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Ich habe hier mal einige Informationen zum kommenden Call of Duty AddOn United Offensive zusammengesucht. Hört sich wirklich bombastisch an. Ganz unten findet ihr erste Screens.
IGN Preview:
May 04, 2004 - Call of Duty was only one of the most successful PC games of last year. Not only did it sell a ton of units, but actually did so with style. Infinity Ward not only managed to make an exciting and fresh shooter, but one that was set in what has become one of the most overused settings in the PC gaming market. With the game's success, it wasn't much of a surprise that an expansion would eventually be headed our way, we just hadn't seen it until the recent Activision event in Los Angeles.
Call of Duty: United Offensive is actually being developed by Gray Matter Studios instead of Infinity Ward (we've heard rumors that they're hard at work on Call of Duty 2) and will not only add 3 new campaigns and with over 10 new missions, but also a slew of new multiplayer features.
The presentation of United Offensive was a extensive look at one of the levels from the Russian campaign that centers around the battle of Kursk, which was one of the biggest battles along the eastern front during the war. Thousands of tanks and planes as well as millions of infantry were thrown into this gigantic conflict. Obviously, Gray Matter is working hard to maintain that epic and frantic feel that everyone loved so much with Call of Duty.
The Kursk demo began in the rain with the player riding on the back of a transport truck into a Russian camp already under attack. As the truck rolled in, German planes passed by over head dropping bombs all over the camp and the surrounding field. You're quickly shoved into action along the defensive perimeter of the camp awaiting the inevitable attack of German soldiers. Before too long, infantry are pouring over the ridge. Artillery and grenade explosions rock the ground showing off the lovely new particle effect system as the enemies advance.
The player and his Russian allies were soon picking off targets left and right with Mosin-Nagant rifles and the PPSH submachine gun. All the while, grenades were being lobbed here and there to catch enemies grouped too closely together. The good things about the grenades at this point are that they can be cooked off, which will make their use more effective both in the campaign missions and especially in multiplayer matches.
After fighting along the perimeter for a while, the action moved back towards the buildings and some Germans who had managed to infiltrate the base. Moving with a group of soldiers shooting here and there, the action moved down a trench, away from the beginning portion of the mission. Along this road sized trench, more Germans were waiting, some of them with flamethrowers, one of the new weapons in United Offensive. Gray Matter loves their flamethrowers and this one looks much better than the one in Return to Castle Wolfenstein.
Eventually after moving through the trenches, the player and his crew found themselves fighting against another onslaught of enemy troops at another section of the outer defenses. This time, a machine gun nest was taken full advantage of to mow down enemy soldiers until enemy tanks began rolling into camp. A lot of hiding and sniping went on until tank reinforcements could arrive and mop up any of the remaining German forces.
This mission certainly drove the whole Call of Duty mentality home with some force. The battles actually seem bigger in some respects and the graphical improvements only made everything that much more immersive.
Aside from the one mission we were shown in the demo, we were also told, and shown through a trailer, some of the other missions in the game. The US campaign will follow the Battle of the Bulge, a messy situation towards the end of the war close to the borders of Germany during a cold and nasty winter. If you've seen the cable miniseries Band of Brothers, you'll know what to expect.
The British campaign will have players flying high during the invasion of Sicily. One of the great things about this portion of the expansion is that players will actually take the role of a gunner in one of the B-17 Flying Fortresses while being attacked by fighters. I would imagine plenty of bullets to come ricocheting through the cabin, fellow gunners to get annihilated, and some spectacular airborne explosions.
As I mentioned earlier, United Offensive will also have new multiplayer features and modes. The biggest addition, without a doubt, has to be vehicle combat. More importantly, tank shaped vehicles. The new mode to take advantage of these vehicles is called "Tank Battle" and will challenge teams to work together with both armor and infantry.
Gamers waiting to grab themselves a copy of Call of Duty: United Offensive should expect to see a lot more of the same fast paced action with some improvements and new surprises. We should be able to see a little bit more when we hit the show floor at the Electronic Entertainment Expo a week from now. Until then, sit back and enjoy the new screens.
