Activision Prices Call of Duty Elite

[ThunderCavalier]

:/ I'm not a big fan of Call of Duty, but I certainly do believe that the work at least put into the engine, the graphics, and the story (however mediocre it is) deserves a nice bit of money.

... This isn't what it deserves. They know that there are people that'll buy it at $60 even though I honestly believe it would be better at $40 or $50, so they're just throwing this in to make even more money. I know that stores like GameStop are swindling them out of money, but trying to elevate your prices to remedy your loses doesn't help anyone here.

 

[awsome117]

You know, if I didn't Call of Duty, this would seem like a terrible buy. But you know, I would end all of this hate, and buy the game (at the elite price) if for only one reason, don't charge a yearly fee when you RELEASE A NEW GAME EVERY YEAR.

If this is the last Call of Duty game, then by all means (well no, this shouldn't happen ever, but I can tolerate it a bit more) have this. But because I doubt that, and I doubt people will ever stop paying for CoD, there should be no sane reason to charge an annually fee. Or maybe I am just missing something, I don't know.

Also one last question, do people really enjoy watching CoD? I guess I can't say much, as I enjoy watching Halo MP but I can't seem to enjoy watching CoD.

 

[Rednog]

And @Rednog, "Seriously"? Opinions are open, but charging for a service that could be atrocious is the same day 1 DLC that crippled Portal 2. It's hardly a new call.

Here's the thing, in my honest opinion, I have yet to see an valid argument against the Elite service based on the existing CoD model.

Ok, the existing CoD model is naff for a start. You're starting from a very low baseline. A major company making a yearly re-make that promotes itself on realism, yet has no yearly ties, no actual realism and just tweaks the base engine based on last year's result is lazy in the extreme. The bells and whistles are quite nice, but the groundwork for them is already in place.

Same cake, different icing.

Now for the Elite Service:

1) Compound Interest: You're actually paying Activision $140 over the year.
2) A Pricing Model based on IP: When you're paying more for a named brand, then you're going into the realms of fan-sponsorship. That's an economic model that makes it's fans even more rabid than they originally were.
3) Paying up Front: You've no idea how good this service will be, but you're prepared to spend the same amount of money just in case. That's basically the same as pre-ordering MW4 and being allowed into the beta. And then you can pre-order MW4 on top of that.
4) Grass is Greener: Let's say you also want to buy BF3 or some other FPS. You've already put down your money on Elite, so you'll either be wasting that money or wasting your Elite purchase. Safer not to buy any more FPS.
5) Throw That One In: I'll be willing to put money on it that one of these map-packs is a "retro pack, re-enabling some of your favourite maps from past MWs". You've NO guarantee that these packs are going to contain anything as good as what the original game came with - and the only people you're going to be able to play them with is the Elite echolon.
6) Pay To Win: People with the Elite service have an advantage over others regardless of skill. That's a bad thing.
7) They Lie:
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.215925-No-Subscriptions-for-Call-of-Duty-Multiplayer-Says-Activision
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/105602-Activision-Adamant-it-Will-Never-Charge-for-Call-of-Duty-Multiplayer
8) They Know You'll Pay, Regardless:

In order to achieve this potential, we need to focus: on making games that constantly raise the quality bar; on staying ahead of the innovation curve; on surrounding the brand with a suite of services and an online community that makes our fans never want to leave.
Entertainment franchises with staying power are rare. But Call of Duty shows all of the signs of being able to be one of them. It's up to us.

Maybe you can knock 4 of those out due to personal opinion. But there's enough there to paint a decidedly Black operation, regardless of personal feelings towards Activision (of which there is already a lot of deserved hatred)

But you did make a good point about Epic. Point is I'd never buy any of the GoW series anyway.

