From Humble Beginnings to Global Phenomenon: A Look at Call of Duty's Origins

The Call of Duty franchise is known for its intense action and epic historical battles. However, its origins are surprisingly humble. Let's take a closer look at the beginnings of this iconic series.

Birth in the Trenches: Inspiration from World War II

The first Call of Duty, released in 2003, was heavily inspired by the events of World War II. Developers at Infinity Ward, led by the design team of Vince Zampella and Jason West, sought to create a realistic and immersive experience that captured the brutality and chaos of the conflict (McWhertor, 2017). This focus on historical accuracy, alongside a gripping narrative, helped Call of Duty stand out from other shooters at the time.

Multiplayer Was an Afterthought

Believe it or not, the multiplayer mode that Call of Duty is now famous for was almost an afterthought. The developers initially envisioned the game as a strictly single-player experience (Francis, 2017). However, during development, the multiplayer mode became a surprise hit among the team, leading them to include it in the final product. This decision proved to be a turning point, as multiplayer became a core element of the franchise's success (McWhertor, 2017).

Inspired by Medal of Honor

While Call of Duty carved its own path, it drew inspiration from successful World War II shooters like Medal of Honor (Francis, 2017). However, Infinity Ward aimed to surpass its predecessor by offering a more grounded and squad-based experience, focusing on teamwork and objective completion rather than lone-wolf heroics.

 Critical Acclaim and a Franchise is Born

The original Call of Duty received critical acclaim for its intense action, immersive atmosphere, and focus on historical accuracy (Walker, 2003), It quickly became a commercial success, spawning sequels that explored other historical conflicts like the Vietnam War and the Cold War. The franchise continued to evolve, introducing new gameplay mechanics and branching into modern warfare scenarios.

 A Legacy of Innovation and Community

Call of Duty's impact on the gaming industry is undeniable. It popularized online multiplayer shooters and helped shape the way we think about first-person shooter mechanics and storytelling in video games. The franchise also fostered a dedicated and passionate community of players who continue to engage with the games through online matches and competitive esports.

From its humble beginnings in the trenches of World War II to its status as a global phenomenon, Call of Duty's journey is a testament to the power of innovation and the enduring appeal of historical storytelling in video games. The franchise continues to evolve, and it will be exciting to see where Call of Duty goes next.

The Call of Duty series has become popular due to its immersive historical (initially) and modern warfare settings (Bos, 2018). The original games focused on World War II, which appealed to players looking for a realistic and gritty portrayal of the conflict. Later entries explored other historical eras such as the Vietnam War and the Cold War, offering diverse gameplay experiences.

 Call of Duty is a long-standing franchise with numerous titles available across various platforms. Here is a list of the mainline Call of Duty games.

 Call of Duty World War II Era:

 * Call of Duty (2003)

* Call of Duty: United Offensive (2004) - Expansion pack for Call of Duty

* Call of Duty: Finest Hour (2004)

* Call of Duty 2 (2005)

* Call of Duty 2: Big Red One (2005)

* Call of Duty 3 (2006)

* Call of Duty: World at War (2008)

* Call of Duty: World at War: Final Fronts (2008) - Expansion pack for Call of Duty: World at War

 Call of Duty Modern Warfare Era:

 * Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007)

* Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009)

* Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2011)

* Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered (2016) - Remastered version of Call of Duty

Modern Warfare

* Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) - Reboot of the original Call of Duty: Modern Warfare

 Call of Duty Black Ops Era:

 * Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010)

* Call of Duty: Black Ops: Declassified (2012) - Ported version of Call of Duty: Black Ops for PlayStation Vita

* Call of Duty: Black Ops II (2012)

* Call of Duty: Black Ops III (2015)

* Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 (2018) - No campaign mode, focuses on multiplayer

 Call of Duty Other Eras:

 * Call of Duty: Ghosts (2013) - Futuristic setting

* Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (2014) - Futuristic setting

* Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare (2016) - Space warfare setting

* Call of Duty: WWII (2017) - Return to World War II setting

* Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (2020) - Cold War setting

* Call of Duty: Vanguard (2021) - World War II setting with a focus on various fronts

References

Bos, D. (2018). Answering the Call of Duty: Everyday encounters with the popular geopolitics of military-themed videogames. Political Geography, 63, 54-64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polgeo.2018.01.001

Francis, T. (2017, October 26). A history of Call of Duty: From World War II to exo suits. PC Gamer. https://www.pcgamer.com/call-of-duty/

https://www.polygon.com/videos/23059933/call-of-duty-military-entertainment

McWhertor, M. (2017, October 25). Call of Duty's creators reflect on the franchise's 15-year history. Polygon. https://www.polygon.com/videos/23059933/call-of-duty-military-entertainment

pen_spark

Walker, J. (2003, October 28). Call of Duty Review. Eurogamer. https://www.eurogamer.net/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-review-punchy-gunplay-in-a-campers-paradise