E3 – A New Hope (Electronic Arts Press Conference)

Jun

17

2009

Continuing with the E3 Day 1 press conference recaps, Electronic Arts had its work cut out for them in following Microsoft’s outstanding presentation. EA demonstrated quickly however they were up to the task in maintaining the momentum of the event. Whether it was through groundbreaking MMO announcements or visceral exclusive trailers, the quality of their current and forthcoming gaming lineup was definitely impressive.

 

Electronic Arts in 2008 was definitely a trailblazer in the land of new intellectual properties. In particular, Dead Space and Left 4 Dead were exceptionally well crafted new releases last holiday season that redefined their respective genres. Breaking open their presentation with another leap into the gaming fray was EA’s newest action adventure franchise, Dante’s Inferno. This complete overhaul of Dante Alighieri’s classical masterpiece into a God of War esque action adventure title is as outrageous as it sounds and while Alighieri meant for his poem to be an allegory for the recognition and rejection of evil itself, EA would rather you take Death’s legendary scythe to tear it all down. The trailer depicted an emotionally torn Dante, scarred by war and violence, ripping through all manners of hideous beings and creatures in an effort to save his beloved Beatrice. If it accomplished anything at all, this CG trailer demonstrated that Visceral studios (makers of Dead Space) are searching to recreate the medieval notion of Hell and the exponentially sulfuric nature of the nine circles Dante must travail to save Beatrice. Though no gameplay was shown in the trailer, it did reveal that the ranged combat will be conducted through a charged cross that imbues and radiates energy that should foster an excellent transition between combat stances. This is definitely a title that elicits the question as to whether this will be God of War light or an innovative look into storytelling and action adventure gameplay.

E3 – The Gaming Empire Strikes Back

Jun

10

2009

The Electronic Entertainment Expo has for the last few iterations been a severe let down to the gaming populace while generating enough hype to barely excite even the most die hard of supporters. This is in large part due to the fact that E3 through 2006 was becoming a spectacle that detracted from its intention to become a professional trade show. E3 saw its attendance grow to chaotic heights along with the inflammatory costs of a developers arm race that fought to ensure their booth was bigger and better than the competition. Knowing a change had to be implemented the industry moved the event towards an invitation only affair and dramatically cut down the attendance by over 90% from 2006 to 2007. The pendulum of perception swung too far however as no other industry relies so dependently upon the excitement and dedication of its consumer base to the new and newsworthy. After an incredibly lackluster show in 2008, the event had hit a critical state and talk of canceling the occasion all together in favor of publisher centric trade shows seemed to be the destined fate of the beloved expo.

 

It was return to glory or bust in 2009 (June 1^st-4^th) for E3 and fortunately the event has its groove back and seems to have found the balance needed to electrify the gaming community and with the same token appeal to industry professionals as well. With so much revealed over the past week it has been quite the project piecing together all of the gaming goodness announced over the course of the event, but you will find in the recaps I will be sending out, enough technological innovation and new software to fill the hype meter to full, at least until E3 2010 that is. I will be summarizing each of the E3 days in chronological order starting with the Microsoft Press Conference.

 

Day 1 – Microsoft Press Conference:

 

Opening the conference up with a bang, the Microsoft press conference was incredibly well put together and set the initial standard for the show. Running at close to two hours the exhibition actually maintained a solid pace and presented industry altering technology that could change the face of how we approach immersion in gaming.

Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena Review

May

15

2009

With the curved Ulak blades in hand, Richard B. Riddick bellows (voiced in the usual monotone but locomotive style of Vin Diesel) “In the darkness I shine,” as he stealthily hunts his next victim. His eyes glowing from the shine-job from a ghostly “Elemental,” the darkness is hued in waves of glossy light as the hunted hunter deftly approaches the unsuspecting guard. Ruthlessly, the knives slide silently across the victim as the body is then quickly snatched into the void, the darkness where Riddick shines. Broaching a new genre unto itself when it was released in 2004, Escape from Butcher Bay eschewed any pretense of licensed movie games never holding the same blend of quality as console based IP’s. The fusion elements of a first person shooter and stealth gameplay were taken to another level upon Butcher Bay’s release and it was a true sleeper hit on the original Xbox. Once again, Starbreeze (developer) asks us to return to a next-generation makeover of this esteemed title which includes an expansion campaign, Assault on Dark Athena, and multiplayer functionality. The question remains though, is this trip down memory lane and expansion update worth the price of admission or is it a needless entry into a dying franchise.

