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[Lamia says Black Ops 2 visuals a priority, downplays age of engine]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/lamia-says-black-ops-2-visuals-a-priority-downplays-age-of-engi/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/lamia-says-black-ops-2-visuals-a-priority-downplays-age-of-engi/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/lamia-says-black-ops-2-visuals-a-priority-downplays-age-of-engi/#comments At this point, a portion of the current conversation surrounding Black Ops 2 is in regards to the engine powering it, version 3.0 of the Infinity Ward (IW) engine - IW 3.0 powered Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Call of Duty: World at War and the original Black Ops. If you're worried the visuals in Black Ops 2 won't be up to snuff, Treyarch head Mark Lamia assures us all the engine has seen numerous tweaks, downplaying its age in a recent audio interview summed up over on One of Swords.

Lamia said "a pretty significant amount of work" in Black Ops 2 is going into the graphics and the lighting. "I think what people are asking for is for us to push. They want us to make a better-looking game; they want things. I don't think those are things people can't ask for. We asked ourselves that very same question - we wanted to advance the graphics. I think the questions are valid. The answer may not need to be an entirely new engine, but you might need to do an entire overhaul of your entire lighting system. The trick is, we're not willing to do that if we can't keep it running at 60 frames per second - but we did that this time."

Lamia gave an analogy akin to remodeling a home - not with a rocket launcher, but rather he talked about sectioning off parts of the metaphorical house for more local improvements. "There's a lot of good still in that foundation that you wouldn't get rid of, and we don't. We look to advance in the areas that support our game design. Engines, each time they get touched, they change. The creators alter them; they don't modify what they don't need to, and then they alter what they need to. You can't make a competitive product if you're not upgrading that engine along the way."

JoystiqLamia says Black Ops 2 visuals a priority, downplays age of engine originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 15 May 2012 02:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-duty-black-ops-2iw-3iw-3.0mark-lamiamicrosoftpcplaystationps3treyarchxboxTue, 15 May 2012 02:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the scenes of Modern Warfare 3's 'Face Off' DLC and Content Collection 2]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/12/behind-the-scenes-of-modern-warfare-3s-face-off-dlc-and-conte/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/12/behind-the-scenes-of-modern-warfare-3s-face-off-dlc-and-conte/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/12/behind-the-scenes-of-modern-warfare-3s-face-off-dlc-and-conte/#comments Image
Modern Warfare 3's upcoming Face Off mode isn't set hit to Xbox 360-enabled living rooms until next Wednesday, May 16, but it's never too soon to start using promotional materials (like the behind the scenes video above and screenshots below) to start memorizing map layouts. This is war, dammit, and you need every possible advantage you can get to survive. Don't come crawling back to us when you've been blasted to the bottom of the leaderboards, riddled with shame bullets from the hand cannons of someone who actually took the time to prepare.

... Watching the video because you enjoy development diaries and/or have a casual interest in Modern Warfare games is also acceptable.

Gallery: Modern Warfare 3 (Face-off Content Collection)

JoystiqBehind the scenes of Modern Warfare 3's 'Face Off' DLC and Content Collection 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 12 May 2012 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activisioncall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3Content-Collection-2Face-OffInfinity-Wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3MW3pcplaystationps3sledgehammer-gamesTreyarchxboxSat, 12 May 2012 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Modern Warfare 3 getting free 'Face Off' mode, non-free Content Collection 2]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/modern-warfare-3-getting-free-face-off-mode-non-free-content/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/modern-warfare-3-getting-free-face-off-mode-non-free-content/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/modern-warfare-3-getting-free-face-off-mode-non-free-content/#comments Image
A new way of murdering your friends and/or strangers is coming to the Xbox 360 version of Modern Warfare 3 on May 15, in the form of "Face Off" mode. Face Off has been designed for 1v1 or 2v2 firefights, with its four maps built specifically for small, close-quarters battle between a small number of soldiers. The two free maps launching with the new mode, Aground and Erosion, take place on a beached ship on the coast of Scotland and on the Italian coast during a volcanic eruption, respectively. PlayStation 3 and PC dates for Face Off have yet to be determined.

A new Content Collection is also on its way, available to Call of Duty Elite subscribers on May 15 and everyone else (with an Xbox) on May 21. Content Collection 2 includes three new multiplayer maps (Sanctuary, Foundation and Oasis), as well as two new Spec Ops missions (Iron Clad, Kill Switch) and the other two Face Off maps, Getaway and Lookout. As per usual, PS3 and PC dates are indeterminate, but everyone is welcome to take a peek at the new jams courtesy of IGN's trailer above.

