Friday - Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile - An Unwelcoming Experience For New Mobile Players

For Mobile Friday this week is i tried out Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile from Activision. I Played this on my iPhone 14 Pro, but it's also out on Android.

Whilst the game had beta's and a limited release, it has now received a world wide release so i would consider this game for 2024 Game of The Year. Except, it has the dreaded extra download. it's already a 3.93 GB download from the app store but then there's an additional 3.3 GB to install before you can play it. There's no warning about this additional download so do not play this game for the first time on a mobile network. But throughout the game it reads as if the game is downloading higher quality graphics to your phone as you play it. It's possible that because i'm using an #iPhone 14 Pro, it had to downloaded higher quality graphics whilst i played. This is a big mobile cap killer which makes it even more difficult to recommend as a mobile game.

Call of Duty: Warzone is out across PC and Consoles, i gave it a go on #PS4 https://youtu.be/-F5LygJiO2U, when the 2.0 version came out over a year ago. the biggest takeaway from that video was that it wasn't welcoming to new players like myself. I genuinely hoped that time, a new platform, and a new audience meant that Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile was going to be a much better experience. Unfortunately, it's still unwelcoming.

The extra download at the start is one hint that perhaps #Activision wasn't going to maximise the potential of this new player base. that feeling continued throughout playing the game. the only tutorial was the controls, even tho it asked me twice if i played this games and i knew Warzone. i said i didn't know either so what i wanted was an in-depth tutorial of the controls, home screen, menus, goals, etc. what i got was how to control the game.

There is a positive in that i was allowed to play the game as a "Guest" and not link any Activision accounts to the game. But there aren't many other positives about the game. The graphics didn't wow me, the controls are fine but there's no rumble feedback. The user interface was crowded and it felt like the icons were poorly placed. the game never pointed us to the options to help fine tune the game to our needs, but there wasn't a way to try out the changes even if we did make some.

I could go on, but what Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile feels like is a tool for Call of Duty: Warzone on other platforms. It isn't a mobile Call of Duty: Warzone game but rather a Call of Duty: Warzone on mobile game. It's really hard to recommend this to new mobile players, but for those who already play Warzone and are looking to play on the go, then this is fine as it's what they play but on mobile. 

Version 3.3.4 Played.

Online Saturday - Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War - My First Time

Today's Online Saturday game is from this month's PlayStation Plus selection. Call of Duty: Black Ops - Cold War was added as a free game to download for PlayStation Plus subscribers and i was curious as to whether the online was still popular considering this is an older Call of Duty game.

The last Black Ops game i played was Call of Duty: Black Ops III but i only played the single player story mode, in the video i thought i played it on PS3 but i think i was wrong and i played it on PS4.

When i played Warzone 2.0, https://youtu.be/-F5LygJiO2U, i had such a bad experience that i actually deleted the game after making that video. So i came into this a little cautious with low expectations. The main menu has 3 options, and as i wanted multiplayer i selected that. i wasn't expecting there to be a video for it tho, i have no context for it so it came across as unnecessary fluff.

But after that, when i got to the multiplayer menu, i was pleasantly surprised how accessible it all was. each mode had an option to see what it actually was. it wasn't cluttered either, nor were there many messages. to me, it was clear what my options were. pressing L1 or R1 would change the menus and i felt that these could've done with the same treatment as i didn't really know what any of it meant. but at least it was simple enough to explore them and i was mostly able to work it out for myself.

It did take longer to find games than i expected. but, seeing as i didn't play this at launch i have no context as to how long it used to take. so if you have that information, please let me know in the comments. thankfully i was able to use the time to explore the menus more, unlike Gundam Evolution.

