Game

[drew]

knife animations in fps' are way too fucking fast

[Stoney Mason]

[youtube=560,345][/youtube]

[maxy]

Ok,my impressions

Game is fully action packed,explosions,bullets fly like crazy,stick your head out and screen will turn red in few seconds,bullets are somehow hitting you even through bunch of friendly AI...so far it has been a warzone
Story-personally I don't like the way it's told,

spoiler (click to show/hide)

flashbacks

[close]

but it's ok...small spoiler

Now to my biggest complaint...INFINITE RESPAWNS are back,if you don't do exactly what game wants you to do,cross some magical line or do something...you are fucked

Two examples
Hallway that leads to the roof,you need to push through(cross some magical line) otherwise they will just keep coming and replacing "empty" spots...died few times and then decided to wait a little,fought 10 minutes,they keep coming...fuck this,push ahead

Warzone,you need to push the enemy back but you can't do that by killing them,you need to set something on fire and then they will stop coming...of course you can freely move through that place afterwards

Friendly AI is also linked to the magical lines,unless you activate it they will stay behind...you can return back,AI will stay there.Also I don't like  enemy "dance" when you hit them...are you dead or not?sometimes they come back and kill you of course

Somehow everything seems sluggish,reloading is slow,switching weapons also,aiming seems pretty imprecise.Maybe i just need to adapt and weapons are outdated

So far MW2>>>>>>>>>>Black OPS
Maybe my opinion will change later...maybe
Infinity Ward
 

INFINITE RESPAWNS 
 
 Playing it on Hardened,btw

[Stoney Mason]

So far MW2>>>>>>>>>>Black OPS

Not surprising on the SP side. IW was always a lot better than Treyarch on the campaign side. And I thought MW 2 was a pretty great campaign.

[WrikaWrek]

MW2 had a terribly told story though, very dissappointing if Black Ops manages to be even worse.

[Stoney Mason]

Don't care about story in my bro shooters. And I would argue the story in MW 2 was no worse than any other bro shooter ala Bad Company, Halo, or Gears of War.

[WrikaWrek]

Not saying the story itself was bad, just the way it was told. Specially compared to Call of Duty 4.

[Stoney Mason]

Not saying the story itself was bad, just the way it was told. Specially compared to Call of Duty 4.

I found it confusing from a story perspective overall. I didn't really understand it until I read up a story outline on a wiki after I finished it but that tends to happen to me in COD games because they do that information dump in the briefing cutscene before the mission and I tune out.

But the actual mission to mission gameplay and the set pieces were the best the series has ever been in MW 2 imo.

[WrikaWrek]

I personally thought Call of Duty 4 was a bit more exciting, maybe because it was paced better and had a story that i was able to follow throughout the game.

Also the ending setpiece of Call of Duty 4 is fucking amazing, much better than Modern Warfare 2.

[Stoney Mason]

Also the ending setpiece of Call of Duty 4 is fucking amazing, much better than Modern Warfare 2.

I'll agree with that.

I thought on an overall basis though I just liked the other missions a lot more in MW 2 than I did in COD 4. They are more memorable. Plus I liked running around the white house.

Definitely post more impressions Maxy. I was hoping the PC version would leak so I could play it early but so far no cracks...

[maxy]

Playing it right now,not a bad game but it's starting to annoy me,you have to be a good boy and follow the rules.

Character that i have to follow has run through some solid brick wall,like a ghost,lol.

[cool breeze]

Also the ending setpiece of Call of Duty 4 is fucking amazing, much better than Modern Warfare 2.

I'll agree with that.

I thought on an overall basis though I just liked the other missions a lot more in MW 2 than I did in COD 4. They are more memorable. Plus I liked running around the white house.

yeah, what I liked about MW2 was that the story seemed more to put you in cool locations and less to be coherent.  I'm not the biggest fan of the newer Call of Duty shooting and all that, but the levels kept me entertained.  You had one that was straight out of The Rock, fighting in the suburbs, an airport, etc.  I think they tried to play it straight in CoD4 and that didn't work for me.

