Earlier this month, we brought you word that Infinity Ward were actively working on new multiplayer maps for Call of Duty 4. At the time, Infinity Ward's community manager, Robert Bowling was guarded about details, only teasing fans with the idea.
Today, I had a chance to sit down and talk with Robert about the upcoming maps, hoping to get some more detailed information. The bad news -- Infinity Ward still aren't talking specifics. I was, however, able to get a few hints and some new details on the new maps, which should be available this spring.
Hit the jump for the first morsels of details on the upcoming Call of Duty 4 map packs for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
While Bowling was hesitant to talk specifics, he was able to confirm that the first maps will be available in a pack of three. In terms of what gamers can expect from the maps, he insists that the theme here is variety, taking cues from what their community has asked for.
"We're fortunate to have a very big community," says Bowling, "so they're the ones who know what's getting old, or what they want to see."
Overwhelming, the community was interested in three key elements -- more open, larger scale maps; open maps with close quarters; more buildings with no closed doors; and completely new locales. When pushed for specifics, Bowling only relies on this criteria to drop hints.
"People who want open maps are going to be happy with this map pack," he says. "People who want more indoor locales are going to be happy with this map pack. People who want something completely different from what they're currently playing are going to be happy with this map pack."
He also notes that the team are working on a number of different concepts, and is clear that even more content can be expecting in the future.
"We plan on supporting our game for a very long time," he tells me. "As I said, we have a large community. We're currently number one on Xbox LIVE, so we have a lot of people playing. So we're going to continue to support the community that keeps supporting us. We have a lot of cool ideas that we're working on, and we're going to keep making maps until we're done."
When asked about the possibilities of future perks or weapons via downloadable content, Bowling tells me that the idea had been "thrown around," but that there are currently no plans.
I also asked him if the inevitable release Call of Duty 5 would be a roadblock to future content, and he was clear that wouldn't be the case.
"We don't dictate how much we update our game based on what other studios do," he says, almost certainly confirming Infinity Ward's lack of participation in the upcoming sequel. "So if another game comes out, that doesn't mean we stop supporting ours."
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Finally! Open maps!
I pray to baby jesus that they don't make another shitty Overgrown style map.
Fuck earth, I want the new maps on the moon.
Very good Mr. Nick. I've been waiting for COD4 DLC forever!
Overgrown is amazing you can suck my cock you feathered piece of shit.
I'd be happy if they got around to releasing the damned patch for the PS3. Online system has more problems than <insert witty comparison here>.
Wow...Shadow...Your Meds...Let me show you them...
I don't know, open maps just seem to appeal to snipers, i'd like to see more large scale maps, but with lots of cover
Aww man, I was hoping for space combat.
@ShadowXOR
If by amazing you mean amazingly shitty, then yes, I agree with you. The map is too open, that's my problem with it.
Why don't they release the fucking patch, then start talking about extra maps.
ok, I'm almost interested again. Have to wait and see.
so, you're locationist against space, is that it?
you disgust me.
the hints sound good so the maps better be good.
Thanks for the update, Nick. But Kyousuke Nanbu is right...they really need to fix the whole “I know I hit that guy in the fucking face” issue with sniping, and I should never have to see a “Host ended game” message, ever. Unfortunately, I read somewhere that their fix for that in the patch is this: if the host leaves the game, a new host will automatically be selected...but apparently, the game will be restarted.
Also, Overgrown does suck. It only works when playing Ground War, because I feel like you have to have more than the maximum of 12 in TDM/Domination. And oh yeah...Bowling’s right; they should keep supporting this game for a long time, because Call of Duty 5 — assuming it’s being developed by Treyarch and set in WWII — is going to suck.
wooooooooooooo!
Sadly, since I'm still grinding towards golden guns in this game, I'll likely end up paying however much they ask for this pack (4% should be tops, considering it's only 3 maps) completely against my will and/or better judgment. Sigh.
Call of Space... Duty
WIN WIN WIN
Different developer on CoD5?
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
Treyarch can lick my knuttes
Sounds good. I dislike most of the current maps. Maybe these one's will be better.
They are saving the moon for Call of Duty 5. Plus they could add mars and jupitor and venus and spacecraft!
Also the picture caption made me rofl-fucking-copter.
Maybe they can take out some of the shitty maps like the ship one or Bog. God I fucking hate Bog. I cant see shit on it. When I turn on my nightvision I get blinded by the fires throughout the map. I refuse to play that map. I also hate Countdown. Constant smoke screens, too much run and duck for cover. Its open but there is too much cover scattered throughout. Also, PLEASE FIX THE FUCKING SPAWN POINTS AGAIN. I really hate getting killed by the same air-strike twice.
"they really need to fix the whole “I know I hit that guy in the fucking face” issue"
Amen to that, I've had this issue more with the M14 is it, the single shot assault rifle. Dude could be standing still, me 10 feet away working my weapon xp, I aim, fire, and no hit registers. I've seen it more recently when I go sniper, rarely, but yea there have been a few occasions of "what the hell, I know I hit that guy in the face and he didn't die," and no juggernaut doesn't and shouldn't protect against head shots from a sniper rifle.
