Despite the space setting, the new “Call of Duty” installment should still feel familiar.
When developing a new game, one must pay attention to presenting new content while still adhering to the principles of the actual game, which is often not an easy task. This is also the case in the new “Call of Duty” installment, which has already received a lot of negative feedback due to the trailer.
Fight as accurately as possible
In the PlayStation Blog, Call of Duty Senior Art Director Brian Horton explains how the development team worked to make combat in space as accurate as possible without neglecting the core principles of Call of Duty.
“We imagined a combination of NASA and the Navy, where you connect elements of the Navy with aspects of the military (warships). Then you propel the whole thing into space with a NASA aesthetic – we see this fusion as a plausible future,” says Horton.
“If you get too accurate regarding the scientific aspects, you would dilute some of the core elements that define Call of Duty.” You want to stick to the space theme in Infinite Warfare – but aliens and laser beams would have been a step too far, which is why the focus remains on what is essential.
One point that developers adjusted for the game was mobility in space. In zero gravity, movement typically is a bit slower. To move from point A to point B more quickly, developers incorporated a grappling hook that allows players to pull themselves to objects or close the distance between themselves and enemies.
“This grappling mechanic is, for us, on the edge of science fiction, but you can still imagine that someone would develop something like this,” explained Horton.
Grenades are also an important aspect of Call of Duty – here, too, they have developed a space solution. There are homing grenades as well as spider robots that seek out an enemy and explode after attaching themselves to them.
What about sounds in space in Infinite Warfare?
In space, there is actually no sound that a player could perceive, which means explosions or sounds from military objects would not be audible. As a solution to this problem, the space suit simulates sounds and impacts through photons. This creates the necessary attention on the map and in various situations.
“We have slightly muted the sound and noises, but they are still “there” so that the player can enjoy the game. This system is also not science fiction but actually credible.
To convince you of the gameplay, you can see 6 minutes of gameplay from CoD Infinite Warfare here.
