Activision: Call of Duty 4 was best-selling game of 2007

by Ludwig Kietzmann on Jan 25th 2008 7:15PM

Much like the dim-witted kid you constantly taunted in kindergarten, Activision is having extraordinary difficulty making it past the number "1." Constantly cited in press releases, it appears uno is the only number the publisher cares to count on: #1 US publisher in 2007; a $1 billion dollar franchise in Guitar Hero; and #1 game in last week's Xbox Live Activity. Perhaps you too would be laughing all the way to the bank if you weren't such a mean-spirited brat in your early years.

Activision's latest claim to #1 fame is based on sales figures obtained from The NPD Group, Chart Track and The GFK Group, which label Infinity Ward's critically acclaimed Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare as the best-selling game for 2007. The frantic first-person shooter is said to have sold in excess of 7 million units worldwide, a particularly impressive victory considering the game's relatively recent November release. Of course, those keen on the shooting of the aliens will recall that Microsoft claimed an 8.1 million sales 'splosion for Halo 3 earlier this month, bringing the title of "Best-selling Game of 2007 OMG" title into minor dispute.

We've contacted both boasters to clarify the figures ... just so we can be sure to stick the air pump into the right ego. Regardless, you'd best take this as a sign to start counting down the months until the inevitable Call of Duty 5 arrives. Let's just hope it's not a #2.

Source

Tags: Activision, BreakingNews, Call-of-Duty, Call-of-Duty-4, CallofDuty4, COD4, DS, Halo3, NPD, PS3, Xbox-360

Reader Comments (78)

@ Mr. ESC

I'm not saying we should ignore problems with FPS's -- I don't even think there is a "perfect" FPS. All I'm saying is that there are people out there who will attack FPS's just becuase they are FPS's. Any FPS is license for them to whine about the perceived lack of innovation in the gaming industry.

If they want to believe that, so be it. Just don't write the EXACT same half-arsed complaint every single time there's a post about an FPS.

Infantry Ward started making CoD4 when they were finished making CoD2.
Since they were busy making a good game, Activisons needed moneys from the CoD franchise so they told Treyarch to slap together a game using leftovers from CoD2.
CoD3 was in no way a terrible game, even a little good. But CoD4 blows it out of the water along with many other recent shooters.
So hopefully Infintry Ward will start work on CoD6 soon and i'll rent 5.

From the press release:

"Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is one of the best games ever created and further establishes Call of Duty as one of the premier brands in the industry"

See, this is why it's important that they don't put COD5 in Treyarch's incompetent hands. As someone who has played COD3 and found it lacking, I have no faith in the next game in the series. Does Activision really want to throw away the good reputation Infinity Ward has earned for them?

To that end, a lot of gamers don't read gaming blogs or keep up on which developers are which game. This makes Activision's problem all the worse. They will buy COD5 with no clue about the developer switching. And if COD5 follows COD3, they'll be disappointed.

If COD5 sucks, Activision will just have to make up the poor performance with lots of PR when COD6 rolls around -- which isn't always cheap.

I don't know what to tell you, I only played 4 and the original which I loved but 3 didn't looked like a bad game I mean some reviewers said it was actually quite good.

Also you will always get an inferior product when you take the product away from their original creators and the best you can expect is a tribute like Climax already proved with SH:O

What Activision should do stop whoring their franchises (Something that is probably not going to happen) and let Treyarch develop something of their own, well if you can’t excel in shooters let them work in some other project were they can truly shine instead of letting them start from were Infinity Ward ended.

Now for the reviews of COD3 Treyarch don’t sound anything like an incompetent team but then again I haven’t played the game.

The Call of Duty series has always sucked for one major reason (the same reason C&C Generals sucked) it's a pro US propaganda tool. Halo has it's pro US elements too but but they are more subtle and at least you fight for the United Nations Space Core (UNSC)not the US or it's "allies". I've never purchased a COD game ever and plan on keeping it that way, Generals was a mistake I plan on NOT repeating.

You are only robbing yourself of a great gaming experience...

CoD4 is a fantastic game.

Considering CoD4 is mostly centered around a British force makes your statement pretty ignorant.
The CoD franchise has always been American and British centered but it's never been in your face pro-american.

**SPOILERS**

As has been said CoD4 is far better for the SAS than the marines, they get nuked, we (SAS) save the day.

Actually I think you will enjoy COD4 since the Americans screw up and the British save the day.

I think in some point “Infinity Ward” heard complains about how in every WWII game the British are absent or are there in minor rolls, same is true for the Russians which also save the day in COD4,still in a minor roll but at leat is something.

