User:Caliburn/sandbox

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Missing.png

Status: Partially Found


Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is a first person shooter game that was developed by Infinity Ward and published by Activision in November 2007. The game, changed quite drastically in development with a substantial amount of cut content, far more than other games in the series. While these levels are rendered unplayable in the release builds, early builds have arisen with several of these cut levels fully playable, while others remain unavailable, indicating that they were cut earlier in development and never existed in a playable form. (on the other hand, some missions included in the final game were only finished months before launch, so hope remains.) Footage of several of the cut levels was published by YouTube user UHDGaming in 2016 from Xbox 360 pre-alpha build 328, but seemed reluctant to release the build to the public. (probably due to copyright concerns) Later, in 2018, user Adryonic posted footage from an earlier build, build 253. The Hidden Palace states that build 290 has been dumped and is currently circulating.

A devkit is required to play the pre-alpha builds.

Campaign levels

Training

It was originally planned that the training mission would have taken place with the USMC, as opposed to the SAS. The level retains many of the objectives that were seen within the FNG mission featured in the final game. The level is removed from the final build, with only the compass file and the strings file, (containing objectives, prompts to the player, and so on) being preserved. A fully playable version of the level is seen in the pre-alpha build. Seen in this level are several characters that didn't feature in the final game, as all missions containing them were removed, such as the playable character Michael Carver.

On build 253 of the game, this mission was dated 2nd March 2007.

Footage from build 253

Footage from build 328

FNG

The original mission was longer than that seen in the final product. After finishing weapons training with Gaz, instead of going straight to Cpt. Price for the CQB course, the player would have had to first go to Sgt. Newcastle for explosives training, and then complete an obstacle course. These were cut so late in development, the obstacle course and explosives pit can be found in the final game, just with the objective triggers removed. They were restored as optional objectives as part of Modern Warfare Remastered.

Cobra Pilot

The exact name of this level is unknown, but is given this name as the game's mod tools refer to the assets in the level with cobrapilot. The level was referenced in some promotional material for the game, so was clearly cut quite late in development. [1] The level can be found fully playable in the pre-alpha build, with even button prompts, controller layouts and sound effects prepared for the level. (albeit, at this point in development, a bit crudely presented)

On build 253 of the game, this mission was dated 16th November 2006, suggesting it was among the first missions to be developed.

Footage from build 253

Footage from build 328

Cobra Pilot Night

Cobra Pilot Night is a night variant of the Cobra Pilot mission. It can be assumed therefore that cobrapilot was intended to be a two-part mission. No differences are obvious, however. On build 253, the mission is also dated 16th November.

Footage from build 253

School

Almost nothing was known about this mission (all that remains in the final game is the compass file) until videos of the pre-alpha builds surfaced. In both builds 253 and 328, the level is incomplete. The objective at the beginning says "Hunt down Drago Zakhaev", though there is no dialogue thereafter. It is suggested that this was an early name for the character Victor Zakhaev, as evidenced by a few filenames. The mission has players destroy vehicles and push through a school, though as the level is unfinished little happens after that. Some helicopters are spawned at the end of the level, though they are not scripted to do anything, suggesting that the player may have escaped by helicopter.

The mission is dated 9th March 2007 on build 253.

Footage from build 253

Footage from build 328

Descent

This level does not feature on any found early builds. There is, however, a string file, descent.str, in the mod tools of the game. The level would have taken place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, quite late in the game. The string file suggests that the Marines were to enter an underground bunker, where Al-Asad (spelt Assad in the string file) had either been murdered by an officer, or committed suicide. The game would have had the player use a camera, which still exists in the final game, though the models no longer exist in the game files. The reload button would have zoomed in the camera, and the shoot button would have taken a photo. In the final game, Al-Asad is killed by Captain Price in his safehouse in Azerbaijan.

The string file still contains placeholders from Call of Duty 2, possibly suggesting the level was cut early in development.

Wetwork

The level was thought to have never existed in any playable form, with only a .vision file to evidence its existence. However, it is found playable in both builds 253 and 328. The player spawns near a helicopter, where several friendly NPCs are spawned. They are however not scripted to do anything and have no collision detection. No objectives are programmed for the mission, nor any dialogue, so it's unknown when in the game this mission would have taken place, the plot, or which characters would have featured. The player spawns with only the default weapon, and no enemies are spawned. The player can explore forest, a graveyard, and some ruins where more inactive NPCs can be found. The level then abruptly cuts off into the void.