Escape from Butcher Bay is steeped in a sci-fi setting but moves in a more prison simulation/horror feel that provides a unique backdrop to the stealth gameplay. Very few games, past or present, have fostered such an immersive atmosphere that the quality of the setting itself directs the gameplay. Prison yards are soaked in graffiti which marks where you are and who owns the territory, guard areas provide a sense of order, distilled in ruthlessness and clean lines. The mining missions even carry with it a sense of horror that adds additional layers to the fabric of the story. This is a game that focuses on your isolation in your environment and forces you to engage leverage over your captors through darkness itself. What sets Butcher Bay apart from the crowd though, in addition to the setting, is the character depth and variation of the secondary actors that give the title a resounding deepness that composes your emotions to be completely engrossed in the experience of shanking a fellow inmate or assisting in the betrayal of a rival gang member. Fueled also by antagonists you love to hate, at the conclusion of the game you have traveled through such a rich setting and participated in wildly complex relationships, the sense of accomplishment is truly enriching. The only struggle with the narrative is based more upon the mission structure itself as many fetch levels or intelligence gathering exploits damage the pace of the story.

H.A.W.X. (High Altitude Experimental Squadron) Review

May

15

2009

Tom Clancy's licensed video game franchise continues to expand with the entry of H.A.W.X., a flight simulator that marks an interesting departure from other releases within the Clancy gaming universe due to its lack of focus on intense realism in its gameplay emphasizing more of an arcade experience. Those looking for the gaming equivalent of an aerospace engineering course need not waste their time. With only Ace Combat 6 as the real competitor within the modern flight catalog of next generation consoles (an Xbox 360 exclusive), H.A.W.X. delivers unique control mechanics and solid potential for future iterations. The question remains however, when you are playing the game do you have a distinct need to go watch Top Gun for the 100th time. The answer provided in more detail in the below review is both yes and no, but I did start calling my wife Goose by the end of the mission based in Chicago.

The narrative is set between the events of Ghost Recon II Advanced Warfighter and the real time strategy release of End War. In 2021 you control the ace pilot protagonist David Crenshaw and operate in a mission for the Ghost Recon squad whereby you provide close air support that may bring back memories of past Ghost Recon glory. After your heroics you are then given walking papers by the Air Force and the H.A.W.X. squadron is disbanded due to....well that's not really explained. Fortunately, you are then recruited by the private military corporation Artemis where your skills are naturally sought after by the up and coming military powerhouse.

Without revealing too much of the plot, the structure of the story is fairly straight forward political suspense fare that touches upon themes about the check and balance of privately funded military corporations and the ethics of national interaction with these entities. The plot doesn't keep you on the edge of your seat as much as I hoped for and only near the end of the game do you truly feel a sense of determination to defend your homeland. The conclusion, though resolute, falls flat as the intensity of the build up and impact of particular events does not match the lack of accomplishment you feel due to weak execution of the dialogue and cut scenes.  The immersive quality of the story is diminished due to the poor presentation of the primary characters, and the development of key plot points is limited to after the fact recaps and presentation of directives instead of delivering true suspense. Even though the headline news style delivery of your current context from mission to mission does an excellent job of using past games to place you squarely in the Clancy universe, the intra game narrative struggles with the sense of its own individuality. Hopefully future installments will allow the gamer to become associated with and instill a sense of gravitas towards your comrades and objectives similar to the excellent Splinter Cell or Rainbow Six offerings (Yes, Third Echelon does make an appearance in H.A.W.X.). Overall, though the story is of mixed quality, it does an adequate job of pushing your forward and providing you the context for the true core of the experience, the gameplay.