JoystiqModern Warfare 3 getting free 'Face Off' mode, non-free Content Collection 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 10 May 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activisioncall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3Content-Collection-2DLCFace-OffInfinity-Wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3MW3pcplaystationps3sledgehammer-gamesTreyarchxboxThu, 10 May 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Call of Duty Elite reaches 10 million users, 2 million paid subscriptions]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/call-of-duty-elite-reaches-10-million-users-2-million-paid-subs/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/call-of-duty-elite-reaches-10-million-users-2-million-paid-subs/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/call-of-duty-elite-reaches-10-million-users-2-million-paid-subs/#comments

Activision's Call of Duty Elite service puts another feather in its very busy cap today with a reported total of 10 million users, two million of which are paid subscribers. This is an increase of three million and 500,000, respectively, since last Activision dished out some numbers in February.

The latest earnings report says it's "an increase of approximately 33% from January 31, 2012." As of March 31, Activision has 40 million monthly active users across all Call of Duty products and platforms.

JoystiqCall of Duty Elite reaches 10 million users, 2 million paid subscriptions originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 09 May 2012 16:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3infinity-wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3pcplaystationps3Raven-Softwaresledgehammer-gamestreyarchxboxWed, 09 May 2012 16:53:00 EST<![CDATA[New Black Ops 2 art teases Zombies mode]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/03/new-black-ops-2-art-teases-zombies-mode/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/03/new-black-ops-2-art-teases-zombies-mode/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/03/new-black-ops-2-art-teases-zombies-mode/#comments ImageBlack Ops 2 brings back Treyarch's personal twist on Call of Duty, namely Zombies. The official Twitter account issued this image, teasing a shotgun-toting female. It's not the first time a woman had to get her hands dirty, though we think this one took the phrase a bit too literally.

JoystiqNew Black Ops 2 art teases Zombies mode originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 03 May 2012 21:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-duty-black-ops-2microsoftpcplaystationps3treyarchxboxThu, 03 May 2012 21:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Amazon: Black Ops 2 day one pre-orders higher than Black Ops, Modern Warfare 3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/03/amazon-black-ops-2-day-one-pre-orders-higher-than-black-ops-mo/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/03/amazon-black-ops-2-day-one-pre-orders-higher-than-black-ops-mo/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/03/amazon-black-ops-2-day-one-pre-orders-higher-than-black-ops-mo/#comments Amazon's pre-order numbers indicate Activsion's Call of Duty gravy train is still going full steam. Earlier today, Amazon UK told MCV that Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 pre-orders were three times higher than its predecessor, Black Ops, two years ago. We wanted to know if that anticipation crossed the pond.

"Pre-orders from day one of Black Ops 2 were more than ten times the amount of pre-orders for the first Black Ops on its first day of availability," Amazon US told Joystiq this afternoon, but that's not all the buzz.

"Black Ops 2 even out pre-ordered the first day of availability for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 by more than 30 percent. Modern Warfare 3 currently holds the record for the most pre-ordered game of all time and was amongst the top 20 pre-orders ever on Amazon.com, including books and movies."

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 went on to gross over $775 million globally in five days, flying past Call of Duty: Black Ops' $650 million record and the $550 million record before it, set by Modern Warfare 2.

JoystiqAmazon: Black Ops 2 day one pre-orders higher than Black Ops, Modern Warfare 3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 03 May 2012 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionamazoncall-of-duty-black-ops-2microsoftpcplaystationps3TreyarchxboxThu, 03 May 2012 18:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 video tells of our terrifying future]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/02/call-of-duty-black-ops-2-video-tells-of-our-terrifying-future/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/02/call-of-duty-black-ops-2-video-tells-of-our-terrifying-future/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/02/call-of-duty-black-ops-2-video-tells-of-our-terrifying-future/#comments
In which Activision does its damnedest to make sure you never sleep soundly again.

JoystiqCall of Duty: Black Ops 2 video tells of our terrifying future originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 02 May 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-duty-black-ops-2microsoftpcplaystationps3treyarchxboxWed, 02 May 2012 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Pre-order Black Ops 2 at GameStop, receive poster, Prestige token, future goodies]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/02/pre-order-black-ops-2-at-gamestop-receive-poster-prestige-toke/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/02/pre-order-black-ops-2-at-gamestop-receive-poster-prestige-toke/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/02/pre-order-black-ops-2-at-gamestop-receive-poster-prestige-toke/#comments Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 has officially existed for barely over a day, and as the internet hype machine slowly begins to whirl up to speed, so too does the uproarious clamor from our nation's retailers, hell-bent on claiming custody over your Call of Duty consumer commitment.

