Dr Disrespect, the two-time world champion video game streamer, is pulling out all the guns to get the so-called world’s first Mouse and Keyboard nuke in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 beta. The hype tweet was posted by the Doc, where he declared that he would be live playing for his last beta session and the only goal was to finally reach the difficult 30-kill streak that is needed to call the tactical nuke, a killing spree that has been very close to him in many high-kill games but has frustratingly eluded him.
So what exactly is a nuke in Call of Duty and why is it such a big deal? For the non-gamers, a tactical nuke is the ultimate demonstration of skill in a Call of Duty match. One has to get a massive kill streak without dying, usually 30 kills in a row, and then the entire match is finished right then and there with a huge, screen-shaking explosion. This is the ultimate sign of superiority, and for Dr Disrespect, who is already a very high-level player, not having one after so many close calls is like a personal grudge against the game. He has been posting unbelievable stats–several 70-kill games, lots of 60+ kill games, and many 50+ kill games–but that last perfect 30-kill streak has always been just out of reach. Today is the last day of the beta for him, so the pressure is on. No more chances after this one.
The reaction from the community, known as the Champions Club, has been an insane combination of excitement and total perplexity. To be honest, the comments on his tweet are battlefields in their own right. There are players like MrEqualizzer who are helping him out by making the encouraging remark ‘No excuses today Doc. Let’s get the Nuke!’ and this is just the type of support that every player desires. However, there is an entire section of the discussion that is completely bewildered by the reason for his playing this game at all. One player, RB6PLAYERZ, was very outspoken and he called the game ‘Garbage’ and a ‘dumpster fire’ and said he would rather see the Doc play N64 games. Ouch. That is quite severe.
And he is not the only one who feels that way. Chromium007 commented about a different scenario: ‘I wish we lived in a world where I’d wake up to see Doc playing Tarkov and not shit COD games.’ It appears that some of the audience is patiently waiting for him to come up with the next big thing, with many comments suggesting the soon-to-be-released Battlefield 6 as the promised land. Short Sleeve Steve was very straightforward: ‘Hopefully this is the last day of dooty, starting Friday battlefield6 is the new anthem for violence, speed, and momentum!!’ The split is that huge. Some gamers are completely committed to the BO7 grind, while others are just waiting for it to finish.
Another point of view among the gamers who are not really focused on the game but are rather the people who just want to see the Doc’s unique brand of entertainment, no matter what game he is playing. A conversation between ReeceC30906 and TheFamousZohan was an excellent illustration of this point, with Reece saying that the Doc’s playthrough of the indie game ‘Baby Steps’ was ‘PEAK viewing’ and that the current BO7 streams are a ‘snoozefest’ in comparison. It is a reminder that for many people, they come for the Doc’s personality, the rants, the slicked-back hair and the sunglasses, not necessarily the specific game that is being played. But then you have alefourty who brings up the obvious contradiction: ’10-hour streams of the franchise you hate the most, make it make sense.’ And he has a point. Why dedicate so much time to a game that you are constantly criticizing? It’s the never-ending question of the content creator dilemma.
Even with all the confusion, there were still some gameplay-related calls for help. User ‘hecklersheckler’ was really begging the Doc to use his power, ‘We are so screwed on the player sounds. I can’t hear anyone running behind or around me. Doc, please talk to the developers! WTF’. This highlights a typical problem that players are having with the audio design of the beta, which is an essential factor in a fast-paced shooter. And of course, we had the classics hype comments like Juan Carlos NS1891 simply requesting, ‘GIVE ME BACK MY NUKE ☢️’.
As the beta countdown continues, the focus will be on the Doc’s stream. Will he manage to clutch up and get that world-first MnK nuke, thus securing his place in the Black Ops 7 history books before even the beta officially ends? Or will the game deny him once more, adding another chapter to his story of near-miss? The Champions Club is looking, some with bated breath, others with a heavy sigh, but all are watching. The Doc’s final push for beta glory is on, and whether you love BO7 or hate it, you have to admit the man can throw a big one. PlayStation and Xbox players alike are tuning in for the spectacle.
