Call of Duty: Black Ops

[tgr]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSChUAF83AY

[LK]

I have trouble justifying putting the disc into the drive and playing it after MW2 & Infinity Ward. It seems I'm the extreme minority in feeling this way given the record number of sales the game has received.

It feels like a meaningless gesture on my part to not purchase the game on principle, regardless of the fact that it seems to be a good game that continues the CoD tradition while keeping the things that Treyarch added, like Nazi Zombies. But I've seen franchises taken over in the past by other companies (Bethesda -> Obsidian, Bioware -> Obsidian, Blizzard -> Swinging Ape) and I haven't really complained, but I guess I haven't seen something so dramatic as IW -> Treyarch.

I don't know, what do you all think?

[tgr]

If it'd been a good game, without online activations and consoleitis, and at a reasonable price point, I would've bought it. I haven't seen any indications of online activations (so far), but the price point has been ludicrous (60 euro? what the fuck), and for now it seems like it has a chance of being unplayable.

Personally, I think that's more the way to go than to avoid buying a game simply because they were total asshats on the previous game, since hey, they could've changed their ways. If they haven't, however (like 60 fucking euro for a 5-6h SP game), fuck'em.

[LK]

I can see them justifying a high price point because of multiplayer combined with no subscriptions, and the single player being a short but dense experience meant to be replayed on higher difficulties but ultimately not the core of the experience. The multiplayer is the core of this series now and mostly what you're paying for. The SP is an action movie you're meant to blow through and get to the multiplayer. If you don't like multiplayer then yes, it's going to be a *huge* waste of your money.

[Azazel]

I have trouble justifying putting the disc into the drive and playing it after MW2 & Infinity Ward. It seems I'm the extreme minority in feeling this way given the record number of sales the game has received.

It feels like a meaningless gesture on my part to not purchase the game on principle, regardless of the fact that it seems to be a good game that continues the CoD tradition while keeping the things that Treyarch added, like Nazi Zombies. But I've seen franchises taken over in the past by other companies (Bethesda -> Obsidian, Bioware -> Obsidian, Blizzard -> Swinging Ape) and I haven't really complained, but I guess I haven't seen something so dramatic as IW -> Treyarch.

I don't know, what do you all think?

IW were great Devs, all the way from when they were 2011 and produced the first MoH games through to CoD4:MW. Somewhere after that, they changed to giant douches with the MW2 shit. I don't mind developing for Consoles first, but MW2 had a variety of issues. Treyarch have gone from shitty to solidly "okay" with COD5:WaW. If they've decided to not be massive douchebags in the post-MW2 space, and have created a fun game, then fucking well done to them.

I'll be buying it when it gets cheap, which with Activision and Bobby on board, might be a couple of years. I hope I can find another couple of games to play in the meantime. 

[Azazel]

With the SP so short on this and MW2, I might see if the local video library has either of them for rental when I go on Christmas holidays in a few weeks. Screw their MP. I have Battlefield!

[Azazel]

[Besides I don't have manuals for these games nor do I read option menus.

Wow. You sound tough. You must get all the girls.

[Cyrrex]

I can see them justifying a high price point because of multiplayer combined with no subscriptions, and the single player being a short but dense experience meant to be replayed on higher difficulties but ultimately not the core of the experience. The multiplayer is the core of this series now and mostly what you're paying for. The SP is an action movie you're meant to blow through and get to the multiplayer. If you don't like multiplayer then yes, it's going to be a *huge* waste of your money.

Really?  I can't see it.  I'm probably being dense, but no way does development for multiplayer, pound for pound, cost as much as developing the single player game.  No way.  In hell.

[LK]

Really?  I can't see it.  I'm probably being dense, but no way does development for multiplayer, pound for pound, cost as much as developing the single player game.  No way.  In hell.

Probably not, especially when you factor out things like V.O., scripting levels, etc., but I look at it as the amount of entertainment / enjoyment you'd get out of it. By that standard MMOs with $15 / month subscription fees are the best bang for buck compared to no-subscription $60 games with highly entertaining and recyclable multiplayer with new editions received annually or semi-annually.

[tgr]

I can see them justifying a high price point because of multiplayer combined with no subscriptions

If they had actually said that, I would've said that what they really mean to say was "The price is so high because today's kids are so concerned about having what's considered 'the last edition of $game' that they're willing to pay extra for the ... privilege".

And as for "no subscriptions", what? I'm supposed to pay premium just because they're not trying their hardest to wring even MORE money out of me over time?

[Nightblade]

This reminds me of a funny little thing that appears when you fire up Black Cops Multiplayer.

"Black Ops Multiplayer: Free with every copy of Call of  Duty: Black Ops"

"Have a nice day"

 

[Pennilenko]

This game is shit, it barely runs, constantly goes black. This is the last time i buy a shooter just because all my friends are getting it.

[LK]

I need to see a screenshot of that Nightblade.

No subscriptions: the game servers are always running and no subscription to get them. Assuming best-case scenario of new game every year, 60 euro works out to 5 euro a month to purchase access, aside from the other features of the game.

Maybe I don't understand how much regular games cost or how much previous Call of Duty games cost in Europe. The game costs $60 here which is normal for a "big" release like this.

Would a multiplayer-only title fly at $60? No. But the strength of it's multiplayer would allow it to skimp on single player since the franchise isn't about that anymore.

[Cyrrex]

I think people are complaining that the PC price point is 60.  It's usually 10 bucks/euros cheaper than the console version.  A little trick MW2 started with last year.