The Top 5 Games you Haven’t Played

May

12

2009

In the midst of an onslaught of new video game releases it is easy for games that do not have the marketing support or were not critically acclaimed to ship under the radar screen of the casual gamer. Many of these under hyped titles were released in the wrong season where more notable titles were shipping while in many cases critics emboldened by their own erudition construct a bandwagon atmosphere when a particular subset of a game is picked apart where perhaps other, more meaningful pieces of the title were actually well designed. Another factor is that many hidden pearls of the gaming world are pushed asunder due to what has become a demo culture. Playable introductory versions of games are more and more becoming available via download pre-launch in which only a part of the first level or scene is even playable. Though it answers the cries of gamers everywhere to be able to preview before they buy, it sometimes leads to snap judgments about the quality of a title. It is similar to writing a review of a movie just by watching the trailer.

 

Though subjective to the core, through my meanderings as a gamer addict I have come across titles where there are truly excellent interactive moments to be played. Whenever a “list” is created there is an obvious prejudiced line that is earmarked as the stop gap, mine is 5. Let me know at mysears.com (user Leagueofone) if you have any suggestions for additional titles that are off the beaten trail as I am always looking to pick up a missed gaming experience.

 

5. Dark Sector (Xbox 360/PS3)

 

Notorious for being one of the first announced games for the Xbox 360 back in 2004, this title was delayed and reworked from its sci-fi roots to a more bio-hazard espionage thriller. Releasing in March of 2008, Dark Sector features outstanding visuals and a whirling blade of death that is in just one word, cool. The story is a bit convoluted but the voice acting is strong and the gameplay is varied and progressive. Without revealing too much of the plot your character Hayden Tenno (voiced well by Michael Rosenbaum of Smallville) is sent to investigate a rogue agent and chemical outbreak whereby you are subsequently infected and begin to grow a Glave in your left hand that serves as a limb dismemberer of anyone that stands in your way. As you become more infected you actually become stronger and different abilities begin to become realized which is needed as the enemies continue to evolve and boss battles in particular require special attention. The controls are a touch on the sluggish side, overall though, Dark Sector represents first rate production values and gruesome combat that definitely gives the player a sense of empowerment. Layer in a very unique multiplayer twist that pits the super mutant protagonist against a team of ordinary soldiers and you have a recipe for bloody fun.

 

4. Folklore (PS3)

 

The Pan’s Labyrinth of gaming, Folklore’s dark fantasy is both haunting and beautiful. The story primarily features two principal protagonists, Ellen, searching for her deceased mother and Keats, an occult journalist that is looking to discover the truth about paranormal activities. Their travels lead them both to Doolin, an Irish country settlement that is home to the supernatural “Folk.” The vantage point and interactivity of each character allows for a depth of story telling unbeknownst to another form of entertainment.  The gameplay follows a very binary approach that leads to intense action during night time elements, while during the day your character is driven by narrative and loot gathering exploits. Combat also takes an interesting path as your weapons are primarily the essence you steal from the “Folk” of the netherworld. Each type of encounter dictates the use of a particular “Folk” attribute which adds additional layers to the game’s depth. The combination of stunning visuals and imaginative creature creation elevates this title as an experience that should not be passed up.

 

3. Too Human (Xbox 360)

 

Too Human is a critically maligned game that was a product of its own hype and exaggerated expectations which, unfortunately, led to this title not fulfilling its own promises as the next great Microsoft exclusive. Albeit passionately supported by Dennis Dyack (owner of Sylicon Knights and director of Too Human) as a ground breaking Action RPG (Role Playing Game), the end product did not meet Xbox fanboy approval as a new dominating IP. It was also falsely accused of being in steady development for over 10 years and costing over a hundred million dollars in production costs which only further enhanced the flame bait internet wars as to what would constitute success for this title. Riding an avalanche of controversy and unrealistic expectations, Too Human released to a tepid audience and less than flattering reviews that castigated it for its unique control style and presentation. If gamers/critics everywhere would have noticed however, Too Human is an incredibly fun and addicting title that introduces brave new concepts into console RPG’s. The narrative style and level presentation craft an excellent retelling of Norse mythology, which has been drastically under represented in the gaming landscape, while also modernizing the story to our techno-centric realities. Another strong aspect of Too Human is the gameplay which is Diablo like in loot gathering while also orientating itself well to the action gamer with its focus on the right analog stick as the primary attack trigger. This style allows you to careen off enemies at an ever increasing rate while leaving your face buttons open for special attacks and abilities. Too Human takes some skill to master and the targeting can be frustrating but coupled with outstanding character customization and fighting types, the potential is there for a ground breaking sequel (additional level variation and expanded co-op from 2 to 4 is needed) that hopefully still has the backing of Microsoft.  

