In today's Call of Duty: WWII reveal livestream, developer Sledgehammer Games confirmed the game will include a cooperative mode featuring zombies. The company also released a teaser image, which you can see below.
The developer said the mode, which appears to be the latest iteration of the fan-favorite Zombies gametype, is "an entirely new story and a pretty horrifying experience," and it will tell "the story of the Third Reich's desperate attempt to create an army in the final stages of the war."
Not much more information was provided, but the developer did promise more information on Call of Duty: WWII as a whole at E3 in June, so we'll hopefully find out more about Zombies then.
By Anonymous on Apr 26, 2017 10:30 pm Call of Duty WWII has been officially announced to the world and Kallie and Jean-Luc got to visit Sledgehammer Games and see more gameplay.
After a series of rumors and leaks, it's official: Call of Duty is going back to its World War II origins. Simply titled Call of Duty: WWII, the next entry in the annualized shooter franchise follows an American squad through the European theater of the war. It treads familiar ground, taking players through the D-Day invasion of Normandy and Battle of the Bulge, but for developer Sledgehammer Games, returning to Call of Duty's roots is more than just matching the setting and scenes of its predecessors--it means understanding World War II on a deeper level.
We recently visited the Sledgehammer office, where we saw parts of two single-player missions, one of which was the invasion of Normandy. It's an iconic moment in the war, and one that's been recreated many times in video games and other mediums. This doesn't differ much from other depictions of the Normandy battle in games and movies, but what do stand out are the details.
Call of Duty: WWII stars a 19-year-old private in the 1st Infantry Division, and it's clear, even from just watching the mission instead of playing it, that he's scared. He's inexperienced. He stumbles over fallen soldiers, he struggles with a Bangalore torpedo, and his breathing is harsh and uneven. Sure, there's a cinematic element to the whole scene, but it's not exactly cool and exciting--it's harrowing. He knows he could die at any moment.
While at Sledgehammer, we spoke to leads from the animation, art, audio, and narrative departments, and everyone mentioned the same thing: they had to do extensive research in order to properly portray not only the war but also the experience of being there.
While many Normandy missions turn outward, surveying the horrors of the invasion on a grander scale, this one seems to focus inward and could tell a more introspective piece of a larger story.
For the animation team, that meant studying everything from documentaries to photos to field manuals for weapons in order to capture how a soldier would physically and emotionally react in any given situation, and it shows.
"There is no stacking up on a door, and breaching a door, and flash-banging 12 guys and killing them with one shot," animation director Chris Stone explained. "It's just, what would you do if you were a kid with no training? Maybe you'd peek around the corner, maybe you'd take a shot, and maybe you'd kind of move somewhere … In terms of trying to recreate a visual experience of World War II, it's all those little things that add up."
For a D-Day segment, those little things are crucial. Without them, it's just another retread of the Normandy mission; but with them, the level has the potential to stand out. While many Normandy missions turn outward, surveying the horrors of the invasion on a grander scale, this one seems to focus inward and could tell a more introspective piece of a larger story.
The other level we saw took place in Hurtgen Forest, where German troops would blow the tops off trees to send shrapnel raining down. It starts off slow. You're trudging through the forest, sniping German soldiers, until finally, the bombings start. It's very much a Call of Duty level, and it's as exhilarating and terrifying as Normandy but for entirely different reasons.
Much of that is thanks to the sounds of the artillery, the rending of wood, the crashing of metal, and the crackle gunfire. Audio Director Dave Swenson told us that Sledgehammer's sound team recorded World War II explosives and weapons in an attempt to make the game more immersive, and it seems to work in Hurtgen. But the best audio detail comes before, when the Fighting First is moving through a river.
Like in the Normandy mission, your soldier moves clumsily over uneven terrain and under the weight of his weapons and supplies. But he also sounds encumbered. To get it just right--to try to put you in that forest--Swenson decided to find a river where he could record footsteps, as opposed settling for a less natural-sounding pool. The result is this 1st Infantry Division soldier sounds tired, and I felt that more than I did the bass from artillery reverberating in my chest. Even when striking a different tone, this campaign appears more focused on the individual soldier than on the cacophony of war.
Stone, too, talked about the team's focus on immersion through animation. "When they're done playing this game, [we want players to] set their controller down and say, 'Wow. I feel like I might have a little bit of a sense of what it was to be there,' which is really totally different from what we wanted from our players before."
This campaign appears more focused on the individual soldier than on the cacophony of war.
