Part 2: Modern Warfare Competitive Modes

Tim

Speaking more to the changes to tournaments with this game. How has this tournament shown Modern Warfare will be different competitively compared to the past games?

Boble

We played Hardpoint, Search and Destroy, and Domination. Our tournament did a good job showing us what needs to be worked on for some of these modes, as well as the Codcaster mode, and gives more direction to the developers.

It's not necessarily changing a whole lot because we've seen these modes in past Call of Dutys competitively, but I think it was clear to see from watching the tournament that it is a little bit slower. A bit more tactically played compared to Black Ops 4.

Tim

Where would you like to take the direction of the competitive ruleset?

Boble

Right now with the way a lot of the spawns are for Domination, I wouldn't be against removing that as a game mode and just playing Hardpoint and Search and Destroy. Some changes I would like to make to those modes specifically. For Hardpoint, I think they did a good job minimizing the amount of objectives out on the map, but the spawns need some tweaking for each specific Hardpoint.

For Search and Destroy, it seems like there's one favorite bomb site for the offensive team to go to, and they go there every single round. So just looking for a place to relocate that other bomb site to create more strategy in the game and switch things up a little bit.

Tim

In terms of switching things up a little bit, do you think it would benefit the game to implement one of their new game modes, such as Cyber Attack?

Boble

I'm not against adding a new game mode, but Cyber Attack specifically, I don't think that would really work well in a competitive environment. I played it one time and I just don't see it working.

In Infinite Warfare, they created a new game mode called Team Defender. There's a neutral objective. It's kind of like Oddball for Halo. You pick up the flag, you can't shoot back, and you gain a point for every second you hold the flag. I would love to see a mode like that enter competitive vote, but from game to game each developer implements their own mode to make the game unique.

Last year it was Control. In the past it's been CTF. I'm not against adding a new mode and I do think that Call of Duty would benefit from having a new mode.

Tim

Which game mode would you like to see replace Domination in the competitive ruleset?

Boble

I've always been a fan of neutral objective game modes. Black Ops 4 did a great job developing Control for our third game mode last year. I would love to see more of these types of modes. There's always been a debate within the community about what we should play in that slot each year.

As the game changes it's tough to find modes that consistently stick and play well. I think these types of modes do a good job at keeping the action moving while still requiring team based play.

Tim

Consistency is good for competitive play, but how do you feel about similarities between modes?

Boble

I personally don't have any issue with modes being similar in Call of Duty. Demolition used to be played competitively which is similar to Search and Destroy, just with respawning. Even Headquarters and Hardpoint share some similarities.

There's been a lot of success within Call of Duty from creating these hybrid modes. Having modes with some similarities does help create a nice flow to the series from a spectator's view.

Tim

Would a more unique mode like One Flag Capture the Flag, which doesn’t currently exist, be preferable to spectators and players for diversity sake?

Boble

One Flag CTF was added to COD back in Black Ops 2 for a brief period of time. I think we tested it and found it just didn't quite work. I definitely wouldn't be against testing different modes like this but it's hard to say if it would be preferable to one group or another. Other factors like maps and gun play also weigh heavily on these preferences.

Tim

Any new mode you’d like to create?

Boble

Nothing comes to my mind for a specific mode but there are some features that have existed in other games. A Forge mode would be a great tool to have. Some of the best Halo maps were created out of their Forge system. More options in private matches such as infinite grenades and placing target dummies on the map would help us dive deeper into the game.