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 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Call of Duty Championship coming in April, promises $1 million purse]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/01/call-of-duty-championship-coming-in-april-promises-1-million-p/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/01/call-of-duty-championship-coming-in-april-promises-1-million-p/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/01/call-of-duty-championship-coming-in-april-promises-1-million-p/#comments
Despite all your mother's stern warnings, it looks like all that Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 you've been playing just might pay off, as Activision has announced the Call of Duty Championship. Set to take place April 5-7 in Hollywood, the tournament will pit 32 teams against one another for a chance at the $1 million purse.

Teams will be drawn from several areas, including Xbox Live, Major League Gaming and the Electronic Sports League. Those interested in competing for a spot on Xbox Live may do so by registering for Call of Duty Elite. Starting today, teams of four can then compete on Xbox Live in the February season of Black Ops 2 League Play.

Meanwhile, the top 8 team from the MLG Winter Championship, taking place March 15-17 in Dallas, will also earn spots in the tournament, as will the top 8 teams from the ESL's European Finals, which take place March 16-17 in Cologne, Germany. The final 8 seats will go to international teams "across Asia, Australia, and Brazil." Details for international team entry will be revealed at a later time via the Call of Duty eSports website.

Continue reading Call of Duty Championship coming in April, promises $1 million purse

JoystiqCall of Duty Championship coming in April, promises $1 million purse originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 01 Feb 2013 13:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-duty-black-ops-2call-of-duty-championshipeslmicrosoftmlgxboxxbox-liveFri, 01 Feb 2013 13:09:00 EST<![CDATA[Xbox Black Ops 2 season pass holders get Nuketown Zombies today [update: Trailer]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/12/xbox-black-ops-2-season-pass-holders-get-nuketown-zombies-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/12/xbox-black-ops-2-season-pass-holders-get-nuketown-zombies-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/12/xbox-black-ops-2-season-pass-holders-get-nuketown-zombies-today/#comments
Presumably as a result of all the radiation, zombies are shambling their way into Nuketown today. More specifically, Nuketown Zombies is headed to Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 today for season pass holders on Xbox 360. The Call of Duty Twitter account announced the news, sharing the image above. As you can see, even Nuketown has seen better days.

JoystiqXbox Black Ops 2 season pass holders get Nuketown Zombies today [update: Trailer] originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 Dec 2012 12:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-duty-black-ops-2dlcmicrosofttreyarchxboxxbox-liveWed, 12 Dec 2012 12:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 review: War on three fronts]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/13/call-of-duty-black-ops-2-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/13/call-of-duty-black-ops-2-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/13/call-of-duty-black-ops-2-review/#comments
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 succeeds in many ways, living up to promises of a branching campaign, expanded Zombies mode, and a new spin on multiplayer customization. The ideas coming out of developer Treyarch are exactly what the annual franchise needs, especially under the intense scrutiny of a vocal shooter audience.

There's a charm missing from Black Ops 2, however, and it resonates throughout many of the enhanced modes. The mystery surrounding the characters from the original Black Ops is abandoned, and clandestine operations are pushed out of the way in favor of bombastic, public battles. That charm is especially missed in the open-world zombie mode, which expands at the cost of becoming less inviting.

Despite those missteps, Black Ops 2 showcases a powerful multiplayer component that betters its predecessors, setting a new series standard for customization and features.

Gallery: Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 (11/13/12)

Continue reading Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 review: War on three fronts

JoystiqCall of Duty: Black Ops 2 review: War on three fronts originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Nov 2012 03:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>call-of-duty-black-ops-2microsoftnintendopcplaystationps3wii-uxboxTue, 13 Nov 2012 03:01:00 EST<![CDATA[All of Call of Duty Elite free for Black Ops 2, DLC season pass announced [Update: Activision 'working' to get DLC on Wii U]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/15/all-of-call-of-duty-elite-free-for-black-ops-2-dlc-season-pass/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/15/all-of-call-of-duty-elite-free-for-black-ops-2-dlc-season-pass/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/15/all-of-call-of-duty-elite-free-for-black-ops-2-dlc-season-pass/#comments
All Call of Duty Elite services for Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 will be free, Activision has announced. Previously, a premium Elite subscription offered an extra tier of services and guaranteed early access to downloadable map packs. This time around, it appears that early access to DLC is no longer available, though Xbox 360 players will be able to purchase a season pass for $50. The season pass will include access to four map packs throughout 2013. With each map pack normally priced at $15, season pass holders will save a total of $10.

