Infinity Ward: Two-player the 'magic number' for co-op

Two-player is the "magic number" for co-op, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare developer Infinity Ward has said.

When asked why Special Ops was limited to two players, not four, Bowling replied: "Two player seemed to be the magic number for co-op. That's when it stayed really fun and intense without becoming a clusterf**k of things. We just found that two-players was the most fun."

[mrv321]

Infinity Ward: Two-player the 'magic number' for lazy developers.

Let's look at the fact. Uncharted 1 and COD 4 game out at the same time.... in that time, Naughty DOG added multiplayer and 3 player co-op which is very hard they also improved the graphics by tons and imrpoved the game as a whole... while all they did for COD 6 was ermm nothing as side from tweaked the graphics Treyarch added co-op...

So let's not jump on board the hype train, no DOUBT COD 6(yes 6!) will be a fun game but I don't think it deserves it's level of praise for effectively doing not much at all.

[Simon_Brezhnev]

your 100% correct

[evrfighter]

kz2 has how many players in coop? They must be EXTREMELY lazy by your logic right?

[mrv321]

I didn't see Killzone 1 have co-op, IW basically downgraded from 4 to 2 probably so they don't have to do much with the singleplayer missions.

Oh Killzone 2 had 32 player online lag free gameplay which COD 4, 5 and 6 doesn't. Killzone 2 has a clan system none of the COD 4+ do.
Killzone 2 has one of the best engines, COD 4 odesn't.
Killzone 2 has FAR better AI
Killzone 2 worked on launch and I know because I bought it on launch.
Killzone 2 story was better better.

[mintaro]

Your other points are subjective, but Killzone 2 lag free? Are you out of your mind? Every time you would kill somebody it would take a full 1-2 seconds before they actually die, and you could see people teleporting throughout the map.

[joydestroy]

if they want a real hit there should be a SP campaign, a co-op separate campaign, AND multiplayer. that's how shooters need to be bringing it these days.

[mrv321]

Are you an assassin because you murdered the English language.

Killzone 2 is lag free for me on a connection where I have to pause a SD youtube video because it stop to buffer every few seconds.

[The_Count]

I love infinity ward for one reason. I can count a new title every year!

Ah ah ah.

[locos85]

I prefer the 4 player co-op like they had in Halo 3. I have alot friends that like to come by and it sucks to be having to pass the remote around.

[ThanatosDMC]

Agreed. 4 player co-op is fun ESPECIALLY with friendly fire! Nothing like a grenade teamkill to say you're best friends with somebody.

[pegger24]

"Infinity Ward: Two-player the 'magic number' for lazy developers."

Yep we all know that we cannot trust IW to make a good game. Why don't we wait to actually PLAY the game before we decide how many co-op players would be fun. I would love to play with 10, but that doesn't mean that this game is suited to that. Jesus christ, all we here is "WE WANT CO-OP", and then when they do it, it is "NOT GOOD ENOUGH". Do you guys wnat them to come over to your house and make you breakfast too?

Wait until it comes out to b**** about the game.

[Blaze929]

2P is the magic number for co-op? Yeah, back when Halo 1 was released! Now its common sense the good number for co-op is 4p, this really sucks. Damn Infinity Ward

[cereal_killa]

IW doesn't put out a game every year it's been every 2 years for them to release a game.

[BISHOP-BRASIL]

There isn't such a thing as "right number for co-op". It always depend on how it will play out.

Resistance 2 had 8 players on co-op and it felt right, less would be a headache to carry some missions and enemy waves, more would feel to crowded in some close spaces. It basically worked becuase the Co-op was planned for online in short missions.

Halo 3 had 2 or 4 players in the same campain you play alone and it played great when a friend come by or close friends online. It basically worked becuase the main story had alreasy a hole for your mates to play with you there.

Army of two, even being crap game, had a good 2 player co-op design.

It always depend on what the game will play.

PS: Killzone should have co-op, if you look at the game closely, it's obvious the game was designed for have a Co-op in the same model as Gears, because you are always being assisted by at least one guy AI controlled. It doesn't mean it lacks a co-op or not having it make it a bad game anyway, but denying there was plans for co-op is just stupid.

[jmare]

You must know better than the people who make the game what is best. But I wonder why you don't use your powers for good like creating peace in the middle east instead of wasting them on a videogame forum. Oh, you don't know jackshit abot making games and you think that games should follow some formula that you set? Well, maybe you should try it before you call someone lazy. Or if you can't bring yourself to do that, just don't buy it.

