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[Robotoki offices stormed by LAPD after designer unknowingly presses panic button]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/01/robotoki-offices-stormed-by-lapd-after-designer-unknowingly-pres/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/01/robotoki-offices-stormed-by-lapd-after-designer-unknowingly-pres/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/01/robotoki-offices-stormed-by-lapd-after-designer-unknowingly-pres/#commentsRobotoki offices stormed by LAPD after designer unknowingly presses panic button Robotoki, the development studio founded last year by ex-Call of Duty creative strategist Robert Bowling, was stormed by LAPD forces last Thursday after its offices' silent alarm system was activated by an unnamed designer on his way out of the building.

Bowling, the only employee on site at the time, was temporarily taken into custody while the building was cleared by a four-man team - a process that involved a momentary standoff with Bowling's life-size statue of Modern Warfare 2 character Simon "Ghost" Riley, pictured above.

"Our studio is equipped with a 'panic' alarm in case of an armed threat, which was installed yesterday," Bowling told Polygon. "One of our designers, who shall not be shamed, pressed it on his way out because apparently when boys find buttons that they are unsure of, their first instinct is to push it."

The true cause of the incident remained unclear until security footage Bowling reviewed the day's security footage. No charges were filed or fines levied due to the false alarm.

JoystiqRobotoki offices stormed by LAPD after designer unknowingly presses panic button originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 01 Jun 2013 19:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alarmcall-of-dutyLAPDpanicraidrobotokisecurity-systemSat, 01 Jun 2013 19:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Call of Duty's Xbox DLC exclusivity continues with Call of Duty: Ghosts]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/call-of-dutys-xbox-multiplayer-exclusivity-cod-ghosts/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/call-of-dutys-xbox-multiplayer-exclusivity-cod-ghosts/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/call-of-dutys-xbox-multiplayer-exclusivity-cod-ghosts/#commentsXbox exclusivity continues with Xbox One, Call of Duty Ghosts
Activision announced that it will continue to release timed-exclusive Call of Duty content for Xbox platforms with this year's launch of Call of Duty: Ghosts.

Microsoft hosted the worldwide premiere of Call of Duty: Ghosts at today's Xbox One reveal event. Currently, downloadable Call of Duty content is exclusive to the Xbox 360 for one month before it launches for other platforms. Microsoft and Activision's exclusivity agreement will continue with this year's launch of the Xbox One version of Call of Duty: Ghosts.

JoystiqCall of Duty's Xbox DLC exclusivity continues with Call of Duty: Ghosts originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 May 2013 13:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-dutycall-of-duty-ghostsmicrosoftxboxxbox-onexbox-revealTue, 21 May 2013 13:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Call of Duty: Ghosts written by 'Syriana' and 'Traffic' scribe Stephen Gaghan]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/call-of-duty-ghosts-written-by-syriana-and-traffic-scribe-s/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/call-of-duty-ghosts-written-by-syriana-and-traffic-scribe-s/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/call-of-duty-ghosts-written-by-syriana-and-traffic-scribe-s/#commentsCall of Duty Ghosts written by 'Syriana' and 'Traffic' scribe Stephen Gaghan

The latest Call of Duty, dubbed Ghosts, has drafted Syriana and Traffic writer Stephen Gaghan to provide its fiction.

Games don't get more Hollywood than Call of Duty, and Activision has shown little hesitance in acquiring composers and writers from the silver screen to aid in its ever bigger and brasher efforts. Gaghan's work on Traffic, a dour crime drama, and political thriller Syriana made him a standout candidate for Ghosts. The game follows the remainder of the US military in a world scarred by a weapon of mass destruction.

According to developer Infinity Ward, Gaghan didn't swoop in and drop off a script - he requested an office, and worked from one amidst the game's single-player team all throughout the game's production. That's a sterling gesture, but I asked Call of Duty: Ghosts executive producer Mark Rubin to explain why Gaghan was deemed suitable to write for players, not viewers.

"Basically, we looked at his work - he's a great writer, no doubt about it and that's fine, there are probably lots of great writers out there," Rubin said. "So what we did is we actually got the chance to talk to him a long time before we decided to go forward with it. And we realized he was getting it. We've had writers before, and they know how to write, but they don't understand the game aspect of it.

"And I feel like with Gaghan, he really understood what we were trying to do. He asked more questions than try to sell himself, and that was, I think, a really big selling point. He was asking how things work and how we do things, and was really interested in how we craft the story, not from a writing standpoint but from the visuals and gameplay. He was really asking more questions. Although he was a gamer - he knew it from that side - he didn't know it from the dev side. He really was asking a lot of questions about the dev side, he really wanted to know more. I think that interest in what we were doing is really what drove us to him."

