Four Player Co-Op 11.24.09: Halo Reach, Zombies, Pirates, And CoD

Posted by Rod Oracheski on 11.24.2009

Would you be interested in Infinity Ward's zombie take on Modern Warfare? Do pirates have a claim on consumer rights protection? Is another Call of Duty developer a good idea or a bad one? The 411mania crew, plus one outside addition, tackles these issues plus more!

Todd Vote has joined the game.
Sean Garmer has joined the game.
Jacob Lopez has joined the game.
Rod Oracheski has joined the game.

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QUESTION ONE: Modern Warfare 2 came close to featuring aliens and zombies. Are you glad they decided to stick with the more tried-and-true, or would you have been up for something a bit more unusual?

Todd Vote

They can keep the zombies for Treyarch's versions of the games. They need the hook more than Infinity Ward. There would have been no reason to include aliens or zombies. Part of the appeal of MW is the realistic mature storyline that is presented throughout the game, adding a supernatural element might have worked it is totally not needed. Can you imagine how much flack would have been given for the "No Russian" portion of the game if the storyline wasn't a serious and mature affair?

You want to branch off and explore with zombies and aliens, more power to you, but I don't think an established franchise is where you want to do that. That being said a Left 4 Dead style game that had COD's play mechanics could be awesome, so you know... get on that IW.

Sean Garmer

Yes, I'm very glad they stuck with the formula. We already have aliens in HALO and they help us identify with that game. Left 4 Dead and Resident Evil do the zombie thing well. We don't need another game that includes either or both. Modern Warfare is known for being fantasy but it puts you as close to reality as a video game can. So if it had zombies or aliens it would take the game away from that completely.

Jacob Lopez

When I think of the Call of Duty series—zombies aside—I tend to think of a franchise that plays within the realm of possibility. There are enough games out there that throw in the living dead and aliens. How could we have the now-infamous airport scene in the same game as a buncha' little green men from Mars?

Rod Oracheski

I was onboard when Infinity Ward was rumoured to be doing a space/future shooter, so I don't know that zombies would really get me to jump off the bandwagon. If there's a developer that's shown they can take a busy genre and do something interesting with it, it's Infinity Ward - they made World War II shooters stay cool, after all - so maybe they can take the increasingly abused 'add zombies!' idea somewhere interesting.

I'd rather they stick to more tried and true fields of battle, but if they went into space or dug up the undead, I'd still be up to play it.

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QUESTION TWO: A firm is considering a class action suit against Microsoft, aiming at getting them to compensate those banned for pirating games. Your thoughts?

Todd Vote

Idiots wasting money! It clearly established in the terms of use that modding your console or anything else is terms for banishment. So that reason alone is enough for this lawsuit to be pointless.

The firm states that Microsoft chose an opportune time to implement the bans choosing a time between the release of Halo 3: ODST and COD: MW2. Well the thing the firm probably isn't realizing is that during that time, people were playing pirated copies of the game ONLINE, which probably contributed to them getting caught. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that if you are playing a pirated game online for millions and millions of people to see, then you are going to get caught.

Sean Garmer

I can't blame someone for trying to get some money out of Microsoft, but this is just going to end up in a dismissed case. In the end, the government is going to be more concerned with the illegalties commited by the original people that pirated the systems. Regardless of why the system was modded, Microsoft didn't give reasons when it was ok to do that. They also have the right to terminate someone's Live account whenever they feel like it, if they did something against the rules.

Did they do this on purpose to make people buy Live first? I wouldn't put it past them. However, as was said on Joystiq "It''s a little too cut and dry" for that to be the case.

Jacob Lopez

How about I simply point you to my Twitter post on the matter? Here.

I have heard stories of innocents being banned, but can't confirm those cases for myself. If true, however, those are a handful of people who have a legitimate beef with Microsoft. How Microsoft is handling that, I am not sure at this point.

Rod Oracheski

Okay, so these guys modded their Xbox 360s so they could play pirated games. There's no real homebrew development that I'm aware of, so I would have to guess that 98%+ of modded consoles are intended for piracy - no matter how many times the tired "I do it to play my own backups" lie gets told.

So these pirates get caught and get banned, then want to cry about consumer rights? Seriously? Any law firm stupid enough to take this on deserves to get exactly what will be coming from the hours they'll spend on this - absolutely nothing.