I'm a bit lost, and wondering if you've gone slightly insane.
1) Compound interest? Who is charging anyone interest? Also where are you pulling this number from? $60 for the game and $50 for the service is $110 not $140. I don't know where you are getting this extra $30.
2) What is this...I don't even... What are you talking about paying more for a name brand, what is even the point of this in the current argument? Is there another game out there that is almost the exact clone or nearly the exact clone of CoD that is much much cheaper that I should know about? Otherwise I hardly see how you can criticize CoD for being some kind of name brand that charges more for their product, their product runs the same cost as the other triple A titles like Halo, Battlefield etc. Unless you're trying to make the claim that CoD is unworthy of being a triple A title and that it shouldn't be sold for $60, well that is your own opinion (making it in no way a valid argument for gamers as a whole) and also has nothing to do with the elite service, which is the point of the discussion.
3) Once again I don't see the point of this, pre-orders exist yet you have very little to go on, it ends up being a leap of faith. Epic is doing the same thing and yet you aren't jumping down their throats? And like most preorders you are getting a discount for paying that money up front. The elite service is giving you the DLC packs for $10 less than if you bought them all separately. I don't see the MW4 preorder allusion you seem to imply. How are you doing some kind of double preorder? Seriously man, you really need to clear up your points.
The elite service is a preorder of the maps and as an extra bonus you get early access to the maps because you have already purchased them. There is no oh here you get early access and now you have to pay another fee for the maps. Also, realize that the core of the service is the free part so even if the service sucks complete balls you really aren't losing anything from it. You are paying for the maps, and the bonuses, which really aren't that service centric. They are more rewards and directly tied to the game.
4) That is your choice as a gamer, that is a bit of a silly argument to try and bring up as a valid point. I mean what is your point here? You don't have to buy elite right away, it isn't going anywhere. Go ahead and buy BF3 and CoD3 and then decide which one you want to keep. Hey you like CoD3 better and you think that you will buy all the map packs and play them, then sign up for the elite service instead of buying the maps separately. I really don't see the problem here. It is your own problem as a gamer as to how you spend your time and money, don't go trashing a service for your own issues. It's like hey I can only play World of Warcraft at night because I have school and work during the day, how dare Blizzard charge me $15 a month when I can't raid?! Yea, that is my own thing to deal with and not Blizzard.
5)Once again, you don't have to buy the elite service on day 1, and also you're really trying overly hard to make a case on hypotheticals. Seriously, if you don't think the map packs will be good then just pick and choose which map packs you want. No one is forcing you to buy all the map packs. Hell I didn't like the look of the Black Ops map packs, so I only bought first strike and none of the other 3. Also where are you getting this information that you can only play the maps with the people in the elite service. Anyone who bought the map packs, either separately or bundled in the elite service can play against each other. This is most DLC works for most games. I can't go raiding Cataclysm content with my friends in WoW if I don't have Cataclysm.
6) I'm sorry what advantage do you get for being an elite member? I don't see any super powered guns, perks, or anything that is "pay to win". Everyone gets the same access to the same load outs as everyone else. Seriously you're going to try and give me this as a reason when it is completely wrong? Seriously prove to me that anything in the CoD service is pay to win.
7) I'm sorry but your reading comprehension sucks. Please read the articles again, Activision in both articles is saying you will not have to pay subscription to play the multiplayer aspect of the game. And this still holds true in MW3, you do not have to pay any subscription to play the multiplayer aspect of the game. The suscription is for the elite service which isn't a fee for playing the multiplayer, it is a fee for all the bonuses/map pack. There is a very clear distinction here and I hope you realize it.
8) Again I have to ask, what is the point here? A company doesn't want its fans to leave? My gods what an evil company...oh wait no...any business would be completely stupid to want its costumers to leave.

So I seemed to have knocked out those without any real personal opinion, in fact I wonder if some of your points are more personal opinion than fact.
I make a clear fact based argument in my post that you snipped about the validity of the service essentially being similar to other game models and pretty much outlined why from an objective stance/ price wise it is a valid service for CoD's fans. And your first paragraph is just bashing the game and the company.
I mean what was so difficult in my post to understand? Hey the company's track record is charging 'X' for their stuff, and now they are offering a way to get the same stuff + extra stuff for a price that is less than 'X' and this is essentially the same method that companies A,B, & C are using. So where is valid argument against this service?

 

[awsome117]

I'm a bit lost, and wondering if you've gone slightly insane.

Well we all tend to that after spending enough time here, but let me try to clarify Roots' points as I see them (if I am wrong, Root please correct me)

1) Compound interest? Who is charging anyone interest? Also where are you pulling this number from? $60 for the game and $50 for the service is $110 not $140. I don't know where you are getting this extra $30.