[Third]

Activision already talking about Call of Duty 2011

One detail that was revealed was that the Call of Duty series will once again have a fresh first-person installment late next year. "We will launch a new first-person action title during the back half of 2011," Activision Publishing CEO Eric Hirshberg said. This sentiment was later echoed by Activision COO Thomas Tippl, who said that "Next year's Call of Duty will be a first-person shooter."

The executives did not name the game or which studio was developing it. A likely suspect is Modern Warfare 3, which court documents identified as being in development at Infinity Ward as of May. That same month, Activision said the studio, which had lost over 35 members following the firing of its founders in March, continued to work on its "next big project."

A second Call of Duty is also in the works from newly formed studio Sledgehammer Games. Though Activision has said this title would take the Call of Duty series into the action-adventure genre, third-person, a May job listing indicated it would also be a first-person shooter. Activision has not said when the Sledgehammer title will be released, but said it was not the unnamed COD project slated for next year--presumably Modern Warfare 3.

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6283588.html?tag=latestheadlines%3Btitle%3B1

Good news. Can't wait until this franshise goes the same route as Guitar Hero and dies off.

[Stoney Mason]

As long as each dev is given two years to make them I don't really care. There is nothing saying a person has to buy each edition of the game.

[ManaByte]

Seeing as how Black Ops has higher pre-orders than MW2, this franchise is going NOWHERE. Third is a distinguished mentally-challenged fellow.

[cool breeze]

They should just make "Call of Duty" their "Tom Clancy" in games.  Different types of military games that all carry the name.  It would be cool if they got one crew to do a slower Rainbow Six/SWAT type game, or a Ghost Recon type game, or a Splinter Cell type game.

[Raban]

sounds like you just want more Tom Clancy games

[cool breeze]

I want more good Tom Clancy games.  If Ubisoft won't make a real Splinter Cell, maybe Activision will!

Plus Activision has some other military games they're releasing like Apache Air Assault.  They can call it "ACTIVISION PRESENTS: CALL OF DUTY'S APACHE: AIR ASSAULT: RISING" 

[Raban]

[Raban]

Also
[youtube=560,345][/youtube]
Video game commercial of the year.

[maxy]

Played it a little more
It's a decent game,more fun than not,it has some really nice locations,nice action but Treyarch is just not as good as Infinity Ward at scripting and gameplay design.
I've also noticed lots of zombie like enemies,they just rush at you no matter what...and they always seem to hit you even when surrounded by 5-6 friendly AI

One other thing,not sure why this is called Black Ops.I feel like some regular soldier fighting in WW2...fighting hordes and hordes of enemies at large battlefields.Game gives you tons of ammo and weapons and you just blast everything away...almost impossible to run out of ammo,except for heavy weapons. 

[Stoney Mason]

Thx for the impressions maxy. I'll probably just hop right into the MP then and come back to the SP when I'm taking a break between MP sessions.

[drew]

are there any preorder pluses out there?

[Powerslave]

how good is the special ops section? One of the best features from mw2.

[Stoney Mason]

how good is the special ops section? One of the best features from mw2.

There is no spec ops. Treyarch uses their zombie mode instead.

[archie4208]

Direct2Drive has the PC version for $45 when you use the coupon bigsavings at checkout.  It is a Steamworks game so you are forced to install malware on your computer to play it.

[Stoney Mason]

Direct2Drive has the PC version for $45 when you use the coupon bigsavings at checkout.  It is a Steamworks game so you are forced to install malware on your computer to play it.

why is direct 2 drive selling it? I thought they took some big stance against games with Steamworks in them. I remember that was the reason they gave for not selling MW2.

[archie4208]

If I recall correctly, they reversed that decision awhile back due to customer complaints.  I would also assume some revenue is better than none, especially considering Steamworks titles include some of the most anticipated in a given year (MW2, Civ5, New Vegas, Black Ops, etc).

