I did a lot of research on the subject of why I am so upset with the release of Call of Duty 5. Then I realized all I really needed to say was that Activision sucks!

Let me explain how I got there.

First Activision, with the help of Infinity Ward, launched Call of Duty. It was one of the better WWII shooters for its time. Unfortunately, like all good things, when they make money they are beaten to death. The WWII shooter is one of those good things.

By 2006, I was shell shocked and suffering from battle fatigue. The European and Pacific theater had lost its charm. Then out of the blue in 2007 Activision and Infinity Ward did it again with the release of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. This game just exploded on the scene like a 5 megaton bomb.

I loved the storyline of COD4. I was still in the Navy at that time and the way that COD4 plot was laid out was as close to the real thing as you wanted. The death of the Marines and the matter of fact way in which the SAS churned out mission after mission just felt real to me. I could not put it down, and as much as I loved the single player game, the multiplayer was even more engaging. I still enjoy playing the multiplayer. (I bought the map pack.)

Just as I was starting to sing praises for Activision, it was announced that COD5 would be set in the Pacific during WWII. WTF?!! WHY!! COD4 crushed records and was a gamble that payed off. Instead of adding to the sea of WWII shooters COD4 was different. Then for no good reason other than it was safe, Activision went and made a World War II game. How disappointing. I am fed up with the WWII shooters and I am fed up with the companies that push them on us.

So, Activision can bite my ass.

Did You Know: The Call of Duty series is actually split between two developers, Infinity Ward and Treyarch. Infinity Ward was responsible for creating Call of Duty, Call of Duty 2, and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. Treyarch, on the other hand, made Call of Duty 2: Big Red One, Call of Duty 3, Call of Duty: United Offensive (PC only), and Call of Duty 5: World at War.

Infinity Ward developed the more influential titles of the Call of Duty series, but Activison keeps switching back and forth between developers. There were and still are so many military conflicts to choose from why is it that we have to repeat the same period in history over and over again?

Image Source: uhuru1701 and Amy Tucker © 2008

Post from: EveryJoe

The Greatest Genre

Remember the advanced copy of Call of Duty: World at War that über Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps received during his interview with the CBS Early Show? It looks like Phelps finally got a date as to when he’ll receive a working copy of the FPS. According to GameSpot, World at War is arriving on November 11 for the PC, PS2, PS3, DS, and Wii

If you would recall, Phelps was handed a PS3 copy of World at War, only to find out that an IOU card was enclosed since the game isn’t finished yet. Treyarch, the developer, did promise that Phelps will get the first disc off the production line.

Interestingly, GameSpot also revealed that there was no mention of the World at War version for the PS2. As you may recall, the PS2 is still the best-selling console to date. So while its recent releases have been shovelware, companies simply cannot ignore the console’s massive user base.

Would Call of Duty: World at War be as good as its predecessor? Would Michael Phelps play this next Call of Duty game? Since the upcoming FPS isn’t developed by Infinity Ward, the series’ creator, there’s a chance it won’t be as good. This however doesn’t mean the game will suck eggs. Still, World at War is up for a fight when all the good shooters crawl out of the woodwork when the holiday season approaches.

Image for Call of Duty: World at War is is courtesy of Activision.

Post from: EveryJoe

Call of Duty: World at War gets dated, Michael Phelps will finally get his copy