COD moving to subscription fee for enhanced content

sgaliger

Member
Dec 10, 2009
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0
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I think this is behind a paywall, but from the WSJ:





Consumers are used to paying $60 each for videogames that run on consoles like the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Now the publisher behind the industry's biggest videogame franchise—"Call of Duty"—is about to find out whether it can get them to pay a monthly bill, too.


Activision Blizzard Inc. plans to launch an online service called Call of Duty Elite this fall that will work with the next major edition of the game, "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3," and future installments of the hyper-realistic combat-simulation game. In a move industry executives describe as a first, Activision plans to charge a monthly subscription fee for the service, which will provide extra content that isn't offered on game discs sold in stores, including downloadable map packs that give players new "Call of Duty" levels to play.






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9:14 Activision's story right now is a tale of two gaming extremes: the company has seen record-setting success with its Call of Duty franchise, but just shut down Guitar Hero due to slow sales. Activision Publishing CEO Eric Hirshberg discusses the future of gaming with Lauren Goode and talks about their newest game, Skylanders Spyro's Adventure.






</div>Activision executives said they haven't yet figured out how much to charge for the service, but they expect the cost to be less than fees for comparable online-entertainment services, such as a $7.99-a-month Netflix Inc. movie subscription. Portions of the service will be free, including features inspired by Facebook Inc. that will let "Call of Duty" players meet for online gun battles with others who share various affiliations and interests.


Another feature of the service will give "Call of Duty" players tools, modeled on those from stock-trading websites, to analyze their performance within the game, gauging factors such as which weapons have been most successful for them in killing enemies.
 

Grooveriding

Diamond Member
Dec 25, 2008
9,144
1,322
126
I can understand and accept an MMO charging a monthly fee for an always on persistent world, but this is a joke.

I won't be buying any CoD titles from here on out due to this. Hopefully a lot of others don't either, forcing them to give up on this turd of an idea. Unfortunately I see console players flocking to this in droves cash in hand. :colbert:
 

Barfo

Lifer
Jan 4, 2005
27,539
212
106
I quit playing COD after MW and getting WaW as a gift. I just can't bear to pay the high prices the franchise commands, for more of the same thing, over and over. Not to mention the cheaters, exploiters and teenagers that populate the multiplayer. And the consolization. And the bugs and performance problems that plagued Black Ops.

Nowadays it's just vaguely interesting for me to read about the latest shenanigan Activision is pulling. Lots of people will bitch but still it will sell millions. Rinse and repeat for next year's COD.

At least all these news make me feel good about myself for not buying into such crap.

/rant
 

MikeyLSU

Platinum Member
Dec 21, 2005
2,747
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I remember a day when console fans laughed at PC games needing patches to fix games that were released unfinished.

Little did they know that companies will now start releasing unfinished games and charging extra for the finished product for consoles.

Hope it fails miserably.
 

maniacalpha1-1

Diamond Member
Feb 7, 2010
3,562
14
81
I can understand and accept an MMO charging a monthly fee for an always on persistent world, but this is a joke.

I won't be buying any CoD titles from here on out due to this. Hopefully a lot of others don't either, forcing them to give up on this turd of an idea. Unfortunately I see console players flocking to this in droves cash in hand. :colbert:

This is not an MMO and I can't see paying extra for these things. But perhaps EA and Activision can learn from this and move forward with a Planetside/WW2 OL style MMO.

I do not like COD gameplay, but if they made an MMO of the kind I'm thinking of, I'd deal with it and buy it.
 

pontifex

Lifer
Dec 5, 2000
43,804
46
91
lmao at everyone getting all bitchy already. same old same old for a cod thread.

the monthly charge is extra, for extra content. you don't have to pay the extra charge if you don't want to.

although it remains to be seen how much it will cost vs. how much extra content and quality it will be. Also will this split up playerbase between the paying and non-paying gamers?



*I am not endorsing this nor am I saying its right. I'm saying at least read the fucking article before you start your regular cod bitch fest.
 

Bill Brasky

Diamond Member
May 18, 2006
4,324
1
0
They better have good content for a reoccurring monthly fee. I'm assuming this will be on top of the Map Packs as well.

