Infinity Ward: MW3's Goal Is To Tell "One Hell Of A Story"

For those who have followed the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare games closely, they should be excited about the third entry that launches in November.

Why? Because Infinity Ward boss Robert Bowling says the single-player campaign is what the fans have been waiting for; he told Joystiq that it's "the payoff for the investment that people have put in since Call of Duty 4." Furthermore, he says his team has learned a lot about storytelling over the years, and he talked about the somewhat confusing plot in MW2:

"Every game we put out, we sit back and we look at 'What can we do better? What areas can we focus on to bump the experience up?' And story was one of those coming out of MW2."

Bowling says MW3 is the "focal point of the series thus far" in terms of plot and the ultimate goal is to "tell one hell of a story." After building on key themes from the previous installment, Infinity Ward sought to polish up their storytelling capabilities, and at the end of the day, they hope the campaign will stand head-and-shoulders above the competition.

Well, we'll have to wait and see.

Related Game(s): Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

Tags: call of duty, modern warfare 3, mw3, infinity ward

7/15/2011 8:59:19 PM Ben Dutka

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Comments (48 posts)

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Jawknee
Friday, July 15, 2011 @ 9:28:19 PM
Reply

Good luck. MW2's story was wretched.

9 up, 8 down

BeezleDrop
Saturday, July 16, 2011 @ 12:14:58 PM

Yeah they say we want to make the SP Campaign epic and they will only support DLC Multiplayer packs after the game releases. No Single-player DLC, not one extension.

1 up, 1 down

manofchao5
Monday, July 18, 2011 @ 8:23:45 PM

yay another partially fantastic storyline with only 4-6 hours of time playing it
BORING!

0 up, 1 down

Lawless SXE
Friday, July 15, 2011 @ 9:37:18 PM
Reply

Naughty Dog recently said that they had spoken to people at Bungie and IW, so maybe they took a bit of an interest in the storytelling aspect...

Either way, it's promising, and I'll like to see how the tale stacks up the likes of other military-themed shooters Resistance 3 and Battlefield 3 later this year.

2 up, 0 down

AcHiLLiA
Saturday, July 16, 2011 @ 12:28:20 AM

Resistance is more like a sci-fi shooter.

2 up, 0 down

Lawless SXE
Saturday, July 16, 2011 @ 12:54:47 AM

But it does have military themes, what with SRPA and Capelli having been dishonourably discharged from the army. I tend to lump it into the same category, as I don't really see it competing against the likes of Halo or Killzone either. But it feels more CoD-ish to me.

0 up, 1 down

sha4dowknight05
Saturday, July 16, 2011 @ 10:54:41 AM

hopefully they learn from them well naughty bog is god at story telling.

0 up, 0 down

Pandacastro
Friday, July 15, 2011 @ 10:00:19 PM
Reply

They should have IW work on the multiplayer while raven software and Sledgehammer work on single player.I heard good things about Singularity and I think Sledgehammer is made of people who work on dead space.

0 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Friday, July 15, 2011 @ 10:12:35 PM

Singularity is okay. It tried a little too hard to be Bioshock. It's lacking originality.

2 up, 4 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, July 15, 2011 @ 10:40:30 PM

Woah, Singularity was even remotely like Bioshock? Maybe it's worth a look then.

1 up, 0 down

matt99
Saturday, July 16, 2011 @ 2:11:09 AM

I enjoyed singularity, it had its flaws but worth playing imo.

0 up, 0 down

calculator
Friday, July 15, 2011 @ 10:11:45 PM
Reply

I highly doubt they'll be able to "tell one hell of a story." MW2 was a huge disappointment. I can't see the campaign getting any better. Plus, the gameplay shown thus far seems very generic. Of course, it's just my opinion.

2 up, 4 down

Jawknee
Friday, July 15, 2011 @ 10:16:16 PM

I think jumping in and out of a hundred different characters shoes is what killed it for me. Two hours into the five hour campaign, I had no clue what was going on and why I should care about any of it.

6 up, 3 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, July 15, 2011 @ 10:22:09 PM

tis a schizophrenic game to be sure

1 up, 1 down

Godslim
Saturday, July 16, 2011 @ 4:45:30 AM

" I had no clue what was going on" really lol

2 up, 1 down

sha4dowknight05
Saturday, July 16, 2011 @ 10:53:47 AM

I thought the story was easy as pie to follow, one game where I had trouble was killzone and socom 4 like WTH happened te entire time? During those games?

0 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, July 15, 2011 @ 10:21:26 PM
Reply

Let's just change that to "Our focus is to provide one hell of a multiplayer experience" and I'll believe them. This is clearly a half hearted attempt to assure people that the 5 hour campaign will be better than MW2 so they should buy it even if they aren't into MP.

4 up, 3 down

SoulController
Friday, July 15, 2011 @ 10:34:10 PM
Reply

I bet you he didnt even blink twice when he said this BS. Just be straight up guy and please while your at it, start titling these CODS with the year # after it just like madden.