[Nightblade]

I need to see a screenshot of that Nightblade.

No subscriptions: the game servers are always running and no subscription to get them. Assuming best-case scenario of new game every year, 60 euro works out to 5 euro a month to purchase access, aside from the other features of the game.

Maybe I don't understand how much regular games cost or how much previous Call of Duty games cost in Europe. The game costs $60 here which is normal for a "big" release like this.

Would a multiplayer-only title fly at $60? No. But the strength of it's multiplayer would allow it to skimp on single player since the franchise isn't about that anymore.

After that, the little message flips you off to saying "Have a nice day"  

Patch just released, works fine (not perfect) now for me; some other people still having issues.

[LK]

What.

The.

Fuck.

[tgr]

You see, they're adding value to their product by giving us free online gameplay. It's a new and never-before-seen feature.

[NiX]

You see, they're adding value to their product by giving us free online gameplay. It's a new and never-before-seen feature.

They're making fun of Bad Company 2.

[Nightblade]

You see, they're adding value to their product by giving us free online gameplay. It's a new and never-before-seen feature.

They're making fun of Bad Company 2.

I... don't get it?

[Rendakor]

Bad Company 2 (along with most EA sports games) came with a one-use CD Key that allowed you to play online.

[Tairnyn]

Having played MW2 on the 360 extensively with friends I've enjoyed Black Ops (360) a lot when we can connect to a game as a party. There's still some significant issues with finding a game with more than 3 people during prime time, and it usually just kicks everyone and has the leader start a new game by themselves. I've heard both PS3 and PC are having connection issues as well.

The handling on the guns is significantly changed. LMGs now have much more violent, unpredictable kick and only one of them offers a grip option. I was hoping to get my lovely RPD with grip but alas, such a beast is no longer available. SMGs are very steady and easier to run-and-gun but do very little damage at medium to long range. Assault rifles seem to be the middle ground, but it's still very difficult to control your fire while on the move. Overall, I think they balanced the weapons, perks and killstreaks well, although the choppers still seem to be pretty deadly.

The customization options for the emblem have already yielded some interesting pictures. I've seen a well-done Boba Fett and some creative bestiality depictions so far. Adding the emblem and clan tag to the gun is pretty useless, but I do like the reticle customization.

[Tarami]

Bad Company 2 (along with most EA sports games) came with a one-use CD Key that allowed you to play online.

Any reason you couldn't simply sell the account bound to the key?

[Nightblade]

Yeah so as it turns out, the patch improved things for people, but not to the point where it should be, even at low settings I (and others) are getting hiccups during fire fights: IE: the worst possible time.

Isn't this game using a modified QUAKE 3 engine?

[Tarami]

A bastardized Quake 3 engine maybe. It has been 11 years.

[Rendakor]

Bad Company 2 (along with most EA sports games) came with a one-use CD Key that allowed you to play online.

Any reason you couldn't simply sell the account bound to the key?

Because it was tied to your PSN/Xbox Live account; also because EA sold online-passes that allowed people without said CD Keys for like $10 bucks.

[LK]

Ohhhh.

Eh.

[01101010]

Having to pay your way gives you more loadout options at lower required levels than in previous Call of Duty games, and the fact that points are so crucial to improving your arsenal makes them as just as sublimely satisfying to earn as experience points.

SOURCE (gameslop)

How many xp bars does this game have again?

[Tarami]

Many. Money generally isn't a problem though if you know what you want. Buying every available weapon is going to take time, but if you have your eyes on something, it's easy. A single public game is enough to earn money for a new primary weapon.

Ranks are still more important, money is just a retardant.

[Malakili]

Picked this up semi on a whim because I really wanted something shootery and everything in my library is stale at this point.   Actually pretty good.  Hardcore mode in multiplayer feels very good, will probably be my preferred mode.

[NiX]

Yeah so as it turns out, the patch improved things for people, but not to the point where it should be, even at low settings I (and others) are getting hiccups during fire fights: IE: the worst possible time.

Isn't this game using a modified QUAKE 3 engine?

Modified version of the W@W engine, which is a modified CoD4 engine.

[Azazel]

Bad Company 2 (along with most EA sports games) came with a one-use CD Key that allowed you to play online.

Any reason you couldn't simply sell the account bound to the key?

So I cracked open my newly-arrived 360 copy of Bad Company 2 the other night. Guess what I was able to do without putting in any form of CD-Key? 

[jakonovski]

So I just ordered this for the PC. Suddenly I got the idea, why not play multiplayer with an Xbox 360 pad. How hard can it be?

[NiX]

So I cracked open my newly-arrived 360 copy of Bad Company 2 the other night. Guess what I was able to do without putting in any form of CD-Key? 

I don't believe the VIP key activates MP. It just entitles you to the free DLC and other stuff.

I didn't say Treyarch was doing a good job of making fun of BC2 ;)

[01101010]

Never like the "feel" for a pad in FPS or RPG games. I am not very accurate with my thumbs in terms or precision aiming or rotating a screen. My wrist is much more exact moving a mouse that is controlling the reticle...how and why that happened is for your own amusement.  

[Rendakor]

So I cracked open my newly-arrived 360 copy of Bad Company 2 the other night. Guess what I was able to do without putting in any form of CD-Key? 

I don't believe the VIP key activates MP. It just entitles you to the free DLC and other stuff.

I didn't say Treyarch was doing a good job of making fun of BC2 ;)

Ahh, my bad. I assumed that BC2 was following in the footsteps of Madden et al.