Did Call of Duty ruin a generation of gamers?

[Luke]

My second impersonation of Dish will be the same as my first:

No.

[Stark]

My second impersonation of Dish will be the same as my first:

No.

Shouldn't have taken 4 pages to get there.

[prfsnl_gmr]

Hey now, what's wrong with Madden?

That's a valid question. How come NHL, NBA and FIFA&PES don't get the same hate as Madden? Less obnoxious fans?

I disowned Madden when EA acquired exclusive rights to make videogames with the NFL license. I thought it was a perfectly legal, but nonetheless anti-competitive, move. Accordingly, the latest football game in my collection is NFL 2K5 (PS2/Xbox).

[o.pwuaioc]

That said, you are obviously a dumb, blind fool if you like MM2 more than MM3.

That's it. I'm issuing a fatwa and launching a crusade against you!

[BoneSnapDeez]

Hey now, what's wrong with Madden?

That's a valid question. How come NHL, NBA and FIFA&PES don't get the same hate as Madden? Less obnoxious fans?

I disowned Madden when EA acquired exclusive rights to make videogames with the NFL license. I thought it was a perfectly legal, but nonetheless anti-competitive, move. Accordingly, the latest football game in my collection is NFL 2K5 (PS2/Xbox).

This.

EA killed off all the better football franchises (like 2K).

[Zing]

I think the new generation of gamers ruined Call of Duty, not the other way around.

[flex wood]

I disowned Madden when EA acquired exclusive rights to make videogames with the NFL license. I thought it was a perfectly legal, but nonetheless anti-competitive, move. Accordingly, the latest football game in my collection is NFL 2K5 (PS2/Xbox).

Yea Madden can suck it bring back 2k. I was actually boycotting ea before it was cool, I think I started when ea decided not to support the DC.

[irixith]

I think the new generation of gamers ruined Call of Duty, not the other way around.

This.

I actually agree with some of the things the guy is talking about on a game design level, about how COD multiplayer does not reward (or encourage the development of) skill. That's pretty sad. However, if the gamers playing the game don't want to be worried about that, then the game is doing exactly what people want it to.

[AznKhmerBoi]

I think so because now video games and being a gamer is synonymous with a shooter.

Lammmeeee....

[Ack]

I think the new generation of gamers ruined Call of Duty, not the other way around.

This.

I actually agree with some of the things the guy is talking about on a game design level, about how COD multiplayer does not reward (or encourage the development of) skill. That's pretty sad. However, if the gamers playing the game don't want to be worried about that, then the game is doing exactly what people want it to.

Actually, I disagree with that statement...to a point. My experience only extends to the first Call of Duty: Modern Warfare game, but yes, there was indeed an amount of skill involved. First, it required a proper selection of weapons and perks depending on the playstyle you wished to seek, but those required a certain level of experience, much of which was earned by performing actions which required at least some level of skill. Getting so many headshots with various weapons, being able to identify and destroy placed explosives from afar, being able to use certain types of explosives in certain situations, all of these types of things required some level of skill. Others included calling in airstrikes for a certain number of times or getting so many kills with the helicopter, but these could only be used after earning so many kills the normal way, which meant that players couldn't spam them and had to have the ability to get kill streaks of a certain amount before they even had the option. It wasn't simply spawn, chuck grenades and shoot my gun until I die and pray I get kills. I've played a map where we managed to do that(smallest map in the game, 30 people, fastest respawn time possible = sheer madness but fun for a short match every now and again), but it was a rare occasion.

And once I had my weapons, equipment, and perks unlocked, I had to make decisions based on how they all meshed and then be able to play in a style which used them all effectively. So I built different class themes based around the different methods I enjoyed playing the game. I might play a fast runner who used silent weapons and couldn't be tracked by UAVs to quickly infiltrate or sneak around. I might use a heavy machine gun with lots of grenades and a higher amount of health to tank like a juggernaut. I might go for a sniper build that booby traps his surroundings, or a close-quarters fighter with a rapid reloading automatic shotgun and extra bandoleers to make sure I could keep going until everything around me was dead. Each one played differently, but I took the time to build them based on my needs and the map we were playing on.

And then there were the "hardcore" players, and I mean that as in the game mode, not the stereotypical "hardcore" often associated with games like this. I mean the guys who played with no minimaps and little in the way of a HUD, no crosshairs, who iron-sighted and played to the point that they always went for the quick headshot. Sure, some of those guys talked trash, but they were still good players.

Now, I cannot say what the most recent COD:MW games are like, but to imply that no skill was necessary at any point is to frankly insult a lot of folks who do have skill and were better players for it.