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Beat and shoot-em-up in former Titanfall, God of War devs' To The Death
Indie developers Scary Mostro and Section Studios launched their Kickstarter campaign for To The Death today. The game combines beat-em-up and arcade shooter elements together, as players control one of two warriors that are dashing towards one another, hacking away at everything in their path. As To The Death's story goes, the warriors killed each other and are now stuck in The Crawl, a purgatory-like world between life and death. The two studios are led by developers with a deep history in the industry, with To The Death's game design and engineering coming from Scary Mostro's Todd Alderman and Francesco Gigliotti. Both Alderman and Gigliotti are credited as lead designer and engineer respectively at Infinity Ward on the Call of Duty series, and later worked on Titanfall for Respawn Entertainment. Likewise, To The Death's art direction comes from Section Studios Creative Director Cecil Kim, visual development lead for God of War 3. To The Death is in development for PC, Mac and Linux with early access tentatively planned for August. Scary Mostro and Section Studios are seeking $400,000 by February 19 to fund its development.
Call of Duty: Ghosts update improves Xbox 360 Broadcaster stability
Players who have suffered a game crash bug while broadcasting in Call of Duty: Ghosts on Xbox 360 should find the game is now more amenable after a new update. Broadcaster mode is Infinity Ward's take on the CODCast mode found in Treyarch's Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, allowing players to set up private matches and offer dynamic viewing angles for better spectating and shoutcasting. In addition to resolving the game crash bug in Broadcaster mode, this update adds a kill feed display to Broadcaster mode, restricts certain perks while playing in competitive matches and disables the third-person spectator camera in private matches.
Call of Duty: Ghosts launches an Onslaught of screens
Call of Duty has come a long way since its WW2 days. Michael Myers? Giant spider things? The Onslaught DLC for Ghosts is a bit different from the CoD of seven years back. Infinity Ward spilled the beans on the game's first DLC this week: Onslaught features four new maps, a new weapon in the form of the Maverick dual-purpose assault-rifle/sniper-rifle, and the first chapter of a four-part Extinction campaign. The screenshot with the creepy trailer and campfire comes from the Fog map, and if you complete a certain field order in Fog, you get to become Michael Myers. What that means is you don the mask and axe, and other players (with sense) run away from you, all while the Halloween music plays. Sounds neat to us. Onslaught hasn't got a long way to go before it hits Xbox One and Xbox 360 marketplaces on January 28 - no news yet on an ETA for other platforms.
Call of Duty: Ghosts update adds new 'Heavy Duty' mode
Call of Duty: Ghosts has issued a new update across all platforms. The update, which adds a new Heavy Duty game mode, is available right now on Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS4, PS3 and PC. Heavy Duty is a new multiplayer playlist where each soldier spawns with additional health. On top of the new mode, this update adds additional weapon loadout options for Infected mode and your Squad will now earn extra squad points during their first five levels of progression. This update also invalidates an invisibility exploit that was plaguing the Call of Duty: Ghosts online experience as well as instances where players could trigger unlimited perks when playing. There are also a multitude of platform-specific fixes addressed in this update, all of which you can read about in the full update notes over on the Call of Duty forums.
Call of Duty: Ghosts scares off Lego Marvel Super Heroes in UK charts
Even the combined power of Lego Marvel Super Heroes failed to bust Ghosts, after the latest Call of Duty made it two weeks in a row as the UK's best-seller. Activision released the Xbox One version of Ghosts ahead of the console's launch this week, and it reached 10th in the individual formats charts. Combined with the already charting PS4 version, that's a lot of Brits already ready for some next-gen CoD. While Lego Marvel Super Heroes couldn't soar right to the top, Chart Track says its first week performance is the second best for a Lego game ever. The Lego game that bettered it? Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures. There are two other debutantes in the UK top 40, with PS3 platformer Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus coming in 21st and standalone expansion XCOM: Enemy Unknown a little lower in 25th. Otherwise, as far as the UK charts is concerned it's the calm before the storm. The Xbox One kicks off the next-gen pandemonium on November 22, then the following week it's the PlayStation 4 on November 29.
