FPS General

With the new Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 DLC Revolution released today for the Xbox 360, I wanted to touch upon some of the bigger patch notes that come with it. If you want to see a full list head on over to our forums.

I'd like to focus mostly on balance, it means the most to me and to how the game plays, so let’s jump right into it.

First up is a massive nerf to some of the more powerful scorestreaks in the game as well as a couple buffs to some others. These changes are varied and include:

• Death Machine: 3 hit kill range increased.
• Dragonfire: health increased, gun spread reduced.
• AGR: ground speed increased, reduced machine gun close range damage.
• Warthog: reduced missile delay.
• Lodestar: reduced missile speed and AOE radius.
• Swarm: drone re-spawn delay increased.

While I think this is a step in the right direction, I’m not sure it will be enough. I still really think that there should be some form of spawn protection against some of these but I can’t have everything I wish for, I guess.

What we do have is an increased delay between missiles on the Lodestar and an increased delay in drone respawn on the Swarm. This essentially means that they are less lethal. A step in the right direction but not nearly far enough in my mind. As far as buffs go, we have a few tweaks to the Death Machine, Dragonfire, AGR and Warthog. Small things to slightly improve their performance but nothing major.

Keep reading for more information on what today's patch entails, include some pretty big changes to sub-machine guns.

Just a friendly reminder this morning that tomorrow marks the day that you can hook yourself up with a wealth of brand new content in Call of Duty: Black Ops 2.

Now might be a good time to start letting your boss know that you're under the weather. We hear the flu is going around this time of year and it would sure be a shame if you caught it right when the Revolution DLC launches, wouldn't it?

Just think of all that content that you'd miss out on. I mean, there's 4 brand new multiplayer maps to enjoy:

Hydro - Taking place in Pakistan, Hydro brings back the dynamic aspects that the original Black Ops had on several maps. During matches on Hydro, the spillways will flood with water and if you're standing in them when that happens, well...don't stand there when that happens.

Grind - Set in a skate park in Venice Beach, CA, Grind features all the amenities of a major skate park. Tunnels, half-pipes, vertical ramps and the works are all present except that instead of taking your board to the park, you're bringing your assault rifle instead.

Downhill - Take a pleasant vacation in the French Alps in Downhill. The romantic ski lifts are always in motion, and you and a friend can watch the bullets fly and frags get tossed in the quiet evening. Actually it's not quiet at all, and there's a war being fought here so you might want to keep your wits about you and try to stay alive as you make your way down the slopes.

Mirage - Mirage takes place in the desert on what was once a luxurious resort. It has been reduced to ruins now, unfortunately, and will likely be reduced even further by the time you get done tearing the place up.

Keep reading for more on Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 Revolution DLC!

Earlier this month, Activision revealed the first proper DLC expansion for Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. Revolution, as the DLC is named, is set to include four brand new multiplayer maps, one new zombies map and, for the first time in Call of Duty history, a DLC weapon in the Peacekeeper SMG.

Well, the content doesn't come out until January 29th, but that doesn't mean you have to wait until then to see the maps in action. We've been rounding up footage from around the Internet, putting it here in one easy to navigate post for your viewing pleasure. Footage of these maps isn't available in abundance, as Activision is trying to keep some of it under wraps until January 29th, but there has been a few leaks here and there as well as some officially endorsed previews on some of the more popular outlets.

The DLC includes...

Four multiplayer maps:

• Mirage
• Hydro
• Grind
• Downhill

One Zombies map:

• Die Rise

Plus, of course, the Peackeeper SMG which is shaping up to be a pretty awesome weapon. Imagine the range of an assault rifle with the maneuverability of a submachine gun and you pretty much have the Peacekeeper. While that sounds pretty overpowered, Treyarch has promised that they remain dedicated to ensuring that it is a balanced weapon.

Check out the videos we've manager to scrounge up below and make sure to share your own in the comments if you find something we missed!

While we're talking about Black Ops 2, did you know that FPS General and Activison are giving away a Black Ops 2 Care Package Edition, alongside a chance to take part in our Pros vs Joes tournament? You and three friends can win a chance to battle against a squad of hand-picked professional gamers for a chance to prove that you can hold your own with the big dogs.

Check it out at http://www.fpsgeneral.com/news/call-of-duty-black-ops-2/22874-win-a-chance-to-play-the-pros-in-fps-generals-call#reply!

_{Note: this video was produced before today's updates, so some information may not reflect these changes. Reference the article below for the most current details!}

Earlier this week, we unveiled our epic Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 sweepstakes that will see one grand prize winner take home a Black Ops 2 Care Package Special Edition as well as a chance to face off against a team of hand-picked professional gamers. Well, we're in a giving mood and decided to sweeten the deal a little bit, so here are a few updates.