Predictably, Gamestop is the first out of the gate with enticements to earn your dollars, with pre-order bonuses that come in waves - four to be precise - the first of which is active now. Securing your future purchase of Black Ops 2 during the first wave will net you an "exclusive, limited edition two-sided poster," as well as a Prestige token for Modern Warfare 3 and all of the subsequent pre-order bonuses offered during waves two, three and four.

Continue reading Pre-order Black Ops 2 at GameStop, receive poster, Prestige token, future goodies

JoystiqPre-order Black Ops 2 at GameStop, receive poster, Prestige token, future goodies originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 02 May 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activisioncall-of-duty-black-ops-2Gamestopmicrosoftpcplaystationpre-orderpre-order-bonusps3TreyarchxboxWed, 02 May 2012 14:00:00 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[Modern Warfare 3 'Content Collection' coming to PC in May]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/28/modern-warfare-3-content-collection-coming-to-pc-in-may/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/28/modern-warfare-3-content-collection-coming-to-pc-in-may/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/28/modern-warfare-3-content-collection-coming-to-pc-in-may/#comments A bundle of Modern Warfare 3 DLC will finally make it to PC hard drives on May 8, delivering sustenance to starving hearts and under-used high-DPI mice the world over. The "Content Collection" pack includes four maps (Black Box, Piazza, Liberation, Overwatch) and two Spec Ops missions (Negotiator, Black Ice).

If any of that sounds familiar, it's because all of this DLC was already released on the PS3 earlier this month, and on the 360 back in March. Activision has yet to announce pricing for the pack, but if its console counterparts are any indication, it'll probably run somewhere around $15 bucks.

JoystiqModern Warfare 3 'Content Collection' coming to PC in May originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 28 Apr 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activisioncall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3Content-Collection-1DLCInfinity-Wardmodern-warfare-3pcsledgehammer-gamesTreyarchSat, 28 Apr 2012 19:30:00 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[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[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[PS3 CoD Elite premium members to get new old maps in February]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/ps3-call-of-duty-elite-dlc-release-date/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/ps3-call-of-duty-elite-dlc-release-date/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/ps3-call-of-duty-elite-dlc-release-date/#comments Players with a paid Call of Duty Elite membership on Playstation 3 will be able to snag two new Modern Warfare 3 maps, Liberation and Piazza, on February 28. Both maps launched for Xbox 360 Elite premium members on January 24, and we presume they will come to non-Elite and PC players eventually -- possibly another month after the PS3 version goes live.

Or possibly another two months, just to really rub it in, like the below screens for Liberation and Piazza will do.

Gallery: Modern Warfare 3 - Call of Duty Elite Season Content (Liberation and Piazza)

JoystiqPS3 CoD Elite premium members to get new old maps in February originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activisioncall-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3eliteInfinity-Wardliberationmapsmodern-warfare-3piazzaplaystationpremiumps3sledgehammer-gamesTreyarchThu, 02 Feb 2012 13:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Modern Warfare 3 holiday numbers indicate franchise sales decline in UK]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/modern-warfare-3-holiday-numbers-indicate-franchise-sales-declin/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/modern-warfare-3-holiday-numbers-indicate-franchise-sales-declin/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/modern-warfare-3-holiday-numbers-indicate-franchise-sales-declin/#comments While the Call of Duty franchise has enjoyed year-over-year growth in terms of worldwide sales, numbers released this week for the UK tell a different story for that particular region. According to the UK's Entertainment Retailers Association, Modern Warfare 3 moved 2,814,298 units between launch on November 8 and December 31, 2011, while Call of Duty's 2010 entry, Black Ops, sold 3,266,298 across the same holiday sales period in the previous year.

That's a decline of 452,000 units from Treyarch-developed Black Ops in 2010 to Infinity Ward/Sledgehammer Games-developed Modern Warfare 3 in 2011, though the latter was the fastest entertainment property in history to reach $1 billion in sales. As MCV points out, FIFA sales were also in decline in the UK, with nearly 200K fewer copies sold during 2011 than in 2010. All that said, let's not lose any sleep over the declines -- both CoD and FIFA's 2011 entries sold in the many millions in just the UK, let alone worldwide.