JoystiqCall of Duty: Ghosts written by 'Syriana' and 'Traffic' scribe Stephen Gaghan originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 May 2013 13:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-dutycall-of-duty-ghostse3-2013infinity-wardmicrosoftpcplaystationps3stephen-gaghanxboxTue, 21 May 2013 13:53:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: Black Ops 2 Uprising DLC out today on PS3, PC]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/psa-black-ops-2-uprising-dlc-out-today-on-ps3-pc/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/psa-black-ops-2-uprising-dlc-out-today-on-ps3-pc/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/psa-black-ops-2-uprising-dlc-out-today-on-ps3-pc/#commentsPSA Black Ops 2 Uprising DLC out today on PS3, PC Call of Duty: Black Ops 2's multiplayer offerings grow stronger -- and undead-er -- with today's release of the Uprising DLC map pack for the PlayStation 3 and PC platforms. The pack is priced at $14.99.

Uprising adds the Magma, Encore, Vertigo, and Studio multiplayer maps, the latter of which is a reworking of the classic Firing Range level featured in the original Black Ops. The bundle also includes Mob of the Dead, a Prohibition-era Zombies mode map that takes place at Alcatraz Prison.

Today's release brings PC and PS3 players up to speed with the Xbox 360 version of the game, which received Uprising a month ago. Activision has not announced plans to release any of Black Ops 2's DLC for the Wii U.

Continue reading PSA: Black Ops 2 Uprising DLC out today on PS3, PC

JoystiqPSA: Black Ops 2 Uprising DLC out today on PS3, PC originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 May 2013 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-dutycall-of-duty-black-ops-2dlcmultiplayerpcplaystationps3psatreyarchuprising-dlcThu, 16 May 2013 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Call of Duty: Ghosts announced; next-gen powered by new engine]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/call-of-duty-ghosts-announced-next-gen-powered-by-new-engine/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/call-of-duty-ghosts-announced-next-gen-powered-by-new-engine/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/call-of-duty-ghosts-announced-next-gen-powered-by-new-engine/#comments
Confirming rumors, Activision has revealed the next game in its billion-dollar shooter franchise, titled Call of Duty: Ghosts. The military-based FPS will arrive on the PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on November 5, and on "next-generation platforms" on an unspecified date. No Wii U version was announced.

A press release reveals the next-gen version of Ghosts will sport an all-new engine "from the developer that started it all, Infinity Ward." The series has been using the same engine, with numerous annual modifications, since 2005.

Saying it would have been "safe" for Infinity Ward to develop a fourth entry in the Modern Warfare series, Mark Rubin, executive producer of developer Infinity Ward, noted his team saw the next generation of consoles as the "perfect opportunity" to start a new chapter for the franchise. "So we're building a new sub-brand, a new engine, and a lot of new ideas and experiences for our players," he added.

Activision will debut the next-gen version of Call of Duty: Ghosts - and revealing its new engine to the world - during Microsoft's upcoming Xbox 'Next Generation' event on May 21.

Ghosts features an "all-new gameplay experience built on an entirely new story, setting and cast of characters," the press release further detailed.

An onslaught of additional info and explosion-filled marketing is expected closer to E3 2013.

Update: The website theghostsarereal.com - designed to look like an official Activision site - lists Wii U as a platform for the next Call of Duty title. Activision tells Joystiq the website is not owned or operated by the publisher. No Wii U version has been announced.

Gallery: Call of Duty: Ghosts (Key Art)

Continue reading Call of Duty: Ghosts announced; next-gen powered by new engine

JoystiqCall of Duty: Ghosts announced; next-gen powered by new engine originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 01 May 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionCall-of-Dutycall-of-duty-ghostsInfinity-Wardmicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxWed, 01 May 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 'Uprising' DLC rallies on PS3, PC May 16]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/call-of-duty-black-ops-ii-uprising-dlc-rallies-on-ps3-pc-may/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/call-of-duty-black-ops-ii-uprising-dlc-rallies-on-ps3-pc-may/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/call-of-duty-black-ops-ii-uprising-dlc-rallies-on-ps3-pc-may/#comments Black Ops 2's Uprising DLC pack will be available on Windows PC and PS3 on May 16 for $14.99. The DLC has been available on Xbox 360 since April 16, as part of Microsoft's exclusivity deal with Activision.

