Info about Call of Duty®: Black Ops III: Official game description: Zombies Chronicles Deluxe Edition ================================= Now with more content than ever before. Call of Duty®: Black Ops III Zombies Chronicles Deluxe includes the full base game, Season Pass, Zombies Chronicles & additional bonus digital content including: The Giant Bonus Map: Zombies returns in all of its undead glory with "The Giant". Re-live the chaos of Treyarch's classic "Der Riese" Zombies map, picking up the Zombies story with Dempsey, Nikolai, Richtofen, and Takeo where Origins left off. 3 Personalization Packs: Fan favorite Cyborg & Weaponized 115 packs along with a new Black Ops 3 pack. Each pack comes with a weapon camo, reticles, and calling card. The Zombies Chronicles content expansion which delivers 8 remastered classic maps from Call of Duty®: World at War, Call of Duty®: Black Ops and Call of Duty®: Black Ops II. Mod Tools Open Beta Now Live ============================ The Black Ops 3 Mod Tools Open Beta has arrived! Full version Black Ops 3 owners can install the Mod Tools under the Tool Section via the Steam Library titled **_Call of Duty: Black Ops III - Mod Tools_**. Mod Tools Include: ------------------ * Black Ops 3 Steam Workshop\* * Unranked Server Browser\* * Radiant Level Editor * APE, Asset Property Editor * Mod Tools Launcher * Optional additional level building assets from a variety of official Black Ops 3 maps can be installed under the DLC section of Call of Duty: Black Ops III - Mod Tools * Full examples of the multiplayer map Combine and the Zombies map The Giant * New Server Settings Menu in Multiplayer Custom Games and Zombies Private Game where you can set how your server will display in the Unranked Server Browser\* * New Mods Menu where you can load and unload your subscribed mods\* \*_Downloading the mod tools is not required for these items or to play Black Ops 3 Steam Workshop content_ Modding Guides: --------------- * Official - How to Play - Workshop Guide * Official - How to Create - Workshop Guide About the Game ============== Call of Duty®: Black Ops III Zombies Chronicles Edition includes the full base game and the Zombies Chronicles content expansion. Call of Duty: Black Ops III combines three unique game modes: Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies, providing fans with the deepest and most ambitious Call of Duty ever. The Zombies Chronicles content expansion delivers 8 remastered classic Zombies maps from Call of Duty®: World at War, Call of Duty®: Black Ops and Call of Duty®: Black Ops II. Complete maps from the original saga are fully remastered and HD playable within Call of Duty®: Black Ops III. Release date: Nov 5, 2015 Categories: First-Person Shooter, Cooperative Multiplayer, Horde Shooter, Character Progression, Weapon Customization, Survival Horror, Mod Support, Multiplayer Feature scans: - MTX: score 85; verdict: Predatory Monetization; summary: The analysis of user reviews for the game reveals several key issues related to monetization and user experience. The presence of microtransactions is a significant concern, with players criticizing the need to spend additional money on in-game purchases. The high cost of DLCs is another major point of contention, as many players feel that the pricing is excessive and does not provide good value. The reliance on RNG and excessive grinding for obtaining certain items or weapons is also highlighted as a frustrating aspect of the game. Additionally, the multiplayer mode is criticized for being pay-to-win, which can create an unbalanced and unfair gaming environment. Lastly, a considerable amount of content is locked behind paywalls, requiring additional purchases to access, which further exacerbates player frustration. - Mods: score 45; verdict: Buggy but Playable; summary: The game has significant security issues that make community patches highly recommended, especially for online and Zombies mode play. While some users find the game enjoyable with mods, there is a consensus that playing without community patches can expose players to security risks. However, there are mixed opinions on the necessity of these patches, with some users believing the game is safe without them. - Wiki: score 50; verdict: Needs Simplification; summary: The primary user complaints revolve around the excessive complexity of the game mechanics in Black Ops 3 Zombies. Players find themselves needing to consult multiple wiki pages and external guides to understand the various layers and hidden steps, which significantly detracts from the enjoyment of the game. - Proton/Linux: score 15; verdict: Works Well; summary: The game generally runs well on Linux using Proton with only minor issues reported. Users highlight good performance and ease of use, although some adjustments and specific community patches may