Well if I were to guess, I would assume he is talking about the xbox live fee as well, in which xbox users get screwed even more so. So the number can range from $110 - $160. Plus they are charging for a bunch of services that are free, and will become eventually free to non elite users (see Internet).

2) What is this...I don't even... What are you talking about paying more for a name brand, what is even the point of this in the current argument? Is there another game out there that is almost the exact clone or nearly the exact clone of CoD that is much much cheaper that I should know about? Otherwise I hardly see how you can criticize CoD for being some kind of name brand that charges more for their product, their product runs the same cost as the other triple A titles like Halo, Battlefield etc. Unless you're trying to make the claim that CoD is unworthy of being a triple A title and that it shouldn't be sold for $60, well that is your own opinion (making it in no way a valid argument for gamers as a whole) and also has nothing to do with the elite service, which is the point of the discussion.

What Root is saying is, as long as it has the brand name of it (Nintendo, CoD, Valve etc) people will buy it, regardless of what they actually know about it, because it has the name on it. Every find yourself shopping at one store more than the other? You probably shop there because you're familiar with the name, and don't bother looking at other stores. And as such, they can charge whatever price(s) they want, because you (the customer) will buy it.

3) Once again I don't see the point of this, pre-orders exist yet you have very little to go on, it ends up being a leap of faith. Epic is doing the same thing and yet you aren't jumping down their throats? And like most preorders you are getting a discount for paying that money up front. The elite service is giving you the DLC packs for $10 less than if you bought them all separately. I don't see the MW4 preorder allusion you seem to imply. How are you doing some kind of double preorder? Seriously man, you really need to clear up your points.
The elite service is a preorder of the maps and as an extra bonus you get early access to the maps because you have already purchased them. There is no oh here you get early access and now you have to pay another fee for the maps. Also, realize that the core of the service is the free part so even if the service sucks complete balls you really aren't losing anything from it. You are paying for the maps, and the bonuses, which really aren't that service centric. They are more rewards and directly tied to the game.

This one kind of confused me as well, as I don't know where Root was going with this one. I'll chalk this up as the personal opinion one.

4) That is your choice as a gamer, that is a bit of a silly argument to try and bring up as a valid point. I mean what is your point here? You don't have to buy elite right away, it isn't going anywhere. Go ahead and buy BF3 and CoD3 and then decide which one you want to keep. Hey you like CoD3 better and you think that you will buy all the map packs and play them, then sign up for the elite service instead of buying the maps separately. I really don't see the problem here. It is your own problem as a gamer as to how you spend your time and money, don't go trashing a service for your own issues. It's like hey I can only play World of Warcraft at night because I have school and work during the day, how dare Blizzard charge me $15 a month when I can't raid?! Yea, that is my own thing to deal with and not Blizzard.

He's saying if you buy the elite first, you're out of luck. Let's be honest, some people buy before they think. If they buy the elite first, and realize they don't like it, well out of luck I guess. I don't know about refunds yet so who knows, maybe you can get your money back. If that is the case, then I'll add this as number 2 (opinion)

5)Once again, you don't have to buy the elite service on day 1, and also you're really trying overly hard to make a case on hypotheticals. Seriously, if you don't think the map packs will be good then just pick and choose which map packs you want. No one is forcing you to buy all the map packs. Hell I didn't like the look of the Black Ops map packs, so I only bought first strike and none of the other 3. Also where are you getting this information that you can only play the maps with the people in the elite service. Anyone who bought the map packs, either separately or bundled in the elite service can play against each other. This is most DLC works for most games. I can't go raiding Cataclysm content with my friends in WoW if I don't have Cataclysm.

Again, he is not saying you have to, but if you do, you are screwed. And at first you can only play with the elite people, as they'll be the only ones to have it (them). Which means they'll learn all the best spots to sit and snipe, crouch and knife, and other other things they can learn before the "regular" customer even downloads it.

6) I'm sorry what advantage do you get for being an elite member? I don't see any super powered guns, perks, or anything that is "pay to win". Everyone gets the same access to the same load outs as everyone else. Seriously you're going to try and give me this as a reason when it is completely wrong? Seriously prove to me that anything in the CoD service is pay to win.

They do mention XP boosts for elite users. Clan specifically. So if you ever faced a clan in CoD, you know the pain of them. Now just imagine that pain, even faster.

