CallOfDuty3
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Call of Duty 4 to ditch World War II?
Amped news is reporting that an inside source has confirmed the existence of Call of Duty 4. What is more, the source claims that Call of Duty 4 will forgo the World War II setting in favor of more modern warfare. Many are speculating that Call of Duty will shift its focus to the Middle East, as EA did with its Battlefield series. This would seem to confirm a similar rumor reported by Joystiq way back in March.Development of the 4th installment of Call of Duty will be handed back to its original developer, Infinity Ward. Call of Duty 4 will also mark the series' return to the PC. According to the source, a deal has been made with Activision regarding future titles. Supposedly, Infinity Ward will now handle the development of all even numbered COD games, and Treyarch will develop all odd numbered COD titles. If true, this maneuver was probably executed to decrease the gap between sequels, though it will be interesting to note the future differences between Infinity Ward's and Treyarch's entries. Also worth noting, Call of Duty 4 is reported to have many technical improvements, including 16 critical points mapped to the head of each character. This allows for very detailed hit detection -- for example, shooting at the side of the head will tear off an ear or make a soldier's helmet spin. Finally, multiplayer is rumored to support 54 players.[Via Joystiq]
Activision's CoD3 and THP8 not hitting 720p
Someone call Activision and let 'em know that 720p means 1280x720, please. Games-Aktuell, a German gaming outlet, has discovered that Call of Duty 3 and Tony Hawk's Project 8 are not running at a 720p high-def resolution. When the tests were run, CoD3 was shown to be running at 1040x620 pixels and THP8 at 1040x584 pixels. The pixel drop reflects a resolution drop of 30% and 34%, respectively. The resolution drop could be assumed to help keep framerates up, but THP8 reportedly has framerate problems. So what's up? Activision Germany told Cynamite.de that they weren't aware of the problem and are looking into it. Lower resolution is not something that normally just happens by accident, but given the recent quality assurance problems with CoD3, these resolution problems may just be another woeful mistake. If intentional, why the resolution drop in THP8 when the 360 is clearly powerful enough to handle something like Gears of War just fine? We've included a machine-translated link of the original German post.
Call of Duty reality TV competition tonight
Imagine sixteen gamers getting tossed into a real-life deathmatch. It could happen -- but not tonight.Spike TV's Gamer Head series is airing its Call of Duty 3 promotional competition at 12:30 am ET/PT. It's unclear what the producers have cooked up to simulate the game's experience, but we're guessing the budget didn't include beach landings, mortar shells, and death, lots of death. Still, tossing these virtual wannabes into boot camp training should yield some puke and a pair of soiled drawers. And when has that failed to entertain?[Via The Last Boss]
Metareview - Call of Duty 3
Three. Three's an important number for a franchise. It's a crossroads. Does your game continue to mimic its predecessors? Or does it dare to venture beyond their scope? Call of Duty 3 follows the former path, with few surprises, still no co-op, and an apparently wonky multiplayer experience. But no series does WWII better -- and that counts for something.Peep the word: Game Chronicles (98/100) - "The action is unbelievably intense and the historical material is researched and presented in a way that borders on being educational ... Signing up and going off to war might not be for everybody, but playing this game will certainly make you respect those who did and those who still do." Game Informer (85/100) - "There's little to complain about outside of the lack of innovation. However, it pains me deeply to see this franchise, which has done so much to push the first-person shooter genre forward, moving down the dark path of mediocrity that Medal of Honor has been walking for the last several years." 1UP (65/100) - "Strengthened with vehicles and support for up to 24 players, the online multiplayer comes in strong enough to save face for the series, but that pales as compensation for the disappointing single-player game ... Even for those who wind up enjoying the online component, Call of Duty 3 will long since have been forgotten a year from now." Current overall average: 86/100 (13 reviews)
CoD2 vets have flashbacks in CoD3 multiplayer
It would appear Call of Duty fans are experiencing déjà vu. Back when Call of Duty 2 released for the Xbox 360, the game had serious multiplayer problems; problems that took four months to fix. To the dismay of gamers, Call of Duty 3 has its own set of online problems, despite being made by a different developer than CoD2. Buzz on the official Xbox.com message boards says that CoD3 players are unable to enter into ranked matches or (in some cases) any at all. Some players are unable to find any games, regardless of what skill level is entered into the system. Others join games and find themselves sitting in lobbies indefinitely. A different group find the multiplayer menu locking up on them. One theory suggests that anyone trying to join a ranked game ends up making a new lobby, which would result in thousands of one player online matches. Console games are supposed to be simple plug and play affairs. We might expect these Call of Duty 3 multiplayer issues in a PC version, not a 360 version. Because of unified hardware and online components, console games should always ship (mostly) bug-free. We hope Call of Duty 3 is an isolated affair, but after issues with Dead Rising and Saint's Row, are we beginning to see an ugly trend in console games? The release now, patch later method is unacceptable on the PC, even more so on a game console. [Thanks The Wallbanger]