JoystiqModern Warfare 3 holiday numbers indicate franchise sales decline in UK originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-duty-black-opscall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3fifafifa-11fifa-12infinity-wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3pcplaystationps3salessledgehammer-gamestreyarchukunited-kingdomxboxThu, 12 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Activision scoops up blackops2.com]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/report-activision-scoops-up-blackops2-com/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/report-activision-scoops-up-blackops2-com/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/report-activision-scoops-up-blackops2-com/#comments Activision, by proxy, has bought BlackOps2.com. Fusible did the detective work on this, which posits Activision bought up Black Ops domains last year -- up to Black Ops 6 -- through brand protection company MarkMonitor. Black Ops 2 domains were missing from the previous list, but it appears that's being rectified.

Now, none of this guarantees that Black Ops 2 is on the way as this year's Call of Duty, but it does mean that MarkMonitor is under orders to protect the brand for the future.

Call of Duty: Black Ops had a record-breaking debut of $650 million in sales during its first week at retail in 2010, which it held for one year until Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 crushed that with $775 million.

JoystiqReport: Activision scoops up blackops2.com originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionCall-of-Duty-Black-OpsCall-of-Duty-Black-Ops-2microsoftnintendoplaystationps3TreyarchwiixboxMon, 09 Jan 2012 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Best of the Rest: Arthur's picks of 2011]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/03/best-of-the-rest-arthurs-picks-of-2011/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/03/best-of-the-rest-arthurs-picks-of-2011/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/03/best-of-the-rest-arthurs-picks-of-2011/#comments Battlefield 3
I love Battlefield 3. I love it almost as much as it seems to hate its players.

At least, that's the way it feels sometimes, trying to get into a game, trying to get correctly squaded up, trying to find a server with room, having to use a server browser on consoles in 2011, downloading 2 GIGABYTE patches ... y u no luv me, BF3?

But when it does love me, it loves me so well ... and there I go, into that cycle of abuse again.

Continue reading Best of the Rest: Arthur's picks of 2011

JoystiqBest of the Rest: Arthur's picks of 2011 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 03 Jan 2012 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activisionassassins-creed-revelationsbattlefield-3BF3bulletstormcall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3DICEEAforza-4forza-motorsport-4infinity-wardMGSmicrosoftMicrosoft-Game-Studiosmodern-warfare-3pcpeople-can-flyplaystationps3rayman-originsRelic-Entertainmentsledgehammer-gamesTHQtoy-soldiers-cold-warTreyarchubisoftUbisoft-MontpellierUbisoft-Montrealwarhammer-40k-space-marinexboxTue, 03 Jan 2012 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Modern Warfare 3 and the rest of the CoD family on sale today at Amazon]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/modern-warfare-3-and-the-rest-of-the-cod-family-on-sale-today-at/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/modern-warfare-3-and-the-rest-of-the-cod-family-on-sale-today-at/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/modern-warfare-3-and-the-rest-of-the-cod-family-on-sale-today-at/#comments Many, many people have already picked up copies of this year's Call of Duty entry, Modern Warfare 3. This we know. But what about those of you hoping against logic that the game -- one of the fastest selling media properties of all time -- would drop its price relatively close to launch? Bizarrely, your time has come, with Amazon offering Modern Warfare 3 for $50 (10 percent off) across Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC, today only.

In fact, the entire stable of Call of Duty titles are on sale (not to mention various DS and Wii iterations) going all the way back to Modern Warfare 1. Amazon promises a day of Assassin's Creed savings tomorrow, so perhaps holding off on a purchase of Revelations this afternoon would be a smart move.

JoystiqModern Warfare 3 and the rest of the CoD family on sale today at Amazon originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionamazoncall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3dsinfinity-wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3nintendopcplaystationps3sledgehammer-gamestreyarchwiixboxMon, 12 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Call of Duty: Black Ops has moved 20 million map packs to date]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/09/call-of-duty-black-ops-has-moved-20-million-map-packs-to-date/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/09/call-of-duty-black-ops-has-moved-20-million-map-packs-to-date/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/09/call-of-duty-black-ops-has-moved-20-million-map-packs-to-date/#comments Call of Duty: Black Ops has sold 20 million map packs to date. Activision Publishing CEO Eric Hirshberg noted the latest figure during yesterday's conference call, where the publisher announced strong revenues for the quarter.

"For the first nine months of the year, Black Ops has remained the number one title in the U.S. and Europe, generating more revenue than any new major console release," Hirshberg stated. "The revenues generated from map packs alone would make it the third largest console title of the year."

