Tag Archives: rob bowling

Infinity Ward’s Rob Bowling’s posted an explanation of how IWNET will work with the PC version of Modern Warfare 2, following uproar surrounding news that the game won’t allow dedicated servers.

Bowling claims the closed system will allow players to match against others of similar skill while deterring cheating, adding party features, and so on.

A petition aimed at getting dedicated servers added to the game is now past the 100,000 mark.

Infinity Ward’s Rob Bowling’s revealed to VG247 that Modern Warfare 2 was initially supposed to have full co-op in the its main Campaign, but was dropped as it “ruined the experience” the developer was aiming for.

The final game instead has Spec Ops mode – a dedicated, mission-based co-op section playable either online or locally in split-screen.

“We did it early on; that’s what Spec Ops started out as, as co-op through story,” said Bowling when asked why Campaign co-op didn’t make the final game.

“But it really broke the cinematic experience, took the immersion out of it, out of the story and the pacing and everything we’d spent so long crafting. It just ruined the experience we were aiming for, so we took it out, kept the single-player for that one player intact and polished it.”

Spec Ops was born from the good parts of the ditched co-op mode, Bowling said.

“But then there were moments that were really fun with two players, so we took those moments and put them in Spec Ops,” he added.

“So you can play moments directly taken from the single-player, in Spec Ops, but it’s polished towards those two players so the experience is pure. You really get the best of both worlds: you get the moments that were fun, but the moments that were shitty we took out.”

We just played a Brazilian Spec Ops level with Rob at a London hotel: it’s awesome. We’ll knock up some impressions tomorrow.

Modern Warfare 2 ships on November 10.

We asked you for questions about Modern Warfare 2. You told us. We asked Infinity Ward’s Rob Bowling at a London hotel about an hour ago. We managed to get in 14 questions for you, and Rob answered everything. He’s a very good sport.

So. Here you go. Hit the link.

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We’re currently on our way to London for a Modern Warfare 2 demo and a chat with Infinity Ward comms boss Rob Bowling. Want to ask anything?

Then stick your questions in the comments below.

Looks as though Call of Duty is about to take the rather obvious step into filmdom.

Firstly, Infinity Ward’s Rob Bowling confirmed today he was “grabbing lunch” with Xavier Gens, director of the Hitman movies and was “talking game films”.

Secondly, Trademork did some sniffing this afternoon and found that the Call of Duty license has been reserved for film use. The registration was only made on September 21.

As long as its got a snowmobile and a nuclear bomb, we’re happy. All of this could mean nothing, obviously. Don’t blame us if Xavier was Rob’s date, or something.

IW’s Rob Bowling’s posted up what’s apparently the first shot of Modern Warfare 2′s lobby system.

It’s taken from the 360 version. Looks… lobbyish.

The shooter’s out on November 11.

Despite obvious demand for the Prestige edition of Modern Warfare 2, Infinity Ward’s Rob Bowling’s told IGN that no more are to be made after the initial run.

“We’ve already been asked by retailers to up the production numbers due to demand, which we immediately denied,” he said.

“We decided from the beginning that we want this to be for the hardcore fans and early adopters.

“The fact that it is actually limited is one of the coolest parts, which is why we’ve individually numbered every copy.”

They denied that shit, yo. Hit the link for more. It’s out in November, cheap night vision goggles and all.

You’ve seen that rumour about suspected online Call of Duty charges, right? Don’t worry, Modern Warfare 2 fans. It’ll never happen to any of Infinity Ward’s titles.

“This rumor has absolutely nothing to do with Infinity Ward or our games, including Modern Warfare 2,” said the developer’s communications boss, Rob Bowling, speaking on the firm’s forums.

“We would never introduce such a system for Modern Warfare 2 so don’t worry.

“Multiplayer will always be equal and free for everyone as always.”

Glad that’s cleared up. You can get back to the awful wait for MW2, now.

In an interview with the Major, Infinity Ward’s Rob “FourZeroTwo” Bowling has said that there are currently 13 million unique Xbox Live users that have sampled Call of Duty: Modern Warfare’s multiplayer modes.

“The thing we learned the most [from Modern Warfare 1] was how much focus goes into multiplayer,” said Rob when asked about what the team has learned from the first game and will be carrying through to Modern Warfare 2.

“I mean, Call of Duty 4 on Xbox Live just exploded. Right now we’re at 13 million unique users on 360 and that’s insane.

“The focus that goes into multiplayer…and that’s why community specifically, is such a tent pole for Modern Warfare 2.”

Earlier this month, Act-Blizz said in its Q1 earnings call that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare had sold 13 million worldwide across all platforms.

A deluge of new Modern Warfare 2 media was released overnight, including a mouth-watering new trailer. Take a look.

Infinity Ward comms boss Rob Bowling’s confirmed by Twitter that a patch is on the way to “elminate the cheaters in COD4 on Xbox 360.”

