In an effort to make this the biggest Gears of War game yet, Epic Games is adding a "casual" multiplayer mode for newcomers to Gears of War 3.

The game's executive producer Rod Fergusson and design director Cliff Bleszinski broke the news during a raucous Comic-Con panel Thursday afternoon. For those who haven't played the previous games, "(Gears) Three is the perfect one to get into because it's the easiest to play," Fergusson said.

Since competitive multiplayer "can be daunting to some players," the team has created a casual multiplayer area for online competition. Players who have played Gears games online previously or participated in the Gears of War 3 multiplayer beta will not be able to access the casual mode, Fergusson said. (Your Xbox 360 will be able to tell if you have.)

"It's like reverse VIP," Bleszinski says.

Casual multiplayers will have aim assist as a feature, they said.

Fans cheered loudly when voice actors John DiMaggio (Marcus Fenix) and Lester Speight (Augustus Cole), who were sitting in the audience, were recognized. Also in attendance: OG Slick, who'll create graffiti to adorn the game world, and Old Spice pitchman Isaiah Mustafa, a new COG Gears voice. "We are in Old Spice for life," Bleszinski quipped.

After the end of the panel, Bleszinski led the crowd to the Hard Rock Hotel to see a custom Gears of War chopper created by American Chopper's Paul Teutul Jr. (Its creation will be shown on the Discovery Channel's American Chopper: Junior vs. Senior on Sept. 19 and Sept. 26.

Fans can register to win a second custom bike in Best Buy's Gears of War 3 sweepstakes; go to the contest home page for more information.