No season pass has been announced for PS3, Wii U or PC and, in fact, the press release notes that "season pass and DLC map packs may not be available on all gaming platforms." It seems unlikely that Activision would neglect to offer such lucrative DLC on every possible platform, though the language is worth noting.

The decision to make Elite free is an interesting one, especially given how (very) successful the program has been. After debuting to 6.5 million units sold, Modern Warfare 3 moved over 600,000 Elite subscriptions in a single week. Then again, given that the season pass will sell for the same $50 price, the difference may be negligible. Also, apart from a few extra perks, the premium version of Elite was essentially a season pass to begin with, so not much has changed.

Update: We asked Activision to clarify the statement regarding the DLC on other platforms. The publisher noted that it is "working with Nintendo" to bring both the DLC and the season pass to the Wii U version of Black Ops 2. It made no mention of the PS3 and PC versions though, again, we doubt Activision would ignored two major platforms.

Continue reading All of Call of Duty Elite free for Black Ops 2, DLC season pass announced [Update: Activision 'working' to get DLC on Wii U]

JoystiqAll of Call of Duty Elite free for Black Ops 2, DLC season pass announced [Update: Activision 'working' to get DLC on Wii U] originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 15 Oct 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-duty-black-ops-2microsoftnintendopcplaystationps3treyarchwii-uxboxMon, 15 Oct 2012 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[How Black Ops 2 handles 'Prestige,' adds levels to Combat Training, and focuses on Party Games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/27/how-black-ops-2-handles-prestige-adds-levels-to-combat-traini/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/27/how-black-ops-2-handles-prestige-adds-levels-to-combat-traini/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/27/how-black-ops-2-handles-prestige-adds-levels-to-combat-traini/#comments How Black Ops 2 handles 'Prestige,' adds levels to Combat Training, and focuses on Party GamesIn the last of many features revealed before Call of Duty: Black Ops 2's November 13 launch, we return to the all-important multiplayer.

Though hardcore shooter fans can throw themselves into the competitive arena and find fun, players with less skill often feel intimidated by the mode. Spawning and being beaten into the ground, as it turns out, isn't any fun.

There's a lot Treyarch wants to do to address that feeling, such as offering tiered League matches and improving matchmaking; however, that can't guarantee things will draw people into a world they may despise out of intimidation.

Gallery: Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 - Multiplayer (9/27/2012)

Continue reading How Black Ops 2 handles 'Prestige,' adds levels to Combat Training, and focuses on Party Games

JoystiqHow Black Ops 2 handles 'Prestige,' adds levels to Combat Training, and focuses on Party Games originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 27 Sep 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>call-of-duty-black-ops-2microsoftpcplaystationps3xboxThu, 27 Sep 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 'Zombies' terrorize an open world, 8-player 'Grief' mode introduced]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/26/call-of-duty-black-ops-2-zombies-terrorize-an-open-world/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/26/call-of-duty-black-ops-2-zombies-terrorize-an-open-world/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/26/call-of-duty-black-ops-2-zombies-terrorize-an-open-world/#comments

Treyarch's bonus zombie mode was meant as a special, throwaway time destroyer when it was injected into Call of Duty: World at War. "It's born out of the passion of the team," Treyarch boss Mark Lamia says at a recent preview event showcasing more multiplayer content and teasing the co-operative zombie killing mode.

Though its popularity has grown with each Call of Duty release tasked to Treyarch - the team behind this fall's Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 - the developer has never attempted to attach a fiction to the mode. As Lamia tells us, the fervent zombie mode fan community has taken on that job for itself.

