Survey says: Without 'Call of Duty,' Modern Warfare 2 is less recognizable brand

by Randy Nelson on Jun 24th 2009 3:30PM

You may find this hard to believe, but removing the Call of Duty from Modern Warfare 2's title -- it's confusing some people. In fact, according to a survey conducted by GamePlan Insights -- a game tracking service offered by OTX -- and reported by Gamasutra, 50% fewer people knew about the game.

"In other words, the Call of Duty brand association essentially doubles the awareness for the game," GamePlan head Nick Williams told the site. "That is quite a remarkable statistic." Williams went on to state his revalatory belief that the massive marketing push Activision has lined up for the game (on the scale of "biggest entertainment launch of all time") should quash any consumer confusion.

Wait -- "Activision?" We've heard of an "Activision Blizzard;" are they the same company? We're only half convinced.

Source

Tags: activision, activison-blizzard, call-of-duty, infinity-ward, Microsoft, modern-warfare-2, Xbox-360

Reader Comments (115)

They should just put
"from the people who made the award winning Call of Duty Series"

dropping the name of a popular 6 year old franchise reduces public awareness?

shit WHO WOULD OF THOUGHT?

Sorry but... I have to say this. Seeing that mistake usually bothers me, but in caps? *shrugs*

"would HAVE"

While I see the lack of the COD title could cause some lower sales than would be expected if it had the title, I still think the game will sell remarkably well. Anyone who reads a magazine, reads online blogs, goes to youtube, etc. will learn of this game and associate it with the greatness COD4 was. When you go to the store you will be able to recognize the boxart almost instantly, it hasn't strayed off in that aspect (same title text, same styling in the boxart). I'm only expecting good reviews for this game, and since when do good games go unnoticed (hardly ever).

MW2 will get the attention it deserves from the consumers. I also don't want to play with anyone who just buys a COD game because it is a COD game, I want to play with real enthusiasts and real gamers, not babies.

I STAND CORRECTED. THANKS

Yeah they should keep CoD by the name but just as small text.

At times its best to abandon the big name and go on your own thing, allows more freedom.

Infinity Ward drops CoD and does its own thing.
Harmonix drops Guitar hero and does Rock band.

Both those for the better.

"Survey says: Without 'Call of Duty,' Modern Warfare 2 is less recognizable brand" -- Wait, let me open my cabinet.... okay .... "Nape" "Neat"...."No".... here we go. I'll file these survey results under "No Sh!t Sherlock". Yes. There it goes.

Pretty sure as soon as the new one is released, anyone playing Cod4 will sign in, and:

a) realize no one is playing online anymore.
b) see a IW posted message will read, "hey fuckhead, go buy Mw2."

In the next issue of "Duh Magazine" we cover the new scientific revelations that fire will burn you and water will get you wet....

who the hell are they interviewing?

As long as the box has the Infinity Ward logo on it most people are gonna know who made it.

I don't know why they had to make a big deal out of the name change and conduct a survey. It's not like the game is going to sell millions and people are going to be saying "Hey, you played that new Modern Warfare/COD game?"