Black Ops II Designer Thinks Gamers "Should All Play Multiplayer"

[crazyrabbits]

Though I still don't get how it can be so hard to hire a decent PR team...

I'll give Activision credit - they have far fewer PR blunders to their name than EA, which seems to actively relish in putting their feet in their mouths at least once a week. As someone who actually does work in PR, I have never seen a company botch their customer/media relations as badly as they have.

That seems to be symptomatic of many publishers/developers, though. No one seems to know how to deal with bad press in the gaming blogs or mainstream press. Activision tried to shove the West/Zampella debacle under the rug, and we all know how that turned out. EA looked on helplessly while their public speakers botched publicity stunts and dialogue with the fans.

 

[Meatspinner]

I see David has fallen firmly into EA's party line of "All multi, all day, every day"

Try not to gag too much on EA's copulatory organ... and save some for the other developers.

 

[Artlover]

Dear god, more sensationalist journalism from this place.

The title of the article isn't at all what he said.

Really? That's funny because.....

As popular as Call of Duty is, there are a lot of people who don't play multiplayer, And quite frankly, this bugs the shit out of us. They should all play multiplayer.

The follow up in discussing Combat Training mode is no way changes the meaning of his quoted opinion. Quite the contrary, it shows his quoted opinion is both serious and literal as the sole purpose of Combat Training mode is to try and entice people into MP for the goal of satisfying his egotistical agenda.

It also shows he has no damned idea why most people who don't play multiplayer don't play it.

It bugs the shit out of me when news outlets twist words like that.

Sorry, nothing was twisted, he said what he said, and said it for a reason. In reading the full article, the context of what he said is still clear.

I think the context is in the interview, he's talking about all the cool stuff that they've added to the games multiplayer, and it 'bugs the shit' out of him that people who don't play the multiplayer won't experiance all the hard work he's put into it, which to me seems like a fair thing to say despite its heavy handed delivery.

Boohoo. That he chose to spend his time focusing on developing one side of the game that only appeals to part of the gamer base is not the rest of the gamers problem. He is not owed an audience. Like all artists, the only thing he is entitled to is an opportunity to be accepted by those that appreciate that style of creation. His opinion shows a full of himself arrogant attitude demanding recognition for his efforts because he thinks he so damn special and wonderful.

To that end, David needs to be strapped into a female donkey costume and let loose in a field of horny male donkey's for a few days.

 

[Sushewakka]

...is there a single freaking person in the game industry with common sense!?
And before anyone says Valve, if they had common sense, TF2 would actually be a game instead of a hat sim.

Play the game. Enjoy the amazing use of unstable equilibrium, the polished to a mirror shine rocket jumping mechanics (and by extension, sticky jumping and sentry boosting mechanics), the nine completely different classes, each with a marked playstyle and role, the mindgames of being a spy, the "no assault rifles as primary" rule in the game, the damage falloff mechanics that subtly reinforce the close quarter mechanics -- making melee not a desperation move but a viable strategy, two innovative playmodes not present in other FPSs (Payload and Payload Race), the co-op content (Mann vs Machine), airblasting, etc.
For all the jokes about the war-themed hat simulator, the actual game is quite polished, very fun. On PC, at least.

 

[Snowblindblitz]

I do think he's being ripped to shreds for a legitimate point-why pick up a CoD not to play the multiplayer?

I understand fun shooter campaigns, but CoD tends to be uninspired or, my most hated, learn which roof the guys are on so you can shoot them first.

Though, I still wish more FPS makers would realize MP only games, or divide the two and sale them for cheaper. It's a fail dream, but I would pick up more, if say, 40$ for MP only, and 20$ for SP early (rough values, just my opinion of most games based on what I feel I would pay for each).

Even add the option to download the other side in game if you bought the other, I.E., you only got the SP campaign, and said, "Hey, I'll check out the multiplayer." and picked it up through a purchasable pass code or download.

Hell, then, if they were smart (or Valve, this sounds Valvish) after so long offer discounts to those who bought one of the halves on the other side of the coin.

Just my thoughts though.

 

[CardinalPiggles]

Why? I've played all the other Call of Duty multi player modes, so I'm totally sick of it by this point.

Now Zombies co op mode on the other hand...

 

[CoL0sS]

And I like people to stop telling me what to do with stuff I buy, but you can't have everything.
Something tells me he'd also like everyone buying those $15 rip-offs they call map packs.

 

[Sonicron]

Sit on it and rotate, Vonderhaar. I get enough contact with dickbags out in the real world every day, and I don't need them hurling verbal abuse at me in me spare time.

 

[DSK-]

Meh, I'm not really into playing a Fisherprice baby's first online FPS game.