@Corak
Hey buddy, you're right. I just got the golden AK47. To get that I had to get 150 headshots with each rifle. It can take up to 3 bullets at pointblank for it to register, and each bullet hit him.
Today I played my first hardcore match and got the MVP. Killing is so much easier and its very exciting. Give hardcore team deathmatch a try. One bullet to the head is instant death.
COD4 is an lesson in how not to make MP maps.
You hate Bog because it's hard to see? Pardon me, but I think that's stupid. Bog is an excellent map, one of my favorites. Also, one of the new ones had better be set on Jupiter, or I quit.
@SavageSaladin
Hardcore is the way to go. People don't take a whole clip to die. Even with juggernaut they take a couple, but the same well placed burst is death.
oh, and "Spring" - can we say 'moved on'
@klytus
Amen!
Spring....so far away. Sigh although perfection does take a bit
The ship level is a real pain in the ass, especially on hardcore with people lobbing nades through the mast "goalposts" endlessly. I like bog and overgrown, even if the a-holes always take residence in the attic and on the roof thinking they are sooooo cool. Countdown pisses me off because the blast shields aren't really cover. Try to crouch behind one and get shot in the feet...awesome.
Well if CoD5 sucks at least IW can keep improving 4 until 6 is released I guess. Not really sure what the next big online game will be until Gears 2 tbh.
All the currrent maps suck, and all the current maps are awesome. There, now we don't need go through this for 50 more comments.
I would like to see a map really high ground mixed with low (maybe with tunnels or valleys connecting or something). So that one team has an obvious advantage having the higher ground but not so much that the other team can't make a comeback. Similar to the single player levels. Though i admit that it may not translate so well to multiplayer (especially if you're on the team getting sniped).
The main problem in this game is the fucking grenades. They made a beautiful and suprisingly smooth multiplayer engine, and then decide to break the game by turning it into a pineapple salad that probably results in real life murder. The three grenades is obnoxious, but even worse is that people who have thrown they're grenade still get to drop one when they use "I'm a huge tool, and here's your parting gift" martyrdom. At least speed up the grenade throwing-back mechanic, or allow players to go prone on a grenade to save their teammates who are trying to capture a headquarters.
Should have asked them what Activision's reasoning is behind giving CoD5 back to Treyarch after it became completely apparent that Infinity Ward is the studio that ought to be at the helm.
We should be asking why the hell CoD5 has to be back in WWII again. There have been other wars that can be represented like Korea or Nam etc.
I'm so tired of WWII, that why I purchased CoD4. Nice to see some extra maps at last though.
I'm dying for the new maps. I'd love to see some confined, close-quarters action, minus the inter-building sniping that almost ruins Bloc. Open maps are nice, but tend to lead to excessive sniping. I actually enjoy Overgrown and Downpour quite a bit. A different night map might also be good.
PS: Needs co-op. =(
This game needs de_dust2 !!!!!!!!!
"more open, larger scale maps; open maps with close quarters; more buildings with no closed doors; and completely new locales"
K could that be any more broad?
I veto bloc and waterworks.
I can't wait for this. A change of pace is needed and getting to play some new maps without people taking up key spots and camping constantly would be good. Like the beta all over again! Also some new spawn points would be good, starting a game and someone firing a n00b tube straight away isn't fun >.<;
I would like to see perhaps the removal of the death cam, or at least make you earn it first. Infinity Ward should definitlety keep COD 5, remember how COD 3 was? Not so great compared to 2.
The reason Treyarch is doing the next Call of Duty is because there's a 2 year development time for both Treyarch and Infinity Ward. I believe COD5 has been in development during the time COD4 was in its release year. Doesn't change the fact that Treyarch make shit Call of Duty's. I think i read this somewhere (or made it up) and its makes enough sense, still a shame but with any luck IW will release a big content download just before or after COD5 hits. Then i can carry on playing COD4.
Overgrown is a very good map. Too open you say? What do you want.. generic grey buildings to hide in all the time? Its called variety and if you don't like that then i guess you can just keep on bitching.
Im happy that there's gonna be some bigger maps and more expansive indoor fighting. I bet there is a night time level.. night vision isn't needed at all online at the moment.
Looking forward to it!
Call of Duty 5: Mars
"he was able to confirm that the first maps will be available in a pack of three"
Unless the map pack is 5 bucks or less, I'll be passing. It's bad enough that Bungie screwed us with a half-assed map pack for $10. I was expecting COD4's pack to have at least 5 maps and cost $10 (as all the map packs for COD2 and 3 were). They better not start pulling the same crap.
$5 for 3 maps would be fair but come on, after 5 months all they can come up with is 3 maps?
I hope IW doesn't pull 800 MSP bullshit, because the default maps are all part of the campaign. I mean seriously, almost every part of each map is directly ripped from campaign.
The default maps aren't bad but repetitive and i really hope they don't go the halo 3 style of pricing A.K.A heroic ass rape. But also it's funny because more people will probably be playing this even after COD5 comes out because since it is by another studio it i want no part of it. COD2:Big red one and COD3 were both done by outside companies and they were not as good as COD2 or 4.
Bonjour,
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