Post: Online Subscriptions Coming to Black Ops?
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11-24-2010, 10:46 PM
#1
Jake
One Man Army
Patcher said recently in an article:
Originally posted by another user
Activision apparently worried that announcing multiplayer subscriptions before the launch of Black Ops would hurt sales, it's likely that around 60 - 70% of the people who buy Black Ops do so to play online multiplayer, and a greater number of the first week purchasers. Even if Activision retained fully free online multiplayer, the mere mention of a 'premium' subscription service will tick off some consumers, and there might have been a backlash at the precise time that they needed to set records. They decided not to take that risk.
Patcher admitted that he has no inside information on Activision's stance on online subscriptions for Call of Duty: Black Ops, but he outlined how he thinks such a plan would work.
Originally posted by another user
I think everyone will be offered the same multiplayer options for free that they have now. In addition, I see premium items offered as virtual goods for a modest fee--let's say $1.
There will be special weapons, armour, vehicles, etc. offered, and the quantity will keep growing, in the hopes that some meaningful percentage of gamers who play online multiplayer (I think it's around 14 million active users) pony up $1 or $2 per month on virtual goods.
I think that the company will 'tier' its offering by offering a $5 per month subscription to Black Ops that includes ALL virtual items for free, plus access to all map packs released as long as the player remains active.
There are probably going to be three $15 map packs, so that feature alone has a perceived $45 value, and I'm sure that there will be dozens of virtual items, so the $5 subscriber will perceive some value from subscribing.
In addition, the $5 subscriber may be offered exclusive tournaments, game play modes, ladders, achievements, and any other features that Activision can think up to induce them to pony up more money.
Next, I think Activision will offer a $10 subscription to ALL Call of Duty games. Anyone paying $10 per month gets virtual items, ladders, tournaments, achievements, game play modes and map packs for CoD MW, CoD MW2, Black Ops and World at War, and as long as their subscription remains alive, they will get the next game and the one after that.
There are a total of 7 map packs (I think) available now, and will be another 3 next year, so for $10 per month, a player will get all 10 map packs. Not a bad value.
Next, I think Activision will offer a $15 monthly subscription that is an 'all access pass', allowing subscribers to play WoW, StarCraft II (look for monetization there), the new Bungie game (when it comes out), all CoD games, and whatever they do with Guitar Hero (maybe free downloads of songs), on an unlimited basis.
WoW subscribers will love this, since they already pay $15 per month. Of course, they'll have to buy copies of CoD in order to play, but this could spur growth on the PC online side of the game, and Activision would be able to keep all of the revenues, while they have to share with the console manufacturers for Xbox 360 and PS3 subscriptions.
The trick is managing this without destroying sales of the game. They will tread very carefully, and will make sure that they let consumers know that they are NOT taking anything away, but are merely offering a LOT MORE VALUE for a little bit of money.
There will be special weapons, armour, vehicles, etc. offered, and the quantity will keep growing, in the hopes that some meaningful percentage of gamers who play online multiplayer (I think it's around 14 million active users) pony up $1 or $2 per month on virtual goods.
I think that the company will 'tier' its offering by offering a $5 per month subscription to Black Ops that includes ALL virtual items for free, plus access to all map packs released as long as the player remains active.
There are probably going to be three $15 map packs, so that feature alone has a perceived $45 value, and I'm sure that there will be dozens of virtual items, so the $5 subscriber will perceive some value from subscribing.
In addition, the $5 subscriber may be offered exclusive tournaments, game play modes, ladders, achievements, and any other features that Activision can think up to induce them to pony up more money.
Next, I think Activision will offer a $10 subscription to ALL Call of Duty games. Anyone paying $10 per month gets virtual items, ladders, tournaments, achievements, game play modes and map packs for CoD MW, CoD MW2, Black Ops and World at War, and as long as their subscription remains alive, they will get the next game and the one after that.
There are a total of 7 map packs (I think) available now, and will be another 3 next year, so for $10 per month, a player will get all 10 map packs. Not a bad value.
Next, I think Activision will offer a $15 monthly subscription that is an 'all access pass', allowing subscribers to play WoW, StarCraft II (look for monetization there), the new Bungie game (when it comes out), all CoD games, and whatever they do with Guitar Hero (maybe free downloads of songs), on an unlimited basis.
WoW subscribers will love this, since they already pay $15 per month. Of course, they'll have to buy copies of CoD in order to play, but this could spur growth on the PC online side of the game, and Activision would be able to keep all of the revenues, while they have to share with the console manufacturers for Xbox 360 and PS3 subscriptions.
The trick is managing this without destroying sales of the game. They will tread very carefully, and will make sure that they let consumers know that they are NOT taking anything away, but are merely offering a LOT MORE VALUE for a little bit of money.
Subscriptions have been hinted towards Call of Duty by Activision owner Bobby Kotick in the past, but he has always maintained they would aid in benefiting the player.
The following user thanked Jake for this useful post:
11-24-2010, 10:54 PM
#2
FourzerotwoFAILS
COD4 God
I was wondering what happened to all the talk about pay-to-play. Good to here that there will be no downsides to not paying for online play.
11-24-2010, 10:54 PM
#3
FourzerotwoFAILS
COD4 God
I was wondering what happened to all the talk about pay-to-play. Good to here that there will be no downsides to not paying for online play.
11-24-2010, 11:52 PM
#4
The Low Key OG
still the same OG, but I've been low key
**** this, now I'm going to have to buy a subscription or be killed by people with an unfair advantage.:n:
11-25-2010, 12:11 AM
#5
schaffinosx
To and fro the island.
According to the CEO of Activision Publishing, Eric Hirshberg, the Call of Duty series (as is) will never have a subscription fee. You can find more out about that You must login or register to view this content..
I don't really know who to believe at this point. We have analysts and such who think this is all a business move, and the publisher merely trying to avoid announcing such an implementation just yet. On the other hand, we have two big names in Activision claiming that there will never be a subscription service for Call of Duty "boxed copies".
I don't really know who to believe at this point. We have analysts and such who think this is all a business move, and the publisher merely trying to avoid announcing such an implementation just yet. On the other hand, we have two big names in Activision claiming that there will never be a subscription service for Call of Duty "boxed copies".
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