Call of Duty 3 is cheaper on Eastern front
Those crafty cats at Play-Asia are at it again, this time with a deal on Call of Duty 3. The region free Asian version of the game can be had for a mere $48 if you utilize the cheapest shipping option. This is a concept we've perhaps covered to death, but let's go over it again: many games are released in Asia with absolutely no localization at all. That means that oftentimes Asia gets the exact same English game that the US and UK get (usually, even the manual is still English). Asian versions are often region free, so they can be played on any 360 on the planet. To top it all off, they are often heavily discounted. So there you go, a perfectly good copy of COD3 for $12 less. While you're at it, why not pick up F.E.A.R. too (once it's restocked)? Anybody else found any amazing deals?Past deals from Play-AsiaComplete list of region free 360 games[Via Joystiq]
Call of Duty 3 cheaper to import
Play-Asia's got Call of Duty 3 for $48 (includes shipping -- from Hong Kong). That retailer down the street? Oh, well, they've got it for $59.99. We think the choice is clear. Don't you?[Note: Call of Duty 3 is region-free.][Via 1UP]
Games shipping this week: ignorant edition
Let's see . . . games shipping this week . . . let's have a look. Hmmmm, we've got World Championship Poker: All In. Not bad, not bad. Let's see what else, Viva Piñata, ooh that's a pretty big one. And, oh, there's Call of Duty 3 and Project 8, those are huge games, too. We've got History Channel Civil War and Blitz: the League, those might be pretty good. Anything else? Let's see . . . nope. No, that's it, nothing else. Oh wait, there's another one here at the bottom. Um . . . Gears of . . . what is it, War? Is that it? Is that a game about Richard Gere? If it is, they spelled his name wrong.
Explode-a-rific Call Of Duty 3 trailer
GameTrailers has posted a new trailer for Call of Duty 3. It's just shy of 2 minutes long, but it's pretty intense all the same. There are plenty of tanks, planes, and explosions to make fans happy. If you can focus enough, you'll see many bits of new gameplay like vehicles, destructible environments, and the improved melee combat. See the trailer after the break.
Be Called to Duty on Nov. 10th
Call of Duty fans mark your calendars, Call of Duty 3 has been dated. CVG lists the 360 version for November 10th, well before any other version (the PS3 version is set for March 07). Curiously absent from Activision's announcement is the date for the Xbox version. CVG speculates that this could mean the Xbox version has been canceled. It seems doubtful, but COD2 is the 360's first million seller. Maybe Activision and Mircrosoft are hoping COD3 will drive sales of the 360. Regardless, 360 owners will be the first to play. We can't help but note that it's going to be impossible to sample all the 360 goodness this holiday. Gears of War, Phantasy Star, Splinter Cell, Viva Piñata, R6 Vegas, the list just keeps going. Who's planning on squeezing Call of Duty 3 in there?[Via Evil Avatar]
Call of Duty 3 to have Online Multiplayer, fo' sho'
Can't wait to get your hands on another version of the gritty, grim, grimy, greasy (?) battles of World War II? Didn't get enough of that insane FPS action in the last Call of Duty or Medal of Honor title? Even so... is the thrill of playing through, arguably, the same battles in a different lens not enough? How about some massive online multiplayer mayhem? Call of Duty 3 has been confirmed to give you just that upon the PS3's launch. Currently, the 24-player matches are running at an estimated 30 frames per second on the PS3, but that's not only 1) a rough estimate by simply seeing the game but also 2) not a finalized system. Still, 30 shouldn't be too bad, should it? Whatever. Commence the useless FPS/FPS flame war.
Joystiq hands-on: Call of Duty 3
Joystiq stormed the doors of Activision lately, and demanded access to the upcoming Call of Duty 3. We waged a vicious and hard-fought campaign against the ruthless receptionist who finally let us into the trenches to get some game on.Controversy strikes! Yes, the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii versions of the game are graphically different. Looking across the field of battle through the field glasses on the 360 looked crisp and sharp. Running through a forest full of hidden Germans looked photorealistic, even with falling leaves that you could zoom in on and see every close-up detail. Running through burned out buildings on the Wii looked ... GameCubish. We pressed the Treyarch to tell us which version they favored, but they resisted our interrogation. Something was amiss, and headquarters didn't want us to know about it. Loose lips sink ships and all that.
Tons of new X06 Marketplace content
Following today's press briefing, there is now a boatload of new trailers on Marketplace. They are, in no particular order:Assassin's CreedBlue DragonLost OdysseyHalo WarsViva PiñataCall of Duty 3Marvel UniverseBanjo-KazooiePGR4Splinter Cell: Double AgentBioshockFIFA 07All this and a bag of DOOM. We have to wonder, though: what the hell will we get next? They've got two more days to fill after all. Any predictions?
