Black Ops - Dev console, modtools and lean confirmed

[Kyubi_ZA]

Console gamers, move along, nothing to see. Finally some good PC news! Treyarch confirms dev console, modtools and lean for Black Ops!

pcdev, do we really need to explain his nickname? Via Twitter » he confirmed lean to be back in the PC version of Black Ops. Many were surprised by Infinity Ward's the decision to take this out of multiplayer for Modern Warfare 2, but lucky for us that is now changed back by Treyarch. With lean, you can actually peek around corners, leaving your body (for most part) in cover. This dramatically changes gameplay, for the better. This system is not implemented into the console versions of the game because there are simply not enough buttons on a controller to pull this off.

Treyarch knows the value of the PC community and are willing to put time and effort in making their experience as good (or better, maybe?) as on consoles. Part of this is of course the dedicated servers, which I'm sure we explained at one point but let's recap real quick. Dedicated servers are usually very powerful computers in data centers with a very fast internet connection on which the Black Ops server edition is installed. With it installed, anyone that has the address (and a password in some cases) of that server can connect and play the game. This usually means less lag (if you pick a server close to you) because you can choose one with the lowest PING (better connection). The administrators of this server have control over what happens on their server, so they can kick or ban people, disable certain elements like killstreaks or explosives. In short, they can customize the game up to a great extend. And, probably more interesting, they can install custom mods. Which brings us to our next point; Mod Tools.
Galactic Warfare mod on COD4

Mod tools is a computer program that will let people create their own version of the game. A great example is Galactic Warfare » (youtube), a great mod that used the mod tools Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare to make a multiplayer mod that brings you right into the world of Star Wars. As you can see in the video it will let you change out models (3D props), weapons, effects, characters, even complete levels. It's a huge deal in PC-land and we're very happy Treyarch has chosen to do so, even though we don't know yet 'til what extend, as the original confirmation » states:

We plan to open the game up for modding sometime post-launch. We do not know yet to what extent you will be able to mod the game. There are some purely technical issues related to engine and internal tool enhancements that do not easily fit the modtools paradigm. We have looked at it close enough to see that it is non-trivial and we will have to pick it up again post-launch. Right now we are completely focused on finishing the game.

And, dev console: confirmed.

-pcdev-

http://blackops.digitalwarfare247.co...lean-confirmed

[czc]

Interesting, I think I may really want to get this now. Wasn't too certain but things are sounding better.

I just looked on the Treyarch website. Is the game really coming out on the 11 of September?

[Kyubi_ZA]

Nope its 11/10/10 in American time.

10 November is the release date every year.

[czc]

Oops, forgot about the American system.

http://www.el33tonline.com/past/2010...osive_call_of/

At gamescom today, El33tonline got a great behind-closed-doors presentation of Call of Duty: Black Ops from Treyarch, showing two missions from what is sure to be the next blockbuster entry to the franchise.

Black Ops, in case you didn’t know, is a first-person shooter set in the Cold War featuring the exploits of deniable operations soldiers who carry out a myriad of classified and dangerous ‘black ops’ during the period. Treyarch notes that while the game will feature a story inspired by real-world operations and soldiers, the game isn’t an historical one, which allows the writers at the studio to weave an original narrative in a rich world.

The first mission we saw was called Victor Charlie, set in Vietnam, as you and a group of operators investigate Soviet presence and involvement in the area. This mission demonstrated the wide variety of gameplay scenarios that will be available to players, as the presentation showcased stealthy, slow-paced reconnaissance and sabotage actions, before moving onto a hectic outdoor battle between allies and enemies, and then collapsed the environment by forcing the protagonist into claustrophobic, tense and atmospheric close-quarters combat in a series of underground tunnels.

[Blackhand]

Now this is starting to look very tempting.

[czc]

Unusual Call of Duty: Black Ops Solo Campaign Hides Secrets

http://kotaku.com/5615783/call-of-du...-hides-secrets

he line one of the makers of the next Call of Duty uses about the series is that these games are movies we can play. This one will be a war thriller that hides a mystery.

A few weeks ago in New York, Josh Olin, community manager fort team creating November's Call of Duty Black Ops showed me the game's Victor Charlie level and did his best to be cagey about the game's campaign. With Gamescom started in Germany, I'm now permitted by the game's creators to tell you what I saw, though I'd like to focus on the mysteriousness of the whole thing.

There was some stuff that Olin showed me, that I could see and believe because it was in front of me. And then there was the stuff about which he was coy.

In the confirmed category: The Victor Charlie occurs after your helicopter is shot down in or near Vietnam in the late 1960s. In Black Ops you are playing as elite cold war soldier (or soliders; it's unclear if you play as different protagonists.) Gunfire zips into your chopper. You get out and are in a jungle gunfight.

...

...

[Venom]

This one is going to be a winner

[tpex]

do any of you guys use lean? if find it to much effort to use in a mp game, much better to map melee to Q

[Raven Gold]

do any of you guys use lean? if find it to much effort to use in a mp game, much better to map melee to Q

I do, and to massive effect, if you know somebody is around a corner, and her knows your there, just poke out a tiny bit with lean and Pow! Headshot!

On the games note. It's too little, too late, there touting it as this Über Ültra innovation, this stuff should be standard for any and all PC FPS games, there is absolutely zero excuse for omiting features like leaning and dedicated servers.

[czc]

do any of you guys use lean? if find it to much effort to use in a mp game, much better to map melee to Q

Q is for spotting, doh!