Footage from build 253

Footage from build 328

That's No Sandstorm

This level does not feature on any found early builds. There does, however, exist a compass file in the game files as well as a string file in the mod tools for the game. The level would have taken place early in the game, having taken place on day 1. It would have taken place on the Omani-Saudi border, and the player would have had to defend from incoming tanks. Button prompts found in the string file make reference to C4 being used, as well as the M72 LAW, which is an anti-tank weapon which does not feature in the final version of the game. (it was not included in the series until Black Ops)

Chechnya Escape

No remnant of this level can be found in the final game, though present on builds 253 and 328. Understandable, as the level is very unfinished in both builds of the game. Several textures are missing or underdeveloped, there are no objectives programmed nor are there any friendly NPCs. It's therefore hard to suggest when this level would have occurred during the game. (it may have been part of the removed Carver story arc) There are, however, enemy NPCs that roam the level.

Footage from build 253

Footage from build 328

Designated Marksman

This level does not feature on any found early builds. There does, however, exist a compass file in the game files as well as a string file in the mod tools for the game. The mission would have, chronologically, taken place after Descent. The player assumes control of Carver to secure a café, a construction yard and destroy an AA instalment.

Designated Training

Despite the name, there is no apparent connection between this mission and Designated Marksman. This level does not feature on any found early builds. There does, however, exist a compass file in the game files as well as a string file in the mod tools for the game. The mission would have taken place in Riyadh on Day 5. There is some scripted dialogue found in the game's files, though relatively generic. The subtitles even summarise enemy radio calls as "foreign gibberish".

Helicopter Ride

This level does not feature on any found early builds. A compass file can however be found in the game files, and a corresponding .vision can also be found. A crude minimap can also be found, marking the path that the helicopter takes through the map. The only modification is the de-saturation of the image. The image was dated December 20th 2006.

Embassy

Embassy, also known as Immediate Action, is a level found in build 328. It however fails to load either due to an issue with the level, or due to the fact that the level was never completed to that point. The compass files can be found in the files of the final build of the game, and the string file can be found in the mod tools. The events of the mission resemble that of the real-life incident, Operation Nimrod. The mission revolves around rescuing hostages from the embassy building. The level would have featured a rescue timer, with the level assumedly failing if it expired.

Parabolic

The title of this level is unknown, but is given the provisional name Parabolic, from the name of its string file in the mod tools for the game. It is not featured in any found early builds. It is probable the level was an early version of Blackout, based off its prefab folder. Notably, the mission would have had players use a parabolic microphone to gather intel, then assaulting a safehouse to locate a prisoner (probably Nikolai). The sprint button would have been used to amplify conversations. Debug text states that the level was unfinished, if that was not already clear.

Swat

Swat is a level featured in build 253. It was most likely intended as a test level, from its layout and small size. The mission is dated 4th December 2006.

Footage from build 253

Test levels

Several test levels can be found in build 253. These clearly were not intended to be included in the final game, but are interesting regardless.

Dog AI

Javelin Weapon Test

Non-AR weapons test

Vehicle damage test

Assault rifle firing range

Multiplayer maps

Cellblock

Dusk

Dusk is a map found in build 253. The map is a remake of Dawnville from the original Call of Duty game. Robert Bowling commented on Twitter about the map, saying "that map was decent, but wasn't stellar. Which is why it never made the cut. No good routes, all fighting ended in center". The load screen and compass files remain in the final game.

Footage from build 253. Skip to 1h4m35s

Facility

Forest

Hill

Hill is a map found in build 253, based on the campaign mission Heat. In fact, very little change has actually been made to the map. It is speculated therefore that the map was cut as it was unsuitable for multiplayer play. This was primarily due to the fact that the team starting on the hill would have had too great of an advantage. The load screen remains in the final game.

Footage from build 253. Skip to 1h15m13s

Mansion

Overgrown Night

Overgrown Night is a night variant of Overgrown, as the name would possibly suggest, found in build 253. While it was included in Infinity Ward's "7 days of Modern Warfare" video, the map was ultimately cut. The video is now private.

Footage from build 253. Skip to 1h39m6s

Palace

Rooftops

Strike Night

Strike Night is a night variant of Strike found in build 253.

Footage from build 253. Skip to 2h5m58s

Suburbs

Minor cut maps

  • Ambush Night
  • Argun
  • District Night

Cut playtypes

Sound files for the announcers reveal a few game modes that did not feature in the final game:

  • Capture the Flag
  • Gridiron
  • High Speed - assumedly a variant of gametypes (eg. High Speed Team Deathmatch)
  • King of the Hill
  • Tactical - assumedly a variant of gametypes (eg. Tactical Team Deathmatch)
Announcer clips

Minor differences/peculiarities

  • In early builds, the player's melee attack used the butt of the player's gun instead of a knife.
  • German voice clips from Call of Duty 2 were played backwards as a placeholder for enemy voices.
  • Regardless of the weapon that the player is holding, the HUD will display an AK-47.
  • In build 253, a silent clip, attract.bik, from Black Hawk Down would play if the player left the game too long on the campaign menu.
attract.bik

References