Activision: You will pay for CoD multiplayer

Wolfram23

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From: http://pc.ign.com/articles/110/1106742p1.html
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.
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.

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
 

Radeonx

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Apr 26, 2009
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Good thing Treyarch's games are getting better.
Because Activision isn't affiliated with them, correct?
 

jeejvebe

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Jun 3, 2010
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It's "important" for Activision to be the first to be complete assholes with multiplayer?
 

maddawg IAJI

I prefer the term "Zomguard"
Feb 12, 2009
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This is still, in my opinion, the silliest thing of all time and the really disturbing part of it all, is that a large number of players will still pay for it, my brother, who is an active WoW player, included.

This just seems silly that we will be charged for a simple game with nothing, but PvP and no real chance to expand past that and thats just not worth a monthly charge in my eyes.
 

m@

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Aug 10, 2009
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just got to hope medal of honor is free then it won't matter anyway :D
 

Ironic Pirate

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May 21, 2009
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Fuck you, Activision, MW2 multiplayer wasn't even worth what I already payed, and I doubt you'll actually improve anything.
 

Vampire cat

Apocalypse Meow
Apr 21, 2010
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I laugh in Activisions face. And I'll be laughing still, even if I'm the only one left laughing, and not playing it. HAH, Activision, HAH!
 

Thyunda

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May 4, 2009
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Uh? But...I already pay like £40 a year for multiplayer anyway....what in the hell makes you think I'm paying anything else?
 

Insane Madman

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Jun 13, 2010
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Well i wasn't even going to but Black ops But that is just wrong. The people have bought the game, therefore they should be entitled to everything in the game, INCLUDING MULTIPLAYER! Without paying more money for it.

They have gone straight down in my levels of publishers, sitting next to EA... damn them, they killed westwood.
 

Eggsnham

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Apr 29, 2009
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No I won't, namely because I don't plan on buying another CoD game, I hate the CoD franchise a little more every day. Which is ironic considering my earlier obsession with it...
 

turbo4400

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Dec 13, 2009
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Fuck no i won't, that's ridiculous, but i'll being playing Reach as my multiplayer game anyway so i guess it doesn't matter to me, although it's clear that activision are money-grubbing bastards and i hope enough people are willing to say "fuck you" to them that this plan falls through even if it's implemented.
 

Woodsey

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Aug 9, 2009
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Radeonx said:
Good thing Treyarch's games are getting better.
Because Activision isn't affiliated with them, correct?
Please say you're not being serious...?
 

SalamanderJoe

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Jun 28, 2010
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Well Call of Duty fell out of my mind when Bad Company 2 entered my life. Oddly, I have noticed that Bad Company 2 has pulled a very vauge subscription idea. Despite being a 'VIP', where map variations were free, I still had to pay extra for Onslaught mode and them SPECTACT updates. Not cool EA.
 

Daedalus1942

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Jun 26, 2009
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Hahahaha, they actually expect us to pay subscriptions for this?
Modern Warfare 2 is the biggest piece of shit to have come out of last year, the Single player campaign while enjoyable was short and full of plotholes and as for the multiplayer, the basically copypasted the component from Call of Duty 4, change the bumpmaps of the models, reskinned everything, updated the graphics a little (not much), whacked a "2" on the end and added trophies.
Robert Kotick really is the biggest imbecile in all of videogame history and I'm certain he will eventually run Activision into the ground. Let's just hope his influence never manages to worm it's way into Blizzard's franchises (particulary Diablo III).
Wings of liberty and World of Warcraft can go die in a ditch.
 

Drexlor

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Feb 23, 2010
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I'll probably get Black Ops but I will never pay a subscription for one of the main features of the game.
 

dududf

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Aug 31, 2009
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<--- Still successfully boycotting the fucking mess that was MW2 for PC gamers.
I thought highly of Treyarch, if this shit goes in then I'm not buying Black Ops.

Fucking idiots, I wish the target audience was smarter and more informed. If that was the case we wouldn't get this shit.
 

tomtom94

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May 11, 2009
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As I said in another thread:

Subscription fees will be introduced.
Activision will get subscribers.
The games industry in general is moving towards OnLive-style services whereby you pay for the service, pay for the games, and pay for extra features.