Day-one patch bumps CoD: Ghosts campaign to 1080p on PS4
Retail copies of Call of Duty: Ghosts will require a patch on PlayStation 4 in order to fix resolution problems that stem from a "configuration issue" in the game's single player campaign. Players that dive into the game's single-player missions without the update would encounter a campaign mode that is upscaled from 720p as opposed to the game's expected 1080p resolution. "Call of Duty: Ghosts runs natively at 1080p on the PlayStation 4. There was a configuration issue in the retail version on single player mode only," Activision told Joystiq in a statement. "This has been addressed with a day one software update. People will be able to download the day one update when PlayStation 4 launches in their territory and play at native 1080p." Infinity Ward Executive Producer Mark Rubin said in late October that the game runs at a native resolution of 1080p (1920x1080) on PS4 and that the developer "optimized each console to hit 60 FPS and the game looks great on both."
Call of Duty: Ghosts tops this week's UK charts
There are no frights in the UK's Halloween charts, where Call of Duty: Ghosts is of course the new number one. That said, there is one surprising presence in its retail showing: Behind a 62 percent share of the sales on Xbox 360 and 34 percent on PS3, the PS4 comes in as the game's third best-selling platform at 3 percent - beating the Wii U. Activision released the game's PS4 version ahead of the console's UK launch on November 29, and you'd have to say it's performed well for something that can't even be played yet. It's not all sunshine and lollipops for Activision, as retail sources told MCV that Ghosts' UK launch sales are 50 percent down on last year's Black Ops 2. if MCV's figures are accurate, they're likely to do with the impending next-gen launches. We'll see just how much they account for when the Xbox One and PS4 arrive later this month. As for what's going on beneath Ghosts, former no. 1 Assassin's Creed 4 tumbles to third, while Battlefield 4 holds steady in second. Meanwhile, the relatively early arrival of Professor Layton fails to enchant the top ten, with concluding chapter Azran Legacy debuting in 13th.
Activision: Call of Duty: Ghosts has shipped $1 billion worth into retail
The video game industry is now a battle of billion dollar launches, with Activision announcing this morning that Call of Duty: Ghosts has shipped a billion dollars worth of the game into retail. The semi-awkward victory lap comes on the day Activision is set to announce its second quarter results. "Call of Duty is by far the largest console franchise of this generation," said Activision CEO Bobby Kotick as part of the announcement – a very, very accurate assessment. "And in the last 12 months, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, including its digital content, generated more revenues than any other console game ever has in a single year. Although it is too early to assess sell-through for Call of Duty: Ghosts, it's launching at a time when the franchise has never been more popular." The billion dollar mark was likely chosen to contrast the game's accomplishment with that of Grand Theft Auto 5, which sold $1 billion to consumers in three days, where as Call of Duty shipped a billion dollars worth of game to retail stores. Call of Duty: Ghosts was the "most pre-ordered" game at GameStop this year.
Metareview: Call of Duty - Ghosts
It's seriously lacking in Swayze, but Call of Duty: Ghosts still notches three and a half stars in our review. According to Xav, the latest entry in Activision's flagship shooter series "is a solid installment, but it lacks creativity and innovation." If you'd literally like to hear more of his thoughts on Ghosts, be sure to check out his video review, too. You might be surprised to learn that our review of the new Call of Duty isn't the only one out there. Yes, the Meta-verse is brimming with Ghosts-ly opinions, including full marks from one outlet. Here's a brief sampling of what the rest of the world had to say.
Call of Duty: Ghosts $45 today at Newegg's eBay store [Update: PC version $48]
Want to save a few bucks on Infinity Ward's unique blend of dog-wrangling and outer space cover-shooting? Newegg's eBay storefront currently has the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii U versions of Call of Duty: Ghosts on sale for $45 -- a significant savings over the game's MSRP of $59.99 on its first day of release. Better hop on this deal while it lasts, though. While the eBay listing will run through Friday, stock is limited to quantities on-hand. Do it for Riley! Update: Green Man Gaming is currently offering the Steam-redeemable PC version of Call of Duty: Ghosts for $48 with the promotional code GMG20-P6Y1F-KC19F.
Joystiq Streams Call of Duty: Ghosts on Xbox 360 [Watch the replay!]