Massive Call of Duty 3 Wii video [update]
Finally, we've got something more visually stimulating than a screenshot to show on the game. With this long video, which is naturally embedded into the post after the break, you can get your Call of Duty 3 fix for a good 14 minutes. Highlights of the video include everything.So what are you waiting for? Continue into the post and check it out![Via Jeux-France][Update: Fixed link in the brackets to the Wii page; thanks b0bk!]
See Call of Duty 3 in motion
Of all the sites on all of the internets, Gamepro has somehow managed to snag the first real time footage of Call of Duty 3. Now, before you wet yourself with excitement -- it's okay, it happens to the best of us -- realize that this video is tiny. That, and you will likely have to sit through an advertisement in order to watch it. Still, there are some nice things going on for those who care to look. The depth of field effect when zooming in is very nice. Also noticeable is seeing the muzzle flash from your gun reflect on the gun itself. I've always found war games to be sort of "samey," but COD3 has definitely got the look. No Coke ads in there, though.[Via Evil Avatar]
The Automator lays it down for NBA 2K7
Amidst all the noise about Call of Duty 3 -- sweet graphics, new player actions, yada, yada, yada -- and NBA 2K7 -- individual jump shot animations for every NBA player, blah, blah, blah -- we almost missed the biggest news in the latest episode of Gamertag Radio. That's right, Dan the Automator is producing the soundtrack for NBA 2K7. Appropriately titled, Dan the Automator presents: 2K7, you can be sure the soundtrack will be very nice. Most people would recognize Dan's work from the first Gorillaz album. And just in case super slick producers don't tickle your fancy like they do ours, the podcast contains some nice tidbits about both Call of Duty 3 and NBA 2K7. So, go check it out.
The Xbox 360 summer showcase
Over the past couple of days here in New York City, Microsoft has been in town playing host to a few NYC game journos, giving us the opportunity to test drive all the latest titles you'll be seeing soon and even some peripherals, like the Xbox 360 camera.The games I'll talk about are Gears of War, The World Series of Poker: Tournament of Champions, Dead Rising, Call of Duty 3, NBA 2K7, WWE: Smackdown vs. Raw, and Tony Hawk's Project 8. Check out my impressions after the break.
Activision slip-up points to October Wii release
Informants come in many shapes, sizes and trenchcoats, but those who approach us under a veil of secrecy and threaten to bend our limbs in unnatural ways should we reveal their identities are usually the best ones. Claiming to work for an independent video game site on a distant continent, our latest informant (we'll call him Mr. Informant Fronzel Neekburm) lends even more weight to the ongoing theory that the Nintendo Wii launches in October. At this point, said theory could probably kill a passerby if dropped from a balcony.Fronzel explains that his outlet received a detailed release schedule from Activision, one that listed Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam with an October release, followed by Marvel: Ultimate Alliance and Call of Duty 3 in November. Shortly afterwards, a hasty re-issue dropped in his inbox, with the only alteration being to the Wii release dates -- they'd been replaced with a more vague "Upon Wii launch." Had Mr. Neekburm just witnessed Activision in a drunken stumble, grabbing and pulling back a velvet curtain in an attempt to avoid an unpleasant impact with the floor?Both documents were forwarded to us and we were able to ascertain that the last person to modify the second document is part of Activision's international media relations team. The presence of LucasArts titles on the list had us puzzled for a bit, but it turns out that Activision publishes George's games in certain territories. The last question in need of an answer, of course, is "would Activision already know the launch date?" Considering that they're working on a highly publicized launch title, we're going to go with "yes."Admittedly, that part is pure speculation. Activision may have just been eradicating a date they pulled from the ether, for fear of people getting the wrong idea and writing deeply entertaining, mercilessly captivating blog posts about it. We'll let you know if we hear anything else.Note: In the picture above, we edited the spreadsheet a bit in order to highlight the relevant information. [Thanks, uh, Fronzel!]
COD3 gets a date and new screens
Now that we know when the 360 version of Call of Duty will be released --and that it will be identical to the PS3 version, snicker, snicker -- why not celebrate with some new screens? If screens don't do it for you, how about a movie (or two, or three)? War may be hell, but it sure sells a lot of video games. [Thanks, Matt T.]
360 games top the rental charts
Gamasutra has posted the 10 most requested games from Gamefly this week, and the list leans heavily toward our favorite curvy, white box. A full five of the top spots are occupied by 360 exclusives (six if you count the 360 version of BFMEII). Xboxic has gone to the trouble of making a numbered list, which I will politely steal utilize: Chromehounds (360 exclusive) Prey (360/PC) Over G Fighters (360 exclusive) LotR: Battle for Middle Earth 2 (360 version) Dead Rising (360 exclusive) NCAA Football 2007 (multi) Hitman: Blood Money (multi) Naruto: Ultimate Ninja (PS2) Gears of War (360 exclusive) Call of Duty 3 (PC/next-gen) Look at that list for a second. Notice anything? That's right, four 360 exclusives that haven't even been released -- Chromehounds, Prey, Dead Rising, and Gears of War -- are in the top 10. That means these games are more requested than games people could actually be playing right now. Crazy, no?
