Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Activision paid Infinity Ward over $493 million in bonuses since 2003]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/27/activision-paid-infinity-ward-over-493-million-in-bonuses-since/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/27/activision-paid-infinity-ward-over-493-million-in-bonuses-since/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/27/activision-paid-infinity-ward-over-493-million-in-bonuses-since/#comments Hard numbers are starting to come out of the Activision v. Infinity Ward case as things continue to ramp up towards the actual trial, which is currently slated to take place next month. Specifically, Activision revealed during a hearing last Friday that it has paid out in excess of $493 million in bonuses to Infinity Ward, a figure that includes the $42 million payout that occurred earlier this month, according to Polygon.

That $439 million encompasses all bonuses paid out to Infinity Ward since the original Call of Duty launched in 2003. To date, IW has been granted bonuses for games it was directly involved with as a studio, as well as games that used its tech and the Call of Duty IP, like the Treyarch-developed Call of Duty: World at War.

Attorneys for former IW heads Vince Zampella and Jason West argued that the ex-Infinity Ward employee group is also owed its share of "launch quarter" bonuses from the release of Black Ops and Modern Warfare 3, a point that Activision obviously disagrees with.

JoystiqActivision paid Infinity Ward over $493 million in bonuses since 2003 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 27 May 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionCall-of-Dutycall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3Infinity-WardJason-Westlawsuitlegalmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3pcplaystationps3TreyarchVince-ZampellaxboxSun, 27 May 2012 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Avengers, Assemble! And Provide Commentary on Games!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/avengers-assemble-and-provide-commentary-on-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/avengers-assemble-and-provide-commentary-on-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/avengers-assemble-and-provide-commentary-on-games/#commentsYou're reading Reaction Time, a weekly column that claims to examine recent events, games and trends in the industry, but is really just looking for an excuse to use the word "zeitgeist." It debuts on Fridays in Engadget's digital magazine, Distro.
The world of popular culture was left awestruck last week after colliding with The Avengers, an extravagant, unavoidable glitter ball of an asteroid. The simultaneous sequel to five popular movies, The Avengers accrues a crew of incredible superheroes, including one that already claimed "incredible" as a capitalized adjective in his name.

You've got the irradiated scientist who grows out of his pants and into a green behemoth, a demigod who wields mythical hammers and perfect strands of L'Oréal hair with equal aplomb, a pouting assassin, a smart-ass billionaire encased in weaponized toasters, a guy with a bow, and Captain America, the patriotic straight arrow who might as well sit in the quiver of that other guy. The best part of the film is seeing how they all get along.

They do eventually, of course, because it's an entertaining arc and because together they have to navigate a spectacular gauntlet of alien invasion, non-depletable cosmic power sources and lots of other things that cost a fortune to render and/or blow up. There's an inescapable wave of critical condescension toward the audience whenever they sign up for unrealistic, "dumb" thrills en masse, but the reality is that certain movies - just like games - can't exist unless they spend their money in the right places. The Avengers, which essentially sneaks in a witty geek comedy when nobody's looking, has dollars whizzing by on the screen every second. Also, every dollar is on fire.

Continue reading Avengers, Assemble! And Provide Commentary on Games!

JoystiqAvengers, Assemble! And Provide Commentary on Games! originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 May 2012 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>call-of-dutycall-of-duty-black-ops-2reaction-timethe-avengersFri, 11 May 2012 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: MW3 Content Collection #1 now available on PC]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/psa-mw3-content-collection-1-now-available-on-pc/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/psa-mw3-content-collection-1-now-available-on-pc/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/psa-mw3-content-collection-1-now-available-on-pc/#comments ImageThe first collection of content for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 has finally closed the circle and arrived on the PC, according to Raven Software's official Twitter account. This is the same content (the Liberation, Piazza, Overwatch and Black Box maps, along with new Spec Ops missions Black Ice and Negotiator) that originally arrived on the Xbox 360 back in March.

Raven says there is one small consolation for PC gamers who've been made to wait so long. The company has added Infected and FFA Gunplay modes to the Community playlists, so you can throw down on those if you like. The collection itself is $14.99, available on Steam right now.

JoystiqPSA: MW3 Content Collection #1 now available on PC originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 08 May 2012 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>call-of-dutycall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3contentcontent-collection-1dlcelitemodern-warfare-3pcTue, 08 May 2012 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Breaking down the Black Ops 2 reveal trailer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/02/breaking-down-the-black-ops-2-reveal-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/02/breaking-down-the-black-ops-2-reveal-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/02/breaking-down-the-black-ops-2-reveal-trailer/#comments Image
Now that Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 is officially out there, we can examine the game's reveal trailer and offer some further insight beyond the bombast.

We've compiled a handful of screen grabs from the trailer after the break, with notes about the game's locale, features, and more. For even more, make sure to read our detailed campaign preview and details on the game's new, story-altering 'Strike Force' missions.

Continue reading Breaking down the Black Ops 2 reveal trailer

JoystiqBreaking down the Black Ops 2 reveal trailer originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 02 May 2012 00:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionBreakdownCall-of-Dutycall-of-duty-black-ops-2microsoftpcplaystationps3TreyarchxboxWed, 02 May 2012 00:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Controlling the battlefield in Black Ops 2 'Strike Force' missions]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/02/controlling-the-battlefield-in-black-ops-2-strike-force-missio/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/02/controlling-the-battlefield-in-black-ops-2-strike-force-missio/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/02/controlling-the-battlefield-in-black-ops-2-strike-force-missio/#comments ImageChoice in a video game is not a rare occurrence, unless that game happens to be Call of Duty. During the campaign in Black Ops 2, players will have the ability to select from a handful of 'Strike Force' missions anchored to hotspots throughout the globe. When one mission is selected, the others become unavailable, replaced later with fresh 'Strike Force' missions.

But these single-player missions set in the near-future aren't simply random missions without a story wrapper. Instead, they offer players an opportunity to play Call of Duty with an element of rarely seen choice.

Continue reading Controlling the battlefield in Black Ops 2 'Strike Force' missions

JoystiqControlling the battlefield in Black Ops 2 'Strike Force' missions originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 02 May 2012 00:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionCall-of-Dutycall-of-duty-black-ops-2microsoftpcplaystationps3Strike-Force-MissionsTreyarchxboxWed, 02 May 2012 00:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Black Ops 2 spans decades, offers branching missions and choice]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/02/black-ops-2-spans-decades-offers-branching-missions-and-choice/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/02/black-ops-2-spans-decades-offers-branching-missions-and-choice/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/02/black-ops-2-spans-decades-offers-branching-missions-and-choice/#comments ImageGarnering legions of fans tends to wedge a franchise right between those that crave more of the same content, and those that loathe its existence. Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 is in the same spot, but developer Treyarch is looking to create some wiggle room between the two camps in its next contribution to Activision's billion dollar franchise.

