Schlagwort: infinity ward

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is coming, and we played it! There’s a lot to take in — read on to discover what’s in store for the genre-defining Multiplayer mode when it lands on October 25.

Cross-platform play means you can play against PS4, PC, and Xbox One players.

At its unveil event, Infinity Ward confirmed that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare will support cross-play between PC and console players — a first for the series. How is the studio balancing mouse-and-keyboard users with controller users? “One of the main ways is that we are planning on matchmaking based on peripheral,” Design Director Joe Cecot said. “We’re also supporting different peripherals, so if you want to plug a keyboard [and mouse] into your PS4, you can.”

Season Pass is no more.

Instead, an ongoing array of free downloadable maps and content will release post launch. “We just revealed, so it’s a little early to talk post-launch, but we can say that it will be a regular distribution of content,” Cecot said. “We have a very full post-launch schedule, because we want players to jump into our game and we want to keep them really busy with new content for a long time.”

Weapon customization is extensive.

Most Call of Duty games let you swap between a handful of weapon mods. But Modern Warfare’s “Gunsmith” weapon customization is extensive — with 30 to 60 mods available for most weapons. It’s so extensive, that it required an entire mode called “Gunsmith.”

Progression and gameplay are unified across all three main modes.

Gear you unlock and equip in MP will extend over to the co-op Spec Ops experience and vice-versa. You’ll unlock some gear for MP as you play through the SP experience too, and weapons and mods will feel consistent and unified across all three modes.

Night-vision goggles (NVGs) are a game changer…

In most games, NVGs paint the screen bright green and highlight threats. Not so in COD: MW. Equip the NVGs on dark maps to transform the game into an otherworldly battlefield where the usual rules may no longer apply. On maps that support NVG, every player will be able to equip them by holding down on the d-pad.

…and “laser discipline” will finally enter the 2019 zeitgeist.

Since entering ADS triggers your weapon’s laser attachment, you need to be careful when fighting in an NVG-compatible map — NVG-wearing enemies can easily track your position.

2v2 Gunfight is a riot.

This white-knuckle atom-smasher might just steal the show. This contest is fought on small “Flash Maps,” and equips all four players with the same randomly selected weapon loadout to keep things fair and square. The resulting cat-and-mouse brawls are real nail biters with a pacing somewhat similar to fighting games.

There are three map sizes.

“Flash Maps” are designed for close-quarters 2v2 Gunfight matches, while “Tactical Maps” support more traditional 6v6 and 10v10 player counts. “Battle Maps” are reserved for the largest-scale gameplay. We played it via 20v20 matches, but the team said they’ll support more than 100 players!

Multiplayer supports more varied playstyles.

From team support to run-and-gun, sniping, camping and more, IW is seeking to broaden the number of viable play styles with Modern Warfare. This is partly thanks to a greatly expanded array of gear.

Map traversal is more fluid and varied.

Perhaps moreso than any prior Call of Duty game, COD: Modern Warfare is all about giving players tactical options. That’s reflected in the new map layouts, which offer more opportunities to traverse through sneaky paths and backdoors to catch foes unaware. If prior Call of Duty maps were a racetrack, COD: Modern Warfare is more like a rollercoaster.

Operators are cosmetic only.

You can select from an array of cool-looking Operators to represent yourself in online matches, but the benefits are purely aesthetic.

Map design took inspiration from classic DM games.

Infinity Ward took some inspiration from classic deathmatch games when developing COD: Modern Warfare. More “power positions” — towers and other elevated areas — are scattered throughout the maps. These give you an objective to move for and result in more interesting, varied firefights that flow around the map.

It uses a new engine.

The game is a looker, pumping out huge, realistic-looking maps loaded with eye-catching special effects, particularly the smoke and fog that actually accumulates after a blistering gunfight.

Expect the Realistic mode to make some noise.

This new optional setting strips away almost all onscreen HUD elements — even the classic hitmarker and kill notifications. It’s not for everyone, but we tried it out on a nighttime map equipped with NVGs and the results were intense, bordering on survival-horror.

“Mounting” gives limited cover to frontline assault players.

When standing next to a corner or over a ledge, you’ll see an onscreen prompt to press R3, which allows you to hunker down a bit and reduce your profile. When mounting a corner, you can even use the right stick to peek out a bit to pick new targets from (relative) safety.

Doors are more interesting than you think.

I know… doors. But Infinity Ward spent a lot of time spicing up these pedestrian portals. You can open doors in multiple ways — running or sliding into them, carefully easing them open, or blowing them open with explosives — and each way has a tactical benefit. They’re also useful as auditory cues, helping you track enemy movement through the level.

“Tactical Sprint” provides a short speed boost.

Also called the “super sprint,” this new maneuver allows you to cover ground faster, but with a greater delay to Aim Down Sights (ADS) if you encounter a hostile. Trigger it by double-clicking L3. Also, your sprint meter isn’t infinite, though Perks can extend it.

The audio design is cutting-edge.

Using sophisticated new audio processing techniques unknown to me (I caught a reference of “raytracing”), Modern Warfare is putting a big emphasis on pushing immersive audio. Weapon fire snarls with realistic reverberations, the doppler effect is in full effect, and…

Killstreaks are back.

Need I say more?

Excessive weapon mods will slow your ADS.

Each weapon supports up to five mods, including weapon-specific Perks, so it’s tempting to max out your M4 and head to battle. Not so fast: overload your gun and the increased weight will greatly slow your ADS speed, and sometimes even your movement speed, so you’ll lose out to faster-drawing opponents. Be smart and equip only what you really need!