7) I'm sorry but your reading comprehension sucks. Please read the articles again, Activision in both articles is saying you will not have to pay subscription to play the multiplayer aspect of the game. And this still holds true in MW3, you do not have to pay any subscription to play the multiplayer aspect of the game. The suscription is for the elite service which isn't a fee for playing the multiplayer, it is a fee for all the bonuses/map pack. There is a very clear distinction here and I hope you realize it.

personal opinion number 3 I say!

8) Again I have to ask, what is the point here? A company doesn't want its fans to leave? My gods what an evil company...oh wait no...any business would be completely stupid to want its costumers to leave.

basically point number 2: fans hear name, fans buy product, company profits, the cycle repeats (yearly by the way)

So I seemed to have knocked out those without any real personal opinion, in fact I wonder if some of your points are more personal opinion than fact.

Well I knocked out 3 for personal opinion, but mainly because I didn't understand the point(s) Root was trying to make. (Seriously, I think he doesn't like preorders to be honest).

I make a clear fact based argument in my post that you snipped about the validity of the service essentially being similar to other game models and pretty much outlined why from an objective stance/ price wise it is a valid service for CoD's fans. And your first paragraph is just bashing the game and the company.

Well I didn't see any of your clear points (except number 2), so maybe I didn't understand your reasoning either. Like I said, this is what I interrupted from you guys.

I mean what was so difficult in my post to understand? Hey the company's track record is charging 'X' for their stuff, and now they are offering a way to get the same stuff + extra stuff for a price that is less than 'X' and this is essentially the same method that companies A,B, & C are using. So where is valid argument against this service?

Well not entirely. Yes, they are given you extra stuff, and it may seem less in the short term (which it really doesn't) but in the long term, you realize it was for more costly than cost effective. A lot of those extra features are free, and they will become free at some point.

Also, am I seriously the only one who noticed an annual fee for this? An annual fee for a game series that pops out a new game yearly, or close to that? I mean, that alone should be enough reason not to get the elite version. Everyone knows they'll make a new one, they'll buy it again, and the whole purchase is utterly wasted!

But anyway, that was my interpretation of what Root was trying to say in a simpler form. If I need clarification, please let me know (both of you)

 

[Aprilgold]

ITT: People with different tastes in gaming calling others moron for having aforementioned different tastes.

For srs guys, I'm not a huge fan of Call of Duty or how Activision does business, but what the fuck guys. Stop being giant assholes just cuz' you don't like some of the community and you don't think this is a good deal for you.

Its less about who will buy it as more its blashespmhy to ask you pay a extra 50$, on top of the 60$, and xbox live, so another 60$. Thats about 170$ for the full extent of gameplay. And I doubt they'll keep with this up with stuff thats really interesting, in a year, a new call of duty will be out, and if this doesn't apply for it, then it will be a pointless purchase.
If I wanted pro videos of CoD I would go on to Youtube.

I don't have to say much more actually, again, other games are using a similar system for no payment.
My problem lies within their sales pitch is selling you more of the same. For CoD lovers, I guess its a must, but for someone else, you'll be getting about 50% of what you SHOULD be getting for free, and / or as DLC.
Activison and Treyarch are not evil, but they found the most gullible people out there, so they're just milking their money tits for all of the dirty riches they hold. Rather a person is gullible is up to decisions of the public, but I only see Treyarch and Activison milking peoples wallets dry.

Who wants to bet that Activision don't release any DLC map packs in the first year because of the 1 year Elite subscription in the Hardened version.

I'm with you, and any DLC they DO unleash will be like, a new weapon mod that adds very unoticable tiger to the inside of the barrel or some shit. Activision will probably not sell anything worth it within the first year because of the hardened addition.

 

[The Lugz]

what they should actually include is a set of audio video taunts to use on enemy players, and just ditch the voice coms

I still wouldn't buy it but the ***** level in the game would drop, drastically
and we would have less ass-hole 'gamers' giving the rest of the community a bad name because they feel they have to attack everyone or be considered the latest noob-by-proxy

 

[Rednog]

Huge cut

First of all root was responding to my post:

Spoiler

Here's the thing, in my honest opinion, I have yet to see an valid argument against the Elite service based on the existing CoD model.
First of all let's put one thing aside, the map packs have been $15 each since Modernwarefare 2, this isn't going to change, any argument about paying for them as opposed to other companies offering "free" DLC or stating that $15 for map packs is too much is just an old argument and a somewhat pointless argument that has little to do with what the Elite service is offering.

