E3 '07: Gears of War, Viva Pinata headed for PCs

Pair of Xbox 360 titles from last holiday season being prepped for release on Windows.

SANTA MONICA, Calif.--Viva Pinata and Gears of War might not seem to have a lot in common on the surface, but the kid-friendly gardening game and the grimly violent shooter were released on the same system during the same week at the height of last year's holiday season. Now the two Xbox 360 exclusives are breaking new ground together, as Microsoft today used its E3 press conference to confirm plans to bring the pair to the PC.

Microsoft's Shane Kim announced both games at the same time, and while he merely acknowledged the PC edition of Viva Pinata, he introduced Epic Games' Cliff Blezinsky to take the crowd through Gears of War and its new exclusive features. In addition to new multiplayer modes and maps, Gears on the PC will feature five new single-player levels, including one where players must take on the hulking brumak. On top of that, the game will come with a level editor for players to create their own killing fields.

For more from Microsoft's press conference and the rest of E3, check out GameSpot's complete coverage from the E3 Media and Business Summit.

153 Comments

  • finaleve

    Posted Oct 21, 2007 8:53 am PT

    iuns > It was inevitable. Bioschock is on the PC already. Halo 3 is in the same boat as Gears (waiting until it makes enough and then releasing it on PC). Mass Effect is a maybe. Depends on its success.

    It'll make more money this way. The extra content I'm a bit upset about (Ang considering its cheaper to get it on the PC than it was on 360) but I'll get over it. Maybe they'll add that extra content to 360 soon? And would 360 play against PC users?

  • bloodychimp

    Posted Jul 22, 2007 3:48 pm PT

    Fallen_One_28

    "These days a gaming PC is actually quite cheap. About $1000 will get you a very good PC that's far better than a 360. That includes a screen. Oh but you say, a 360 costs less than $1000? Well, PCs are used for more than just gaming and movies, and you don't pay money to play online." Only a $1000? Seriously, what kind of *****ing dreamland do you live in? A comp that plays games WELL is more than $2000. You obviously have no idea how to build a computer or where to shop for parts. Building a great PC for $1000 with screen is easy.

  • shinian

    Posted Jul 14, 2007 4:20 am PT

    Those are great games. Good that PC owners will be able to play something new

  • jonjonsilver

    Posted Jul 13, 2007 3:39 pm PT

    OMG I just found this out and I am so excited and I know that I'm going to get it. This Rocks! It's Brumak killing time!!!!!!!!!

  • combat1818

    Posted Jul 13, 2007 2:32 pm PT

    $1000---$2000--$4000--so what!-----just remember people the more money you are willing to spend on your pc---the better the games will be compared to there console counterparts===and a £180 geforce 8800gts will blow away the 360 and ps3

  • Fallen_One_28

    Posted Jul 12, 2007 6:52 pm PT

    "These days a gaming PC is actually quite cheap. About $1000 will get you a very good PC that's far better than a 360. That includes a screen. Oh but you say, a 360 costs less than $1000? Well, PCs are used for more than just gaming and movies, and you don't pay money to play online." Only a $1000? Seriously, what kind of f****ing dreamland do you live in? A comp that plays games WELL is more than $2000.

  • gamer_girl15

    Posted Jul 12, 2007 12:44 pm PT

    I'm not shocked that they're going to the PC. Microsoft has really been selling the PC as a gaming platform lately.

  • combat1818

    Posted Jul 12, 2007 12:14 pm PT

    DIDNT FORGET just not bothered about UT3

  • SmoothCrimen

    Posted Jul 12, 2007 12:10 pm PT

    This is exactly the reason I love X360: many great games are available for PC in little time. And what we get is BIGGER--FASTER--STRONGER--BETTER----OOH AHH
    LOL, I loved this phrase.
    Hail to PC, the ultimate-universal game console forever!!!!!

    Hey, combat1818, you forgot UT3 after Crysis =)

  • combat1818

    Posted Jul 12, 2007 3:45 am PT

    YEAH I SEE THAT A FEW JEALOUS 360 FANBOYS HAVE EVEN GIVEN A THUMBS DOWN TO MY COMMENT ABOUT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE PCs POWER BY GIVING YOU MORE CONTROL OVER YOUR SQUAD MATE/MATES---HOW PATHETICALY SAD IT IS ,THAT THEY FEEL THE NEED TO PUNISH PC GAMERS IN THIS WAY===BUT NEVER MIND, COZ OUR VERSION OF GEARS IS STILL GONNA BE---BIGGER--STRONGER--FASTER--BETTER------OOH AHH

  • combat1818

    Posted Jul 12, 2007 3:38 am PT

    yes they are rather upset arent they---i can only asume this is the reason why perfectly ok comments are getting so many thumbs down--and the ones whinging and moaning about the extra content for 360 are getting thumbs up---well at least we will be able to tell them about the extra levels that they havent got--and then we have finnished this GOW game we can all go and play CRYSIS

  • giant11

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 9:39 pm PT

    Yo, combat1818! Don't worry, the modding scene will take care of all your chainsaw fetishes .