At Treyarch's office in Los Angeles, company boss Mark Lamia steps into a darkened theater filled with journalists. He's chipper, excited to finally talk about the game his team has been slaving over for more than a year. Despite a tightly constructed marketing schedule, the secret of Black Ops 2 was hard to contain; its existence began to leak in January.

"Let me introduce you to the worst kept secret in the game industry," Lamia says as he walks in front of a giant screen embellished with the sleek Black Ops 2 logo. The walls around the screen are lined with concept art, some of it modeled after surveillance photos from in-orbit satellites, but all with a futuristic tint to them. "Saying that," Lamia continues, "we think what Black Ops 2 is about is one of the best kept secrets in the industry."

Gallery: Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 (5/1/2012)

Continue reading Black Ops 2 spans decades, offers branching missions and choice

JoystiqBlack Ops 2 spans decades, offers branching missions and choice originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 02 May 2012 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activisioncall-of-dutycall-of-duty-black-ops-2microsoftpcplaystationps3TreyarchxboxWed, 02 May 2012 00:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 revealed with first trailer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/call-of-duty-black-ops-2-revealed-with-first-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/call-of-duty-black-ops-2-revealed-with-first-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/call-of-duty-black-ops-2-revealed-with-first-trailer/#comments ImageCall of Duty: Black Ops 2, this year's installment in the best-selling series, is finally kicking off its official reveal and pre-launch hype campaign.

The first trailer for Black Ops 2 reveals Sgt. Frank Woods, alive and well after Black Ops, well into his old age in the year 2025. "Besides the fact that I'm still alive, none of this surprises me," the retired soldier groans. It seems Treyarch's Call of Duty universe is jumping ahead to our near future for its next installment.

Much more information (some that may actually surprise you) is coming later tonight in a lengthy preview and interview on the upcoming game. The future may be black, as the game's tagline suggests, but it isn't that far away.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 launches on the PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 on November 13, 2012.

JoystiqCall of Duty: Black Ops 2 revealed with first trailer originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 01 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionCall-of-Dutycall-of-duty-black-ops-2microsoftpcplaystationps3TreyarchxboxTue, 01 May 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Call of Duty: Black Ops 2: What we know thus far]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/call-of-duty-black-ops-2-what-we-know-thus-far/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/call-of-duty-black-ops-2-what-we-know-thus-far/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/call-of-duty-black-ops-2-what-we-know-thus-far/#comments ImageThis morning's Acti acci-reveal of Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, ahead of tonight's big scheduled announcement, is just one more instance in a long line of Black Ops 2-related leaks. But today's leak is a biggie, revealing not just the game's title and launch date, but also new information on the game's setting. "Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 propels players into a near future, 21st Century Cold War, where technology and weapons have converged to create a new generation of warfare," the site reads, outing Blops 2's new future setting.

The site also unveiled the game's box art, which depicts a pensive gentleman holding a handgun and a hunting knife. Beyond that, a tipster this morning sent over four screens of the game itself that were apparently snagged from the site's backend (the images section of the site has been stripped of any images for now). As the screen above indicates, drones seem to play some role in Blops 2. And those were teased less than a week ago by ... uh ... this crazy YouTube video.

There's also a debut trailer, albeit one that Acti still has set to private, which we're guessing will roll tonight during the NBA playoffs. What we can tell from the still thumbnail is that you'll either be watching someone else pilot a heli through Los Angeles, or taking the reins yourself (it's unclear from the image). Either way, we're totally psyched at the idea of destroying the site of E3 from a helicopter. Retribution, finally!

The site's pre-order page only lists options for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC, seemingly eschewing the variety of other platforms that previous Call of Duty games launched on. It is, of course, possible that Acti is holding other platform announcements for the future, which we'll just chalk up as synergy with the game's near-future setting.

Gallery: Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 (Leak: 5/1/12)

JoystiqCall of Duty: Black Ops 2: What we know thus far originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 01 May 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblack-ops-2call-of-dutycall-of-duty-black-ops-2microsoftpcplaystationps3treyarchtreyarch-studiosxboxTue, 01 May 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, Nov. 13 release revealed by pre-order card]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/27/call-of-duty-black-ops-2-nov-13-release-revealed-by-pre-order/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/27/call-of-duty-black-ops-2-nov-13-release-revealed-by-pre-order/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/27/call-of-duty-black-ops-2-nov-13-release-revealed-by-pre-order/#comments Not that it should be too shocking by now, but it looks like Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 is all but official at this point. A dutiful fan snapped a picture of a Target pre-order card for the game, reports IGN. In addition to confirming the next entry of Activision's mammoth franchise, the card also lists a November 13 release date, which certainly jives with the series' typical launch timing. It also lines up with the a Spanish retail listing spotted last month, which had the title slated for a November 12 launch.

The official, official reveal of the next Call of Duty game, whatever it is, is set to go down on Tuesday, May 1 during the NBA playoffs.

JoystiqCall of Duty: Black Ops 2, Nov. 13 release revealed by pre-order card originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 17:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-dutyCall-of-Duty-Black-Ops-2microsoftpcplaystationps3release-datetreyarchxboxFri, 27 Apr 2012 17:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Modern Warfare 3 gets a free Steam weekend, we've never heard of it]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/modern-warfare-3-gets-a-free-steam-weekend-weve-never-heard-of/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/modern-warfare-3-gets-a-free-steam-weekend-weve-never-heard-of/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/modern-warfare-3-gets-a-free-steam-weekend-weve-never-heard-of/#comments ImageThis is obscure, but a few people might be interested in it: A little indie title called Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is going to be free on Steam this weekend. The publisher, "Activision" (we've never heard of them - probably a really artsy two-man studio in Canada somewhere) needs a little more exposure for this game, so the multiplayer features will be free to download and play starting this Thursday, April 26, through the rest of the weekend, for anyone with a Steam account.

So if you've got some free time this weekend, maybe give the game a download and give some struggling indie developers a little bit of your attention for once. Who knows - maybe if the weekend goes well, this "Activision" will be encouraged to enter a competition or two. It could be the next Independent Games Competition finalist in waiting!

JoystiqModern Warfare 3 gets a free Steam weekend, we've never heard of it originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-dutycall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3jokemodern-warfare-3pcWed, 25 Apr 2012 11:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Video suggests future weapons for new Call of Duty]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/video-suggests-future-weapons-for-new-call-of-duty/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/video-suggests-future-weapons-for-new-call-of-duty/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/video-suggests-future-weapons-for-new-call-of-duty/#comments Image
The Call of Duty teaser site is still counting down to a full unveiling on May 1, but in the meantime, it's opened up a link to this YouTube video of the "FPSRussia" show. In the episode (of what appears to be a real YouTube video series), the host demonstrates a "Prototype Quadrotor," and uses the attached machine gun to blow some stuff up.

