Survey says: Activision exploring MMO monetization for Call of Duty franchise

by Ben Gilbert { Jun 15th 2009 at 2:16PM }

Way back in March of ought eight, Activision CEO Bobby Kotick wondered aloud during a conference, "[What] would be the natural evolution of a property like Call of Duty into a massively multiplayer environment -- how do you monetize that?" And it seems as though the company is working on that very question, if a survey spotted by Destructoid holds any truth to it.

Referring to a handful of features (such as "new in-game content like map packs and betas," and "team-management services," among others), the survey asks participants "How likely are you to purchase or subscribe to this online service when the next Call of Duty game comes out?" The survey goes into much gorier detail but, from what we can tell, it smells like Activision is testing the waters for that MMO-esque monetization that Kotick spoke of so long ago.

Tags: activision, bobby-kotick, business, call-of-duty, cod, mmo, robert-kotick

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Ignatius @ Jun 15th 2009 2:18PM

If this were any other company, I might have raised an eyebrow.

mortegro545 @ Jun 15th 2009 2:22PM

World at war really wasn't all that great.

Zombies excluded.

Hashbrown Hunter (OneGiantCluster.blogspot.com) @ Jun 15th 2009 2:23PM

"Tommy" has slain a "Nazi Zombie".
+ 20 Mana
+ 15 Shield

Manly Mcbeefington (Mr. ESC) @ Jun 15th 2009 2:42PM

Sniper cast bullet on Big Ass Dragon.

Critical hit!

B.A.D fainted.

Sniper has won 15xp,3 gold and a rusty dagger.

ignfan69 @ Jun 15th 2009 2:24PM

I wouldn't pay any type of monthly fee for any game.

WREturns @ Jun 15th 2009 2:26PM

Seriously.

nukee @ Jun 15th 2009 2:34PM

Agreed. The original Call of Duty was my first online experience. Being free is what kept me with it for years after it came out. I still refuse to pay for any online gaming.

TheDemiurge @ Jun 15th 2009 3:00PM

Except xbox live, right?

Jo Schmoe @ Jun 15th 2009 3:29PM

PC players don't need to pay for Xbox Live.

And Call of Duty (especially the United Offensive expansion) is one of my favorite online games. The servers are still going today.

WREturns @ Jun 15th 2009 3:41PM

TheDemiurge,
When Sony designs a controller that is actually FPS-compatible, I'll be on PSN all the time. Until then Xbox Live is worth every penny.

nukee @ Jun 15th 2009 4:01PM

TheDemiurge - Nope, PSN and PC gaming all the way for me.

Alistair Azimuth PSN: johnnynumber5 @ Jun 15th 2009 5:49PM

@WRE

I'll ignore the hyperbole and just point you in the direction of a few controllers that should shut you up. Personally, I never had problems with either controller and I think it's much to do about nothing.

http://store.videogamecentral.com/fragfx-ps3-frag-fx-fps-controller.html
http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/mlani-introduces-new-fps-controller-for-ps3/
http://www.gamestop.com/Catalog/ProductDetails.aspx?product_id=74984
http://www.consoleshop.com/product.php?productid=21074
http://www.gamestop.com/Catalog/ProductDetails.aspx?product_id=74516

WREturns @ Jun 15th 2009 11:24PM

Jonny,
Some of those look okay, but I don't buy third-party as a rule. Ben Heck designed a PS3 controller hack and put the guts in a 360 shell which I would buy in a fucking heartbeat if it weren't so expensive. You may not see the difference, dude, but that controller is just super uncomfortable.

Alistair Azimuth PSN: johnnynumber5 @ Jun 15th 2009 11:41PM

WRE

The Shadow controller is supposed to be high quality and switches the d-pad and left analogue stick. They also added the bumpers to that one and it only costs $40. The only negative thing is it doesn't have six axis so for some games it may not work 100% of the time.

I'm not saying you aren't allowed to say it's uncomfortable or that it's not genuine but I'm saying I've never had a problem in the least bit using either controller for any type of games except maybe fighting games on the 360 d-pad but I had a fighting stick for that anyway.

Saying the controller is uncomfortable and saying it isn't FPS compatible are two different things. I saw the Ben Heck controller and thought it looked pretty cool myself. But, I think (as I said) it's much to do about nothing.

Some good 3rd party stuff out there (like the wireless sensor bar and nunchuck for starters) and limiting yourself to first party periphreals isn't necessary. Things have come a long way since the Madcatz BS from back in the day. I love the look of the Frag FX personally but I'm not big on a keyboard and mouse. Playstation magazine gave it some pretty high praise.

Alistair Azimuth PSN: johnnynumber5 @ Jun 15th 2009 11:42PM

The ONLY design feature that Sony probably should do is making the analogue sticks concave like the 360 ones for a slightly better grip.

joeybeast @ Jun 15th 2009 2:26PM

How to monetize COD MMO?

easy, 200 real dollars for the martyrdom perk.

WREturns @ Jun 15th 2009 2:38PM

I'd support that. Cheating motherfuckers...

Sly [PSN SniperChameleon] @ Jun 15th 2009 3:00PM

i don't use it, but seriously, how stupid are you if you run over their body right after you kill them? i know there are some times when you just spawned, and a martyrdom grenade kills you (mostly on shipment on COD4) and sometimes, you're in a really small place and you're stuck with the grenade, but still. 85% of all martyrdom grenades are avoidable.

joeybeast @ Jun 15th 2009 3:14PM

My biggest complain is that it breaks the action and pace.

WREturns @ Jun 15th 2009 3:39PM

Sly,
It's mostly frustrating when you knife someone and then get caught in the doorway.