Originally, we were asking that eligible entrants set themselves up with a few pre-requisites but that's no fun. Instead, we're going to be hooking our winner (and three friends) up with everything you need to be eligible to win; a copy of Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 on Xbox 360, a Gold subscription to Xbox Live and the Revolution DLC. So, that means we need to change what the prizing looks like...

One grand prize winner will take home the Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 Care Package Special Edition, a Gold subscription to Xbox Live and a download token for the Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 Revolution DLC. Should you win, your three friends will receive all of the above with the exception of the Care Package - that's all yours!

We are still giving ten runners-up a Season Pass for all of Call of Duty: Black Ops 2's present and future DLC.

To be eligible to win, you just have to post a comment on our original story which you can find right here or simply click the handy button below.

Post a Comment To Win!

Thanks for entering and good luck to all!

We've teamed up with Activision to offer FPS General members a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to win some epic Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 prizes. 

Here's how the prizes shake out: 

One grand prize winner is going to be walking away with a Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 Care Package Special Edition as well as a chance to choose 3 friends who will be joining them in a battle against professional gamers in Black Ops 2 multiplayer action.

This Pro's vs Joe's style matchup will give you a chance to prove that you can hold your own with the big dogs. Don't worry if you don't end up taking home the grand prize, ten first prize winners will receive a Black Ops 2 Season Pass, getting you access to every piece of current and future Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 DLC.

An earlier version of the rules required you to have Xbox Live, a copy of Black Ops 2 and the Revolution DLC but we have amended them. Make sure you read the rules below closely!

• Post a comment on this article, letting us know why you and your three friends deserve a chance to face off against our professional Black Ops 2 team. There are no guidelines here, just tell us why you should win and get creative!

That's it! Curse will provide a copy of Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 on Xbox 360 as well as the Revolution DLC expansion. We will upgrade your Xbox Live account to Gold if you do not already have an active Gold account. All you have to do is post a comment and you're entered to win!

Post a Comment To Win!

The contest opens up on January 21st and will run through January 28th. The Pro's vs Joe's match will be livestreamed on February 5th at http://www.twitch.tv/FPSGeneral. Stay tuned to FPS General on Facebook and Twitter for updates on the sweepstakes!

Update: We are able to confirm the roster that you and your squad will be playing against, should you win. The roster includes:

Elementz, from Curse's League of Legends squad
Michael3D from Curse's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive team
CrazyPenguin from FPS General
Rainchild from Curse's Halo 4 Team

Good luck to all who enter!

Note: Open to legal residents of Canada or the United States only.

Treyarch is gearing up to release the very first DLC expansion for Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, entitled Revolution. The expansion features four brand new multiplayer maps in Hydro, Downhill, Grind and Mirage as well as one brand new Zombies map in Die Rise. Also, for the first time in Call of Duty history, the DLC will include a brand new sub machine gun known as The Peacekeeper.

Now, this DLC is great and all and we're really looking forward to it. But Treyarch has spotted one glaring issue here, that might present a real problem. You see, when Black Ops 2's Revolution DLC launches next week, you're going to want to spend even more time playing the game than you already do. As Treyarch points out in the brand new trailer release this morning, that can be a bit of a problem when you factor things like 'being a dad' and 'going to work' into the mix.

How can you be playing Black Ops 2 if you're supposed to be mowing the law out back?

Thankfully, Treyarch is staying on top of things and they think they have the answer; The Replacer. A man trained to be...you. To take care of your personal business while you play Black Ops 2, all from the goodness of his heart. This is clearly a failsafe idea, and if you need any proof, look no further than the trailer below. 

Black Ops 2's Revolution DLC will arrive on Xbox 360 on January 29th, one week from today. More dates will be revealed soon for other platforms.

NVIDIA has announced that they will be hosting the grand finals for their Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 Rivalries tournament, which pits classic college rivalries in Black Ops 2 action.

This weekend, the wildcard playoffs and championship bracket will be played out at NVIDIA Headquarters in Santa Clara, CA and you're invited to attend. NVIDIA has issued an open call for attendees, so if you're interested in checking out some competitive Call of Duty gameplay featuring some of the fiercest college rivalries as well as free food, drinks and fun, this is the opportunity for you. Make sure you RSVP, though, it's rude to show up unannounced.

The remaining teams include:

• University of California (CAL)
• North Carolina State (NC State)
• University of Southern California (USC)
• East Carolina University (ECU)
• Oregon State University (OSU)

The favorite, in our opinion, is clearly the University of California team, who has gone undefeated thus far in the Rivalries tournament. USC is not far behind, however, with a 4 - 1 record so far. We certainly wouldn't say no to a USC vs CAL grand finals match. CAL will face off against the winner of the wildcard match-up that features ECU and OSU while USC takes on NC State. All of these matches are going down on the 19th of January, so make sure you stay tuned to see who reigns victorious.