The open beta will be big.

Literally.

Yes, the watch hands show the real time.

They really do. We checked.

Website: LINK

Names are loaded with meaning, and Activision said a lot with “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.” The name invokes Infinity Ward’s sublime Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, which ranks among the most influential FPSs of all time.

Activision proved during a recent hands-on event that Modern Warfare has more in common with that seminal game than just a name. It aims to similarly move the genre forward with bone-crunching audio and visuals, while doubling down on the weapon and loadout customization that immortalized Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.

Activision kicked off the event stating their mission — a unified experience for all Modern Warfare players. Season Pass is gone, and instead players will receive a mix of post-launch maps and other content for free. Crossplay widens the base by allowing console players to match up with PC players (with options to customize whether or not you face off with mouse-and-keyboard players).

The promise for a cohesive and intense Modern Warfare experience is enticing, but the proof is in Infinity Ward’s striking gameplay.

Your Loadout Defines Your Playstyle

Modern Warfare is a teeth-rattling return to the core gameplay that made COD4: MW legendary. The most impactful change is that now you can mold your weapon and overall loadout to your playstyle preference in their Gunsmith system.

Operators are cosmetic options with eye-catching skins and colorful voiceover (become a doomsday prepper or scrappy resistance fighter), but you won’t be harnessing special abilities with cooldowns. Instead, you’ll burrow into gunsmithing options that let you modify your firearms to an outlandish degree.

Want a shotgun with a sniper rifle scope or a laser-sighted LMG with a three-round burst? Go for it. Swapping between 30 to 60 muzzles, sights, lasers, Perks (quick reload for me!), and more per weapon is almost overwhelming at first, but the stats menu makes trade-offs crystal clear. Maybe that weighty fifth attachment isn’t worth the hit to your mobility, after all.

Customization expands far beyond guns. Killstreaks return with a cathartic vengeance. Favorites like the UAV, Care Package, and tide-turning Juggernaut return. Rack up eight consecutive kills to unlock new tools like the Infantry Assault Vehicle – a light tank that can be piloted by one player while another unleashes the .50 cal on top. Potent field upgrades like stopping-power rounds and a recon drone to spot enemies are available after enough time elapses in a match.

Player Perks also enable useful passive benefits like tracking the steps of a nearby enemy or retaining credit towards a Killstreak even after death. The breadth of options speak to Infinity Ward’s aim to cater to any Call of Duty playstyle, be it sniping, run ‘n’ gunning, team support, or even camping.

A New Level of Warfare

Infinity Ward’s obsession with impactful, authentic gameplay drops players onto the battlefield. The Call of Duty series is already known for its stellar production value, yet Modern Warfare improves upon FPS audio and animation in stunning new ways.

The minimap is no longer present by default, tucked away to be earned through Killstreak rewards. Instead, a minimal compass at the top of the screen tips off enemy locations. My eyes remained transfixed on the unfolding action, no longer tempted to scan the minimap every other second. My ears also became more active to gather more info on enemy positions, and were treated by the new levels of gut-punching audio fidelity. Zeroing in on rifle blasts and crunching footsteps make locating enemies feel more earned and satisfying.

Animation improvements also pull players in deeper. More believable recoil makes shotgun blasts feel forceful enough to bruise your shoulder. Dropped enemies toss their weapons aside as they fall, adding satisfying visual flair.

Robust Multiplayer Mode Variety

Activision gave us hands on with a handful of modes from Modern Warfare, ranging from time-tested Team Deathmatches to close-quarters brawls. The highlights:

• 2v2 Gunfight: One of Modern Warfare’s newest and most addictive modes is also the simplest concept revealed for Multiplayer so far. In Gunfight, teams of two face off in short, intense rounds with cycling weapon loadouts on condensed maps. Wasn’t expecting to battle with just a scoped .50 pistol and a flashbang? Surprise! The result is an exciting, unpredictable, and intimate competitive mode.
• 6v6 Cyber Attack: A round-based mode where each player has one spawn. Win by planting an EMP device near the enemy’s data center to win the match. The high-stakes objective and emphasis on teamwork makes each exhilarating round pass by lightning fast.
• 10v10 Headquarters: A king of the hill-style mode where opposing teams track down HQs that populate the map, holding them down to earn points for victory. The constant journey across the map provides an intoxicating mix of wide-open firefights and close-quarter HQ defense brawls. Respawns are disabled for the team defending captured HQs, which makes for intense action when combined with the freshly removed minimap.
• 20v20 Domination: The biggest match size for Modern Warfare revealed so far features 40 total players. The team confirmed that they are aiming to support over 100 players in this large-scale mode. We played on the sprawling Aniyah Palace – a ruined historical building surrounded by maze-like walls and wide-open spaces. Juggling five control points with teammates makes for a frantic scramble toward victory. Modern Warfare’s Tactical Sprint option – which grants an extra burst of speed while making you especially vulnerable – comes in handy here.

Modern Warfare’s multiplayer showing demonstrates that Infinity Ward aims to elevate the series’ successful core formula to new heights. This offering alone is enough to justify counting the days until it launches on PS4 October 25, and we haven’t even played single-player or Spec Ops yet.

Thankfully fans can get their hands dirty with weapon loadouts and dive into the Multiplayer Beta when it launches first on PS4 September 12.

Website: LINK