Black Ops received four map packs after launch, which Hirshberg said, "Further demonstrates that there is continued consumer interest in the content even 11 months after the launch, making playing Call of Duty truly a year-round activity for millions of our fans."

Activision announced 18 million Black Ops map packs were sold back in September, before the final sales push of the Rezurrection pack completed.

JoystiqCall of Duty: Black Ops has moved 20 million map packs to date originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 09 Nov 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionActivision-BlizzardCall-of-Duty-Black-Opsmicrosoftpcplaystationps3TreyarchxboxWed, 09 Nov 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Black Ops: Rezurrection's Zombie Labs enter Phase 2]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/19/black-ops-rezurrections-zombie-labs-enter-phase-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/19/black-ops-rezurrections-zombie-labs-enter-phase-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/19/black-ops-rezurrections-zombie-labs-enter-phase-2/#comments First the scientists working in the Call of Duty: Black Ops: Rezurrection labs disgusted us with their blood lust. Now, they've gone so far with their undead re-deadening that they've actually turned us pro-zombie. Join us in our cause and avoid the DLC at all costs when it arrives on Sept. 22.

JoystiqBlack Ops: Rezurrection's Zombie Labs enter Phase 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 23:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionCall-of-Duty-Black-Opsmicrosoftpcplaystationps3TreyarchxboxMon, 19 Sep 2011 23:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Call of Duty: Black Ops' Rezurrection DLC hitting PC and PS3 next week]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/12/call-of-duty-black-ops-rezurrection-dlc-hitting-pc-and-ps3-nex/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/12/call-of-duty-black-ops-rezurrection-dlc-hitting-pc-and-ps3-nex/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/12/call-of-duty-black-ops-rezurrection-dlc-hitting-pc-and-ps3-nex/#comments PS3 and PC gamers have shamefully allowed the undead to bounce across the surface of our lunar satellite for far too long -- next Thursday, their extraterrestrial galavanting must come to an end. Activision has announced that the Call of Duty: Black Ops Rezurrection DLC pack, which adds five Zombie maps to the game (including the entirely ridiculous Moon stage), will arrive on PC and PS3 Thursday, September 22.

You'll be able to grab the pack and its constituent Zombie-slaying grounds for $14.99. Activision's also distributing double experience during the immediately following weekend, September 23 - 25, on the off chance that you haven't Prestiged like, a billion times by now.

Continue reading Call of Duty: Black Ops' Rezurrection DLC hitting PC and PS3 next week

JoystiqCall of Duty: Black Ops' Rezurrection DLC hitting PC and PS3 next week originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Sep 2011 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionCall-of-Duty-Black-Opsdlcpcplaystationps3release-datetreyarchMon, 12 Sep 2011 15:29:00 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[Rumor: Modern Warfare 3 will host 32-player matches, new Bomb mode]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/29/rumor-modern-warfare-3-will-host-32-player-matches-new-bomb-mo/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/29/rumor-modern-warfare-3-will-host-32-player-matches-new-bomb-mo/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/29/rumor-modern-warfare-3-will-host-32-player-matches-new-bomb-mo/#comments Possible leak from Call of Duty XP SFX-360 spotted a YouTube video supposedly posted by someone who snuck into the Call of Duty XP setup on Los Angeles' west side and got a glance at some of the menus for the multiplayer mode. Most intriguing: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 might offer 32-player matches, which would be on a larger scale than the series has yet offered. 13 map names were also listed on the video, and in addition to the standard Team Deathmatch gameplay, there was also a mode simply called "Bomb." Its mechanics are yet unknown.

The good news is that we'll know for sure how legit this all is by Friday - that's when Call of Duty XP officially opens up to those who bought the $150 tickets for the show. Didn't get yours? Don't worry - they're still on sale right now. And even if you can't make it, we'll be there in attendance all weekend long to see what Activision has planned.

JoystiqRumor: Modern Warfare 3 will host 32-player matches, new Bomb mode originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3infinity-wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3multiplayerpcplaystationps3treyarchxboxMon, 29 Aug 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Call of Duty: Black Ops Rezurrection video takes you to the labs]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/18/call-of-duty-black-ops-rezurrection-video-takes-you-to-the-labs/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/18/call-of-duty-black-ops-rezurrection-video-takes-you-to-the-labs/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/18/call-of-duty-black-ops-rezurrection-video-takes-you-to-the-labs/#comments We've accepted that killing zombies is a natural part of the human experience, typically falling somewhere between adulthood and our sunset years. If we don't kill the zombies, they overrun the breathers and humanity goes kaputski. We may not like it, but we get it.