The host refers to the quadrotor as a prototype of technology that isn't available yet. "But if you can't wait another 15 years," he said, "my friends are telling me that it might just be in the next Call of Duty game, which would be the shit." Tags for the video include "call of duty future weapons" and "near future warfare."

This information suggests two things: first, that the new game is called "Call of Duty: The Shit," and second (and more realistically) that a near-future setting will be featured in at least part of the new game.

JoystiqVideo suggests future weapons for new Call of Duty originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-dutymicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxTue, 24 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New Call of Duty set for world reveal during NBA playoffs on May 1]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/23/new-call-of-duty-set-for-world-reveal-during-nba-playoffs-on-may/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/23/new-call-of-duty-set-for-world-reveal-during-nba-playoffs-on-may/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/23/new-call-of-duty-set-for-world-reveal-during-nba-playoffs-on-may/#comments ImageLike Madden and Punxsutawney Phil, the annual reveal of a new Call of Duty game isn't what we'd call surprising. It is, however, quite a thrilling notion to many millions of people the world over, which is why we're here to tell you that, yes, another Call of Duty game is getting ready for its big reveal. According to a new countdown timer on Call of Duty's official website, said game will be revealed during the NBA playoffs on May 1 via TNT (apparently the station's "Drama, period" slogan also applies to sports playoffs).

Given the nature of the Call of Duty series, it's very likely that 2012 will see the launch of the next Treyarch-developed CoD title (2011's Modern Warfare 3 was a collaborative effort lead by Infinity Ward). And what might Treyarch be working on? Many (many) indications point to a sequel to 2010's immensely successful Black Ops, but we'll see for sure on May 1.

JoystiqNew Call of Duty set for world reveal during NBA playoffs on May 1 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblack-ops-2call-of-dutycall-of-duty-black-ops-2nba-playoffstnttreyarchtreyarch-studiosMon, 23 Apr 2012 18:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Conan imagines a Call of Duty: Teenage Girl Edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/conan-imagines-a-call-of-duty-teenage-girl-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/conan-imagines-a-call-of-duty-teenage-girl-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/conan-imagines-a-call-of-duty-teenage-girl-edition/#comments
Conan O'Brien's pitch for Call of Duty: Teenage Girl Edition combines two of our favorite things: passive-aggressive put-downs and games with Call of Duty in the title.

Of course, that's not all Conan's got. Supplemental ideas include All White Guy NBA Live, where white dudes sit around riding the pine, and Keeping Away the Kardashians, a shooting gallery-type game where you hurl basketball players at Kardashian cut-outs.

JoystiqConan imagines a Call of Duty: Teenage Girl Edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-white-guy-nba-livecall-of-dutycall-of-duty-angry-teenage-girl-editionconan-o-brienkeeping-away-the-kardashiansworld-of-world-of-warcraftFri, 06 Apr 2012 17:45:00 EST<![CDATA[PSN Spring Fever promo begins tomorrow, it's probably contagious]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/12/psn-spring-fever-promo-begins-tomorrow-its-probably-contagious/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/12/psn-spring-fever-promo-begins-tomorrow-its-probably-contagious/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/12/psn-spring-fever-promo-begins-tomorrow-its-probably-contagious/#comments PSN has a fever, and the only prescription is... well, lots of liquids and rest, probably, and definitely not cowbell. Seriously, have you been near someone playing the cowbell while your head is in a vice grip of feverish pain? It's terrible.

PSN has spring fever, and its only symptoms are offering discounts and special deals on a handful of franchises for the next three weeks. PSN Spring Fever begins tomorrow with the launch of Journey for non-PS Plus members (no discount; just the release) and a sale on the Call of Duty franchise, with Black Ops, Modern Warfare, Modern Warfare 2, and Classic full games on sale, and World at War's map packs on discount.

Check out this week's sale below, as provided by the PlayStation Blog, and play Journey. We think you'll really enjoy it.

Continue reading PSN Spring Fever promo begins tomorrow, it's probably contagious

JoystiqPSN Spring Fever promo begins tomorrow, it's probably contagious originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Mar 2012 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Call-of-Dutyjourneyplaystationplaystation-blogps3PSNpsn-spring-feverSONYMon, 12 Mar 2012 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Guncraft is Minecraft with guns or Call of Duty with blocks, pick one]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/26/guncraft-is-minecraft-with-guns-or-call-of-duty-with-blocks-pic/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/26/guncraft-is-minecraft-with-guns-or-call-of-duty-with-blocks-pic/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/26/guncraft-is-minecraft-with-guns-or-call-of-duty-with-blocks-pic/#comments

Insert a joke about us hearing you liked things and then putting those things inside of each other, dawg. Guncraft combines two massively popular gaming tropes, shooters and cube-inspired sandboxes (OK, one of those is more popular than the other), into a first-person shooter that looks as if it were made in Minecraft.

As described by developer Exato Games, Guncraft has players construct their own levels and then share them in an online multiplayer battle, where every aspect of the environment can be destroyed. Levels are reset after each round, of course. "Voxel engines allow us complete and total environmental destruction," Exato writes on its Kickstarter page. "But wait, that's not all! We also have complete and total environmental CONSTRUCTION."

Guncraft is looking to release a PC beta in March, with a full launch in June. Exato is also set on releasing Guncraft on XBLIG eventually. To finish its project, the Guncraft team is asking for $16,000 via Kickstarter -- they're on their way, but could use some love. If you're intrigued, head on over and support Guncraft here.

JoystiqGuncraft is Minecraft with guns or Call of Duty with blocks, pick one originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 26 Feb 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blocksCall-of-Dutyexato-game-studiosfpsGuncraftkickstartermicrosoftminecraftpcshootervoxelxboxSun, 26 Feb 2012 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Canned Call of Duty: Devil's Brigade was like Inglourious Basterds on steroids]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/21/canned-call-of-duty-devils-brigade-was-like-inglourious-baster/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/21/canned-call-of-duty-devils-brigade-was-like-inglourious-baster/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/21/canned-call-of-duty-devils-brigade-was-like-inglourious-baster/#comments In 2007, while Infinity Ward was building the first Modern Warfare, Underground Development began working on a top-secret, third-person shooter in the Call of Duty franchise, titled Devil's Brigade, Vox Games reports. Based on a real-life group of ruthless, almost superhuman American and Canadian soldiers in World War II, Devil's Brigade was Activision's fallback if fans didn't get the switch to a contemporary setting with Modern Warfare.

