Taking another leaf out of the Bungie playbook, Epic will be releasing a store shelf purchasable package in late July containing all the so far available downloadable content plus a host of new material and an extension to the single player campaign.

This pack will be called the Gears of War 2: All Fronts Collection.

The complete package will contain the Combustible map pack, Snowblind map pack, the New Dark Corners map pack which contains seven (count 'em seven!) new maps, a new chapter for the single player campaign called Road to Ruin, a custom Xbox Live Theme (very likely the one given out with the Gold Lancer, but correct me if I'm wrong), a poster and a strategy book.

As for the Road to Ruin single player chapter, images attached show Marcus and Dom dressed as Theron guards so for us hardcore Gearheads it's not hard to work out what part of the game that's from. In case you skip cut scenes, there's a moment during the Gears 2 campaign when Marcus and Dom are about to fight their way to the palace and Marcus holds up a Theron Guard helmet and says "I have a plan that could get us in there undetected, but if you want to go in guns blazing I don't blame ya".

I thought for a moment we were going to be given a choice of being loud or being sneaky in the next part of the game and it seems Epic had this in mind as well. But for some reason or another took the sneaky option out. So it looks like Road to Ruin is that sneaky option put back in.

There's a bit of a bitter pill to swallow here for Gears fans though. Those who have all ready downloaded the Combustible and Snowblind packs can still download Dark Corners and Road to Ruin when they release, but they miss out on all the sweet goodies that come with the shelf copy. It certainly doesn't feel like a fair way to reward early adopters of the map packs. The pack is currently set at $20 in US dollars and booked in for a July 28 release, we're not sure yet if thats an international release date yet but given the content is going on sale on Live at the same time it seems likely.

Discuss the upcoming pack and plan your next horde session with some local Aussie players here at the forum.

For the information hungry, below are the full details of each of the seven new maps from Dark Corners, straight from Epic:

Allfathers Garden: Honor the sacred grounds of the Coalition founders in this explosive map, where powerful weapons catalyze fast and furious action at this COG landmark.

Memorial: Set near the Eternal Flame, which pays tribute to the fallen soldiers on the battlefield, a hard-fought battle ensues at the Tomb of Unknowns. Putting their flank formation and evasive skills to the test, players will fight to control the Boomshot.

Sanctuary: Once a peaceful ground for reflection and remembrance, all that remains of the Sanctuary is the chill of death. Feast your eyes on the arsenal of weapons available as you make your way through the tight paths and blind corners of the Locust-damaged temple corridors.

War Machine: In the abandoned train station that once served as a hub for travel, players will need to master the Longshot, Mulcher and Boomshot weapons to advance the fight while evading fire from the platforms above.

Highway: Take the fight deep into the Locust Hollow in the complex passages of this underground highway system brimming with enemy vermin. Stick together, separate the enemy and have an exit strategy ready or it’ll be a one-way trip.

Way Station:  Sitting in limbo between death and “processing” are Locust way stations filled with fallen COG soldiers. Tread lightly and practice patience as it’s better to sacrifice firepower for stealth while navigating this minefield of hidden grenades.

Nowhere: Set in the middle of what was once a destination for weary desert travellers, the land is now barren and devoid of life. Pick off your enemies with the Longshot sniper rifle and make your way to the stairwell with a well-fortified team during this intense firefight.