Part 3: Modern Warfare Maps and Meta

Tim

Diving deeper into the gameplay, how do you believe the meta will develop between now and the start of the season?

Boble

Typically earlier in Call of Dutys, it's more assault rifle favored because players are still learning how to maneuver around the maps, what routes they could take, where exactly they could throw all their grenades. With that learning process, assault rifles are a bit more prevalent on the map. As players start to learn proper routes, I picture a shift towards SMGs.

It's also tough to say because the developers don't have to balance the game just for competitive players. They also have all of these public match players to keep in mind. They have to keep those guys happy so that they'll keep playing the game. It's a fine line that they have to walk when it comes to balancing these guns. We don't really know what future weapon balances might do to the game.

Tim

Speaking of the developers, they’re trying to move away from three-lane maps to more open maps. How will the map design impact the meta?

Boble

Traditional three-lane maps have clear power positions that players will go to. On the maps that we're playing right now in Modern Warfare, there are multiple power positions. There's a window here, a rooftop there, a box here, a fence there that players can use for good positioning. While you're pushing towards an objective, you're actively working at clearing out these positions and it's a lot to take in.

There's no right way to cover all of these angles. Somebody could peek out of a window at any time and completely ruin your setup and ruin your push. It's harder from that front. Will it open up room for more strategy? I guess technically yes because there's more area on the map to work with, but it also makes it inherently frustrating for players to compete.

You die so quickly in Call of Duty. You just don't have the time and you don't have the help to be worried about all these different angles. It slows down the game to a point where it just hurts the competitive pace.

Tim

Do you believe the same holds true for Call of Duty as a spectator sport?

Boble

I think it'll overall hurt the spectator experience as well. They want to see players get into the action. They want to see as much action as possible out on the map. There's a good balance to be had with spectators and players alike, but right now I feel that the current map design will hurt players and spectators.