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Activision producer: Gearbox making 'a crappy war game' [update: Treyarch responds]
Update: We've clarified that, while Treyarch is owned by Activision, Heller is in fact an Activision – and not a Treyarch – employee. To that end, Treyarch's Community Manager posted a classy message on the Xbox.com forums distancing their team from the Activision rep's comment and stating, "We have nothing but respect for the guys and gals at Gearbox." Nicely handled, Treyarch!Original: We normally don't like it when developers start taking potshots at each other, it's really not the sort of -- oh, who are we kidding? We love it when developers take potshots, it's one of our absolute favorite things, and this video interview from Eurogamer has a doozy courtesy of Treyarch Activision senior producer Noah Heller. When asked about Gearbox's forthcoming Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway, Heller said they didn't consider it during development of Call of Duty: World at War, dismissing Hell as "a crappy war game." Continuing the burnination, Heller added that Gearbox "isn't even the same league" as Treyarch's effort. You might think we're misrepresenting the quote by taking it out of context, but it's somehow even more MEGAowch when watched in context (at about 1:00 in).[Thanks, Jordan]
Fall in to the World at War website
Call of Duty: World at War has hit the intertrons! The official COD domain has always been a general-purpose website, but the latest information for the upcoming shooter has been granted its own dedicated section with a whole range of groin-grabbing goodies.The whole point of the site is the get involved with everything Call of Duty. You'll sign up and create your profile, and from there you can complete a variety of "missions" to earn points and level up. This include posting in the forums and taking part in polls, but you'll unlock more missions the further you progress within the site.Why does this sound like a video game? It's a website -- but a pretty good one at that. The Intel and Reconnaissance (that is, news and media) sections should be updated regularly, and a developer blog is up and running. Off you go, then![Via press release]
Joystiq talks to Treyarch's Mark Lamia on CoD 5
While many of you are wondering how Call of Duty 5 ... uh, won't suck on the Wii, check out Joystiq's interview with Treyarch's Mark Lamia. He talks about the Wii version, how it will include online play and also has its own team dedicated to the Wii version of the game. It's a pretty interesting interview that covers some of the concerns Wii gamers have for the title, so head on over and check it out.
Treyarch up to the Call of Duty
When it comes to public perception, Call of Duty: World at War developer, Treyarch isn't naive. Speaking with Develop Magazine, Treyarch senior producer Noah Heller discussed the developer's decision to bring the Call of Duty franchise back into the World War II setting that made it popular even though the series has found new success in a modern setting with Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare -- developed by Infinity Ward."Call of Duty 4 comes along and it is a fantastic game, so how can we live up to that? How do we do World War II after that? We want to show people what we're capable of," Heller told Develop.Call of Duty fans remember Treyarch best for Call of Duty 3 which, the team is quick to remind fans, saw a very short development cycle due to Activision's decision to make the series an annual franchise. "[Look at] BioShock, GTA IV, Modern Warfare of course ... what all these games have is a lot of love and polish." Polish -- which some point at Call of Duty 3 for lacking despite garnering generally favorable reviews.Polish and love added to Call of Duty: World at War or not, fans and critics have labeled the latest installment of the franchise a step backwards but Heller says the team is aiming for the best WWII based title in the market, arguing, "there are stories in WWII we haven't told yet."[via Next Gen]
Joystiq interviews Mark Lamia of Treyarch and Call of Duty the Fifth
Mark Lamia with all the games he's worked on. After having a good look at Call of Duty: World at War, we decided to hurl some questions at developer Treyarch's studio head, Mark Lamia. Find out what we learned from the guy who has worked on everything from CoD5 to Santa Fe Mysteries: The Elk Moon Murder, after the break!
World at War four player online co-op confirmed
After all the excitement of this weekend's big Call of Duty: World at War debut trailer reveal, we somehow looked over Activision's announcement of one of the game's biggest features. Four player online co-op. Yes sir, World at War will sport four player online co-op as well as two player local split screen as part of the game's main campaign storyline and features the added benefit of allowing you to rack up the experience points for use in multiplayer. Press release after the break.Oh, and there will be a flamethrower as well. For reals. Promise.
Call of Duty: World at War is 'next-gen only baby!'
Variables a = Call of Duty: World at War for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 & PCb = Call of Duty: World at War for Wiic = Call of Duty: World at War for PlayStation 2ProofIf a=b, and variations of c have been known to equal corresponding variations of b, then does a=c? ... Yes? Well, the problem is c doesn't exist. Call of Duty: World at War will be "next-gen only baby!" Treyarch studio head Mark Lamia confirmed with Joystiq, correcting an earlier report that the game would mark a return of the series on PS2; the first since Treyarch's Call of Duty 3. Despite claims that World at War is "not a different game on Wii" (with, um, a few exceptions) -- and therefore, wouldn't be all that different of a game on PS2 -- Activision and Treyarch have apparently retired PS2 from duty ... for good.Check out our full interview with Treyarch right here.