Furthermore, if it had the support of the devs and wasn't released every year and instead had cumulative content and updates it would be more successful.

You just can't please everyone.

 

[Woodsey]

Have you played with the COD community? Why in the world would I want to play with those people?

I'll stick with bots, thank you very much. They're much more pleasant to be around.

Nevermind the community, has he played the games? AIRSTRIKE. GUNSHIP. DRONES. DOGS, DICKS, FUCKING LASER BEAMS AND FLYING SHIT AND OH SOMEONE'S PISSING ON YOUR FACE AAAAAAAAANNNNNNNDDDDDD


[HEADING=1]NUUUUUUUUUKE![/HEADING]

It's a bit poo, is what I'm saying.

...is there a single freaking person in the game industry with common sense!?

And before anyone says Valve, if they had common sense, TF2 would actually be a game instead of a hat sim.

Sims can be counted as games.

OT: "But some gamers prefer to explore the campaign solo".

Heh, that's perhaps the most liberal use of the word 'explore' at any point in history.

 

[Ljs1121]

You know what? I agree with him.

I mean, obviously Call of Duty multiplayer is such a miraculously unique experience that it is absolutely amoral to not stand against the horrors of people that don't play it. Right, guys?

...Guys?

 

[MrBaskerville]

And it bugs the shit out of me that you included a multiplayer trophy that says I have to get to level 50. So we can't all have what we want, can we? I'll play your multiplayer, but not because I want to. Because I have to. You had it right in Black Ops: one or two trophies for multiplayer that were easy to obtain. Then, if the player decided they liked it, they could keep playing of their own free will. Now, with the trophy that says you must Prestige once, I'm forced to play it all the way to the end. And if sniping someone still takes two to three shots like it did in Black Ops, I'm not going to enjoy it.

Why would you waste hours upon hours of precious life doing something you know you won´t enjoy? All that just to get a useless trophy?

I´m confused, so very confused...

 

[UberNoodle]

I'm not interested in any multiplayer except with friends in closed games. I am 35 years old. I work fulltime and then some; my freetime is consumed with things I find far more valuable than gaming, such as my art, study and socialising. If I delve into multiplayer it is to get my arse handed to me by aggressive school kids who'd play 24/7 if they didn't have to eat, sleep and shit. And go to school. That's not fun, not in the slightest and I doubt that any tweaks this developer makes will change that. And ona side note, I don't want to take part in these kinds of games which amount to pro-America war propaganda in my mind. I don't want to shoot 'enemies of America' and drool over all the real weapons and DARPA inventions. I want no part of that power trip.

 

[BodomBeachChild]

Yeah, stop making shitty multiplayer to cover up your shitty single player and we have a deal.

 

[theblindedhunter]

As just some statement from a designer, I totally get this, and its no big deal. Consider, after all, that this is one of the people putting a lot of effort into making a really good multiplayer system. He just wants more people to experience that.
I do think, however, that there is more to address than just getting people up to speed skill- and understanding-wise. The CoD multiplayer space is notoriously vile, and I think there are efforts they could make to make it more approachable.
Also, from a little playing of MW3 from the Steam free weekend, the matchmaking stuff leaves something to be desired.

 

[Knife-28]

Not so stealthy snip.

Yea well, if you we're Vonderhaar's position, one where you've spent a great deal of time and effort trying to make something for people to enjoy, I'd be sure you'd want as many people as possible to experiance it.
And on another level, it really is a good idea to at least dip your toes into a games multiplayer (Barring lack of an online connection and/or extra controllers) because your at least getting your moneys worth, and you never know, you might end up, heavens forbid, actually liking it.

And ultimatly, thats all he wants here, for more people to try and potentially like something they wouldn't have touched otherwise. And to that, Mr Vonderhaar, I say 'Great job mate, just next time try not to look like as much of an ass.

 

[mitchell271]

Well Mr. "If-you-don't-play-multiplayer-you're-shit-to-us" Vonderhaar, not everyone likes Call of Duty multiplayer. I can't stand it because it's extremely repetitive and I hate the community you have. Try this next time: release a $40 multiplayer game and a $30 single player and zombies game. Oh, and don't insult your core demographic.

 

[pandorum]

Ha that's funny a Trearch employee telling me what to how about you stop quoting garbage and make the ps3 version rather than f ing it up like black ops 1.

Captcha: [half done] just like blops 1 for ps3.

Are they alive?

 

[Saika Renegade]

No.

No gamer 'should' play anything that they don't want to play.

Remain bothered by your lack of control over your player base.

 

[Ashannon Blackthorn]

Sure it's been said before, but you know what bugs me? douchebagknow it alls who think they can speak for me and what I like. I don't like multiplayer so I don't play it. If Mr. Vonderhar doesn't approve, tough titty for him.