be necessary for optimal gameplay. The overall experience is positive with minimal tweaking required. - Steam Deck: score 55; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The analysis of user feedback reveals several critical issues impacting the Steam Deck experience. Controller support issues and anti-cheat problems are significant barriers, leading to high severity ratings. Proton compatibility issues and performance problems, such as frame drops and crashes, also contribute to a less than optimal experience. However, there are positive experiences reported as well, with many users enjoying the game on Steam Deck without major issues. - Hardware Profile: - Summary: The game generally performs well across most hardware cohorts, with notable issues arising primarily on Linux systems and some mixed experiences on mid-range Windows hardware. High-end configurations report smooth performance, while lower-end setups also manage decent playability with some caveats. - Sample size: 347 (2% coverage) - Audience skew: Review sample is mostly Windows-based. - Windows <8GB VRAM / <16GB RAM (positive, 90 reports): Most users report smooth gameplay with high performance, though some experience FPS drops in multiplayer. - Windows 8-11GB VRAM (positive, 80 reports): The game runs well for most users, with high FPS and good optimization, despite some reports of instability and exploits. - Windows <8GB VRAM / 16-31GB RAM (positive, 72 reports): Users report good performance with stable FPS, though there are isolated issues with game launch. - Windows 12-15GB VRAM (positive, 66 reports): The game runs fantastically with high-end hardware, providing smooth gameplay without major issues. - Linux / Proton 8-11GB VRAM (mixed, 6 reports): Performance on Linux is mixed, with some users experiencing smooth gameplay on Proton while others report significant issues like crashing and FPS drops. - Caveats: 347 of 17316 reviews expose hardware metadata.; Review sample is mostly Windows-based. Feature extractions: - Community Price: - Community fair range: $19.99 - $20.00 - Reasoning: The evidence consistently points to the community's sentiment that the game is only worth purchasing when it is on sale. Multiple reviews mention that the game often goes on sale for around $20, which is considered a fair price given the game's age and the value provided by its community content and zombies mode. The general consensus is that the full price of $60 is not justified for a decade-old game. - Playtime Metrics: - Game completion: 20.0h - Story completion: 10.0h - Session length: 2.0h - Endgame: 1000.0h - Reasoning: The evidence provided highlights several key points about the playtime metrics for Call of Duty: Black Ops III. The first quote mentions that the game 'eats up hours of my day,' indicating significant playtime, particularly in the Zombies mode. The second quote discusses the extensive lore and the enjoyment of playing Zombies with friends, suggesting long sessions and high replayability. The third quote explicitly mentions 'thousands of hours of gameplay' available from custom maps on the Steam Workshop, indicating a very high potential for endgame content. The fourth quote reinforces the idea of extensive playtime with the mention of workshop support and DLCs, which add to the replayability and nostalgia factor. - Time-to-fun: - Summary: The game is fun immediately due to its engaging Zombies mode, which features beautiful maps and memorable puzzles. The multiplayer and campaign modes are less enjoyable and have significant issues. - Stance: Fun immediately - Anchor: Zombies mode - Time to anchor: 0h 10m - Friction: Poor campaign design; Multiplayer issues with hackers - Unlock drivers: Engaging Zombies mode; Custom maps - Conditions: Playing with friends; Using custom maps - Player Archetypes: - Movement Enthusiast (sale) - Motivation: Enjoys the fast-paced and dynamic gameplay mechanics. - Playstyle: Fast-paced, dynamic, and enjoys using advanced movement mechanics. - Experience: familiar - Purchase stance: sale - Labels: FPS fan; Movement enthusiast - Reference games: Titanfall; Apex Legends - Zombies Aficionado (buy) - Motivation: Enjoys the intricate maps, puzzles, and the overall atmosphere of the Zombies mode. - Playstyle: Cooperative, puzzle-solving, and enjoys custom content. - Experience: veteran - Purchase stance: buy - Labels: Zombies fan; Co-op player - Reference games: Left 4 Dead; World War Z - Frustrated Multiplayer (no buy) - Motivation: Seeks a safe and enjoyable multiplayer experience. - Playstyle: Competitive, but frustrated with the current state of multiplayer. - Experience: mixed - Purchase stance: no buy - Labels: Competitive player; Frustrated gamer - Reference games: Call of Duty: Warzone; Battlefield Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category. Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews. What players like: - Zombies mode highly praised (weight 0.58): The Zombies mode is frequently highlighted as the best in the series, with players appreciating its variety of maps, engaging gameplay, and innovative features. It is described as atmospheric, fun, and worth the purchase. - Custom and modded maps (weight 0.35): The game offers a variety of custom and modded maps, which are praised for their design and the endless fun they provide. The community-created content is a significant highlight. - Multiplayer mode is fun (weight 0.32): The multiplayer mode is noted for being enjoyable, well-designed, and entertaining. Players find it fun to play with friends and appreciate the balanced weapons and variety of maps. - Solid gameplay experience (weight 0.18): The gameplay is described as solid, tight, and polished. Players enjoy the overall experience, including the campaign and multiplayer modes. - High replayability (weight 0.14): The game is noted for its high replay value, with players mentioning endless content and extensive customization options that keep the gameplay fresh. - Worth buying (weight 0.13): The game is considered a good value for money, especially for its Zombies mode and custom maps, making it a worthwhile purchase. - Best Call of Duty game (weight 0.13): Many players consider this game to be one of the best in the Call of Duty series, praising its overall quality and comparing it favorably to other entries. - Engaging story (weight 0.09): The game's story is praised for being well-written and engaging, adding depth to the overall experience. - Nostalgic and memorable (weight 0.07): Players have fond memories of the game, including its maps, weapons, and characters, which contribute to its lasting appeal. - Zombies Chronicles DLC (weight 0.07): The Zombies Chronicles DLC is praised for bringing back beloved classic maps, adding to the game's appeal and replayability. Common complaints: - Multiplayer plagued by hackers (weight 0.24): The multiplayer mode is heavily infested with hackers, making it unplayable and not fun for many users. - Security risks due to RCE exploits (weight 0.23): The game has significant security risks, including Remote Code Execution (RCE) exploits that can compromise players' computers. - High price for an old game (weight 0.18): The game is considered overpriced, especially given its age and the numerous issues it has. - Confusing and weak campaign (weight 0.17): The campaign is widely criticized for being confusing, convoluted, and poorly executed. Players find the story hard to follow and unmemorable. - Community patches needed for safety (weight 0.17): Players feel the need to use community patches to mitigate security issues and improve performance, as the game is unsafe without them. - Low player population (weight 0.06): The multiplayer mode suffers from a low player population, making it difficult to find matches and enjoy the online experience. - Campaign progress not saved (weight 0.05): The game defaults to online play for the single-player campaign, and progress is not saved if players switch to offline mode. - Stuttering issues (weight 0.05): Players experience constant stuttering bugs, which affect the gameplay experience negatively. Gameplay feedback: - Zombies mode with unique maps (weight 0.22): The Zombies mode is highly praised for its unique and detailed maps, including community-created and official maps. Players appreciate the complex Easter eggs, deep storylines, and various mechanics within these maps. - Advanced movement in multiplayer (weight 0.18): Multiplayer mode features advanced movement mechanics such as wall-running, thrust jumping, and sliding. These dynamics add a layer of complexity and excitement to the gameplay. - Weapon and character customization (weight 0.12): Players can customize their weapons, accessories, and loadouts. The Create-a-Class system and character customization options provide a personalized gaming experience. - Multiple game modes (weight 0.1): The game offers three main modes: Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies. Each mode provides a different experience, catering to various player preferences. - Cooperative gameplay (weight 0.07): The game offers cooperative play options, including a co-op campaign and multiplayer modes. Players can team up with friends for a shared gaming experience. - Specialist character system (weight 0.07): Multiplayer mode features a Specialist character system, where each character has unique abilities and weapons. This adds strategic depth and variety to the multiplayer experience. - Easter eggs and lore (weight 0.05): The game is noted for its well-made Easter eggs and rich lore, particularly in the Zombies mode. These elements add depth and intrigue to the gameplay. - Fast-paced