CoD2: The Rising Sun or the Drowning Moon

Call of Duty is...

A WWII shooter in which the Allied forces (Americans, British and Russian) fight against the Axis (Germans). An epic game made by Infinity Ward which was also responsible for the production of Medal of Honour. There are not a lot World War games that can compete with Battlefield 1942 or Medal of Honour, but Infinity Ward was able to make a game that could give you the feeling to be a part of the game.  Call of Duty became a well known game ‘cause of lots of things. Have you ever played World War II games hoping that something special would happen, or that that kind of feature would be build into that game? Ever had big expectations of a game which got destroyed after playing it? Call of Duty is one of the games that got underestimated, though it has all the things you need. Now sit back and drink a coca cola ‘cause I’d like to show you some aspects of the game that make Call of Duty to what it is right now. The action might be best described with the word “arcade”. Shots in the head kill you right away, but shots in other parts of your body let you “survive”. Shot indicators that show you from where you are getting shot (useful if you’re the kind of player that likes to make 180° turns to shoot back).

Another point why the game can be called “arcade” is the fact that you’re not really free in things you can do or not do within a mission. There’s always a clear path that you will bring you from A to B and from B to C. You see doors, houses, cars and a lot more which will make you think: “Hey, lets hop in and see what we can do/find!”. The painful truth is that as soon as you push the “use” button nothing, but really nothing will happen. That might sound odd in the first place, but it doesn’t make the gameplay worse. Ever thought about the games you’ve played in which you see like 20 doors and you have to find 1 that will open while smashing the “use” button hoping that you finally found the door that opens? Within Call of Duty you won’t see such sceneries. Things that Battlefield players will miss might be the “sprint” button. You can’t sprint nor tiptoe. This though, doesn’t mean you move like a turtle. The speed is not too slow and not too fast. It’s no problem moving from A to B or from the first cover to the second. Though you will notice that running around on the open field will cost your head, there are still the nice little buttons called “crouch” and “prone”. Getting shot? Just fall down on your belly and wait until the enemy has to reload. It’s easy to change between the different positions, easy and useful. What else do you want?


Community and support

As for most of the games, the support and the community are the main things that count. As a game producer you want to have a big community, but you won’t get it that easily. The support gives the community the feeling to be a part of the game. You can report bugs that will be fixed. You send them your ideas about the game and what you would like to see within your game. Creators have to react on these kinds of things, ‘cause if they don’t the community will be less content. Fixing bugs and helping people when they have problems isn’t the only thing that counts. You can only play a game for a long time if you build some new challenges within the game. New game types, new maps or just new weapons. If a game stays the same for too long people will easily leave to another game that gives them the opportunity to master some new challenges.  Call of Duty 1 however didn’t have the support that was necessary to keep the game alive enough to keep competing with other games. Bugs that didn’t got fixed. Some patches that were not big enough to keep it interesting and of course a service that, to say it harsh, just ignores you. However, the strong community of Call of Duty kept the game as alive as they could.


Making business

I guess another big point of keeping a game alive is the fact that there are clans at the top with sponsors that always give you the opportunity to compete with other clans. For example having cups like Tek9 with some nice prizes. However, that’s not the most important thing I mean. Looking at graphic card producers you can see the growing interest of making money within the electronical sport scene. Big clans that provide their sponsors with some nice results easily get some nice things from them. Some might say that gaming is all about having fun, but isn’t it nice having fun and earning some nice things at the same time? I just want to say that people start taking games, gamers and the community more serious which is more than positive. Though gaming is a hobby, players still put all their effort in gaming to become one of the best. This effort will be rewarded with sponsors and people that are your “fans”.  Anyway I’m drifting off...


Leagues and cups

Competing with people is fun, but it’s getting even more interesting if you can do it with points. Win or lose – it all depends on how much points you gain or lose. If you want to be on top you’ll have to train a lot ‘cause nobody likes to lose, now do they?  Leagues bring every single player of the game together, whether you want to play 1on1 or rather compete with a whole bunch of other guys (or of course girls, shout out to all gaming girls!). You get to know people all over the world that all have their own opinion about the game. Maybe you even change to a foreign clan (hey, why not learn Russian or something like that?).   Beside patches etc. leagues are also a main factor whether a game is played intensively. If there are tons of leagues you don’t know where to start nor where to begin, which makes it difficult but fun to play against different teams, once earning points, once losing them.
Cups are always the top of the mountain. For example Clanbase has 4 cups every year. Spring, summer, fall and winter cups in which players all over the world compete. And only one gets the online trophy for being the winner of that season. People often take breaks, but when another cup starts they all come back once again. Now, lets head over to the main objective…


Call of Duty 2 is...