When they talked about that goal, all the team members cited the research that went into all those engrossing details. They're important for effectively putting you in a soldier's position, and from what we saw, doing the homework mattered--the little things, added in with care and attention, can make it feel more relatable.
Sledgehammer's decision to hone in on the minutiae of being a soldier in World War II is interesting. It gives the studio an opportunity to return to a conflict overexposed in video games and present it in a more meaningful way.
However, the biggest question is what its details add up to. Fans of first-person shooters have come to expect their campaigns to be empowering, with their character becoming almost super-human to overcome impossible odds. It will be interesting to see if Sledgehammer sticks to its guns and keeps the experience grounded, or if it pivots back into familiar territory.
Call of Duty: WWII is launching on November 3 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
The first details about Call of Duty: WWII's multiplayer have been revealed, including a social space that sounds similar to Destiny's Tower.
We got a few pieces of information about multiplayer alongside a new trailer and single-player details. One brand-new addition for the franchise is Headquarters, a place to socialize that will feature "recognition and awards." It's not clear what exactly those rewards will be, but it sounds like a base of operations outside of multiplayer lobbies.
Multiplayer introduces a new War Mode, which places you in "iconic World War II battles" with objective-focused, Axis-versus-Allies team gameplay. It also lets you choose class-like Divisions, "including Infantry and Armored Divisions."
A full multiplayer reveal is scheduled for E3 in June, where it will also be playable on the show floor.
Call of Duty: WWII is launching on November 3 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
This year's entry in the shooter franchise follows the US 1st Infantry Division as they fight their way through the European theater of the war. Missions include the D-Day invasion of Normandy and Battle of the Bulge.
Although you primarily play as the young, inexperienced Private Daniels in the single-player, there will also be a mission that casts you as a woman fighting in the French resistance.
Also from the leaks, Activision confirmed that a beta will be available ahead of launch, but there isn't a date yet. Finally, Transformers actor Josh Duhamel is confirmed to appear in Call of Duty: WWII as Technical Sergeant William Pierson, a 34-year-old from Oklahoma.
The Pro Edition that surfaced in leaks will be exclusive to GameStop, at least in the US, and will cost $100. It comes with the game, a steelbook case, the season pass, and "additional bonus content."
For more on Call of Duty, be sure to check out our single-player impressions from our visit to developer Sledgehammer Games.
It's unclear what exactly we'll discover in the stream; Activision has only said that it will be a "worldwide reveal." It's possible we may see the first footage of the game, which takes Call of Duty back to WWII for the first time since 2008's World at War.
It's unlikely, however, that we'll discover much news about the game's multiplayer modes; Activision has traditionally revealed its Call of Duty games with single-player details before lifting the lid on multiplayer further down the line. Rumors, however, suggest the shooter will feature multiplayer maps set on "many of World War II's most iconic locations." What's more, "Players will also enjoy exciting new ways to interact and socialize with their friends and the Call of Duty community," a leak said.
WWE's first post-Wrestlemania event is the Raw brand-exclusive PPV Payback. It takes place on Sunday, April 30, at the SAP center in San Jose, California. The show starts at 8PM ET/5PM PT. There are a few rematches from Wrestlemania to look forward to, as well numerous title defenses. Here's who is on the card and our predictions for Payback.
Big Cass & Enzo Amore vs. Gallows & Anderson (Kickoff Match)
The former Raw Tag Team Champions--Gallows and Anderson--take on the fan favorites Enzo and Big Cass for the Kickoff Show to Payback.
There isn't a whole lot to say about this match. Both teams feel a bit overshadowed in the tag team division as of late with the return of The Hardy Boyz. It feels like WWE is trying to build a solid mid-card tag team match. We want both these teams to succeed, and we're giving this one to Gallows and Anderson in hopes of continuing the rivalry.
Prediction: Gallows & Anderson win dirty
Neville (c) vs. Austin Aries
(For the Cruiserweight Championship)
At Wrestlemania, Neville and Austin Aries put on one of the best matches of the evening. Sadly, some fans missed it because they passed on the Kickoff Show. Now, the two will fight one more time for the Cruiserweight Championship, but this time, it will be on the main Payback card.
No matter who comes out on top in this match, the fans are going to be the real winners. The last match was great and by far, the best Kickoff Show match in WWE's history. That being said, we think Aries is going to come out on top here, with a rematch coming at the next PPV.
Prediction: Austin Aries wins
The Hardy Boyz (c) vs. Cesaro & Shemus
(For the Raw Tag Team Championship)
When The Hardy Boyz returned at Wrestlemania, fans were stunned. They were even more stunned when the duo won the Raw Tag Team Championships. Now, former champs Cesaro and Sheamus get their rematch.
