Call of Duty Updates Online

Activision and Infinity Ward have have annouced the release of their third update for Call of Duty® 2. These updates have successfully enhanced gameplay and improved performance for players of the Xbox 360™ game.

The first release addressed save issues experienced in single player mode. Responding to player input, Infinity Ward was able to put an update in place that eliminated a bug some players were encountering.

Brand new maps offer all-new terrain.

Maps to Go
The second update for COD 2 contained a present for players: two new maps. This release coincided with E3, the huge video game trade show that takes place in Los Angeles every year. Players received the two maps at no cost, in celebration of E3. These two new maps represented two very different towns in war-torn Germany: Vossenack and Wallendar.

Rural Vossenack is a perfect back-drop for open maneuvers, and Wallendar offers a perfect representation of a city under siege.

As a companion set, Inifinty then released a second set of multiplayer maps, availalbe on Xbox Live® Marketplace for only 400 Microsoft Points. This Skirmish Map Pack included two more towns, Kalach, in Russia, and Beaumont-Hague, in France. The Kalach map gives you a snowbound setting perfect for sniper-focused skirmishes, while the French map provides open areas interspersed with clusters of buildings, excellent for team-based, strategic maneuvers.

Develop new strategies for new battlefields.

More to Come
In July 2006, look for the release of five more new multiplayer maps for Call of Duty 2. The Invasion Pack will be available on Marketplace for 900 Microsoft Points. These map pack includes three set in France, one in Egypt, and one more in Russia. Here's the list:

• Antoville, France (Crossroads)
• St. Louet, France (Newvillers)
• Amaye sur Seulles, France (Normandy)
• Alam Halfa, Egypt (Decoytown)
• Rostov, Russia (Harbor)

These five maps represent a variety of settings for your online multiplayer games. Each one will challenge you in its own way, from the rolling fields of France to the ridge at Alam Halfa in North Africa.

Always keep a tank on your side.

Multiplayer Update
In addition to releasing supplemental content, Infinity Ward has done some work on the online functionality of Call of Duty 2, as well. They have eliminated much of the lag that could cause certain Xbox Live matches to drag.

While tinkering, they tweaked a few other online features. Customize a greater number of host options for your multiplayer game, to get exactly the experience that you want, and to let others coming into your session know what to look forward to.

Your private and after-game lobbies have become more friendly, too. Now you can save spots for your amigos so they don't have to scurry to get in or miss out on all the fun if they don't quite make it. These upgrades will be automatically available when you log in to Xbox Live.

With the automatic game updates in place, Infinity Ward and Activision are working hard to cut down on any game-related stress you may have. That's what the Xbox Live community has come to expect. Companies that think about their players and work to improve their experiences. Thanks, guys, both for a great game, and for keeping the good stuff coming.

Article by Angel Leigh McCoy