The October 2008 issue of Gamepro magazine is out (thank you BASHandSlash.com reader Zia for the information!) and is chock-filled with multiplayer reveals for Treyarch's new Call of Duty: World at War. What you may not know is that Gamepro "jumped the gun" on telling us all about multiplayer.
This "scoop" by Gamepro shines a light on all the Machiavellian tricks that these high-end gaming publications pull during a major studio release. The big dogs in the gaming-news world, the likes of IGN, 1UP, Gamespot, Gamepro...etc, get spoon fed many of their exclusives by publishers and developers. Getting this information placed effortlessly on their laps undoubtedly comes at a price ...literally. Now, this arrangement is understandable (this is business after all) and usually things go well if the information is released by all parties at the same prearranged time.
However, sometimes there is one hound in the pack who decides to release the info early, contrary to the pre-arranged agreements, and thus manages to monopolize the attention of the general gaming public. You can see how this type of thing could be irresistible to a company trying to maximize their readership.
While we do not know what the time pressures or circumstances were that prompted Gamepro's early release, the bottom line is that they *do* seem to know what WW MP was all about - a fact that is confirmed by our in-the-know-sources.
So, our high-horses aside, let us get to the knowns and unknowns about CoD:WW MP on the PC:
1. We now know that Activision will release Call of Duty: World at War in mid-November.
2. Treyarch has let us know that the XBox and PC communities will get a MP Demo to play before the full release of the game. That release is scheduled for October. While the XBox release is more or less understood and explained at callofduty.com, the PC release is currently somewhat shrouded in mystery.
CoD Community supporter, and the go-to person for all Admins, Rudedog (owner of fpsadmin.com) is usually the first to know about these things, so we asked him what he knew about the Demo:
BS: Rudedog, what's the scoop on the MP Demo for PC?
Rudedog: With this being a MP demo you would think they (Activision/Treyarch) need to get it in our hands and the hands of the GSPs who are the ones who would need to get it up on their "fast" servers ASAP. If not, there are going to be a lot of very crappy servers (out there) until the big guns can get the files on the well connected game servers.
We (GPSs and game admins) usually help each other mirror the files and get everyone up and running as fast as possible.
I've also asked Activision (without a reply I may add.....) about getting early copies of CoD:WW. Several of us helped mirror the CoD 4 files before the game was on the store shelf. It was actually a record for real game servers having the files for their customers. This meant a lot of very good servers on DAY ONE!!.
However still no answer from them yet.
If CoD4 is any guide, there will undoubtedly be another community event leading up to the Demo release which will fill in all the unknowns that Rudedog is speaking about. There are already rumors surrounding such an event flying around.
3. The Gamepro revelations:
GAMETYPES
CTF
CTF is back. A big hit in the original CoD and in CoD2, it was absent in CoD4 and was highly missed by gamers. Treyarch must have noticed that CTF was one of the first gametypes modded into CoD4 by the community. While CTF never did catch on, even on proven CTF maps, hopefully it will fare better in CoD:WW.
War
A new gametype that will allow you to drive vehicles in Multiplayer.
REWARDING SUCCESS
Did I mention how much we hated the Helo and Airstrikes in CoD4? Sadly, non-player controlled MP elements are back in WW: a fact that was foretold to us by Josh when we interviewed him in BASH 77 last week. Note that CoD:WW has kept a lot of this type of commonality in CoD4, whose gaming engine it is using, so as not to unbalance gameplay.
Recon Plane
Frag three of the enemy without dying and you get to deploy the recon plane. It temporarily shows you the location of your foe on a RADAR box in the top left of your screen. This of course matches the UAV in CoD4.
Artillery Strike
Frag five enemy combatants and you get to select a strike zone on the map. A few seconds later...whammo! The artillery shells hit the target. This of course replaces CoD4's dreaded aimbot Helo.