Devil's Brigade focused on tactical strategy, stealth missions and super-athletic Special Forces combat. The real Devil's Brigade scaled a mountain carrying more than 50 pounds of supplies and weapons to defeat the camp below in two hours, and they were known for infiltrating German trenches and slitting soldiers' throats, slapping stickers that read "The worst is yet to come," in German, on the dead men's helmets. Underground Development wanted to capture this essence for the game version of Devil's Brigade.

But, as history shows, players did understand Modern Warfare. When Devil's Brigade was ready for its final green light, it got lost in the shuffle of Infinity Ward's success and the Blizzard/Vivendi merger. Activision closed Underground Development in 2008 with nary a whisper about Devil's Brigade. For now, we have some screenshots of the game and the memories of throat-slitting action that could have been.

JoystiqCanned Call of Duty: Devil's Brigade was like Inglourious Basterds on steroids originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Call-of-DutyCall-of-Duty-4-Modern-WarfareCall-of-Duty-Devils-BrigadeCoD4Devils-BrigademicrosoftModern-Warfarepcplaystationps3Underground-DevelopmentWorld-War-IIwwIIxboxTue, 21 Feb 2012 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony: Call of Duty blasting onto Vita this fall]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/19/sony-call-of-duty-blasting-onto-vita-this-fall/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/19/sony-call-of-duty-blasting-onto-vita-this-fall/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/19/sony-call-of-duty-blasting-onto-vita-this-fall/#comments Call of Duty will be launching on Vita this fall, Sony's SVP of PlayStation Brand Marketing told Game Trailers in a video interview. SVP Guy Longworth, hired by Sony in October 2011, casually dropped the news about Vita's Call of Duty title, saying his kids love first-person shooters and "in the autumn, they're really looking forward to Call of Duty on Vita, and we think that's going to be an absolute game-changer for the platform."

When pressed for more details, Longworth said Sony wasn't ready to announce which title will be hitting Vita, but we bet it'll be the one with the guns during that war against those bad guys with strange accents.

JoystiqSony: Call of Duty blasting onto Vita this fall originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 19 Feb 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Call-of-Dutyfall-2012Guy-Longworthmobileplaystationplaystation-vitavitaSun, 19 Feb 2012 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Treyarch contract art studio employee lists 'Black Ops 2' among current projects [update: pulled!]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/17/treyarch-contract-art-studio-employee-lists-black-ops-2-among/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/17/treyarch-contract-art-studio-employee-lists-black-ops-2-among/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/17/treyarch-contract-art-studio-employee-lists-black-ops-2-among/#comments Hugo Beyer has worked on some major titles over the years (Beatles Rock Band, Anno 1404), including some still unreleased ones (Doom 4, Aliens: Colonial Marines), at a variety of studios (Terminal Reality, Liquid Development). What stands out to us, however, is his current work with Nerve Software on what he refers to as "Call of Duty: Black Ops 2," as seen on his public LinkedIn page.

"But who is Nerve Software?" you're probably wondering. Nerve has done a bunch of contract work for Activision in the past, including Treyarch-developed James Bond title Quantum of Solace, as well as ... Call of Duty: Black Ops (the first one).

So, there's one more lead in the "Activision and Treyarch are probably gonna release Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 this year" news cycle. Between domain registrations and reported retailer listings in Europe, we're thinking an announcement can't be too far off. Activision and Nerve Software had yet to respond to request for comment as of publishing.

Update: Mr. Beyer (or someone on his behalf) has taken down his LinkedIn page, it would seem. We've still yet to receive responses to comment requests from him, or Nerve Software, or Activision.

JoystiqTreyarch contract art studio employee lists 'Black Ops 2' among current projects [update: pulled!] originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblack-ops-2call-of-dutycall-of-duty-black-ops-2hugo-beyerlinkedinnerve-softwaretreyarchtreyarch-studiosFri, 17 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: 'Black Ops 2' listing spotted on Amazon France]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/17/report-black-ops-2-listing-spotted-on-amazon-france/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/17/report-black-ops-2-listing-spotted-on-amazon-france/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/17/report-black-ops-2-listing-spotted-on-amazon-france/#comments In an entirely unsurprising turn of events, a listing for "Call of Duty: Black Ops 2" reportedly popped up on Amazon France this week. GameBlog.fr spotted the listing and grabbed a screenshot (seen above) before it was allegedly pulled, which has resulted in a bit of a kerfuffle between Activision's French arm and the site.

Earlier this year we reported that Activision had already snapped up domain registrations for a variety of Black Ops sequels (all the way up to "Black Ops 6", actually), so the listing on Amazon France doesn't exactly come off as unbelievable. Nor is it a surprise to suppose Activision might want to capitalize on Treyarch's most financially successful -- not to mention critically acclaimed -- Call of Duty titles.

Activision's US reps have yet to get back to us when asked for comment.

[Image credit: GameBlog.fr]

JoystiqReport: 'Black Ops 2' listing spotted on Amazon France originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionamazonamazon-francecall-of-dutycall-of-duty-black-ops-2franceplaystationps3reporttreyarchtreyarch-studiosFri, 17 Feb 2012 13:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Call of Duty: Police Warfare is an outstanding, fan-made concept]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/13/call-of-duty-police-warfare-is-an-outstanding-fan-made-concept/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/13/call-of-duty-police-warfare-is-an-outstanding-fan-made-concept/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/13/call-of-duty-police-warfare-is-an-outstanding-fan-made-concept/#comments
An outstanding concept trailer for a downloadable game, dubbed Call of Duty: Police Warfare, has grabbed our attention and wrestled it to the ground -- no pepper spray needed. The only problem? It's just a fan-made concept trailer. Hey, Activision! Let's get it done!

JoystiqCall of Duty: Police Warfare is an outstanding, fan-made concept originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Call-of-Dutycall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3fanmademodern-warfare-3Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Kotick: New Call of Duty planned for 2012, Diablo 3 still launching this year [Update: Diablo 3 in Q2!]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/09/kotick-new-call-of-duty-planned-for-2012-diablo-3-still-launch/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/09/kotick-new-call-of-duty-planned-for-2012-diablo-3-still-launch/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/09/kotick-new-call-of-duty-planned-for-2012-diablo-3-still-launch/#comments As far as the first part of that headline goes, yeah, we know -- truly gasp-worthy. Activision head honcho Bobby Kotick revealed plans for a new Call of Duty in the company's quarterly financial report, and that Activision is aiming to grow the Call of Duty Elite service year. Activision is "hard at work on Elite 2.0 with several features to be included in the next Call of Duty release," Activision Publishing CEO Eric Hirshberg added.

Kotick also reiterated that Diablo 3 would launch this year -- though we're assuming it won't make its previous "early 2012" date, unless Activision's idea of early in the year is within the first six months. Diablo 3 has undergone a substantial beta run, and it's still underway.