What's really cool about this match is that it's all babyfaces. There are no "bad guys" in this match. To make sure the Hardy Boyz aren't just a flash in the pan, they have to win this match and retain the titles. While Cesaro and Sheamus have come a long way and make great champions, the Hardy Boyz reign needs to be longer.
Prediction: The Hardy Boyz win
Seth Rollins vs. Samoa Joe
After Seth Rollins beat Triple H at Wrestlemania, we all thought their story was done. However, Triple H had his own hitman in the wings, Samoa Joe. His attacks on Rollins have led to this match at Payback.
This is a pretty cool way to continue the storyline without having Triple H in the spotlight. While Rollins is on the rise, we think this is the perfect time to give Joe a huge push. It will be good for his career and a reason to continue the rivalry between these two stars.
Prediction: Samoa Joe wins dirty
Kevin Owens (c) vs. Chris Jericho
(For the United States Championship)
The Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho saga continues, even though Owens was moved to Smackdown. The two put on one hell of a show at Wrestlemania, so a rematch is welcomed. Can Jericho win the United States Championship or will Owens cement his legacy here?
With all the rumors of Jericho leaving WWE to tour with his band, it seems like Owens will come out on top. Sure, Jericho could win, then lose the title at Smackdown's next PPV, Backlash, but it seems the most logical step here is to have Owens retain, then go on to fighting someone else, maybe Shinsuke Nakamura or Tye Dillinger.
Prediction: Owens wins
Bayley (c) vs. Alexa Bliss
(For the Raw Women's Championship)
Alexa Bliss made the jump from Smackdown to Raw, and she already has her sights set on the Raw Women's Championship. Bayley will defend the title against the newcomer, who thinks she deserves to be champ.
We've seen Bayley overcome a lot of odds since she joined the main roster. That's part of the appeal of her character. While Bliss winning this match makes sense, it feels like this could be another situation where Bayley will come out on top. It will be a nice ego check to Bliss as well.
Prediction: Bayley wins
Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman
Braun Strowman has been on a bit of a tear, flipping over ambulances and dumpsters while people are inside of them. When it comes to flipping over heavy objects, Strowman is king. However, can he best Roman Reigns?
There has been nothing more entertaining on Raw than what's going on with Strowman right now. It's over-the-top and ridiculous, but it's what the Monday night show needs right now. That being said, we're giving the win to Reigns. Why? Because it will lead to another moment of Strowman smashing everything--and everyone--in sight, much like after his loss to Kalisto in the recent Dumpster Match.
Prediction: Reigns wins and Strowman destroys everything
Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt (House of Horrors Match)
Randy Orton ended up beating Bray Wyatt at Wrestlemania in quite a shocker. During the Superstar Shakeup, Wyatt was moved to Raw, and even though the stars are on two separate shows, they have some unfinished business. Orton agreed to fight Wyatt in a House of Horrors match.
What is a House of Horrors Match? As Orton so eloquently put it on the April 25 episode of Smackdown, "I don't exactly know what a House of Horrors match is, but for some reason, I feel like Sunday, I'm gonna find out." We facepalmed too.
The beetle images below illustrate what the improvement might look like. The photo on the left is, according to the website, a ladybug "that has been rendered at 4K using existing Xbox One assets." The right image, meanwhile, "has been given vastly improved textures" and utilizes Scorpio's extra GPU power over Xbox One.
The tech site also has images of what the upgraded console can do using the exact same assets, over varying resolution displays. Check out the full gallery over at Windows Central.
The pictures apparently represent mere tech demos, and are not from any released or in-development game. They were shown off recently to Microsoft's "partners" at a private event.
Pixar's Cars franchise has had somewhat of a split personality so far, starting off as a traditional sports movie in its first iteration before veering into a completely new direction in its sequel as a comedy spy adventure. But like a NASCAR driver continually turning left, the series has finally come full circle. During a recent visit to Pixar's HQ in Emeryville, California, for a sneak preview of Cars 3, the film's creators told GameSpot and other assembled press that if the first Cars was about how a brash young athlete made it to the top of his sport, Cars 3 is about how that same athlete copes with the slow, sad realization that the passage of time has finally robbed them of their talent. Cars 3 returns to the franchise's roots by shifting its focus to the cocky Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson) as he attempts to get to the top of the racing world.
But wait, you say. Wasn't that the plot of the first movie?
While Cars 3 seems to follow the template of the original, the similarities look to be purely superficial. Yes, McQueen's main quest within the film is to win a big race, but everything surrounding that goal is different this time around.
