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Infinity Ward split on whether the Call of Duty dog dies

Infinity Ward senior community manager says the studio is divided on the fate of Riley.

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Call of Duty: Ghosts developer Infinity Ward is split on whether Riley, the game's dog companion, should die during the course of the game.

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“You know what’s funny about that is, we were all watching the Xbox One reveal event in our theater,” said Infinity Ward’s senior community manager Tina Palacios in an interview with Rock Paper Shotgun.

Riley has become something of a cult favourite since his original introduction as part of the Xbox One reveal event in May. After the initial reaction online--both positive and negative--Activision and Infinity Ward further detailed the canine companion as part of Activision's pre-E3 event for Call of Duty: Ghosts.

“We didn’t expect any of this at all," added Palacios, adding that after the community response "the studio became divided. Half of them said, ‘Ok, the dog absolutely has to die.’ And then the other half--I’m on this half--said, ‘Whoa, no way! People love him.’"

"It’s a constant debate, but we do have an answer.”

Palacios adds that while Riley's hi-tech arsenal--flip-up camera, an earpiece, and two vibrating devices--might sound implausible, Infinity Ward has grounded the dog's equipment in reality.

“We actually had a couple Navy SEALs come in with their dogs that served in combat in Iraq," she said. "When we met them, they did have the same type of gear on, and they had cameras on their backs. Their trainer has a camera on their arm, so when they throw a dog into a building or into a room or over a wall, they can see what’s going on. If they’re far away, they can also give them instructions with a collar that vibrates on each side.”

Call of Duty: Ghosts will be released for current and next-generation platforms in 2013. For more on the game, check out five things GameSpot noticed during the Call of Duty: Ghosts E3 demo.

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Avatar image for Errorcutive
Errorcutive

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Edited By Errorcutive

if he dies make sure he reapear in avenged sevenfold concert ending

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vaibhavp

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Edited By vaibhavp

i was expecting a shadow of colossus moment but infinity ward itself killed it.

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Frosty192

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I think the last time I actually played story mode was in MW2...so I really couldn't care less.

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Halloll

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it will have a twist ending where the dog fakes his death so the ever so intelligent evil fish will be fooled to reveal his plans for world domination.

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kente10

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Seriously? We all know every main character is gonna die in Ghosts 2... might as well kill the dog while you're at it.


Or you can think of an emotional story without killing off the dog.

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pal_080

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He jumps on a grenade just in time to save your family! BAM, ending achieved.

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offspring94

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@pal_080 Playing fetch is serious business

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thermalmotion

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Hahaha again with this stuff?

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raahsnavj

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Why not make it a choice and then call it an RPG?! lol

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daabulls23

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@raahsnavj "Old Yeller" Achievement

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jasonlc3221

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I'm sick of movies/novels/games that have to kill off animals to create emotion in their story. There are better and more creative ways to pull of emotions without sacrificing animals, regardless if it's fictional. "I Am Legend" was ruined for me when Sam died. I literally replayed Fallout New Vegas just to save Rex. Please let the dog live

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debryson

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@jasonlc3221 But you have no problem with people dying? I love animals but I will NEVER understand individuals who treat and care more for animals than they do their fellow man. I honestly dont get it.

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jasonlc3221

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@debryson @jasonlc3221 it's because people are assholes. Animals lack the ability to choose if they want to be an asshole or not. Just a few weeks ago, a dog in Thailand rescued a newborn from a trash dumpster. Hence why I like animals more than humans

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jasonlc3221

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@Lhomity @jasonlc3221 @debryson Jesus christ, all you gamespot crybabies ever want to do is argue. Losers. I wish a dog would maul YOU to death

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Lhomity

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@jasonlc3221 @debryson I heard a story on the TV news just last week about a wild dog attacking a child walking to school.

Guess that kid was an asshole.

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Vendetta67

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Who cares about the dog, it's all about the fish.


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hella_epic

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@Vendetta67 screw fishes it's all about vaulting over cover now

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Mr_Mark_Legion

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Call of Dogs: Old Yeller

sequel pending

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everyday182

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If I can say DOG...GO HOME, I dont really care

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sfkm2

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I should of know this will happen.

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chatphon

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nah.. at somepoint that dog gonna die heroic in storyline or whatever live to bark the tales.

but for emotional / unforgetable scene? this is not gonna last long, combine all those scene from CoD series can't even compare to MGS3 alone.

