Treyarch: Black Ops will be "best COD"

By Johnny Minkley Published 28 June, 2010

Separate teams working on "core pillars".

With the future of Modern Warfare unclear, Infinity Ward respawning and Medal of Honor back in the game, Treyarch has thrown down the gauntlet to rivals, stating that Call of Duty: Black Ops "will be the best Call of Duty in the franchise".

The confident words came from Treyarch community manager Josh Olin, speaking to Eurogamer TV in an interview you can watch below.

Olin pointed to the fact that Treyarch had employed separate teams for "the core pillars", multiplayer, co-op and single-player. "It's kind of like three games being developed at once," he said.

The fallout from Activision's public spat with Infinity Ward's former studio heads, who subsequently set up new studio Respawn with other ex-staff, has cast a cloud of uncertainty over the future of the biggest franchise in gaming.

But Olin insisted it has not affected development of Black Ops. "The Infinity Ward situation is unfortunate, but we're not letting it distract us," he said.

For more from Olin, check out Eurogamer TV's Medal of Honor vs. Call of Duty E3 head-to-head below.

We interview both sets of developers.

Call of Duty: Black Ops is coming to PS3, 360, PC and Wii on 9th November.

Picture of Johnny.

About Johnny Minkley

Eurogamer TV's Johnny Minkley is a veteran journalist with a lifelong passion for games and the games industry. He uses Twitter more than most people use air.

Read more articles from Johnny by visiting the Johnny Minkley archive page.

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Comments (45) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • NewbieZilla #1 2 years ago

    Its Treyarch. So no, it wont.

  • Vlad27145 #2 2 years ago

    Also, three teams for the three separate pillars of the game usually doesn't work out. So yeah, it won't. But really, who cares any more?

  • ChthonicEcho #3 2 years ago

    Best CoD is the first, with the first Modern Warfare arriving second. I sincerely doubt either of those will be topped.

  • MrE26 #4 2 years ago

    Of course they're gonna say that! "Well, it won't be as good as Infinity Ward's games, but it'll be decent." just doesn't have the same effect, does it?

  • Haloboy #5 2 years ago

    It's Treyarch yes, but then Treyarch did World at War which was amazing. This will be too, I'll donate my testicles to science if it ends up a complete dud.

  • Eraysor #6 2 years ago

    I'm wondering if the next IW CoD will be as good as Black Ops to be honest, now the developer has been basically gutted of all its talent.

  • Vic #7 2 years ago

    Yeah course it will.

  • CaptainQuint #8 2 years ago

    Zzzzzzzzzzzz

    Though to be fair to Treyarch, it ain't exactly difficult to make a better than the last CoD/MW game.

  • sfp_noodle #9 2 years ago

    You will never top COD4.

    That is all.

  • higganos #10 2 years ago

    This game will be better than MW2. Fact. In retrospect, that game is a steaming pile of nonsense. Black Ops looks like it it may follow the COD4 template imo.

    I just hope they don't fuck about too much with the MP and make it silly like MW2's ridiculous perk system. Puuulease with that shit.

    heartbeat sensors? I mean SHITTING REALLY?!

  • Nephirion #11 2 years ago

    COD has become like the NFS franchise same game different engine.

  • geeza2020 #12 2 years ago

    FPS games are sooo 2008.

  • kar #13 2 years ago

    Hate to get all Meta. But what exactly *is* 'COD' anymore?

    To be the best COD, means 'COD' is more than just a name. I think with Modern Warfare 2, COD stopped being a game as such, and just a brand to stick on a box for a first person shooter game.

    Black Ops seems to reinforce that view.

    So, maybe when Activision turn to sports games they can slap on the COD brand to COD NHL Hockey 2012 and make *that* the best damn 'COD' ever.

  • metalangel #14 2 years ago

    COD3 MP > all

  • Rens11 #15 2 years ago

    DLC,finding excuses to keep the rip off RRP and recycling old maps by any chance?
    Edited by 2 at 28/06/10 @ 13:10

  • higganos #16 2 years ago

    "Puuulease with that shit."

    [gags]

    Puuuuuuuuuuuuleeeeeeeaaaassssseeeee. ;)

  • makeamazing #17 2 years ago

    Your not going to trick me again Activision... you said the last COD was the best evaaaaaaa!!!! and it was pants. Definate rent.

  • NewbieZilla #18 2 years ago

    Sick of people only talk about multiplayer in Call of Duty. What of the single player campaign? Anyone here expecting Black Ops single player to beat MW 1 or 2? Seriously?

  • higganos #19 2 years ago

    "Sick of people only talk about multiplayer in Call of Duty. What of the single player campaign? Anyone here expecting Black Ops single player to beat MW 1 or 2? Seriously? "

    It probably won't beat MW but it will imo beat MW2's. I didn't enjoy that at all.
    Edited by 1 at 28/06/10 @ 13:21

  • DiamondIce #20 2 years ago

    @NewbieZilla

    Modern Warfare 2 was amazing and Treyarch will never get close to that quality of storyline / campaign.

    And as a guide to my judgement here: England played Germany off the pitch yesterday.

  • chibber23 #21 2 years ago

    If you continue quoting Treyarchs it probably reads Call of Duty: Black Ops "will be the best Call of Duty in the franchise... this year"

  • UKLL #22 2 years ago

    W@W was actually pretty good....