  • ryokinshin6x3

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 8:55 pm PT

    700 dollars canadian gets u a comp that can play crysis on high settings dx10 most please stop crying

  • chief_527

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 8:42 pm PT

    i do feel that is unfair the the pc version get more footage than the console release, hopefully thay will upload the content on xbox live

  • chief_527

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 8:35 pm PT

    hell yeah now there is even more people you can play online

  • combat1818

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 7:06 pm PT

    ah well it seems as though the console fanboys are complaining again and getting my comments deleted---well it seems as though a combination of the TRUTH & JEALOUSY, is all that is required to trigger such CHILD LIKE responses from them----I NEVER EXPECTED ANYTHING LESS-----PC = BIGGER--FASTER--STRONGER--BETTER----OOH AHH(al pacino-scent of a woman)

  • combat1818

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 5:52 pm PT

    i think us PC GAMERS should petition EPIC & CLIFFY B to make sure we get the full UNCENSORED CHAINSAW which MS wouldnt allow them to put in the 360 version, along with the EXTRA LEVELS & LEVEL EDITOR--I MEAN WE DESERVE IT AFTER STUPIDLY PAYING ALL THAT MONEY FOR OUR-----UBER RIGS------PC = BIGGER--FASTER--STRONGER--BETTER----OOH AHH(al pacino-scent of a woman)

  • lostn

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 3:57 pm PT

    [I think if Microsoft kept this game an exclusive to the 360, It would have definitely sold many more 360's.]

    Not really. It already sold millions on the 360. Everyone who wanted it for 360 would have already got it by now (it's already sold as much as it will on 360), so MS is making a smart move by releasing it on PC now. That way even more people can play it without sacrificing 360 hardware sales. The people who will buy this for PC are the kind who were never going to buy a 360 console anyway.

  • lostn

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 3:52 pm PT

    [Not everyone has an ubercomputer that can run BioShcok, Gears of War, and Viva Pinata, you know. That's what makes consoles so attractive; people don't have to worry about spending thousands of dollars on computer hardware just to make sure their games work.]

    These days a gaming PC is actually quite cheap. About $1000 will get you a very good PC that's far better than a 360. That includes a screen. Oh but you say, a 360 costs less than $1000? Well, PCs are used for more than just gaming and movies, and you don't pay money to play online.

    [go on microsoft just halo 3, bioshock and mass effect left until i ditch your console]

    The latter two are releasing simultaneously for PC. As is Assassin's Creed. Halo 3 I bet will release for PC also, in 2 years time. But it will be another sucky port anyway. Though the game itself is little more than a modified Halo 2.

  • TomokiHimi175

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 2:58 pm PT

    All-caps = fail.

    Not everyone has an ubercomputer that can run BioShcok, Gears of War, and Viva Pinata, you know. That's what makes consoles so attractive; people don't have to worry about spending thousands of dollars on computer hardware just to make sure their games work.

  • iuns

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 1:30 pm PT

    gears on the pc................... just me who feels stabbed in the back ?

    go on microsoft just halo 3, bioshock and mass effect left until i ditch your console

  • andrew_ribbons

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 1:27 pm PT

    Great 360 games coming to PC. But there's still Mass Effect and Halo 3 going for the 360!

  • UnrealPro

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 12:46 pm PT

    Two things you people probably haven't considered. The first would be that MS's goals are to make more money off of this new franchise ( Gears of War ) by putting it on the PC. Let's be honest, many PC gamers have heard of it and would want to buy and play it. Gears = $$$ for MS and Epic.

    Second, MS's other goal is to have yet another game with a large install base for its Games for Windows for cross platform play. That's right, they want to get more gamers to play TOGETHER. So is that really such a bad thing? Think about it, Epic will probably release the new PC maps and modes for download on Marketplace sometime as well. ( except for maybe the map editor.) They've done it before, so there's no real reason why they wouldn't do it again.

  • Drkr_Zen

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 12:21 pm PT

    I figured it wouldn't stay exclusive. If you just wait a bit, you can get all of the Xbox's greatest titles on PC. Definitely a good thing for one who wants to try out GoW, HALO 2 (3 later on, most likely) and Fable, among others.