[Controversy]

and great analogy. Naughty Dog has INCREASED everything it is doing with Uncharted 2. Increasing and improving seem to make sense as time goes on.

[Tito Jackson]

That ONE is STILL the loneliest number....

Oh god now that song is stuck in my head.

[Kleptic]

2 is fine imo...if its just the regular campaign, and assuming its intensity is similar to CoD 4...I won't complain about it...and its a welcome addition over not having any co op at all in cod 4...

killzone 2 though...yeah a co op added onto the campaign would have been great...killzone 3 will have it...but you can still play a form of co-op through the game as is now...its just bots instead of single player missions...which is basically what horde mode is in Gears 2...you and 7 friends can go nuts on 8 bots of various difficulty in the multiplayer portion of the game...but more often than not its simply more fun for you and 7 friends (or more) to play against other humans...

[DaTruth]

Because four snowmobiles on a level would be chaotic and stupid!!! It only takes one small part of the game for it not to work, and taking out the snowmobiles was probably a no-go as it may be one of the best parts!

[BattleAxe]

I far prefered 4 players in the campaign co-op in Rainbow Six Vegas as opposed to 2 player co-op in Rainbow Six Vegas 2. Bad choice IW. This is where I think that Treyarch did a great job with Zombie mode(4 player) and campaign co-op (4 player)

[MazzingerZ]

now I know why R2 co-op is tons of fun!...8p taking down a titan is just too awesome...all that action in screen without lag.

They just didn't get the time to put more in the game not design it around SP and co-op...Atari wanted the game out this year to follow the "COD tradition" and they know people will buy it, specially 360 owners that have no that many games to look forward to for the fall as it looks today

Oh yes, and the DLC will be put a couple of weeks after the game releases..

[mal_tez92]

They obviously haven't playeyed resistance 2 co-op. This was 8 player class based co-op and I believe was the best co-op mode ever done. Simple because of the nice long missions (seperate from the campaign) and the focus on teamwork.
Co-op in call of duty is ok but there isn't a great sense of "I'm relying on him to survive" Which is what I should be feeling.

[JL]

What I want to know (and I apologize if I've just missed this mentioned somewhere), but is the co-op local or online? I really don't like how so many games these days are abandoning local multiplayer (especially racing games). And usually the excuse is always the same that I hear: "Oh it would effects graphics too much" or something to that effect. Really shows what graphics-whores we've become. I'd much rather have that fun local multiplayer than have to sacrifice gameplay so we can squeeze a few more pixels and polygons in there.

[mrv321]

Q:What makes co-op fun?

A: Playing and talking with people, you must rely on 1 person as apposed to 3(in 4 player co-op) so you have 3x the chances of finding someone with a mic and 7x the chances if you have 8 player co-op.

And people on mics especially friends make games so much more... so the math is against them.

[ZombieAutopsy]

i dont know i kinda would of liked a 2 player on a single console and 4 online, depending on how it plays since i havent played it yet i have no idea which way it would play better but i think id prefer 4

[darkgunner]

That's a pretty bad excuse for why they can't be bothered implementing 4 player co-op.

[Raf1k1]

It's IWs game.

If they feel 4 players gets too crowded for their maps then who am I to judge until I've played it?

More players would definitely be good but since I don't really know much about the game apart from what I've seen I don't really have much say on the matter and neither do most others.

@ 1.5: seems like a good idea but there are those that simply don't play online which could be a factor in why devs haven't done seperate co-op campaigns. I could be wrong though some might be looking into it and some might have even done it. If so, I'm not aware of it.

[BX81]

Bad excuse? He just said they didn't want to add it in so they didn't. Snarf Snarf! Mommy..mommy I wanted four player co-op....

Goes to his room and throws a fit, like he got his WoW account cancelled.

[darkgunner]

Just don't shove a remote control up your ass.

That vid was really disturbing...

[MegaMohsi]

I find the more people for co-op the more fun and better it is.

[YogiBear]

yeah, like 8 person co-op.

[joydestroy]

yeah, i actually like the clusterf*ck personally. the chaos makes me laugh.

[shovelbum]

Exactly. Most games and shooters in general should at the very least have 2 player online co-op. MP is great and all (depending on how many kids are busting ur chops) but I prefer to play through most campaigns with an online buddy. There are exceptions though where I prefer to play alone such as Bioshock and Dead Space. Either way I'm thrilled that MW2 will have co-op. Now they can add guest sign-in too.