[Stoney Mason]

If I recall correctly, they reversed that decision awhile back due to customer complaints.  I would also assume some revenue is better than none, especially considering Steamworks titles include some of the most anticipated in a given year (MW2, Civ5, New Vegas, Black Ops, etc).

Yeah I did a little googling and it does look like they reversed themselves earlier this year. 

Yesterday we reported that IGN's Direct2Drive web site had started selling the PC port of Modern Warfare 2 on its site, reversing an earlier decision not to provide Infinity Ward's best selling shooter game on Direct2Drive because of its use of Valve's Steam client as a requirement to play and update the game. We contacted IGN to find out why it decided to change its mind. Today we got back a response from Julie Uhrman, the general manager of IGN's Digital Distribution division.

In short, Uhrman said it was due to Direct2Drive's users that caused them to reverse its decision, saying, "We asked our customer base and they told us they weren't concerned whether a game came with a third-party client or not. And we listen to our customers." That would seem to leave things open for other Steam exclusive games showing up on Direct2Drive as well. When asked if that was going to happen Uhrman responded with, "Future titles will be decided on a publisher by publisher basis."

[CHOW CHOW]

who's getting it for PC n wants to be my friend on steam

[drew]

nobody lol

[archie4208]

http://vimeo.com/16581620

:|

[CHOW CHOW]

nobody lol

[demi]

lmao... who is that crying gif of?

[CHOW CHOW]

supposedly a guy from here by the name of Ichirou who might be this awful troll 'President Soetoro' we got at oa.  both live in Japan and apparently have similarities in their writing style

then there's one more cancer who might have migrated from here Dark Shake who's username over there is SSJDBZ123123124 something like that... this is his pic:

[CHOW CHOW]

and i didnt mean to imply that people from eb are cancerous, just those 2 (if it's them)

[demi]

lmao... they dont post here anymore so you dont have to worry about that here

[demi]

toys r us has $20 GC and tshirt for Black Ops... gonna just pick it up there

[G The Resurrected]

Bestbuy has an awesome deal if you PM TRU. Buy two copies and get a $50 giftcard plus if you have gaming rewards you get $20 bucks extra (two $10 rewards) granted you have to have a good bestbuy to pm.

Kmart is giving $25 worth of rewards that you can use towards a future purchase, and their copies come with a Black Ops patch. As well you can get $25 off any of the following games if your interested:

spoiler (click to show/hide)

Fable III $59.99 (Xbox 360)
Star Wars Force Unleashed II $59.99 (Xbox 360, PS3)
Fallout: New Vegas $59.99 (Xbox 360, PS3) PC is $49.99
WWE: Smackdown vs. Raw 2011 $59.99 (Xbox 360, PS3)
Dragon Age Ultimate Edition $59.99 (Xbox 360, PS3)
Vanquish $59.99 (Xbox 360, PS3)
Sim 3 $59.99 (Xbox 360, PS3)
Enslaved: Odyssey to the West $59.99 (Xbox 360, PS3)
Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition $39.99 (Xbox 360, PS3)
Rock Band 3 $59.99 (Xbox 360, PS3)
Dead Rising 2 $59.99 (Xbox 360, PS3)
James Bond 007: Bloodstone $59.99 (Xbox 360, PS3)
Uncharted 2: Game of the Year Edition $49.99 (PS3)
Borderlands: Game of the Year Edition $59.99 (Xbox 360, PS3)
Starcraft II $59.99 (PC)
Civilization 5 $49.99 (PC)
Final Fantasy XIV $49.99 (PC)
EA Sports MMA $59.99 (Xbox 360, PS3)
FIFA 2011 $59.99 (Xbox 360, PS3)
NHL 2011 $59.99 (Xbox 360, PS3
Madden 2011 $59.99 (Xbox 360, PS3)
NCAA Football 2011 $59.99 (Xbox 360, PS3)
Tiger Woods 2011 $59.99 (Xbox 360, PS3)
God of War 3 $59.99 (PS3)
Red Dead Redemption $59.99 (Xbox 360, PS3)
Mafia 2 $59.99 (Xbox 360, PS3)
Spiderman: Shattered Dimensions $59.99 (Xbox 360, PS3)
R.U.S.E. $59.99 (Xbox 360, PS3)
H.A.W.X. 2 $49.99 (Xbox 360, PS3)
F1: 2010 $59.99 (Xbox 360, PS3)
Lucha Libre $59.99 (Xbox 360, PS3)
Front Mission Evolved $59.99 (Xbox 360, PS3)
Quantum Theory $59.99 (Xbox 360, PS3)
Transformers: War for Cybertron $49.99 (Xbox 360, PS3)

