Interview: Call of Duty 3

Eén van de uitschieters op de E3 beurs vonden we achter gesloten deuren terug bij Activision. Het was Treyarch’s Call of Duty 3 voor de next-gen consoles en natuurlijk wilden we er zoveel mogelijk over te weten komen. Een bondig interview met de creative director Rich Farrelly drong zich dan ook op!

X-Power: Call of Duty 3 looked amazing when we saw the in-game demo behind closed doors in Los Angeles. What we were left to wonder, though, is why it was decided not to show the game to the general audience yet?

RF: A private theater provided us with an oasis from the cacophony that is E3. This allowed the viewers to be immersed in the experience as intended and enjoy the visuals – and the rich sound – that we put behind the game.

X-Power: CoD2 was a hugely popular test case for the CoD brand on a ‘next-gen’ platform. From what we’ve seen so far, though, it seems like the new CoD3 will do a lot more than just polish the graphics and sound of the game. What, do you believe, are the truly next-gen elements in CoD3?

RF: Our goal is to creating the most immersive and authentic Call of Duty experience to date. Aside from a complete graphics and sound overhaul, we are simply able to have more game on the screen. The next gen processors allow us to create a living battle field that rivals anything seen on a PC. Player drivable vehicles, destructible cover complete with a physics system are some of the great things to look for in Call of Duty 3.

X-Power: Is it your intention to make a unique version of the game for the Wii console, or will it closely resemble the other versions (cf. setting, storyline, gameplay elements such as close combat etc.)?

RF: Our primary goal is to deliver the best Call of Duty game possible consistently on all of the next gen platforms. Once that is achieved we plan on addressing the individual unique characteristics of each console.

X-Power: From what we saw and heard at E3, it seems like you are aiming to expand the idea that you can decide which objectives to tackle in what order during the single player campaign. What is the ultimate goal of making the gameplay more open-ended this way, and will it extend towards the selection of the order in which you undertake missions?

RF: In Call of Duty 3 we have created moments during the course of regular gameplay where the player will be given a choice of how to complete an objective. These choices are branching paths each of which offers a unique perspective on how the fight for the objective plays out. To maintain the cinematic quality of the game, these “Player Choice Moments” always feed back into the mainline of the story. While we committed offering variety and choice for the player, we aren’t shooting for a “choose your own adventure” format.

X-Power: The brilliant tank missions in CoD2 already showed a desire to increase the number of vehicles in the series. What have you got planned for the loyal fans when it comes to vehicle selection and the ability to drive these freely during missions?

RF: Vehicles play a huge role in Call of Duty 3, both in Single and Multiplayer. Not only do we have new authentic WW2 vehicles in the game, the player can actually drive many of them. From tanks to heavily armed jeeps to motorcycles we’ve got the bases covered. Multiplayer also offers multi-occupancy vehicles so teammates can roll into battle together.

X-Power: Are you planning on seriously extending the size of campaign and multiplayer maps? If so, could you give us an example on how big the maps will end up being in CoD3?

RF: Our Streaming technology has allowed us to make much larger levels in both single and multiplayer. These really give the player the feeling of being in a living battlefield. This is especially noticeable in levels where the player can drive vehicles.

X-Power: Multiplayer was perhaps the only element we felt could have truly used a little more development time in CoD2. What are the main new features you have lined up for the multiplayer modes in the new game?

RF: 24 players out of the box… 2 exciting new modes…7 unique classes…ranking system…drivable, multi-occupancy vehicles…new weapons...
Strap in, it’s going to be a wild ride.

X-Power: In CoD3, we will again see the war through the eyes of several different characters. Is there any chance these characters might meet up during the campaign mode and perhaps affect each other’s missions?

RF: The kind of cause and effect that you are referring to is really being conveyed on a higher level. For example this unit was bale to take the bridge because another unit cut the enemy supply lines in the previous level. This all goes back to our commitment to create a seamless movie-like presentation of the Normandy Breakout story.

There are definitely some moments where characters from another campaign will make a cameo or two. We will even see a familiar face from previous Call of Duty titles, keep your eyes peeled.

X-Power: Finally: we’re pretty sure you wouldn’t dream of abandoning your loyal PC gaming fans, so we were of course wondering whether Infinity Ward is preparing something special for them, with CoD apparently being console-oriented? If ‘no comment’, could you perhaps lift the veil on whether or not there might be announcements about a new Infinity Ward game for PC anytime soon?

RF: Treyarch is focusing on delivering Call of Duty 3 to all next-gen consoles and won’t be making an appearance on PC this time around.