More information on Call of Duty: Black Ops multiplayer mode has emerged, as it has now been revealed that the game will introduce its own currency system, based on COD Points, designed to allow a non linear progression through the Perk tree.
COD Points are not the same as Experience Points, as seen in its predecessor Modern Warfare 2. Unlike Experience Points, every gamer can use them as they like, without worrying about levels and the time needed to go up the ranks. Every Perk, every Killstreak, every weapon and skin is on sale and available for purchase using the COD Point System. There's even a game mode built around COD Points, called Wager Match, where each player bets a certain amount to enter the game and the top three each get a share of the pot.
The intent of the new Point System is to avoid already experienced players from having exclusive access to the games best weapons, as was often a point of contention in Modern Warfare 2. Whether this will turn out to be true, we shall wait and see.
Like past Call of Duty titles, Treyarch is letting everyone know that its upcoming title intends to capture the full brutality of war and isn't afraid to do so. While there may not be any "Russian level", a scene in Modern Warfare 2 which sparked widespread controversy as players took the role terrorists assigned to mercilessly gun down unarmed civilians, Treyarch's Josh Olin said that it was immersion, rather than controversy, that the studio was aiming for.
In a statement, the developers reminded everyone that Black Ops was a mature game intended for adults, and it wasn't going to shy away from the realities of war, but that nothing that Treyarch did with the game would be gratuitous. He said that the game would get under people's skin and make them feel "angry or righteous or sad," but that it would always be in service of the story, and to make the experience more compelling for the player - not to get on the front page of newspapers.
Only time will tell whether that ambition turns out to be true.
Prepare for plenty of custom content to be accompanying the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops, as the games developer, Treyarch, has confirmed today that the game will be opened up to modding. Though details on exactly what modding tools will be made available remains unclear, developers are planning to focus on the tools after the initial game's release.
"There are some purely technical issues related to engine and internal tool enhancements that do not easily fit the modtools paradigm," pcdev wrote. "We have looked at it close enough to see that it is non-trivial and we will have to pick it up again post-launch. Right now we are completely focused on finishing the game. And, dev console: confirmed."
Call of Duty: Black Ops has proven to be a strong seller over the past few weeks, with pre-orders for the Prestige Edition have made the Amazon top 20 sales list for both the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles. The Xbox 360 version has done slightly better, ranked No. 8 in Amazon’s Video Games division, while the PS3 version snagged the No. 16 spot for the same period.
Driving sales might be a $20 Video Games Credit being offered to gamers who pre-order from Amazon. For more information on the special or to pre-order your copy, head on over to Amazon Website.
It was almost ironic in a way: Treyarch included the "Nazi Zombies" mode in Call of Duty: World at War as a fun little bonus feature after you beat the game, and it quickly became one of the game's most popular multiplayer features. While the zombies were absent from Modern Warfare 2, Treyarch's return to the series with this year's Black Ops meant that people were wondering: Will the zombies return?
First the zombies were rumored, then they were hinted at, and now they're confirmed. Sort of.
According to Best Buy, the Hardened Edition of Black Ops (and presumably the Prestige Edition as well) will contain a "Four Zombie Maps Pack made famous from COD: World at War."
Given that it would seem very strange for the collector's edition to contain an entire gameplay mode that the regular version lacked, I think we can safely assume that Black Ops will likely feature all-new zombie maps as a general rule of thumb. Given the subject matter this time around, they're likely to be Commie Zombies instead of Nazi Zombies, but the principle is the same. The map pack in the Hardened edition just lets those who shell out a few more bucks kill zombies classic-style.
Despite Activision repeatedly assuring gamers that they will not be charging to participate in Call of Duty: Black Ops online multiplayer game play, several sources are reporting that a premium multiplayer component will be offered alongside the standard free online multiplayer mode.
Although details of the premium service are not expected to be announced until next month when Activision releases a full reveal trailer on September 1st, an unidentified source at Activision has reportedly revealed that those who pay for the premium service will have early access to map packs,exclusive maps, equipment and early access to the beta for the next CoD game. Obviously no price has been confirmed, but the optional monthly subscription is expected to be priced $15 or less.
Expect to hear plenty more on this in the coming weeks.
Although Activision has already confirmed that they will be offering three different editions of Call of Duty: Black Ops come this November, we are now getting our first look at what collectible items will be included each in the respective game packs on release day.
The basic standard edition will include the game and basic strategy guide, while The Hardened Edition will also net you a “Black Ops limited edition medal”, an avatar outfit, and four playable cooperative maps. The Prestige Edition, which includes the Hardened Edition, will also include a “fully-functioning remote camera that transmits both TFT color video and audio to its operator”.
No prices for the packs have been confirmed, but all three editions will be available on PS3 and 360 when Call of Duty: Black Ops opens worldwide on November 9th, 2010.
It appears that despite the recent bad press, the Call of Duty franchise is still alive and well as SledgeHammer Games has confirmed it is currently developing Call of Duty 8. Although details on the new title were scarce, the SledgeHammer Website confirms that progress on Call of Duty 8 is well under way, and Glen Schofield, co-founder of Sledge Hammer, announced on his twitter that the storyline is being developed based on real experiences from soldiers int he field:
"Working w/ military guys- their stories will blow you away. Names/locations will change but some situations going in the game- real stuff!""