Update: The live stream is over, but watch the replay above you party animal, you! It's Call of Duty: Ghosts day around the world, with Activision's shooter franchise launching for the PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 4 today. Our review is already online, but it focuses on the next-gen PlayStation 4 version. For this special Joystiq Streams event, Ghosts reviewer Xav de Matos and Battlefield 4 reviewer Dave Hinkle discuss Infinity Ward's latest game, compare it to DICE's most recent release, and try like heck to pet that adorable pup Riley while playing the Xbox 360 version of the game. Have a question about the Joystiq review for Call of Duty: Ghosts? Now's your time to ask about the game, the review process, and anything else we can tell you! The stream will go live right here at 1:00 p.m. Eastern time. If you want to participate in the live discussion, head over to Joystiq's Twitch channel.
First Call of Duty's project name was 'MOH Killer'
Call of Duty may be one of gaming's biggest and most popular franchises now, but it wasn't always that way. In a story by MCV, several ex-Activision and ex-Infinity Ward employees shed light on the early days of the iconic shooter, including it's original project name: "MOH Killer." It turns out, the Call of Duty series' biggest task in the beginning was stepping out of the shadow of EA's Medal of Honor games. Scott Dodkins, ex-Activision VP, explained that the original Call of Duty was developed as a response to Medal of Honor. "EA had games like FIFA, which we couldn't compete with," Dodkins told MCV. "But Medal of Honor was a genre we thought we could enter. So we were looking for a product that could emulate and beat it, and we came up with Call of Duty." It was Justin Thomas, an ex-Infinity Ward artist, who revealed Call of Duty's project name to MCV. "The project was actually named 'MOH killer' until an official name could be found," Thomas said. "We were focused more on fun than success, with the idea that if it was fun, it would be successful." Four years ago, then-CEO of EA John Riccitiello said that he wanted the leadership position in the FPS market back. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Call of Duty: Ghosts shoots for 60fps everywhere, native resolution higher on PS4
Call of Duty: Ghosts runs at a native resolution of 1080p (1920x1080) on PlayStation and 1080p upscaled from 720p (1280x720) on Xbox One, Infinity Ward Executive Producer Mark Rubin said via TwitLonger. This may be a factor for those deciding on which version of the game to purchase come this November, weighed against the Xbox One's timed exclusive DLC deal. "We optimized each console to hit 60 FPS and the game looks great on both," Rubin said. "Still on the road, but glad to see the great reception to Extinction. Can't wait for next week's launch." Extinction is an alien-infested, co-op wave mode announced for Ghosts earlier this week. In related ghosts news, it's Halloween tomorrow! Oh, and those who order the game for PS3 through PSN can begin pre-loading it at 3PM PT on November 3. On Xbox 360, the game requires less than 3GB free to install the single-player campaign, but the multiplayer component doesn't require any install. For PC players, here are your minimum requirements.
Call of Duty: Ghosts dedicated servers not restricted to Xbox One
Call of Duty: Ghosts' dedicated servers aren't only on Xbox One, but are coming to "next gen," "current gen," and PC versions too. The news comes via Infinity Ward's Mark Rubin, the exec producer careful to not mention specific platforms in his Twitter announcement. "We've already mentioned dedicated servers as part of the overall plan to improve connectivity," Rubin wrote. "Dedicated servers will be used on current gen, next gen and PC with Ghosts. And, in order to make sure that people have the best possible experience regardless of platform, location or connection, Ghosts will be using a hybrid system of dedicated servers and listen servers. So no matter where you are the game will always be trying to give you the best online performance possible. "There is also some great new tech in the matchmaking system that will place players in matches that have the best combined overall connectivity performance. Again these are just some of the things that are going into Call of Duty: Ghosts to give players a great online experience." Rubin's tweet comes after he announced Ghosts would use the Xbox One's cloud for dedicated servers. It's unclear if Rubin's avoiding mentioning other platforms because of (ridiculous seeming) red tape, or because certain version(s) don't feature dedicated servers. When one Twitter user asked him if PS3 and PS4 were included, Rubin replied, "I can't call out other platforms by name but one might assume that from what I wrote." We'll know soon enough since the Ghosts train is fast approaching. First stop is PC, Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii U on November 5, followed by PS4 and Xbox One at launch.