I'm playing this on a launch model Japanese PS4 so loading did seem to take a little while and even when it got into a game textures took extra time to load. that coupled with the waiting time did give this game a slower feel to it. But i went into it assuming that maybe the case as no game i've played as matched up to Splatoon 3.

with so much loading, i would've liked the loading screens to have provided some more information about abilities and classes. But i won't hold it against the game as it does have a bot mode where i could learn all that stuff. I also don't take multiplayer too seriously so i didn't mind learning as i played in each game. one nice thing about the maps i played was that they weren't too small. there was enough room so that i didn't die as quickly as i spawned in. there was time to explore the map, time to try out stuff, and time to beat other players. i didn't feel like i didn't have a chance, i felt like i could contribute even tho it was my first time playing it.

Overall, i found Call of Duty: Black Ops - Cold War a very accessible game. it may not have as many people still playing it as when it did at launch, but there's enough so that waiting isn't too long. i had fun and even tho it takes up a lot of space and i think 6 downloads, i won't be deleting it. i may not do a video on it, but i may play the single player mode as well as some more multiplayer. but probably not zombies, they're too scary for me!

Activision Reveal The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Videogame, Coming Next Spring

Activision have announced The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Videogame. coming next Spring across 3DS, 360, Xbox One, PS3, PS4 and PC, the game is being developed by Beenox, who developed the first Amazing Spider-Man game. the game will feature an expanded New York City, free roaming and a alternative take on the up coming Amazing Spider-Man 2 movie, which will release alongside the game. a new feature of the game is the Hero or Menace system, this incentivizes Super Hero behavior and adds consequences for letting criminality fester.



Current Boxart


Press Release

Activision Have Released A Launch Trailer For SpongeBob SquarePants: Planktons Robotic Revenge

Activision have released a launch trailer for SpongeBob SquarePants: Planktons Robotic Revenge. the game is set to come out first in the EU this week and then across the USA on 22nd October.



Screenshots

Activision And Rovio Have Released A Character Trailer For Angry Birds Star Wars

Activision and Rovio have released a new character trailer for Angry Birds Star Wars. the game is set to come out across all consoles this November and this trailer shows the many different Angry Birds characters in their Star Wars Personas. the trailer also shows in-game action of each characters unique trait, like Han Solo can shoot lazers.

Activision And Bungie Announce A Destiny Beta Will Start In Early 2014, Release New Trailer

Activision and Bungie have announced there will be a beta for Destiny. the beta is currently set to start in early 2014 across PS3, PS4, 360 and Xbox One. fans can earn a beta spot by pre-ordering the game at a participating retailer. a new trailer has also been released for Destiny showing the Moon location and Hive enemy.



Press Release

Activision Have Released A Reveal Trailer For Multiplayer In Call Of Duty: Ghosts

Activision have released a new trailer for Call Of Duty: Ghosts. the first trailer is the new multiplayer reveal trailer and the second trailer is the previously released single player reveal trailer, which i missed. both these videos are for the next gen versions of Call Of Duty: Ghosts.

Activision Blizzard Reveal Diablo III: Reaper of Souls Expansion For Diablo III

Activision Blizzard have revealed a new expansion for Diablo III, Diablo III: Reaper of Souls. details regarding it's release will be announced at Blizzcon, but they have announced this expansion will increase the level cap to 70, introduce the city of Westmarch and introduce new spells and abilities for characters. paragon progression will be upgraded and two new game modes, Loot Runs and Nephalem Trials, will be introduced for more replayability.



Press Release

Bungie Have Released New Screenshots And A Fact Sheet For Destiny And Released A Behind The Scenes Look At Their Booth Statue

Bungie have released a new video showing the creation of the statue they used in their GamesCom booth, the statue was of a Fallen captain. Bungie have also released new screenshots, that are best viewed in full screen.



Screenshots


Fact Sheet

Activision Have Released A New Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows Video Featuring Just Blaze

Activision have released a new video for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows. this video features Just Blaze talking about the soundtrack he has made for the game, with some samples of this soundtrack being played.