With that out of the way, I pose a question. If Activision rolled out and said hey we're going to provide stat tracking and all that other stuff just like Halo and Battlefield for free (which is currently the case) and the map packs are still the map packs @$15. Would anyone really have a problem with Activision? (Take note that we're putting aside any argument of the map pack price because this has been their fee for the last 2 games.)

To me the obvious answer is no. Because how could you possibly have any problem with this? They are just offering the same thing everyone else is and the rest of their business model would be exactly the same.

So how is it that when they bundle the map packs and a bunch of other stuff into a package that is actually cheaper than it would be based on the current model for the last two games that people all of a sudden have a problem with this?

It is pretty much the same thing that Epic is doing with gears of war. They are offering a DLC discount for their "season pass" all 4 of their map packs cheaper if you buy it all at once. And yet there is no hate for Epic. Hell even Logan Westbrook (escapist) called Gear's Season pass: "Out of all the different schemes and systems that developers and publishers are using to monetize DLC properly, this is probably one of the best ideas. Microsoft and Epic get make money on all four packs, and the consumer gets a discount and a neat little downloadable exclusive. Basically, everybody wins."

So once again I ask how is it that CoD elite is getting flak for this but not Epic?

I fail to see what people are bitching about.
Seriously if a person is into CoD and intends to get all the map packs, they would be absolutely insane not to get the Elite service.

Which is the points I was referring to when I said I maid a clear argument/points.

1) As to point one, first of all even counting Xbox live as a fee still isn't "compound interest". Second, tacking on the Xbox live fee is such a flimsy argument. By that logic I can tack on a year cost of Xbox live to every game, OMG BF3 is $110 the first year, WTF EA?!
Seriously, you just can't attribute the cost of Xbox live to a single game. May if that is the one and only game you're playing throughout the year then yes we can say that it is sort of a cost to the CoD experience...but seriously what tiny percent of the gaming population only plays a single game throughout the year? It is such an extreme case that you'd honestly be grasping for straws to really have this somehow be a solid argument against the Elite service.
2)I understand the concept and mentality of brand naming but how is this an argument against the Elite service? Like I said their established model is $15 for map packs, we aren't arguing on whether or not this is a fair price or not because this has been their policy for the last 2 games, the elite service is merely functioning based off the established price of their line of DLC. Based on this fact they are charging a fairly reasonable amount based on the content provided vs what it would cost individually. Some people are arguing that it should cost less ($30 or so),but that would be a pretty fail business decision, no one is going to offer you a 40% discount on a brand new bundled product.
5) I'll give you that, but the way he is wording it is basically saying that only people will elite will get to play it ever. Even so, isn't this more of an incentive for people to actually buy the DLC through the elite service? I mean this is nothing new, a lot of games offer their pre ordering customers early access to games. Why is CoD getting bashed for it specifically like this is something new.
6) Pay to win more refers to things that are over powered and offer an super unfair advantage to paying customers that non paying customers will never have access to. Boosted exp really isn't the most game ending thing they could put in CoD. I mean any player can get to rank 50 pretty damn fast and they can unlock everything by then. Sure the boosted exp gets it faster, but any player worth their salt is going to be able to match them. This isn't like oh look I bought CoD elite and I get an elite only 30% recoil suppressor.
Points 5&6 are really very short temporary advantages at best. Not really that gamebreaking as to (at least in my opinion) denounce the service.

At the end you say that the features will be eventually free? I'd like to know how you came to this conclusion. I mean all the DLC from the last 2 games isn't free, nor does it look like it will be free anytime in the near future. The paid features are really bonuses that I seriously doubt will be given out for free at any time.
Also I question your point about it seeming cost effective and it not being in the long run.
The games come out yearly, the subscription is based on a year. You pay for this year, you get all the DLC for $10 less, MW4 rolls out next year (granted this is speculation) odds are that it will be the same deal if you suscribe to the elite service you get all the MW4 DLC, saving you another $10.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Nearly.

