Tag Archives: Call of Duty

Train2Game news: Activision plot ‘methodical’ entry into social & mobile gaming

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Train2Game students will be aware that many game developers are moving into digital, social and mobile gaming.

Indeed, as reported by the Train2Game blog, one of the biggest games industry publishers in the form of EA is massively committed to a digital push.

Their biggest rivals however, Activision, have been less keen to embrace digital. The Train2Game blog has previously reported that Activision CEO still sees a big future for traditional bricks and mortar retail rather than an all digital future.

And while Activision have yet to buy into social or mobile gaming in a significant way, their eventual entry will be ‘methodical’ Gamasutra report CFO Thomas Tippl told the Citi 2011 Tech Conference in New York City

We’re methodically investing in social and mobile gaming projects,” he said.

“While our goal is always to be number one in anything we do, even if we only get to half of our fair share in mobile and social over the next three years, it will still represent a significant upside, given that the mobile and social gaming markets have finally reached critical mass. And I expect it to grow at a double-digit clip for the foreseeable future.”

“We are certainly expanding the reach of our franchises through the platforms that are emerging,” the Activision CFO added.

Activision are starting to tip toe into the world of social media with their Call of Duty Elite service which will connect fans of the game with each other via mobile among other things.

As reported by the Train2Game blog, Elite will offer the chance for community game modes to become part of the official game.

And while Activision’s social media and mobile strategy is currently tied to their high profile brands.

“To date, we’ve mostly [explored social and mobile] around our existing franchises” said Tippl

“In the future you will see more activity on our part to broaden our social and mobile parts of the portfolio,” he added.

Of course, Activision isn’t totally foreign to digital markets, with 12 million – including some Train2Game students – people paying a monthly subscription for World of Warcraft.

What are your thoughts on Activisions digital and social strategy? Do they risk falling behind? Or are they wise to play the long game?

Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source: Gamasutra]

Train2Game student created multiplayer modes could become part of Modern Warfare 3

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Train2Game students will be aware that community created content can provide a way into the games industry. Indeed, the Train2Game blog has previously reported that LittleBigPlanet developers Media Molecule often the best community level creators.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is likely to be the biggest game of the year, it’s a game that’s popular among Train2Game students, and may prove even more so as members of the Call of Duty Elite community will have the chance to create new game modes.

“Community feedback is what drives most of our decision-making for post-launch support especially.”  Infinity Ward’s Rob Bowling told NowGamer.

“Because we want to see what they want more of, what they want tweaks on – be it more Spec Ops Survival, more multiplayer maps, new weapons, new game modes.”

Modern Warfare 3 will feature customisable multiplayer settings,  and it’s possible the most popular could end up as official game modes on official servers.

“Call of Duty: Elite is going be a massive help for us, because now, since you can create your own game modes in [a] private match, you can share those on Elite” said Bowling

“We’re going to be seeing the ones that are voted the highest, and we’ll see if we want to incorporate them into the public playlist,” he added.

Activision say Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 will bring ‘the most advanced multiplayer ever’ when it’s released later this year.  See the Modern Warfare 3 trailer here on the Train2Game blog.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on the possibility of community created modes being added to the main game? Would it encourage you to pay for the Call of Duty elite service?

Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source: NowGamer]

Train2Game news: Activision say Call of Duty players “more engaged” than Facebook gamers

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Train2Game students will be highly aware that social media gaming is one of the fastest growing areas of the games industry. Indeed, it’s an area that could provide Train2Game students with jobs in future.

Activision however, despite being one of the biggest game publishers on the planet, have so far steered clear of the social media gaming race. The reason? They believe people are spending more time playing triple-A titles, such as their Call of Duty games, rather moving towards Facebook.

