Thu, May 03, 2012 | 08:07 BST
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 revealed: every detail
Activision has officially announced Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 for a November 13 worldwide release, envisioning a new Cold War in the year 2025.
Activision released the first trailer for Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. The video confirms a 2025 setting, featuring glimpses of Los Angeles under attack. A Middle Eastern setting, robots and even horses are spotted in the trailer.
Sgt Frank Woods, the co-protagonist of the original Black Ops, also appears in the video. The game will take place in two timelines: the late 1980s as the end of the Cold War as Alex Mason from Black Ops 1 and 2025 as Mason’s son David.
The story sees the US and China in a second Cold War over Rare Earth Elements, used to built tech devices and military weapons. Part of the war is also instigated by antagonist Raul Menendez, who’s hacked into drones and various robotic weapons to kick off the war’s combat. The 80s timeline will show what started Menendez’s path down the events in Black Ops 2.
Its story will come from co-writer of Batman Begins and The Dark Knight David Goyer.
Black Ops 2 will supposedly answer the question of what happened at the end of the first game, according to Kotaku, regarding Mason. When asked about the return of Gary Oldman’s Reznov character, Treyarch boss Mark Lamia and game director Dave Anthony played coy.
Pre-orders have now gone live in the UK, and GameStop stores will offer pre-order incentives in four waves.
The first wave starts May 2 with the offer of a limited edition, two-sided poster. PowerUp Rewards members who pre-order by June 30 will also net a Prestige Token for MW3 as well as all bonuses coming in the additional waves which are to be announced in July, August, and October, respectively.
The publisher has gone live with an official website for the game, which will release on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on November 13, and released two early screens:
In the wake of the trailer’s release, information has begun hitting in earnest. Although multiplayer is still largely under wraps, Treyarch boss Mark Lamia confirmed the game will have the biggest and best zombies mode to date. The developer hopes to support eSports, but won’t commit to dedicated servers just yet.
Treyarch game design director David Vonderhaar told OPM UK multiplayer would go down “a different route” than whats previously been on offer.
“Lets take all this stuff we had and strip it down to its core. Let’s challenge these long held assumptions we’ve had about how systems work. Why does create a class work the way it does. Why do killstreaks work the way they do. Why is the unlock progression exactly the way its been before. Why do we have to start with what we had before?”
Vonderhaar added Black Ops 2 would have a “well-designed gameplay system” instead of refining it from past games.
“Let’s challenge the assumption we have to start from the game we had before. Figure what’s really important to the game and keeping it simple and fast and pure and clean. Let’s get rid of some baggage. Let’s just create a really well created gameplay system period; regardless of whether we had it before.”
On the single-player side, the series will venture into non-linearity for the first time with Strike Force missions, allowing players to take on various roles around the battlefield and directly impact the game’s plot. The game’s story follows on directly from the first Black Ops, and is part of a different canon than other Call of Duty games.
Retired US marine lieutenant colonel Oliver North, who was convicted of selling weapons to Iran in the late 80s before being cleared on appeal, has been brought in as a consultant to the game. Watch him talk about his involvement in the game below.
Activision has 300 staffers on Black Ops 2 at the moment, and some of the tech Treyarch is using is shared between studios.
Treyarch has also promised (via OneofSwords) a “visual overhaul” for the game. The studio’s Dan Bunting showed off an unpopulated level from Socotra Island in Yemen featuring work on HDR lighting, self-shadowing, bounce lighting and reveal mapping, a new texture technique.
PC players will be able to “take advantage” of the game if they have DirectX11-enabled hardware.
Leaky
The debut of the trailer came ahead of what was expected to be an official reveal during the NBA Playoffs overnight in the US, but the identity of the game began leaking in earnest last weekend.
The reveal confirms a video last week from FPSRussia indicated the next CoD would be set in a futuristic timeline by at least 10-15 years; the original Black Ops took place within the 60s and 70s during the Vietnam War and the Cold War..
Assets from the game’s website were spotted online before the website went live, showing the game’s box-art, logo and the release date of November 13 (thanks, Robotix).
[By Johnny Cullen, Patrick Garratt, Stephany Nunneley and Brenna Hillier]
This article elsewhere
Black Ops 2 spans decades, offers branching missions and choice - Joystiq
48 Things That You Should Know About Call of Duty: Black Ops II - Kotaku
Call of Duty: Black Ops II is a true sequel in every way - Destructoid
Black Ops 2 preview - PC Gamer
Call of Duty: Black Ops II In-Depth Preview - AusGamers
Preview: Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 Branches Out - GameSpy
Call of Duty Black Ops 2: We've seen it - Zombies, multiplayer, giant mechs - CVG
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Posted in: Activision Blizzard, PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Tags: black ops 2, black ops II, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, Call of Duty: Black Ops II, treyarch
111 comments
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#1
Johnny Cullen
01/05/12, 8:03 am
Very excited by what happens with this year. Didn’t feel it last year with MW3, but I really enjoyed Black Ops a great deal more than probably MW2 or MW3.
