Activision: Modern Warfare 2 was always ready for the 'Call of Duty'
by Randy Nelson 
{ Jul 9th 2009 at 7:00PM } 
Was this a reaction to the fact that consumers weren't really aware of the game without the familiar branding, as made clear by a Google Trends chart tweeted by Destructoid's Nick Chester? (Or recent analyst comments saying as much.) When asked about the apparent change of heart (and art), Activision replied, "Infinity Ward, the original creators of the Call of Duty franchise, has said from the beginning Modern Warfare 2 resides in the Call of Duty universe. This is reflected in the title's package."
The company also said that, "Modern Warfare 2 is the direct sequel to Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. We have focused our attention on Modern Warfare in order to most effectively communicate the fact that this is the first true sequel in the Call of Duty series." We agree: letting people know it's a Call of Duty game is probably a good thing.
Get a WordPress.com Blog
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Wonderflex @ Jul 9th 2009 7:07PM
I'm just sad that it's not, "Call of Duty 4: Modern Warefare 2: Double Impact."
Dr. steve brule @ Jul 9th 2009 7:09PM
with required electric boogaloo title in there some where as well?
Wonderflex @ Jul 9th 2009 7:12PM
You could add that if you'd like. I prefer staying with street fighter titles though. Perhaps if things were to be longer it could be:
Super Call of Duty vs Modern Warefare EX2: Millionaire Fighting 2009 - The New Challengers
Latin_Trident @ Jul 9th 2009 7:49PM
I don't care what they call; it won't change the fact that I'm buying it.
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare 2: revenge of yo' mama
lilphil003 @ Jul 9th 2009 8:28PM
man you are definitly rght....you need to spread that
Manly Mcbeefington (Mr. ESC) @ Jul 9th 2009 8:37PM
What if it was called Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2:LatinTrident Sucks or Modern Bestiality 2:Horse Dick?
Latin_Trident @ Jul 10th 2009 12:12AM
@ Manly Mcbeef
ur such a hater. lol
iluvmyzune @ Jul 10th 2009 12:21AM
i got a ps3 and i only know 1 person wit one, so i need sum psn friends. my psn id is
redsoxpwn22
add me
jynxycat @ Jul 9th 2009 7:08PM
Does seem sorta silly. Anyone who plays Mw1 at all, will recognize the title. Even if they don't, as soon as you log in to Mw1, it'll tell you to buy Mw2.
I wonder who they polled when they asked about the name recognition.
Xvnine @ Jul 9th 2009 7:18PM
You're not somehow cooler by calling it mw, call it what everyone has always called it cod4.
Shmil @ Jul 9th 2009 7:29PM
Don't be a dick, Xv9
U U D D L R L R B A SELECT START @ Jul 9th 2009 7:53PM
Especially since she has a pic taking off...paaaaantttttiiiiiiieeees
*turns into manga form*
Oh! She can googly-googly me like that anytime!
Fooly Coolying all over the place!
What about me? Drooly-drooly head! Googly-googly eyes! Fooly Cooly nads!
Fooly Cooly! Fooly Cooly! Fooly Cooly! ...
Aaagh! Stop! Stop! Stop! Stop!
dark_inchworm (on Steam!) dark inchworm (on XBL!) @ Jul 9th 2009 7:53PM
I think you've giving consumers way too much credit here. The package says CALL OF DUTY 4 in bigass letters, Modern Warfare in much smaller letters. As xvnine said, people know it as COD4, not MW. People associate with "Call of Duty."
The huge-ification of "Modern Warfare 2" on the sequel's boxart may be the step necessary in having people associate with the words "Modern Warfare," possibly paving the way for what could simply be "Modern Warfare 3."
Mazrael @ Jul 9th 2009 8:03PM
When talking about Call of Duty games.. I call them COD2, COD3 - the crap one, Modern Warfare.. When your in a customer facing job, you need to save any confusion.. Though I've had people ask me where the books are.. in a book shop...
Chin-Paaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!! @ Jul 9th 2009 9:41PM
jynxycat, who is that in your avatar?
Brian @ Jul 10th 2009 9:03AM
jynxycat: Can we haz a larger version of your avatar?
jynxycat @ Jul 9th 2009 7:08PM
^ zing
WarriorX62 @ Jul 9th 2009 7:10PM
So I guess this means Acitivison is rubbing their greedy little paws all over again? ah, what ever I just hope it lives up to the hype :)
NooBTooB.com
Omega2k3 @ Jul 9th 2009 7:36PM
OMG, Warrior, don't put noobtoob in your posts.
Shmil @ Jul 10th 2009 1:42AM
CHECK MAH BLAHG!
whylekat @ Jul 9th 2009 7:09PM
So it's Call of Duty 4&1/2? Is there still a CoD5??