That said, is it really necessarily for Call of Duty: Black Ops to, frankly, glorify zombicide? Just watch this new trailer for the upcoming Rezurrection DLC for a disturbing look at a developer that wants not only to kill zombies, but to have fun doing it.

First you make us misspell "resurrection" and now this? You guys really are sociopaths.

JoystiqCall of Duty: Black Ops Rezurrection video takes you to the labs originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Aug 2011 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-duty-black-opsdlcmicrosoftpcplaystationps3rezurrectiontreyarchxboxzombiesThu, 18 Aug 2011 12:59:00 EST<![CDATA[COD Black Ops Rezurrection video goes straight to the Moon]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/11/cod-black-ops-rezurrection-video-goes-straight-to-the-moon/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/11/cod-black-ops-rezurrection-video-goes-straight-to-the-moon/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/11/cod-black-ops-rezurrection-video-goes-straight-to-the-moon/#comments
Activision sent out new footage of the Call of Duty: Black Ops "Rezurrection" DLC, including your first look at the "Moon" level, which features space-suited soldiers blasting zombies in low gravity. A warning: it's only a few seconds until you see a zombie depressurize, puff up and explode. Grody.

Continue reading COD Black Ops Rezurrection video goes straight to the Moon

JoystiqCOD Black Ops Rezurrection video goes straight to the Moon originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionCall-of-Duty-Black-Opsdlcmicrosoftpcplaystationps3rezurrectiontreyarchxboxzombiesThu, 11 Aug 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Treyarch behind Wii version of Modern Warfare 3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/04/treyarch-behind-wii-version-of-modern-warfare-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/04/treyarch-behind-wii-version-of-modern-warfare-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/04/treyarch-behind-wii-version-of-modern-warfare-3/#comments Not only will the Wii host its own version of Modern Warfare 3, as it did with Black Ops and Modern Warfare Reflex, that waggly version will be made by a company familiar with Call of Duty games: Treyarch. Treyarch is, in fact, more than qualified to make a Wii COD game, as it is the company behind both of those previous releases, as well as World at War.

"The Wii has grown so much as a platform," Infinity Ward spokesman Robert Bowling said on the One of Swords podcast. "The great thing is Treyarch proved that you can have an awesome experience on the Wii with Call of Duty. They'll actually be handling that for Modern Warfare 3." Call of Duty games must sell pretty well on the platform to continue supporting it -- not that we should be surprised about Call of Duty games selling, we suppose.

JoystiqTreyarch behind Wii version of Modern Warfare 3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Aug 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3modern-warfare-3nintendotreyarchwiiThu, 04 Aug 2011 17:30:00 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[Infinity Ward on the 'natural progression' of Call of Duty franchise development]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/22/infinity-ward-on-the-natural-progression-of-call-of-duty-franc/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/22/infinity-ward-on-the-natural-progression-of-call-of-duty-franc/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/22/infinity-ward-on-the-natural-progression-of-call-of-duty-franc/#comments "I can only speak on behalf of Infinity Ward, but I think it's a natural progression of how things have been going in general," Infinity Ward Creative Strategist Robert Bowling explained. We spoke last week during a Modern Warfare 3 preview event in Manhattan, in a hotel about 60 blocks north of the Wall Street setting in the game's campaign. I'd asked Bowling about the upcoming Call of Duty XP extravaganza, the variety of devs working on Modern Warfare 3, and if those things are an indication of a more unified franchise development structure -- a structure perhaps forged out of necessity, given the staff losses IW has seen over the past year.

"We're at a state now in the Call of Duty franchise, where you have several teams working on CoD that have their own very distinct styles on what type of gameplay they deliver," he continued, in reference to Sledgehammer, Infinity Ward, Treyarch, and Beachhead all working on various Call of Duty projects. "And I think that's a great thing for Call of Duty in general, especially if you're having games come out every year. To have very distinct flavors and to have very distinct styles, it allows us to innovate in different ways and not feel forced to innovate in the same ways and build on the same interactions in the other games."

Infinity Ward was showing off the newly added Spec-Ops Survival mode at the event as well, where I was handily carried on Bowling's back through eight waves of enemies before a juggernaut murdered us both. Much like Gears of War's Horde and Halo's Firefight modes, Spec-Ops Survival is, by Bowling's own description, an "infinite wave-based mode." A lot like the Treyarch-developed Call of Duty "Zombies" mode that has thus far missed inclusion in any Modern Warfare release.

