'Black Ops 7 blows all other Call of Duty games out the water' | BBC News

Key Concepts

• Motion Capture (Mocap): A technology used to record the movement of actors and translate it into digital animation for characters in video games or films.
• Legacy Character: A character who has appeared in previous installments of a game franchise, carrying established lore and fan expectations.
• Fandom: A community of enthusiastic fans dedicated to a particular piece of media, often characterized by intense passion and engagement.
• Cinematic Quality: The visual and narrative sophistication of a video game, aiming to rival the production values of films.
• Player Fatigue: A potential phenomenon where players become disengaged with a franchise due to frequent releases or perceived lack of innovation.

Working on Call of Duty: Black Ops 7

This section details the experiences of actors Milo Ventimiglia and Kieran Chiffka as they discuss their involvement in the upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.

Transitioning from Film/TV to Video Games

• Milo Ventimiglia (Voice of Commander David Mason):
  • Describes the experience as "very fun" and "very different" from his work in TV and movies.
  • While the core job of acting remains the same, the surrounding environment is significantly altered.
  • Highlights the contrast between performing high-stakes scenes and wearing a "polkadotted Velcro suit."
  • Mentions it was his first full-body motion capture experience, calling it "very cool, interesting" and a "new way to find a character and like get into a groove."
  • Found the format "completely different" but "equally creative and equally collaborative."
  • Emphasizes the enjoyment of working with the "most fun" team behind the Call of Duty Black Ops games.
• Kieran Chiffka (Voice of Emma Kagan):
  • Had done some mocap before but never full-body mocap.
  • Found it a "very cool, interesting experience" and a "very new way to find a character and like get into a groove."
  • Notes that while working in film and television was her usual domain, the Black Ops 7 project was "equally creative and equally collaborative."

Gaming Background and Fan Reactions

• Milo Ventimiglia:

  • Played Call of Duty games extensively when younger, including Modern Warfare and some Black Ops titles.
  • Had not played recently due to lack of time, citing having a baby and a career.
  • His involvement in Black Ops 7 was "totally new territory" as he "did not grow up playing video games" and was "not a gamer girl."
  • Is now "on my way" to potentially earning the title of "gamer girl."
  • Secrecy and Reveal:
    • Was unable to tell friends and family about his involvement due to contractual obligations.
    • Did not even tell his parents; only his producer friend and wife knew.
    • Waited until the trailer release to reveal his participation to other friends who play the games.
    • Friends recognized him, leading to the reveal: "I'm the dude in Call of Duty."
    • Believes this secrecy enhances fan excitement, as they prefer to discover news organically.
  • Fan Reception:
    • His friends, who turned out to be "closet Call of Duty fans," gave him "major major cool points" upon learning of his involvement.
    • As a legacy character (David Mason), he felt pressure about potentially "muck[ing] it up" for fans or ruining their experience.
    • However, he believes his unique contribution will be exciting for fans, alongside the "cinematic quality" and "expansive world" of the game.
    • He views passionate fandoms as a positive sign of stepping into something "really cool."
    • His approach was to embrace the excitement of the fandom but then "throw it away and doing the character and doing the work."
    • He is now "very excited to be a part of it and hear people's reactions."

• Kieran Chiffka:

  • Did not grow up playing video games and it was "totally new territory" for her.
  • Found it "very fun to step into" and is now "in."
  • When asked if she's a "gamer girl now," she responded that she needs to "earn over time" but is "on my way."
  • Secrecy and Reveal:
    • Similar to Milo, she had to keep her involvement secret.
    • She did not tell her parents or friends until the trailer.
    • Her friends' reactions were surprised and excited, with some recognizing her.
  • Fan Reception:
    • She acknowledges the "passionate and so intense" nature of the Call of Duty fanbase.
    • She is excited for fans to see her character's transformation, stating, "playing kind of a bad guy is really really interesting and also the facade of her cracks throughout the game."
    • She looks forward to fans witnessing her character's "transform[ation] throughout the game because we meet one thing and then like other stuff is revealed."

Game Content and Innovation

• Milo Ventimiglia:
  • When asked about specific exciting elements without spoilers, he mentioned the game dives into a "purely chaotic space that I think a lot of people aren't expecting."
  • He believes that once players are "opened to it, I think they're not going to want to get away from."
• Kieran Chiffka:
  • Is excited for fans to see her character's transformation, hinting at a shift from an initial perception to deeper revelations.
• Addressing Player Fatigue:
  • The transcript touches upon the common question of whether frequent Call of Duty releases lead to player fatigue.
  • However, the speakers strongly assert that "this one just blows the others out of the water completely" in terms of storytelling and narrative direction.
  • They highlight that the "kind of villain and villain of Black Ops 7 I think is unique to this one."
  • The expectation is that fans will be "really excited and inspired to play" due to these innovations.

Conclusion

The video transcript offers a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, focusing on the experiences of actors Milo Ventimiglia and Kieran Chiffka. Both actors, despite varying levels of prior gaming experience, found the transition to video game development, particularly motion capture, to be a creative and collaborative, albeit different, process compared to film and television. The discussion emphasizes the importance of secrecy in building anticipation for game launches and the unique challenges and rewards of working with a passionate and dedicated fanbase. Crucially, the speakers express strong confidence that Black Ops 7 will stand out from previous installments due to its innovative storytelling, compelling characters, and a unique villain, aiming to overcome any potential player fatigue and excite the existing player base.