Uprising includes four multiplayer maps: Magma, a Japanese village at the base of an erupting volcano; Encore, a vacated London music festival; Vertigo, a map atop an Indian skyscraper; and Studio, a modern remake of the original Black Ops map, Firing Range. In addition to the multiplayer maps, Uprising also includes the Mob of the Dead Zombies mode variant, where Hollywood stars Chazz Palminteri, Michael Madsen, Ray Liotta and Joe Pantoliano fight to survive waves of the undead while stuck on the island prison of Alcatraz during the Prohibition era.

Gallery: Call of Duty: Black Ops 2

Continue reading Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 'Uprising' DLC rallies on PS3, PC May 16

JoystiqCall of Duty: Black Ops 2 'Uprising' DLC rallies on PS3, PC May 16 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 25 Apr 2013 13:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblack-ops-2call-of-dutycall-of-duty-black-ops-2chazz-palminterijoe-pantolianoMichael-Madsenmob-of-the-deadpcplaystationps3ray-liottauprisinguprising-dlcThu, 25 Apr 2013 13:17:00 EST<![CDATA[Call of Duty: Ghosts listed at multiple retailers for PS3, Xbox 360]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/call-of-duty-ghosts-listed-at-multiple-retailers-for-ps3-xbox/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/call-of-duty-ghosts-listed-at-multiple-retailers-for-ps3-xbox/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/call-of-duty-ghosts-listed-at-multiple-retailers-for-ps3-xbox/#comments Call of Duty Ghosts appears at multiple retailers, release date November 5Call of Duty: Ghosts emerges from the darkness thanks to Target and UK retailer Tesco, with the former advertising a release date of November 5. Meanwhile, a Tesco listing notes a release date of December 30 - early November is the traditional Call of Duty ETA. The box art posted on Tesco (see below the break for a snippet) features Infinity Ward's logo.

We know (as if we didn't before) that Activision has another edition of its shooter series slated for this year. "The Call of Duty franchise continues to set the bar for innovation," company CFO Dennis Durkin said during Activision's February earnings call, "And we expect the new Call of Duty game in development for 2013 to raise that bar even higher."

We've reached out to Activision for comment.

Continue reading Call of Duty: Ghosts listed at multiple retailers for PS3, Xbox 360

JoystiqCall of Duty: Ghosts listed at multiple retailers for PS3, Xbox 360 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionactivision-blizzardcall-of-dutycall-of-duty-ghostsinfinity-wardmicrosoftplaystationps3release-datetargettescoxboxWed, 24 Apr 2013 11:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Call of Duty series blitzes Xbox Live's Ultimate Game Sale]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/01/call-of-duty-series-blitzes-xbox-lives-ultimate-game-sale/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/01/call-of-duty-series-blitzes-xbox-lives-ultimate-game-sale/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/01/call-of-duty-series-blitzes-xbox-lives-ultimate-game-sale/#comments The entire Call of Duty Xbox 360 line-up launches a charge of concessions in today's Games on Demand sale - well, almost. The very first CoD is MIA, mainly because it's on XBLA and not GoD, which seems like reason enough for draft evasion to us.

Calls of Duties 2 and 3, Modern Warfares 1 and 2, and World at War are all down to $9.99, while Black Ops makes a 60 percent drop to $19.99. 2011's Modern Warfare 3 comes in at $29.99, and last of all is Black Ops 2 with $10 off at $49.99.

And don't forget, a heap of other Games on Demand are staying discounted until March 4, each one priced at $4.99 or less.

JoystiqCall of Duty series blitzes Xbox Live's Ultimate Game Sale originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 01 Mar 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-dutygames-on-demandmicrosoftXBLMxboxxbox-liveFri, 01 Mar 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Black Ops 2 'Revolution' DLC on PS3, PC Feb. 28]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/12/black-ops-2-revolution-dlc-on-ps3-pc-feb-28/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/12/black-ops-2-revolution-dlc-on-ps3-pc-feb-28/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/12/black-ops-2-revolution-dlc-on-ps3-pc-feb-28/#comments
The "Revolution" downloadable content pack for Call of Duty Black Ops 2, already available on Xbox 360, arrives February 28 on PlayStation 3 and PC. The pack is priced at $15 across all platforms and is also available through the $50 Black Ops 2 seasons pass bundle.

Revolution includes four multiplayer maps, a new Zombies map and mode, and a weapon. It still does not add a special place in the afterlife for no-scope snipers.