While Bowling won't deny the allure of adding a Zombies mode to the Modern Warfare titles ("It's a stellar game mode!"), he believes that his branch of the franchise wouldn't be the right fit for it. "I think it comes down to design philosophies. Each game has its own personality and voice. Ours typically stick to the authentic/fun aspects, where there's goes in a different directions that's still fun, but unique to Treyarch's voice and their design sensibilities," he explained. He wouldn't outright say whether or not Spec-Ops is exclusive to IW/Sledgehammer, or if Zombies mode is exclusive to Treyarch, but it seems to be heavily encouraged that it stays as such. But then, he's only able to speak on behalf of Infinity Ward.

JoystiqInfinity Ward on the 'natural progression' of Call of Duty franchise development originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Jul 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbeachheadbeachhead-studioscall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3infinity-wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3pcplaystationps3robert-bowlingsledgehammersledgehammer-gamesspec-opsspec-ops-survivaltreyarchxboxzombieszombies-modeFri, 22 Jul 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: Call of Duty Elite beta invites rolling out]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/15/psa-call-of-duty-elite-beta-invites-rolling-out/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/15/psa-call-of-duty-elite-beta-invites-rolling-out/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/15/psa-call-of-duty-elite-beta-invites-rolling-out/#comments Listen up, recruits! If you signed up for Operation Call of Duty Elite Beta, keep an eye out for a dispatch from Activision HQ. The top brass has informed us that beta invites are beginning to be sent now. "The beta will be activated in phases for feature testing, with limited invitations rolling out in the coming weeks," the classified document reads.

These Call of Duty Elite beta invites only extend to Xbox 360 users playing Call of Duty: Black Ops right now, but will support all future franchise titles, starting with the launch of Modern Warfare 3 on November 8. The PS3 release of this beta was held back by the PSN outage, according to the FAQ. According to Activision, over 2.8 million have signed up for the beta, so if you have yet to receive your beta invite, exercise patience.

For more information on Call of Duty Elite, be sure to check out our preview of the service and interview with Activision's VP of Digital, Jamie Berger.

JoystiqPSA: Call of Duty Elite beta invites rolling out originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 15 Jul 2011 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbetaCall-of-Duty-Black-Opscall-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3eliteinfinity-wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3sledgehammer-gamestreyarchxboxFri, 15 Jul 2011 16:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Call of Duty XP 2011, a two-day event for CoD fans, with proceeds going to charity]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/30/call-of-duty-xp-2011/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/30/call-of-duty-xp-2011/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/30/call-of-duty-xp-2011/#comments Call of Duty XP 2011 A smaller portfolio isn't the only thing Activision Publishing is cribbing from its sister company, Blizzard. A major component of supporting massive brands like Call of Duty (and World of Warcraft and StarCraft) is fan service and Activision is ready to take its support of the heretofore nebulous Call of Duty community to the next level with Call of Duty XP 2011, a two-day gathering promising "total Call of Duty immersion" at a "secure 12-acre compound in the urban confines of Los Angeles." Earlier this week, we had a chance to speak with Eric Hirshberg, Activision Publishing CEO, about the announcement.

"Call of Duty XP is going to be the ultimate fan experience for Call of Duty fans. A two day, immersive live event for fans of Call of Duty," Hirshberg told Joystiq. "We think it's going to set a new bar for experiential live fan-based events." That experience includes a first look at the multiplayer component of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, the "full feature functionality" of the still opaque Call of Duty Elite online service, a $1 million CoD tournament sponsored by Activision and "lead sponsor" Xbox 360, and a handful of other big ticket opportunities.

"We are constructing a full-scale replica of one of our multiplayer maps as a paintball stadium for fans," Hirshberg said. "We're reconstructing the legendary level from Modern Warfare 2, The Pit, which fans can actually run." More interested in what you're going to be able to eat at an all-Call of Duty event? "You'll be able to eat at Burger Town from Modern Warfare 2," Hirshberg added, quite seriously.