“Call of Duty has more players who pay-to-play online than any Facebook game and our players pay more per player on average than any Facebook game,” said Activision Publishing CEO Eric Hirshber, speaking t the 13th Annual Pacific Crest Global Technology Leadership Forum

“They’re also more engaged – the percentage of Call of Duty’s monthly unique players that play the game every day is higher than that of the top three Facebook games.”

Activision are very happy to remain a console specific games publisher, and who can blame them with the biggest gaming franchise in the world under their belt. As previously reported by the Train2Game blog, Call of Duty: Black Ops was the top selling video game of 2010.

“We feel [Activision’s] strategy continues to be very well aligned with the market opportunity,” Hirshberg said.

“Despite all the hand-wringing in our industry right now, people aren’t gaming less. In fact, they’re gaming more than ever. They’re just doing it with fewer games, and they’re spending more time playing those games than ever before.”

“Last year, of the top 10 best-selling games, all 10 of them were based on strong existing franchises, and nine of those 10 were online enabled” he concluded.

The trend of successful Call of Duty titles looks set to continue with Modern Warfare 3, which as previously reported by the Train2Game blog, “will bring the most advanced multiplayer ever”

“The passion and energy of our developers is reflected in everything about the title.  From the innovative gameplay, to the cinematic intensity, to the most advanced multiplayer ever, Modern Warfare 3 will raise the bar for this already incredible franchise.” Hirshberg said following the reveal trailer.

See the first Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 trailer here on the Train2Game blog.

So Train2Game, is Activision taking a risk by not investing in social media gaming? Or are they right to keep all of their eggs in the console basket?

Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source: Gamasutra]

UK Charts: L.A. Noire stays top

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Last week, the Train2Game blog reported that L.A. Noire became the fastest selling new IP, taking top spot in the UK Charts. The Train2Game blog can confirm that the impressively animated title remains at No.1 for the second week in a row.

And as previously reported by the Train2Game blog, Team Bondi believe their impressive Art & Animation tech not only can complete with film, but also has uses outside the game industry.

Dirt 3 takes No. 2 in its debut week, with almost two thirds of sales on the Xbox 360. The remainder of the top 5 is filled with familiar names, with LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean dropping one spot to No.3, while three time No.1 Zumba Fitness holds onto No.4.

Another former No.1 – as reported by the Train2Game blog – in the form of Brink is No.5 after falling two places.

Wii Sports Result re-enters the top ten at No.6 thanks to price promotions on the Nintendo Wii bundle hardware, while FIFA 11 moves up one to No.7 in its 35th week in the charts.

Call of Duty: Black Ops rises two to No.8 in the week the Train2Game blog revealed that Modern Warfare 3 was officially revealed by Activision.  Crysis 2 drops three places to no.9 while the top ten is completed by Mario Kart Wii thanks to the new Wii Bundle that included the game.

The UKIE Gfk Chart-Track All Formats Top 10 for the week ending 28th May 2011 is therefore as follows:

1.    L.A. Noire (Rockstar)
2.    Dirt 3 (Codemasters)
3.    LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean (Disney)
4.    Zumba Fitness (505 Games
5.    Brink (Bethesda)
6.    Wii Sports Resort (Nintendo)
7.    FIFA 11 (EA)
8.    Call of Duty: Black Ops (Activision)
9.    Crysis 2 (EA)
10.    Mario Kart Wii (Nintendo)

The coming week looks slow for releases, with Hunted: The Demon’s Forge arguably the only big title to hit the shelves.

So Train2Game, is it a well deserved second No.1 for L.A. Noire? Will it hold onto the title for a third week? Or could Dirt 3 pip it to the post? Or will something else take top spot?

Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source: UKIE Games Charts©, compiled by GfK Chart-Track]

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 will bring ‘most advanced multiplayer ever’

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Modern Warfare 3 gameplay trailer image

The first gameplay trailer for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 – which you can see here on the Train2Game blog – sparked more debate than excitement on the Train2Game forum, but Activision have vowed it’ll have the ‘most advanced multiplayer ever’

“Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is by far the most epic Call of Duty experience yet.  The teams at Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games have worked tirelessly to create for the Call of Duty player a scale that is unimaginable with a level of polish and creativity that will push the genre forward,” said, CEO of Activision Eric Hirshberg

“The passion and energy of our developers is reflected in everything about the title.  From the innovative gameplay, to the cinematic intensity, to the most advanced multiplayer ever, Modern Warfare 3 will raise the bar for this already incredible franchise.”

 The question many Train2Game students – especially those on the Game Design course – will be asking is what will developers Sledgehammer and Infinity Ward do to make the multiplayer of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 the most advanced ever?

As previously mentioned by the Train2Game blog, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is reportedly influenced by the destructible environments of the Battlefield series.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is scheduled for release on 8th November 2011.

So Train2Game, what game design changes do you believe need to be made to the Call of Duty formula? Does it need to change? And can the title live up to Activision’s hype?

Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum

First Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 trailer revealed! What do you think Train2Game?

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MW3

Yesterday, the Train2Game blog reported that the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 engine would ‘move beyond’ that of its predecessors.

Well, you can now get a glimpse of the very first Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 gameplay trailer and see if the engine shows any sign of being tweaked yourselves!

You can also see if Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 contains the supposed influences from Battlefield 3 – as previously mentioned on the Train2Game blog.

The Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 trailer not only reveals London, France and Germany as locations, but also confirms the involvement of Sledgehammer as one of the studios involved with game development.

Earlier this year, the Train2Game blog reported that Sledgehammer may be one of three studios aiding in the development of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

Watch the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 trailer below, here on the Train2Game blog.

What are your thoughts on the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 trailer? Can you see any immediate evidence of a tweaked in-game engine? Do you have high hopes for the Game Design in the new locations?

Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Next Call of Duty will ‘move beyond the Modern Warfare 2 engine’

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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3’s game engine will feature plenty of improvements over the previous game in the series.

That’s according to a Tweet from Infinity Ward Creative Strategist Robert Bowling. When asked if Modern Warfare 3 would feature a brand new game engine, he replied:

“We haven’t gone into detail on the engine yet but we’ve moved beyond the MW2 engine and added a lot of cool stuff for #MW3.”

As the Train2Game blog reported earlier this month, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 appears to be influenced by Battlefield’s Game Design which features destructible environments.

Meanwhile, EA has claimed that Battlefield 3 will be superior to the next Call of Duty game in every single way.

And with the two titles reportedly both being released in November, it looks like we’ll have a bit of a fight on our hands.

Given that the ‘cool stuff’ news came from Twitter, it’s worth pointing out that it’s worth following the Train2Game Twitter page for all the latest Train2Game news updates.

So Train2Game, do you think Modern Warfare 3 needs a new engine? Could Infinity Ward use the same one they used to produce Modern Warfare 2? Or does it need updating?

Leave your thoughts here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source: CVG] 

Modern Warfare 3 reportedly influenced by Battlefield Game Design features

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Call of Duty: Black Ops Train2Game blog image

Call of Duty is popular among the Train2Game community, so many are keen to hear about any news about the franchise.

If you’re one of those Train2Game students then you’re in luck, because according to Kotaku ‘sources’ suggest the as of yet unannounced Modern Warfare 3 will feature some key Game Design changes. These reportedly include bigger maps, destructible environments and a bigger story which follows on from that of Modern Warfare 3.

“We’re told that Modern Warfare 3will take place on a much larger, epic scale” say Kotaku “It appears the game will explore the lead up to a blossoming set of engagements that could pull in other countries, creating a potential World War III scenario. The game will also feature large, urban destructible environments.”

It’d appear that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 may be looking to use similar Game Design features to another popular game series among Train2Game students; the Battlefield franchise made a name for itself with large scale, destructible environments.

