interview

[vodpod id=ExternalVideo.496893&w=425&h=350&fv=] from www.gametrailers.com posted with vodpod

Looks like the official release time for the new Variety Map Pack DLC for Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is going to be 6:30 AM PST Friday morning. It’s currently 11:47 PM Thursday night at the time of this posting, so only 6 more hours to go before we can jump on the new maps. To go along with the news of the exact release time, Gametrailers has posted up two new videos that we shot yesterday at the Infinity Ward studios about the map pack. There should be one more in the pipeline for Chinatown, meanwhile enjoy the new Broadcast and Creek videos where I lay out some of my favorite strategies for the new maps as well as a general overview of what you can expect after 6:30 AM when the maps are available for download via Xbox Live!

[vodpod id=ExternalVideo.496901&w=425&h=350&fv=] from www.gametrailers.com posted with vodpod

In addition to the map packs hitting, I hear there may be a little extra XP up for grabs this weekend when playing on the new maps. So I’ll definitely be online this weekend to play the new maps.

[vodpod id=ExternalVideo.486307&w=425&h=350&fv=] from www.gametrailers.com posted with vodpod

As promised, here is the world exclusive unveiling of the new multiplayer DLC map Chinatown which appeared on SpikeTV Friday night. What’s so great about Chinatown? Well among being a beautiful map set in the downtown district of Chinatown under the lighting of a full moon and decorative laterns in the rain soaked streets of the city…. it’s a classic Call of Duty remake of Carentan! One of the most popular and most demanded maps from the previous Infinity Ward Call of Duty games is back with a complete visual over haul and design elements.

So far you’ve seen three of the four new maps in the upcoming Variety Map Pack, with the Gamespot article showing you Broadcast and Creek and now Chinatown on Gametrailers, don’t worry though, as Monday is going to have a load of new visuals and information on ALL FOUR maps in the upcoming DLC pack. With all new gameplay footage on every map and some brand new screenshots as well coming Monday you’re about to get a information overload next week from IGN, TeamXbox, and Gamespy who came down this past week and spent the entire day playing multiplayer with the team and I at Infinity Ward on the new maps.So be sure to check out those sites on Monday, I’ll post a re-cap on here most likely and if you have questions about the maps in the meantime or afterwards be sure to let me know and I’ll try to answer anything you might have. Meanwhile, let me know what you think of the maps so far, how’d you like Chinatown? Thoughts on Broadcast or Creek? Let me know.

Heads up that Spike TV will be unveiling the exclusive world premier of Chinatown, a new map in the upcoming Variety Map Pack DLC for Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, tonight / early tomorrow morning at 1:00 AM PST as part of Gametrailers TV w/ Geoff Keighley. They’ll be showing exclusive gameplay of the map along with an interview with me where we’ll reveal exactly how this map is exactly what some of you have asked for (I’m looking at you Sgt. Payback - among others).

Once it shows on Spike TV it should be available on Gametrailers.com shortly after (probably later tomorrow) and when it is I’ll be sure to post the video on the blog here so you all can watch it incase you miss it. However, be sure to tune in if you can and check out the footage. I know this map is going to be a lot of people’s favorite when the map pack hits.

In case you didn’t know, the new map being revealed tonight called Chinatown is just 1 of the 4 maps that will be released in the Variety Map Pack as DLC for Xbox 360 and PS3 this Spring.

[vodpod id=ExternalVideo.480890&w=425&h=350&fv=] from www.gametrailers.com posted with vodpod

Last week was a busy one, with me being in San Francisco for GDC all week long. While I was up there though I had a chance to talk to a lot of people about the upcoming DLC we’re working on. The overall news of them all though is that there are Three (3) New Maps coming out in Spring for Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare and most importantly these maps are 100% community inspired. Those who frequent the blog may remember a bit back when I announced we were even working on DLC, I asked you for your input. I said, if it was up to you, what would you like to see?

I’m happy to say, as I’ve been playing the new maps over and over again here at the studio and at home during play tests that a lot of you are getting exactly what you asked for. I can’t wait till I can go into detail about the specific maps, but I can proudly say that your feedback made it in. Another thing I like about this map pack is the fact that it’s bringing completely new locations to the game, so we’re getting away from more desert towns or Russian villages and want to bring you something that brings more variety to the map rotation. You guys are going to love these maps. I tried to drop as many hints as to what you can expect in the following interviews without giving too much away and ruining anything, I’ll be talking a lot more in the future about what you can expect as we start finalizing details and release dates. Right now we’re working on some video stuff for one of the maps and I’ll keep you guys informed on more when I can.

