Activision Outlines Huge Shake Up in Black Ops II Zombies Mode

29
Lee Bradley

Activision has hinted at some of the innovations Treyarch is bringing to Black Ops II’s Zombies mode.

The massively popular gameplay mode traditionally charges a team of four players to work co-operatively to defend against a horde of zombies. This time out, however, Treyarch is exploring new possibilities.

Activision's vice-president of production Daniel Suarez said, “We’re changing the way that game modes work for Zombies. So traditionally Zombies is a four-player co-op mode. We’re going to still have that this time around, but in addition to that we’re going to offer up new opportunities for players to play with Zombies in a different way.

These “new opportunities” include introducing a competitive multiplayer elements to the game as well as elements from Wager Matches and Theatre.

“So imagine you and your four friends, versus me and my four friends, versus a bunch of zombies,” said Suarez. “That’s just one example of what we’re talking about."

“Treyarch has constantly been innovating in what they’re doing with multiplayer," he continued. "I think last time around we had Combat Training, we had Theatre which is the first time we had that kind of concept in Call of Duty, and we had Wager Match mode. 

“We’re going to take a lot of those nuances that exist and bring them over to Zombies. So maybe there’s a Zombie Theatre and you’re making zombie movies, or Wager Matches - which was a different kind of gameplay style - and bringing them over to Zombies as well.”

Interesting innovations, for sure, especially the competitive Zombies idea. Do you kill your opponents at all costs or team up to take out the zombies first? It's going to be carnage.

Regardless of your opinion of Treyarch and the Call of Duty series, there’s no denying that this time they’re looking to shake up the entire formula. It'll be interesting to see how it turns out.

[via BebopVox. Thanks, O0mix0O]

Comments
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  • Adding a mod where you are a zombie and you sneak up on the living.. THAT would be innovative Activision.
  • First you ruined single-player then you ruined multiplayer please activision don't ruin the zombies too
  • @1 I have to disagree with you there. That was available years ago. Still happy that 8 players can play together now in a zombie match. This is kind of stuff is why I consider Black Ops the better series than MW. They add stuff and improve things that were not there before. Way to go Treyarch! P.S. Im talking aside from the fact that the engine is a modified version from BO1, which came from WAW, which came from MW1.(This is my personal opinion, please respect it, I have no grudge to those that dislike this comment)
  • I like the idea of being able to "make your own zombie movies" but I think it will be hard to produce a "good" one. I don't really care for Zombies anyway, stupid mode.
  • @2 Explain to me. How is this ruining zombies? It's an extra mode. Were still going to get the 4 players against the world mode. This is jus another interesting option to the mix. Another mode where 8 players are split 2 to different teams trying to kill each other while zombies try to kill them. That is where they decide to work together or go against all odds and try to take each other down.
  • I think it would be kinda cool if they made it to where you had classes you could build and take in to the zombie mode. I think it'd be pretty damn cool to be able to have some of your fav builds to be able to kill some zombies.
  • This is why I still say they really need to give Cod a rest for about 3years and then bring it back.The games are getting like Madden now take something out and add it back in in the new game.This is also why I think take 2/rockstar are the best dev's we have they don't constantly pump the same game to us every year I used to give Ubi Soft props but they are killing me with AC they need to let that rest for awhile as well.And EA you gets no props except for dead space but 2 pissed me off and 3 i just may not get 3 way to go way to go.
  • @5 my opinion is that if something is not broken don't try to fix it. Zombies are the most innovative thing that treyarch made if they change it propably they will mix it up like they did with multiplayer. It's just my personal opinion
  • @8 You are correct with the not broken, don't fix it sentence. I respect your opinion as you respect mine. I hope they don't make it similar multi like you say. But I think that a few new extra modes would be excellent. As long as they concentrate their main strength to the 4 player against zombies mode.
  • Now I totaly agree with you
  • @3 I heard the rumour of 8 players but from that sentence alone I worked out 10. When I read the line this is how I worked it out: “So imagine you (1) and your four (4) friends, versus me (1) and my four (4) friends, versus a bunch of zombies,” said Suarez. “That’s just one example of what we’re talking about." So is it 8 or 10? whatever it is its due to be interesting but it all sounds very complicated for the one part of COD that was so simple, kill or be killed lol
  • This isn't a new idea at all. Treyarch have just stolen the concept from Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City. Typical Treyarch bullshit as usual there.
  • RE: OPC plays a totally different way than Zombies would, it's an option you don't have to kill the other team you may need them to help fight against the Zombies and at what point would you kill the other team seeing how Zombies is a endless mode. Anyway i'm glad they are changing things, i don't really want to pay for the same game with a different story and location
  • Sticks n stones zombies? hehe that would be awesome running around tomahawking zombies!
  • Technically other games have done this, like resident evil operation racoon city (@13 you spelt "orc" wrong :P) But considering the zombies are way harder...this is an innovation for the call of duty series...as long as this is optional and not forced, I think people may like this mode...
  • Oh I forgot to mention, resident evil 5 vs mode was mixed with enemies.. If the focus is on zombies more than players and a "passive aggressive" mentality starts this could work (by that no teams fires until the other guys shoots) So yeah...not "new", just a different focus on who to shoot first.
  • @12 It's not a new idea but I wouldn't call it copying. More taking what your compeition is doing and applying it to your own game. A lot of games companies do this. I wouldn't call it Innovation really, we use that word way too much. None of the games I've seen this generation are Innovative, that dosen't mean their bad because Innovation is like the first mobile phone or the first commerical car or in the case of gaming, the first 3D video game.
  • Zombies are lame. If I wanted to play zombies, I'd play left for dead
  • Zombies in COD are the worst part of the game.
  • How about if both teams work together instead. 8 vs. Zombies
  • Anything to do with Zombies gets a thumbs up from me. However, they need to stop making dumbass trophies that take 45 minutes to 1 hour to get. Zombies is about shooting, shooting and more shooting! keep the new zombie trophies simple (but tough, big baller from WAW?) and i'll be happy.
  • This seems interesting, never really played zombies before but I am a big fan of survival on MW3, as for the 4 vs 4 vs zombies mode I suspect it will be something like WAW competavie coop mode, were by your all on the same "side" ie cant kill each other, but your indivual scores (for killing zombies, reviving people so on and so forth) are added to your teams and the team with the highest score wins.
  • if it wasnt for the new inovation to zombies i wouldnt be buying BO2!
  • I was never a fan of zombies but I hope those of you who are will enjoy it.
  • Well I question the entire idea of adding "competitive" elements to a by definition cooperative mode, but hey. I've been surprised before. Maybe Treyarch can make sense of it and make it fun. Then again it could be full of trolls who end up killing get you killed on round 1....Wait... That already happens.
  • Zombies is something that has always been a favorite for me and my friends to play as a group. All the changes are nice, but I think in the end nothing beats the simplistic four-player survival mode against an endless enemy...except maybe playing while intoxicated.
  • Isn't one team vs another team with zombies in the middle called Resident Evil Operation Raccoon City?...
  • I love this use of the word "innovative". In what world is zombie mode "innovative"? It is essentially players holed up in an area while they fend off wave after wave of enemies. I'm sorry, but that is nothing new. Smash TV did that years ago and I'm pretty sure someone could think up a game even older that was using this style of gameplay. But you know, just because those past games don't have the words "Call Of Duty" attached to them people think they're irrelevant.
  • I used to play hours on end with WAW & BOPs zombies and that was great. I would like to see something different added to the game whether it be a different mode or just additional things. Whatever happens I will be playing :)
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