Post: Activision May Charge For Online Gaming
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07-01-2010, 02:50 PM
#1
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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.
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.
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The following 3 users say thank you to MBO for this useful post:
08-03-2010, 05:00 AM
#120
justin54
Gym leader
how are they going to charge when the servers aren't even dedicated servers :\
the only thing that they really run is the leaderboard... player stats are kept in the save game files as we all know with the prestige hacks out there.
edit: nevermind read the post above this one..
the only thing that they really run is the leaderboard... player stats are kept in the save game files as we all know with the prestige hacks out there.
edit: nevermind read the post above this one..
08-03-2010, 06:33 AM
#122
CamelToaster
₪ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ₪
If you think about it activision will probably lose money. Atleast if they come forward about it and don't release it to one of the game like 3 months after release.
But if they are up front about it before the game comes out, they will 1. Lose sales from the game itself because people won't want to pay extra after purchasing the game, and 2. Not make as much money off the subscription fee since a lot of people won't buy the game in the first place, and 3. Not many, but I'm sure some people will buy the game just for the singleplayer and not even bother to pay for the subscription at all.
I know it has been said this won't happen. But I can definately see Activision trying something like this either in the near or distant future.
But if they are up front about it before the game comes out, they will 1. Lose sales from the game itself because people won't want to pay extra after purchasing the game, and 2. Not make as much money off the subscription fee since a lot of people won't buy the game in the first place, and 3. Not many, but I'm sure some people will buy the game just for the singleplayer and not even bother to pay for the subscription at all.
I know it has been said this won't happen. But I can definately see Activision trying something like this either in the near or distant future.
08-03-2010, 08:22 AM
#125
MiniKong15
Haxor!
wat? I just got ps3 not to long ago cause the online was free now i have to pay again!
08-03-2010, 09:16 AM
#126
BatFastard
Bounty hunter
If they do charge for Call of Duty I'm going to tell them where to stick black ops, then go and buy a different game. Simple, I'm not going to give them even more money when they're just becoming greedy.
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