Hit the jump for the a partial interview list from last week.

Read the rest of this entry »

I did a quick video interview with Marc Ecko’s Complex Magazine this past week that will be going live in March. We discussed Call of Duty 4, First Person Shooters, and video games in general for the interview. I’ll be sure to post the actual video when it goes live later in March, meanwhile you should check out their latest issue with Olivia Munn from G4 TV and enjoy the pic the producer snapped after the interview.

This is my first change to sit down and blog all day, but the day is going great. Later tonight I’ll collect all the links and interviews that have went live so far and post them so you can keep track of the interviews.

Just got back from 1up / EGM / GFW studios over at Ziff Davis Media where I sat down and talked a few of their reporters and participated in the 1up Yours podcast. It was a good show where we talked about a lot of FPS-centric community items, such as “what keeps a community involved over a long period of time” , “How to keep the game fresh”, and “how to not intimidate new players once it’s already popular”.

Also did a great interview with Playstation Universe, international press, and a few others.

while on the show floor I also ran into Devin from 360sync.com and sat down for lunch and a quick interview to chat about the community, Call of Duty 4, and gaming in general.

Gotta run, have a TV interview at 5:30 a few blocks away, I’ll write more tonight after the GDC Choice awards!

I recently talked with IGN’s Hilary Goldstein regarding the development of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare; taking a look back at what could have been, why we chose to make it how it is, and changes that you may see in the future to the game. We touched on a lot of great subjects from vehicles in multiplayer to how the team finds inspiration for missions and future DLC maps.

Bowling revealed that there were once vehicle mission in the game and even Humvees in multiplayer. He went on to explain what was coming in the next patch and explained the process for creating multiplayer maps.

Check out the full 4-page interview at IGN here: IGN: Call of Duty 4 Post-Mortem

The Game Developers Conference (GDC) is coming up next week and I’ll be in San Francisco all week. While I’m up there though I’ll be stopping by the 1up Yours Show along with Bungie’s community manager Brian Jarrard to talk video games…. and stuff. I plan on playing it by ear for the most part (those tend to be the most entertaining interviews) as well as discussing community involvement I’m sure.

1up Yours plans to be doing daily shows the week of GDC and look to have a lot of great guests all week long. Details on the show below, and hit the jump for the full schedule straight from the producer’s blog.

WEDNESDAY, 2/20

1UP Yours: “Shoot ‘em Up”
Robert Bowling, Infinity Ward & Brian Jarrard, Bungie

With our two games respectively battling it out for the #1 spot on Xbox Live, I’d say it might be an interesting show to see the different approaches each of our studios take. I’ll of course have a recap next week after the show.

Read the rest of this entry »

The Un-Official Gears of War blog has apparently been playing some Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, which led to me doing what I think turned out to be a really great interview with site owner Tyler Bleszinski (Papi blez) and Gears of War designer Cliffy B’s brother; which is now up for viewing on their site.

We were able to delve into some good topics, such as matchmaking (Rank vs Skill), the Party system (Dropped? Why?), and some insight into why we did what we did on certain levels / scenarios in the game. All in all it’s a good read, so check it out over at their site here:

Gearheads Interview Infinity Ward About COD4

Looks like we may have to throw down with the Gearheads in some Search and Destroy in the near future, so expect a post after that recounting our glorious victory and triumphant domination of them. (just adding fuel to the fire) . Thanks Tyler!

Episode 81
“It’s Hard To Wake Up Everyday Knowing I’m This Awesome”

I know it will be tough, but if you can tear yourself away from Call Of Duty 4 for just a moment, you might find some interesting discussion going on in this episode of Evil Avatar Radio. Even more interesting is the interview we had with Infinity Ward’s Robert Bowling, who answered the questions YOU asked! And even some you didn’t. There’s no lack of talk surrounding Call Of Duty 4 here, and if you’re still on the fence, this show might just sway you to the COD side of things as you hear us chomping at the bit to end our broadcast, if only so we can get home to play the game ourselves. Hell, we didn’t even stay very long after the show because of that reason.

^As you can see, I did an Interview with Evil Avatar Radio this week so go check it out. They’re a great group of guys, enjoy!