From: http://pc.ign.com/articles/110/1106742p1.html
Let me be clear though, in some cases charging monthly is legit. Take an MMO, for example, where you get constant live support and tons and tons of updates and patches and all that. It's an ever ongoing development that needs funding. But what about a FPS? Frankly, they're not big enough to require that. After release, they could certainly do a little updating, sure. There's always a few bugs. But it's just not that massive to require montly subscriptions to pay for it. If they want to do the microtransactions, they'll probably completely ruin the MP. How would you like to play against people who simply bought the best weapons or perks right off the bat. Sure, you could do it too, but that's stupid to do if you can just earn it. It'll imbalance the game from day 1. I think they had a decent, but greedy, idea in release their map packs. On consoles, at least. PC gamers tend to not like that shit when so many games in the past have been open to user created addons that are free for everyone.
Seems to me their going about it wrong. Maybe they should allow you to buy an editor along with the game so that we can all enjoy some user created stuff, which in turn will help extend the life of a game allowing for constant sales over time. Oh, right. Because the release a new version every year, which costs millions and millions to make. Duh.
The only way I think it could work - monthly payments for CoD - is if by doing that you get EVERYTHING free, and that includes the next game. Essentially you pay for a "CoD subscription" and then get any CoD games free... something along those lines might fly. But, obviously, they're going to make you buy ever. single. thing.
EDIT: Good (ish) news, Activision replied to these rumors/allegations and firmly denied: http://pc.ign.com/articles/110/1107019p1.html
Sounds like, for PC gamers at least, a great way to get those hackers going full steam to crack the software to allow player run servers, not to mention cracking the game itself for pirating as a big "F YOU" to Activision.Pachter also noted that Activision needs to make the first move with multiplayer charges, and expects we could see something with Call of Duty: Black Ops, set for release this November.
"We think that it is incumbent upon Activision, with the most popular multiplayer game, to take the first step to address monetization of multiplayer," said Pachter. "It is too early to tell whether that will be a monthly subscription, tournament entry fees, microtransaction fees, or a combination of all three, but we expect to see the company take some action by year-end, when Call of Duty Black Ops launches."
Pachter says he expects the publisher will apply a World of Warcraft-like business model to its Call of Duty franchise. Activision will likely continue to offer some form a free multiplayer for awhile, he says, but notes that it's imperative the company capitalizes on the estimated 4 billion hours of time spent online since the launch of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 on Xbox Live and PlayStation Network.
Let me be clear though, in some cases charging monthly is legit. Take an MMO, for example, where you get constant live support and tons and tons of updates and patches and all that. It's an ever ongoing development that needs funding. But what about a FPS? Frankly, they're not big enough to require that. After release, they could certainly do a little updating, sure. There's always a few bugs. But it's just not that massive to require montly subscriptions to pay for it. If they want to do the microtransactions, they'll probably completely ruin the MP. How would you like to play against people who simply bought the best weapons or perks right off the bat. Sure, you could do it too, but that's stupid to do if you can just earn it. It'll imbalance the game from day 1. I think they had a decent, but greedy, idea in release their map packs. On consoles, at least. PC gamers tend to not like that shit when so many games in the past have been open to user created addons that are free for everyone.
Seems to me their going about it wrong. Maybe they should allow you to buy an editor along with the game so that we can all enjoy some user created stuff, which in turn will help extend the life of a game allowing for constant sales over time. Oh, right. Because the release a new version every year, which costs millions and millions to make. Duh.
The only way I think it could work - monthly payments for CoD - is if by doing that you get EVERYTHING free, and that includes the next game. Essentially you pay for a "CoD subscription" and then get any CoD games free... something along those lines might fly. But, obviously, they're going to make you buy ever. single. thing.
EDIT: Good (ish) news, Activision replied to these rumors/allegations and firmly denied: http://pc.ign.com/articles/110/1107019p1.html