Call of Duty: World at War producer on why it's not 'CoD 5'
Wondering what happened to the number "5" trailing Call of Duty and preceding World at War? Senior producer Noah Heller offered some insight into its absence, saying, "We're getting rid of the number in Call of Duty for a very specific reason: It's because we want you to know that when you're playing Call of Duty: World at War you're playing the best shooter, the best WW2 game ever. Likewise when you're playing Modern Warfare, likewise when you play any game that will be called Call of Duty." Now, a handful of us have tried to parse that quote and, no matter which angle we take, it proves elusive. Is he saying that Modern Warfare didn't have a number in the title (because the game's box clearly says otherwise)? Is he saying that future Call of Duty installments, including whatever Infinity Ward is presumably working on, will also be sans number? Or perhaps, as rumored, Infinity Ward has renegotiated their relationship with the flagship title and any numbered sequels (all future sequels?) will be saved for them to develop? We've sent our own inquiry into Activision for some clarification. We'll let you know what it throws back.
Call of Duty 5: World at War -- screenshots and four-player co-op detailed
This morning Activision announced a number of details regarding the latest installment in the Call of Duty franchise. Call of Duty: World at War will allow players to live vicariously as both the side of the US against the Japanese and the Russians against the Germans. The most anticipated feature, however, is the four-player co-op mode. On the PS3 (and Xbox 360) version, players can choose between a multiplayer four-player split-screen offline co-op mode or a four-player online co-op mode. Finally, there is experience points to be earned in both online modes, with a difficulty level that "will scale dynamically to provide a deeper level of challenge," so how challenging it will be depends on the experience level of the player and the player's comrades. [Via Joystiq] [Update: There is a four-player offline co-op mode and the wording has been changed to clarify this.] %Gallery-25926%
Treyarch: Call of Duty isn't going 'back' to WWII
Call of Duty: World at War began life right after Call of Duty 3, before Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare was released. So, following this logic, "there was no modern warfare" when World at War was conceived, Treyarch studio head Mark Lamia told Joystiq, responding to skeptics who fear that the series' return to World War II will be a return to mediocrity. In fact, Call of Duty's "B Team" alternate developer doesn't consider its next entry a rehash at all. "We don't really look at it like we're going back to World War II," said Lamia. "For [Treyarch], it's totally new."COD: WAW CODE 7: JWGTP-9FCDW-WVRXM-7XX3M-W76PM Lamia pointed to World at War's two-year development cycle as a key factor; a full 12 months more than the team had to complete Call of Duty 3, which, while by no means a commercial or critical failure, stands as a definitive low point for the franchise. "When you got one year, you do what you know, and get it done well -- don't mess around. When you got two years, you have a chance to introduce new gameplay, new elements."Check out our full interview with Treyarch right here.
Joystiq impressions -- Call of Duty: World at War
By now, you already know that Call of Duty is indeed coming back, though not in the Modern Warfare variety you've come to know and love. You know, that edition which sold over ten million copies and was developed by another studio. No, Activision has handed the reins back to Treyarch to create Call of Duty: World at War, which returns the franchise to the WWII genre, albeit in a new theater: The Pacific. Find everything we know about Call of Duty 5, err, Call of Duty: World at War, after the break. %Gallery-25807%
Call of Duty: World at War 'not a different game on the Wii'
Treyarch has ambitious plans for Call of Duty: World at War, namely in making sure that the Wii version is "not a different game," according to what Treyarch studio head Mark Lamia told Joystiq. "We have dedicated engineers, artists, and designers associated to the Wii platform. So we have a ton of resources, stable platform to start with while we're making that thing -- but it will be the exact experience except for the changes we need to make for the controls and everything else."Everything else, eh? Aside from Waggletech® and Overpriced Plastic Shell® integration (yes, Zapper support confirmed), expect the Wii version of World at War to feature some significant scaling back in the graphics department, and co-op and online multiplayer modes. So, same game? Or just the same name?Check out our full interview with Treyarch right here.