[DeadlyFire]

I figured it would happen one day. They are inflating their own Ego. 2 players is perfect = We are set for 2 players nothing more. 4 Player co-op would be perfect if you ask me. Preferably more and more players though. 32 player co-op one day vs. lets say couple thousand enemies? Maybe one day. That would be awesome.

[xino]

I'll take single player campaign any day over co-op campaign.

Can't stand players who you play with over online co-op. All they do is wonder around and try and own the game themselves.

[FantasyStar]

That's why I prefer split-screen co-op. Or better yet, Online co-op with friends only.

[MikeNH]

I agree w/ regards to playing co-op with strangers, but nothing beats playing it with your real-world friends. Hands down, every game I have played co-op with friends has been a more fun experience than playing the same game single player (and I do love my single player games).

[DuneBuggy]

Im kind of fond of 2 player offline co op myself with a friend.
Me and my best friend really enjoy a good spilt screen co op.

Not to say it isnt fun to go online with more players sometimes.

[TheBand1t]

Is that Sev in the picture?

Also, depends on the game. Two players is fine for a game like CoD as I found four to in WaW to be a chore.

8 players in Resistance 2 coop is almost required, especially on superhuman mode.

[Raf1k1]

It does look like Sev.

There was an article a while back comparing the two.

[debuchan]

and it also looks like Lake from the movie tears of the sun

http://www.imdb.com/media/r...

[Lord_Ranos]

I would like to see 2 player coop local and 4 player versus on one console too cause I play with my brother and cousins old school offline on modern warfare 1.

[FantasyStar]

I will have to see whether or not IW's words are made of "iron". Insomniac did a "co-op" specific part for Resistance 2 and boy did that suck. Parallel Campaign, innovative story-telling my ass.

The only company that deserves to talk about specific co-op gametypes are Ubi Montreal and their Splinter Cell Chaos Theory/Double Agent Co-op modes. Anyone who played the CT/DA co-op mode with the 2 spies knows what I'm talking about. That's how you do the magic number "2" justice in the finite bounds that is co-op.

[celldomceen1]

Sorry , but i disagree.i actually had fun with resistance 2s co-op.

[whatis]

My personal sweet-spot/preference is a game with anywhere from 3 - 10 player co-op BUT...

it must have 2 player split-screen ONLINE as well! I think that it is impossible/unrealistic to expect each and every one of my friends to go out and buy an individual copy of a game themselves.

Also it's annoying when some of my friends that don't have ps3's want to come to a lan /play some co-op games but they can't because there is no online split-screen support, or even split-screen support in general.

As a side note, I think all console games with online multiplayer/co-op should include a LAN mode so that I don't have to rape my connection when lots of people are over. I don't think it would be that hard for devs to chuck in.

[BX81]

CODMW2 will be a pretty sweet game. Just because one game has 4 player co-op doesn't mean that every game should have it. Actually if that was the case then all games would pretty much be the same. As for KZ2 not lagging, you are out of your mind if you think KZ2 never lags. It's not a complete lag fest all the time but I can honestly say that I've seen players glitch across the screen, enough to the point when I see it now it's no big surprise.

[ptotoy]

wait, wait, the best co-op this gen is Resistance 2's 8 player co-op.. IW = FAIL

[ZEEBO4LIFESTFU]

bat sh!T crazy f you think resistance even touches call of duty

[NotSoSilentBob]

Actually the coop of Resistance 2 was better then the Coop of W@W. The variety and the scale blew it out of the water. I have a feeling that the Coop on MW2 is being held back by Xbox lives player limit. That is why we have seen only 18-32 player online games. While on Ps3 the first online game(warhawk) had 32 and Resistance 2 is 60 with no lag what so ever.

[ptotoy]

which is the best out there this gen.. better than L4D, cod:waw and gow2.. maybe the competitive multiplayer is not as fun as cod4, but it's up there with UT and definitely better than gaylo 3..

[Deadman64]

It's funny that you even mention resistance in the same sentence of Halo. Resistance does not deserve that honor.

[N2NOther]

As much as I'm looking forward to playing this game both online and off, every time I read something about what they're doing, I get a bit miffed. Yes, I trust IW but there are so many games that implement 4 player co-op and make it a blast. Hell, I even enjoyed Halo 3 mostly because of the 4 player co-op. Not having co-op in the campaign is a mistake. And with all the reviews taking games like this to task for not having it, they really should hold it against MW2.

Anyone who says the AI in KZ2 is better than the AI in COD 4 wasn't paying attention. They flank, they use cover and the friggin through grenades right back at you. Pretty impressive if you ask me.