IGN Interview:
April 16, 2004 - While Battlefield 1942 went a long way towards popularizing WWII action games, there wasn't much in the single-player arena, besides Medal of Honor. Enter Call of Duty last fall, with authority. Multiplayer was pretty good as well, making for a well-rounded, high-quality game that won kudos throughout the industry. It's no small surprise that Infinity Ward was acquired by Activision shortly thereafter. Eventually, people began to wonder about what was next for these guys--would it be a sequel, an expansion pack, or something else? The answer is both, and Activision gave the expansion pack development nod to Gray Matter Studios, makers of Return to Castle Wolfenstein, Kingpin, and Quake II: The Reckoning--guys who, in other words, have a load of experience with the Quake engine. We got a chance a few days ago to wheedle some cool info out on the expansion out of Robb Alvey, Senior Producer at Gray Matter.
IGNPC: So, wow! Gamers really seemed to like Call of Duty. When did you guys start working on the expansion pack?
Robb Alvey: We've been in development on Call of Duty: United Offensive since September '03. We spent a good two months in pre-production knee-deep in World War II history, reading as many books as possible, watching historical footage and creating the blueprint for the game.
IGNPC: What new elements can players expect to encounter this time around? We've heard about new weapons and abilities. What are they exactly? What do they add to the game?
Robb Alvey: We've brought Call of Duty: United Offensive to the next level in a number of different ways. or example, one of our new weapon features is the ability to deploy light machine-guns. Players will be able to pick up a .30 cal, set it up wherever they want to, and open fire! We've also added the ability to sprint and cook-off grenades, which further increase the realism and intensity of the game.
IGNPC: Tell us about the particular single-player campaign. Does it follow the original game's approach in terms of action?
Robb Alvey: United Offensive's single player campaign centers around American, British, and Russian missions, just like in the original Call of Duty. There are so many untold stories from WWII, and each campaign will tell its own unique story. As far as action goes, United Offensive is just as much of a roller coaster ride as the original game was, with vast intensity and epic battles. We put players in the middle of huge battles, and they feel like they're really part of what's going on, not just sitting back and watching it.
IGNPC: What kind of stuff will players deal with in, say, the Battle of the Bulge?
Robb Alvey: During the Battle of the Bulge, players take part as a member of the 101st airborne. The battle is focused around the cities of Bastogne, Noville, and Foy. We have several variations of gameplay including house to house fighting, having to cook-off grenades to prevent the enemy AI troops from throwing grenades back, rail missions, avoiding intense artillery bombardments, and all the other large-scale types of fighting you've come to know and love from Call of Duty.
IGNPC: Tell us more about Kursk? What opportunities does that offer?
Robb Alvey: The Battle of Kursk was the largest tank battle of World War II. Naturally, we want players to experience this immense battle as true to life as possible. Players will have the opportunity to drive a tank, spot for artillery groups and use a flamethrower - one of the new weapons added in United Offensive.
IGNPC: And what about the invasion of Sicily?
Robb Alvey: The British campaign starts with a really compelling offensive that's already one of our most favorite missions here in the office. It includes a huge air battle, involving many enemy planes and serves as a terrific starting point for this campaign. We're not ready right now to let out too many of the details though, so you'll have to wait and see.
IGNPC: Is there going to be any kind of storyline connection, as there was between the American and British campaigns last time around?
Robb Alvey: We're really excited to bring to life more untold stories from within WWII in United Offensive. The title features a cohesive story-arc with new characters, and based on and built around these three key historical events of WWII, each with their own clear beginning, middle and end. Plus, we're employing some really compelling transitions between the missions, so that players can become engrossed in the action.
IGNPC: How many more hours can players expect to get out of United Offensive in single-player?
Robb Alvey: At the moment, Call of Duty: United Offensive is still in development, so we can't divulge that RA: information just yet. However, we can tell you that United Offensive is rich with new content and gameplay enhancements, and will deliver plenty more of the cinematic intensity fans have become addicted to from the original game.
IGNPC: With all the World War II shooters out there now, and an increasing number of Vietnam games, how will this expansion pack stand out?
Robb Alvey: United Offensive stands out in the way that the original Call of Duty stood out - having received more than 70 "Game of the Year" and over 50 "Editors' Choice" Awards last year. This franchise is more than just about features, it's about attention to detail, strong intense gameplay, and a gritty storyline that leaves fans wanting to play more.
