Overview of Series
Call of Duty, better known as COD is one of the most popular and best selling FPS (first person shooter) games and franchises. It started out primarily as a PC FPS game, but it has since branched out into console gaming, and handheld gaming. The series is known for pushing the envelope on graphics, game play, detailed warfare, and storytelling. Not only has the main titles been a benchmark for FPS WWII shooters, but its spinoff titles have also become among the most award-winning and best-selling titles in gaming.
COD WWII Main Series
The main series of Call of Duty was first released in 2003. The setting was a World War II shooter that had an amazing campaign and an even better multiplayer option. It was developed by Infinity Ward and was only made available on PC. It was eventually named as Game of the Year and it set the standard for most FPS games for the genre.
The game’s sequel came in 2005. The second version lived up to the original game and it was expanded to be included in the Xbox 360 console as well. Once again it followed the infantry and armed forces of the Allied Forces during WWII. The third game, would be the first game that would be released under a new developer, Treyarch. It would also be the first game that would be made available across all platforms, including PC, mobile, and all the major consoles.
In 2017, the COD main series returned to World War II with COD:WWII. The developers used the advanced graphics of the more recent COD games and applied it to their signature genre of a WWII first person shooter.
Modern Warfare
The Modern Warfare spinoff of Call of Duty is perhaps the most popular of the entire series. For years fans wanted to know what it would be like if the game play and graphics of COD could be used for a more updated era, and they got their wish with COD: MW. The game was set in the modern day, and features the latest forms of armed combat and warfare. It was among the best selling games of 2007 and it was named Game of the Year once again. It was developed by Infinity Ward and it sold over 13 million copies worldwide.
Because of the success of MW, the sequel COD: Modern Warfare 2 was released in 2009. It was another hit and continued the story and featured the same characters as the first Modern Warfare game. The third and final installment of the series was released in 2011. It was once again developed by Infinity ward and continued the story-line of the first two Modern Warfare games.
Black Ops
COD: Black Ops was the second spinoff to be released from the Call of Duty franchise. The first game was released in 2010 and it was developed by Treyarch. Unlike the other two games, this spinoff primarily took place during the Cold War and some of the Vietnam War. The sequel, COD: Black Ops 2 once again developed by Treyarch, was released in 2012, and it was the first game to feature future warfare technology. The campaign also featured several storylines and had several endings. A third game COD: Black Ops 3 was released in 2015. COD: Black Ops 4 was released in 2018 and was the first game that did not feature a single player campaign. Instead it offered a Battle Royale option called Black Out.
Other Titles
Other titles in the Franchise include games that were developed by Sledgehammer Games, namely COD: Ghosts, COD: Advanced Warfare, and COD: Infinite Warfare. These games focused more on futuristic warfare and cutting edge technology for weapons and combat.
Rotation
The COD franchise rotates from the three developers for their games. At first the two main developers (Treyarch and Infinity Ward) alternated years of release. But a third developer, Sledgehammer games, has entered the mix, so the three developers would release on a three-year rotation with specific titles. Treyarch released the Black Ops games, Infinity Ward released the Modern Warfare games, and Sledgehammer released the Advanced Warfare games.
HISTORY
COD, also known as Call of Duty, is one of the best selling first person shooter franchises in the world. It started out as a World War II shooter, but has since evolved into the benchmark for shooter games on all platforms, whether it is in story-telling campaign, or with online multiplayer. Let’s take a look at the humble beginnings of COD and how it has evolved throughout its history.
- Call of Duty (2003): The first Call of Duty game was made to be a competitor to the popular Medal of Honor game. It was a first person shooter that was made from the perspective of the Allied Forces during World War II, specifically the American, British, and Russian armed forces. The game was developed by Infinity Ward.
- 2 (2005): The second Call of Duty simply expanded on the first game, and added new features. But its impact on the franchise is how it was finally introduced to consoles.
- 3 (2006): Call of Duty 3 would be the first time that the game would be developed by another company, Treyarch, instead of Infinity Ward. The game was updated, but the most significant contribution of Treyarch was to create an engaging and story-driven single player campaign.
- 4: Modern Warfare (2007) : Modern Warfare was the game’s first time to go outside of World War II and into modern times. It was one of the biggest games of the year and one of the biggest releases for the franchise. The reigns were back to Infinity Ward for this game.
- World at War (2008) : Treyarch returned to World War II for their next release COD: World at War. They focused more on the conflict at the Pacific Theater and the Eastern parts of the war.
- Modern Warfare 2 (2009): Infinity Ward’s sequel to the first Modern Warfare was heavily hyped and it did not let down. The sales for the game exceeded the first game, mainly due to the excellent single player campaign and the return of the multiplayer rank system from the first COD.
- Black Ops (2010): Treyarch finally escaped World War 2 and decided to go modern with COD: Black Ops. They focused on the Cold War and parts of the Vietnam War. The single player mode was once again praised, but the additional multiplayer adjustments made it a big hit.