Call of Duty 1 within a new disguise. New graphics, a gameplay that got changed drastically, new multiplayer maps and a lot more makes Call of Duty 2 yet another game worth to be played.  As the community showed the game creators, players and everyone else that had their hands on Call of Duty 2, they weren’t that anxious of playing Call of Duty 2 ‘cause they thought instead of making things better, IW would yet make another fault.  The strongest point of the community was the bad support within Call of Duty 1, if that wouldn’t change then Call of Duty 2 wouldn’t be the success they hoped it would be. Yet another reason to argue about the fact if Call of Duty 2 would become the game the creators hoped it would be is the fact that the gameplay (especially online) changed drastically (as mentioned above). The recoil of weapons that were almost the opposite of the recoil from CoD1, a button to throw nades, smokenades which were hated by some of the community and of course the health bar that got replaced for a regenerating “life” were the reasons to shiver when hearing the name “Call of Duty 2”.


The reality

Once the game got released in the U.S.A. things got hot. How’s the game? Is it bad or good? Shall I buy it? All these questions were in peoples minds. Some days after the release you could find the game on several FTP’s and Bittorrent servers. I was curious, still I decided to not download it and just wait another week until it would be released in Europe. Though in the mean-time I was able to get some feedback of players (yes that was possible, though it wasn’t easy to get them away from the game). Once they disconnected and were able to talk, I heard different stories. Good and bad things got smacked to my head. The one liked the new regeneration; another held a grudge to the one that came up with the idea at IW. Another told me that he got asthma after sniping too much (guess it was kind of addictive to snipe that much?). Still, after hearing that much different opinions I was more confused than I was before. So I just bought the game to see what it’s like. First I really thought about bringing it back to the shop saying that it doesn’t work properly and that I would like another game instead. I didn’t and tried my best to like it, and I must admit; I really like it now. Everything sounded that bad but it wasn’t as worse as I thought.


Pushing the game upwards

Again, it was up to the community how populated the game would be in the near future. Though there was a lot of criticism, the game still had a quick-start. Lots of ladders for the game, cups that announced a Call of Duty 2 tournament though the game wasn’t even released and of course, again, the big clans that announced they would move to Call of Duty 2 whatever may happen.  The only thing that made people cry was the fact that there wasn’t even an anti-cheat tool with the release. Everyone is hoping for it to be released soon, ‘cause this is just the beginning. If and as soon as a tool will be released things will be rolling all over you! Big clans that will start playing seriously (‘cause the fact that there were bots, hacks etc. some days after the release is kinda scary).


The impact

After only giving you my opinion I’d like to show you some interviews I had with the more famous players of the Call of Duty 1 scene. They’ve played at the top and still remain up there. Who they are, what they’ve done so far and how they like Call of Duty 2 will be answered down there. My point with these questions was also to see the different kind of impacts in the different countries. I hope you like it.




Interview with Kenneth "plaZma" Aulie


Well, first of all I'd like to ask you the most common question of all interviews: Could you present yourself to the readers, who's the person behind the nickname "Plazma"?
I'm Kenneth Aulie, and I hail from the land of the vikings, Norway. 

When did you start playing the Call of Duty series and why did you start playing them?
I pretty much started playing it around christmas the year it came out, got it for christmas, so thats' when I started playing it, some of my friends introduced me to the game, played it on there comps (cracked version jawohl) and I really liked the teamplay aspect of the game (as I was an ET-player) so I decided I'd quit ET, and start playing cod 

Thanks for saying the word teamplay! Call of Duty 1 got indeed known 'cause of its tactical based playstyle, what else can you say about cod1? (Which map was the most common map, which map was the most difficult map, which things annoyed you within call of duty 1?)
Most commonly played map must've been carentan/dawnville, the most difficult, well. I'd have to say railyard, atleast in the start, when ur axis, with 3 nades landing in ur fucking pocket, the thing that annoyed me the most must've been clipping. 