1) Compound interest? Who is charging anyone interest? Also where are you pulling this number from? $60 for the game and $50 for the service is $110 not $140. I don't know where you are getting this extra $30.

If you are paying $60+$50 for a year's service ahead of time, by the end of that year it will be worth $140 because you are paying up front.
If you were paying $60+the map packs as they came out, the interest wouldn't accumulate. Free capital allows them more purchasing power up front.

Epic is doing the same thing and yet you aren't jumping down their throats?

I think I've jumped down everyone's throats on this. Just not all at once.

I don't see the MW4 preorder allusion you seem to imply. How are you doing some kind of double preorder? Seriously man, you really need to clear up your points.

What's the difference between MW2, Blops and MW3? (Or the Guitar Heroes)
Maps, Weapons and Settings - these could all be put into a Map Pack.
4 Map Packs + Original Game = Yearly Update.
MW4 = Yearly update.

Clearer?

7) I'm sorry but your reading comprehension sucks.

And you were doing so well steering clear of the insults

Saying "You don't have to" and then "LOOK AT ALL THE COOL SHIT IF YOU DO" may not be direct lying, but so's "The cheques in the mail."

8) Again I have to ask, what is the point here? A company doesn't want its fans to leave? My gods what an evil company...oh wait no...any business would be completely stupid to want its costumers to leave.

It's a leaked e-mail. Therefore they are building CoD to go the same way as Guitar Hero. Eschewing building games rather than to build a fanbase. Charging on need rather than quality.

Personal opinion yes, but given the amounts of money we're talking about? Quite a strong one.

So I seemed to have knocked out those without any real personal opinion, in fact I wonder if some of your points are more personal opinion than fact.

Some are. Some aren't. But confusion doesn't eliminate the points.

(Seriously, I think he doesn't like preorders to be honest).

Wooden iPad. I like to see what's in the box. See also Duke Nukem.

I make a clear fact based argument in my post that you snipped about the validity of the service essentially being similar to other game models and pretty much outlined why from an objective stance/ price wise it is a valid service for CoD's fans.

Want to repeat? I have to snip some things just to keep this post to one page long.

And your first paragraph is just bashing the game and the company.

Like any potential reviewer would, and has, done.

I mean what was so difficult in my post to understand? Hey the company's track record is charging 'X' for their stuff, and now they are offering a way to get the same stuff + extra stuff for a price that looks less than 'X' and is still more than other companies charge

Valid argument.

Also, am I seriously the only one who noticed an annual fee for this? An annual fee for a game series that pops out a new game yearly, or close to that? I mean, that alone should be enough reason not to get the elite version. Everyone knows they'll make a new one, they'll buy it again, and the whole purchase is utterly wasted!

Like I said, 4 Map Packs are extremely similar to the difference between Yearly updates. You'd be buying MW4 twice.

Edit:

odds are that it will be the same deal if you suscribe to the elite service you get all the MW4 DLC

You're betting on odds again, when then terms themselves say "MW3" only.

I'm still betting there will be a "retro-map" pack. Which all the Elite will buy, and defend automatically.

Giving people a few dollars off to build a yearly brandname with ardent defenders like yourselves?

Priceless.

 

[cpnichol]

I guess if you accept that the DLC is value for money and you know that you are going to play this game a lot and for a long time, then it might make sense.

To me it's just another way for Activision to get more money from their customers for a game that won't have much more content than previous versions. £40 for the game, £35 for Elite or buy the DLC separately £36 (assuming they release 3). Sorry but £75 compares badly with the £25 I picked COD4 up for near release.

 

[brainslurper]

$60 for the game
$60 for the map packs
$50 for stat tracking.

That is 170$ a year. For a game who's campaign lasts 6 hours, and the multiplayer is outdated and unbalanced. Skyrim's campaign is 300 hours long, and that only costs 60$. Team Fortress 2's multiplayer is well balanced, and that is free. Activision really has built up a culture of "You have to keep buying these games, or you won't be with all your friends. Well here is a fucking idea, everyone go play World at War, that game is by far the most advanced and content heavy of the series, and yet nobody plays it, simply because there is 3 copy paste sequels coming after it.

Wait, before I quit arguing. $60 dollars for map packs? What kind of messed up math is this...

There were 3 map packs for modern warfare 2. They each sold for $20 each. 3x20=60