20 Years of Call of Duty: From Spielberg to Spectacular Shootouts

Ah, the gaming world, where pixels become legends, and joystick jockeys become heroes. But among the pixelated pantheon, there are a select few games that stand as colossi, altering the very fabric of our gaming reality. Games like Half-Life, World of Warcraft, and Fortnite are like that one-in-a-generation comet – dazzling, unforgettable, and hard to miss.

Now, in the hallowed halls of October 2023, we celebrate the 20th birthday of one such behemoth – the original Call of Duty. This game, born from a quest to outwit the Medal of Honor series, morphed into a monstrous franchise with over 400 million sales across 30 titles. It didn’t just change the game; it rewrote the rulebook. Let’s dive into this epic tale, brimming with cinematic set pieces, ladder-based progression, and more explosions than a Michael Bay movie.

But before we step onto the virtual battlefield, let’s rewind the clock to World War II, the crucible from which Call of Duty was cast. Yet, it wasn’t the war itself that sparked this gaming revolution, but rather a man, a director named Steven Spielberg.

Picture Spielberg during the making of Saving Private Ryan, a war epic that probably single-handedly kept the fake blood industry afloat. While directing, he’d watch his son play GoldenEye 007, and the sparks of creativity ignited. He envisioned a game that would educate and entertain, leading to the birth of Medal of Honor in 1999. Yet, Medal of Honor’s early entries focused on stealthy, cat-burglar-style infiltration missions.

That is until they dreamt of something grander – D-Day. Medal of Honor: Allied Assault was the answer, developed by Oklahoma-based studio 2015, Inc. They hired a dream team, including names like Mackey McCandlish, Jason West, and Vince Zampella. Little did they know, they were sowing the seeds of Call of Duty’s revolution.

Allied Assault introduced the concept of teamwork and camaraderie, breaking the mold of lone-wolf shooters. As Mackey McCandlish, a level designer at 2015, Inc., puts it, “Can I get the player to follow along and take part in a play with another character?” And that was just the beginning of the revolution.

Fast forward to the creation of Infinity Ward, the rebellious offspring of 2015, Inc. When 22 out of 25 people decide to start a new company, you know something’s cooking. They were fleeing the tumultuous seas of Electronic Arts, and this led to the birth of Infinity Ward, who then adopted the philosophy of “All D-Day, All the Time.”

Their goal? To make every level feel like D-Day, with guns, explosions, paratroopers, and craters. They were chasing the elusive ‘No one fights alone’ atmosphere, turning players into squads. As McCandlish explains, “you’re in a war, and it’s real.”

Modern Warfare 2’s cinematic moments aren’t just clever scripting; they’re carefully crafted to evoke emotions. It’s less about smart AI and more about creating feelings that spring from moments in film. So, when you start with a movie, you end up with thrilling and challenging designs.

Call of Duty’s campaign takes us on a cinematic rollercoaster ride, from the Normandy landings to the heart-pounding Battle of Stalingrad. And, by the way, it’s all inspired by the silver screen, right down to the iconic “The man with the rifle shoots, the man without the rifle follows.”

But the real game-changer? Call of Duty’s multiplayer. It introduced a progression system where you unlocked weapons and perks, making every match a personal journey of unlocking stuff. Call of Duty mastered the art of balancing linear gameplay and engaging storytelling.

We bid farewell to the linear path of Counter-Strike, transitioning to Team Deathmatch, powered by a clever innovation called Killstreaks. This led to thrilling, high-stakes matches that have become a hallmark of the series.

Modern Warfare’s multiplayer didn’t just break new ground; it shattered the earth’s crust, laying the foundation for the multiplayer games we know today. The rewards, perks, and customization paved the way for the concept of battle passes and deep progression systems.

So, as we raise a virtual toast to Call of Duty’s 20th birthday, remember that this game didn’t just rewrite the rulebook; it penned an entirely new one. From Spielberg’s cinematic vision to immersive campaigns and groundbreaking multiplayer, Call of Duty has left an indelible mark on the gaming world. As we fire up our gaming consoles and join the fray, we salute the game that brought Hollywood’s war movies into our living rooms and changed the way we play forever. Happy 20th, Call of Duty – you’re a true gaming legend!