Call of Duty: World at War screenshots
click to enlarge You've already seen Call of Duty: World at War's trailer and read about the game's four-player online co-op, but maybe you just want to see what it looks like when not moving and being, y'know ... interactive. We totally understand and we've painstakingly assembled a gallery just for your kind. Click through and use your powers of imagination to render these seven stills into a glorious animated tableau.%Gallery-25807%
Call of Duty: World at War trailer really speaks to co-op gamers
Even though it was revealed earlier, a recent press release has confirmed co-op gameplay in the upcoming Call of Duty: World at War. While the other versions boast four-player online killfests, the Wii will have its own gimped "unique co-op mode for two players."It's not all downgrades for the Wii's World at War. Senior producer Noah Heller is confident in its capabilities, claiming "It's going to look better than any Wii game I've ever seen on the market." Also, despite the online and co-op changes, developer Treyarch says "For all intents and purposes it's the same game." Top stuff, because Call of Duty 3 wasn't entirely up to scratch.Hit that big play button up there to check out the debut trailer for World at War. Officially it's footage from the 360 and PS3 version, but since it's "the same game," the Wii shouldn't miss out on too many of the heart-beating battles in the above video.[Via press release]
Call of Duty: World at War co-op multiplayer detailed
There are times when going at it alone just isn't enough, and you want a buddy by your side to help make it through to the day, not to mention help soak up enemy bullets. For this, Activision has revealed how co-op multiplayer will be handled in Call of Duty: World at War, in which players will lace up in the military boots of either U.S. Marines or Russian soldiers in both the South Pacific and European theaters of war.Specifically, the Treyarch-developed shooter will include four-player online co-op for the Xbox 360, PS3, and PC, while the console versions will also allow soldiers to pair up offline for local split-screen gameplay, with "a unique co-op mode for two players" reserved for soldiers waggling on the Wii. However, the game's online focus won't end with simply gunning down enemy soldiers and offering moral support to buddies trying to make it through the game's "darker themes." Activision notes that Call of Duty: World at War will shell out persistent experience points to players participating in both competitive and cooperative online battles, as well as a difficulty curve that will scale depending on "a player's experience rank and rank of the player's friends."
Spider-Man: Web of Shadows combat preview looks astonishing
We've had a love/hate relationship with past iterations of titles featuring our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, though one aspect of every title that we felt was never quite right was the manner in which the beloved web-slinger placed the beatdown upon unsuspecting thugs. Sure, certain games have had entertaining, intuitive combat systems, but none truly captured the way the arachnid protagonist whips up on baddies as he does on ink and paper.However, a recently released video from Shaba Games, developer of the upcoming Spider-Man: Web of Shadows, has boosted our spirits significantly, displaying the kind of aerial acrobatics and swift brawling we've always hoped to see in a Spidey title. Now, as long as they can avoid any glaring graphical issues or frequent cutscenes showing Peter Parker bawling his eyes out, Web of Shadows could be one of the better adaptations of the Spider-Man comics to ever hit the market.
Call of Duty: World at War trailer debut
Please don't mind the Games for Windows and Xbox 360 logo at the end of this video. Rest assured, Call of Duty: World at War will be making its way to the PS3. For one rea$on or another, the debut trailer for World at War was featured exclusively on the Xbox Live Marketplace. It looks like Treyarch is using a similar (if not the same) engine used by Infinity Ward for Call of Duty 4. However, will Treyarch be able to match the success of one of the best games of last year? [Via Joystiq]
New Spidey game looks mighty impressive
Back in April, we were treated to some teaser footage revealing a new Spider-Man game called Spider-Man: Web of Shadows. Since then, there hasn't been much to report on and things have been awfully quiet. We've been wondering: when would we ever see more of the game? The answer would be today.In this new clip, we see some of the guys from developer Shaba Games talk about how they're redefining the Spider-Man games franchise. The biggest improvement revealed so far is the revamped combat system which seems to look like a seamless and smooth experience merging regular combat and versatile webslinging. The ability to switch between red and black spidey suits sounds like a good way to mix gameplay up even more. While this new footage has tingeld our spidey senses, we're still excited to see more. But, when will that be? We're not exactly sure as it's been months since the last time we heard from this title. The next reveal will probably be again mired in another "web of shadows" until then. Oooh, mysterious.
Here's the Call of Duty: World at War trailer
This is it: the moment of truth, folks. With this – the debut trailer for (the notably unnumbered) Call of Duty: World at War – Activision is essentially asking for feedback from every gamer on the planet. Can Call of Duty return to World War 2? Can alternating series developer (read: not Infinity Ward) Treyarch deliver a solid CoD title?You can keep an eye out for our impressions (and our attempt to answer these same questions) early next week; however, in the interim, hit up this first piece of the puzzle after the break. Alternatively, for the HD-minded amongst you, check out GameTrailers or Xbox Live. Regardless of how you consume said trailer, we still want to know what you think. Sound off.
Call of Duty: World at War Teaser Trailer
With COD4 still so popular, Activision and Treyarch needed to take the series in another direction if they wanted to see another installment sell well this fall. Since the announcement of Call of Duty: World at War there really hasn't been much seen of the game. Sadly while the teaser trailer does give us a short glimpse of the game, it is only that, a teaser. So for those of you who haven't gotten the trailer from the Marketplace, GameTrailers TV has a teaser trailer up too (which is embedded after the break due to GTTV's flash player being a bit finicky these days.)
