The end is nigh - for CoD anyway

[DJ-Daz]

The Wall Street Journal is running with a story this morning that claims the Call of Duty series of hugely popular first person shooters will see a monthly subscription rate – dubbed “Call of Duty Elite” – starting with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

The publisher, according to the website, plans to launch the online service to run alongside all of the series from this point in. The monthly subscription fee for the service will “provide extra content that isn’t offered on game discs sold in stores” it says, “including downloadable map packs that give players new levels to play.”

Although there’s no price set yet, some expect the service to cost less $7.99, although there will be some free features, such as the ability to “meet for online gun battles with others who share various affiliations and interests.” To clarify: the actual online gaming will still be included in the price of the game – there is no monthly fee to just play.

The WSJ reports that the Elite fee will focus on extras, such as tools to analyse player performance.

“Call of Duty is in a unique position to seek a monthly fee from customers,” says the site. “The game’s previous installment, set during the Cold War and called Call of Duty: Black Ops, was the best-selling game last year, with global retail sales of more than $1 billion during its first six weeks on shelves.”

More details are expected today, including what the Elite subscription will get you, and hopefully confirmation on pricing.

Source: WSJ, via GAF.

MCV has detailed the service:

Career: Detailed player stats (kill to death ratio, time spent, favourite weapons, loadouts, level, saved screenshots and videos, personal bests, etc). Players can view results from recent matches, via timeline and map showing every kill and death (including location of killer/victim). Can compare directly with other players by searching for their gamertag.

Connect: Join groups based on interest. For example, search for ‘photography’ and you are automatically entered into a group with other players have the same interest. If the group doesn’t exist, Elite automatically creates it. You can then access Career stats for group members. Can also browse theatre mode and videos. Looking through most liked, most viewed, staff picks, most recent or any videos you are tagged in. MW3 will introduce clan support.

Compete: Regular events and competitions set up by developers, e.g. highest kill streak, screenshot or video competitions, etc. Prizes range from special emblems for your profile to COD merchandise, an iPad 2 and a Jeep Cherokee. MW3 will introduce group vs group competitions, clan vs clan, intra-clan competition and leagues.

Improve: Detailed information on every weapon, perk and map in the game, including tips, stats and video guides from pros. Maps show objective locations for different types of multiplayer mode. Shows more player stats (e.g. how many times people have used each kill streak bonus). After MW3, Elite will call on entire Call of Duty community to provide expertise and guidance.

MCV has removed their post.

This is how you kill a good franchise - You milk for all it's worth, you charge extra monthly fees for minimal content, and you dont create anything revolutionary - you just add new maps and textures.

Source: http://www.thesixthaxis.com/2011/05/31/ ... e-service/

[redVENGEANCE]

"search for photography" - lmao!

a very useful feature indeed

lets search for "campers", "arse fucks", hmmm what else?

[InfiniteStates]

Connect: Join groups based on interest. For example, search for ‘photography’ and you are automatically entered into a group with other players have the same interest. If the group doesn’t exist, Elite automatically creates it. You can then access Career stats for group members. Can also browse theatre mode and videos. Looking through most liked, most viewed, staff picks, most recent or any videos you are tagged in. MW3 will introduce clan support.

I did search an image of a guy wanking for this, but it was too disturbing to post, so this will do instead...



But what a load of bollocks this whole thing is... It just goes to show that Activision's greed extends far beyond their understanding of their customer base.

Do they not realise that the majority of their customers are casual gamers? The hardcore, that may have been stupid enough to sign up for this, will more than likely be playing on Battlefield

[DJ-Daz]

@InfiniteStates shhh! Let them fail. The bigger the fail the better.

Activision need to stop ripping off their loyal fan base with overpriced map packs. People will keep buying CoD, but the higher than average price tag for the main game and DLC will kill it quick.

Greed and arrogance are fast routes to failure. They don't need to necessarily innovate - just not milk it so hard. They should probably just release it once every two years.

http://www.mess-hall.co.uk/forum/viewto ... 619#p20619

[InfiniteStates]

LOL yeah, I was thinking of trying to hunt that quote down

TBH I don't want them to fail - CoD acts as a sponge for all the retards that would otherwise pollute Battlefield. It's like software eugenics, and I'm all for it

Let them...

[DJ-Daz]

Eugenics??? I smell a conspiracy theory.


Good point, maybe I should setup another website for 'tards that like CoD so these infants can revel in their idiocy.

[InfiniteStates]

LOL you missed the edit - I feel its apt
(Give it a minute to cache)

[DJ-Daz]

OMG! I could watch that for hours - it's fucking hilarious

[Symonator]

pay for a game mod, lmao.

Bout time they invested that billion dollars from the franchise intodevving a new engine, the fucking cheap skates.

[DJ-Daz]

pay for a game mod, lmao.

Bout time they invested that billion dollars from the franchise into devving a new engine, the fucking cheap skates.

Thats the problem isn't it... do you innovate and risk loosing your customers, or stay as is and risk loosing customers?

Damed if you do, damned if you dont. I doubt MW3 will be as big a hit as Black Ops (their biggest yet). I think it's a downward slope from now on.