#2
The_Red
01/05/12, 8:23 am
@1
Same here. I don’t play or care about multiplayer but my god, Black Ops’ campaign was a real treat. Crazy B-movie action with sublime soundtrack (Using many awesome and famous tracks instead of “glorious / tragic / Trailer-ready” music of MW games).
#3
Freek
01/05/12, 8:41 am
Doesn’t everybody already know exactly what game this is going to be? We know how CoD sequels go by now. Same game as last year. Except some new guns and levels.
It’s the Fifa of FPS games.
#4
Patrick Garratt
01/05/12, 8:44 am
@3 – Yeah. That’s the problem, for me. We all know what it’ll be. You can change the setting, but the formula can’t ever change. Like, I’ll still play it, but I’m starting to think it’s caught between a rock and a hard place.
#5
Edo
01/05/12, 9:23 am
@1 I’m actually more interested about what will they do next since after a long time it wont be a sequel…probably
.
#6
G1GAHURTZ
01/05/12, 9:25 am
Yeah, the FIFA analogy is spot on.
You can try and add cheerleader breaks every 10 minutes, make the goals bigger and get the teams to play with two balls at the same time, but people just want regular football.
There’s no need to change the standard formula much at all, because doing so will probably just make it worse.
SP could do with a shake-up though.
I still haven’t finished the Black Ops SP, ‘cos it just bored me.
Way too many unskippable cutscenes.
#7
Patrick Garratt
01/05/12, 9:39 am
Black Ops SP was OK. It’s actually a pretty brave stab at a “proper” thriller narrative. There’s a lot going on in it, and there are tons of twists. The pacing was off, though; you’re right, it did feel boring in places.
#8
Freek
01/05/12, 11:37 am
I’m not saying it’s wrong. Fifa is verry popular also, and people enjoy it. Wich is fine. But there’s no real reason to get excited about a reveal or anouncement about either game, it’s a known quantity.
You know what you like, you know what it is, and here’s another one.
It’s practicly a subscription service that cost you 60 bucks a year for multiplayer and level packs.
#9
M. K.
01/05/12, 11:43 am
Black Ops offers best CoD campaign and second best MP right after modern warfare. After the mw3 disappointment black ops 2 is the last chance for acti to get another good shooter on the market this generation imo.
#10
AHA-Lambda
01/05/12, 12:13 pm
guys they aint even trying to hide it now
http://www.callofduty.com/uk/en/blackops2
#11
G1GAHURTZ
01/05/12, 12:16 pm
Well, it’s definitely futuristic.
The screen cap for the (currently locked) video shows a giant ‘Bladerunner’ type hologram on the side of a skyscraper.
#12
Colin Gallacher
01/05/12, 12:23 pm
Well looks like this is the trailer – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upCWKsa9Skw – but it’s still private for the moment.
#13
Patrick Garratt
01/05/12, 12:25 pm
Updated. Thanks AHA.
#14
AHA-Lambda
01/05/12, 12:31 pm
^_^
BTW It’s definitely future warfare. This was taken from the description when I pasted the link on facebook.
Quote:
Experience near-future black operations with the next evolution of the legendary Call of Duty: Black Ops
Quote from website:
Call of Duty®: Black Ops 2 propels players into a near future, 21st Century Cold War, where technology and weapons have converged to create a new generation of warfare.
Activision has had a BIG leak =/
#15
Patrick Garratt
01/05/12, 12:32 pm
Ha. Whoops. I’ve added your name into the story.
#16
djhsecondnature
01/05/12, 12:38 pm
Re: The FIFA Analogy – The difference is that in the last few years, FIFA has had massive overhauls in gameplay, engine features, design and game modes.
Call of Duty is essentially the same game as when Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare came out…
#17
freedoms_stain
01/05/12, 12:38 pm
What? I had no idea there was a new Call of Duty game coming out this November, colour me shocked!
#18
Patrick Garratt
01/05/12, 12:40 pm
Added the splash image from the blocked trailer. HELICOPTERS CONFIRMED.
#19
Patrick Garratt
01/05/12, 12:43 pm
I bet whoever put that live is having a fucking great day.
#20
Colin Gallacher
01/05/12, 12:46 pm
http://www.imgbox.de/users/public/images/ULUJNxkrQC.png
“this YouTube preview pic shows up if you change to the Australian site.”
#21
Patrick Garratt
01/05/12, 12:47 pm
Cheers. I’ll add it.
#22
absolutezero
01/05/12, 12:51 pm
So much apathy.
Im so proud.
#23
Patrick Garratt
01/05/12, 12:55 pm
Check that box near the bottom. Appears to say clearly this stuff’s from LA.
#24
Erthazus
01/05/12, 1:20 pm
Trailer sure is going to have explosions…
#25
silkvg247
01/05/12, 1:21 pm
oh yay, it looks so different and new.
#26
G1GAHURTZ
01/05/12, 1:25 pm
Grrrr!
#27
silkvg247
01/05/12, 1:27 pm
Leave my kitty out of this! :p
#28
Edo
01/05/12, 1:29 pm
Two new screenshots http://www.abload.de/img/img5051_02cubwk.jpg
http://www.abload.de/img/img5051_010ybwx.jpg
#29
Johnny Cullen
01/05/12, 1:37 pm
Thanks, dude. Added those in.
