One of the problems with any game that relies heavily on multiplayer for its long term appeal is the differing ability levels of new players when pitted against skilled veterans. As the most popular online shooter around, Call of Duty has a big responsibility to ensure that fresh recruits aren't driven away by ruthless snipers in their first few matches.
The upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops II will take big strides in this direction with the introduction of a boot camp mode where new players can find their feet and level up without being crushed by the hardcore. "Boot Camp is a mix of human and AI players versus a mix of human and AI players for full XP credit for the first ten levels," John Rafacz, of developer Treyarch, told Kotaku. "You are actually ranking up. Beyond level 10, once you pass that threshold, you start earning half XP. Then there's bug stomp which is just you and your buddies wailing on the AI. If you mix in those three modes of play, you find a real safety zone. You can play with your load outs, figure out what kind of player you are, hone your skills."
The online gameplay has also been tweaked to make it more welcoming and satisfying for players who aren't great at those instant headshots, but may have useful skills in other styles of play. "If you are the high K/D player, there's still a place for you in the Call of Duty tent," Rafacz reassures us. "We still love you. Rewards for that skill will be available. But if you apply that skill to the benefit of your team? We'll reward you even more. We're trying to make sure people are focusing toward a more co-operative style of game."
Call of Duty: Black Ops II lays down a targeted strike on UK shops from November 13th, when it'll be available for PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The game will also be a launch title for the Wii U on November 30th.