"The story is kind of crowd-sourced. It's this phenomenon. It was amazing, when we put it out, people wanted to attach a story to it and you saw them start to do it." Fans began to link elements from the zombies mode, Lamia notes - including everything from textures used in the mode to weapons strewn about - in order to connect it to the franchise's established narrative.

With its most aggressive fans busy thrusting themselves into the role of fan fiction auteur, Treyarch continues to expand the zombie play space. So much has its concept for the mode grown, it's hard to imagine we won't one day see zombies as its own standalone game in the future. Until then, the latest iteration of the zombies mode is peppered with the same ambition we've seen scattered throughout the rest of Black Ops 2.

Gallery: Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 (Zombies)

Continue reading Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 'Zombies' terrorize an open world, 8-player 'Grief' mode introduced

JoystiqCall of Duty: Black Ops 2 'Zombies' terrorize an open world, 8-player 'Grief' mode introduced originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 26 Sep 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activisioncall-of-duty-black-ops-2microsoftpcplaystationps3TreyarchxboxWed, 26 Sep 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Treyarch game design director David Vonderhaar talks Black Ops 2]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/29/treyarch-game-design-director-david-vonderhaar-talks-black-ops-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/29/treyarch-game-design-director-david-vonderhaar-talks-black-ops-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/29/treyarch-game-design-director-david-vonderhaar-talks-black-ops-2/#comments Treyarch game design director David Vonderhaar talks Black Ops 2
We interrogated Treyarch design director David Vonderhaar, bringing some secrets of Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 into the light.

In our video interview, Vonderhaar provides some new information about Black Ops 2's "wager matches." "In Black Ops 2," he explains, "wager matches are now party games and they're part of the core experience. Combat training was separate, and now it's integrated."

He also discusses the crazy new shoutcasting capability - especially crazy on consoles - and how that will make the game more eSports-suitable and more fun to share. Watch the full interview for more!

JoystiqTreyarch game design director David Vonderhaar talks Black Ops 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-dutycall-of-duty-black-ops-2david-vonderhaarmicrosoftpcplaystationps3treyarchxboxWed, 29 Aug 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Black Ops 2 in-game 'Shoutcasting' video tour]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/15/black-ops-2-in-game-shoutcasting-video-tour/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/15/black-ops-2-in-game-shoutcasting-video-tour/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/15/black-ops-2-in-game-shoutcasting-video-tour/#comments Black Ops 2 ingame 'Shoutcasting' video tour
When Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 launches on November 13, it will feature built-in tools that allow players on any platform to livestream their multiplayer sessions to the web. No capture boxes or special software required.

For competitive video game commentators - or anyone who wants to shoutcast a match of Call of Duty - Black Ops 2 also features a slew of in-game options to control the action as it happens live or from watching a replay. You can adjust items on the HUD, add scoreboards and user name cards, jump to the map showing all users, listen in on team mics to hear their strategies, and more.

If you're worried the tools could help opponents get the upper hand, Treyarch has thought about it. Players in the middle of a game won't hear the shoutcasters do their thing and the online time delay is such that it wouldn't make a difference if someone you were playing against was watching the same match. There's also the ability to turn off streaming for certain kinds of matches - like a tournament you've organized.

The tools both embrace the growing world of eSports and advance the possibilities of gaming. In-game streaming and shoutcasting tools have made it to the top of our "every game should have this feature" list. And you don't need a pair of commentators explaining the on-screen action in order to make use of the new feature, you could just stream it worldwide at any time for any reason.

Joystiq had a chance to play with the feature and discuss its tools with Treyarch advisor (and pro shoutcaster) Mike Rufail as a group of journalists battled it out in a multi-team deathmatch on the Yemen map in Black Ops 2. Watch the mayhem (and why I shouldn't quit my day job) above.

JoystiqBlack Ops 2 in-game 'Shoutcasting' video tour originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 Aug 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activisioncall-of-duty-black-ops-2microsoftpcplaystationps3ShoutcastingTreyarchxboxWed, 15 Aug 2012 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Black Ops 2 features in-game livestreaming and 'Shoutcasting']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/14/black-ops-2-features-in-game-livestreaming-and-shoutcasting/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/14/black-ops-2-features-in-game-livestreaming-and-shoutcasting/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/14/black-ops-2-features-in-game-livestreaming-and-shoutcasting/#comments Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 is looking to leave a mark on the future with its feature list, bringing livestreaming options into the series for the first time in its history. Developer Treyarch has revealed that Black Ops 2 will include the ability to stream and Shoutcast directly from the game on all platforms when it launches on November 13.