[PS360PCROCKS]

Why are some of you calling that an excuse? Did you ever think through play testing that maybe just maybe it IS more fun with only two people? the special ops thing sounds sweet, it's like mile high club, so I'm looking forward to it. Besides they said months ago they weren't doing co-op SP because the had a story and it made no sense.

Also I ask, how often do you have 3 other people to play with? Because I've never even attempted 4 player co-op

[ZEEBO4LIFESTFU]

is EASILY the worst, sloppiest, garbage graphics i have EVER seen in my years of gaming. All be it, call of duty has become the new madden of shooters, they seem to raise the bar each time. Resistance 1 was far better than resistance 2. Warhawk is a different beast all together. Its an online ONLY game so to not have alot of players would be shooting yourself in the foot. 360, holds noone back, if that was the case, why arent all ps3 games loaded with a ton of multiplayer options and more character?

[NotSoSilentBob]

Where did I or anyone say anything about Graphics? We were talking about the number of players graphics don't matter when Game play is what really counts.

[gamingisnotacrime]

My money is compromised, CoD MW2 no buy (for now)

[reddeathit]

This sounds like Rainbow Six Vegas 2 all over again. Why do developers make these decisions for gamers? Give people the option to play the game with more people and let them make their minds up what the "magic number" is. For all the grief Treyarch gets, at least they can actually do four player coop. Weak.

[celldomceen1]

I agree with you on this. I think the option should be given to the gamers at the very least. I dont see what harm giving more options will do but oh well.

[PS360PCROCKS]

You're sick of developers making decisions for you? Um well considering they're the ones DEVELOPING the game, not you that is their prerogative. I understand your point, but they have to make decisions not everyone will like. Become a game developer if you think you can do better.

[Rhezin]

you FAILED BEFORE YOU EVEN POSTED. Sloppiest graphics...lol...why don't you take a good look at perfect dark or l4d? Or EVEN FRAMERATE EFFECT THAT USES THAT SH!TTY GARBAGE LOOKING UNREAL ENGINE III THAT'S BEEN WHORED OUT WAYYY TO MANY TIMES. At least insomniac uses their OWN in-house engine WHICH LOOKS AWESOME and to say otherwise means your a f!cking blind fanboy. GTFO

[midlouisiana]

it doesnt matter how many people in the co-op its all bout how the games play

[free2game365]

If you throw 16 people in a Call of Duty sized level it becomes awkward.

[LostChild]

I like IW and all but TWO is not the MAGIC number in the YEAR 2009. Maybe back in the day, with games like Contra. COD:WAW was a great four-player game. HAWKX was even good with four-players and Left4Dead was just sweet. I have more fun when their are more buddies to go through campaign mode with. I enjoyed Halo3 more because of the added players and the option to play with 2-4players. It's why I am also looking forward to LostPlanet2. Heck, even the new SuperMario has four-player coop.

But you know, Epic said almost the samething with Gears2 and that game is begging for four-player coop in campaign mode, just like Redfaction. All I see, is that they haven't found a way to make Four-player coop work, without one player advacing the story before the other players have chance to reach the same check point. As for four-players being a cluster...lol. I could see if they were talking about 16player coop game like GRAW, being a cluster.

I am still looking forward to this game coming out, but to take a step backwards is not such a good move. At least have the four-player option there.

[Bebedora]

I must say IW are spot-on. Nothing has been more fun when combating with a friend (splitscreen).

The more the merrier? More chefs makes a lousy soup too.

MMO:s are a different story entirely
-------
edit: or so I thought. They arent even considering hotseat. That is just pathetic. But I guess it's the artists direction and that is how they have built up the game's main story.

[N2NOther]

Split screen, sure, but online? Not so much.

[KingKionic]

Iinfinty Ward...

Lead the way.

[Dead_Cell]

Two is the best number for the game they are making.
Infinity Ward are the ones designing the levels,so I think they might have a bit of a better idea on how many players it's designed for.
People need to understand that 4-8 players isn't always more fun.

[II Necroplasm II]

The less people in co-op, the more people to kill.

[bjornbear]

If i had my way, it'd be limited by the number of playable characters in each "squad"...but hey 2 is cool =) kind of adds to intensity!!

All Ghilled Up anyone? ;)

[ObviousTruth]

I call BS.

You'd think after a COD every 11 months, we could get ONE that actually has a story that incorporates 2-4 ppl.

They are just making excuses for them milking this franchise. same thing over and over. single player story, multiplayer online, slightly touched up graphics engine. i guess i should mention the zombie mode, but...meh. i'd rather play L4D or Horde Mode

[II Necroplasm II]

IW made the game. They know what fits best for their game.