movement and shooting (weight 0.05): The game features fast-paced movement mechanics and shooting, providing an adrenaline-filled gaming experience. Players enjoy the quick and dynamic gameplay. - DLC content (weight 0.05): The game offers additional content through DLCs, such as the Zombies Chronicles DLC. These expansions provide new experiences and extend the game's lifespan. - Realistic difficulty mode (weight 0.04): The game includes a realistic difficulty mode, offering a more challenging experience for players seeking increased difficulty and realism. - Futuristic setting (weight 0.04): The game is set in a futuristic environment with advanced technologies, providing a unique and immersive backdrop for the gameplay. - Non-standard storyline (weight 0.04): The game features a non-standard storyline, offering a unique narrative experience that deviates from typical game plots. Performance notes: - Hardware compatibility and performance (weight 0.15): The game runs well on older hardware and can be adjusted to run on specified hardware. It also performs well on the Steam Deck, achieving 50-60 FPS. - Frequent crashes and launch issues (weight 0.13): Players report that the game often crashes at launch or refuses to launch altogether. This includes frequent game crashes and issues with the game only working intermittently. - Security and stability concerns (weight 0.12): There are concerns about security exploits and the need for patches or mods to play safely. This includes issues with hackers and the need for extensive troubleshooting. - Poor optimization and performance (weight 0.12): The game suffers from significant optimization issues, leading to constant stuttering and performance problems. This is frequently mentioned across multiple clusters. - FPS and graphics issues (weight 0.11): Players experience FPS fluctuations and issues, including graphics tweaks and rendering glitches. This affects the overall gaming experience significantly. - Platform-specific performance (weight 0.09): The game runs better on PC compared to other platforms. There are specific issues reported on Apple Silicon Macs and laptops without dedicated GPUs. - Connection and server issues (weight 0.09): Players report disconnections, lobby crashes, and high ping in Asia servers. These issues affect the online gaming experience. - Visual and audio bugs (weight 0.07): Players encounter visual bugs such as black screening, screen flickering, and dark/blurry screens. Audio issues are also reported alongside these visual bugs. - Language-specific issues (weight 0.07): There are specific issues related to the Chinese language, including subtitle lag, frame drops, and stuttering. These issues affect the performance and playability of the game. - System and compatibility issues (weight 0.07): The game has high system demands and is not compatible with certain graphics cards. It also requires running as administrator to fix some issues. - Miscellaneous bugs and glitches (weight 0.05): Various bugs and glitches are reported, including resolution reverting on alt-tab, mouse wheel weapon swap issues on Mac, and certain parts of maps breaking. Recommendations: - Worth buying on sale (weight 0.29): The game is considered worth buying, especially when it is on sale. Many players suggest waiting for a sale to purchase the game. - Use community patches for safety (weight 0.24): Players recommend using community patches like T7 Patch or T7x for a safer and better gaming experience, especially for online play. - Recommended for zombie and FPS fans (weight 0.15): The game is highly recommended for those who enjoy zombie modes and first-person shooter games. It is particularly worth purchasing for fans of COD Zombies. - Avoid multiplayer, use caution (weight 0.13): The game is not recommended for multiplayer due to various issues. Players suggest using protective clients or playing offline to avoid problems. - Zombies mode is a highlight (weight 0.11): The Zombies mode is highly praised and recommended. It is considered worth buying the game for this mode alone. - Consider additional content and mods (weight 0.1): Players suggest buying the game with DLCs on sale and exploring custom maps and mods for an enhanced experience. - Use third-party clients for safety (weight 0.07): Players recommend using third-party clients like CleanOps or boiii client for a safer multiplayer experience. - Technical and language considerations (weight 0.06): Players suggest specific technical adjustments and recommend playing in English due to a poor PC port. - Play with friends for better experience (weight 0.06): Playing with friends is recommended for a more enjoyable experience, especially in Zombies mode. - Mixed recommendations on full price (weight 0.04): Some players find the game worth it even at full price, while others recommend