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Developer Session: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

October 10, 2011, Author: Diogo Miguel

The year is 2016 and there are wars raging all over the world after the events of Modern Warfare 2. With so many conflicts on a global scale it means that levels in Modern Warfare 3 will take place in many countries, and the latest secret Modern Warfare 3 presentation was all about introducing a new level in the game.

After a brief introduction on the story so far, Sledgehammer Games co-founder, Glen Schofield, gave a brief demonstration of the new “Iron Lady” level, which is set in a war-torn Paris.

What was supposed to be a controlled operation soon spirals out of control and Paris is burning. It’s in the best interests of the United States military that it swiftly deals with these out of control wars raging all over the globe. The level itself starts off with a scene familiar to those that played through Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. Just like on the CoD4 aerial level, it’s possible to view the whole of the playing area from above. What is different is how enemies are targeted in this improved version of aerial attacks. All targets on screen will be clearly marked, which is an efficient way to simplify weapon strikes. Not only that, there is a certain refinement to how the weapons are controlled that made it feel much more responsive.

Other improvements included the addition of live feedback on the upper right corner of the game, that let the character know of any updates, such as when a group of enemies were neutralised. The HUD has also been simplified with less emphasis on adding elements to the screen, which makes it far easier to see what is going on, when this section of the level is played.

Apparently gas masks are in this Winter.

As with all Call of Duty games, destruction is a key element in Modern Warfare 3. In this case, it is truly a sight to witness the destructive force of these aerial attacks. Throughout this section, whole buildings collapsed under the bullet storm aimed at the targets inside them. It felt so realistic that it was almost possible to feel it. Don’t get too comfortable, though, because soon enough it is back to business, as the level switches to the fight on the ground midway through.

It’s here that a group of soldiers, surrounded and in a desperate struggle to push back the enemy troops, try their best with the resources available to them. One of the first weapons available to the player is the sniper rifle. This powerful weapon can deal some serious damage to enemies, as it’s possible to incapacitate enemies with one single shot to the head or other vital body parts. The character had a steady hold on the weapon which meant that it was possible to get accurate shots from a long distance. The other weapon used was a gun turret firmly attached to a barricade. It’s to be expected, but this weapon had surprisingly realistic recoil to it that could even be felt by those not playing the game. Not long after, the gun turret was destroyed by enemies and the level progression was cut-short, leaving attendees eager to witness more.

It’s established after this that the events in Modern Warfare 3 are the fallout of World War 3. After demonstrating this part of the game, Glen proudly claimed that about forty million players have played Call of Duty. It’s a bold figure that shows the ever rising popularity of the franchise.

It’s been promised that in MW3, it will be possible to further customise weapons, packages and so on. In terms of weapons, attributes can be equipped, which will enhance weapons with handy skills, such as less recoil when firing ammunition. It is a step forward in making sure that players can adapt their weapons to a preferred play style. Each player has a different approach when playing a Call of Duty game and the development team wants to make sure they are all rewarded. It’s not only players with most kills that get rewards, as it will be possible for others who play the game differently to gain experience too.

It's never too late to order takeaway.

The next section in the presentation was a demo of a level that is already widely known, and it could only be the iconic “Mind the Gap” stage that has been doing the rounds on the internet over the last few weeks. There was more emphasis on interaction during this demonstration, though. For example, it is possible to climb out onto rooftops and then slide down to the lower ground. The accompanying non-playable fellow soldiers seemed to have a more proactive role, since they took out a couple of enemies with close combat, on a few occasions.

Not only that but flanking was a vital skill during this level, with soldiers helping to distract enemies so the player character could surprise and attack them from behind. Other notable improvements included the sleek interface that places visual aids, like number of bullets remaining, on the lower right corner. Sound also plays a major part as it could possibly be used to judge how far away gun fire is by the level of noise. The demonstration concluded with a climactic cliffhanger, as the soldiers faced an imminent crash with a derailed London Underground tube carriage.

The revelation of a new level in the single-player campaign offered only a small glimpse into what is to come. With World War 3 in full swing, it is safe to say that Modern Warfare 3 could see the trilogy out with a bang.

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