Ghosts / Black Ops II: THAT'S GONNA AFFECT THE BOTTOM LINE

Mixed in with Microsoft's Comcast sales pitch was this clip of Call of Duty: Ghosts. This'll be the fourth game in the series that isn't Modern Warfare 2 and we're still stuck rummaging around an on-going apocalypse. Incredibly, Activision once thought a lightly futuristic combat setting was an unsellable proposition. Five games away from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, video games are at the same saturation point with war on terror games that they were with World War II in 2005.



Multiplayer details are light except for a firm assurance from the Infinity Ward understudies that background lumps will frequently spring to life to ruin your killstreaking. Gee, thanks!

At this stage it's difficult to give a shit about a series now hobbled by basic errors. Modern Warfare 3 and Black Ops II both shipped with an online component featuring trace compulsion and irritation to spare. Call of Duty is now laser focused on inch encounters on cramped maps; latency ruined by an unworkable recording system that frequently breaks anyway.



Black Ops II fans upset by a potential emphasis shift needn't fret - there's still a ton of shit left to be crammed down your throat. Weapon camouflage in the Call of Duty series used to signify a player was capable of getting consistent headshots. In MW1 if you wanted the Red Tiger camo you had to able to make 150 skill shots. Not anymore. If you want ugly textures slathered all over your favourite kill-stick you need only shell out some pocket money.

Don't get too excited though, Treyarch's latest artistic affronts are subject to an in-game poll. If you want the opportunity to be able to pay for any of the above gun gunks you'll have to get voting - only two of them are going to be made available.

I haven't a clue which I'd pick, each of the choices look equally unappealing. I suppose Cyborg makes the in-game gun model look like something out of the neon drenched Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon. Mind you, if you're desperate to be reminded of that game, why not just boot it up?





If all that commerce (not to mention my grumbling) is too depressing, here's TheSandyRavage and pals tormenting a monotone pub moaner for a couple of minutes, then instantly feeling a bit guilty about it.