Game...............$60
Map Pack 1.......$15
Map Pack 2.......$15
1yr of New Srvc.$36 (Assuming a modest 3 bucks a month)

Total..............$126 D:

That better be an *amazing* game. Holy crap.

edit: Not bitching. I just didn't see that the monthly fee would include the Map Packs with the other content.
 
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pontifex

Lifer
Dec 5, 2000
43,804
46
91
They better have good content for a reoccurring monthly fee. I'm assuming this will be on top of the Map Packs as well.

Game...............$60
Map Pack 1.......$15
Map Pack 2.......$15
1yr of New Srvc.$36 (Assuming a modest 3 bucks a month)

Total..............$126 D:

That better be an *amazing* game. Holy crap.

Seriously, does anyone read before bitching?

"Activision plans to charge a monthly subscription fee for the service, which will provide extra content that isn't offered on game discs sold in stores, including downloadable map packs that give players new "Call of Duty" levels to play.

Activision executives said they haven't yet figured out how much to charge for the service, but they expect the cost to be less than fees for comparable online-entertainment services, such as a $7.99-a-month Netflix Inc. movie subscription. Portions of the service will be free, including features inspired by Facebook Inc. that will let "Call of Duty" players meet for online gun battles with others who share various affiliations and interests."

and again, you're not required to pay for any of it if you don't want it. You aren't even forced to buy the game...amazing concept!!!!
 
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Bill Brasky

Diamond Member
May 18, 2006
4,324
1
0
Seriously, does anyone read before bitching?

"Activision plans to charge a monthly subscription fee for the service, which will provide extra content that isn't offered on game discs sold in stores, including downloadable map packs that give players new "Call of Duty" levels to play.

Activision executives said they haven't yet figured out how much to charge for the service, but they expect the cost to be less than fees for comparable online-entertainment services, such as a $7.99-a-month Netflix Inc. movie subscription. Portions of the service will be free, including features inspired by Facebook Inc. that will let "Call of Duty" players meet for online gun battles with others who share various affiliations and interests."

So the monthly fee will be in place of the map packs? Do you think the maps will be available as separate DLC as well?
 

maniacalpha1-1

Diamond Member
Feb 7, 2010
3,562
14
81
Hell, right now I pay $20 a month for Netflix. I used to use the $8.99 package, but I watched everything that was streaming that I liked and now that I have to start requesting things that are only available on DVD, it's a lot better to get 3 at a time.

Also, 10 years everquest at $14.99. And I'd consider a Battlefield or even CoD MMO FPS to be the promised land compared to EQ.
 

pontifex

Lifer
Dec 5, 2000
43,804
46
91
So the monthly fee will be in place of the map packs? Do you think the maps will be available as separate DLC as well?

I would think so. That would be another way to rake in more cash. but who knows, maybe you'll be forced to pay the monthly fee if you want the extra content.
 

paperfist

Diamond Member
Nov 30, 2000
6,539
286
126
www.the-teh.com
lmao at everyone getting all bitchy already. same old same old for a cod thread.

the monthly charge is extra, for extra content. you don't have to pay the extra charge if you don't want to.

although it remains to be seen how much it will cost vs. how much extra content and quality it will be. Also will this split up playerbase between the paying and non-paying gamers?



*I am not endorsing this nor am I saying its right. I'm saying at least read the fucking article before you start your regular cod bitch fest.

The fact that they want to charge a subscription fee when there never was one before should have fans of CoD and those not fans of CoD bitching. What true gamer in their right mind is going to want to play a game with limited content while others are playing with added content?
 

Nintendesert

Diamond Member
Mar 28, 2010
7,761
5
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This is the first step in the ultimate goal for Activision which is the destruction of the used game market. They don't like you not paying them the $60 and buying it used after someone spends 8 hours to beat their product.

This is going to be the start of removing the multiplayer from used games and requiring everyone to use keys unique to original purchases. They don't like saying this outright and use piracy as the guise, but every so often it slips. They consider the used game market to be far more destructive than piracy ever was to them.
 

crownjules

Diamond Member
Jul 7, 2005
4,858
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76
Not enough information is known to really make an honest assessment. I'll reserve judgement until then, but I do remain skeptical that this will be "better" for gamers in any way.