 

2. Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Athena (Xbox 360/PS3)

 

Though released April 7^th of 2009, this title was actually born 5 years ago with critical acclaim (with regrettably slow sales) as Escape from Butcher Bay for the original Xbox. Undercutting the theory that all movie licensed games are substandard in quality, Escape from Butcher Bay almost created a new genre unto itself with a first person shooter that focused more on stealth and hand to hand combat than twitch action. The graphics at the time were ground breaking and the unique gameplay fostered a loyal, albeit, small fan base. Flash forward to the present and Atari/Starbreeze took it upon themselves to completely re-master the original Escape from Butcher Bay with next generation physics and graphics while also including an entirely new and engaging campaign, Assault on Dark Athena. This title represents what is possibly the best value of any game shipped this year as it is basically two games in one. Assault on Dark Athena does not carry through the entire character of it’s forebear but the design quality and gameplay is retained and with the added benefit of online multiplayer modes the longevity of the title has been extended significantly. Vin Diesel may not be winning an Oscar anytime soon, but this stealth-action title is definitely worthy of a play through. With less than an estimated 1% console saturation rate a month after launch this title represents such an outstanding quality that it warrants to be brought more into the mainstream of the gaming universe.

1. Valkyria Chronicles (Sony PS3)

 

Only an estimated 1.8% of PS3 owners own this title. This is perhaps the best RPG in Sony’s library for the PS3 and it is a true crime that it is so under realized in the market. The first emblem of note for this title is its breath taking beauty. Utilizing the Canvas engine designed exclusively for the PS3, the hand-drawn style leaves this game looking like a living painting throughout the entire experience. The engrossing tale sets Welkin and his troops against neighboring enemies that have ensnared his country in a destructive path when in the midst of the fighting a new hyper-powered threat, the “Valkyria” enters the battle wherein Welkin is forced to lead his band courageously against the unknown foe. This experience usually garners 25-35 hours of gameplay and it is worth every dime. The gameplay unites the tactical RPG experience with the everyday Third Person Action genre in a unique intertwining of strategy and action adventure. I could not recommend this title more and it should be purchased by any PS3 fan of the genre.  

 

Honorable but not Forgotten Mentions:

 

Frontlines: Fuel of War, The Darkness, Command and Conquer: Kane’s Wrath, Battle Stations: Midway, Overlord, Viking: Battle of Asgard, Alone in the Dark (Post controls update), Rise of the Argonauts

God of War III Preview - “The Beginning of the End”

May

12

2009

The “Epic Scale”(in game engine) trailer posted on Gametrailers.com opens with a peaceful landscape of trees swaying in the breeze as rays of sun cascade through the clouds in the distance. A faint “caw” is heard as a crow swiftly circles the screen while the camera pans down and zooms in on the symbol of death. The bird gently lands on a stump in the midst of towering trees while he scans the forest in need to scavenge. Thunder and lightning provide a short tremble to the screen that urges the crow to glide to the earth below landing next to a streaming brook. His eyes fixate on an object unseen as he pecks a substance that splashes blood across the screen; an eye is caught in the beak of his mouth as the view slowly zooms out to the fatality. Quickly, the bird flies off as Kratos, the former God of War rumbles through the stream.