#30
Gekidami
01/05/12, 1:38 pm
So yeah, clearly the future. Looks like that first pic is showing war in the US. I have to say, it’ll be really dumb if the enemies are Russian, we’ll have both CoD universes with Russians invading the US.
#31
Edo
01/05/12, 1:44 pm
@29 No problem @30 Yeah,it reminds me of Ghost Recon:Future Soldier(or at least those drones do).
#32
Maximum Payne
01/05/12, 1:45 pm
@30 hahaha yea I hope that is not true.
I think its too early for future warfare somehow.
Maybe there will be only one or two mission in future ?
#33
Edo
01/05/12, 1:52 pm
@32 The description from the official site explains it:
“Black Ops 2 is set in the near future, during a 21st century Cold War where technology and weapons have converged to create a new generation of warfare”.
#34
freedoms_stain
01/05/12, 1:52 pm
It should have laser guns and aliens.
#35
OrbitMonkey
01/05/12, 1:54 pm
Oh… Well this is disappointing
Enjoyed the retro vibe of Blops tbh, but they’ve ditched that for a Ghost Recon wannabe. Guess they ran out of ideas concerning secret history.
#36
G1GAHURTZ
01/05/12, 2:10 pm
Lasers and aliens are crap.
#37
Gekidami
01/05/12, 2:11 pm
@33
“Cold War” always insinuates Russia… But it really doesnt fit with the future setting, i mean lets face it; Russia arent exactly known for their cutting edge tech. I guess it could be China?
#38
G1GAHURTZ
01/05/12, 2:13 pm
I wonder if it’ll have mech…
#39
reask
01/05/12, 2:29 pm
I want WW2 again.
#40
Erthazus
01/05/12, 2:33 pm
@34, all guns in CoD series are basically laser guns. Cause you know? They shoot “straightforward” like in QUAKE 3.
But to be honest, Alien weapons could be done without any issue with that engine.
Quake 3 proves that. Rail Gun is still the best thing ever.
@37, China is very cutting edge indeed. LOL. If you are interested in the cutting edge military technology check out tanks, helicopters or fighters comparison in Wikipedia… and China is not one of them.
#41
freedoms_stain
01/05/12, 2:40 pm
@40, yes but they look like modern guns and sound like modern toy guns.
#42
OrbitMonkey
01/05/12, 2:42 pm
@40, “all guns in CoD series are basically laser guns. Cause you know? They shoot “straightforward”?
As opposed to the real world guns that shoot backward? :-/
#43
Patrick Garratt
01/05/12, 2:43 pm
@38 – That’d be bonkers.
#44
OlderGamer
01/05/12, 2:44 pm
Instead of 60usd pirced full game releases each year, perhaps a more sensible model could be found? This series(and I would agrue entire genere) is on the brink of over exposure.
I have the same trouble with EAs sport games. So the Fifa analogy really fits well. I think what most fans want for these games are more maps and more modes, both of which could be released as download installments. I really have to wonder if the bulk of the user base care for the SP portions of the game. I know some of you do, but I bet most don’t. But even campaigns could be released digitaly as 20usd episodes.
New generation of hardware will help, but thats still esntaily 2 years out for stuff like this.
I have never been a huge CoD fan, but I have no inclination to play a BF, Halo, or any other omp fps anymore(and I used to, alot). The whole of the genere is very stale for me. I prefer the PVP in a game like WoW, more variety and more dynamic.
#45
StolenGlory
01/05/12, 2:45 pm
I’ll say this though, as desperate and uninspired as this change of setting may seem to some people, if anything was going to get me back on the CoD wagon, it was going to be a change of setting to something a little more futuristic.
Or a new engine.
I’ll happily take 1 out of 2
#46
Erthazus
01/05/12, 2:55 pm
@OB, nah, they just have super precision, that’s why
“CoD wagon, it was going to be a change of setting to something a little more futuristic.
Or a new engine.”
New engine is not always better. Let them change it to CryEngine 3 it may look beautiful but core of the game will be the same.
#47
StolenGlory
01/05/12, 3:09 pm
@46
“New engine is not always better. Let them change it to CryEngine 3 it may look beautiful but core of the game will be the same.”
True, but if they changed to a new engine I would just be excited because it would be something different to make me pay attention rather than being all cynical about it year after year
#48
freedoms_stain
01/05/12, 3:19 pm
@42, in real life you squeeze the trigger and a bullet is explosively pushed out the barrel at lethal velocity, this causes the gun to jerk and move, called recoil. Experienced gunmen can control recoil, minimise it and adjust to it, but it’s never perfect aim.
In CoD bullets actually come out your forehead and the gun bouncing about on screen is just an animation. I’m not kidding either, in most games bullets come out the characters head rather than the gun model.
CoD also uses no ballistics model, so yeah, the bullets act a bit like lasers.
#49
Erthazus
01/05/12, 3:37 pm
By the way there will be MECHS.
New screen http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/17laeoem3490vjpg/original.jpg
#50
Maximum Payne
01/05/12, 4:00 pm
@49 oh god why.
Graphics remind me of bf 2142
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