Originally posted by MomasBoyOnline
You must login or register to view this content.
With game sales lagging and gamers extending their playtime with their favorite titles by playing online, Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachtersees mega-publisher Activision finding a way to get money out of gamers spending tons of hours with games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.
According to Pachter, "Activision will find a way to monetize the 1.75 billion hours of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 online play on the Xbox 360 in the first five months following the game’s release.
"In the future, we think that Activision will find a way to charge for some portion of online game play, and if successful, we think that other publishers will follow suit," Pachter said. "With the early June launch of the second Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 map pack, we think that online game play will continue to be a drain on gamers’ time and wallets, and think that sales could again slide into negative territory."
When asked if there was something that he'd like to change immediately, Activision CEO Bobby Kotick mentioned that he would like to have a subscription service for Call of Duty in an interview with the Wall Street Journal. "I would have Call Of Duty be an online subscription service tomorrow. When you think about what the audience's interests are and how you could really satisfy bigger audiences with more inspired, creative opportunities, I would love to see us have an online Call Of Duty world. I think our players would just have so much of a more compelling experience.
We don't yet have any hint as to when Activision or other publishers might begin testing their "online monetization" plans or what that exactly will entail. It could be everything from in-game ads, to selling special DLC items, to a full on subscription model, or even a variation of EA's Project Ten Dollar. Whatever it may be, news like this is not good for gamer's wallets that are already stretched thin in this economy.
Call of Duty: Black Ops is due this November while the "Resurgence Pack" for Modern Warfare 2 is currently available on the Xbox 360 and due out on July 6 for the PC and PS3.
You must login or register to view this content..
I got this in an Email today from the CoD4 Forums;
COD4Forums Members,
Everyone can breath a sigh of relief. It's official: We won't have to pay to play COD multiplayer. Honestly, did anyone really buy into this hysteria?
In case you missed it, last night someone posted a YouTube video showing how Activision could potentially be working a subscription service for Modern Warfare 2. Of course, the news spread like crazy and fans started nervously moving their mouse around in fearful fits.
It didn't take long before Activision caught wind of the video, and promptly released a bevy of statements.
Robert Bowling stated on his blog, "To be clear: There is not, and will never be, additional fees required to subscribe and play Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer"
"The video above seems to show a user on what appears to be the Xbox Live Gold Membership renewal page via the Marketplace in the guide, but while in-game in Modern Warfare 2 (which is in error)"
"It does not however, prove a pay-to-play subscription model is in the works for Modern Warfare 2, because no such plan exists for this or any other Call of Duty (including the upcoming Black Ops)."
Treyarch even got in on the debunking action, with community manager Josh Olin, "No, you will not have to 'Pay to Play' multiplayer either"
"Rumor -> Squashed."
So, there you have it folks. We will never have to pay to play Call of Duty. But did anyone ever think we'd have to? Seriously?
| JohnnyV |Tuesday, July 20th, 2010