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Activision: Call of Duty 4 was best-selling game of 2007
Much like the dim-witted kid you constantly taunted in kindergarten, Activision is having extraordinary difficulty making it past the number "1." Constantly cited in press releases, it appears uno is the only number the publisher cares to count on: #1 US publisher in 2007; a $1 billion dollar franchise in Guitar Hero; and #1 game in last week's Xbox Live Activity. Perhaps you too would be laughing all the way to the bank if you weren't such a mean-spirited brat in your early years.Activision's latest claim to #1 fame is based on sales figures obtained from The NPD Group, Chart Track and The GFK Group, which label Infinity Ward's critically acclaimed Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare as the best-selling game for 2007. The frantic first-person shooter is said to have sold in excess of 7 million units worldwide, a particularly impressive victory considering the game's relatively recent November release. Of course, those keen on the shooting of the aliens will recall that Microsoft claimed an 8.1 million sales 'splosion for Halo 3 earlier this month, bringing the title of "Best-selling Game of 2007 OMG" title into minor dispute. We've contacted both boasters to clarify the figures ... just so we can be sure to stick the air pump into the right ego. Regardless, you'd best take this as a sign to start counting down the months until the inevitable Call of Duty 5 arrives. Let's just hope it's not a #2.
Call of Duty 4 for $40, get to it soldier
Want some sweet, sweet Call of Duty 4 for less? Head on over to Amazon then, because the game is currently being offered for a measly $40. Yes, for the cost of dinner at a sit-down restaurant (for two, natch), you can enjoy some of the best military action available. With such a hot game at such a low price, it's likely that it could sell out, so you'd best get to it quick. Seriously, why are you still reading this? Go buy it already![Thanks, Supafreak]
Rumor: Call of Duty 5 to be set during World War II
Treyarch, the development team behind Spider-Man 3 and Call of Duty 3, recently put up a job listing for a Call of Duty level designer, presumably for the fifth game in the series (which Treyarch is reportedly working on). However, a bit of text in the listing may reveal the direction which Treyarch is taking Call of Duty 5 -- and from the looks of things, that direction is backwards.The listing says that applicants would be well-served by being "a fan of World War II shooters," causing some to believe that the game will take place during the WWII era. We've seen less logical rumors come through the mill, but we still can't help but scoff at this gossip. Who would want to play a game based on WWII? What's a war game without AC-130 gunships and guided anti-tank missiles? We'll tell you - it's boring. We'll take futuristic weaponry over rich cultural heritage any day of the week.[Via Voodoo Extreme]
Big surprise: Guitar Hero 4, Call of Duty 5, and Tony Hawk 11 confirmed
Activision's biggest pre-merger franchises are all (GASP!) getting sequel treatment. In a fact sheet concerning the Activision Blizzard deal (PDF file), the publisher lists Guitar Hero 4, Call of Duty 5, a new Tony Hawk title (which would be its 11th iteration), a James Bond game and a racing title with the recently-acquired Bizarre Creations, as well as licensed titles with Dreamworks and Marvel.None of these sequels come as a surprise, as they are all critical and commercial successes, but this is the first official confirmation of their existence. According to Activision Blizzard's earlier conference call, 50% of Activision's revenues are derived from franchises it owns outright, including Guitar Hero and Call of Duty. It should be noted that as well that all three franchises also have competition from rival Electronic Arts in the form of Rock Band, Medal of Honor and Skate. No word on project release dates for any of the sequels.Read - Fact sheet [Warning: PDF file]
Call of Duty 4 not HD: only 600p, claim pixel counters [update]
The pixel counters strike again! Having already conquered Halo 3 by proving the flagship shooter was 80 pixels below HD (defined here as at least 1280x720), the Beyond 3D forum members are now claiming Call of Duty 4 is only 600p (1024x600 resolution = 614,400 pixels) for both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions - that's 120 pixels 307,200 pixels that have gone AWOL.The Beyond 3D posters have proven their dedication to pixel counting before with Halo 3, but since we haven't counted ourselves or seen the visual proof prevalent during Halo-gate, we're welcome to be proven wrong. Update: The tryptophan is starting to affect our ability to calculate. The difference between 600p and 720p (1280x720 = 921,600) is 307,200 pixels - which happens to be the exact number of pixels contained within 640x480 resolution.[Via X3F]
Infinity Ward reaches out to EA Chicago devs
After publishing giant EA shut down its EA Chicago studio amidst profitability concerns, many employees found themselves burdened with the unenviable task of seeking employment elsewhere. 1UP points out that Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare developer Infinity Ward may just suffice as a potential "elsewhere." Over the weekend, a helping hand was extended through the World War Now shooter's "Message of the Day" screen: "EA Chicago: Infinity Ward is hiring. jobs@infinityward.com."
Infinity Ward addressing Call of Duty 4 PS3 matchmaking issues
Spare a thought for Infinity Ward's Call of Duty 4 server team, which has been tweaking PlayStation 3 server performance all weekend -- and we're fairly sure that's just as exciting as it sounds. The developer's world-famous community relations manager, Mr. "fourzerotwo" has posted an update on the Infinity Ward forums regarding some stability issues encountered by the incoming glut of players. "The server team has been working on this all weekend, and will be working through the night," it reads. "They're upgrading all server hardware as well as dedicated an individual database to each functionality to improve performance and handle the traffic hitting the servers. (i.e. Database for Matchmaking, Database for Leaderboards, etc.)."The end result should be better speed and stability -- at least when it comes to matchmaking. They can't help you if you're still dropping grenades on your toes.
Call of Duty 4 servers get hammered
Many have experienced issues playing Call of Duty 4 on PS3. Why? Infinity Ward is reporting that the PS3 online multiplayer is being "slammed" by the incredible demand for the game. In a statement to CVG: "The only real issue is that the servers we're getting hit really hard, especially with the launch in Europe doubling that traffic, just something that requires optimising on the server side and we've been working with the PSN COD4 Server team from the moment it started having issues assisting any way we can to help them get them up to speed faster."The issue is with the servers, and won't require a patch to the game. The game, which has completely destroyed this blogger's weekend, is an absolute thrill ride that any PS3 owner should experience.
Call of Duty 4 suffering sellout syndrome
Don't be fooled by the headline: Activision's military shooter is not (necessarily) compromising its integrity and principles in exchange for money. Call of Duty 4 is seeing "extremely high demand" and subsequently inadquate supply.According to Nollenberger Capital Partners analyst Todd Greenwald (via GameDaily), "we've checked with a wide range of retailers (Gamestop, Wal-Mart, Target), and only pre-orders are being satisfied-stores are otherwise sold out of the title." The publisher's other recent major release, Guitar Hero 3, is also in the midst of selling out. The news does sound good for Activision, but just think about how much more money they could make off of downloadable content if they manage to meet consumer demand.
PSN Thursday: (Motor)storming through Uncharted territories
You've heard us talking about Uncharted: Drake's Fortune before, both in positive and less-than-positive lights. Now you'll get to decide for yourself. As planned, the demo for this PlayStation 3-exclusive title is heading to the PS Network today, along with a demo of College Hoops 2K8.Additionally, Sony is giving Motorstorm fanatics some more content. The Devil's Weekend add-on ($5.99) includes a new track (Devil's Crossing), five new vehicles with three styles apiece, and The Devil's Weekend festival with nine new races. For Guitar Hero III, the Foo Fighters and Velvet Revolver packs that were previously announced for Xbox Live will also be available on the PS3 for $6.25 apiece. An assortment of game videos and movie trailers, a new wallpaper featuring Call of Duty 4 is available for free, as well as three new themes (Classy Pink, Pixel and Nature) to spice up your new firmware update. More details after the break.Update: Sony notes on the PlayStation blog that the Uncharted demo will only work on American PS3 systems due to a bug. The demo is still undergoing localization and will see official release in other territories at a later date. [Via PS3 Fanboy]
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare deploys on Steam Nov. 12
If you're not keen to engage in the sort of modern warfare that comes from navigating shopping aisles during the holiday months, you now have the option of downloading Infinity Ward's latest thrill-a-minute first-person shooter, Call of Duty 4, from Steam. It amounts to roughly 360 thrills, excluding any thrills experienced during hectic multiplayer shootouts!Modern Warfare is already available for pre-purchase at $49.95 before its digitally distributed November 12 launch.
Revolutionary: Answering the Call
Every Tuesday, Mike Sylvester brings you REVOLUTIONARY, a look at the wide world of Wii possibilities. Metroid Prime 3 has proven indeed that a Wii Remote and Nunchuk is the next best thing to a keyboard and mouse for first person shooting and action. Although we have few FPS titles being developed and released on the Wii (relative to party games and family-friendly content, or the main attraction of a certain other platform), the genre is among the most popular in the scripting community. This is naturally so with FPS being a favored genre among hardcore PC gamers and hardware enthusiasts. With the recent release of the demo version of Call of Duty 4 and its imminent final release, I felt it was time to pick up arms and serve you a script for this spectacular shooter.