Dogs of War
In a bizarre twist, if you frag seven enemy soldiers, you get to release Attack Dogs onto your foe. The dogs chase down and kill the enemy. They will also see out any camped units hiding in the weeds. DoW replaces the CoD4 Airstrike.
ATTACHMENTS
Scopes
Rifles and SMG's will get aperture sights, telescopic sights and sniper scopes
Bipod
A constant in just about any CoD mod ever developed, a Bipod will be available for snipers and MG'ers. You will be able to use it in the prone position to reduce recoil. This attachment makes us us ask the obvious question: is everything bi- these days?
Enlarging your Magazine
You can add a dual magazine or drum magazine onto your weapon for even more praying and spraying ability.
Suppressors
Suppressors hide muzzle flash and somewhat quiet your weapon - but this will undoubtedly come at a cost as the hit power will be marginally less.
Double-barreled Shotty
A double-barreled shotgun will be available. You can "saw-off" the barrel on these to make the gun an overpowered short distance killing machine. Enormous spread for a short distance. Let the "super-noober-toober" chants begin.
Bayonets
The bayonet allows you to extend the reach of the combat knife. This could be quite interesting as knife vs. bayonet only fights would be quite the spectacle.
Flak-Jacket
The new Juggernaut. A grenade-resistant flak jacket will allow you to survive more punishment - undoubtedly at a cost to movement.
THE PERKS
In CoD4, the more you played, the more stuff you unlocked in the game. These were called perks: better gun, attachment and ability unlocks. As you can imagine, "Perks" became an instant fave online in CoD4. There are fifteen new perks in CoD: WW...many are simply renamed CoD4 perks, but some are brand new and specific to WW.
M2 Flamethrower
High level unlock, the flamethrower has been featured as one of the must-see weapons in CoD: WW.
Pyromaniac
Extends the damage range of your grenades - the WWII version of Sonic Boom
Satchel Charge
WWII's C4. You can damage infantry and of course tanks if you place them on the treads.
Bouncing Betty
CoD4's Back-to-the-Future Claymore. These seriously dangerous devices were mines that would spring upward if triggered, spraying fragments at a height that would not just mame ...but kill.
Bazooka
Unhappy with your tiny weapon are you? Grab the bazooka. Size does matter and you can destroy tanks with it! Much more destructive than those silly CoD4 RPG's.
Flak Jacket
The new Juggernaut. Get added health benefits (or come to Canada - they're free here).
Shades
To counter the flare (the CoD: WW flash-bang, which lasts quite a lot longer), you can use "shades" which reduce the blinding effect.
Gas Mask
Reduces the effects of the Tabun nerve gas weapon.
Second Chance
Last-Stand with a twist. As in CoD4's Perk, when you get fragged, you drop to the ground for a few more seconds with only a pistol as a weapon. You lie there waiting for death...however, in CoD: WW, as reported here a few days ago, the new "Second Chance" perk lets you get resuscitated by a teammate who also has Second Chance. This is a nice idea, but I suspect that it will get both you and your teammate killed more frequently.
Fire Proof
A counter to the Molotov cocktail and the Flamethrower.
Dexterity
The new Sleight-of-Hand. This will allow faster reloads and allows you to throw Molotov's and set Bouncing Betty's faster.
Greased Bearings
Allows you to traverse faster with the main gun, and thus get to targets quicker, when you are fighting in a tank.
Ordinance Training
Boost the firing rate of the tank's main gun.
Water Cooler
The tank's machine gun can overheat unless you have this perk.
Lead Foot
Boost the speed of your tank.
PLAYER INTERFACE
You will be able to move from server to server *together* with your friends.
From what we are hearing in the community, CoD: World at War is gaining momentum. Certainly the older crowd who played CoD: UO and CoD2 are looking forward to it. As well, even the CoD4 crowd who are a little reluctant to give up their Deagle's just yet, are gaining interest and wondering if the gameplay will be better in a WWII environment.
According to folks who have played it - the answer is affirmative.