Spin It Anyway You Want - Call of Duty Has Run Out of Ideas

Join Screen Critics Shaun as he despairs over the creative demise of Activision's once promising Call of Duty franchise. Do you agree?

[SeanScythe]

Going back to a chapter in history they haven't touched for over 10 years? I think it's ok to bring us back to this war time. And this is from someone that is no fan of COD games. The only 3 I enjoyed were COD4, W@W, & Black Ops1. I'm looking forward to this game.

[4Sh0w]

Nah, the author has run out of ideas= Its popular to hate COD on the internet, while tons of gamers in the real world just go out and buy it because it's a fast paced, twitch shooter with a multiplayer that's easy to pick up n play but hard to master all the nuances= Millions of gamers buy it every year for the new theme, maps, weapons, features, and YES it's FUN, simple as that.

pffft, I'm glad COD fans just buy what they like regardless of what all the "elite" gamers tell them they should buy instead.

[starchild]

@4Sh0w

I'm not even a Call of Duty fan, but I completely agree. Millions of people love these games, so clearly the series is giving them what they want. It's just the "cool" thing to do to hate on popular franchises like Call of Duty and Assassin's Creed. Those doing that are the sheeple, not the ones simply playing and enjoying what they like.

Call of Duty will see improvements and tweaks that will make it somewhat different, but of course it isn't going to be completely changed to the point of not being recognizable as Call of Duty. And this is true of virtually every game series. Was Uncharted 4 a radical departure from the previous Uncharted games? No, not at all. And that's ok. If a game is well done and enjoyable to play then that's all it needs to be.

[SixFragz]

@4Sh0w

Hard to master? Did you really just say hard to master? You mean hard to master, like spawn trapping? Is there any skill to Call of Duty anymore? I'm actually curious, because I stopped playing CoD for a decade as the game became full of absolutely obnoxious, unnecessary perks, killstreaks, death streaks, and every other type of streak...

You people just love to convince yourself that hating on CoD is the "popular" thing to do, when in fact we are simply a concentrated group of people with our eyes and minds open. Hating on it clearly isn't the popular thing to do when in fact, like you said, millions of fanboys rush like sheep to the swamp to buy essentially the same mechanical, formulaic game every single year.

Nobody is calling themselves "elite", and these types of arguments are one of many that hardcore CoD fanboys tell themselves as a way of ridiculing said "elite" gamers. In truth, the way that you CoD gamers act when one single person with an opinion critical of CoD speaks up, should be ridiculed. This same reaction is evidence that you guys hold some validity to our comments critical of CoD.

Of course, bashing people who are critical of CoD is a defense mechanism to protect a franchise that people have become so attached to, because it has existed forever. I assure you that the people who are critical of CoD were once CoD gamers (such as myself), who are genuinely frustrated and annoyed that every single game in this franchise is an evident retread of what we've seen and played before.

It's fair to say that you guys have become extremely attached to something for so long, that your judgement has been severely clouded. Of course you guys wouldn't admit this.

Within a year of its release, CoD WWII will begin to die, and it will be onto the next on the conveyor belt. When CoD 2018, 2019, 2020, 2050, 2080 has been released, you fanboys will continue to swear that it is unlike anything you've ever seen or played in your entire lives.

I'm just being honest. Can't we all be?

[4Sh0w]

@SixFragz

"Hard to master? Did you really just say hard to master?"

YES, of course it is, I have played every CoD to death, I also have many friends who play it obsessively more than I do, and anybody who knows the game knows it's hard to master, by master I mean be in full command in every situation against the best players out there. Oh let me guess you are a PRO level CoD player, huh? lol, and if you dont like the killstreaks and other features= GO PLAY SOMETHING ELSE. -Its been like that forever, millions love it, why should they stop for YOU?

"Hating on it clearly isn't the popular thing to do"

- That whole part made no sense, of course something can be the most popular AND most hated, lol in fact it's a common side effect of popularity, success often brings out the haters.