Activision Detail 6 Games They Are Bringing To Wii U This Fall, Includes Call Of Duty: Ghosts

Activision have announced they are bringing 6 games to the Wii U, these games are:

• Call Of Duty Ghosts - Out 5th November
• Skylanders SWAP Force - Out From 13th October
• Angry Birds Trilogy - Out 13th August
• Angry Birds Star Wars - Out 29th October
• SpongeBob SquarePants: Plankton's Robotic Revenge - Out This Fall
• Wipeout Create And Crash - Out This Fall

Press Release

Activision Announce SpongeBob SquarePants: Plankton's Robotic Revenge, Coming To Consoles In October

Activision have announced Spongebob Squarepants: Plankton's Robotic Revenge for PS3, Wii U, Xbox 360, 3DS, Wii And DS. Coming this October, Spongebob Squarepants: Plankton's Robotic Revenge features an original story where Plankton has created a legion of evil robots and stolen the safe that has the recipe for Krabby Patty Formula. it's up to SpongeBob and friends to get back the safe.

Activision And Nickelodeon Have Revealed A New Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Video Game Based On The CG Animated Series

Activision and Nickelodeon have revealed a new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Video Game. this game will be based on the current CG animated series. the game is a side scrolling action brawler that is set to come out from 22nd October across 3DS, Wii and Xbox 360.



Press Release

Activision And Rovio Announce Angry Birds Star Wars Comes To Consoles On 29th October

Activision and Rovio have announced Angry Birds Star Wars is coming to consoles. from 29th October, these new versions will feature 20 new levels, features like Multiplayer modes and platform unique design elements like unlockable bonus content and leaderboards. it appears that the Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, Wii U and 3DS versions will come out at retail and the PS Vita version will come out digitally. the original version of Angry Birds Star Wars has been downloaded more than 100 Million times since it was released last year.



Press Release

Activision Have Released A New Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows Trailer For Leonardo

Activision have released a new trailer for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows for Leonardo.

Activision Have Released A Launch Trailer And Screenshots For Deadpool

Activision have released a launch trailer and screenshots for Deadpool.



Screenshots

Activision Have Released A New Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows Trailer For Raphael

Activision have released a new character trailer for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows. this video focuses on Raphael.

Activision And Infinity Ward Announce Call Of Duty: Ghosts, Out 5th November On PS3, Xbox 360 And PC

Activision and Infinity Ward have revealed the next game in the Call Of Duty franchise is Call Of Duty: Ghosts. currently confirmed for PS3, Xbox 360 and PC, Call Of Duty: Ghosts is set to come out on 5th November and is available for pre-order worldwide.

Call Of Duty: Ghosts will feature new characters, a new world and a new Call Of Duty engine. Activision have said the game will be coming to next generation consoles, but have not specified which ones. it is expected to come to the next Xbox as the full game reveal will be at the Next Xbox Event on 21st May. i expect the game to also come to PS4, but it's not clear if the Wii U will get a version. i expect the PS Vita will once again get a spin off with a possible E3 reveal for that.



Press Release

Activision Have Released A New Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out Of The Shadows Showing Michelangelo In Action

Activision have released a new trailer for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out Of The Shadows. this video uses in-game action to show the Michelangelo in action.

Activision And Treyarch Have Previewed The Black Ops 2 DLC Uprising With A New In-Depth Video

Activision and Treyarch have released a preview of the upcoming Call Of Duty: Black Ops 2 DLC Uprising. The Uprising DLC will come out first on Xbox 360 on 16th April for 1200 MS Points.

The Uprising DLC Includes:
Magma - A Level built around an erupting volcano in a Japanese themed town
Encore - An Outdoor concert hall with a central concert stage
Vertigo - A Skyscraper where players are in danger of falling off
Studio - a Hollywood black lot fall of different sets
Mob Of The Dead -Prohibition themed Alcatraz fall of Zombies with iconic mobsters voiced by Ray Liotta, Chazz Palminteri, Joe Pantoliano, and Michael Madsen.



Press Release