Joystiq hands-on: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (DS)
The PC-and-console version of Call of Duty 4 rocks as much as expected. But at a recent hands-on session, the DS take also impressed. The 3D graphics look surprisingly good; after a few minutes of settling in, I stopped scrutinizing textures and focused on the gameplay. And that gameplay carries the title.COD4 switches between FPS sequences, helicopter-gunner modes, bomb-disarming moments, and AC-130 gunship sections. The DS version feels full of care and craft, from thought put into controls, to the segmented sessions that play well on a handheld.%Gallery-8364%
Joystiq hands-on: Call of Duty 4 single-player (360, PC, PS3)
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, literally rocks with action. In an early stage, a freight ship that you siege pitches and rolls, like a giant movie set-piece. While playing a close-to-shipping version of the title, I felt like the action game used these special-effect focal points to drive its frenzied pace and huge scope.Because of the "modern" setting, I had assumed I'd be plodding slowly with a squad of soldiers, tactically (and tactfully) knocking on doors to root out bad guys. And while there are sometimes AI-teammate elements, I never felt like I had to slow down and proceed with caution. Instead, I often had to speed up and dive for cover; depending on the situation, snipers, RPGs, and essentially armies of enemies are firing at you at the same time.%Gallery-3922%
Headline = Call of Duty 4 + Collector's Edition - PS3
In what has become a fairly formulaic move for high-profile titles, Activision has announced that Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare will deploy on November 5th in both standard and suspiciously shiny collector's editions -- at least it will on the Xbox 360 and PC. Curiously, the PlayStation 3 has been snubbed from the proceedings, left in the cold with just one of this year's most anticipated games. Is Activision trying to say Sony's system doesn't have enough... collectors? Should you own one of the more fortunate platforms, parting with an extra ten dollars will net you a hardcover art book, which we're told features never-before-seen concept, development and final in-game artwork. In addition, the PC version ($60) will provide access to a digital strategy guide while the Xbox 360 package ($70) will house a bonus DVD filled with interviews and other making-of mutterings. Expect those to mention the word "visceral" a lot.%Gallery-7382%
Joystiq hands-on: Call of Duty 4 multiplayer
We've already had a first look at Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, and we've seen the multiplayer video that was pre-alpha, but this was the first chance for us to snatch up the controller and get our hands dirty in the actual game. Sure, it's a beta build, but the first thing we can say is yes ... it does look that good.The second thing we can say is yes ... it does look that good, and then some. Activision had an event at a trendy bar / club in Los Angeles yesterday, and we were among one of the first groups to get our game on outside of Infinity Ward. Despite some major router issues on their end that delayed things by a couple of hours, the game still managed to blow us away thoroughly.%Gallery-3922%
COD4: Modern Warfare demoed & beta announced
Infinity Ward's Jason West demoed Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, showing off the game's visceral visuals and gameplay. The mission seen takes place 15 years prior to the present in the game, with you and your sniping partner infilitrating a base. The graphics are crisp, and the lighting, explosions and smoke look especially realistic. The trailer has some intense firefights and some heavy duty missile blasts.To show that all good things come in threes, Infinity Ward announced an Xbox Live exclusive Public Beta and gave a URL to watch for developing info. This looks to set new standards in contemporary combat games.
Today's most pre-alpha video: Call of Duty 4 multiplayer
While not as visually or aesthetically appealing as the Children of Men-esque landscape in a previous trailer, this footage from Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare multiplayer match gives a feeling for how their designing death match, as all we see in thirty seconds is our perspective shooter running in with a rifle, switching to pistol and getting shot. Thrilling.The game is still in pre-alpha but already looking pretty. You know the drill: video embedded after the break.
Call of Duty 4 footage shows bleak cityscape
Over at Game Videos there is some new footage from a very early, pre-alpha build of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. The scene, entitled "Bog Rescue," takes place in a desolate, urban environment that reminds us of the backdrop for the last one-third of the film Children of Men. Much of the combat takes place through night vision goggles, and a visible laser shoots out from your gun to the turret -- when you see a wall of laser sights shoot out from flanking buildings, you get a feel for the atmosphere developers Infinity Ward are going for. Video embedded above.
New Call of Duty 4 trailer astounds in a non-WWII kind of way
We have to admit we weren't really excited at the last Call of Duty reiteration, Call of Duty 3. A fine game, to be sure, but we couldn't overcome the been-there done-that feeling. Then the announcement and subsequent first peek at Call of Duty 4 in action, which did more than generate a frenzy of renewed interest. We had long since grown tired of WWII shooters and now, the leader of WWII shooters was going all modern. We took a peek at the latest trailer and literally, were blown away. The lighting on your fellow solders, the smoke entrails from heat-seeking rockets, the spinning and exploding helicopter: jack the sound up as you watch and you may find yourself sharing similar "OMFG" sentiments. Call of Duty 4 is reported to be on track for an Xbox 360, PS3 and PC release, sometime this fall and it's definitely on our "must buy" list now. How about yours?