*shakes fist*

DVersion @ Jun 15th 2009 2:30PM

...eww

Danjer @ Jun 15th 2009 2:31PM

I, for one, won't be paying a monthly fee for these extra features...

shadowbender @ Jun 15th 2009 2:33PM

For some reason, MMOs didn't work out too great for me. But I guess I could give this a try, as long as this doesn't try to shove crap down my throat, such as making me pay for unnecessary things.

Dirty @ Jun 15th 2009 2:35PM

I hate that ass clown.

squeevi @ Jun 15th 2009 2:37PM

Q: "How likely are you to purchase or subscribe to this online service when the next Call of Duty game comes out?"

a) Unlikely.
b) Very Unlikely.
c) Extremely Unlikely.
d) All of the Above.

Dirty @ Jun 15th 2009 2:43PM

e. Punch Bobby Kotick in the throat.

InFaMoUs1- @ Jun 15th 2009 2:40PM

it's called MAG and it's coming out this Fall also it's free to play online

Alistair Azimuth PSN: johnnynumber5 @ Jun 15th 2009 2:44PM

A COD MMO might be something similar to ... MAG. Console MMOs are tricky enough but a FPS MMo is even more tricky (assuming he meant console in addition to PC) and there is no way to know if players would support a subscription model. I'll say that I personally wouldn't mind paying a nominal monthly fee if the game was worth it and constantly evolved. It's an even trickier proposition on the 360 because they already adhere to a subscription model for online gaming. But, it's not impossible and I would imagine this is the one franchise that most gamers would pony up the subscription fee for regardless of the fee. I don't see this COD MMO happening any time soon if at all.

Emperor_Den_Den @ Jun 15th 2009 7:41PM

dood it's some type of rat racoon thing in your picture

Alistair Azimuth PSN: johnnynumber5 @ Jun 15th 2009 11:43PM

It's A Lombax.

Duke @ Jun 15th 2009 2:52PM

I can't see myself playing a monthly fee for any console game. When I get a game I will play it a whole bunch and then often get distracted by the next big release. I don't like the idea of paying a fee for a game that I may pause playing for a few weeks or months while I try another. Fees for online games as a whole on XBL are one thing, but a fee for just one game wouldn't work for me.

Jim. @ Jun 15th 2009 2:55PM

I took this survey like a year ago. It's coming, but when?

Jack Hollow @ Jun 15th 2009 2:58PM

Seriously, this just isn't funny anymore Activision. It use to be funny when we made jokes of Guitar of Duty 34: So Very Tired. But this is just seriously sad now. Not only do they keep releasing the same two games year after year, now they wanna charge people even more money for playing them.

And when they do release an original IP, it doesn't work properly on one of the consoles they released it on. How long until they start whoring out Prototype every year?

Not only that, but when they actually have an original IP by a designer that has a cult following, they pass up on it for whatever monumentally stupid reason. And then when it gets picked up by someone else and it starts getting some hype behind it, THEY SUE THEM TO STOP THEM FROM RELEASING IT!

Good Reputation Fail

Sly [PSN SniperChameleon] @ Jun 15th 2009 3:01PM

HEY HEY HEY NONE OF THAT.

infinity ward's games are always awesome. say what you want about the rest.

Jack Hollow @ Jun 15th 2009 3:09PM

@Sly
Understand, that I do like Modern Warfare. And I'm looking forward to the second one, which I will get used as to not give any of my money to Activision. But EVERY FREAKIN' YEAR? The same games over and over. You can get away with that when you have a decent amount of time in between games and you've got a good reputation.

Sly [PSN SniperChameleon] @ Jun 15th 2009 3:42PM

:O

that's a good idea... buying it used... i keep saying i won't support activision, and i keep my promise for the most part, but i can't resist the infinity ward games (or nazi zombies in world at war). buying used won't hurt IW bad since there will still be millions of sales but activision won't be getting my money.

thank you good sir for pointing out such an obvious solution.

JXCgunrunna @ Jun 15th 2009 5:31PM

too bad i couldnt send IW my 70 dollars and they could send me a limited edition MW2

charlie b. @ Jun 18th 2009 4:10PM

World of Guitar Duty: Official Game of the Movie Inspired by the Game (sponsored by Mountain Dew)

Leroy_Octopus @ Jun 15th 2009 3:07PM

I'd pay a subscribtion to beat the holy hell out of Bobby Kotick's stupid face, but this game is real.

Dracard @ Jun 15th 2009 3:10PM

When Bobby Kotick was a kid, he didn't ask a magician how he did his magic, no sir. He asked him "how do you monetize that?"

He wakes up every day, wondering that very question about everything...

If Activision did something creative with that money, I wouldn't be here complaining, but they don't because of him. All it does is go towards the 'safe bets' like more Tony Hawk, more Guitar Hero, and so on.

aristokrat @ Jun 15th 2009 3:17PM

Once Kotick finds himself in the 7th circle of hell, he's gonna be sitting there, "how do I monetize these daily ass rapings I get? How do I monetize all the skin that continually peels from my flesh? How do I monetize my very soul? Oops, forgot, traded that one in long ago."

Jo Schmoe @ Jun 15th 2009 3:34PM

I imagine they're looking at Battlefield Heroes a lot...

This will never fly because they would have to take greater control over servers the community operates. I can go and find a server right now that give 1000xp per kill b/c that's how the owners set it up. Community operated servers would be up in arms (like L4D) if they weren't allowed to do as they pleased.

Maybe if they pitched an offshoot as an MMO, people would be more understanding, but the main series can't pull this off.