It’s Cheat Week, clearly. Only last night, Nelson reset some Gamerscores on filthy Gears 2 cheater accounts.

Do you cheat at Call of Duty 4? You reign of terror is so over, you goddamn cheater.

Infinity Ward’s Rob Bowling’s confirmed that Call of Duty 4′s to get another double XP weekend, starting February 27.

The PR chief also said the Variety Map Pack is to be reduced 50 percent from February 24.

There’s more on Bowling’s blog.

Infinity Ward comms boss Rob Bowling’s has launched a Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Twitter app, as you can see on his blog.

“The #MW2 app went live earlier today, and within an hour was already the #2 most talked about topic on Twitter (just behind American Idol). I was blown away with the response to our first question, Name one thing you’d like to see in Modern Warfare 2′,” said Bowling.

If you haven’t signed up for the last great assault on natural attention spans, get to it.

The game’s out at the end of this year.

Infinity Ward’s Rob Bowling has updated his blog revealing many fun facts and figures about the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare including the fact that the game has clocked up over 10 million – count ‘em (no don’t – ed) – users.

Other states include:

• 71.1%, or 7,111,508 people have completed F.N.G. – That’s more than the entire population of Hong Kong (which is 7 Million).
• 68.8%, or 6,886,509 people have completed Cargo Ship. This is the same number of adults in the US who were morbidly obese in 2005.
• 46.5%, or 5,654,643 people have beaten the game on any difficulty. This is more than the current population of Finland!
• 2.8%, or 283,632 people have completed Airplane on Veteran difficulty. The population of Stockton, CA is 280,000.

Thanks, Kotaku.

By Mike Bowden

Oh dear. Infinity Ward mouthpiece Rob Bowling has directed a furious – and unmissable – blog post at Activision producer Noah Heller for comparing Call of Duty: World at War to previous Infinity Ward games.

“Can you guys please stop interviewing this guy, talk to someone who actually works on the Dev Team at Treyarch and knows what the fuck they’re talking about. Not Senior Super Douche Noah Heller from Activision – who apparently has never played the game and doesn’t even work at the developer.”

Heller said most recently in a CVG interview that: “In the previous Call of Dutys it might take three or four shots from a bolt action rifle. We made sure that a single shot centre mass would kill that opponent because that’s the expectation of the player.”

Bowling responded: “WTF are you talking about?! ‘In previous Call of Dutys blah blah blah’. First of all, you didn’t work on ‘previous Call of Dutys’, so don’t talk as if you’re down with how / why things were designed the way they were. Second, you’re completely fucking wrong.”

Read the full thing through the link. Expect it to run and run.

Infinity Ward’s announced a week of promotions for the PS3 version of Call of Duty 4, running from tomorrow, September 18, to September 25.

This weekend will yield double XP for all online PS3 CoD4 players, and the Variety Map Pack will drop to $5 for the entire week.

Have a look at Rob Bowling’s blog for developer PSN IDs, if you fancy getting some expert action.

Infinity Ward’s Rob Bowling has confirmed that this weekend – September 13 and 14 – will grant Call of Duty 4 players double XP.

In addition, those of you that still haven’t bought the Variety Map Pack will be able to do so for half price, or 400 MS Points, over the same period.

A PS3 version of the even is planned later in the month.

More through the link.

Infinity Ward’s Rob Bowling’s confirmed on his blog that Call of Duty 4 players can look forward to another double XP weekend later this month.

“I’m currently working on getting everything organized and together for an upcoming Xbox Live / PSN promotion we have coming up the weekend of Sept. 12th – 14th,” said the developer’s comms guy.

“Which isn’t this weekend, but next weekend. I will have exact details on what it is in the near future but I have a gut feeling it’ll have Double XP attached to it for all those hungry for some power-leveling on Call of Duty 4.”

More through the link.

According to Infinity Ward chap Rob Bowling’s blog, more than 10 million punters have played Call of Duty 4 online on Xbox 360 and PS3 since last November.

“That’s insane,” said Bowlong. “With a little over a million players logging in everyday for multiplayer, I can’t say I’m too surprised.

“It’s awesome to think that we’re all part of building something so massive, and when I say we, I mean me, you, all of us.”

More large numbers through the link.

In his second video diary, Infinity Ward’s Rob Bowling talks about day-to-day life at the Call of Duty developer. He also says “fuck” a lot. There’s a lot of stuff at the beginning about what game’s he’s playing at the moment and it’s 17 minutes long, so don’t say we didn’t warn you. After the break.

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At least he’s not wearing a white dressing gown. Infinity Ward’s Rob Bowling can be seen in this video in bed at GDC with two very bored-looking women saying the following: “suck balls” (three times) and “smooth, good-feeling fun”. Watch his thumbs. Also, watch the blonde woman staring into space at the end. Living the dream.