IGNPC: You've also mentioned that multiplayer has been expanded with three new modes. Tell us a bit about some of these. How many more maps do you plan on including altogether?
Robb Alvey: One of the modes that we're very excited about is the "Tank Battle" mode. The inclusion of drivable vehicles brings an all-new and exciting level of intense battlefield combat to Call of Duty's multiplayer modes. We've taken a considerable amount of time balancing the gameplay to ensure that tanks and infantry work well together. There have been several new weapons added to this mode, including the use of 88mm flak cannons, Bazooka's, and satchel charges.
IGNPC: What prompted the decision to add the additional multiplayer modes?
Robb Alvey: We wanted to offer Call of Duty fans even more multiplayer fun with United Offensive. We took Call of Duty's strong base of multiplayer modes and enhanced it, adding new team-based modes such as "Tank Battle" and "Domination" where players vie for control of the map by occupying multiple key locations scattered throughout the level.
IGNPC: We noticed you've switched development from Infinity Ward to Gray Matter Studios. What prompted this decision? Is Infinity Ward doing the sequel?
Robb Alvey: We've been in close contact with Infinity Ward throughout the entire development of Call of Duty: United Offensive. With our past experience with World War II first person action games (Return to Castle Wolfenstein), this was a great opportunity for Gray Matter to be involved with such a strong franchise. As far as Infinity Ward's plans, you'd have to check with them.
IGNPC: Do you plan on making any changes or additions to the map editor, beyond putting in new textures and objects?
Robb Alvey: We've added a number of new features to the map editor, and other tools. We've been able to create larger maps and have added the ability for multiple users to edit the map at the same time. As with most games in development, things evolve over time, so it's only natural to add new features to the editor and tools.
IGNPC: Can we expect any graphical improvements?
Robb Alvey: Absolutely! Gray Matter Studios is known for its high standard of graphical content. We've made some significant improvements to the gaphical look, including a revamp of the particle system. All the explosions, smoke effects, and pyrotechnics have been updated, and weather effects such as rain and snow have been added. In addition to the new particle system, we've also created new texture sets and models for each of the campaigns.
Screens
IGN Preview:
May 04, 2004 - Call of Duty was only one of the most successful PC games of last year. Not only did it sell a ton of units, but actually did so with style. Infinity Ward not only managed to make an exciting and fresh shooter, but one that was set in what has become one of the most overused settings in the PC gaming market. With the game's success, it wasn't much of a surprise that an expansion would eventually be headed our way, we just hadn't seen it until the recent Activision event in Los Angeles.
Call of Duty: United Offensive is actually being developed by Gray Matter Studios instead of Infinity Ward (we've heard rumors that they're hard at work on Call of Duty 2) and will not only add 3 new campaigns and with over 10 new missions, but also a slew of new multiplayer features.
The presentation of United Offensive was a extensive look at one of the levels from the Russian campaign that centers around the battle of Kursk, which was one of the biggest battles along the eastern front during the war. Thousands of tanks and planes as well as millions of infantry were thrown into this gigantic conflict. Obviously, Gray Matter is working hard to maintain that epic and frantic feel that everyone loved so much with Call of Duty.
The Kursk demo began in the rain with the player riding on the back of a transport truck into a Russian camp already under attack. As the truck rolled in, German planes passed by over head dropping bombs all over the camp and the surrounding field. You're quickly shoved into action along the defensive perimeter of the camp awaiting the inevitable attack of German soldiers. Before too long, infantry are pouring over the ridge. Artillery and grenade explosions rock the ground showing off the lovely new particle effect system as the enemies advance.
The player and his Russian allies were soon picking off targets left and right with Mosin-Nagant rifles and the PPSH submachine gun. All the while, grenades were being lobbed here and there to catch enemies grouped too closely together. The good things about the grenades at this point are that they can be cooked off, which will make their use more effective both in the campaign missions and especially in multiplayer matches.
After fighting along the perimeter for a while, the action moved back towards the buildings and some Germans who had managed to infiltrate the base. Moving with a group of soldiers shooting here and there, the action moved down a trench, away from the beginning portion of the mission. Along this road sized trench, more Germans were waiting, some of them with flamethrowers, one of the new weapons in United Offensive. Gray Matter loves their flamethrowers and this one looks much better than the one in Return to Castle Wolfenstein.