EA has already targeted beating Activision’s Call of Duty with the upcoming Battlefield 3.  As reported by the Train2Game blog, EA believe their title will be game of year and ‘superior’ to what’s likely to be Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

Kotaku’s source also suggests established characters Captain John Price and Captain John ‘Soap’ McTavish will return in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

Earlier this year, the Train2Game blog reported that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is being developed by three separate studios. A formal reveal of the title is expected at E3 next month.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on the reports?  Would you welcome Modern Warfare 3 moving in the direction of Battlefield 3? Is it a sign Activision are intimidated by EA? And what would you like to see in the next Call of Duty title?

Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source: Kotaku] 

EA claim Battlefield 3 ‘superior’ to Call of Duty and reaffirm commitment to digital

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EA has once again turned up the heat in their battle with Activision, claiming that Battlefield 3 will be superior to the next Call of Duty.

Last month, the Train2Game blog reported that Battlefield 3 has a huge marketing cost, with the ambition of it ‘taking Call of Duty down’

While speaking to investors EA CEO John Riccitiello said he believed Battlefield was superior to Call of Duty in every way, even when it came to Game Development and Game Design.

We know we have a big competitor,” he said. “But head-to-head with Call of Duty in Q3, we have the superior game engine, a superior development studio, and a flat out superior game. Our goal is to significantly gain share in the huge FPS category and to put the other team on defence.”

It could be an uphill struggle, with Call of Duty being UK’s biggest selling entertainment product of 2010, but Riccitiello suggested that Battlefield 3 is heading in the right direction, with pre-orders up 700% up “versus the same period before the launch of Battlefield: Bad Company 2.”

“A lot of people are telling us they want to play this game on day one,” he said. Are there many Train2Game students out there who want to play Battlefield 3 on release day?

Earlier this year, the Train2Game reported that Riccitiello believed digital downloads would overtake traditional retail this year. He reaffirmed EA’s commitment to digital while speaking to investors.

“Over the coming years, we will transform EA from a packaged goods company to a fully integrated digital entertainment company.” he said. “We transform EA to a games-as-a-service model by focusing on three new strategies.”

“We are the only company with world-class teams working cross-platform on social, mobile and console development. We are integrating these teams and augmenting them with product monetisation and marketing.” He added.

So Train2Game, is Battlefield 3 going to be a Call of Duty beater? Do you believe EA are going to be promoting it the right way? Is it a day one purchase for you? And what are your thoughts on EA’s commitment to digital?

Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source: Eurogamer & Industry Gamers] 

Report: Modern Warfare 3 being developed by three studios

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Modern Warfare Train2Game blog image

Rumours that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is in production is bound to cause a stir with a number of Train2Game students. And if the LA Times is to believed, the game is in development with no less than three studios aiding in its production.

Activision has called upon Infinity Ward, Sledgehammer Games and Raven Software to work on the next title. No official announcement has been made about Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 but the LA Times alleges the information comes from inside sources.

Treyarch produced Black Ops, the most recent game in the Call of Duty series.  Sledgehammer, founded by ex-EA developers Glen Schofield and Michael Condrey has apparently postponed its own Call of Duty ‘spin off’ title to work on Activisions’ next project.  Raven are also said to have delayed one of their own projects to work on the multiplayer section of what is apparently going to be Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

It’s a new move from Activision who’ve traditionally left Infinity Ward to develop the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare series without the help of others.

It’ll also be the first Modern Warfare game produced since the high profile departures of Game Developers f Jason West and Vince Zampella who then set up their own studio under the banner of Respawn Entertainment.

If the project truly is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, the extra reinforcements could spark speculation whether the game will be ready or not in time for Christmas. This year it was Call of Duty: Black Ops which claimed the UK Christmas Number one

So Train2Game, if Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is in development, are you interested in it at all? Do you think three studios working on the same project will have any outcome on the project? Do you think this is a bad sign for Activision?

As usual, you can leave your thoughts here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.