roughly R20k worth of games per year that will now be bought for my PS3!!!!!!
Swagman
December 25, 2008 at 14:15
The problem that happened to me was that I got disconnected while the maps were being downloaded and after I connected again the code no loger worked! Ok, its not Microsofts fault I go disconnected but they should have consideded the possibility that this sort of thing might happen.
Jay
March 29, 2009 at 22:01
The code was meant to be in all the boxes Dah?
I bought My copy in KSA and no codes ( Non-LE copy)
It was just a week ago too =(
luke
August 28, 2009 at 12:59
I NEDD THE CODE QUICK :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: