• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
Gameranx

Gameranx

Video Game News, Lists & Guides

  • News
  • Features
  • Platforms
    • Xbox Series X
    • PS5
    • Nintendo
  • Videos
  • Upcoming Games
  • Guides

David Vonderhaar on Black Ops 2’s Perks: I Can Nerf Perks and I Will, Mark My Words

September 24, 2012 by Alex Co

David Vonderhaar, game design director of Black Ops 2 talks about the changes to perks and how they’re willing to nerf something if it becomes too powerful.

One of the things Treyarch is changing with Black Ops 2's gameplay is how Perks work. Now, there will no longer be "Pro" version of Perks. So, why change something that players have been used to for years?

In an interview with CVG, Game Design Director David Vonderhaar explains:

Perks were pretty important for us to rethink, because they were getting too complex. You had perks, perk pros, perks that influence you, perks that influence your gun, perks that influence team mates. We've simplified that so perks only ever affect your character, and more importantly, Black Ops II's perks aren't absolutes. In Black Ops our only balancing options were to remove the perk or keep it; now we can tune any perk by increments to nerf it or improve it.

So, this means exploitable Perks and people running around with the same Perks due to them being the "best" might be a thing of the past. If not, Vonderhaar is not against nerfing Perks that are too good. 

I can nerf perks and I will, mark my words…A perk should never be something you need just to compete. A perk is 'I got a parking spot,' or 'the soda machine gave me free soda.' Your life shouldn't depend on it. The community helped me understand that, and that's why our new system has no absolutes. We can try to make it the most balanced CoD ever

In addition to Perks being shaken up, the way you create classes has been given a whole new meaning to Treyarch's all-new "Pick 10" class customization. Now you can choose if you want to carry a sidearm, extra grenades, no weapons at all and so much more. As long as it fits within the Pick 10 schematic, then you're good to go.

To be honest, Treyarch changing how Perks work and implementing this new create-a-class feature is what's seriously making me like what I've seen so far. It's way better than what we're used to before, no?

Are you liking the changes Treyarch is doing to Black Ops 2's multiplayer so far or are you fed up with the franchise to even care?

Share this post:

FacebookTwitterLinkedInPinterest

Recent Videos

20 Games That Are WAY Better on Higher Difficulty

20 Games That Are WAY Better on Higher Difficulty

GTA 6: 10 Features IT SHOULD STEAL

GTA 6: 10 Features IT SHOULD STEAL

Windrose - Before You Buy

Windrose - Before You Buy

10 BRAND NEW GAMES, STARFIELD PS5 BACKLASH & MORE

10 BRAND NEW GAMES, STARFIELD PS5 BACKLASH & MORE

10 Secret Game Endings That BLEW OUR MIND

10 Secret Game Endings That BLEW OUR MIND

Mouse: P.I. For Hire - Before You Buy

Mouse: P.I. For Hire - Before You Buy

REPLACED - Before You Buy

REPLACED - Before You Buy

Pragmata - Before You Buy

Pragmata - Before You Buy

What The HELL Is Going On With Unreal Engine 5?

What The HELL Is Going On With Unreal Engine 5?

Category: Updates

Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • Xbox’s Jason Ronald Confirms Xbox Helix Will Be A 1st Party Console, Debunking 3rd Party Rumors
  • Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories PC Fan Project Pulled From YouTube
  • PS5 Pro PSSR Update Is Now Available For Capcom’s Latest Blockbuster Pragmata
  • Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced World Reveal Showcase Officially Scheduled For April 23
  • GTA CEO Strauss Zelnick Is For AI Tools, Argues Tech Can Be Used For Evil But Has Been Mostly Good

Copyright © 2026 · Gameranx · All Rights Reserved · Powered by Mai Theme