Gears of War 3 is finally almost here, and in a little over a week, Gearsheads will load up their Lancers for the final chapter in the Gears of War trilogy. Many players who didn't ruin the game's story for themselves by watching the leaked videos of Gears of War 3 online are anxiously awaiting to see what fate awaits the members of Delta Squad.

After the main story has been completed however, the focus will then shift to Gears of War 3's online multiplayer component, and if the Gears 3 beta was any indication, then gamers everywhere are in for an absolute treat. Hardcore fans of the franchise may remember that in Gears of War 2 there were a couple of exclusive weapons that were highly sought after by many members in the community. The weapons are none other than the Golden Lancer and Golden Hammerburst — two skins which are otherwise unobtainable in-game.

Epic Games feels the pain of those who missed out on obtaining those gold-plated armaments, and have decided to take a path of righteousness and give fans a chance to obtain the long sought-after weapons. The process required to secure the fabled hardware is actually pretty easy for those who have already premeditated purchasing Gears of War 3 on the day of its launch.

According to the official press release, players simply have to:

"Play any match on Xbox LIVE from Sept. 20-26 to unlock the Golden Lancer and Golden Hammerburst multiplayer weapon skins."

That seems like a fairly simple task, and one that can easily be completed within the allotted amount of time. This promotion is the spawn of a partnership between Microsoft and the US Air Force. Officially titled 'Golden Wings Week', veterans and newbies alike can secure their golden Lancer and Hammerburst weapons by simply playing a single match in one of Gears of War 3's many online multiplayer modes.

Speaking as someone who completely missed the boat, and had the misfortune of watching himself get chainsawed repeatedly by a Golden Lancer, it's cool that Epic Games is finally offering gamers another chance to decorate their character with the latest in bling-covered firearms. There may never be another chance to secure these golden guns, so be sure that you log at least one online match in before September 26th — or be filled with regret for the majority of your life. The choice is up to you.

Follow me on Twitter @TheRileyLittle

Gears of War 3 emerges onto store shelves everywhere (with the exception of Japan) on September 20th exclusively on Xbox 360.