"Nobody is calling themselves "elite""

-Uhm yeah again thats typical, the elite dont say it, worst they >>behave like it, they interject with their condescending "I know what's best for everybody" attitude, inside truly they are not happy so they seek to ruin the happiness of those around them.

"Of course, bashing people who are critical of CoD is a defense mechanism"

-I don't know how many times I got to say that I have no problem with constructive criticism OR just plain old statements about dislike of CoD, criticism is actually a good thing>>>IF they are accompanied by better ideas -Blatant trolling, which is what most follow CoD to do is very different, thats HATE, hate is when you follow CoD to say you don't like it over, and over, and over again, hate is when you mock fans who enjoy a GAME as "sheep", hate is when it pains YOU so much that people buy CoD over game X, hate is when you don't even bother to offer 1 *original idea that would improve the game, only negativity.

"I assure you that the people who are critical of CoD were once CoD gamers (such as myself)"

- So what?...."critical" or is it really just bashing the game? btw I play all kinds of other games too, I'm not a fan of jrpg games, I tried and tried to like them many years ago but I just dont, but you wouldn't know that because I stay out of those threads. >>>If YOU go to CoD threads knowing you don't like CoD anymore and act like a hater, then it doesn't matter whether or not you used to be a fan, trying to knock others for what they like just because you don't makes you a hater=

-I'm just being honest. Can't we all be?

[SixFragz]

@4Sh0w

"why should they stop for YOU?"

I'm not telling people NOT to play CoD. I'm telling people to stop pretending like the franchise has had any creativity or innovation for the past 10 years. My point was that it would be refreshing and quite relieving if you guys could admit that you get the same structured game every single year with no major overhauls at all. My problem is NOT whether or not people enjoy CoD or not, but rather that a passionate, vehement fanbase truly believes that the franchise has progressed. That, and the renouncement of those that see otherwise.

"oh let me guess, you are a PRO level CoD player, huh?

I said that I haven't played CoD in almost a decade. The condescending, ridiculing, mockery attitude that you point out exists in "elitists" is the same one that you just displayed. Mocking and making fun of someone because they aren't on the out of control CoD train that you guys are on? Seriously?

And let me ask you... how can CoD be skilled based when it has become arcade, diluted and at the same time convoluted by the craziness and audaciousness of more and more perks? The game doesn't boil down to player skill, but rather on a class set up where a PERK such as being able to DRAW YOUR WEAPON FASTER DICTATES THE WINNER OF A GUNFIGHT. Ever heard of the games Counter Strike or Red Orchestra? Skill based. "Hard to master."

"of course something can be most popular AND most hated"

Call of Duty has been the #1 rated FPS franchise for how long? Do you really believe that it is as hated as it is popular? Like I said, let's be honest here...

"the elite don't say it, worst they >> behave like it... inside truly they are not happy so they seek to ruin the happiness of those around them."

"Elitist" is a classification that you, along with others, have created with negative connotations so that you guys can label anyone who is critical of CoD or any other game the accuser likes. It is a social construct that you guys have created to label those that you despise and resent for not being fans of CoD or your other beloved games. It's the cop out. Or maybe you guys do believe that we are elite in some way? If that is so, it is unfortunate, because I believe that whatever video game a person plays has nothing to do with whatever being "elite" connotes.

It's unfortunate that you took this so personally, though. Your takeaway from what I said was that I'm trying to ruin peoples happiness? Really? It's just a video game. This entire statement just reinforced what I stated about you guys becoming way too emotionally attached to the franchise, to the point where you become not only deluded, but DEFENSIVE. I know it might be hard for you to believe, but there are people who are critical of CoD for a variety of reasons. There are people who are critical of AND enjoy CoD and BUY the game, but unlike you guys, even the ones who enjoy it have the integrity to admit that the game is essentially the same as the last bunch.

[SixFragz]

@4Sh0w

"critical", or is it really just bashing the game?"