The picture shifts to the first person perspective of Kratos running wildly through the forest as he carves a path through nature itself. As he reaches a clearing, he scans to the left and views a Hades minion running step for step with him on the ledge above. Kratos turns his perspective to the right as another hunter holding a torch is closing in on his side. The Spartan pushes forward as a blockade of armed undead soldiers force him to take immediate action. The Blades of Chaos seared to his arms quickly release as he becomes a cyclone of vengeance dispatching and chaining attacks from one enemy to the next. The camera circles Kratos as he launches in the air.  With his arms reared back, showing the scar across his abdomen (evidence of his father’s Zeus betrayal at the beginning of God of War 2), he brings his blades down upon his victim. Glowing and powerful, the Blades of Chaos launch the fateless army into the air while latching themselves to the next combo of pain. Plowing through the foolish foes he reaches a bottleneck that he must cross, a path through the mountain that reveals a Centaur blocking his escape. They charge each other with reckless abandon when suddenly Kratos, feet aglow, clambers the side of the wall. Kratos uses the cliff to launch himself into the Centaur and latches a blade to the underbelly of the beast that causes him to whip around to give the death blow. Forcefully he eviscerates the Centaur and glances to the distant ridge.

 

A Cyclops thunders in the distance beckoning the son of Zeus to dare a duel. The camera zooms in on the monster then quickly scans the space between and reveals the horde in the path of the killer of gods. A huge chain is also witnessed that seems out of place within the scene that lies ahead of the damned warrior. Kratos’s face is then shown in steely resolve, teeth grinding in rage as he rushes the fray. Without fear he launches himself in the air and descends violently upon the first enemy. Kratos grabs his foe and uses him as a living shield while he bulldozes the crowd. Blood splaying, Kratos loses momentum as the burden of the multitude becomes too much to bear. They surround him and pile on top of each other looking to finish off the Ghost of Sparta when suddenly in an explosion of rage he sends the encircled enemies sprawling to their gruesome deaths. Standing defiantly, Kratos reveals a new weapon that appears as lion heads on his hands with rings of steel springs lacing his arm. Lightning flashes again as he cocks his new instruments of torture. Bashing the remaining Hades soldiers, his strikes shake the ground as he punishes his way to the taunting fiend. As Kratos smashes the chain he immediately adjusts his position with a quick dash that evades the swinging club of the Cyclops. He dances to his right and latches onto the back of the creature and stabs him in the side of the head. In agony the beast rolls through the remaining pack of soldiers as a new weapon at Kratos’s disposal.

 

The world unexpectedly and violently shifts and the Cyclops, though stabbed repeatedly, grabs desperately to the earth as the very ground begins to tilt skyward. The creature loses his hold upon the earth and falls heavily upon the now horizontal trees. Kratos uncaring of this new development continues to stab the Cyclops and upon its impending death leaps skyward to a pack of Harpies flying through the air. Ripping them limb from limb the screen pulls back to reveal the supposed earth is actually a Titan that Kratos has now freed as the heavy chains fall from the shoulder of the living mountain. A pack of Titans are seen scaling a cliff of immeasurable height, Mount Olympus. Clouds and lightning circle the peak as the final war of the gods is quickly approaching. It’s the beginning of the end of the gods as the God of War, sentenced in vengeance, rages on.  

Though only a trailer, it truthfully emulates that if there is one word to describe the God of War series, they must be called epic. The sense of scale of God War I & II for PS2 redefined the environmental set pieces of action adventure games and in no small measure entices fans of the series to dwell on what to expect for the first entry into this generation of consoles. Each game pushed the known limits of the PS2 and though many fans in particular were dismayed that God of War 2 was to be produced solely on the PS2 post the release of the PS3, it became the swan song for one the most successful consoles in gaming history.