"Cars 3 is really the third act of the Cars story," Cars 3 writer Mike Rich said. "In the first act, Lightning McQueen is a brash, cocky, young rookie who has speed on his side. It was even in his mantra: 'I am speed.' He had all the answers, and his appreciation for the sport was just very, very limited to what was in it for him in that particular moment.
"But the problem, the challenge that he presented us with when we last we saw him was that he's on top of the world. He's a champion race car driver. He's had so many things go his way, and that's not a good place to start when you're trying to craft a story."
Story supervisor Bob Peterson (a longtime Pixar writer who worked on films like Finding Nemo, as well as doing the voices for Dug in Up and Roz in Monsters Inc.) said the creative team looked to the world of real sports for the next chapter in McQueen's life.
"We talked a lot about Kobe Bryant and the tough time he had, and Michael Jordan, and any athlete as they get older. They just don't have the legs anymore. What do they do? Do they crumble, or do they try to rise up?," Peterson said. "It seemed to point to a universal truth, and one thing we always try to find when we're doing these films is if there's a universal truth that we all can hook into."
Rich says that in his research for Cars 3, he found that athletes all have their different ways of dealing with this problem. And some deal with it much better than others.
"The mistake that some athletes make is that they just try to stay young. So they don't adapt," he said. "There was this one athlete I heard interviewed, and actually, we put this line in the film because it worked so well. He was asked: 'How do you know when things are changing? How do you know when it's time to start thinking about doing things differently?' His answer was: 'The kids will tell you.' So we popped that one in there."
But age isn't McQueen's only rival. In Cars 3, serious competition is introduced in the form of Jackson Storm (voiced by Armie Hammer), a state-of-the-art vehicle with all the modern bells and whistles that an older ride like McQueen simply doesn't have. Remember Strip "The King" Weathers from the first Cars? He was the aging, antiquated character the then-modern Lightning McQueen was up against. In Cars 3, McQueen has taken on the role of Strip Weathers.
"Jackson has all of the things that McQueen had when he was a rookie," Rich said. "He's young. He has speed. He has swagger--maybe a bit more of an edge than McQueen even had in Cars 1. But what he represents is the same thing that McQueen actually represented when he was younger: the very real possibility that Storm and this next generation of young racers could be the end of the sport that McQueen truly loves."
If you've seen any of the downbeat trailers for Cars 3, you'll know that McQueen suffers a serious crash in the movie. After seeing the first third of the film during our visit to Pixar, we now know that the crash occurs during a race that sees Lightning overexert himself in an effort to best Storm. An injured McQueen, determined to finish his career on his own terms, now asks himself a question: Does he try and get faster, or does he race smarter? The answer, it seems, comes in the form of another new addition to the cast: Cruz Ramirez.
Ramirez is a technician and trainer who works for McQueen's sponsor Rust-eze, and she aids him in his rehabilitation efforts. The relationship, according to Peterson, doesn't start off smoothly, however. "[Ramirez is] a young trainer, and she pushes [McQueen] and reminds him that he was old every step of the way, which is what he didn't want to hear," he said.
"Both of them had really great things going for them, but also things that they were stuck on. McQueen was stuck thinking he had to be young and train like a young man. And she was stuck thinking that her racing days were past her. It gave us something for both of them to learn as they came together."
For a franchise that's one of Pixar's kid-friendliest (if you have any doubt, just walk outside and see how much Cars merchandise you see on toddlers and preschoolers), tackling heavy themes dealing with the complexities of aging and becoming less relevant may seem like a misstep. But for story supervisor Scott Morse, Cars 3 falls perfectly in line with Pixar's long history of focusing on creating heartfelt, relatable narratives.
"The one thing we've learned at Pixar is that we don't make kid films. We make family films. We do our best to not talk down to anybody in the audience," he said. "We've noticed that kids tend to want to understand something that's just above their level. McQueen is maturing; he's evolving. McQueen's a character that kids grew up with. For kids in particular, to see somebody they're comfortable with going through an evolutionary change, it helps them understand how to do that. It makes a nice conversation."
The next expansion for Forza Horizon 3 has been revealed, and it takes the game in a distinct new direction.
Horizon 3's new Hot Wheels expansion brings both Hot Wheels cars and tracks to the game, presenting what looks like a more arcade-style of gameplay. Players visit six "themed" island off Australia's coast, each connected by Hot Wheels tracks that consist of loops, corkscrews, and more.