waiting for a sale due to expensive DLCs. - Consider other games or versions (weight 0.03): Some players suggest trying other games like Titanfall 2 or different versions of Call of Duty for a better experience. Other player notes: - Mouse and keyboard input issues (weight 0.03): Players have reported problems with mouse and keyboard inputs. This issue affects the gameplay experience and needs a solution. Emotions: - Frustration (weight 0.27): Players are frustrated primarily due to multiplayer issues, including broken servers, hackers, and poor optimization. Additional concerns include game crashes, lack of developer support, and security risks such as RCE attacks. The high price and monetization practices also contribute to the frustration. - Satisfaction (weight 0.11): Players express satisfaction with the game's custom maps and game modes, particularly the Zombies mode. The modding capabilities, value for money, and overall positive gameplay experience, including multiplayer and zombies modes, are highlighted as key reasons for their satisfaction. - Nostalgia (weight 0.11): Players feel nostalgic due to memories associated with playing the game, especially the Zombies mode, and custom maps. The game's longevity, community support, and personal memories of playing with friends and family contribute to this sentiment. - Excitement (weight 0.11): Players are excited about the game's Zombies mode, custom maps, and the overall unique and immersive experience. The fast-paced gameplay, engaging mechanics, and the variety of content and mods available contribute to their excitement. - Disappointment (weight 0.1): Players are disappointed with the game's campaign, including poor storytelling and level design. Additional concerns include multiplayer issues, high pricing, and the overall state of the game, including performance issues and lack of consistent players. - Enjoyment (weight 0.08): Players enjoy the game's Zombies mode, custom maps, and the overall fun gameplay experience. The community support, modding capabilities, and the ability to play with friends contribute to their enjoyment. - Enthusiasm (weight 0.05): Players are enthusiastic about the game's Zombies mode, custom maps, and the overall positive gameplay experience. The variety and quality of the game's content, including multiplayer and workshop support, contribute to their enthusiasm. - Joy (weight 0.05): Players experience joy from the game's Zombies mode, modding capabilities, and the overall fun and engaging gameplay. The high replayability, quality of the Zombies mode, and the ability to play with friends contribute to their joy. - Anger (weight 0.03): Players are angry due to security vulnerabilities, hackers, and performance issues in the game. The lack of action from developers and the perception of money-hungry practices contribute to their anger. - Concern (weight 0.02): Players are concerned about the game's security issues, including hackers and exploits. The future of the game and the need for Activision to fix these issues are also mentioned as reasons for concern. - Love (weight 0.01): Players express love for the game due to its customization options, mechanics, and overall positive sentiment despite its flaws. The depth and variety of the game modes contribute to their love for the game. - Appreciation (weight 0.01): Players appreciate the game's custom maps, Zombies mode, and community support. The detailed and interesting story, as well as the depth and variety of the game modes, contribute to their appreciation. - Happiness (weight 0): Players are happy with the game's performance on older hardware and the enjoyment of specific zombies maps. The overall fun and engaging gameplay experience contribute to their happiness. - Confusion (weight 0): Players are confused by the game's campaign storyline, which they find difficult to follow or understand. - Mixed feelings (weight 0): Players have mixed feelings due to the positive aspects of gameplay mechanics and Zombies mode contrasted with negative aspects of the story and design. The cooperative play and customization are appreciated, but the plot and storytelling are criticized. - Boredom (weight 0): Players feel bored with specific aspects of the game, such as the Zetsubou no Shima map and the campaign, which they find unengaging or repetitive. - Disappointed (weight 0): Players are disappointed with the game's neglect and high price, as well as the presence of exploits and lack of action from Activision to address these issues. - Amusement (weight 0): Players find amusement in fun experiences with friends in the Zombies mode, enjoying the gameplay and the social aspects of playing together. - Sadness (weight 0): Players feel sadness due to mentions of a deceased person and the game's security issues, which evoke a sense of loss and concern.}