The delusion means that its hard for you guys to draw the distinction between someone being critical and someone bashing the game. Being critical of the game is what the guy in the article did. Being critical is what I did. Being critical is providing valid points to back up why something that once had flair for being fresh and original isn't so creative and innovative anymore. BASHING is when I flat out trash the game, just cause. There's a difference. And again, you guys don't want to hear any of our critical points, so you guys mockingly dismiss us by telling us to offer ideas of our own, or by calling us "elitists". Laughable.

Let me say it again. My point is not with people enjoying CoD or not. My gripe is with the blind ignorance of people who startlingly, but truly believe that CoD has new ideas and that every game is different from the last. Every game is the same mechanically, and every game feels the same and lacks individuality. It's not like arguments against CoD are without merit though. Taking a look at where the franchise went in the past decade speaks for itself...

Do you think you're being as honest with yourself as you could be?

[4Sh0w]

@SixFragz
"I'm not telling people NOT to play CoD. I'm telling people to stop pretending like the franchise has had any creativity or innovation for the past 10 years."

-Say what? See now you are just making crap up to justify yourself. lol, I almost never hear CoD fans boasting about CoD being a example of creativity or innovation for the past 10yrs, hell in my post a few days ago below, I said like many others who openly admit the goal of CoD is NOT to re-invent the wheel, on the contrary, CoD simply changes the theme, maps, weapons, features, settings and of course story while keeping the same formula= which is what CoD fans go in expecting, another CoD that's just different enough to rank up and enjoy countless hours of FUN multiplayer. ---This how I know you are being disingenuous because you are trying using a straw man argument against the game to make a point.

-OK, I'm not gonna go back n forth with you on this, I'm gonna just say that I think you are faking like some hero for gaming when its evident what you really do is follow CoD spewing hate because you don't like the franchise and you hate that others do.

"The condescending, ridiculing, mockery attitude that you point out exists in "elitists" is the same one that you just displayed."

-lol are you serious? I said nothing to you specifically UNTIL YOU replied to me in a post that labled CoD fans sheep. Now you sound like a 5yr old saying "ha,ha, no you are". The point is if the things I said about CoD haters DID NOT apply to you, then why do you sound sooooo guilty?

-Here's why....thought I'd check to see if you are really so "concerned" for CoD fans as you pretend to be, lol and look what we have here:

SixFragz3d ago
CoD single player failure screen:
"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery." - Charles Caleb Colton

SixFragz4d ago
The story as a whole looks like it is set on delivering that same old Hollywood set piece filled experience.
Yep, Call of Duty is certainly back to its roots: the tried and true, formulaic monotony, which CoD fans will swear is so different and unlike anything we've ever seen or played before.

SixFragz3d ago
Are you a butthurt little turd right now? Don't act like a jackazz because I clearly see what we've been seeing from CoD trailers and games for over a DECADE, with the same tropes.

SixFragz3d ago
All you've been waiting for is a CoD without jetpacks?
Well, I guess I understand why you set the bar and expectations so low... because that's what we've come to expect from Call of Dookie.

SixFragz4d ago (Edited 4d ago )
It's easy for CoD to do a D-Day sequence. Because of their lack of creativity and, in fact, blatant lack of effort and sheer laziness, it is easy for them to do a D-Day sequence since they could just rip off from other media that has already tackled that subject matter (i.e. Saving Private Ryan). Then there is the generic fight between two soldiers who are on the SAME side, fighting the SAME HORRENDOUS war, that STILL manage to get into that generic scuffle, which I'm 100% SURE will be over-exaggerated just to get gamers invested in the cheesy, laughable Hollywood-ness that plagues CoD stories.

-(Sigh), and for a minute there even though I disagreed with you at least I thought I was having an intelligent conversation with someone who genuinely had an legitimate issue with CoD franchise, NOW I know you are *exactly what I suspected, just another hater in a long line of internet trolls n' haters. Have fun in that line, I won't even waste my time responding to you anymore.