Gallery: Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 - Revolution Map Pack

Continue reading Black Ops 2 'Revolution' DLC on PS3, PC Feb. 28

JoystiqBlack Ops 2 'Revolution' DLC on PS3, PC Feb. 28 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 12 Feb 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionActivision-Blizzardcall-of-dutycall-of-duty-black-ops-2pcplaystationps3TreyarchTue, 12 Feb 2013 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New Call of Duty slated for 2013]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/07/new-call-of-duty-slated-for-2013/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/07/new-call-of-duty-slated-for-2013/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/07/new-call-of-duty-slated-for-2013/#comments As we've come to expect, Activision has announced that a new entry in the Call of Duty franchise will be released this year. The news comes via Activision's latest earnings call, during which CFO Dennis Durkin said, "The Call of Duty franchise continues to set the bar for innovation, and we expect the new Call of Duty game in development for 2013 to raise that bar even higher."

Durkin didn't offer further details, such as available platforms or expected release dates. Presumably, it will land on Xbox 360, PS3, PC and Wii U. It's also widely expected that both Sony and Microsoft will launch new consoles this year, so it's possible we might see the first next-gen iteration of Activision's gargantuan franchise. As for the release date, we're going to go out on a limb and guess November.

The most recent entry in the series, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 (pictured), helped push Activision's profits last year, making 2012 the most successful year in the company's history.

JoystiqNew Call of Duty slated for 2013 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Feb 2013 18:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionActivision-Blizzardcall-of-dutyinfinity-wardTreyarchThu, 07 Feb 2013 18:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Hit List Q&A: Glen Schofield, co-founder of Sledgehammer Games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/22/hit-list-qanda-glen-schofield-co-founder-of-sledgehammer-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/22/hit-list-qanda-glen-schofield-co-founder-of-sledgehammer-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/22/hit-list-qanda-glen-schofield-co-founder-of-sledgehammer-games/#comments In the "Hit List" from the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences, the video game industry's top talents describe their current gaming addictions, their most anticipated releases and more. This week: Sledgehammer Games co-founder Glen Schofield.

Hit List Q&A Glen Schofield, cofounder of Sledgehammer Games
Glen Schofield is co-founder and studio head of Sledgehammer Games, co-developer of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. A visionary in the video game business for more than 20 years, Glen started his career as an artist and art director for Absolute Entertainment. He also served as the general manager of EA's Visceral Games Studio and was the creator and executive producer of the award winning Dead Space. Glen is credited in over 50 games that together have grossed more than $3 billion in revenues.

Art has been an important part of Glen's life from a young age. He started taking art lessons early on, eventually earning a BFA (he also holds an MBA) and began his professional career as a freelance illustrator before entering the world of video games. In his forthcoming 2013 D.I.C.E. Summit session, Glen will discuss "The Art of Inspiration." He will speak about how he draws inspiration from anything and anywhere and how that has influenced his work as a game developer on a day-to-day basis.

Continue reading Hit List Q&A: Glen Schofield, co-founder of Sledgehammer Games

JoystiqHit List Q&A: Glen Schofield, co-founder of Sledgehammer Games originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 22 Jan 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aiascall-of-dutycall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3glen-schofieldhit-listsledgehammer-gamesTue, 22 Jan 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Black Ops 2's Nuketown Zombie DLC heading to PC and PS3 next week]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/13/black-ops-2s-nuketown-zombie-dlc-heading-to-pc-and-ps3-next-wee/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/13/black-ops-2s-nuketown-zombie-dlc-heading-to-pc-and-ps3-next-wee/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/13/black-ops-2s-nuketown-zombie-dlc-heading-to-pc-and-ps3-next-wee/#comments
While Xbox 360 owners have been playing Call of Duty: Black Ops 2's Nuketown Zombies DLC since December, PC and PS3 players have been patiently waiting for their turn.

Season pass owners will be able to download Nuketown Zombies next week on PC and PS3, January 17 to be exact, according to a recent tweet from the official Call of Duty Twitter account.