From what I've read, Microsoft is even unbanning those who can prove they didn't modify their console - done by sending the console in to be inspected on site. I guess most pirates sorry, accused pirates, just don't know about that offer, since they're so innocent.

I don't know why any legit gamer would support these douchebags. Do you not realize these guys, who don't pay a dime for the games they play, are a part of the reason your games cost what they do?

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QUESTION THREE: With Treyarch and Infinity Ward currently trading off the Call of Duty franchise, Activision is apparently bringing in a third developer to work on the series. Good idea, or taking a good franchise in a bad direction?

Todd Vote

I'm torn on this one. On the one hand Treyarch is already considered to do an inferior version of the game, so the new developer will already have an uphill battle. On the opposite side, there is no guarantee that the new developers will be working on first-person-shooter (FPS) CoD titles. They could very well branch out with the rumored game about Ghost, and change things up significantly.

How about a third-person action CoD game. The potential is there, but Activision needs to learn from the over-saturation mistakes that they made in the music and rhythm genre. With Guitar Hero and the like, Activision may have had a hand in killing one of the more lucrative genre's in recent memory. They have to be careful not to duplicate that with the CoD franchise.

Sean Garmer

It really just depends on why they were hired. If its to take control of COD for Wii or DS then go ahead. If they are using this company to get a third type of COD game out, like Activision has now made three versions of the "Hero" franchise, watch out. I'm not making any assumptions but I would be worried for the franchise. I mean it could also lengthen things for it, but you don't want to overkill your biggest franchise.

Jacob Lopez

It all depends on the developer. Our only guess is Sledgehammer, but it's a guess at best. There are rumors of an MMO, but we don't know that for a fact yet. Hell, we don't even know that the news of a third developer is a fact yet, it only got a small mention in an LA Times article, and Activision has yet to confirm whether or not it's true.

Hypothetically, let's say it's true, and Activision is creating a Call of Duty MMO-ish game, what would it actually be? Would it be a massive CoD online combat game a-la MAG, but with the CoD license?

Also, we can't forget a little company called Blizzard who is part of Activision now.

Rod Oracheski

The only way I'd see this as a positive is if they're bringing in someone to put out $10-20 XBLA/PSN games. If they are going to be putting out another 'full' game, then what would the new schedule be - a game every six-eight months?

The Call of Duty franchise already turns out a $60 game every 12 months like clockwork, and fans aren't overly happy with the arrangement. I don't know if Activision can afford to keep trying to exploit their key franchises to this degree. They should learn the lessons taught by the Tony Hawk and music franchises they've run into the ground, before Call of Duty is the next victim.

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QUESTION FOUR: Sony is going to be pushing 3DTV in a big way, with plans to bring 3D to the PS3 via firmware update. Is this going to be the next big thing in gaming?

Todd Vote

I don't think it will be the next big thing in gaming at all. Sounds more like Sony wanting to shove something new down our throats and using the PS3 to do it... Hmm.. Where have I heard this before? Oh yeah, Blu-Ray. It may have worked then, because let's be honest the PS3 is a powerhouse, but I don't see it causing people to run out and buy yet another new HDTV set.

3D is a gimmick, and will always be a gimmick.

Sean Garmer

Go ahead and push it all they want, doesn't mean people are going to go out en masse to buy this. I guess people forget that we are in a recession and a lot of people just upgraded their TV's or will be for the holidays. Plus if I have to have glasses on to play a game or watch TV, the novelty is gonna get old. If it improves graphics or quality of TV its cool, but it is gonna be a while before this becomes the norm.

Jacob Lopez

As much as I like the idea, I just don't see it happening. I answered a question similar to this in a FoF a while back.

This is exactly what I said: While I am excited about the idea of playing stereoscopic games, we still live in a place where people are just now adopting HD. Many still have not, because they feel that standard-def is good enough. Of course, a picture that pops out at you is a bigger step up from HD than HD was from SD.

Yes, some sets at Best Buy already boast that they are 3D-ready, but the biggest challenge is going to be getting people to fork over the money for a new TV set and justify costs of added development.

I don't know enough about the development process to know how much of a workload it would add, but the only thing I know about a 3D picture is that it requires the system to render two images set about three-inches apart, and in HD. If my limited knowledge of game development is right on this part, that means that the game's visuals would be cut in half. Think split-screen.