Which things do you think went wrong with the promotion with call of duty 1 and do you think call of duty 2 will get bigger (how much bigger or less bigger) than call of duty 1?
Well, the CPL decided to add call of duty1 as a comp game way to early, the community hadn't had time to establish itself, so I think thats what went wrong, downhill from there on and out, IMO. I think Callofduty2 will be a huge sucess; because many of the oldschool players are returning, the game isn't as skilled-biased as the first game, which makes it easier for people to play amongst the best, which I find rather annoying :D, Let's just hope IW fix the bugs, and that CoD2 gets some huge tourneys 

How do you see yourself as a player with the picture "Call of Duty 2 and its community"?
How I see myself, well, err, I see myself being a top player, I was one of the top players in CoD1, hence why I think I'll be a top player in CoD2, Since it's easier, but there are gonna be a lot of more teamplay/smartness skills that plays in now, so we'll see how I manage, I ain't the sharpest knife in the, err. Yeah, I forgot the word for it :D \0/ W

hat's the plan within team-riZe as a CoD2 clan?
We'll keep on playing, and try our best to be top3 europe, which I think we'll manage, we haven't been playing to much lately, but we'll start soon, ec is coming up so. =) 

Give a grade to Call of Duty 1 (how it was before CoD2 came out) and Call of Duty 2 (how it is right now but also another one for how it will be in the near future)
CoD1 in the start, was like a 9, CoD1 in the end was like a 5. After Eurocup, that is, CoD2 right now is a 9'r, would be a 10'r with comp mods and stuff =), and In the future I hope the gametype people play will be CTF, then it'd be a definate 10'r =) 

Any last shout-outs?
Shoutouts to the fag's I play with in rize, and shoutout to everyone playing cod2 competatively.Thanks for the interview Kenneth, I wish you the best of luck. Shame this interview was held before he changed to Q4. Still best of luck within your new game. Maybe it’s a sign?



Interview with Adam "Yekoms" Woodhouse


The ordinary question: In-game you're known as "Yekoms", but who's the person behind the scenes?
My real name is Adam Woodhouse and i am 19 year old currently working as a chef and studying a computer course part-time, when i aint working or gaming i like to go out with my mates from university in Leeds, i have just got back from Iseries which was fantastic. 

Which games have you been playing and why do you play the Call of Duty series right now?
I started playing multiplayer games in Deus ex with my 56k, as i played more and more i built an interest in fps war games, so went to mohaa, were i upgraded my connection to 512k. When i heard call of duty was going to be released me and my fellow clanmates from Skirmish were going to start playing it with hopes of becoming one of the best teams, however things didnt really go as planned with our team so i went on to bigger and better teams, Call of duty has only really been the only game i have gotten things from. so best to stick to what your good at. 

If you at the reviews of Call of Duty 2 and how the community was first thinking about the game, do you think it all turned out the good way and what is your opinion about the future of Call of Duty 2?
The future of the game depends on 2 things, the community and the developers, if the developers can give what the competitive community is after then the game has the potential to go far, if however the game aint supported by the developers than i can see the game going the same way vanilla cod went, (not very far)First impressions of the game are quite good, and many people like certain aspects of it, the increased speed for one, but with any game the community is split wide open with certain aspects of the gameplay. 

Could you explain those aspects a bit closer? I'd also like to see your point of view within those aspects, what's your opinion to those aspects?
Main things would be shotgun - overpowered, no hp bar - WTF?!, hp regen - liking it alittle more but still think its alittle too good, NADES- wayyy too powerful, more like atomic bombs. These ofcourse are only my opinion on things :) 

Give a grade to Call of Duty 1 (how it was before CoD2 came out) and Call of Duty 2 (how it is right now but also another one for how it will be in the near future)
Cod1 7/10 , Cod2 6/10(but has loads of potential to be better) 

Any last shout-outs?

#rize, Everyone who i met @ iseries (dofty,conner,phate,neo.narc) and team hybrid :DD Thanks for the interview Adam, I wish best of luck to you and your team! Have a nice stay within cod2! ;)



Interview with Michael "Trigger" Sowa


 Could you introduce yourself to the readers? Who's the man behind the nickname "Trigger"?
Yeah sure. My Name is Michael Sowa, maybe better known as Trigger. Im 18 years old, living in germany (Remagen) and learning the Job Assistent for Communication. Besides im playing CoD2 with my Clan OCRANA.ATI, i love to party, drink some or some more and meeting with friends just to have a talk. 