[FITgamer]

When you're pumping out the games every year I'd imagine it's pretty easy to run out of ideas.

[mpettit91]

I gather you don't like Call of Duty much. Maybe I misread but I'm pretty sure there is no way a "copy" of BF1 could have been done. Call of Duty is on a three year dev cycle now and these discussions of going back were happening since AW launched. DICE and EA were probably talking about BF1 since BF4 launched.

Running out of ideas is a bit of a stretch. The critiques on modern combat and a yearning for old school Call of Duty were happening since Black Ops. This game, in my opinion, is both fan service and a passion project for the devs at Sledgehammer. Granted, it also happens to line up with Activision's interest; I'll give you that. It is no secret that Sledgehammer had been wanting to do a game like this for years. They even wanted to do a third person Vietnam game.

[HyperMouse]

They are putting you in a squad and making you need ammo guys for bullets, medics for health etc, while it may not be the same we dont know the exact details yet, it does smack of BF

[EmperorDalek]

Health is non-regenerating though, nothing like Battlefield.

[PSN_ZeroOnyx]

Watched the reveal and this was not discussed. They mentioned picking sides and showed like 5 seconds of HQ.

[cell989]

There's been over 11 iterations of what COD modern warfare started. They were bound to run out of ideas. The online mode has been the same through and through since cod4. No major overhauls nor memorable changes. It's the same formula year after year with only a fresh coat of paint and new multiplayer packs. This new one coming up will be just like the others. Same gameplay, same perks and mechanics

[USMC_POLICE]

Agreed! Anytime I say it I am downvoted!

[mkis007]

Cause they're all down with what you're saying. Sorry BRubble.

[2pacalypsenow]

Don't fix it if it ain't broken.

[JEECE]

I want you to be wrong so badly. A WWII COD without perks/deathstreaks/killstreaks could be a lot of fun. Sadly, it's more likely you'll be right.

[cell989]

I would love a cod like that. Fast gameplay but without the cluttered perks system and all that other "packages" system

[0Day]

Yes, which is why people like myself keep buying it every year.

[vickers500]

No, it has not been the same, it has been worse, but never has it been the same.

To hear you say that makes me think you don't play very many fps. Each cod has a unique feel, whether or not that feel is garbage or good is up to each person to decide.

But if you're telling me that modern warfare 1 and 2 are pretty much both the same, then sorry, but you don't know jack about fps. I could use the same ignorant statement about jrpgs, or soulsborne games or battlefield games by your narrow minded logic. But that would be stupid, just as it's stupid to say cod has been the same game since 4. Each iteration has had a unique feel in comparison to its predecessor (haven't played ghosts tho, dunno about that one). Even blops 3 and infinite warfare feel worlds apart, despite sharing the same mechanics, blops 3 is a much smoother and much tighter experience. And so there's no confusion, yeah, I'm talking about the competitive multiplayer of each title.

Maybe you're not adept enough to pick up on the not-that-subtle nuances of each title (just like I'm not adept enough to pick up on the differences between one turn based final fantasy or the other, or the differences between dark souls 1,2 and 3)but they're there.

And to the untrained eye, or an eye who doesn't play fps games all that often, yeah, they can appear to be the same game, but they're really not.

[Trekster_Gamer]

This article is clickbait.
They can spin it anyway they want but when Call of Duty doesn't consistently beat every other game every year after year then maybe they've run out of ideas.
The bottom line is money, their user base is huge for a reason, they love the series and know what to expect.

[PapaBop]

Didn't beat out every other game in 2013.

[franwex]

That's the year grand theft auto 5 came out, which is the only exception to everything. Even today gtav sells more than newer games. The point is still valid.

[TheGamez100]

Which is why they should go back to their roots if they cant think of good new ideas.

[NotoriousWhiz]

Have they ever left their roots?

[Allsystemgamer]

A long time ago. Go play cod, the expansions and 2. Plays nothing like the modern games.

[PlayableGamez-]

Can't wait to get this game on the Pro.
The BEST place to play.