[ObviousTruth]

you really believe that?

you think that if they were just milking the franchise they'd come out and say "we're just milking the franchise" ??

you think they would, in any way, criticize their own product?

and i never said that their campaign would be better with co op the way that it is. i implied that they don't have the interest in making the effort to do it because ppl are going to buy it anyway and defend them no matter what--like you i'd guess. for me...this is a must miss.

[outlawlife]

the people making a big deal out of this are ridiculous

you really need to step back and look at things because youa re lucky to be getting co-op at all

nobody has played this game beyond a few select people and you are going to try and argue with the developer that you know what works better for their game?

you have no idea of the scope of the campaign, you think 4 player co-op would work well in tiny corridors?...it doesnt

thats why in games like halo the map is wide open with a ton of baddies so everybody can go somewhere and kill something

a game of smaller scope, with indoor environments just isn't going to work

at a certain point having more human players in a campaign becomes detrimental to the story that you are trying to tell

cry and moan all you want, they don't want 4 player and it is not because they are "lazy" it is because they don't want 4 players

it isn't hard to drop another player into something, but it is hard to maintain a fun factor throughout

the fact is maybe .01% of n4g knows what goes into these games that you slag off at on a daily basis, calling any developer lazy with probable reasoning is just immature and irresponsible especially one like infinity ward which has done nothing but pony up qualioty games time after time

stop crying, stop whining, grow up, and actually wait until you play the game before you say something stupid

[N2NOther]

See, but the problem is that they COULD have made 4 player co-op work. Real SAS teams use more than 2 people, so it could very easily been done. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if co-op wasn't even on the table and they put this in because Nazi Zombies and the Co-op of the campaign of World at War were such a hit that they were pressured into doing it.

[outlawlife]

i highly doubt that the 2 tiny things treyarch did that weren't fully ripping off cod4 pressured them into anything

mw2 has been in development since cod4 shipped, i don't understand why people can't take what the developer is saying instead of trying to infer other things into it

i have world at war and the co-op campaign was kinda weak, competitive co-op is worse

zombies gets REALLY boring after playing once or twice

the meat is in multiplayer, co-op is a bonus and people should be pleased they are offering any because this game would sell no matter what

[GiantEnemyCrab]

Maybe they should of said "for Modern Warfare 2" since I think it's the game that decides how many players work.

I don't care for any of the MP or Co-Op stuff just DON'T SCREW UP THE SINGLE PLAYER trying to shove all these stupid multiplayer elements into it. Nothing will ruin this franchise faster for me if they screw up the single player. I'm looking at you Bioshock as well!

[DreamcastFanboy]

Two people? That's weak.

[DevilWillCry289]

They made one of the greatest shooter ever. Even if MW2 didnt have co op i wouldnt care cause we dont need it to hav fun. I still think 4 plr Co-op is better, but i trust IW and I bet they know what they doing. I know theres many KZ2 fanboys here and talk **** about COD4 and MW2. I know,in my opinion, that COD4 is a better game than KZ2( Yes, i have KZ2, I wouldnt be saying this if i didnt have it or play it.). KZ2 is one of the games with too many problems(9 patches in less then 3 months, wow.) I havent stop playing COD4 since launch cause is such a great game, and I know MW2 will kick *** even more.

[Omega]

just to let u guys know that the co op is only on special ops. the campaign is solo experience like COD 4 and infinity ward confirmed this. so to everyone who think that every shooter needs co op like killzone 2 ha ha!

my bad u guys i forgot to read the article n opened my big mouth. oh well it doesnt matter if theres no co op cuz im still picking it up cuz it looks awsome.

[aaron5829]

4 is the best number for co-op..

i had so much fun playing vegas 2 when it first came out... all of my multiplayer time is spent on 4 player coop

[qOHellReaperOp]

well idk about you guys but i think its a much more memorable and better experience with just 2 people instead of 4. because with 4 players you have people talking all the time. Players that go way ahead of everybody else and end up triggering cut-scenes before you even finished the level and while the cut-scene is happening they dont shut up...now with me and my bxblf(bestxboxlivefriend) playing through a game, just me and him(or her) play through an entire campaign together. it just feels much more special and memorable.

[Gun_Senshi]

Resistance 2 is impossible without at least 6 players co op while COD WaW 2 people are enough for co op, except zombie mode.

Also who is saying Uncharted 2. I'm playing Beta right now. Mark my words, it will be GOTY 09