    MW > W@W >> MW2
    Edited by 1 at 28/06/10 @ 13:50

  • Fab4 #23 2 years ago

    If it has perks and kill-streaks then it can't be.

  • Darren #24 2 years ago

    The trouble with Treyarch's Call of Duty games for me is that I can't shake the sense that I'm buying a second-rate product. Their games feel like retreads of what has gone before, only with more bugs and glitches.

    I can't say that I'm even slightly excited at the prospect of playing another Call of Duty, one from a far less talented developer than Infinity Ward, but then Modern Warfare 2's campaign wasn't that great anyway IMO, definitely the weakest of all the games with its far-fetched plot and silly James Bond set-pieces.

    Maybe Treyarch can do something fresh and exciting with the series, which, let's face it, has not really evolved much since it appeared on the PC all those years ago.

  • CaptainQuint #25 2 years ago

    Halo > CoD and MW put together.

    Tee hee!

  • Macdory #26 2 years ago

    They need 3 teams to re-skin the current models and port over the maps from previous games? Wow !

  • Nighthawk_08 #27 2 years ago

    W@W is an awesome game, really don't understand the hatred towards it. The only cod that beats it online is MW (cod 4). MW 2 sucked ass, too many killstreak rewards makes the game a campers paradise. W@W required alot of skill to become a top player which is why I loved it. Hope the new one is similar and can't wait to get on it!!!

  • carlitoswagon #28 2 years ago

    Same pile of turd shaped differently. Is that what you want??
    Edited by 1 at 28/06/10 @ 15:46

  • convercide #29 2 years ago

    I hate to be the killjoy but I watched the interview and he didn't actually say that it'd be the best COD. He said it's up to the people to decide and that it's the best multiplayer that Treyarch have produced.

    That's a bit of a sensationalist headline Mr. Minkley...

  • Matthewg1974 #30 2 years ago

    How about all the connection issues... The PC version is going back to dedicated servers, but looks like Activision are still using their completely flawed p2p matchmaking for the console version black ops
    Edited by 1 at 28/06/10 @ 15:56

  • jtodroc #31 2 years ago

    Yeah I think Johnny almost forced that quote out of him!

    The only thing he really admitted was he thinks it'll be the best CoD that Treyarch has ever made.

  • Nighthawk_08 #32 2 years ago

    @carlitoswagon , clearly u ain't played the game. Like I said, was awesome and still is, and if u ain't got nothin productive to say then go play with ur dads asshole, I'd rather speak to people who have input, not comments by an 8yr old virgin

  • carlitoswagon #33 2 years ago

    @Shitehawk_08

    Oh dear. Having played every Call of Duty release I can honestly say I don't hate them and had great times with cod3, cod4, and waw mp, but there's a point where you have to take a break and try something a bit more creative.

    You are a typical nub.

  • Nighthawk_08 #34 2 years ago

    1. U said w@w Multiplayer was a pile of turd, now u like it???? WTF
    2. I own 47 games. Finished most of em. Don't tell me to try something more creative.
    3. Nub!?!?!? I got platinum on both w@w and mw2 and level 10 prestige on both. Would wup ur ass u noob fuck

  • TheBoyChris #35 2 years ago

    @Nighthawk_08

    Watch out, your arrogance is showing.

  • Nighthawk_08 #36 2 years ago

    @TheBoyChris

    Blow me, arrogance or not ain't nobody telling me I need to play different games and that I'm a noob. Now go play some different games u noob

  • orangpelupa #37 2 years ago

    best CoD is CoD1.
    the scene where we defend "pegasus bridge" is awesome. intense, great music.

    second best is CoD4 :D

    i doubt treyatch's CoD can be the best "CoD". But if it means that it be the best "Treyarch's CoD", maybe it will.

  • captainrentboy #38 2 years ago

    Like a few have mentioned, COD3 admitedely was a tad pooh but I thoroughly enjoyed WAW, easily moreso than I did MW2. So I'm actually looking forward to Black Ops, and that level they showed off at E3 was pretty awesome too, the 'splosions were lovely!
    And Co-Op? I didn't even know that was in there :)

  • Quixz #39 2 years ago

    It probably will be a good game but I'm not buying it. Might get it sometime next year preowned.

  • Ryze #40 2 years ago

    'Treyarch: Black Ops will be "best COD"'

    Wrong.

  • paulflee #41 2 years ago

    Was it only me who prefers World at war to Modern Warfare 2? World at war was class and gritty.

    Both good and I bought them both (and I'll buy the next on)

  • FooAtari #42 2 years ago

    @Nighthawk_08

    Does the 08 refer to the year you were born by any chance?

  • Zaiz #43 2 years ago

    The only good part of W@W was bayonet runs. Otherwise it had the flamethrower, aka the precursor to the Model 1887, no attempt at historical accuracy, and hilarious gore. SPLORAAAACKLLLLGGGGD whenever you shot a leg off with a PPSh. And by hilarious I mean I laughed once and facepalmed every other time.

    Also I bet they'll do the overzealous killstreak thing again. Nothing like that 9/14/25 build, amirite?

  • Nighthawk_08 #44 2 years ago

    @FooAtari

    Gayest comment ever. Think of somethin a little better then get back to me. No rush retard

  • Entissmiss #45 2 years ago

    Why would you compare your next game to a type of fish?