Black Ops Takes A Leap Into The Future: An In-Depth Look With Mark Lami, Head of Design at Treyarch Studios
Summary
The latest entry in the Call of Duty franchise, Black Ops, has taken a leap into the future, setting the game in the year 2025 and introducing new gameplay elements such as Strike Force levels and branching storylines. In this Q&A article, Mark Lami, head of design at Treyarch Studios, sheds light on the new features of the game and how they have revamped the campaign and multiplayer modes.
Table of Contents
- New Story Branching Mechanisms
- Introducing Strike Force Levels
- The Approach To Multiplayer
- Conclusion
New Story Branching Mechanisms
Q: How does story branching work in Black Ops, and how does it add to the gameplay experience?
A: Black Ops features story branching, which means that the choices players make in the campaign have an effect on their story arc. This introduces non-linearity to the campaign structure, as players can choose which hotspot they want to take on and either succeed or fail. This sets the story arc of the Cold War in 2025 on a different trajectory, allowing players to experience multiple endings based on their choices. The story also takes players back in time to the late 80s during the Cold War, through the eyes of characters such as Wood.
Introducing Strike Force Levels
Q: Can you tell us more about Strike Force levels and what makes them unique?
A: Strike Force levels are a completely new concept to the Call of Duty franchise. These levels are sandbox-like missions that introduce non-linear gameplay to Call of Duty’s campaign mode. Players are given the freedom to take over anything on the battlefield and can succeed or fail, which sets the story arc of the Cold War in 2025 on a different trajectory. The missions themselves are designed to be accessible but have enough depth to allow for replayability.
Q: How do Strike Force levels differ from the traditional Call of Duty campaign missions?
A: Strike Force levels are completely different from the traditional linear campaigns in Call of Duty games. They introduce sandbox-style gameplay that allows players to choose their own path through the mission, giving them freedom of choice and the ability to succeed or fail based on their decisions. This adds a new level of depth to the campaign mode and allows for multiple outcomes to the story arc.
Q: How did you come up with the concept of Strike Force levels, and what was the critical design goal?
A: When we were coming up with the concept of Strike Force levels, we wanted to create a mode that was accessible but had depth and allowed for replayability. The critical design goal was to introduce non-linearity to the campaign structure and give players the ability to make choices that would affect the outcome of the story arc. We wanted to create a new gameplay experience within the Call of Duty franchise and offer something that no other shooter game had.
The Approach To Multiplayer
Q: How does Black Ops approach multiplayer, and what makes it unique?
A: Our approach to the multiplayer mode in Black Ops is similar to how we approached the campaign mode. We took a hard look at the existing multiplayer modes and made changes based on player feedback and our own design aspirations. Our goal was to create a unique and awesome multiplayer experience that players haven’t had before. We are constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible with our multiplayers, and we’re excited to see how our community responds.
Q: What changes have you made to the multiplayer mode in Black Ops, and how will they affect gameplay?
A: We’ve made several changes to the multiplayer mode in Black Ops based on player feedback and our own design aspirations. We’ve added new weapons, perks, and gameplay mechanics to keep the experience fresh and exciting. We’ve also introduced new maps and game modes, such as Kill Confirmed and Hardpoint, to offer players a variety of gameplay options. These changes will make the multiplayer experience in Black Ops unique and offer players a new challenge.
Q: How important is it to listen to your community when making changes to the multiplayer mode?
A: It’s incredibly important to listen to our community when making changes to the multiplayer mode. Our community is what makes Call of Duty great, and their feedback allows us to create better games. We want to offer a multiplayer experience that our community enjoys and feels is worth investing their time in. We’re always looking for ways to improve the game and make it a better experience for our community.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Black Ops has taken a leap into the future, introducing new gameplay elements such as Strike Force levels and branching storylines that add non-linearity to the campaign mode. The multiplayer mode has been revamped, with changes made based on player feedback and design aspirations. With its unique sandbox-style missions and non-linear gameplay, Black Ops promises to deliver a new gameplay experience within the Call of Duty franchise. We hope our community enjoys playing Black Ops as much as we enjoyed creating it.