Then, you have to think: How large of a really expensive screen do you have to get in order to truly immerse yourself in a stereoscopic game? Unless you are sitting two feet from it, you want a huge screen. Otherwise, it will lose its effect. ANSWER

Rod Oracheski

I can understand the appeal of being the brand first- (and therefore most strongly-) associated with the idea of 3DTV, but hasn't Sony lost enough money already on trying to ram ill-conceived products down our throats?

The general public still hasn't adopted HDTV as the format of choice, and now Sony wants to hitch their wagon onto a new star? I hope their goals of hitting profitability by 2013 don't ride on this succeeding...

Who really believes the general public is going to buy into the idea of wearing special glasses to watch TV or play games? Not just some TV or some games - but ALL of them? It's a ridiculous idea that has a snowball's chance in hell of catching on.

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QUESTION FIVE: Halo Reach will be unveiled at the 2009 VGA's. What's your call on what we'll see and is it going to delight or disappoint?

Todd Vote

You know how in question three we talked about over-saturation and how it can kill a franchise, and possibly even a genre? This is what comes to mind with the overabundance of Halo lately. ODST, while a fun co-op campaign, left a lot to be desired for me, the game was far to short in my opinion, and really didn't offer anything new in the Halo universe. Reach does have potential to be an awesome game, but I'm not holding my breath for anything earth shattering.

Sean Garmer

Why do we even have the VGA's. They just give out awards to the most recognizable games and don't really research anything. The event is known for big reveals and HALO Reach would be pretty big. I don't expect to really see much that's groundbreaking. I bet they will tease the story enough to get people to go crazy and that's probably it.

Jacob Lopez

Halo has a strong following, and fans of the series are probably always up for more Halo. We will probably see some opening cinematics with some action-oriented gameplay spliced in. All in all, most gamers will be happy.

Rod Oracheski

I think we're going to see a squad-based shooter that looks considerably better than Halo 3 (thanks to a new engine) while still holding true to the basic Halo aesthetic - a shooter with colours! I doubt we'll see any actual gameplay, more likely something similar to the Halo 3 teaser with Master Chief and the bubble shield. I also have no doubt there'll be some who are 'disappointed' (and vocally so) by whatever is shown, no matter what it looks like. Halo, as a franchise, attracts attention - and this will be no different.

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BONUS QUESTION: Saturday marked the Xbox 360's fourth birthday. What are your thoughts on the first four years of the console's life, and what does Microsoft need to do in order to revitalize business in what remains of the 360's lifespan?

Todd Vote

Just try to fix the damn consoles. Microsoft has done most things right except figure out a way to get the damn consoles to work for longer than 6 months at a time. How do I know? Because in the last 3 years I myself have been through about 5 of them. It's ridiculous and everytime one breaks on me I consider making it the last time. But the alternative at this point to paying my $90 to fix it is to spend $300 on a PS3. Just can't afford that right now.

Sean Garmer

It's crazy to think its been four years now. Microsoft has made paying for internet ok, they've given us many features on said internet service that many didn't think could be possible. Great games with nice graphics, and they also stand a chance of breaking ground on motion technology for video games. They could take the Wii's baby steps and push them further than ever. If Natal works and Microsoft keeps making sure they continue their wide array of games, I don't see any reason why they can't keep chugging along.

Jacob Lopez

Well, the 360 has been pretty damned successful. Not without some problems, but no system has a perfect run.

I don't know what they have to do to revitalize the biz. Things seem to be going fairly well for the Xbox division. I don't know how far Natal will take things, but I hope that things last longer than five years this console generation.

Rod Oracheski

I don't think anyone expected the Xbox 360 to be the console of choice for RPG fans, particularly JRPGs, but that's where we sit four years into its lifespan. In terms of library depth, the 360 is this gen's PS2 - it has games for pretty much every taste.

I also don't think anyone expected the 360 to be hit by such crippling hardware issues. Though the RRoD problem seems to be largely behind them now thanks to hardware revision after hardware revision, the stigma remains.

But we're four years in now, and it's the point where hardcore gamers are looking towards new hardware. Microsoft is probably going to focus more on major franchises instead of new IP at this point, and try to get one of their SKU to the $99 price point before the 360 turns five.

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That's it for this edition of Four-Player Co-Op, and thanks to Jacob Lopez for pitching in. You can read his stuff over on Play.