"Our extraordinary employees around the world are focused on making 2012 another great year for our audience and stakeholders," Kotick said. "Blizzard Entertainment plans to have multiple highly-anticipated titles to release, including Diablo 3, and Activision Publishing expects to release a new Call of Duty game. In addition, Activision Publishing expects to continue to grow Call of Duty Elite and launch Skylanders Giants."

Update: A slide in Activision's presentation (seen above) shows the company is aiming for a Q2 launch for Diablo 3.

JoystiqKotick: New Call of Duty planned for 2012, Diablo 3 still launching this year [Update: Diablo 3 in Q2!] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblizzardbobby-kotickcall-of-dutyDiablo-3microsoftpcplaystationps3xboxThu, 09 Feb 2012 16:55:00 EST<![CDATA[MW3's next DLC drops from a skyscraper onto Xbox Elite members on Feb. 21]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/mw3s-next-dlc-drops-from-a-skyscraper-onto-xbox-elite-members-o/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/mw3s-next-dlc-drops-from-a-skyscraper-onto-xbox-elite-members-o/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/mw3s-next-dlc-drops-from-a-skyscraper-onto-xbox-elite-members-o/#comments Call of Duty Elite premium members playing Modern Warfare 3 on Xbox Live will receive the next batch of DLC, Overwatch, on February 21. Overwatch puts players in a construction site at the top of a New York City skyscraper, with a very real chance of dropping 70 feet to the sidewalk as an added risk. If you have trouble visualizing that, check out the gallery below.

The previous batch of downloadable content, Liberation and Piazza, is set to launch on PSN on February 28, having come out on Xbox Live in January, all in accordance with MW3's exclusivity deal with Microsoft. The next three batches of MW3 DLC will drop in March for Xbox premium members and will include the multiplayer map Black Box and two new Special Ops missions, Black Ice and Negotiator.

Gallery: Modern Warfare 3 (Call of Duty Elite: Overwatch)

JoystiqMW3's next DLC drops from a skyscraper onto Xbox Elite members on Feb. 21 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionCall-of-Dutycall-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3DLCeliteInfinity-Wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3overwatchpcplaystationpremiumps3xboxTue, 07 Feb 2012 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Written in the S.T.A.R.S.: Capcom dreams of CoD fans playing Resident Evil]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/20/written-in-the-s-t-a-r-s-capcom-dreams-of-cod-fans-playing-res/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/20/written-in-the-s-t-a-r-s-capcom-dreams-of-cod-fans-playing-res/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/20/written-in-the-s-t-a-r-s-capcom-dreams-of-cod-fans-playing-res/#comments

For those hoping Resident Evil 6 will play like a classic Resident Evil title, with more puzzles and less emphasis on (not) running and gunning -- look away now. Go watch the My Little Pony Skyrim mod and live in ignorant bliss for a while longer. You'll thank us later. Still here? All right, but we warned you:

Capcom UK Marketing head Dave Turner said Resident Evil wants to tap into the Call of Duty market with its coming titles, noting Operation Raccoon City in particular: "The dream would be that the millions of Call of Duty fans that are enjoying these fast-paced online games are attracted to this Resident Evil," Turner said.

Resident Evil has attracted more players since incorporating more action, with Resident Evil 5 leading the charge, Turner said. "We've seen the popularity of Resident Evil increase massively as the series became more action oriented -- Resident Evil 5 is the biggest seller in the series," he said. "So, it makes sense for us to follow this action area more fully."

Turner was speaking mostly with Operation Raccoon City in mind, it sounds like, although the trailer for Resident Evil 6 doesn't make it look like the riddle-ridden games of yore.

JoystiqWritten in the S.T.A.R.S.: Capcom dreams of CoD fans playing Resident Evil originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actionCall-of-DutyCapcommicrosoftpcplaystationps3puzzleresident-evil-6resident-evil-operation-raccoon-cityxboxFri, 20 Jan 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Zeitgeist puts Battlefield 3 in top ten rising searches, Black Ops tops gaming chart]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/17/google-zeitgeist-puts-battlefield-3-in-top-ten-rising-searches/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/17/google-zeitgeist-puts-battlefield-3-in-top-ten-rising-searches/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/17/google-zeitgeist-puts-battlefield-3-in-top-ten-rising-searches/#comments Google published its annual "Zeitgeist" report of the most popular searches and topics in 2011 this past week and for the first time ever, a game was included in the top ten fastest rising search terms of the year. Yes, as you've probably already guessed, it was "Gem Keeper." Wait, no, it was "Battlefield 3." EA's big shooter stirred up some interest, apparently, landing it right in between "Casey Anthony" and the "iPhone 5" in biggest gains in search popularity of the year.

When it comes to video games in North America, however, there's another title on top of the heap: "Black Ops" was the most searched-for term in the category, with "Call of Duty" coming soon after that. "Battlefield 3" didn't even make the list in the category numbers, so its overall search volume was actually lower than the Activision series. Don't count "Halo Reach" or "Super Mario" out either -- they show up at the third and fourth spots on the list in the gaming category.

And Google even shows us what 2011 searchers are most interested to play next year: "Diablo 3" and "Mass Effect 3" sit at the bottom of the list already for the most searched-for terms in gaming.

JoystiqGoogle Zeitgeist puts Battlefield 3 in top ten rising searches, Black Ops tops gaming chart originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 17 Dec 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbattlefield-3black-opscall-of-dutycall-of-duty-black-opseagooglegoogle-zeitgeistgoogle-zeitgeist-2011microsoftpcplaystationps3xboxSat, 17 Dec 2011 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Call of Duty and Battlefield face off in timeline]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/08/call-of-duty-and-battlefield-face-off-in-timeline/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/08/call-of-duty-and-battlefield-face-off-in-timeline/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/08/call-of-duty-and-battlefield-face-off-in-timeline/#comments A new infographic by Visual.ly does a good job comparing the success of the Call of Duty and Battlefield franchises. We use the term "comparing" here very loosely, as when the two are put side to side, there is no comparison when it comes to sales, despite EA's (recently toned down) rhetoric on the subject.

The timeline covers the sales and Metacritic ratings of the two franchises' multiple iterations over the near decade of their existence. It ends with EA's reported 5 million sales of Battlefield 3. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 launches tomorrow and, if recent history is any indication, it should be another Battlefield-obliterating sales juggernaut.