  • 7thRonin

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 8:38 am PT

    yes gears pc, best gfx, best controls ahah

  • westsidejedi360

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 8:31 am PT

    Gears is gonna control like crap on the PC

  • xkilla96

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 8:29 am PT

    The next news we PC owners want to hear now is that MS want to send GTA4 to the PC with more stuff then the Xbox

  • The_Gamer81

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 8:27 am PT

    I personally think that this move by Microsoft is a bad one for 360 sales. GOW should have definitely stayed an xbox360 exclusive. I was seriously considering buying a 360 just for that game. Now, I would be stupid if I did. I am sure that a lot of people like me who own a PS3 are also feeling the same thing and probably others who don't own a PS3 as well just from reading the comments. I think if Microsoft kept this game an exclusive to the 360, It would have definitely sold many more 360's. I don't think there is any reason to buy one now specially when we, ps3 owners, are about to be hit by titles that will likely keep us busy for months or even years to come. September is a big month and November as well. I will definitely be buying this GOW. Can't wait.

  • comthitnuong

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 8:18 am PT

    Gears looks great for the PC.

  • combat1818

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 8:17 am PT

    although i do feel sorry for 360 owners----i can only imagine it is akin to buying a car----eg you go out and buy a brand new MITSU EVO( this being the 360 owner) only to find out a year later that your worse enemy has just bought a FERRARI ENZO( this being the pc owner) for half the price you paid for your evo-----THATS JUST SICK-----NAUGHTY EPIC---NAUGHTY CLIFFY B--NAUGHTY BILL GATES----NAUGHTY MICROSOFT----NAUGHTY DX10 ENABLED PCs---YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THE WAY YOU HAVE TREATED THE LONG STANDING 360 fans OF THIS GAME

  • combat1818

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 8:04 am PT

    maybe they will beef it up tactically..like the GRAW games..more control over your team...and just think aswell with the MOUSE AND KEYBOARD youll be able to get head shots ,with that bow gun thing every time..THERE WILL DEFFINATLEY BE LESS CENSORSHIP IN THE PC VERSION---HOPEFULLY WE WILL BE ABLE TO WATCH THE CHAINSAW DO WHAT CLIFFY B WASNT ALLOWED TO DO WITH IT IN THE 360 VERSION-----ROCK ON TOMMY----PC RULES-----OOH AHH

  • combat1818

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 7:55 am PT

    i hope the new content stays exclusive to pc

  • TheWii

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 7:55 am PT

    YES!! now i can buy a Wii and play gears of war !!!

  • jaanus147

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 7:54 am PT

    Can't wait to play Gears of War for the very first time

  • Dust24311

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 7:51 am PT

    VERY NICE. I'm going to buy these titles for sure!

  • -DaNuTz-

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 7:51 am PT

    ooo .... gears of war for pc, so i'm not going to buy x360 anymore

  • combat1818

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 7:48 am PT

    AHHHHHHH---AH AH AH AH AH AH AH--this is what i love about pc----BIGGER--STRONGER--FASTER---BETTER---SUCK IT AND SEE---360 OWNERS--hopefully it will be DX10 ,and will look stunning compared to the 360s great looking version---(great not being as good as stunning)

  • Pete5506

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 7:41 am PT

    Well I know I will be getting gears

  • JaMeS4418

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 7:34 am PT

    i'm excited about both games

  • r4v3gl0ry

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 7:30 am PT

    I knew this was coming. I knew it.

  • Dolacide

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 7:23 am PT

    I hope the new content gets release over live marketplace for us, 360 owners.

  • gokylessj

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 7:14 am PT

    M$ just won me a $50 bet with a fanboy friend of mine. He SWORE Gears could never come out for PC because it was "too advanced." Ha!

    And I WILL be buying this game!

  • Jerell_rast Site moderator

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 7:08 am PT

    WOOT!. I'll buy both games for my PC.

  • The_AI

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 7:04 am PT

    YES YES YES!!

    I want both of those games! Especially VP. I haven't had a tycoon-ish game to sink my teeth into in a long time.

    However, I still want a 360.

  • ShadowMstr121

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 7:02 am PT

    What great timing; I just sold my 360. Being strapped for cash means no consoles, but downloading PC games is just fine! Um, I mean paying to download them, of course.

  • dragonsama

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 6:55 am PT

    The Extra content for Gears had better show up as Downloadable content for the 360 version or someone at MS wil have to die.

  • DJSMITH007

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 6:54 am PT

    Wow, can't wait to get both of these games for my PC

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