Sledgehammer: "A lot of pressure" in co-developing Modern Warfare 3

Working alongside Infinity Ward was the the opportunity of a lifetime for Sledgehammer Games, but not a light-hearted undertaking.

"I'd be dishonest if I said I didn’t feel the pressure. To be working on Modern Warfare 3, with 30 million plus fans demanding nothing less than an amazing sequel to Modern Warfare 2 ... yeah, we knew it was going to take everything we had to give," COO and co-founder Michael Condrey told IndustryGamers.

"We also knew that it was an opportunity of a lifetime. It’s like that saying - the hardest steel is forged in the hottest fire. It's been quite a two-year journey and it certainly took a herculean team effort."

"There has been a lot of pressure, but most of it we put on ourselves," general manager Glen Schofield added.

"We realize there are millions of fans out there that are counting on us to deliver something that can be held up to Modern Warfare 2. There are so many people looking forward to playing Modern Warfare 3 that I'd be kidding you if I didn't say we feel some pressure.

"But at Sledgehammer Games we love a challenge and live for the pressure. It makes us perform at our very best. I think those that can handle the pressure, and love what they do, always do their greatest work."

Sledgehammer, Infinity Ward and Raven worked on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and its attendant social network platform, Call of Duty: Elite. The game likely to be the biggest seller of the year launched globally on November 8.