yea what are the affects of constant 3D on my eyes after hours and hours of playing this game?
Call of Duty: Black Ops Update - 3D Support and New Level Details
By
Shaun McInnis, Editor
Like any good CIA operative, we don a pair of 3D glasses before witnessing the disposal of threats to national security.
Sony may be the publisher making the single biggest splash in the burgeoning 3D market--which makes sense given its unique stake in both games and television hardware--but there are a number of third-party publishers out there who are testing the waters of this new technology as well. Perhaps the biggest is Activision, whose Treyarch studio has worked 3D support into the upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops. To see how that feature is coming along, Activision and Treyarch recently offered us a chance to sit down, put on a pair of shutter glasses, and see it in action.
The bulk of the demo came in the form of a pair of different campaign levels. The first was called WMD, a level we previously covered in late May just prior to the Electronic Entertainment Expo. The content of the level remained largely unchanged from what we saw then, so for the full rundown, be sure to have a look at our initial impressions. The quick and dirty summary is that you hop on board an SR-71 Blackbird aircraft somewhere in California and then zoom across the world to an altitude high above the mountains of Russia where CIA operatives below are attempting to infiltrate a snowy Russian military compound. You start as the pilot, switch perspectives with the ground troops a few times, and then stick with the latter through the end of the mission.
Compared to other upcoming first-person shooters we've seen running in 3D (such as Sony's Killzone 3), the 3D effect in Black Ops is noticeably subtler. The heads-up display elements seem to be situated on the same plane as the gun you hold right in front of you, with the background elements residing farther in the distance. As a result, nothing really "pops" from the TV--you've just got the gun at screen level and other objects deeper into the distance. According to Treyarch senior manager Jay Puryear, Treyarch wanted to make sure that your eyes "aren't fighting the screen to process that visual information." Given the frenetic pacing and delightful sense of chaos that the Call of Duty series has become known for throughout the years, Treyarch wants to keep the 3D in check. In fact, you can even turn off the targeting reticle if it makes you dizzy.
The 3D stands out the most during those sequences that already have a strong sense of depth to them. Any time you want, you can always pull up your gun and take a look down the iron or red-dot sights to get a quick, noticeable burst of 3D. But then, there are the big set pieces that rely on a sense of scale to intimidate the player, like when you go rappelling down the side of a giant cliff just prior to infiltrating the aforementioned Russian military base. Looking downward, you see your character's legs maneuvering down the cliff face, while far below, you see trees, swirling clouds, and the faint outlines of a building. This sequence is one of the more impressive ones when playing in 2D, but in 3D, the sense of altitude is that much more pronounced. And that seems to be how the tech works in Black Ops: 3D isn't a dominating force in the action but more of a complement during those moments that already rely on a strong sense of depth.
After a lengthy look at WMD, we saw a few quick minutes of a new level called Numbers. This one is set in nighttime Kowloon City, Hong Kong. It begins with you and a partner interrogating a man tied to a chair next to a window where a rain storm sets the tone for what's to come. After a few moments and little cooperation from the man being interrogated, let's just say that something grim happens, which involves blood and the glass from a broken window. Shortly afterward, a chase breaks out that begins with a gun fight and ends with a mad dash across the slick rooftops of the city that echoes a scene from Modern Warfare 2 set above a Brazilian slum. We didn't get to see much of this level, but what little we saw reinforced the notion that Treyarch is really aiming for extreme variety in both pacing and settings.
Call of Duty: Black Ops is scheduled to arrive on November 9. The game will offer optional 3D support in both the single-player campaign and online multiplayer, and will feature in the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC versions of the game.
By
Shaun McInnis, Editor
Shaun McInnis has always dreamed of an a open-world driving RPG based on Jack Kerouac's On the Road. Outside of video games, he enjoys photography and learning impractical coffee brewing techniques.
333 comments
@otakubr I'm just saying I'm not enthusiastic about the game enough to rush out with the masses to get it first. I have it now.
It worked perfectly on my Panasonic 50" 3D HDTV with the shutter glasses in 1080p on my Xbox 360. I was going to get a copy for the ps3, but the Xbox 360 also supports 3d for this game and that was pretty cool. Loved the game.
So will this require a 3D TV for the PS3 version? I know XBox had Batman in 3D without the need of a 3D TV.
@jimmyccckotb i agree with U but what 's the diference between buying in day 1 and really soon like at day 2?
@Zkaarface The things you mentioned don't actually affect the game in any huge way. The only difference that mattered that you mentioned was zombies, but that's not even entirely new. A lot of guns? Really? When have there not been a lot of guns?
I wasn't sure if I was going to get this game or not. I was worried that this was going to be another modern warfare. I think it will be a lot like mw2, but different enough to feel fresh and original. Not a day one buy, but I'll probably get it soon after the release.
