Achievement Unlocked 10.01.09: Killstreaks & Perks
Posted by Rod Oracheski on 10.01.2009
With just over a month to Modern Warfare 2 hitting shelves, 411's Rod Oracheski takes a look at killstreaks and perks - ruining the game or just adding to the strategy? Plus The Business has Game Crazy stores closing, PSP-only 'value adds' for Blu Rays, and video game studies are up in US colleges and universities, and this week, HD Unlocked showcases Forza Motorsport 3!
Modern Warfare 2
Heading to an unbalanced battle?
Modern Warfare 2 (or Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, if you're simple enough to be scared and confused by dropping those first few words off the name) continues to spark conversation among gamers as the 11/10/09 release date draws near.
A lot of it is of the 'How awesome is it?' 'SO AWESOME!' variety, but there is - to my mind - a surprising amount of talk centered around how Infinity Ward is 'destroying' the CoD series by adding perks and killstreaks/deathstreaks.
If you're like me, you went 'what?' when reading that - possibly even with a shake of the head thrown in - so I'll repeat it (plus it adds to the length of the column, a little something we like to call 'killing two birds with one airstrike' around here) for you:
They honestly believe Infinity Ward (aka the 'good' devs) are destroying the Call of Duty franchise by adding new perks and killstreaks/deathstreaks - and it's a point they'll argue vehemently.
Now it's entirely possible that they took note of Valve's actions earlier this year with Left 4 Dead 2 haters and they're just trying to get a free trip to Infinity Ward's offices to play the game and leave converted to the cause, but we'll assume they're serious and consider the question.
So... Are perks and killstreaks/deathstreaks going to ruin Modern Warfare 2? Let's look at both sides of the issue.
On the YES side of things is the argument that certain perk combinations (Juggernaut + Steady Aim is one that's routinely cited) are already providing gameplay imbalance and the addition of more is only going to make things worse. That gamers will min/max their loadouts is undeniably true. If there's a combination that will provide a marked advantage, even if it's only in certain situations on certain maps and in certain gametypes - there will be people out there who have that build set up and ready to go.
The addition of customizable killstreaks just increases the likelihood that we'll run into min/maxed loadouts. Within a week, we'll know what the 'power trio' of killstreaks are for each gametype and map and see the powergamers using them without exception. Running into a team of powergamers with the most optimal perks and killstreaks will be akin to putting your foot into a buzzsaw, especially when playing with a team of random players thrown together by matchmaking.
And look at some of the killstreak options. Two helicopters this time, not just one - plus the ability to sit in an AC-130 and rain hell down on the field of play! While the dog killstreak from Call of Duty: World at War's multiplayer might have made gamers forget, the helicopter from Modern Warfare was a fearsome beast with a gunner capable of putting a bullet in your head the instant you poked it around a corner.
Adding more powerful perks and killstreaks with each new game is a power spiral that ends only one way - with a game that's nothing like the original Modern Warfare, the game we all know and love.
On the NO side of things is, first and foremost, faith in Infinity Ward doing what's right for the franchise they not only started with the original Call of Duty, but then also revitalized with Modern Warfare.
Modern Warfare 2
Kill the Juggernaut scum!
Why shouldn't gamers who are good at the game (or doing well in a match, as the two aren't mutually inclusive) be rewarded for playing at a high level?
It's true that there are a few perk combinations that offer gamers an advantage in select situations, but Juggernaut + Steady Aim does little against, for example: a C4 trap, someone who got the drop on you, or a .50 caliber shell to the noggin. Then again, if that combination is so powerful against your offensive capabilities, why not imitate it? If both enemies have the same build, you're looking at a dead-level playing field where skill is what decides the day.
While we're not clear on all the perks and killstreaks at this point, some are obviously meant as counters. Cold Blooded, for example, makes you invisible to things like helicopters and thermal tracking, among other perks/killstreaks. If you're struggling against someone, take the time to adjust your build to compensate - it's the heart of the game's top-level strategy. To paraphrase military doctrine: plan for success prior to the match, or plan to fail.
By the same token, if helicopters are tearing you a new one on the field of battle then take them out. It doesn't take long for a LMG to bring down a chopper, and using rockets makes it even quicker. If you're playing with randoms via matchmaking (and shame on you for not finding even a single friend to play with) then take it on yourself to get that helo out of the air - your team will be better for it, even if they don't find the courtesy to thank you afterwards.
Nothing we've seen so far seems to indicate Modern Warfare 2 is going to be hurt by the additions made to perks and killstreaks - plus the advent of deathstreaks should do nothing but help those complaining about perceived imbalances. Go ahead and die, it'll just make you stronger.
Movie Gallery closes down 200+ Game Crazy outlets, with truly 'crazy' savings in the store's last few days, plus Sony offers PSP owners a bonus with Blu Ray purchases, and students have more chances than ever to study up on game development - this week in The Business.
Game Crazy Closes 200
Movie Gallery continues to cut costs by closing retail outlets that they've deemed unprofitable and unworkable, with another 200 Game Crazy stores getting the axe in this round of closures.