 

For those not familiar with the story in progress, Kratos was once a successful Spartan Captain whose skill allowed his army to dominate his enemies. His pride soon led to a battle against a barbarian tribe that unpredictably began to decimate his army. In desperation Kratos cried out and offered his soul to Ares the God of War to save his army. Ares intervened and destroyed the barbarians and subsequently Kratos began to live as an indentured slave of Ares to carry out his dominion of war on earth. Ares welded the Blades of Chaos to the arms of Kratos to be his instruments of wrath (it would be Kratos’s very bonds that would become the tools of his freedom). The rage of the Spartan Captain began to possess him completely as Ares took control of his entire body and mind. In a fateful raid Kratos led against a village, unknowingly he killed his wife and daughter in bloodlust. Once realizing what had occurred, Kratos, cursed by the ashes of his family causing his skin to turn unnaturally white, vowed vengeance against Ares.

 

Kratos sought out the gods and promised to serve them in order receive forgiveness of his sins, though after years of servitude he did not find the peace he so desperately sought. On the cusp of rebelling against the trivial gods, Athena reached out to Kratos for help as Ares was on the verge of destroying Greece. As his last act of slavery and hope for forgiveness, Kratos goes to war against Ares and ends up killing his former master. Upon completing his task Kratos demands to be forgiven of his past and the gods do in fact issue redemption. Tragically however, he is not allowed to forget his sins. Horrified, Kratos attempts suicide by jumping off a cliff but Athena swoops down and places Kratos on the throne of the God of War bringing him in as a brethren of the gods.

In God of War II, we see the bitter Kratos begin to lose control and become more ruthless than even Ares before him. Zeus, dismayed by his wayward god orchestrates Kratos’s fall which opens with the most breathtaking first level I have ever played in which the God of War battles a possessed Colossus of Rhodes for the entire length of the act. In order to defeat the Colossus, Zeus tricks Kratos into pouring all of his godly power into a sword that he uses to slay the living statue. Escaping the battle exhausted and greatly injured, as his drained godhood resides in the weapon itself, Kratos stumbles towards the sword he dropped fighting the Colossus. Zeus uses the opportunity to grab the sword and stab Kratos through the chest which sends the perished Kratos to Hades. The fallen god is rescued by the Titan Gaia and inspired to fight through Hades and end the reign of Zeus. He attempts to gain control of the “Fates” and travel back in time to the fateful betrayal and defeat Zeus in the act of his own murder. Wrestling control of time itself, Kratos is successful and meets Zeus head on and defeats him. When Kratos is just about to enter the death blow however, Athena steps in front of the strike and is killed though in her dying breath reveals that Zeus is Kratos’s father and is trying to end the cycle of patricide Zeus entered into with his own father, the Titan Kronos. Enraged by Athena’s death, Kratos once again travels back in time to the war of the Titans and the gods and convinces the Titans to travel with him through time in order to defeat the gods in their weakened state. The game ends with Kratos on the back of Gaia as they scale Mount Olympus to begin the war to end all wars.

If the end of God War II is any clue to how the opening level of God of War III will be, it will lead to one of the most memorable moments in the series. Beyond level design however, the God of War franchise has raised the industry standard in regards to the flow of combat and presentation excellence. What has been witnessed by early previews is a generational defining graphical prowess in God of War III that has more than quadrupled the polygon count of the previous Kratos character model (from 5k to 20k) and is increasing the on screen enemy count from a modest 12-15 in God War II to over 50 in God of War III. While maintaining moving/shifting levels that are carried on the living Titans themselves as they battle the gods, the immense scale (Gaia herself is taller than the Empire State building) intertwined with the intimate character modeling will undoubtedly set a new standard for the entire industry.

One particular advancement seems to be centered around the gameplay. In past installments the Blades of Chaos dominated the action and even though there were other weapons available, most gamers found themselves gravitating towards the one weapon as they really was no poignant use for any variation. In God of War III, it appears that weapons will function as positional stance indicators, where for example the revealed “Cestus” (the lion hands mentioned in the trailer description) seems to present a more up close and personal type of fighting style similar to the “Gauntlets of Zeus” in thePSP iteration of the series. It remains to be seen however if the enemy AI will demand this type of strategy. An intriguing enemy update though is the inclusion of leaders such as the Centaur characters which will elevate the surrounding horde’s battle tactics causing attacks to be more coordinated and aggressive.