Modern Warfare 3 free with other used game at Best Buy
Ten-hut! Right now, you can get a pre-owned copy of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 for free when you buy a pre-owned game priced $19.99 or more at Best Buy. Best Buy also has several other deals this week: Xbox 360 models are $50 off, and picking one up will net you a complimentary $50 in-store gift card. Splinter Cell: Blacklist is also $15 off, while Disney Infinity starter packs and Saints Row 4 are each $10 off.
Digital Call of Duty: Ghosts also gets $10 upgrade to Xbox One
Microsoft and Activision have teamed up to offer a disc-less license for Call of Duty: Ghosts that works across Xbox consoles. If you plunk down $70 you'll get both Xbox 360 and Xbox One digital versions of the game, tied to your Gamertag. Alternatively,you'll be able to download the game through Xbox 360 for $60 and pay $10 to upgrade to the Xbox One version later, if you choose to do so before March 31, 2014. The Season Pass for Call of Duty: Ghosts will also carry over from Xbox 360 to Xbox One, as previously announced, provided you make the move before May 31, 2014. The Call of Duty: Ghosts Season Pass includes four DLC packs and immediately grants access to one unique multiplayer head, weapon camouflage, weapon reticle, player patch, player card and player background.
Call of Duty has dedicated servers on Xbox One cloud
Infinity Ward executive producer Mark Rubin announced at Microsoft's Gamescom showcase that Call of Duty: Ghosts will use the Xbox One cloud to host dedicated servers for multiplayer. He also revealed that the game's new Blitz muliplayer mode will be playable here at Gamescom, and we should be going hands on soon.
Call of Duty: Ghosts multiplayer gender options about 'appreciating' female fans
Infinity Ward executive producer Mark Rubin tells Joystiq that adding playable female soldiers in Call of Duty: Ghosts was to recognize the franchise's complete audience. Women have been added as part of the multiplayer customization in Ghosts, set to arrive on November 5. "Honestly, adding female soldiers to character customization wasn't about trying to lure more people into the game. It was actually just about acknowledging the people who already play our game," Rubin says. Enngine limitations were another contributing factor in the franchise's lack of playable female soldiers. "It wasn't until we rewrote the way character memory is handled - that we could do 'Create-a-Soldier,' that we could do customized characters - that the possibility of having female soldiers really came to fruition," Rubin explains. "Bringing female characters into Call of Duty: Ghosts wasn't something that was limited generation, it was limited by the engine itself."
Watch the Call of Duty: Ghosts multiplayer livestream event here
Activision is pulling back the curtain on multiplayer in Call of Duty: Ghosts today. The event is streaming live through Twitch starting at 10:30am PT/1:30pm ET/6:30pm UK time, and you can follow it right here. Joystiq will be in attendance at the Los Angeles venue, so keep an eye out for our impressions later. Infinity Ward is leading development on all platforms for Call of Duty: Ghosts, save for the Wii U, which is being handled by Black Ops 2 developer Treyarch. Ghosts launches on November 5 for Xbox 360, PS3, PC and Wii U. Xbox One and PS4 launch dates have not been specified yet.
Activision: Call of Duty pre-orders negatively impacted by console transition
The upcoming transition into a new generation of consoles is futzing with pre-order numbers for Call of Duty: Ghosts, according to CEO of Activision Publishing, Eric Hirshberg. During his company's earnings call yesterday, Hirshberg noted that pre-orders for Ghosts are "well below the record-setting pace set by Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 last year," and that the impending arrival of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One are to blame. "Our quantitative consumer research indicates that hesitation amongst past COD pre-orderers is primarily due to not knowing which platform they will be playing on, which is natural at this time in the console transition," he said. Despite the lower pre-order numbers, Hirshberg noted that "other key engagement metrics," such as the number of people playing per month and per day, the amount of DLC sales and community engagement, are all higher than previous years. He also added that pre-orders are more than double that of the original Call of Duty: Black Ops, which was last time Activision introduced a new Call of Duty sub-brand. Activision isn't the first publisher to cite next-gen consoles for lower pre-order numbers. EA Sports brand president Peter Moore recently made similar statements, reporting "softness" in pre-orders for current-gen sports titles as we get closer to the launch of the PS4 and Xbox One.