[close]

I've got $205 dollars worth of coupons to use at Kmart so I'm going there to pick up my 3 copies.

[demi]

Wow awesome I guess that'd be useful if a) i needed 2 copies and - oh wait you dont need 2 copies of this game

[maxy]

Finished it.Good game,it has some flaws but overall it's fun to play.Second half is much better,some really great locations and action.Sometimes scripting and gameplay design are not up to snuff but you always want to know what is behind the next corner.

Story is actually good,intriguing.It all makes sense at the end(kinda).Interesting stuff,when you think about it.

[maxy]

If you are bored or like spectacles,check UK official launch,starts in about 3 hours

        * 6.30pm GMT – Behind the Scenes and Build Up

    Inside Xbox’s Dan Maher (MrPointyHead) and Graeme Boyd (AceyBongos) present an exclusive look behind the scenes at Battersea Power Station, home of the Call of Duty: Black Ops UK launch event!

        * 7.00pm GMT – Welcome to the Call of Duty: Black Ops UK Launch Event!

    Live from the Black Carpet as celebs and VIPs arrive for the launch of the most anticipated game in 2010. Also see the Battersea Power Station like never before as it comes under siege from Black Ops commandos…

        * 7.30pm GMT – Multiplayer Tournament & More From the Black Carpet

    Enter Battersea Power Station to watch the UK’s first Black Ops multiplayer challenge and hear from those lucky few to be involved. Featuring a DJ set from Freestyle Games, creators of DJ Hero!

        * 8.00pm GMT – Treyarch Presents…

    The developers of Call of Duty: Black Ops, Treyarch, take the stage to give you an exclusive inside look into how the game was made.

        * 8.30pm GMT – EU multiplayer Tournament

    UK, Sweden, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands and Spain battle it out in a multiplayer challenge. Featuring interviews with UK challengers.

        * 8.45pm GMT – Treyarch and VIP Interviews

    Treyarch answer your questions about the Black Ops. Submit your questions on the Black Ops Facebook page Wall or on Twitter by using the #CoDLaunch hashtag.

        * 9.00pm GMT – Reaction From an Exclusive Black Ops Feature Viewing

    At 21:00 the doors open for the first ever viewing of an exclusive feature for Call of Duty: Black Ops. Hear the reaction from those who witness it first…

        * 9.30pm GMT – Celebrity tournament

    Watch invited celebrities battle it out as Treyarch invite them to take the stage. Followed by a live DJ set from Freestyle Games.

        * 10.00pm GMT – Countdown to Launch

    With only two hours until Black Ops is available we prepare ourselves for the most anticipated game launch of 2010.

        * 10.45pm GMT – Live from GAME Oxford Street, London

    We cross live to Oxford Street as the queues begin to build for the midnight opening at GAME.

        * 10.50pm GMT – Guest Interviews

    We go back to Battersea Power Station to gather more reaction and verdicts on the game from invited guests and celebrities.

        * 11.00pm GMT – What happened in the US?

    Watch footage from the launch event held in the United States, which took place on 4 November.