5 up, 1 down

OPHIDIAN
Saturday, July 16, 2011 @ 12:00:33 PM

So, you want a company to advertise how sh*t you think it is?

2 up, 0 down

Looking Glass
Friday, July 15, 2011 @ 10:35:24 PM
Reply

I'm not really seeing much of a point to this. How many dedicated Call of Duty fans really give that much of a crap about the single player stories of Call of Duty? Not many I would imagine.

If Activision decided to drop the single-player aspect of the franchise altogether would that have any meaningful impact on the sales numbers? Somehow I don't see that being particularly likely.

Am I detecting a hint of an identity crisis on the part of Infinity Ward? As in not being sure of who you are and maybe entertaining thoughts of trying to be something that you really aren't?

3 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, July 15, 2011 @ 10:41:42 PM

Just trying to hang onto the audience of SP fans that they are alienating more with every iteration.

2 up, 2 down

karneli lll
Saturday, July 16, 2011 @ 12:17:37 AM

I know a number of individuals who are still playing black ops but have not even started the single player campaign.

The sad bit tho is that these are the people COD is made for.

1 up, 0 down

Godslim
Saturday, July 16, 2011 @ 4:46:53 AM

im one of those who actually enjoy the story of mw i love gaz, cpt price etc i like there cockney english ways brings more style to a game than the hoorah same old american characters

1 up, 0 down

rogers71
Friday, July 15, 2011 @ 10:41:45 PM
Reply

I love playing the MW games but to this point their has been about as much "story" to them as a See Spot Run book.

I will be totally shocked if there is even a hint of a story to this one. I will probably still get the game but I definitely don't count on having any "story" to engross me. I will stick to my Kindle for that.

1 up, 0 down

FM23
Friday, July 15, 2011 @ 11:06:48 PM
Reply

Yeah Guerilla Games said the same thing and even though the story was decent, it wasn't anywhere near great. Now IW, a company with no type of storytelling skills all of sudden believes they can create a masterpiece...I expect another Transfomer Dark of the Moon. Bay said story and plot would be key to the movie, yet it was no different than the first two though it made more sense. So maybe MW3 will make more sense because MW2 had me CONFUSED!

2 up, 0 down

Excelsior1
Friday, July 15, 2011 @ 11:45:08 PM

i agree with that about gg games, and the kz3 sp campign. i just found myself sprinting until i saw the next set of glowing eyes. what's sad is i could not wait until ended... it felt like a chore becuase the story was just ho-hum. got my trophies for the sp and nevrer looked back.

3 up, 2 down

FM23
Saturday, July 16, 2011 @ 1:23:24 AM

Yeah, it sure was a chore. KZ3 is definitely my dissappointment of the year. I usually pop it in for the MP, but it so irritatingly unbalanced that I sometimes just quit after 10 minutes. Yeah KZ3 definitely fell into "whatever shooter" territory for me.

1 up, 1 down

Excelsior1
Saturday, July 16, 2011 @ 2:23:09 AM

i want to be clear. i do enjoy the mp, and i think it's a great looking game. very underwhelmed by the single player camign though. its extremely short sp campign that somehow feels like a chore to get through. it's not a good sign when you find that you have to force yourself through an under 5 sp campign. i do understand how this game could be considered a dissapointment to some and why it scored lower than expected in reviews.

2 up, 2 down

FM23
Saturday, July 16, 2011 @ 2:46:27 AM

I loved KZ2's MP and SP, but while playing KZ3...I had to force myself to say "this is good", but I knew I wasn't satisfied. The story just wasn't that good even though it was heavily featured. Should have left it simple like KZ2. Personally, the spawn system in Warzone killed the MP for me. That and base Campers. I enjoy the MP when everything is flowing correctly, but when it becomes unbalanced...I just quit and move on.

1 up, 0 down

karneli lll
Saturday, July 16, 2011 @ 12:13:19 AM
Reply

Yes,come up with one hell of a 4 hour story.

2 up, 6 down

sha4dowknight05
Saturday, July 16, 2011 @ 10:51:47 AM

hahah, might as well watch avatar twice then.

0 up, 0 down

AcHiLLiA
Saturday, July 16, 2011 @ 12:32:42 AM
Reply

Just don't cough up 60 bucks for this game.

3 up, 5 down

cLoudou
Saturday, July 16, 2011 @ 1:03:04 AM

People ere still paying 60 bucks for BO, I doubt people will listen to you, not that you are wrong.

2 up, 2 down

AcHiLLiA
Saturday, July 16, 2011 @ 10:15:59 AM

hahaha, I guess this time around it will be better to play it safe.

Last edited by AcHiLLiA on 7/16/2011 10:16:46 AM

1 up, 0 down

Bugzbunny109
Saturday, July 16, 2011 @ 1:14:31 AM
Reply

Funny, I thought they said that even the singleplayer will be online oriented at E3. I honestly doubt that anything that has COD as it title will have "one hell of a story".