In the mode, two players can serve as Shoutcasters - otherwise known as commentators - for a multiplayer match. Though inspired by the eSports crowd, the mode is available to all. Players can shoutcast games live as they are taking place or add commentary to games saved in the Theater mode of Black Ops 2.

Delayed livestreams can be activated from the menu at any time, feeding the game to a web browser for anyone on a PC, Mac, or mobile device to watch.

In my experience Shoutcasting a match during a recent Black Ops 2 event I learned two things: I'm honestly terrible at it and Treyarch has just vaulted Black Ops 2 to a new level in the competitive gaming scene.

Stay tuned for a video of Joystiq shoutcasting tomorrow.

JoystiqBlack Ops 2 features in-game livestreaming and 'Shoutcasting' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 Aug 2012 02:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activisioncall-of-duty-black-ops-2microsoftpcplaystationps3ShoutcastingTreyarchxboxTue, 14 Aug 2012 02:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Black Ops 2 customization and 'League Play' brings Call of Duty to the future]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/14/black-ops-2-customization-and-league-play-brings-call-of-duty/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/14/black-ops-2-customization-and-league-play-brings-call-of-duty/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/14/black-ops-2-customization-and-league-play-brings-call-of-duty/#comments Black Ops 2 customization and 'League Play' brings Call of Duty to the futureThe most important shift for the Call of Duty franchise was when developer Infinity Ward transformed the World War II series into a modern era military shooter. Infinity Ward changed what it meant to be a Call of Duty game: it became a game focused on action and not the war itself. Treyarch, the developer that brought the series to the Vietnam war in 2010, pushed beyond the timeline boundary set by the original developer and rests much of its next game - Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 - firmly within the year of 2025.

For its multiplayer experience, Black Ops 2 takes place exclusively in this near-future time period.

Despite going to "the future," the setting of Treyarch's latest effort isn't as drastic a change as it was when Infinity Ward made the period shift in 2007, but many of the features found in Black Ops 2 are just as crucial as the franchise's modern era setting change. Based on these new features, Treyarch - once thought of as the series "B" team - may be the studio dictating the future of Activison's annualized Call of Duty franchise going forward. And the new position suits them.

Gallery: Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 'Multiplayer' (GamesCom 2012)

Continue reading Black Ops 2 customization and 'League Play' brings Call of Duty to the future

JoystiqBlack Ops 2 customization and 'League Play' brings Call of Duty to the future originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 Aug 2012 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activisioncall-of-duty-black-ops-2microsoftpcplaystationps3TreyarchxboxTue, 14 Aug 2012 02:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Week Between Blockbusters]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/07/a-week-between-blockbusters/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/07/a-week-between-blockbusters/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/07/a-week-between-blockbusters/#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.
Thanks to a shared caution between movie studios, you were saved from seconds of paralyzing indecision last weekend. Had Total Recall and The Bourne Legacy stuck to a shared release date in theaters, as originally scheduled, you'd have become a seated participant in an extravagant and mutually destructive showdown. Between Colin Farrell and Jeremy Renner, which pouting action star would have gotten your twelve bucks and two hours?

If you're a movie buff, you might not even hesitate spending time and money on both consecutively. But what happens when you bump the price up to $60, and extend the temporal investment to something between 8 and 80 hours? Now you see the dilemma squeezed in-between this holiday's most anticipated shooters, Halo 4 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, and all of a sudden one week doesn't seem like much of a buffer at all.

Continue reading A Week Between Blockbusters

JoystiqA Week Between Blockbusters originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Aug 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>343-industriesactivisioncall-of-duty-black-ops-2fpshalo-4hollywoodmicrosoftpcplaystationps3reaction-timeTreyarchxboxTue, 07 Aug 2012 20:30:00 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[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[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[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