        * 11.30pm GMT – Live from GAME Oxford Street, London

    We hear more from the queues outside GAME in Oxford Street as the crowd gets ever closer to getting their hands on Black Ops.

        * 11.45pm GMT – Un-Boxing of the Prestige Edition

    Our presenters unveil the delights found in the Prestige Edition of the game, plus a look inside the VIP goody bags and more music from Rampage.

        * 11.55pm GMT – Live From GAME Oxford Street, London

    We cross one final time to Oxford Street and talk to the first people in the UK to get their copy of Call of Duty: Black Ops!

Live blog
http://www.vg247.com/2010/11/08/call-of-duty-black-ops-launches-tonight-midnight-openings-price-deals-london-premiere-more/

Activision will be live streaming the event
http://apps.facebook.com/codblackopsuklaunch/activision/


Some random thoughts about the game,single player

-longer than MW2
-my ideal game(of this type) would probably be a game that has Black-Ops story,characters,locations and scripting,gameplay design done by Infinity Ward
-lack of destructible elements...game gives you tons of opportunities to play with heavy weapons but at the same time you can't destroy a simple wooden box,in fact heavy weapons are gimped,small impact radius,barely any effect unless you hit you target directly,like with a rifle.Barely used them,only for scripted sequences.
-grenades are only good for scaring enemies...long time to activate,small impact radius 
-Friendly AI tends to stand in front of you...some of them you can kill,some will just yell "check your fire!!!"

[ManaByte]

lack of destructible elements

That's the CoD engine for you. If you want destructible environments, play Battlefield.

[maxy]

I don't want to destroy buildings,but if I fire grenade,rocket,tank shell few feet close to an enemy...i want him dead

Little example

Armored vehicle,probably 30-50 millimeters explosive shell...a fence with few enemies behind them,total visibility...can't kill,that fence has apparently some huge hitbox...fired few rounds with 10-15 mm gun...all dead

Will try Veteran now

[maxy]

Facebook page is not working for me

You can watch stream here

http://www.ustream.tv/callofdutyblackops#utm_campaign=www.coveritlive.com&utm_source=5319621&utm_medium=social

Chat is the most interesting part,there are tons of Russian,eastern EU people there,lol

[Robo]

nobody lol

(Image removed from quote.)

 

[ManaByte]

Retail PC version is out. You can play now through Steam. Digital download users still locked out.

[drew]

they just interviewed some airsoft homos decked out in gear, man it must suck to live in a place where you cant even own a pocket knife

[Raban]

Manabyte your Steam games list is pathetic.

[Joe Molotov]

My Steam games list is thick and veiny.

[archie4208]

The PC version is apparently broken and runs like shit even on the beefiest machines. 

[demi]

 

[Joe Molotov]

The PC version is apparently broken and runs like shit even on the beefiest machines. 

Just wait until Activision releases the "Runs Better" DLC for $15 next week.

[Eel O'Brian]

are you talking about the pirated version?  probably has something to do with whatever hack used

i find it hard to believe a CoD game runs poorly on PC

[archie4208]

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1570196

Apparently it is only the multiplayer portion that runs poorly.  *shrug*  I'm sure it'll be patched soon, but it is still rather disappointing since Treyarch seemed to be doing everything else right, especially after the MW2 debacle.

[Eel O'Brian]

isn't this a steamworks game?  how are people already playing it if they aren't pirating it?

[Raban]

My Steam games list is thick and veiny.

Mine too

[archie4208]

isn't this a steamworks game?  how are people already playing it if they aren't pirating it?

It unlocked early in other countries. 

[Eel O'Brian]

isn't this a steamworks game?  how are people already playing it if they aren't pirating it?

It unlocked early in other countries. 

ah, well, that's a shame then, the CoD games have always run very well for me on just about any PC/OS (you can practically run CoD2 on a netbook)

i won't be getting it for a little while, so it should be smoothed out by then

[Cormacaroni]

not available on Steam in Japan, so fruity