If there is one primary concern I have with the development with the title is what seems to be an emphasis upon outrageous violence as the centerpiece of the game. Though the passion of the character is symbolized in the violence and has an important role to play, gore solely utilized for shock will only hinder the impact of the game’s presence as the artistic emblem of Sony’s arsenal. It will also be interesting to see how the de facto founders of modern QTE’s (Quick Time Events) in gaming develop and utilize Sony’s six axis controller in order to not to lose the immersion of the player in a series of timed button presses.   

 

Questions aside, the director Stig Asmussen proclaims in March’s issue of Game Informer, “We want this to be the game that shows people what the PS3 can do,” and with the pedigree of past iterations we have no reason to doubt that the developers of this grand finale will deliver their masterpiece in groundbreaking form. If the series is set to explain why there are no more myths, and it is confirmed that God of War III will be the last in the series, the release of this title will represent a bitter sweet moment for gamers everywhere. Sony’s flagship character however will undoubtedly leave an impression that will last a life time.

 

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 - Preview

Apr

29

2009

By: Josh Deane

 

Seldom has gaming reached such heights as Activision’s seminal 2007 title Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. Transposing the chaos of the oversaturated World War II shooter scene into the guise of technology and power created a platform where Infinity Ward set a new standard for narrative heft and photorealistic gameplay. The game recreated a “shock and awe” atmosphere as the experience hinged on a nuclear detonation and ended with a pistol shot with a gravitas that was more forceful than every other round fired in Call of Duty lore. This holiday’s past release of World at War only heightened the anticipation of returning to the sweet song of R.P.G.’s and night vision goggles and with a tantalizing countdown release date of 11/10/09, November cannot come soon enough.

 

Activision primarily has utilized two developers for the Call of Duty franchise. Infinity Ward was responsible for Call of Duty 2, the premier launch title of the Xbox 360 (later ported to the PS3) and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. Treyarch has put forward solid efforts with Call of Duty 3 and Call of Duty: World at War and to no fault of their own were too far in production with World at War when Modern Warfare was released to alter their strategy and emulate the successful context of their sister company. Launching in November of 2008, World at War, though polished and well executed, left many fans reminiscing of times spent with their G3 assault rifle instead of their 40’s era Thompson. Infinity Ward was able to raise the standard of an entire gaming genre with Modern Warfare and it is to their chapter once again that gamers everywhere are ready to dive into.  

 

On March 25^th, Infinity Ward released their first teaser trailer for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 to much fan frustration as many details were scattered and hidden. Gametrailers.com has done an excellent job of breaking down specific moments within the trailer and is my primary resource for the breakdown that follows. Please note you actually do not see most of this trailer as it is presented in quick flashes and background noise.

 

The trailer opens with swirling green lines as the night vision theme from Modern Warfare quickly turns to a sound analyzer updating wildly across the screen. At the 18 second mark an automatic sliding door opens and a female-voiced PA announcement is reigning throughout the air. You hear hushed muttering in the midst of the noise that is indistinguishable though it is clear the scene is set in an international airport. The unmistakable airport warning to ensure all bags are attended is easily discernable and could lead to some interesting gameplay scenarios. Half a minute in and an elevator bell rings sharply as the door opens and footsteps are heard entering the lift while at the 33 second point a small subscript of Russian can be detected in the mid-left center of the screen. Something opens, an elevator shaft, a carrying case possibly, which directly leads to 14 seconds of weapons being armed and equipment loading as the men suit up quickly and efficiently. Another bell as the elevator ascends, “L1” marking another step. A quick flash of a man’s wrist watch glazes the distempered green as the time reads 8:17. Once the “M” (Mezzanine level) is reached, 3 terrorists are revealed as the point of view holds the fourth. They wear no masks, there is a point they intend to make. The next bell, “1,” a Russian terrorist strongly whispers “God with us,” as their destination quickly approaches. Tense, nerves on the tipping point, “2,” at the 1:16 ark a sharp profile of a man’s face appears in which he calmly orders, “Remember, no Russian.” They wish to be seen but not understood…perhaps setting the stage for a political scapegoat. In the moment of 1:23 the lines remit images of civilians laughing and talking unknowing of the fate about to befall them. The inevitable first shot rings out and a scream is heard terrified and shrill.