Continue reading Call of Duty XP 2011, a two-day event for CoD fans, with proceeds going to charity

JoystiqCall of Duty XP 2011, a two-day event for CoD fans, with proceeds going to charity originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 02:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activisioncall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3call-of-duty-xpcall-of-duty-xp-2011eventInfinity-Wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3pcplaystationps3Sledgehammer-GamesTreyarchxboxThu, 30 Jun 2011 02:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Call of Duty: Black Ops sets UK sales record with 3.72 million copies sold]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/call-of-duty-black-ops-sets-uk-sales-record-with-3-72-million-c/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/call-of-duty-black-ops-sets-uk-sales-record-with-3-72-million-c/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/call-of-duty-black-ops-sets-uk-sales-record-with-3-72-million-c/#comments According to UK sales snoops Chart-Track, Call of Duty: Black Ops has sold more copies than any other game in the region. That's, like, in all of history. As of June 25, Black Ops managed to move 3,722,411 copies, besting the previous top place holder, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, which set a record with 3,702,410 copies sold.

And if we were a betting blog, we'd say that 3.72 million figure will only increase. With today's release of Annihilation, the latest map pack for the game, we're going way out on a limb here and suggest there's still some blood left to be squeezed from that stone.

JoystiqCall of Duty: Black Ops sets UK sales record with 3.72 million copies sold originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 28 Jun 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionCall-of-Duty-Black-Opsmicrosoftpcplaystationps3sales-recordtreyarchukxboxTue, 28 Jun 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Black Ops 'Annihilation' trailer tours the latest zombie stomping grounds]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/27/black-ops-annihilation-trailer-tours-the-latest-zombie-stompin/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/27/black-ops-annihilation-trailer-tours-the-latest-zombie-stompin/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/27/black-ops-annihilation-trailer-tours-the-latest-zombie-stompin/#comments No, Activision -- stop it! We're all for the new zombies map coming in the next Call of Duty: Black Ops map pack, Annihilation, but we never, ever want to associate the joytime feelings we get from "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" with the feelings of desperation and panic in Black Ops' co-op survival mode. It's just two things that we never want to mix together, kinda like baby sea otters and Hellraiser.

Gallery: Call of Duty: Black Ops - Annihilation (Zombies)

Continue reading Black Ops 'Annihilation' trailer tours the latest zombie stomping grounds

JoystiqBlack Ops 'Annihilation' trailer tours the latest zombie stomping grounds originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 27 Jun 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>annihilationannihilation-map-packCall-of-Duty-Black-OpsDLCmicrosoftpcplaystationps3treyarchxboxMon, 27 Jun 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Call of Duty: Black Ops 'Annihilation' trailer hits those familiar notes]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/call-of-duty-black-ops-annihilation-trailer-hits-those-famili/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/call-of-duty-black-ops-annihilation-trailer-hits-those-famili/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/call-of-duty-black-ops-annihilation-trailer-hits-those-famili/#comments That one hamburger-stand guy? "Gimme Shelter?" Fifteen dollars floating out of your wallet in anticipation? Yes, it's that time again: Activision posted a new Call of Duty: Black Ops DLC trailer, this one for the "Annihilation" map pack.

Continue reading Call of Duty: Black Ops 'Annihilation' trailer hits those familiar notes

JoystiqCall of Duty: Black Ops 'Annihilation' trailer hits those familiar notes originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionannihilationCall-of-Duty-Black-Opsdlcmicrosoftpcplaystationps3treyarchxboxWed, 22 Jun 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Call of Duty: Black Ops 'Limited Edition with DLC' listed on GameStop [update: it's official!]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/call-of-duty-black-ops-limited-edition-with-dlc-listed-on-gam/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/call-of-duty-black-ops-limited-edition-with-dlc-listed-on-gam/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/call-of-duty-black-ops-limited-edition-with-dlc-listed-on-gam/#comments Headed to the store to buy Call of Duty: Black Ops right this second? Hang on. A listing spotted on GameStop.com suggests that, next week, you'll be able to buy a version bundled with DLC.

The listing is light on specifics, but the name is "Call of Duty: Black Ops Limited Edition with DLC." According to GameStop, it's set to come out June 28 on Xbox 360 and PS3, for the same $59.99 price that the normal edition commands.

We're checking with Activision to determine exactly which DLC is included and if this package will be sold at other retailers. (Oh, and whether or not it's real.)

[Thanks, BrownWing!]

Update: Activision confirmed to Joystiq that the "Limited Edition" version of Black Ops will be available at "all retailers" in North America on June 28. For $59.99, it will include the game and a token for the "First Strike" DLC.

JoystiqCall of Duty: Black Ops 'Limited Edition with DLC' listed on GameStop [update: it's official!] originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionCall-of-Duty-Black-Opsgamestopmicrosoftplaystationps3special-editiontreyarchxboxTue, 21 Jun 2011 13:30:00 EST