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

JoystiqBlack Ops 2's Nuketown Zombie DLC heading to PC and PS3 next week originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 13 Jan 2013 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionCall-of-Dutycall-of-duty-black-ops-2DLCnuketown-zombiespcplaystationps3season-passTreyarchSun, 13 Jan 2013 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Kotick on why firing West, Zampella was easy, turning down a CoD film]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/16/kotick-on-why-firing-west-zampella-was-easy-turning-down-a-cod/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/16/kotick-on-why-firing-west-zampella-was-easy-turning-down-a-cod/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/16/kotick-on-why-firing-west-zampella-was-easy-turning-down-a-cod/#comments Activision CEO Bobby Kotick settled a lawsuit with former employees Jason West and Vince Zampella, both now of Respawn Entertainment, in May. Kotick fired West and Zampella in 2010, after learning they were going to bail on their contracts to sign under EA, Kotick said, and from there, his job was easy:

"You find out two executives are planning to break their contracts, keep the money you gave them and steal 40 employees. What do you do? You fire them," Kotick told The New York Times in an extensive profile. West and Zampella sued Activision for royalties they said they never received from Modern Warfare 2, and though the terms of the settlement were never disclosed, the case's conclusion had West smiling.

Kotick's NYT profile extended from his high school years, when he would pick up friends in a chauffeured limo to visit Studio 54, to his time in college and to the present, when he fended off offers from Hollywood to turn Call of Duty into a high-budget film. Kotick said movies based on games rarely do well with fans and could blemish the Call of Duty brand.

He might be on to something there.

JoystiqKotick on why firing West, Zampella was easy, turning down a CoD film originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 16 Dec 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activisionbobby-kotickCall-of-DutyEAfilmfrank-westHollywoodlawsuitmicrosoftpcplaystationps3Vince-ZampellaxboxSun, 16 Dec 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fils-Aime says third-party games look dramatically better on Wii U, Digital Foundry disagrees]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/26/fils-aime-says-third-party-games-look-dramatically-better-on-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/26/fils-aime-says-third-party-games-look-dramatically-better-on-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/26/fils-aime-says-third-party-games-look-dramatically-better-on-wii/#comments
Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime says third-party games have dramatically better graphics on the Wii U compared to PS3 and Xbox 360. Fils-Aime was bullish in response to an interviewer's assertion of the Wii U being on par with the competition, declaring his company's new console to be "much more graphically intensive."

"If you did a side-by-side comparison," Fils-Aime said, "You would actually see that third-party games like Call of Duty look dramatically better on our system."

Fils-Aime's comments do not match the findings of the respected tech analysts at Digital Foundry, who didn't note any dramatic improvement in a recent assessment of Black Ops 2 on Wii U. In fact, Digital Foundry raised concerns over the Wii U version's performance compared to PS3 and 360.

"The Wii U version matches the look of the Xbox 360 game and thus gives it an edge visually over the PlayStation 3 release, but unfortunately it comes up well short in terms of performance - an aspect that is all-important to the playability of a COD title. The frame-rate variance is such that the PS3 game feels generally smoother, while the 360 release feels like an entirely different game in the more demanding levels. Bearing in mind the commonalities in hardware design between Wii U and Xbox 360, we can't help but feel somewhat disappointed that Black Ops 2 under-performs so noticeably."

The article goes on to say that "for the Wii U hardware to under-perform to this extent on such a crucially important game doesn't look good for future prospects."

JoystiqFils-Aime says third-party games look dramatically better on Wii U, Digital Foundry disagrees originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Nov 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>call-of-dutynintendoreggie-fils-aimewii-uMon, 26 Nov 2012 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Black Ops 2 built-in live streaming is tied to YouTube, on Xbox, PS3 [Update: PC, too!]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/08/black-ops-2-in-built-live-streams-are-tied-to-youtube-on-xbox/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/08/black-ops-2-in-built-live-streams-are-tied-to-youtube-on-xbox/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/08/black-ops-2-in-built-live-streams-are-tied-to-youtube-on-xbox/#comments Black Ops 2 has builtin YouTube live streaming on Xbox, PS3Black Ops 2 features YouTube live streaming on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, Activision and Treyarch announced today. The game's built-in live streaming was revealed earlier this year, but we know now it's tied to YouTube. Today's announcement only confirmed built-in live streaming for PS3 and Xbox 360, with Wii U and PC versions not included.

The launch feature lets players stream multiplayer League Play games direct from their consoles to YouTube user channels and the Call of Duty Elite service. Webcam and audio commentary feeds can also be included in the stream, while Elite integration lets viewers see the player card of whoever's streaming, as well as additional data like class loadouts and career stats.

Update: Activision has confirmed that live streaming is also available in the PC version of Black Ops 2 without the use of third-party software.

Continue reading Black Ops 2 built-in live streaming is tied to YouTube, on Xbox, PS3 [Update: PC, too!]