[Silly gameAr]

So, is this a bait account?

[Trekster_Gamer]

Yes great on the pro second only to Scorpio of course!

[Allsystemgamer]

You mean that console no one is going to buy?

[RommyReigns]

Pros before Scorpios

[SuperbVillain]

we havent seen ww2 on playstation in a long time. would be nice. i feel there will be a bit of a mature crowd on here as alot of the ppl who grew up playing ww2 shooters will be coming back for this

[_LarZen_]

Translated: The gaming industry is running out of ideas.

Come on now...it's not like developers are reinventing the wheel with every game. Just as with movies. If you seen enough you are more or less just seeing other versions of it. With some twists here and there. Same with games with the exception that they are starting to look better and better.

Sure there are exceptions and especially in the Indie scene. But it's hardly not gonna happen anything revolutionary before VR/AR becomes 10 times better.

[morganfell]

Do you really need new ideas or ideas executed correctly?

screencritics is full of idiots.

I don't remember seeing people trying to create new games besides baseball, football, and basketball that got anywhere. How did that frisbee golf work out for you in terms of popularity? I do not need a new kind of baseball. I need baseball played well. Same with gaming.

Desperate-for-hits-screencrit ics has definitely run out of ideas.

[4Sh0w]

Dammm, morganfell you said it better than I did. I hate you. lol

[morganfell]

Ha ha. These so called journalists do more harm to our industry than good. I personally think there should never be another review copy sent out to one of these sites...ever.

Honestly, the days of objective observations have long since passed. Much of it due to the ever younger ages of writers and more importantly, a simple lack of maturity, which is a matter not always related to a biological milestone. They neither know nor care what it is they are supposed to serve. Not who, but what.

They have not the slightest clue what it means to be a journalist and instead are only in this business for their ego, the money, and a desire to influence the industry - everything a real journalist would seek to avoid. They are the very antithesis of a reporter. Screw the lot of them.

[starchild]

I mostly agree with everything you said, except I want to point out that disc golf is extremely popular where I live. But overall the ideas in your comment are bang on.

[PapaBop]

They ran out of ideas years ago, they've been shoehorning in features from other games for most of this generation.

[Sevir]

Lol... They complain about ww1. Then they complain about too many world war 2 games, then we get an over saturation of modern era shooters, they move to future warfare and they whine and say too much, go back to the roots of boots on the ground and be back in WW2, they do just that, and you complain about same old same old, run out of ideas?

maybe the issue isn't that they've ran out of ideas but the fact that you have simply grown tired of Call of Duty? And maybe it's time that you and those share that feeling embrace the fact that you've out grown the IP and just move on?

[letsa_go]

haha I thought the same thing! People have been asking to go back to WWII for a few years now...and they finally listen, now they run out of ideas? hahaha No matter what they do, they can't win.

[4Sh0w]

Next up to bat.....its going, going, Gone! Sevir knocks it out of the park!

-All jokes aside, yeah I got no gripe with those who are just burned out on COD, or it's not their thing, I just don't understand the constant hate when there's hundreds of other games to play every year.

[gangsta_red]

To be fair a lot of gamers across the net were complaining about the over use of the WWII setting many years ago. Then it it went to an over saturation of modern/future warfare and now we are back to WWII.

I think the biggest problem isn't COD running out of ideas it's COD running things into the ground.

[cyclindk]

Call of duty: primal

[GUTZnPAPERCUTZ]

Nah... As an avid Battlefield Fan and some one who has said "Battlefield is better than COD" since Bad Company 2, I am really looking forward to playing this! I loved the OG COD, 2 and 3 so this will bring back some memories :)

[DeadSilence]

They had some ideas and the community hated them so yeah though crowd.