These new roads are also home to boost pads, half-pipes, big jumps, and other, cosmetic elements, such as a giant mechanical dinosaur seen toward the end of the trailer above.
In addition to racing along these pre-made tracks, you can use a Stunt Swap feature that allows you to modify "stunt track sections." These can then be sent to friends for them to try out.
Ten Hot Wheels vehicles are included in the DLC, such as the 2012 Rip Rod and 2011 Bone Shaker, as well as a mystery Barn Find car to discover. Here are the nine confirmed rides:
1969 Hot Wheels Twin Mill
2011 Hot Wheels Bone Shaker
2012 Hot Wheels Rip Rod
2005 Hot Wheels Ford Mustang
2016 Jeep Trailcat
2016 Zenvo ST1
2007 Toyota Hilux Arctic Trucks AT38
2010 Pagani Zonda R
1972 Chrysler VH Valiant Charger R/T E49
This is Horizon 3's second major expansion, following the excellent Blizzard Mountain. The open-world racing game has also received a number of additional vehicles through DLC.
Hot Wheels launches for Horizon 3 on May 9 for $20. It's also included in the $35 Expansion Pass that comes with Blizzard Mountain.
Also coming on May 9 is an update for the game. Few specifics were shared, but we know those playing the PC version will receive support for "numerous popular driving wheels" in addition to improved CPU performance and new graphical options.
Sony has announced the lineup of free games PlayStation Plus members will receive next month.
On PS4 in North America, Plus subscribers will be able to grab sea-exploration game Abzu, as well as Telltale's episodic Tales From the Borderlands. Those in Europe, meanwhile, will see Alienation in place of Abzu.
If you enjoyed Burnout 3: Takedown's Crash Mode, you might be interested in this upcoming indie game. Three Fields Entertainment, a company established by the founders of Burnout developer Criterion, has revealed its new title: Danger Zone.
Danger Zone challenges you to create the biggest car crash possible, with bigger crashes equating to bigger rewards--similar to Burnout 3's Crash Mode, which proved popular when the game was released in 2004. If you cause enough vehicles to collide, you'll earn a SmashBreaker, which turns your car into a bomb that can explode on demand.
"We are going back to our roots by creating a game in a genre we are truly passionate about," said Fiona Sperry, Three Fields' founder and CEO, in a press release. "Danger Zone takes what made the Crash Mode featured in 2004's Burnout 3: Takedown so popular and transforms it into an all-new car-crashing, arcade-style game. We look forward to engaging those same fans by delivering an entirely new and extremely fun experience."
Twenty single-player missions are included, and although there will be "connected leaderboards" that allow you to compare scores with your friends, there has so far been no mention of true multiplayer.
Despite Crash Mode's popularity, Takedown was the last game it was featured in--save for the 2011 downloadable title Burnout Crash!. It's likely, meanwhile, that this new game is the driving title Three Fields teased in July last year.
Three Fields was founded by ex-Criterion founders Fiona Sperry and Alex Ward in 2014 after they left that company and its parent EA. The young studio has since gone on to make a virtual reality shooter called Lethal VR and silly golf game Dangerous Golf. We weren't too taken by the latter, however: critic Peter Brown said the game is one "you want to love," but that it "needs more than boisterous effects and odd scenarios to sustain its allure."
Nintendo has again partnered with McDonald's to offer toys based on its franchises with Happy Meals.
From now until May 22, Happy Meal purchases will come with one of eight different toys. They may lack the same level of appeal or functionality of Amiibo figures, but they do each have a "special function." The translucent Mario, for instance, can light up different colors.
This isn't the first time Nintendo toys have been offered with Happy Meals. Previous partnerships brought us toys based on Mario Kart 8, Mario, Pokemon, and more.
McDonald's is also offering the chance to win a Nintendo Switch and a copy of the upcoming Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Making a purchase at McDonald's and registering it in the restaurant chain's mobile app will provide you with one entry in the sweepstakes, while Happy Meal purchases will net you two entries. Alternatively, you can simply send an email once per day between now and May 22 to receive free entries. There are 100 bundles in all up for grabs, and the full rules (and instructions for obtaining those free entries) can be seen here.
If you're in more of a hurry to get your hands on a Switch, GameStop has a limited number in stock today. Both Best Buy and Toys R Us will have the system available in limited quantities this Friday to coincide with the launch of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
Recent Articles:
You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website.
Call of Duty WWII has been officially announced to the world and Kallie and Jean-Luc got to visit Sledgehammer Games and see more gameplay.
Check out the trailer for Bandai Namco and Tarsier Studios' Little Nightmares.
No comments:
Post a Comment