July 29 2009
402 Explains multiplayer video


"Or my favorite, plant C4 on the laptop so when you return I can let you see me blow you up." Don't mess with the Bowling!

Robert Bowling, a.k.a. Fourzerotwo or just 402 just explained a couple of things that are shown in the multiplayer video we posted you the day before yesterday. We know most of you are not on the net 24/7 (no pun intended) looking for Modern Warfare 2 news on websites and forums but we are, for you... (well, at least we try!)

We still have a backlog on emails of more than a day so I'm sorry that we can't give credit for those that have tipped us. Anyhow, without further ado we'll show you the last couple of posts Fourzerotwo made on the Infinity Ward forums.

Flying the AC130
"Does being shot down count as a death though?"
Source: 402 @ IWF
No. It's the same as if a helicopter you called in gets shot down. It doesn't count as a death.

If you die on the ground while in AC130 view, nothing changes. You stay in AC130 view until either shot down or the time passes. Once that happens, then you'll respawn (since you died on the ground).

If you don't die on the ground while in AC130 view, then you'll just got back to where you were when you opened the laptop and keep playing.

Anyone who comes across you while in AC130 view will see you controlling the AC130 via the laptop and can hurt you. Or my favorite, plant C4 on the laptop so when you return I can let you see me blow you up.
"Are you vulnerable when you use the AC 130? Can you be killed when you use it?"
Source: 402 @ IWF
Yeah, you can be killed. It doesn't stop the AC130, it just means you have to respawn (and have a death) when you return. So it's best to get in cover before you pull out the laptop.

While you're in the AC130 view, you can be shot down also (as attempted in the video).
"What about the 105mm, 40mm and the 24mm machine gun?"
Source: 402 @ IWF
AC130 is awesome to control. We mostly only showed off the 40mm, you can also chase guys with the 25mm machine gun and of course fire off a massive 105mm howitzer for a big explosion.

Getting a triple kill with the 40mm is great, but chasing guys with the 24mm machine gun is probably my favorite part.
"Ever wonder how much the DEVs laugh at us?"
Within minutes after the multiplayer video was first shown there were already analysis and speculations online. What do the developers over at Infinity Ward think of that?

Source: 402 @ IWF
We have just as much fun as you guys do scrubbing through the video to see all the little things.

Yeah, it starts off as an "AC130 video" but by the time it's done you realize we've shown off new weapons, new perks, new features, new UI elements. All kinds of little easter eggs that have nothing to do with the main point of the video.

It's just as fun to find out WHAT you notice, as it is for you guys to actually find it.

So let's settle for, laughing with you, not at you.
"The draw distance looks a lot better..."
Source: 402 @ IWF
"Well thats streaming technology for you."

QFT - the new streaming technology in the engine is great for allowing us to have a lot of detail throughout the entire environment. Whether upclose (like the street signs you see in the Favela part of the MP trailer) or far way, like the hill-side and statue.
"The HUD from the SP Campaign E3 video is completely different than the MP video, what's up with that?"
Source: 402 @ IWF
The HUD has changed since E3.

That said, the SP HUD and the MP HUD do have slight differences due to MP having more HUD elements (because there is more to show).
"The AC130 looks great but won't it be overpowered in multiplayer?"
Source: 402 @ IWF
We're definitely all about being as authentic as possible when it comes to the weapons, gear, and details of the game. Especially in Single Player.

In multiplayer, there do come those rare design decisions where you look at the overall pros and cons of a situation and have to make a decision of fun over realism.

AC130 = awesome

AC130 killstreak = fun

AC130 that can't die = overpowered

Overpowered = No Fun

Therefore, we look at ways to balance it and make it fun without losing any of the cool factor, sometimes that means breaking realism to improve gameplay. We don't do it often, but when we do we make sure it's to improve the overall quality of the game and only then.
"Will it be fair if you get an AC-130 when you are in S&?"
Source: 402 @ IWF
It's pretty much impossible to get Ac130 in Search and Destroy. So I wouldn't worry too much about this.
"And in hardcore? How will the killstreaks affect this?"
Source: 402 @ IWF
The real challenge is even getting an AC130 in hardcore (it's hard to get in a standard match).
"The multiplayer video looked a bit chunky, will it still feel the same as Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare did? "
Source: 402 @ IWF
The game runs at a full 60 FPS just like Call of Duty 4 did. So it'll be the same smooth / fast motion you're use to. Probably got that feeling due to YouTube being 30 fps.
Special ops
Source: 402 @ IWF
Special Ops mode is extremely long.

Special Ops is a major part of Modern Warfare 2, given the same focus as the single-player campaign and multiplayer, it's hardly an add-on.

Good news is, you're in for a huge surprise if you go in with the mentality that it's "just some story levels".