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Warful

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Edited By Warful

@chatphon It wouldn't even get near MGS4 either, man those two games were something special!

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noirtenshin

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In the end the dog dies and with its last breath it says:

"AFF AFF" (I WILL BE BACK), a teaser for the next game or DLC:

The Dogminator

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Warful

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@noirtenshin I'd buy this. My body is ready.

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Deadly_Nemesis

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It's a freaking dog. Send the little cheap play for our emotions out into a mine field for all I care.

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everyday182

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@Deadly_Nemesis Im sure he actually cost quite alot with all that gear on him!

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KingofCabal

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Edited By KingofCabal

I say give us multiple dogs and allow us to strap c4 explosives to their backs. Fecth boy!

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Frosty192

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@KingofCabal The soviets did that in WWII to destroy enemy tanks...poor doggies :/


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hella_epic

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@KingofCabal Dark sense of humour hahaha :p

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Warful

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Edited By Warful

@hella_epic @KingofCabal is there any other kind? ;)

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hella_epic

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Edited By hella_epic

@Warful @hella_epic @KingofCabal True that.

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NosadaAssasin

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Edited By NosadaAssasin

Are we talking about a real dog... or the old diseased dog that needs to be shot in the face (also known as Call of Duty Modern Warfare 6232412141235)

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nima_metal90

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PUT THE DOG AWAY..

It's still unbelievable how they make such ridiculous ideas to make their new game in franchise

but still i give them credit for shooting under water thing thts cool

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If_U_Only_Knew

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I think Riley should have to make the choice whether to save you or not. He's the main character clearly.

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Jasurim

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Reminds me of when they were tying to make a big deal about that dog in Fable 3....didn't care about that one either. >.<

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Deadly_Nemesis

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@Jasurim

Honestly the only time I liked that dog in Fable 2 was when he got shot in the face.

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Warful

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@Jasurim I KNOW RIGHT!? GAWD Fable 2 and Fable 3 where cooked up on mushrooms and smack.

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Kingnova3000

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Its quite obvious whats going to happen to the dog. You, the player, will be force to kill him. Forced by some bad dude. It will be the big shock horror moment that every CoD has tried to do since the MW2 scene. Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawn

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yearssomuch

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They're really pushing this 'dog' thing in the new CoD. Face it guys, your game isn't known for its 'deep, heart-wrenching storytelling', and a goddamn dog isn't going to change that. Focus on making less mediocre shooters with your time instead.

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hella_epic

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@yearssomuch Actually COD had a lot of "heart wrenching moments". The nuclear explosion in COD4 and then Ghost and Roach being betrayed in MW2. After that, nothing. Series has lost it's way, sadly.

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Kingnova3000

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@hella_epic @yearssomuch

MW2 was really where it all ended for me. The final scene, with the knife in the chest and all that, was really well done.

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Kingnova3000

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@hella_epic @BelaidKL @Kingnova3000 @yearssomuch

Yeah I gave MW3 a shot, I think I played about an hour of single player. About another 2 in multi-player and then traded it in for something more fun; an old leather boot with a stinky sock inside.


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hella_epic

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Edited By hella_epic

@BelaidKL @Kingnova3000 @hella_epic @yearssomuch MW2 was the real highpoint of the series. Great singleplayer, greate co-op and amazing MP. really well done. MW3 was the worst in the series.

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BelaidKL

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Edited By BelaidKL

@Kingnova3000 @hella_epic @yearssomuch That's the last CoD I capped 30 hours gameplay for.. Both it's campaign and MP were the best of the series, personally

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yearssomuch

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@hella_epic @yearssomuch Yeah, the nuke in CoD4 was pretty cool. But granted, that was back in 2007, back when the series was still picking up momentum and wasn't done to death. :P

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Warful

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@hella_epic @yearssomuch Hmmm You know.. to the ones who havent played the games, that there is kind of not nice writing those moments up mate :P I have played them, but I mean still

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Mr_Mark_Legion

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good to see the most pressing matters are being addressed.

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hella_epic

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@Mr_Mark_Legion I'm kinda concerned they haven't decided on what will happen to the fishes.

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Mr_Mark_Legion

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@hella_epic i dont think we will ever know since they get out of the way and who knows where they go

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