Alex @ Jul 10th 2009 11:09AM
It's CoD 4 2.
ecco6t9 @ Jul 9th 2009 7:11PM
Modern Warfare 2 just sounds too generic like old Activision games like Boxing.
grimm @ Jul 9th 2009 7:16PM
Or "EA Sports MMA"
Markez @ Jul 9th 2009 7:11PM
For your health
Josh @ Jul 9th 2009 7:14PM
It should never have lost the "Call of Duty" name in the first place.
Wonderflex @ Jul 9th 2009 7:14PM
Yeah. I still want to know if World at War counts as Call of Duty 5, or are they going to wait for a few more versions before they pull out the cinco.
JXCgunrunna @ Jul 9th 2009 7:17PM
I do not think they will ever go back to a number again with the CoD franchise
Sly @ Jul 9th 2009 7:48PM
i agree with JXC. i guess they're just dropping numbers.
d889 @ Jul 9th 2009 8:32PM
yeah i think final fantasy is the only franchise that can get away with just adding another number to the end
Mazrael @ Jul 9th 2009 7:14PM
Infinity Ward let.. Treyarch (had to think about that) touch the franchise..?? well atleast it wasn't Neversoft...
Now.. all they need to do is get rid of the Activision logo..
JXCgunrunna @ Jul 9th 2009 7:15PM
Dear Activision,
I hate you a whole lot.
Sincerely JXCGunrunna
P.S. burn in hell
Sly @ Jul 9th 2009 7:59PM
it's interesting that a person with an infinity ward avatar is saying that...
SaNcTuS @ Jul 9th 2009 7:16PM
People, Call of Duty World at War is not CoD5. People refer to it as COD5 but it official is not. I personally refer to that bad game as World at war. :)
JXCgunrunna @ Jul 9th 2009 7:25PM
as others will be quick it point out, it is not a bad game. CoD3 was a bad game. W@W was a half assed decent game.
Great/Aaammmaaazinggg(looking at the X360 fancast)/Awesome games would be CoD4 or Halo 3. Fallout 3 and Fable 2. the "bad games" title should be reserved for pure and utter shit like Superman 64 and Wii Music
Bubbameister33 @ Jul 9th 2009 7:46PM
You sir don't know the joy of Nazi zombies. I mean that in a shoot in the head on sight kind of way.
JXCgunrunna @ Jul 9th 2009 7:57PM
haha that was the highlight of that game for me.
SaNcTuS @ Jul 9th 2009 10:20PM
Yea, I must agree, this is a decent game, but ever since COD3, Treyarch games are just hopeless. As for nazi zombies, I still have to get to it. Just got WaW and I haven't gotten to the end of the game yet. grrr at veteran!
cloud858rk @ Jul 9th 2009 11:02PM
Confirmed: WaW only good for nazi zombies.
Sly @ Jul 10th 2009 1:31AM
treyarch unlocked nazi zombies for everyone. you can start playing it as soon as you get the game. try it out to see if you like it. it's fun as hell.
Unit076 @ Jul 10th 2009 1:11PM
Well then, I shall call Call of Duty 5: World at War as: "the one with zombies CoD"
SaNcTuS @ Jul 10th 2009 1:19PM
lol I work at a gamestore and I've actually heard people call it that before.
Sly, thanks for the info, im gonna have to check it out soon.
InFaMoUs1- @ Jul 9th 2009 7:18PM
OMG!!!!1!!!111! CoD MF2 is coming out so it is true!!
tmacairjordan87 @ Jul 9th 2009 7:20PM
You would think people would be smart enough to figure out the game they loved was called Modern Warfare, hence recognizing MW2 without the COD name in it...but what have we learned this gen? That's right, people aren't smart.
JXCgunrunna @ Jul 9th 2009 7:26PM
ahh... Tmac here to tell us that people are not smart.
JXCgunrunna @ Jul 9th 2009 7:26PM
Did i say tell? i meant to say prove
Gun Barrier @ Jul 9th 2009 7:44PM
I usually ignore subtitles on a Title, so if it wasn't for me reading Joystiq I wouldn't have guessed that Cod4:MW was the prequel to MW2.
AustinAM @ Jul 9th 2009 7:46PM
I don't think that's it at all. You see, Call of Duty has even reached the ears of non-gamers. If this game came out without the "Call of Duty" moniker, it would, naturally, not get as much recognition. More and more previously "non-gamers" are buying consoles and many of those people will know the name. I can see your stance, but I don't think you're looking at the non-hardcore gaming populace.
tmacairjordan87 @ Jul 9th 2009 7:49PM
My entire comment was directed at the non gamers. We're all supposed to know what MW2 is, it's the casuals who bought the first one that couldn't make the relatively easy connection.
AustinAM @ Jul 9th 2009 8:01PM
...But your entire comment was that people who loved CoD4: Modern Warfare should know about Modern Warfare 2, and infer the "Call of Duty" brand. That doesn't include non-gamers. As sale numbers have shown, more people, even previously "non-gamers" are buying 360s. I doubt a majority of them will buy a game from 2007. Thus my reasoning as to why dropping the Call of Duty branding may prove to be a detriment to selling to new gamers.