Continue reading Call of Duty and Battlefield face off in timeline

JoystiqCall of Duty and Battlefield face off in timeline originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 08 Nov 2011 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activision-BlizzardBattlefield-3call-of-dutycall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3eaElectronic-Artsinfinity-wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3pcplaystationps3xboxTue, 08 Nov 2011 02:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Treyarch reveals the behind-the-scenes story of Call of Duty: Black Ops]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/04/treyarch-reveals-the-behind-the-scenes-story-of-call-of-duty-bl/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/04/treyarch-reveals-the-behind-the-scenes-story-of-call-of-duty-bl/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/04/treyarch-reveals-the-behind-the-scenes-story-of-call-of-duty-bl/#comments Treyarch's Phil Tasker, Alex Conserva, Dan Bunting, and "Lvl 1 N00b" David Vonderhaar (in costume, with a cardboard nameplate above his head and a full-sized Trollface mask) took the stage at Call of Duty XP this weekend to do a behind-the-scenes talk on Call of Duty: Black Ops' multiplayer game, showing off some work-in-progress and unreleased maps, and answering players' questions about the game. Their well-scripted talk was interesting, though perhaps because most of the show is about the next game in the Call of Duty series, they didn't end up going too in-depth on production secrets.

They did, however, explain a little bit about the way multiplayer maps were created for the game. Initially, the developers just sit down with pen and paper to design the map and the flow, and then the map goes through a series of playtesting stages, starting out with temporary art and textures, and then moving on to more tweaks and details as time goes on. The "Summit" map was shown off throughout this process -- it started off as just two buildings on a rooftop, with an open path between them, but over time, the developers tried to open the map up a little more, and really show off to players that they were on a high mountaintop.

Continue reading Treyarch reveals the behind-the-scenes story of Call of Duty: Black Ops

JoystiqTreyarch reveals the behind-the-scenes story of Call of Duty: Black Ops originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 04 Sep 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionalex-contrerascall-of-dutyCall-of-Duty-Black-Opscall-of-duty-xpdan-buntingdavid-vonderhaardesignmicrosoftpcphil-taskerplaystationps3treyarchxboxSun, 04 Sep 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[OpTic Gaming wins the $400,000 prize in the Call of Duty XP Million Dollar tourney]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/04/optic-gaming-wins-the-400-000-prize-in-the-call-of-duty-xp-mill/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/04/optic-gaming-wins-the-400-000-prize-in-the-call-of-duty-xp-mill/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/04/optic-gaming-wins-the-400-000-prize-in-the-call-of-duty-xp-mill/#comments The prizes have been passed out at the Call of Duty XP Million Dollar Tournament in Los Angeles, and the US' OpTic Gaming has taken home first prize, totalling a whopping $400,000. OpTic picked up the lead early in the round of final matches, capturing flags on the Dome map in the first game, and picking up and holding two out of three points in the two Domination maps on Resistance after that. The UK team Infinity caused some trouble in the Kill Confirmed round (after winning a tiebreaker Team Deathmatch to make the finals), but OpTic dug in for the final rounds in Search and Destroy to win the tourney. "No college debt -- that's how I feel, baby!" said one of OpTic's players right after the match.

Infinity is stuck with second prize, which is "only" $200,000. Almost a quarter of a million dollars for playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3? Still not a bad weekend. The other big winner at the conference was Call of Duty fan Brandy Miller, whose picture won a competition on Facebook, and allowed her to take home that brand new Call of Duty edition Jeep Wrangler.

Everybody else? They won a few bruises from the paintball court outside. And oh yeah -- everybody who paid the $150 for a ticket (the proceeds of which go to the Call of Duty Endowment) also picks up a Hardened Edition of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. Along, of course, with all the hearing damage of listening to gunfire and explosions all weekend long.

JoystiqOpTic Gaming wins the $400,000 prize in the Call of Duty XP Million Dollar tourney originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 04 Sep 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>call-of-dutycall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3call-of-duty-xpcall-of-duty-xp-2011microsoftmillion-dollarsmodern-warfare-3pcplaystationps3tournamentxboxSun, 04 Sep 2011 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Filmmakers share the story behind Find Makarov and Operation Kingfish]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/03/filmmakers-share-the-story-behind-find-makarov-and-operation-kin/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/03/filmmakers-share-the-story-behind-find-makarov-and-operation-kin/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/03/filmmakers-share-the-story-behind-find-makarov-and-operation-kin/#comments
Among the festivities this weekend at Call of Duty XP in Los Angeles was the premiere of the second "Find Makarov" short film, subtitled "Operation Kingfish." In case you missed it on the live stream, you can watch the short above -- it's a segment set in between Call of Duty 4 and Modern Warfare 2, featuring part of the origin story for soldiers Soap and Price.

The filmmakers from digital agency We Can Pretend and visual effects company The Junction sat down with me here at the convention to chat about how Find Makarov originally came about, how Activision contributed to this Operation Kingfish followup, and what's next for these creatives and the Call of Duty brand on film.

Continue reading Filmmakers share the story behind Find Makarov and Operation Kingfish

JoystiqFilmmakers share the story behind Find Makarov and Operation Kingfish originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 03 Sep 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-dutycall-of-duty-xpcall-of-duty-xp-2011filmmakersfind-makarovModern-Warfare-2operation-kingfishthe-junctionvfxwe-can-pretendSat, 03 Sep 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Modern Warfare 3 multiplayer preview: Killer streaks]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/02/modern-warfare-3-multiplayer-preview/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/02/modern-warfare-3-multiplayer-preview/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/02/modern-warfare-3-multiplayer-preview/#comments
Call of Duty XP is currently underway in Los Angeles, CA. Last night, before the big event kicked off, Activision treated the press to a reveal of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3's multiplayer component. We'll jump you right to the bottom line: The core gameplay itself is a whole lot like the rest of the Call of Duty series, in that you grab a couple of weapons, sprint around a map, and try to shoot the bad guys as much as you can.

Where Modern Warfare 3's multiplayer differentiates itself, however, is outside of the actual game. In fact, says Infinity Ward's Community Manager-turned Creative Strategist Robert Bowling, the real steps forward in MW3 aren't in the game -- they're in the platform. "We designed it specifically to be that kind of experience," he says. "To basically go from designing a game to designing a platform that allows the widest audience possible to have fun any way they want to have fun. That was a major goal of Modern Warfare 3."

There are indeed multiple examples of that in the build playable at CoD XP this weekend. Infinity Ward has tweaked the metagame quite a bit, and made it possible to play the new sequel while chasing more than just a great K/D ratio.

Continue reading Modern Warfare 3 multiplayer preview: Killer streaks

JoystiqModern Warfare 3 multiplayer preview: Killer streaks originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Sep 2011 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-dutycall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3call-of-duty-xpcall-of-duty-xp-2011cod-xpinfinity-wardkillstreaksmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3multiplayerpcplaystationprogressionps3robert-bowlingsledgehammer-gamesxboxFri, 02 Sep 2011 15:32:00 EST<![CDATA['Destiny' and 'Be Brave' trademarks officially in Bungie's hands]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/09/destiny-and-be-brave-trademarks-officially-in-bungies-hands/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/09/destiny-and-be-brave-trademarks-officially-in-bungies-hands/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/09/destiny-and-be-brave-trademarks-officially-in-bungies-hands/#comments We're still in the dark about Bungie's next game, but if it's nearly as compelling as the team's current project, "Guess Our Next Game," we're all in for a treat. Today's update comes from Halo.Bungie.Org, which reports that "Be Brave" and "Destiny" (previously trademarked to a dummy corporation owned by Bungie staffers) are now the official property of the company.