Modern Warfare fans should hold their excitement for now though, as rumors are suggesting that Call of Duty 8 is going back to the World War II battlefield - with Sledgehammer describing the game as an 'adventure FPS' spin-off from the CoD series.
Stay tuned for more details soon, and in the meantime lets not completely forget about Call of Duty: Black Ops shall we?
Activision's Worldwide Studios boss is "100 per cent confident" that Modern Warfare developer Infinity Ward will "rise from the ashes" - but warns that the publisher must be careful in looking to rebuild the shaken outfit. Dave Stohl told Develop that the company is "supporting Infinity Ward in that rebuilding process, [but] I use the term 'support' because as much as possible we don't want to tamper with that group of people." He explained that simply throwing new staff at the studio would be dangerous for its culture and identity - something which has been thrown into disarray over the last five months. "We want Infinity Ward to be Infinity Ward," said Stohl. "It's a very specific culture". Activision has reportedly received over 5,000 job applications for Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer, but Stohl said that some lead vacancies are being filled through internal promotion. Said Stohl: "Recruiting for Infinity Ward - I mean we have had ... well, let's just say recruiting is not a problem! "There's a tonne of talented people at the studio, and yes some on the inside are stepping up their game internally and becoming more senior." Since March, around a third of Infinity Ward staff walked out of the studio, following the dismissal of - and subsequent legal row with - two of the group's most senior staff. "I'm not going to sit here and say no good talent left the studio, because obviously a lot of good talent did," Stohl said. "But a lot of people who are really passionate about their job are still there." "I'm one hundred per cent confident that the studio will come back to what it was, especially considering all the talent we're seeing rising through and also being recruited. "There's a development philosophy that remains intact, and the studio is attracting amazing new talent. Ultimately, Infinity Ward will rise from the ashes."
Whether or not "Call of Duty: Black Ops" outsells "Modern Warfare 2," Activision knows that they have one of the strongest brands in gaming, and after a turbulent few months behind the scenes, they reiterated to investors that CoD games will be a priority going forward, as evidenced by their increased spending on the "Black Ops" launch. In fact, they characterized the investment as part of their long-term strategy to redouble attention to their franchise and not just to sell more copies of Treyarch's new release.
"This [is,] across the board, the biggest investment that we've ever made in a launch of a title," Activision CEO Bobby Kotick told his company's investors Thursday, according to an Edge report. "And I think when audiences see the product, they'll see why we're doing it this way."
Kotick cited "market opportunity," a swelled "installed base of hardware" and CoD's "broad appeal" among the conditions justifying Activision's marketing cash injection.
"Looking ahead, the Call Of Duty brand represents one of our largest long-term opportunities as the brand is one of the largest entertainment properties and is well-aligned with the fastest growing entertainment sectors, including online gaming," Activision chief financial officer Thomas Tippl explained. "These factors give us the confidence to redouble our investment in the brand, which should offer more opportunities for organic long-term growth than ever before."
Keeping gamers' attention on the games themselves and away from the office politics and human resource migrations that made headlines after the "MW2" launch has be on their minds as well. A lot of consumers and investors alike are going to be interested to see where the CoD goes post-"Black Ops."
Activision today has announced that it has now sold over 20 million map packs in the Call of Duty series. The figure includes map packs debuting as far back as Call of Duty 3, as well as the most recent Resurgence Pack for Modern Warfare 2.
Despite some rather harsh negative feedback from the gaming community concerning the price and content of the Resurgence Pack, this announcement confirms that players are none the less shelling out the $15 bucks to get their hands on the new map pack. And MW2 has stayed on top of the Xbox LIVE and PSN charts almost every single week since its release back in November of 2009.
Despite Activision flat out denying this week that it will be charging players to play the online multiplayer mode of Call of Duty: Black Ops, Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter insists he still believes they will announce a subscription service plan by the year's end for the title.
"Activision could grow earnings meaningfully by monetizing Modern Warfare 2 online multiplayer," says Pachter. "We estimate that the number of hours spent playing MW2 online is roughly 4 billion combined on Xbox Live and PSN, suggesting a large revenue opportunity. We expect the company to announce plans to monetize online multiplayer content in MW, Black Ops, StarCraft II and other games before year-end."
Patcher's theory follows another analyst, Janco Partners' Mike Hickey, announcement earlier this week that Activision could soon try out a subscription model for Modern Warfare in China -- and in so doing, create $50-$100 million in first-year sales for Chinese online partner Netease.
Despite the analyst's predictions, Acivisions' CEO Bobby Kotick has been quick to play down any pay-to-play rumors, especially regarding the upcoming Black Ops title. Treyarch, the developer of Black Ops, even went as far as posting on his Twitter: “No, you will not have to 'Pay to Play' Call of Duty: Black Ops multiplayer either. Rumor -> Squashed.” We will just have to wait and see whether or not Activision stays true to its word, or does in fact explore subscription options in other markets or upcoming titles.