Tell me something about your gaming-career. When did you start playing and why did you end up playing the Call of Duty series that long?
Well first of all im not even playing CoD that long. Or better not as long as most do. I started with Command and Conquer Renegade as my first Game. That was for about 4 years now i guess. I was kinda good in it and joined HFD. After the game getting more bored i started to play MoHAA alot. I just created a Squad in HFD and we were fast one of the best Teams arround in Europe. Also i was 2 Seasons Leader of the Team-Germany MoHAA. But the game was already long out and as CoD was released i just started to play it with my Squad. We were also very good in it, but after the Patch 1.2 came out i lost my Motivation to CoD and started playing MoHAA again. After like a half year i just got asked by Solid from 4s, if i wanna play a Mix with them, CoD. I just said yes, never played it again in this half year. I was kinda supprised that i still could hit enough to get directly invited into 4s. But they were all UK and the Communication wasnt bad, but not that good aswell. After some weeks, maybe Month i decided to join a german Team called doubleslash. They were and are a really good Team since today, this was like the way it all began with Ocrana. I played good, played much with Messias and Spar on there Public and after some they invited me for a Testgame this testgame was about 4 weeks or summit, cos fuchsstute didnt like me much in MoHAA times and we first had to get our Problems solved and he needed more trust in me and well, now im in Ocrana for about 3/4 Year, since 9. March exactly and i still like it and love ma guys ;) 

Now you're playing CoD2, which had quite some criticism. What do you like about the “new” game and what do you not like?
Its allways the same if a new games coming out, even more if its the second part of a Series. The guys which talking that bad about the game, are just fanatic in CoD1 and would wish that every1 stays at cod1 and the community getting bigger and bigger. But in fact CoD2 is not like CoD1 and thats the way it should be. Its a new game with much changes from CoD1 and i like it. Some bugs tbh, smoke is too hard, shotgun uber weapon but overall its just a very nice game and i love to play it.

What makes Call of Duty your favorite game? Why doesn't it bore you after some time?
Its just the Gameplay which is amazing. Its not like CS, old and aiming on Walls/Points/Whatever. Its a bit random running, much tactics, good nades, nice weapons and much aiming. Just CoD! CoD1 was a bit boring after playing it over an half year or even more and therefor i was happy CoD2 came out. I like CoD2 like 10 times more then i loved CoD1, so i guess i will stay a long long time on it without getting bored ;) 

CoD1 had a good start but dropped off quite fast. If you look at the community and the game itself, do you think CoD2 will have a brighter future or will it drown even faster?
Well no1 can tell you whats going on in the future. But i hope CoD2 wont get lost after some time like CoD1. The most important thing right now is to focus on the ACT`s and to get the Game as big as possible in this early status. Other things will just work out later then. Also the announcement of CPL and CAL-eu getting CoD2 in the Cups pushing the game much and i hope and guess this will stay some time. 

Give a grade to Call of Duty 1 (how it was before CoD2 came out) and Call of Duty 2 (how it is right now but also another one for how it will be in the near future)
CoD1 was fun in the beginning, getting boring after some time with really not much Maps and also much Maps which are just used in every Match. But i liked it and till the end i would give it a rate from 8, maybe 9 from 10. CoD2 is fun, will be fun and i just love it! Its great to see Teams getting better, the Competition getting more and all this new Tactic stuff. I rate it as a clearly 10/10 from my Fun-Factor right now. Just get an ACT ;) And yes, now i really cant be arsed with CoD1 anymore. I wont play it anytime again and kinda hate it now i guess :D CoD2 - the way to go! 

Any last shout-outs?
Shoutout to all CoD2 Players out there, Special to WHO (gg lads ;P), Yekoms, Baby, Coixi, Wabbit, Musk, Aisuru, my CoD Team and all guys which heared from me or even like me (not much latly :( ) And tbh thx for the Interview ;)

Thanks for the interview Michael, I wish best of luck to you and your team! Have a nice stay within cod2! ;)



Conclusion

Opinions are divided. The one believes in the new possibilities, another dislikes the new features and would probably see CoD1 in a new disguise. Unless all the negative things that are included after the release, the game has a pretty strong community ‘cause of the success that Call of Duty 1 had. It all depends, if I look at this whole story the neutral way, on the support the game will get in the near future. New innovations and taking care of bugs and problems are the main factors that the producers have to put an eye on.  Call of Duty 2 is still a born child, that has to learn a lot. It’ll grow and learn how to deal with things slowly. But it’s all about the fact that it eventually will change and will evaluate to another precious game, that will hopefully get some awards. Try to be fair and try to stay calm. Things will change, but if they change in a positive or a negative way, that’s the question that cannot be answered right now.  I end my story with the sentence:

“Games come and go, but in the end, you decide, whether it stays or has to leave.”