But wait, we've got more than legal maneuverings here! Misriah Solutions has put together a wonderfully thorough scouring of the new Bungie vidoc "O Brave New World" filled with plenty of eagle-eyed observations and just a little bit of conjecture.

Also, guys? It's a Call of Duty game. Accept it, embrace it, move on.

[Thanks, Josh.]

Joystiq'Destiny' and 'Be Brave' trademarks officially in Bungie's hands originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 Aug 2011 12:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbe-bravebungiecall-of-dutycall-of-duty-ring-worldcall-of-duty-ring-world-reflex-editioncall-of-duty-ring-world-van-halendestinymicrosoftplaystationps3xboxTue, 09 Aug 2011 12:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Modern Warfare 3: Defiance heading to DS from mobile CoD vets, n-Space]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/09/modern-warfare-3-defiance-heading-to-ds-from-mobile-cod-vets-n/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/09/modern-warfare-3-defiance-heading-to-ds-from-mobile-cod-vets-n/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/09/modern-warfare-3-defiance-heading-to-ds-from-mobile-cod-vets-n/#comments The scrappy contractors at indie dev N-Space are once again creating the Nintendo DS version of the latest Call of Duty, this time titled Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3: Defiance. The DS game -- which we will never again refer to by its full, double-coloned name -- was discussed by Activision Social Media Manager Dan Amrich on his One of Swords site. This marks the fifth CoD-branded project being completed by the stuidio for Activision.

Meanwhile, IGN discovered the "Defiance" subtitle, and spotted an especially interesting note on N-Space's Facebook page that offered a bit of explanation as to why Defiance isn't being made for Nintendo's newest handheld. "You guys all need to understand that we make the games we are hired to make," a company representative said. "It is not our call to decide which platforms to support. Obviously we are big 3DS fans and supporters as we have three titles in development."

Defiance will likely arrive around the same time as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, on November 8.

JoystiqModern Warfare 3: Defiance heading to DS from mobile CoD vets, n-Space originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-dutycall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3call-of-duty-modern-warfare-3-defiancedsn-spacenintendoq4-2011release-dateTue, 09 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Call of Duty: Black Ops has sold 25M, Modern Warfare 2 at 22M]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/call-of-duty-black-ops-has-sold-25m-modern-warfare-2-at-22m/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/call-of-duty-black-ops-has-sold-25m-modern-warfare-2-at-22m/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/call-of-duty-black-ops-has-sold-25m-modern-warfare-2-at-22m/#comments While gaming still looks for its Citizen Kane, it has already found its McDonalds: Activision Publishing CEO Eric Hirshberg said on an earnings call today that the last two entries in the Call of Duty series, Modern Warfare 2 and Black Ops, have sold 22 and 25 million units respectively.

The numbers may look impressive on the outside, but they don't answer the big question. Namely: What's the K/D spread?

JoystiqCall of Duty: Black Ops has sold 25M, Modern Warfare 2 at 22M originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionCall-of-Dutycall-of-duty-black-opsinfinity-wardmicrosoftpcplaystationps3salesTreyarchxboxWed, 03 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Watch Major League Gaming's Anaheim Championship Sunday live, right here on Joystiq]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/31/watch-major-league-gamings-anaheim-championship-sunday-live-ri/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/31/watch-major-league-gamings-anaheim-championship-sunday-live-ri/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/31/watch-major-league-gamings-anaheim-championship-sunday-live-ri/#comments
Strap on your beer-hats and huge foam fingers, e-sports fans, because Major League Gaming's Anaheim Championship Sunday is under way, and you can catch all the fragging, pylon-constructing action right here on Joystiq. Championship matches for Starcraft 2, Halo: Reach, and Call of Duty: Black Ops will take place all day long on 4 different streams, so make sure you've got enough overpriced concession-stand munchies to last you a while.

Head on through for the day's full schedule, and be sure to let us know how you feel about competitive gaming coverage on Joystiq, either in the comments or in the poll. This sort of post is a new jam for us, and if you like it, we'll do more!

Continue reading Watch Major League Gaming's Anaheim Championship Sunday live, right here on Joystiq

JoystiqWatch Major League Gaming's Anaheim Championship Sunday live, right here on Joystiq originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 31 Jul 2011 16:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anaheimcall-of-dutycall-of-duty-black-opschampionship-sundaycompetitive-gaminghalohalo-reachlive-streamlive-streamingmajor-league-gamingmicrosoftMLGpcplaystationpro-gamingps3starcraft-2Starcraft-2-Wings-of-LibertyxboxSun, 31 Jul 2011 16:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Infinity Ward on MW2's convoluted story, and how plot is addressed in MW3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/15/infinity-wards-bowling-on-mw2s-convoluted-story-and-how-plot/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/15/infinity-wards-bowling-on-mw2s-convoluted-story-and-how-plot/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/15/infinity-wards-bowling-on-mw2s-convoluted-story-and-how-plot/#comments At a Modern Warfare 3 preview event this morning 50 floors above Central Park, Infinity Ward creative strategist Robert Bowling spoke with me about a variety of IW-related topics. Ranging from MW2's controversial "No Russian" level, to the importance of the Modern Warfare series' running plot threads in the eyes of both IW devs and gamers alike, Bowling took a proud and optimistic stance on the franchise's less-than-clear "Task Force 141" storyline.

"For the single-player campaign, especially for Modern Warfare 3 more than ever -- this is the payoff for the investment that people have put in since Call of Duty 4," Bowling began. Though he explained that IW has been "learning new ways to tell stories and learning new ways to deliver experiences" across the development of all three games, it's his belief that MW3 "is the payoff to all those lessons learned."

Speaking briefly to the flawed, often convoluted plot of Modern Warfare 2, Bowling admitted, "Every game we put out, we sit back and we look at 'What can we do better? What areas can we focus on to bump the experience up?' And story was one of those coming out of MW2." To him, as MW3 is the focal point for the series thus far -- especially in terms of plot -- the goal is to tell "one hell of a story." Specifically, "we want it to build up on the key themes that we started in MW2, but really polish that storytelling ability."

For me, that aim played out immediately in the single-player hands-off demo I was given. Less than five minutes in, two separate keys were required to launch missiles from a hijacked Russian submarine -- and two separate individuals turned those keys, more or less directly mocking the massively unbelievable nuke launch moment with Captain Price from Modern Warfare 2.