 

The screen fades to white as the light switch of the moment is turned on. Power lines stretch across the flashing lights, a possible train or bus serves to signify this is American soil as F-15’s are quickly glimpsed in the upper right hand corner. In this moment, houses on a ridge are displayed as weapons of war dance across the screen; sounds of death dispatch short echoes of familiar scenes.

 

Reminiscent of the epilogue of Modern Warfare, an airliner cabin is shortly pictured with spec ops climbing uncertain cliffs shown in a quick shot. At marker 1:54 a new local is exposed as the Christ the Redeemer statue of Rio de Janeiro is revealed in the left corner. Two other indefinable locations pop up in the form of an oil rig and a castle leaving you only to your imagination of how many varying environs can be captured and played.

 

The light adjusts; the screen dials back to sounds of screams and gunfire as the doors of the elevator slide shut and the sound of silence retains the moment. “2” flashes once more, no longer as the point of entry but as the symbol of Modern Warfare. No longer is Call of Duty the forebear of the title, it is simply Modern Warfare 2.

Setting the stage for a possible gameplay shift to counter terrorism a la Rainbow Six and foreshadowed by the epilogue of Call of Duty 4, it seems that perhaps time pressure, civilian interaction and a tactical strategy could drive this title. It remains to be seen with further updates what direction there will be in regards to the perk system, weapon load outs and multiplayer functionality particularly co-op. Infinity Ward promises this title will represent the epitome of their work in driving the evolution of modern shooters and with their track record, gamers have no reason to doubt this will be a title where we wish the countdown was minutes not months.

Gaming Fanboys

Apr

05

2009

By: Josh Deane

 

It only takes a casual perusing of notable video gaming websites to notice the perpetual flame throwing that fans of particular consoles engage in on a daily basis. Playstation and Xbox supporters in a show of perplexing childishness will often look for every opportunity to rate opposing exclusive console games lower and castigate them unceasingly never fully realizing they are only reaching an audience of one.

 

The gaming community recently witnessed Adam Sessler, a popular game reviewer for Xplay who had the audacity to slightly criticize the sluggish control style of Killzone 2 (a groundbreaking PS3 exclusive), internet stoned as a closet Xbox propagandist whose bias knew no bounds even though he rated the technical masterpiece a perfect 5 out of 5.

 

There seems to be misplaced fear that if either Microsoft or Sony were to somehow lose the current cold war in video game history, that in one of their absences the developers of our favorite interactive pastimes would some how disappear into the vacuum of gaming purgatory.

 

Without fully understanding the history of the current PS3 and Xbox 360 hardware (both are basically built with the same technology) or reading the market conditions that are continually pushing third party software developers to move away from console exclusives (an effort to offset skyrocketing development costs) the Fanboy gang war rages on in ignorance.

 

Fear not my fellow gamers, the two behemoths of our video game lives will remain until the next evolution of gaming is witnessed; a console less reality. The console war will be ended simply with our favorite machines fading away into current PC cloud computing where our games are “held” at third party servers and streamed to our TVs as desired. This movement has recently seen its conceptual underpinnings at the 2009 Game Developers Conference as “Onlive” showcased the potential of streaming video games directly to your PC/TV.

 

The gaming community is built more on technological revolution than any other entertainment media and if a system of gaming can be built to help off set the current $60 price tag of our 8-10 hour virtual vacations, East vs. West will finally unite in a cheaper and friendlier gaming future.

 

In the meantime, what the interactive media community should be gearing towards is creating a hive of cultural and developmental advice to the artists of our fledgling gaming universe. Gaming represents the next step in artistic modalities as an emphasis on sociality and a move away from passivity into active engagement with ideas and images has the potential to set a new standard for community expression.

 

In this forum, Fanboys need not apply as it is time to create an epicenter of gaming feedback that spurs our industry forward and is not stagnated with petty rivalries of whose processing power allows what.