Eventually after moving through the trenches, the player and his crew found themselves fighting against another onslaught of enemy troops at another section of the outer defenses. This time, a machine gun nest was taken full advantage of to mow down enemy soldiers until enemy tanks began rolling into camp. A lot of hiding and sniping went on until tank reinforcements could arrive and mop up any of the remaining German forces.
This mission certainly drove the whole Call of Duty mentality home with some force. The battles actually seem bigger in some respects and the graphical improvements only made everything that much more immersive.
Aside from the one mission we were shown in the demo, we were also told, and shown through a trailer, some of the other missions in the game. The US campaign will follow the Battle of the Bulge, a messy situation towards the end of the war close to the borders of Germany during a cold and nasty winter. If you've seen the cable miniseries Band of Brothers, you'll know what to expect.
The British campaign will have players flying high during the invasion of Sicily. One of the great things about this portion of the expansion is that players will actually take the role of a gunner in one of the B-17 Flying Fortresses while being attacked by fighters. I would imagine plenty of bullets to come ricocheting through the cabin, fellow gunners to get annihilated, and some spectacular airborne explosions.
As I mentioned earlier, United Offensive will also have new multiplayer features and modes. The biggest addition, without a doubt, has to be vehicle combat. More importantly, tank shaped vehicles. The new mode to take advantage of these vehicles is called "Tank Battle" and will challenge teams to work together with both armor and infantry.
Gamers waiting to grab themselves a copy of Call of Duty: United Offensive should expect to see a lot more of the same fast paced action with some improvements and new surprises. We should be able to see a little bit more when we hit the show floor at the Electronic Entertainment Expo a week from now. Until then, sit back and enjoy the new screens.
IGN Interview:
April 16, 2004 - While Battlefield 1942 went a long way towards popularizing WWII action games, there wasn't much in the single-player arena, besides Medal of Honor. Enter Call of Duty last fall, with authority. Multiplayer was pretty good as well, making for a well-rounded, high-quality game that won kudos throughout the industry. It's no small surprise that Infinity Ward was acquired by Activision shortly thereafter. Eventually, people began to wonder about what was next for these guys--would it be a sequel, an expansion pack, or something else? The answer is both, and Activision gave the expansion pack development nod to Gray Matter Studios, makers of Return to Castle Wolfenstein, Kingpin, and Quake II: The Reckoning--guys who, in other words, have a load of experience with the Quake engine. We got a chance a few days ago to wheedle some cool info out on the expansion out of Robb Alvey, Senior Producer at Gray Matter.
IGNPC: So, wow! Gamers really seemed to like Call of Duty. When did you guys start working on the expansion pack?
Robb Alvey: We've been in development on Call of Duty: United Offensive since September '03. We spent a good two months in pre-production knee-deep in World War II history, reading as many books as possible, watching historical footage and creating the blueprint for the game.
IGNPC: What new elements can players expect to encounter this time around? We've heard about new weapons and abilities. What are they exactly? What do they add to the game?
Robb Alvey: We've brought Call of Duty: United Offensive to the next level in a number of different ways. or example, one of our new weapon features is the ability to deploy light machine-guns. Players will be able to pick up a .30 cal, set it up wherever they want to, and open fire! We've also added the ability to sprint and cook-off grenades, which further increase the realism and intensity of the game.
IGNPC: Tell us about the particular single-player campaign. Does it follow the original game's approach in terms of action?
Robb Alvey: United Offensive's single player campaign centers around American, British, and Russian missions, just like in the original Call of Duty. There are so many untold stories from WWII, and each campaign will tell its own unique story. As far as action goes, United Offensive is just as much of a roller coaster ride as the original game was, with vast intensity and epic battles. We put players in the middle of huge battles, and they feel like they're really part of what's going on, not just sitting back and watching it.
IGNPC: What kind of stuff will players deal with in, say, the Battle of the Bulge?