@Zkaarface wow, binoculars, that is a biggie aint it cause binoculars are an integral part of the experience, ye, righto
@GordonFrohman11 The mappacks did it in. I too remember a period of time between release and the mappacks that IWNet did perform reasonably well, mostly because I put in over two-hundred hours of gameplay during that time. And as far as hackers are concerned, at least now there will be the ability server-side to kick or BAN them. I think that constitutes an advantage, don't you?
@percocet_20 Online multiplayer was ALWAYS possible from the very first title. Call of Duty invented the killcam with the first game and really put ADS FPS on the map (Vietcong pre-dated it, but not by much and it is comparatively low-key). Yes, the campaign is an important, even integral part of the Call of Duty experience, I was just saying, it's the multiplayer which is cause for the record-breaking demographic size. And I didn't mean to disparage your experience, merely poking fun at your phrasing of 'trying' the multiplayer, as if it was something new to you personally. Admittedly, I could have worded it better, I meant no offense.
I don't care what anyone says negative about the 3D version. I just know for a fact you get a more life like and better picture. try the motostorm 3d demo
I have it and it's not another Modern Warfare. There's a good number of weapons, ZOMBIE MOD, a little better graphics, YOU CHARACTER TALKS, binoculars, driveable vehicles and a new HUD.
Does this look like another dissapointment to anybody else. We always expect another Call of Duty 4 moment but look at World of War and then Modern Warfare 2. Compared to CODMW (the first one) they are distinctly average games. I know each has its own merits but Modern Warfare was amazing because we hadn't seen anything like it before and everything that seems to come out now are just more of the same.
despite my thoughts on this game - it looks cool, but i'm really skeptical about getting it. and i'm not digging the 3-D either, a waste of money in my opinion. apart from the gameplay (it looks like it features more vehicle combat), it really doesn't stand out compared to the other CoD. because i'm a big story buff, i might be interested if it tied in somehow with the modern warfare series but i doubt that'll be the case.
@Incrognito IWnet wasn't that bad, in Australia it works quite well. I would prefer servers as well but I never found IWnet to be as bad as it was cracked up to be. And do you really think Black Ops will be able to stop hackers? Good luck there my friend because it ain't happening. Don't know why you bought the map packs though. I love COD and even I see that 15 bucks is a rip off.
@incrognito are you? have you forgotten that before online was possible call of duty was all about great single player campaign.
@GordonFrohman11 You can't be a PC player. There is no possible way, as for everyone who played MW2 on PC knows, Black Ops is our one hope of salvation from IWNet, a horrendously broken matchmaking system. Ever since the map packs, connecting to my steam friends is often impossible. I am consistently connected to hosts that give me AT BEST 150-250 ping. And last, but not least, there is no way to establish or enforce conduct rules, like no tubing, no cheating, no boosting, no hopping/diving, etc. Black Ops will (at least I pray earnestly) solve some if not all these problems. It could not BE more timely.
if all of this is hype the consider me sold, im strongly anticipating black ops 3D or not, im just hoping the campaign is solid and engrossing, the multiplayer will be nice to try as well, i think theyre tryin some interesting things with it.
@ blueguykisame I didn't really hate MW2, it just didn't have enough content to keep me occupied. I'm more into the campaign in games, and CoD2 & 3, WAW, and CoD 4's campaigns were some of my favorites. But MW2's ended too abruptly.
all the people that hate new 3d if i said you can have my 50in 3dtv would you say no i hate 3dtvs well i dont think so .as for cod black ops coool)
@ GordonFrohman apparently they worked on Black ops way before MW2 in fact i heard by the time the first map pack was done they were half way done with it
Bit too soon after Modern Warfare 2 for my liking. Another yearly payment to Activision so that I can have the privilege of being sold overpriced map packs.
@ Nano1124 they just now announced 3d they originally said that they werent gonna have it so i doubt the 3d went before the gameplay lol
Do they expect us to have 3-D T.Vs but i don't but o don't really care. The gameplay better be good. Gameplay before 3-D. Just Saying.
I've pre-ordered and hoping for the best to happen. My copy of MOH doesn't work, so get to go on my do not buy list, I hope this one makes my play list.
3d is nice, but, gameplay is more important, get a nice pc, xbox360 or ps3, a big monitor and.... its all!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I wish people would stop comparing every shooter to Modern Warfare. It's a different game, different developer, so just enjoy it for what it is...a solid FPS. Its going to be good im sure...
Now that Medal of Honor has shot itself in the foot with its own hyper realistic MP-7 this is my last hope for a good FPS this year. 3D sounds ok but since I'll likely be playing this on PC it doesn't really matter all that much when compared with good gameplay and weapons.
3D is about preference and i prefer 3D being that I have a 3D tv so i get to play games in 3D that most people wish they could do
Conversation powered by Livefyre
Review Scores
Game Info
- Release Date: Nov 9, 2010 (US)
- ESRB: MTitles rated M (Mature) have content that may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older.
- Release Date: Sep 27, 2012 (US)
- ESRB: M
Call of Duty: Black Ops Navigation