The closures will provide gamers with some short-term bargains, however. The closing stores will offer up merchandise for 30% off from October 3-9, 50% off from October 10-16, and 80% off from October 17-final closing.
Don't think you'll be getting a new system for close-out prices, though. Stores being closed will be shipping out all the 'good stuff' in their inventories to unaffected stores prior to the sale date, including systems and recently-released games.
For the industry as a whole, the closing of 200 Game Crazy stores isn't a major warning sign. The chain accounts for only a slim percentage of the industry, estimated at 1-2% of the market, and the closures are aimed at bringing the Movie Gallery franchise as a whole back into a more positive financial pattern.
Starting with Godzilla and The Ugly Truth, both Sony Pictures releases, in Novemeber, certain Blu Ray movies will contain an additional disc that - when placed in a PS3 - will allow users to download a PSP-only digital copy. This copy can only be transferred to a PSP, unlike current digital copies which work with a number of different devices.
The addition of a digital copy is a popular 'value add' for Blu Ray releases, which continue to struggle with the stigma of the higher price point. Restricting that 'value add' to only the PSP, however, is something that no publisher other than Sony is likely to do.
Even from Sony's perspective, this seems like a short-sighted move. The change will plug their PSP handheld, that much is true, but it's done at the expense of consumers who have - until this point - received a digital copy that they could use in other devices.
Addition by subtraction may prove less popular than Sony hopes.
The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) revealed this week that a record number of colleges and universities in the USA are offering courses and degrees in computer and video game design, programming, and art. A total of 254 facilities across 37 states offer programs, up 50 from last year's totals.
The continued strength of the video game industry is undoubtedly behind the growth seen, something we should expect to see in the future as graduating students enter the industry and become 'pathfinders' for youth interested in a career in gaming.
I spent a good deal of the week playing the Forza Motorsport 3 demo, picking out a great deal of enhancements over the previous game in the series - and not all on the graphics side of things.
Rewind is an obvious one, though I believe one major benefit it offers is being overlooked. I plan to do some drift videos when the game arrives, something the new rewind feature will make a lot less painful for those of us who aren't naturally gifted at the 'pinpoint accuracy' part of the sport. Screwed up? Just rewind and try it again! The only problem is that AI cars don't always follow the same path through corners, so you can't rely on them to always be in the same line every time. A small problem to overcome, though, when you're essentially given unlimited tries at it.
Jumping back and forth between the two games while finishing the run to 50 in Forza 2 offered the ability to continually compare the two games. Graphically, there's no comparison. However Turn 10 managed it, the graphical leap from Forza 2 to 3 is considerable - particularly the backgrounds. The tweaks to handling are less pronounced, though cars seem to have less understeer across the board, a problem that plagued Forza 2. Rollovers also add quite a bit to the danger factor of high-speed cornering, as a tap that resulted in a recoverable spin in Forza 2 can now be a far more serious rollover in Forza 3 - particularly serious if damage is set to full - not cosmetic.
I also jumped back into Project Gotham Racing 4, looking to get some more Achievements there and see how it compared to the more simulation-heavy titles. It's jarring to race around the streets with a souped-up go kart after driving a Mini Cooper with realistic physics and handling, though PGR4's graphics definitely hold their own.
An hour or two of Call of Duty: World at War trying to finish up some Veteran-level Achievements, ended on a sour note. I'd forgotten how grenade-happy the AI was in the game, something that quickly killed my enthusiasm for Gamerscore. I finished Modern Warfare on Veteran, but I doubt that will be the case with World at War. The multiplayer remains fun, but the campaign has worn thin.
Logging in to Xbox Live one day, I noticed my Gamerscore had hit 77,502 - which sparked an idea...hitting 77,777 on the nose. It seemed like an easy enough idea - just do the math and figure out what Achievements would give me the points I needed. Easy, right? Not exactly that easy though. I figured that finishing Monsters Vs. Aliens would do the trick on the nose and started to play. About a half hour in, disaster struck when I unlocked a collection Achievement. Suddenly I need to do the math again and find all-new Achievements, only this time I'll also need to study the lists to be sure there won't be any 'gotcha' Achievements that crop up. This will be particularly important the closer I get - 25 points out, I'd hate to hit a 50 point Achievement unexpectedly...
A pair of Forza Motorsport 3 videos this week: a run through the game with the Mini Cooper and a look at my (admittedly) brief foray into the world of drifting. Plus that Veyron video from Need for Speed: Shift I talked about last week. While I was pretty high on Shift early on, the game definitely doesn't wear well with time. Glitches aplenty have cropped up, and the AI is seriously suffering from some Jekyll and Hyde later on - terrible in mob races, but overwhelming in one-on-one contests. Still the best Need for Speed in ages, but I'd say rent it first.
If you have any questions or want to request any videos, leave a comment below. Until next week, I'm out.
i don't think it is going to hurt MW2 at all, because as you said, the perks are avaiable to anybody and everybody who reaches the rank required. So it is not an unfair advantage at all.
Posted By: Todd Vote (Registered) on October 01, 2009 at 01:25 PM
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