Infinity Ward, I take my hat off to you

[Vasquez]

Gotta say it.

Some of you may, or may not know that some time ago (quite some time ago), I posted this thread on the BF2 forums:

http://www.totalgamingnetwork.com/main/showthread.php?t=57129

Basically venting my anger at the way DICE had engineered the BF2 engine. (yes I know the engines are very different and are different world "types").

Now, on topic.

Infinity Ward, I salute you.

COD4 is engineered beautifully. It is, in my opinion, one of the best engineered games I have EVER played. And that's saying something. It's not just the great gameplay experience. It's not the high-quality graphics. It's not the great sound, the responsive server browser, the class system, the ... I could go on. It's a wonderful experience with all these great things contributing to a beautiful end-product.

You guys even managed to impress Yahtzee, the fast-talking, hilarious online-game reviewer (for those who don't know, check it out at http://www.escapistmagazine.com/arti...Call-of-Duty-4).

Man, it felt good to write a post that praised rather than ranted.

[CptainCrunch]

Thats all true, except the server browser. Its lacking. BUT, overall, its a very good game all around.

Crunch

[The_Eliminator]

Thats all true, except the server browser. Its lacking. BUT, overall, its a very good game all around.

Crunch

Yea i agree with you here, they got everything right except for the browser which for me is a fundamental part of any game.

[Chris_Redfield]

Ever since I started playing MP FPS games whilst doing research and trying to get to know how "things work" inside the games and outside, in the communities, Ive started feeling like a cheap whore. Faulty or fvcked up games being released with no regard towards the end user. "Well patch it later". I literally felt like I was taken a dump on. It didnt feel good.

And then, 2007, 2 excellent games were released. ETQW and COD4. Its absolutely apalling, that ETQW failed, however thats up to the short sighted and limited MP experience of the developers (I know they know their stuff, they just failed to see how things outside ET worked), and SD and IW both released fully functional, almost, if not virtually flawless products that the end user like me could enjoy without having to go through god knows what issues. I felt flattered, cared for and respected, and it felt good. And while I dont know the technicalties of "beauty" of the engine of the games, I can identify and appreciate the developers attitude towards me, the customer, the gamer.

[Vasquez]

Thats all true, except the server browser. Its lacking. BUT, overall, its a very good game all around.

Crunch

I agree it could use more features, but it's responsive and does it's job :)

[FPS[SONIC]]

I agree it could use more features, but it's responsive and does it's job :)

Indeed. The server browser isn't flawed, just not as great as the rest of the game. It is undoubtedly the weakest link.

[StoneCold313]

I agree on the server browser too, it has flaws, but it does the job.

Im really pleased that there wasn't any fatal flaws in the game when it was first released. Except for the "sniper fix"...

[iQue]

Hmm It'll be interesting to see what people think about CoD4 when it's about as old as BF2. If you take a look at most of the oldest BF2 threads in the forum they are infact very positive about the game. Now somehow it's mostly threads about dumb admins or how the hell you unlock the L96A1.

I'm not a huge fan of the gameplay in CoD4, but the game itself has very very few flaws and it's well made. Kudos to IW :)

[CptainCrunch]

Chris, thats a very well thought out and "poetic" comment. Its very true. The big companies need their money and deadlines MUST be met. THE END! IW did well on it.

Yes, the browser "works". Im not talking about features though, Im talking about all those servers that never showed in the browser (which, after the 1.5 patch, I *THINK* they fixed) and the server limitation.

Did the browser get you into a game? Sure it did. Did it show you the best servers with the best ping for you? No. Did it show a server that someone is paying for? Not always.

One day your server was on the list, the next, not so much.

I guess I am looking at it as a server admin and not a user.

As a player, Browser was great. Got on, played games.

As a CoD4 fanatic, broswer is missing some filtering features.

As a server admin, Browser was unpredictable and sketchy.

But, it IS much better and dont let my comment bring the level of this game down. That has been my only gripe with the ENTIRE game. Thats pretty good.

Crunch
(Not that I gripe a lot.)

[Bladeeagle]

Can't forget buddy lists and the occasional invincibility bug but other than that, a very well done and optimized game.

[solofowaffles]

[QUOTE=Chris_Redfield;1867097 Ive started feeling like a cheap whore.

[/QUOTE]

Well you are a cheap whore.But excellent points.

[imported_Whiskey]

Having actually met much of the IW dev team (and met all of the Senior staff) at a couple of community events, I think a large part of the success of COD4 is that (by their own words) they finally got the freedom to make the game they wanted to make, and that they are dedicated gamers themselves (most of them were playing the Xbox360 Beta each night along with the community).

A lot of other companies, such as EA, have some gamers on staff, but are largely made up of management types, and people who found out that gaming was a "hot" industry and wanted to make some cash. Some are competent, some not, but most of them do not have the passion or know-how to make a great game.

When you love your work, it shows. I think that was key to how well COD4 has done.

[Vasquez]

When you love your work, it shows.

QFT. Labours of love bear sweet fruits!

[Chris_Redfield]

Well you are a cheap whore.But excellent points.

OK, so whats worse than being a cheap whore? Being Solos mum?

[StoneCold313]

Having actually met much of the IW dev team (and met all of the Senior staff) at a couple of community events, I think a large part of the success of COD4 is that (by their own words) they finally got the freedom to make the game they wanted to make, and that they are dedicated gamers themselves (most of them were playing the Xbox360 Beta each night along with the community).

A lot of other companies, such as EA, have some gamers on staff, but are largely made up of management types, and people who found out that gaming was a "hot" industry and wanted to make some cash. Some are competent, some not, but most of them do not have the passion or know-how to make a great game.

When you love your work, it shows. I think that was key to how well COD4 has done.

That is actually amazing, when you think about it...

With BF2142, only time Dice did come out with force was on the dogtag challenge...