So, Modern Warfare 3, eh? No one saw that coming. Yet the response to the inevitable news of the up and coming shooter’s release is something unexpected.
Now, I myself have been something of a neutral party when it comes to COD. I’ve found that the hype of fanboys has projected the series to near lunar levels, yet never quite seen why. I’ve played through the relatively basic FPS’s, braindead yet satisfied during the bullet blitzing gameplay and more impressed by the set pieces than any Hollywood Blockbuster I’ve seen in recent years. Had I not heard all of the hype, the praise and the orgasmic cries of its following that rang louder than any explosion however, and I might have been more inclined to enjoy. Playing through the highly acclaimed series wasn’t the biggest disappointment in my years of gaming, but replicated that feeling when you come home from the supermarket and realise you’ve bought regular HobNobs instead of chocolate ones…and I really like HobNobs.
So, being a part of the gaming community and working in an environment where adolescents will kindly spew crap about video games they are trading in, it’s easy to see COD has gained a following. Now, however, players seem to be turning on the newest instalment as if they’re a ruffian in Oliver Twist, waiting hours to be served the Friday special of Diarrhoea Ready Brek’…and ironically it’s the first MW that’s sparked a bit of interest in me. Going the whole ‘World War 3’ angle seems eeriely reminiscent of the unexpectedly awesome Homefront, and if done with enough heart could be an absolutely shocking look into a future we’re unnervingly close to entering. If written well and less focused on set pieces and events that make you go ‘BOOM’, this could be a brilliant title.
It’s also easy to be put off thanks to the Infinity Ward drama that occurred late last year, resulting in the loss of president Jason West and CEO Vince Zampella, along with something of an army of employees. MW3 will be a combined effort of three studios, Infinity Ward, Sledgehammer Games and Raven Software, and although too many cooks can spoil the broth, there is also a lot of new blood coming in. Those who complain that MW2 was a disappointment and the franchise just didn’t have enough appeal any more should welcome change. The studios already know they have a hell of a task on their hands without the average Joe striking down, let’s see what they can deliver.
Of course, I’m just a lunatic rambling nonsense due to lack of oxygen to the brain as my head is in the clouds (Otherwise known as an optimist). Maybe this will be another title Activision will strive to make a quick buck from just off the name of the successful franchise. 5 seconds of looking at Activision CEO Bobby Kotick’s weird smile and beady eyes makes it feel like he’s trying to steal my soul through the screen to become human again. Maybe this will just be a 6 hour explosion fest. But what the hell do the haters have to go on? A self empowered view that everything they say is right once given a keyboard and one bloody trailer. The game is released in November and Lord knows we will be bombarded with enough news about it until then. Those who cheer will still be happy upon its midnight launch and those who jeer about how crap it’s going to be will most likely buy it just to see if they were right. And to those who are sitting smugly behind their pre-order slips for Battlefield 3, stop flaming the COD fans. At least if you’re playing the same game and have pent up frustration against the world, you can go and sort it out away from us. If a gaming war ever starts up thanks to fanboys, please don’t let it be EA vs. Activison. I can’t help but feel no one has won in that scenario, we’ve all just reached a new low.