- Modern Warfare 3 (2011) : Modern Warfare 3 took things to the future and decided to focus on a fictional World War 3 between NATO and Russian Nationalists. Infinity Ward needed help to stable the ship and brought in Sledgehammer games as a partner developer.
- Black Ops II (2012) : Black Ops 2 used the latest technology to create the best looking COD in terms of graphics. Treyarch once again took the campaign mode to a different level, going for different decades from the 1980’s to the 2020’s.
- Ghosts 2013: With COD: Ghosts, Infinity Ward took things to a different tone with the campaign focusing more on stealth and partnership between two main characters. The series took a hit, not selling as much as previous titles.
- Advanced Warfare 2014: Sledgehammer’s first foray into COD took things to the future with technological advances in warfare and combat. Sledgehammer became the third official developer for the COD franchise.
- Black Ops III 2015: Treyarch returned with Black Ops 3 and went with the trend of using futuristic weapons and warfare with their game play. The series recovered in terms of sales, but it wasn’t as groundbreaking.
- Infinite Warfare 2016: Infinity Ward continued with the futuristic trend and ventured even further when they invaded outer space for their warfare setting. It wasn’t as warmly received, but the game was still a hit.
- WWII 2017: Sledgehammer went in the opposite direction with COD: WWII. They returned to the ground, literally and figuratively, and paid homage to the roots of the franchise.
- Black Ops 4 2018: Treyarch released Black Ops 4 as the first game without a single player campaign. But the game had new features such as a Zombie story mode and a Battle Royal mode called Black Out.
GAME META
Call of Duty has been one of the best selling and popular first person shooter franchises in gaming. Since the first COD game was released in 2003, there have been 19 games including sequels and spin-offs, and each of these games has been a hit. But with each game released, there have been changes and upgrades to the game play and combat style. Here we take a look at the current meta of the two latest COD games (Black Ops 4 and WWII)
Weapons
Each COD game has its own set of weapons to choose from. With the two latest games, we have the most modern and advanced weaponry for modern warfare, and the weapons and arms that were used during WWII. There are certain weapons that are more powerful than others and some afflict more damage to your opponent. In WWII, there are just three primary weapons, namely, the BAR, the STG the PPSH. While in BO4, there are several primary weapons, each with its own upgrades and add-ons.
Game Modes
There are several game modes to choose from with each game. These modes are available for multiplayer and for single player (against AI). There are similar game modes in both BO4 and WWII, mostly featuring 5-versus-5 matches. Modes such as Hardpoint and Capture the flag are among the most popular modes played online today.
Roles
In multiplayer games, there are roles that players can choose to help their team. These roles (Specialist for BO4) for either game are different, but you can explore and try out each role and see what fits you the best. For instance, in both games there is a role for support. This role mainly entails providing health, ammo, and surveillance for your team.
Maps
In Call of Duty games, there are several maps to choose from with each game. There are some maps that have been used over and over because of its popularity, but with each new release, there are also new maps unveiled. Familiarizing yourself with each map is essential for strategy and team formation. It is also important to know where your opponents will spawn and where they are likely to attack from. In WWII the most popular maps are the Gustav Cannon and the USS Texas maps, while the most popular maps in BO4 are the Militia and Contraband maps.
COD Tournaments and Prizes
The crowning jewel of the COD competitive scene is the Call of Duty League (CDL). The event was inaugurated in 2020 with the Launch of Modern Warfare, and it became an instant hit. This year’s CDL will showcase twelve professional teams fighting for supremacy and prestige on Black Ops: Cold War — the winner will take home the champion’s trophy and the biggest slice of the $5 million prize pool.
Call of Duty World Championship is the pinnacle of the competitive season, held annually to determine the year’s world champion. The tournament was first held in 2013, and its popularity has been on the rise ever since. In its current format, the competition features seven teams that must fight their way to the main event through a series of qualifiers. Last year’s World Championship boasted a $750,000 prize pool.
These are but a few of the numerous COD tournaments you can lay a punt on throughout the year. The Call of Duty calendar is loaded with prime-time events, with prize pools often exceeding $1,000.000.
Call of Duty Wagering
The COD betting catalogue varies from one bookmaker to another. Most betting sites offer only the basic types of bets, such as the outright winner, while esports specialists often extend their portfolio, adding a couple of exotic wagers to spice things up a bit. That said, it’s time to get your facts straight when it comes to the most commonly offered COD wagers:
- Match/series winner: This wager is the easiest to grasp as it “only” requires punters to predict the winning side of the match or tournament.
- Totals: Also known as over/under, totals cover a wide range of occurrences, from the total number of kills in a given match to the number of rounds it will take a specific team to win the competition.
- Handicap: As in other sports, handicap bets act as an equalizer between two unevenly matched teams. The underdog is given a headstart, which is often reflected in a one-map advantage.
- Props: Props are the most diverse types of bets and often the most appealing among punters. They can be anything — from the first kill of the match to the highest-scoring player and anything in between.
- Live betting: Although COD live betting is still in its infancy, there are a few bookies offering in-play Call of Duty markets. With it being a fast-paced game, it’s vital that you react quickly because you might miss out on a potentially lucrative opportunity.