[SR388]

Cod has been lame for a long time sooooooooo

[Skankinruby]

It doesn't need new ideas, it's a generic shooter. In fact the very criticism it's been getting is that it came up with new ideas. Battlefield 1 was nothing more than a reconfiguration of everything cod has done plenty of times and people praised the concept for its redundancy. Blame the retards whining about 'boots on the ground' for the series never improving

[krypt1983]

This is the right game for the wrong studio, sledgehammer is trash treyarch should have taken them back to there roots.

[kevnb]

Nobody wants new ideas.

[Phoenix76]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't there only 3 possible kind of settings that cod could be set up in? I.e. the past, present or the future?

[Kakashi Hatake]

Present would've been much better

[VerminSC]

As unique as this entry is, I wish they'd just make a completely new game. They have the potential to make an awesome game, take gorilla games for example.

[Artemidorus]

Ran out of ideas but have many remasters to make so the millennials keep paying, i'll be back in 2027 saying the same thing.

[bluefox755]

Sure, but why does it matter? As long as they keep selling 15+ million every year, they're going to keep rehashing it. They'd be crazy not to. Don't blame CoD, blame the people who buy it every year.

[Mithan]

Yet the game continues to sell well over 20,000,000 units every year...

Personally, I prefer Battlefield, so I don't buy COD anymore, but many people like it.

[gangsta_red]

Call of Duty: Telekinetic Mind Warfare!

Imagine huge Scanner battles!

[Prince_TFK]

There still are many ideas and wars they can explore. Wars against the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia for example is fresh and would be very cool gameplay wise and interesting historical fact wise as no games have ever explored it.

The problem with Activision is they like to play it safe and rather not innovate if they can continue to make profit by milking the franchise.

[dmonee]

They have run out of current ideas using their current gameplay formula. If they were smart they would rip off Horizon and far cry and make an open world, rpg shooter. Probably too much of a risk for activision, so it will never happen

[mafiahajeri]

How bout we spin it right round baby right round... maybe they'll come up with new ideas then 😁

[Hugodastrevas]

Boots on the ground and WWII is great, I just wish they went to other parts of the conflict instead of jumping to D-day right away, there's a lot of potential for buildup in WWII.

[FallenAngel1984]

Spin it anyway you want- People will always find reasons to hate on Call of Duty

[343_Guilty_Spark]

Simply not enough modern wars is the problem. They've done them all. They could do a potential war in which Trump pisses off North Korea who is secretly working with the Russians like he did.

[Xenial]

Ha, I see cod fanboys are still clinging to their dying franchise. Ghosts will remain and always be my last COD purchase. I would prefer to see something entirely new.

[Aenea]

AAA game devs have run out of ideas....

[Mastershake007]

Can't they only do so much with a war game? I mean it's either past, present, or future...and I'm pretty sure COD has been in the future for awhile now. So back to the past we go

[shockwave4life]

Well that's what happens when u make a game that comes out every single year for the past I don't know 10 straight years!!!!

[Jayszen]

There are only a finite number of ideas out there and for games there isn't much more COD devs can do - it is either WW1, WW2. the present or the future. There may be a possibility to do a game based on the Civil War, or even the Napoleonic Wars or go back further to the Romans and Greeks, Genghis Khan, Alexander, etc., but how many gamers would be interested in these eras and it would also depend on how the devs could create viable gameplay out of such eras.

I just do not think there was much option then to go back to WW2 and start over. What Activision could do is rotate the era for one year to the next if they have to have annual releases. This year is WW2, next year may be set in the present and then the year after something different from the preceding two and then back again to WW2, say the Pacific Theatre.

[IceKoldKilla]

Aaaand I love it? I guess more devs need to run out of ideas if it means going back to a setting MANY of us have asked for and with today's engine on today's powerful hardware.

People sure love making bs clickbait.

[MilkMan]

Without a doubt, this series has run its course.

[roadkillers]

100% disagree. This is how it should be. Call of Duty started in World War II. Technology advances should warrent a remake, but this is not a remake it is emotionally gripping. Where Battlefield made me not care about the characters, COD always has. With their push for authenticity and telling history I am glad it is back.