3 up, 1 down

matt99
Saturday, July 16, 2011 @ 2:13:20 AM
Reply

I'm glad they're taking an interest and focusing on plot and story...If I am to believe them of course.

1 up, 1 down

___________
Saturday, July 16, 2011 @ 4:08:28 AM
Reply

so in other words it will be the first COD game with a story.
i wish they would remove the multiple playable characters, and flashbacks.
so f*cking annoying, one minute im at the white house with bombs going off left right and center, next minute im in the snow sneaking around, then next minute im back at the white house.
......... wait, what did i miss?
i dont mind games that have flashbacks, but these are so poorly constructed and stitched together im left feeling like in between sequences ive been knocked out.

1 up, 3 down

sha4dowknight05
Saturday, July 16, 2011 @ 10:50:35 AM

Uh no you are completely wrong to the point where there is no arguement needed towards you.

0 up, 0 down

kevinater321
Saturday, July 16, 2011 @ 9:19:05 AM
Reply

I actually wouldn't mind if they released this game multiplayer only and charted $40 for it. That way half the team won't have to bother with the halfassed single player and just focus on the multiplayer. That way they don't kid themselves and can try to actually innovate in this version of cod.

1 up, 3 down

sha4dowknight05
Saturday, July 16, 2011 @ 10:49:48 AM

The story for these games have been amazing ever since World at War.

I think they should include both parts of the game.

1 up, 0 down

sha4dowknight05
Saturday, July 16, 2011 @ 10:47:44 AM
Reply

Modern Warfare 2's story was very impressive. Black Ops was absolutely amazing, high octane action was it completely!!!!! World at War's story was the beginning of cod improving it's stories.

I don't see why so many people on this site hate call of duty.

Maybe it's the ignorant fanboy talking crap????
Maybe you don't think the gameplay is solid??
Maybe you suck at it?????
I don't know but that whatever your reason is, Call of Duty is the best selling game in the world, and it is for a reason.

So I think this site kinda goes overboard with the this Anti-Cod parade too much.

I look forward to Modern Warfare 3.

Last edited by sha4dowknight05 on 7/16/2011 10:48:28 AM

2 up, 1 down

bigrailer19
Saturday, July 16, 2011 @ 11:24:41 AM

It sells so much because of the mp though. Not because the SP, wether you personally like the stories or not. I don't think the story telling in the games is good at all, black ops had a good story though. But I do think the games do something most don't. That's supply endless amounts of action with over the top moments that leaving you desperately wanting the next "oh that was bad a**" moment to pop up.

But there is too much character hopping recently, and it started in MW and everyone seemed to like that. I hated it. I played 1/3 of the game as a character who didn't even make it through the game. Adding the alternate stories was kind of a life line, that's what it seemed like to me anyways. Now they throw the multiple characters gameplay around so much you get lost in it at times, or something is really starting to pick up then boom your someone else. MoH did a much better job of the pacing and when to switch than CoD has thus far. But personally that needs to go. What's te point? All it does it take away from the other part of the game that's going on.

Last edited by bigrailer19 on 7/16/2011 11:26:09 AM

2 up, 1 down

FM23
Saturday, July 16, 2011 @ 4:24:25 PM

Yeah I don't hate CoD at all. I'm not part of the anti-CoD crowd on this website, but you can't honestly sit here and say CoD features good stories compared to other game stories outside of shooters. That's a bold face lie. CoD has entertaining campaigns with average to weak stories in my opinion. But like bigrailer19 said, it sells because of the MP, not because of SP.

0 up, 0 down

sha4dowknight05
Saturday, July 16, 2011 @ 11:54:21 PM

look i never ever said that cod had a better story then anyother game????

Where did I say that?????

I said cod has improved it's story

Yes cod sells because of it's multiplayer.

1 up, 1 down

LowKey
Saturday, July 16, 2011 @ 12:03:59 PM
Reply

I miss COD 4 :(

3 up, 0 down

Mornelithe
Saturday, July 16, 2011 @ 12:56:49 PM
Reply

One hell of a FAKE story...ugh, am I the only person who loved the story telling from CoD 1/UO/2, versus the contrived mess that is the MW series?

I realize most games are based on fantasy, with regards to their plot, but...c'mon, can't we just keep 1 franchise that sticks with real storytelling?

I refuse to believe that there are no amazingly compelling stories from WW2, Vietnam, Korea, etc... that aren't as riveting as that of Easy Company, the 101st Airborne, and the 506th Infantry Regiment.

1 up, 1 down

sirbob6
Saturday, July 16, 2011 @ 10:28:38 PM
Reply

By a better story they mean bigger explosions and more Russians to shoot at.

1 up, 0 down

Mornelithe
Saturday, July 16, 2011 @ 10:30:32 PM

Modern Warfare 3, a Michael Bay Production.

1 up, 0 down

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Infinity Ward: MW3's Goal Is To Tell "One Hell Of A Story"

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