JoystiqBlack Ops 2 built-in live streaming is tied to YouTube, on Xbox, PS3 [Update: PC, too!] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Nov 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionactivision-blizzardcall-of-dutycall-of-duty-black-ops-2livestreammicrosoftplaystationps3treyarchxboxyoutubeThu, 08 Nov 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Infinity Ward animator talks first-person flourishes]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/08/infinity-ward-animator-talks-first-person-flourishes/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/08/infinity-ward-animator-talks-first-person-flourishes/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/08/infinity-ward-animator-talks-first-person-flourishes/#comments Infinity Ward animator on FPS design in a Reddit AMA pretty interestingChance Glasgo, a first-person animator at Infinity Ward, did a Reddit Ask Me Anything thread last weekend, taking on questions about the complicated weapon animations seen in games like Call of Duty and Battlefield. You should read through the whole thread if you're interested, but PC Gamer has kindly grabbed some of the most fascinating insights.

Glasgo says that "most serial numbers on guns in CoD have significance" of some kind, whether it's just a reference to his workout gym of choice, or a hint to something in the game's larger mythology.

He also explains that while gun aficionados will often tell him he's made some sort of technical mistake in rendering realistic weapons, the choice to do things differently is simply creative. For example, you're never supposed to point a real gun anywhere but forward even while reloading it, but following that rule would make some of these just so ... boring.

JoystiqInfinity Ward animator talks first-person flourishes originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Nov 2012 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animationsanimatorsbattlefield-3call-of-dutycall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3chance-glasgochoicescreativegunsinfinity-wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3pcplaystationps3realismxboxThu, 08 Nov 2012 03:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Modern Warfare 3's last content collection arriving on PS3 and PC October 10]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/18/modern-warfare-3s-last-content-collection-arriving-on-ps3-and-p/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/18/modern-warfare-3s-last-content-collection-arriving-on-ps3-and-p/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/18/modern-warfare-3s-last-content-collection-arriving-on-ps3-and-p/#comments Modern Warfare 3's last content collection arriving on PS3 and PC October 10The last content bundle for Modern Warfare 3 is finally headed out to PlayStation and the PC on October 10, according to Infinity Ward's Twitter account. The content collection (which arrived on Xbox 360 back in the beginning of September) includes five different maps, called Decommission, Off Shore, Gulch, Boardwalk, and Parish. Call of Duty Elite subscribers will be able to grab the last three levels a day early, on October 9.

This is, of course, the last scheduled content pack for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, seeing as Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 is due out just about a month later. At that point, presumably, those Elite subscriptions will renew, and the cycle of of constant DLC for the biggest shooter series in the world will start up all over again.

JoystiqModern Warfare 3's last content collection arriving on PS3 and PC October 10 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 18 Sep 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-dutycall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3dlcdownloadable-contentinfinity-wardmodern-warfare-3pcplaystationps3sledgehammerTue, 18 Sep 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Black Ops 2's PC specifications herald end of Windows XP support]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/04/black-ops-2s-pc-specifications-herald-end-of-windows-xp-support/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/04/black-ops-2s-pc-specifications-herald-end-of-windows-xp-support/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/04/black-ops-2s-pc-specifications-herald-end-of-windows-xp-support/#comments Black Ops 2 heralds end of XP supportIf you're excited to get Black Ops 2 for your Windows XP PC, prepare for disappointment. The FAQ page for the game's PC specifications reveals it's the first Call of Duty to not support the aged operating system.

Black Ops 2 is by no means the first major PC game not to support XP. Sleeping Dogs, which was released last month, is a recent example of another game to spurn the OS. Most high-profile games, however, do still support Windows XP, mainly because a significant number of gamers still use it. Steam's August Hardware and Software Survey reveals 13% of its audience ran their games on Windows XP, although that's compared to the 71% who used Windows 7.

The Black Ops 2 news coincides with Windows 7 narrowly overtaking XP as the most used desktop OS, according to NetMarketShare (not forgetting, of course, the launch of Windows 8 next month). XP is just coming up to its 11th birthday, but the overall picture suggests the venerable OS may be on its last legs, at least when it comes to gaming.

JoystiqBlack Ops 2's PC specifications herald end of Windows XP support originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 04 Sep 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-dutycall-of-duty-black-ops-2pcsteamtreyarchwindows-7windows-8windows-xpTue, 04 Sep 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Spec Ops: The Line dev brands game's multiplayer a 'waste of money']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/29/spec-ops-the-line-dev-brands-games-multiplayer-a-waste-of-mon/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/29/spec-ops-the-line-dev-brands-games-multiplayer-a-waste-of-mon/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/29/spec-ops-the-line-dev-brands-games-multiplayer-a-waste-of-mon/#comments Spec Ops The Line dev brands game's multiplayer a 'waste of money'Spec Ops: The Line lead designer Cory Davis slammed his game's multiplayer in a recent interview, describing it as a "low-quality Call of Duty clone in third-person" and a "waste of money." Davis told The Verge the outsourced mode was just a financially motivated "checkbox" for publisher 2K Games, and that the low number of multiplayer users, coupled with the mode's distinct tone and feel, casts "cancerous" aspersions on the whole game.

