The end of the year is always a bittersweet time.

As we look back with fondness to 2007, we look forward to 2008 and all the great things this new year will bring.

2007 was a tumultuous time for FPS gaming. The year brought us sales-shattering games such as HALO, computer-shattering such as Crysis, soul-shattering like Bioshock and finally, nerve-shattering like Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.

While the year was a seminal one for the gaming industry, it was also a watershed for us. The BASH webcast was launched at the beginning of last year and the BASHandSlash.com portal site went up three-quarters of the way through that term.

Without a doubt, 2007 was a good year for us and we hope it was for you too.

2008 has barely started and yet, it already promises to be spectacular for the FPS player, especially if you are a Call of Duty fanatic. With the imminent release of the CoD4 modding tools you will be soon be inundated with mods and maps to suit every taste.

We suspect that 2008 will also be a big year for our special guest in this 48th edition of BASH: 

Josh, from codhq.com joins us for our special:

We had initially intended for this interview to be all about 2007's FPS scene. However, Mark Lamia, the studio head at co-CoD-developer Treyarch, would intervene and his hiring decisions would overshadow events.

Mr. Lamia has been combing the PC community in the hopes of finding someone to take on the role of Community Relations Manager for Treyarch. Treyarch, as everyone knows by now, is taking on Call of Duty 5. The development of Activision's franchise is a task that they are sharing with Infinity Ward. The former company being given the odd-numbered games and the latter, the even ones to develop.

Lamia , a well known developer who's credits include Guitar Hero, Spiderman, Return to Castle Wolfenstein and Quake, was given Josh's name by another gaming-great, Grant Collier from Infinity Ward. Lamia reviewed codhq.com and the body of work Josh has been doing with the CoD2 total conversion, Unbound Forces and asked him down to their headquarters in Santa Monica, California.

It was a no brainer that Josh would be offered the job. And with a life-long ambition of getting into gaming as a career, Josh did something everyone with such a desire would do - he pinched himself and then took the job. 

Josh emailed us the exciting news this week and this topic was obviously added to the podcast. And now exclusively, in conjunction with codhq.com, announced on bashandslash.com

While Josh will be leaving his very successful website for the bright lights of professional game development, codhq.com's day-to-day operations will eventually be transferred over to yet un-named caretakers. With CoD2 Unbound Forces mod losing Josh's leadership, expect it to be further delayed.

Treyarch, in hiring Josh, sends a clear signal to the gaming world and the PC world in particular, that they will be a force to be reckoned with. Clearly, they have been stung by the criticisms from their participation in CoD3. Quite honestly, Activision's accelerated schedules for delivery of the game had more to do with the lack of product quality than any other issue. Notice that IW's management steers clear of the risks by avoiding breakneck schedules and sticking to a two year development cycle. If you could accuse Treyarch of anything negative related to CoD3, it was "over-optimism".

We wish Josh, a long time member of this community well in his new career.

By the way...ever wonder what a Community Manager does? Here's the job description from Treyarch's site:

Overview:

Treyarch is looking for a Community Manager who is passionate about games and online communities. Come join the team responsible for such award winning games as Call of Duty 3, Call of Duty 2: Big Red One, Call of Duty: United Offensive, and Return to Castle Wolfenstein. Treyarch is home to some of the best and brightest talent, and has garnered a reputation for being one of the industry's premier art, design and technology video game powerhouses. Our studio's teams are focusing on delivering high quality, fun and leading edge games for the 360, PS3, Wii and PC.

 

Treyarch is located in Santa Monica, California, just minutes from the beach.  Team members enjoy playing weekly basketball and soccer games, afternoon foosball, or working out at the neighboring gym.  The studio has great benefits and competitive salaries.

Description:

We are currently looking for a community leader to be in charge of the community website, community content, and all things web related. This position works within our development teams, and is a prominent voice and face for Treyarch online.

Job Responsibilities include:

Show Notes for BASH 48 The Year in Review

1. Introduction.

2. In this episode we will review the year that was for FPS gaming, and the COD community in particular.

3. 2007 marks the start of a brand new era for us in the CoD community. We finally see the end of World War II and the start of a brand new direction for the franchise...Modern Warfare.

a) Are you sad to see that era end?
b) What is your personal take on CoD4. Did it live up to your expectations on the multiplayer side?
c) As for the CoD4 PC community: What did IW get right? What did it get wrong?

The good:

 - Intensity
 - Maps: large variety, spotty quality
 - Gameplay: intense, no CTF

The bad: 

 - The IW in game browser: poor
 - The Ranking system: a series of half measures, no prestige mode.
 - Tournament suitability: in-game ruleset (even for Old-School or Hardcore mode) not suitable for the more strategic-minded tournament folks.
 - Commitment to the community: Did IW live up to its obligations to PC gamers?

d) What in your opinion are the big issues left to be dealt with in CoD4?

 - CoD4 Modding tools.

e) Is CoD4 a commercial success?

- How many servers are there for CoD4?

Day 1: 1500 servers, Three months later there are approximately 12000 servers

Fun facts:

Benchmark: Xbox sold 17.7 million Halos worldwide

f) Will there be an expansion pack?

g) End of the Year awards:

i) Gamespot Best of 2007:

ii) Spike Video Game Awards

iii) Gamespy

g) What was your FPS Game of the year?

h) What's going on in your world?

1) UF update
2) Friday Night Frag


i) We hear thru the grapevine that you have been approached by Treyarch to become their community manager?

Will you go?