OVERVIEW

CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS 4 is a military themed first-person shooter featuring MULTIPLAYER, BLACKOUT battle royale and ZOMBIES survival modes. Developed by TREYARCH, BLACK OPS 4 released in 2018 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.

ROLE

As an Associate Designer at TREYARCH, I scripted levels and gameplay systems in the cooperative ZOMBIES mode of BLACK OPS 4. While on the job for BLACK OPS 4, I had to teach myself the development tools of TREYARCH’s T8 game engine, including their proprietary version of the Radiant level editor and GSC, their proprietary C-based scripting language.

RESPONSIBILITIES

In CALL OF DUTY: ZOMBIES, players attempt to survive as many rounds as possible of fending off the zombie horde by opening up the level to access more powerful weapons and perks as the rounds get progressively harder. A unique aspect of CALL OF DUTY’s ZOMBIES mode compared to similar games is that the quests are actually hidden as secret “Easter Eggs” with nothing more than vague clues to follow. There is even an intricate “MAIN QUEST” culminating in a boss fight and story ending to beat each level.

I worked on 3 of the 8 levels in BLACK OPS 4: ZOMBIES. My specific responsibilities on each level are outlined below. . .

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VOYAGE OF DESPAIR – a ZOMBIES level taking place on the ill-fated Titanic as it sinks.

Example Gameplay by MrDalekJD

I was primarily responsible for scripting significant parts of some of the more complex quests, including the Main Quest:

– Main Quest: Agents of Change Step (Clocks & Telegraph Wheels) | Quick Walkthrough by DameAndThatGame
– Flying Car Quest: Bones & Safes Step | Quick Walkthrough by MrDalekJD
– Kraken Quest (Wonder Weapon) | Quick Walkthrough by MrRoflWaffles
– Elemental Kraken Quest (Wonder Weapon upgrade)** | Quick Walkthrough by MrRoflWaffles
– Fireworks Quest | Quick Walkthrough by DameAndThatGame

I was also responsible for some set piece events:

– Iceberg Collision intro*
– Sentinel Trial activation**

And level-specific gameplay systems:

– water draining & flooding
– fast travel**

* initial setup/blockout only
** asset integration only

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DEAD OF THE NIGHT – a ZOMBIES level taking place in a gothic mansion owned by an eccentric adventurer.

Example Gameplay by MrRoflWaffles

I was primarily responsible for gameplay systems integrated into the level, especially zoning and zombie spawning:

– navmesh zones & zombie spawns***
– door/debris zone gates
– mystery boxes, weapon & perk buys***
– fast travel***
– player spawns***

I was also responsible for a set piece event:

– Sentinel Trial activation**

Maintaining simple crafting quests and part collection:

– Ballistic Shield Quest*** | Quick Walkthrough by MrDalekJD
– Silver Bullet Quest (weapon upgrade)*** | Quick Walkthrough by MrDalekJD
– Energy Cores for Fire Gate Trap*** | Quick Walkthrough by Glitch

And integration of level-specific gameplay systems:

– Fire Gate Trap**
– Electric Trap**
– Werewolf spawning & cleanup
– Nosferatu (vampire) spawning & cleanup

** asset integration only
*** tuning/maintenance only

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ANCIENT EVIL – a ZOMBIES level taking place in the fabled city of Delphi from ancient Greek mythology.

Example Gameplay by MrDalekJD

I was primarily responsible for gameplay systems integrated into the level, especially zoning and zombie spawning:

– navmesh zones & zombie spawns***
– door/debris zone gates
– mystery boxes, weapon & perk buys***
– fast travel***
– player spawns***

I was also responsible for any character dialog based on location:

– zone-based VO

Maintaining simple crafting quests and part collection:

– Apollo’s Will Quest (shield) | Quick Walkthrough by MrRoflWaffles
– Pegasus Strike Quest (special equipment) | Quick Walkthrough by MrRoflWaffles

And integration of level-specific gameplay systems:

– Boiling Bath Trap**
– Venom Spray Trap**
– Gegenees (six-armed giant) spawning & cleanup
– Spartoi (skeleton warrior) spawning & cleanup

** asset integration only
*** tuning/maintenance only