My only problem with COD4 is that even when the sweet effects, challenging AI, Variety of Missions the damn game still feels generic due the lack of visual style and linearity yeah complaining about a FPS being generic doesn’t make any sense at this point but a particular mission in the end remind me of F.E.A.R the music is not very memorable either..*Ran out.

Your ignorant comment befits your icon.

I don't like any game about the US and it's Allies, I don't like the west and what it's doing. Note: I'm not from the middle east, many assume that because I'm not pro western culture.

Well if you can't separate a game from reality then I feel sorry for you, whatever dude you keep on hating the west and miss out on a great game. Maybe in CoD5 they can get the Uzbekistan force to be the heroes -.-

Thats ok Kujel we in the west don't like pieces of shit like you either, call it a wash...

Call of Duty 5: Ape Combat - Toss your own crap at each other. Reloads are bunches of bananas.

OK OK settle down ppl!

COD2,3, and 4 are all the shizz IMO. I own all, even COD The big Red One on PS2...which was a sweet ass game and dev by the much hated on Treyarch. Give them a break already COD3 WAS a great game. Im tired of hearing all these fakeass Infinty Ward Fanboys who probably have never even played part 3 and judge it so harshly.

Now as for going back to WWII in part 5? Well that is just plain FUCKED UP...do you hear that ACTIVISION?!!! Give us what we want you assholes. Ever since hearing about Treyarch looking for programers who were fond of WWII games and all Ive been pissed off. But you never know, theres still time =)

Keep Hope Alive!!!

I played and own 2,3 and 4 sorry but 3 sucked ass. I'm sure 5 will follow in the suck ass department, since the development period is so short and its going back to WWII theme...

i liked the game but the story made less sense then halo 3

Both has pretty simple stories imo.
I'm not looking for depth in a game either, so I say they both did a pretty good job for video game stories.

Well deserved, but it is such a shame Call of Duty 5 will suck...those corporate douchebags need to focus on keeping the brand strong and Infinity Wards hands....not a quick buck.

Bah...oh well...time to change my icon, bye bye MC...hello Captain Price!

I just want time to enjoy Call of Duty 4 before I start even thinking about Call of Duty 5

I think everyone knows CoD5 will suck because it is being made by Treyarch. It will be nothing more than a crappy console fps that i will not buy.

Until I see a patch for call of duty, it doesn't deserve #1. WTF is taking so long.. and don't blame microsoft certification.. the patch isn't out for PS3 either.

As for CoD5.. no one cares. It's the same lameness that was CoD3 from the same lame developers.

There is yet another wrinkle in the sales mystery too. Not only does it seem like Halo 3 outsold COD4, but Activision also claimed that Guitar Hero III was the best selling game of all time in a calendar year. That would imply that it was the best selling game of 2007, right?

So, not only does Activision apparently have two #1 games of 2007, but one of them seems to have been outsold by Halo 3.

Color me confused.

Well, I believe the Guitar Hero sales were just for the US, whereas this is worldwide.

If its a Call of Duty game being made by Treyarch, you are guaranteed its going to be complete and utter rubbish.

I feel that this game has several faults in it and deffinetly needs some online work, but the overal play is good. I enjoy killing everyone i play and i like some of the aspects of this game. Sometimes they cant get everything right.

But i do think they need a patch and one pretty soon, before this game should even be mentioned as number one or even be mentioned in the same sentence as Halo 3.

In my experience of playing warfare games i see one game that is above and beyond any other shooter i have played and that is socom 2. I could play that game any day of the week and the only thing that gets old about it is the COde 9. I feel that 3rd person shooters are the way to go, and i think call of duty would be a muc better game if it do go in that direction but lord knows that it wont.

All i can say is that call of duty deffinetly needs some new maps and also some work with its online system but i guess that could be xbox-360's problem.

-Greg

Well I think COD 5 will suck not because of the theme, but because of trechyard. I mean, i played cod 2, 3 and 4. COD 2 was brilliant, probably one of the greatest games i've ever played. The russian campaign was awesome. COD 4 was also very good, had a good story, lots of weapons and the last level was really dramatic. But COD 3 just SUCKED!!!! First, every single level was on France. Second, it had lots of story videos, that tried to look dramatic but just looked boring. Third, you don't feel like if you were a soldier in a real battle, like in COD 2. For example, i loved the level in the russian campaign in COD 2 where you and more russians charged against the germans and then demolish the building. In COD 3 you and your small squad just kill hundreds of germans as if there were flies...
I Just hope that there will a COD 6, made be infinite award.

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Activision: Call of Duty 4 was best-selling game of 2007

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Posted: Jan 25th 2008 10:23PM Lone Starr said

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