Davis revealed 2K insisted on the shooter having multiplayer, but the mode was far from a priority for developer Yager, and went against Davis' vision for the game. Nonetheless, the mode was greenlighted and then outsourced to Darkside Studios. Darkside is a small developer most notable for designing Borderlands' fourth add-on, "Claptrap's New Robot Revolution." Davis is clearly furious with the results.

"It sheds a negative light on all of the meaningful things we did in the single-player experience," Davis said. "The multiplayer game's tone is entirely different, the game mechanics were raped to make it happen, and it was a waste of money. No one is playing it, and I don't even feel like it's part of the overall package. It's another game rammed onto the disk like a cancerous growth, threatening to destroy the best things about the experience that the team at Yager put their heart and souls into creating."

We've reached out to 2K for comment.

JoystiqSpec Ops: The Line dev brands game's multiplayer a 'waste of money' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2K-Gamescall-of-dutymicrosoftmultiplayerpcplaystationps3Spec-Ops-the-LinexboxyagerWed, 29 Aug 2012 18:30:00 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[See Call of Duty Online in action (spoilers: it looks like Call of Duty!)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/03/see-call-of-duty-online-in-action-spoilers-it-looks-like-call/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/03/see-call-of-duty-online-in-action-spoilers-it-looks-like-call/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/03/see-call-of-duty-online-in-action-spoilers-it-looks-like-call/#comments See Call of Duty Online in action spoilers it looks like Call of Duty!
You'll be shocked to hear this, we know, but Activision and Tencent's just announced, free-to-play Call of Duty game, Call of Duty Online, looks an awful lot like a Call of Duty multiplayer game. Take a peek for yourself above.

Continue reading See Call of Duty Online in action (spoilers: it looks like Call of Duty!)

JoystiqSee Call of Duty Online in action (spoilers: it looks like Call of Duty!) originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 03 Jul 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actvisioncall-of-dutycall-of-duty-onlinechinafree-to-playgameplaypctencenttrailerTue, 03 Jul 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CoD goes to China with 'Call of Duty Online,' from Activision and Tencent]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/03/cod-goes-free-to-play-with-call-of-duty-online-from-activisio/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/03/cod-goes-free-to-play-with-call-of-duty-online-from-activisio/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/03/cod-goes-free-to-play-with-call-of-duty-online-from-activisio/#comments CoD goes freetoplay with 'Call of Duty Online,' from Activision and TencentActivision, partnering with Chinese game company Tencent, is launching a free-to-play Call of Duty shooter in the Chinese market, the companies revealed this morning. "Call of Duty Online" is the name, but beyond that little is known - the image above is from the game's teaser site, and the site contains no other information (unless you're into reading legalese, that is).

That said, after two years of hearing about such a game, we've got some ideas of what it might be. For instance, Activision CEO Bobby Kotick said back in 2010 that Activision had "dedicated teams in these new markets creating content for the audiences that, to date, have only been satisfied by Blizzard games." Kotick said that the new CoD game would leverage CoD's "fantasy of being a soldier," which he said is a shared global sentiment, regardless of cultural differences. Today's news also makes those Activision URL registrations a lot more logical, eh?

Tencent apparently has the "exclusive license" to run Call of Duty Online in China, and Activision CEO Bobby Kotick is "very excited" about the game's prospects.

Update: A press release about the game says it "will capitalize on the rich multiplayer experience that the Call of Duty franchise is known for," and that it will also implement, "a new gaming model designed specifically for the Chinese market." Said model sounds like the game's free-to-play microtransaction system. "Using an in-game store, players can enhance their weapons, gear, and perks built specifically for the Chinese market," the release reads. Apparently the game is more than just online play, with "an original story told through a series of Special Operations missions based on the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare universe."