Continue reading Infinity Ward on MW2's convoluted story, and how plot is addressed in MW3

JoystiqInfinity Ward on MW2's convoluted story, and how plot is addressed in MW3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 15 Jul 2011 17:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>call-of-dutycall-of-duty-modern-warfare-2call-of-duty-modern-warfare-3infinity-wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-2modern-warfare-3no-russianpcplaystationps3robert-bowlingxboxFri, 15 Jul 2011 17:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Call of Duty XP reveals ticket sale timing, event map]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/14/call-of-duty-xp-reveals-ticket-sale-timing-event-map/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/14/call-of-duty-xp-reveals-ticket-sale-timing-event-map/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/14/call-of-duty-xp-reveals-ticket-sale-timing-event-map/#comments We knew tickets for the Call of Duty XP 2011 gathering in L.A. would go on sale July 19th, but for fans who spend hours tweaking which sight works best on their assault rifle, that level of specificity just isn't enough. Activision has announced that the $150 tickets (good for both Sept. 2 and 3) will go on sale at 1 p.m. EDT sharp on the event's official site.

The XP homebase has also been updated with some more information about the $1 million on-site CoD tournament and a full map of the event. Do us a favor, though: If you immediately start scanning the floor plan for the best sniping spots and choke points, maybe just, you know, stay home. Just to be safe.

JoystiqCall of Duty XP reveals ticket sale timing, event map originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-dutycall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3call-of-duty-xpcall-of-duty-xp-2011microsoftmodern-warfare-3pcplaystationps3xboxThu, 14 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sign up for the Call of Duty Elite beta now]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/31/sign-up-for-the-call-of-duty-elite-beta-now/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/31/sign-up-for-the-call-of-duty-elite-beta-now/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/31/sign-up-for-the-call-of-duty-elite-beta-now/#comments As Activision steps into the bold new future of online social stuff with Call of Duty Elite, it's giving you the opportunity to see that future in ... the nearer future. A page just opened offering signups for a closed beta.

You just need your birthdate, your console preference (which may require some soul-searching!) and your email address. Oh, and you need a copy of Call of Duty: Black Ops, the game to which the beta is tied. But you probably have one of those already.

JoystiqSign up for the Call of Duty Elite beta now originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 31 May 2011 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betacall-of-dutyCall-of-Duty-Black-Opscall-of-duty-eliteinfinity-wardmicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxTue, 31 May 2011 14:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Modern Warfare 3 gameplay trailer arrives, reveals November 8 launch date]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/modern-warfare-3-gameplay-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/modern-warfare-3-gameplay-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/modern-warfare-3-gameplay-trailer/#comments A new trailer for Modern Warfare 3 has surfaced, showing not only a war-torn United States, but a war-torn world -- oh, and a launch date: November 8, 2011. Why are you still reading? Jump past the break to complete your first recon op for gameplay footage!

Continue reading Modern Warfare 3 gameplay trailer arrives, reveals November 8 launch date

JoystiqModern Warfare 3 gameplay trailer arrives, reveals November 8 launch date originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 May 2011 19:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-dutycall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3fpsinfinity-wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3pcplaystationps3raven-softwaresledgehammer-gamesxboxMon, 23 May 2011 19:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 teaser trailer sees 'America under siege' (update: more teasers!)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/13/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-3-teaser-trailer-sees-america-unde/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/13/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-3-teaser-trailer-sees-america-unde/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/13/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-3-teaser-trailer-sees-america-unde/#comments Just hours after new details on the game came to light, Activision has launched the first of likely many teaser trailers for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 via Facebook. Subtitled "America Under Siege," the all-too-brief clip drives home the fact that a focus of the modern combat occurring in this installment will be the USA's own front lawn.

Enough explaining -- you can watch the 30 second video (reminiscent of the one used to debut Modern Warfare 2 in 2009) after the break, after which we're sure you'll have all sorts of plot theories to share in comments. Make us proud!

Update: We've added three more clips from Activision just after the break, teasing France, England, and Germany.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Continue reading Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 teaser trailer sees 'America under siege' (update: more teasers!)

JoystiqCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 teaser trailer sees 'America under siege' (update: more teasers!) originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 13 May 2011 20:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionactivision-blizzardCall-of-Dutycall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3fpsInfinity-Wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3pcplaystationps3xboxFri, 13 May 2011 20:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Kotick: Microtransaction-based Call of Duty 'just for China' [update]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/09/call-of-duty-micro-transaction-game-china/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/09/call-of-duty-micro-transaction-game-china/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/09/call-of-duty-micro-transaction-game-china/#comments The microtransaction-based Call of Duty game Activision is making for China, first announced in a February investor conference call (and in the presentation that went along with it) is, at least for now, unlikely to leave China. Though, of course, the door's open.

Answering a question during an investor conference call, Activision CEO Bobby Kotick called the game "specific for the Chinese audiences," and clarified, "The product that we announced today is being developed just for China." Kotick added, "That's not to say it might not have applicability elsewhere, but what we're doing right now is focused on China."

The "applicability" could refer to integrating the free-to-play model with other, Western-focused iterations of Call of Duty (which would make sense given the Beachhead-developed "digital platform" in the works) -- or even an eventual localization of that game.

[Update: A previous iteration of this post, published before Kotick made these comments, presented the free-to-play Call of Duty as a new announcement, when it had actually been first announced in February.]

JoystiqKotick: Microtransaction-based Call of Duty 'just for China' [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 09 May 2011 16:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionasiabeachheadcall-of-dutycall-of-duty-onlinechinapcMon, 09 May 2011 16:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Black Ops: Call of the Dead's Wunderwaffe-ful Easter egg revealed]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/05/black-ops-call-of-the-deads-wunderwaffe-ful-easter-egg-reveale/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/05/black-ops-call-of-the-deads-wunderwaffe-ful-easter-egg-reveale/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/05/black-ops-call-of-the-deads-wunderwaffe-ful-easter-egg-reveale/#comments It's no secret that the new Call of the Dead map for Call of Duty: Black Ops packs some major star power, but it also contains some well-hidden firepower. NextGenTactics details how to unlock the map's secret Wunderwaffe DG-2, an Achievement and some hilarious cameos in the video after the break.

Continue reading Black Ops: Call of the Dead's Wunderwaffe-ful Easter egg revealed

JoystiqBlack Ops: Call of the Dead's Wunderwaffe-ful Easter egg revealed originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 05 May 2011 20:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activisioncall-of-dutyCall-of-Duty-Black-Opscall-of-the-deadEaster-eggfpsmicrosoftpcplaystationps3tipsTreyarchtrickWunderwaffexboxThu, 05 May 2011 20:20:00 EST