Robb Alvey: During the Battle of the Bulge, players take part as a member of the 101st airborne. The battle is focused around the cities of Bastogne, Noville, and Foy. We have several variations of gameplay including house to house fighting, having to cook-off grenades to prevent the enemy AI troops from throwing grenades back, rail missions, avoiding intense artillery bombardments, and all the other large-scale types of fighting you've come to know and love from Call of Duty.
IGNPC: Tell us more about Kursk? What opportunities does that offer?
Robb Alvey: The Battle of Kursk was the largest tank battle of World War II. Naturally, we want players to experience this immense battle as true to life as possible. Players will have the opportunity to drive a tank, spot for artillery groups and use a flamethrower - one of the new weapons added in United Offensive.
IGNPC: And what about the invasion of Sicily?
Robb Alvey: The British campaign starts with a really compelling offensive that's already one of our most favorite missions here in the office. It includes a huge air battle, involving many enemy planes and serves as a terrific starting point for this campaign. We're not ready right now to let out too many of the details though, so you'll have to wait and see.
IGNPC: Is there going to be any kind of storyline connection, as there was between the American and British campaigns last time around?
Robb Alvey: We're really excited to bring to life more untold stories from within WWII in United Offensive. The title features a cohesive story-arc with new characters, and based on and built around these three key historical events of WWII, each with their own clear beginning, middle and end. Plus, we're employing some really compelling transitions between the missions, so that players can become engrossed in the action.
IGNPC: How many more hours can players expect to get out of United Offensive in single-player?
Robb Alvey: At the moment, Call of Duty: United Offensive is still in development, so we can't divulge that RA: information just yet. However, we can tell you that United Offensive is rich with new content and gameplay enhancements, and will deliver plenty more of the cinematic intensity fans have become addicted to from the original game.
IGNPC: With all the World War II shooters out there now, and an increasing number of Vietnam games, how will this expansion pack stand out?
Robb Alvey: United Offensive stands out in the way that the original Call of Duty stood out - having received more than 70 "Game of the Year" and over 50 "Editors' Choice" Awards last year. This franchise is more than just about features, it's about attention to detail, strong intense gameplay, and a gritty storyline that leaves fans wanting to play more.
IGNPC: You've also mentioned that multiplayer has been expanded with three new modes. Tell us a bit about some of these. How many more maps do you plan on including altogether?
Robb Alvey: One of the modes that we're very excited about is the "Tank Battle" mode. The inclusion of drivable vehicles brings an all-new and exciting level of intense battlefield combat to Call of Duty's multiplayer modes. We've taken a considerable amount of time balancing the gameplay to ensure that tanks and infantry work well together. There have been several new weapons added to this mode, including the use of 88mm flak cannons, Bazooka's, and satchel charges.
IGNPC: What prompted the decision to add the additional multiplayer modes?
Robb Alvey: We wanted to offer Call of Duty fans even more multiplayer fun with United Offensive. We took Call of Duty's strong base of multiplayer modes and enhanced it, adding new team-based modes such as "Tank Battle" and "Domination" where players vie for control of the map by occupying multiple key locations scattered throughout the level.
IGNPC: We noticed you've switched development from Infinity Ward to Gray Matter Studios. What prompted this decision? Is Infinity Ward doing the sequel?
Robb Alvey: We've been in close contact with Infinity Ward throughout the entire development of Call of Duty: United Offensive. With our past experience with World War II first person action games (Return to Castle Wolfenstein), this was a great opportunity for Gray Matter to be involved with such a strong franchise. As far as Infinity Ward's plans, you'd have to check with them.
IGNPC: Do you plan on making any changes or additions to the map editor, beyond putting in new textures and objects?
Robb Alvey: We've added a number of new features to the map editor, and other tools. We've been able to create larger maps and have added the ability for multiple users to edit the map at the same time. As with most games in development, things evolve over time, so it's only natural to add new features to the editor and tools.
IGNPC: Can we expect any graphical improvements?
Robb Alvey: Absolutely! Gray Matter Studios is known for its high standard of graphical content. We've made some significant improvements to the gaphical look, including a revamp of the particle system. All the explosions, smoke effects, and pyrotechnics have been updated, and weather effects such as rain and snow have been added. In addition to the new particle system, we've also created new texture sets and models for each of the campaigns.
Screens