Check out http://www.geforce.com/landingpage/rivalries for more information on the Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 Rivalries tournament, presented by NVIDIA GeForce GTX. Take a look at CAL vs Stanford after the break!

If you haven’t heard by now there were a number of leaked details about the new DLC for Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 and now the trailer for the DLC is out. If you want more information on the DLC you can find it here: http://www.fpsgeneral.com/news/call-of-duty-black-ops-2/22802-update-call-of-duty-black-ops-2-revolution-dlc.

So now we know the basics about Call of Duty: Black Ops 2's Revolution DLC, we have a good idea of what to expect when the content launches later this month on Xbox 360 (and likely one month later on other platforms). The thing I want to talk about, however, is the Peacekeeper SMG and the potential it has, both positive and negative, as a DLC-only gun.

This is a first when it comes to Call of Duty, releasing a gun as DLC is interesting. Honestly, I’m surprised they haven’t done it before now, but that’s a topic for another day. I’m not sure if I would consider this a bold move or simply an inevitability. But the fact of the matter is that it introduces a lot of questions.

First thing that comes to mind is the aspect of the dreaded 'pay to win' potential. If this anything other than a carbon copy of another SMG already in the game then you welcome all the haters to say that you have to buy DLC to get better at the game, and that Activision only did it to make money. No matter how untrue this is, the trolls will spout their nonsense and many players will think it true.

After that you need to take into consideration the potential to split the community. When you introduce DLC maps you split the community, because those who haven’t payed for the DLC can’t play on those maps. Simple enough. But when you introduce a new weapon what happens when you on the old maps, can you even play on the old maps with those without DLC. If you can, and you die, can they pick it up? A lot of questions come to mind and it will be interesting to see how they handle them.

Another question that comes to mind is what happens if you weren't aware you can unlock Diamond camo by getting Gold for every gun in it’s class. When they introduce this weapon, will I have to play with it to gold to get my Diamonds back? Not sure important in the greater scheme of things, but an annoyance at least.

All in all, I’m not surprised at this. I’m interested to see how it goes, if it’ll even be worth using. But beyond that I desperately hope that it doesn't divide the community further. PC is already at it’s breaking point. Anyway guys, that's it for this piece, just putting some thoughts out there for you to ponder on.

Let me know what you think in the comments. Thanks for reading!

Update: This has been confirmed! Check out the brand new trailer for the map pack available above. Black Ops 2 Revolution DLC will launch on January 29th. Original story is as follows.

According to rumors swirling on the Internet, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 will see its first downloadable add-on released later this month. The Revolution DLC pack rumor has been floating around for a week or so now, but finally has gotten some relevance as Amazon UK accidentally posted up a listing for the content.

In the listing, we see the DLC as including:

• Hydro – This large map allows you to use the dam and water to your advantage to block paths and stop enemies.
• Downhill – A medium-sized map based in the French Alps complete with snow, chair lifts, and a strategically placed lodge.
• Grind – Set within the locale of the Venice, California boardwalk, this small skate park map is sure to deliver fast and frenetic Call of Duty action.
• Mirage – This Gobi Desert multiplayer map utilises sand dunes to provide different levels of elevation and a sanctuary in the centre as a natural chokepoint.
• Zombies – Die Rise–The Zombie apocalypse has invaded China, turning down town into a dilapidated and dangerous MC Escher painting.
• Peacekeeper SMG – This impressive sub-machine gun fills the open weapon slot in your load-out with power and accuracy.

The content is listed at 1200 MSP on Xbox Live, right on line with previous Call of Duty DLC. This is, of course, free for season pass holders. When the content eventually arrives on PC and PlayStation 3, it will most likely be available for $14.99.

Stay tuned!

Source: MP1st

Call of Duty has become much more than a game franchise, it's a global phenomenon. As developers strive to take the game to the next level each year, sometimes a handful of quirks get left by the wayside.

To be honest, sometimes they just flat out don't make sense. Tomahawk + toe hit = instant death? Makes sense...if you follow a different line of logic than the rest of the world. Our own Crazy Penguin has dubbed this 'COD Logic', which we think Webster would defined thus:

COD Log-ic
/kod loj-ik/
Noun

The method of reasoning applied particularly to anomalies found in Activision's Call of Duty video game franchise.

Example: 
"For shame, sirrah, that Tomahawk struck me upon my knee...why have I perished?"
"The blame lies surely upon the shoulders of COD Logic, my good fellow."

What are your favorite examples of COD Logic? Share them in the comments or over in the forums!