Continue reading CoD goes to China with 'Call of Duty Online,' from Activision and Tencent

JoystiqCoD goes to China with 'Call of Duty Online,' from Activision and Tencent originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 03 Jul 2012 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbobby-kotickcall-of-dutycall-of-duty-onlinechinafree-to-playtencentTue, 03 Jul 2012 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Activision sweeps up China-related Call of Duty domains]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/27/activision-sweeps-up-china-related-call-of-duty-domains/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/27/activision-sweeps-up-china-related-call-of-duty-domains/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/27/activision-sweeps-up-china-related-call-of-duty-domains/#comments Activision's China web registration syndromeActivision has treated itself to 17 domain names, all related to Call of Duty and China; in Black Ops 2, set to drop in November, part of the storyline spans a future cold war between the United States and China. It may be that these domains are related to that facet, as the registrations include blackopschina.com, bochina.com and callofdutychina.com, Fusible reports.

The other domains span from modernwarfarechina.com to heisexingdong.com, and include a few other Chinese phrases. This could be Activision protecting its brand, or it could even have something to do with Activision's online, free-to-play Call of Duty title in China. Activision secured the names, as it generally does, through brand-protection service MarkMonitor.

JoystiqActivision sweeps up China-related Call of Duty domains originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 27 Jun 2012 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionCall-of-Dutycall-of-duty-black-ops-2chinacold-wardomainsmicrosoftmodern-warfarepcplaystationps3xboxWed, 27 Jun 2012 13:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Activision's skateboarding and music studio now working on Call of Duty]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/15/activision-now-has-five-studios-working-on-call-of-duty-includi/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/15/activision-now-has-five-studios-working-on-call-of-duty-includi/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/15/activision-now-has-five-studios-working-on-call-of-duty-includi/#comments Activision's Neversoft studio has a long history of producing Acti's biggest franchises - Tony Hawk and Guitar Hero to name two biggies. And now, the studio is working on Acti's biggest ever franchise: Call of Duty.

The Neversoft website now features a splash screen with employees in various stages of game development. Its job listings are also now wide open, should you be looking to craft new Call of Duty titles, alongside Infinity Ward, Treyarch, Raven Software, and Sledehammer Games.

Of course, Neversoft's been hiring for a "new action shooter" since back in 2010, so it stands to reason that the Call of Duty assignment isn't exactly brand new. Either way - holy hell, that's a ton of people working on a single franchise.

JoystiqActivision's skateboarding and music studio now working on Call of Duty originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 15 Jun 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-dutyneversoftFri, 15 Jun 2012 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA['Cocked Hammers' is Will Arnett and Jason Bateman's CoD Elite comedy show]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/05/cocked-hammers-is-will-arnett-and-jason-batemans-cod-elite-co/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/05/cocked-hammers-is-will-arnett-and-jason-batemans-cod-elite-co/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/05/cocked-hammers-is-will-arnett-and-jason-batemans-cod-elite-co/#comments 'Cocked Hammers' is Will Arnett and Jason Bateman's CoD Elite comedy show
Ever since Activision revealed plans for Will Arnett and Jason Bateman's production company (dumbdumb) to create a comedy series for the Call of Duty Elite service, we've been ... uh ... well, to be honest, we totally forgot about it. But today a clip for that very comedy show popped up on Activision's Call of Duty channel, which revealed the show to be "Cocked Hammers."

We've dropped the three minute tease just above, which offers a glimpse into what we can expect from the series. Thus far, it's Jason Bateman and Will Arnett playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 against each other while cracking jokes. Fingers crossed for something a bit less obvious next time around, though, in fairness, the clip does offer some legit yucks.

Joystiq'Cocked Hammers' is Will Arnett and Jason Bateman's CoD Elite comedy show originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-dutycall-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3cocked-hammersdumbdumbjason-batemanmodern-warfare-3will-arnettTue, 05 Jun 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Activision paid Infinity Ward over $493 million in bonuses since 2003]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/27/activision-paid-infinity-ward-over-493-million-in-bonuses-since/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/27/activision-paid-infinity-ward-over-493-million-in-bonuses-since/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/27/activision-paid-infinity-ward-over-493-million-in-bonuses-since/#comments Hard numbers are starting to come out of the Activision v. Infinity Ward case as things continue to ramp up towards the actual trial, which is currently slated to take place next month. Specifically, Activision revealed during a hearing last Friday that it has paid out in excess of $493 million in bonuses to Infinity Ward, a figure that includes the $42 million payout that occurred earlier this month, according to Polygon.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Continue reading Breaking down the Black Ops 2 reveal trailer

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blocksCall-of-Dutyexato-game-studiosfpsGuncraftkickstartermicrosoftminecraftpcshootervoxelxboxSun, 26 Feb 2012 12:30:00 EST