Report: Average CoD World at War player has spent $9 on DLC [update]
by Ben Gilbert 
{ Oct 21st 2009 at 3:43PM } 
As you might imagine, those kind of numbers add up to a lot of extra revenue for the mega-publisher – the piece approximates a cool $45 million. Taking that one step further, the average cost of each box of CoD: WaW sold at retail becomes $65. We're not sure if that number accounts for the chunk taken out by Microsoft and Sony respectively for distribution, but even cut in half that's still a nice chunk of change.
So today, we'd like to officially announce that we're changing the site's name to Call of Duty: Joystiq. Call it a strategic business move – it's all about brand recognition, people!
Update: To be clear, the $45 million number is an approximation by Gamasutra, put together with information from NPD, EEDAR, and Activision PR. It was apparently calculated by taking 65% of 7 million units at $10 a piece, without accounting for giveaways or bundles.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Traceur_Ryuk [All Digital until December] (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Oct 21st 2009 3:46PM
My friend bought all three DLC packs and has never even used them other than Nazi Zombies. He just says "I don't care, not my money, I'm using my mom's credit card"
He pisses me off.
james @ Oct 21st 2009 3:58PM
i hate spoiled brats
Traceur_Ryuk [All Digital until December] (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Oct 21st 2009 3:59PM
Thing is, he's 18
XBL: xGeneral DEATHx PSN: Deeth82 [Planeteer | Power of General Hostility and Angst] @ Oct 21st 2009 4:03PM
I don't care if the motherfucker's 35, he should get a goddamned job.
That being said, I bought all 3 packs and have played the shit out of the Nazi Zombie maps, while the MP stuff doesn't get too much playtime. Difference is, it's MY money.
Zxkenobi @ Oct 21st 2009 4:05PM
"Ahh, an elitist PC gamer. Yeah, have fun with your COD, Halo, and uhh... Starcraft. "
*_* Who the fuck wants halo 3 on pc? That games a piece of shit. Fuck, i had more fun online on Halo1 than that crap. Not that you would know since it was only LAN on xbox...
The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] @ Oct 21st 2009 4:06PM
I'm with GeneralDeath, i bought all the maps just for Nazi Zombies, i dont even know if Ive been on them in standard MP. But like he said, it's my money, and ill be damned if nazi zombies wasnt worth it.
Exemplar @ Oct 21st 2009 4:17PM
Treyarch should really stop kidding themselves with making more Call of Duty games and just make fully-fledged Nazi Zombies games instead.
Brodo @ Oct 21st 2009 4:22PM
I told myself I wasnt gonna waste money on that pointless crap.
I actually stuck to it and didnt buy a single map pack.
Sold the game as pretty much right when the third pack came out because it started choosing downloaded maps way too often.
The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] @ Oct 21st 2009 4:30PM
@exemplar I would absolutely buy that. Tank, Dr. Richtofethen, Nikolai and Takeo are way more entertaining than Roebuck and Reznov ever where. Also i mean, come on, WunderWaffen! How Activision didn't give Wolfenstein to Treyarch is beyond me
RKN @ Oct 21st 2009 3:47PM
Let's see how paid DLC will go for the PC version of Modern Warfare 2, the console gamers will of course lap it up.
Traceur_Ryuk [All Digital until December] (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Oct 21st 2009 3:50PM
Ahh, an elitist PC gamer. Yeah, have fun with your COD, Halo, and uhh... Starcraft.
Traceur_Ryuk [All Digital until December] (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Oct 21st 2009 3:59PM
Oh, I forgot Halo 3 isn't even on PC, scratch that.
Orchard Pear @ Oct 21st 2009 4:00PM
Now, now. Be nice to the PC gamer.
You'd be upset too, if you were on the decline, despite your best, most desperate struggles to stay relevant in today's gaming world.
Street Justice @ Oct 21st 2009 4:05PM
He's not really being elitist, just highlighting the greed of the big devs as they can get away with charging for DLC as there is no way to implement your own content. He's probably a little pissed at Activision atm though, an explanation why is hopefully not required.
RKN @ Oct 21st 2009 4:06PM
Funny how PS3 and 360 gamers decry PC gamers for being elitist pricks and then many of them are elitist pricks towards the Wii.
RKN @ Oct 21st 2009 4:07PM
Oh and on my PC, I'm enjoying a mix of the old and new, from Arkham Asylum to Jagged Alliance 2, from Mass Effect to Fallout 1/2, thank you very much. You can keep your Halo.
The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] @ Oct 21st 2009 4:08PM
funny how THAT'S NOT EVEN SLIGHTLY COMICAL
Traceur_Ryuk [All Digital until December] (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Oct 21st 2009 4:09PM
@Street Justice: No, he directly aimed that at the gamers, not the devs.
RKN @ Oct 21st 2009 4:10PM
Maybe I should have said ironic? Sorry bats!
The PC is the one platform where all the console fanboys, 360 to PS3 to Wii can unite in bashing against, same goes for many of the publishers and developers.
: )
RKN @ Oct 21st 2009 4:11PM
I don't like having the option of mods being taken away in favor of ONLY paid DLC. I'd like the chance to have both and Modern Warfare 2 for the PC sets a crappy precedent. How'd you like to pay for all the custom levels in LittleBigPlanet and not be able to play any free ones from the community?
RKN @ Oct 21st 2009 4:12PM
I wasn't even being elitist from the very beginning, your being way too sensitive. You and I both know console gamers will lap up any paid DLC from Modern Warfare 2, they will make a fucking killing on it. They put it out, its going to be downloaded to hell hours later, its a fact, your offended by it? Come on now.
JXCgunrunna @ Oct 21st 2009 4:20PM
@RKN
you can shut up now.
RKN @ Oct 21st 2009 4:21PM
I can, but will I?
dark_inchworm (stronger than never, ever before) @ Oct 21st 2009 4:41PM
Nobody wins. Typical system fanboy debate.
RKN @ Oct 21st 2009 4:44PM
I know, I could be playing on my PC instead, but I'm at school anyways so it doesn't matter.
Anyhoo, I become a fanboy based on what system I own. I have had a PS1, PS2, PS3, 360 as my consoles and currently a PC, so I'm currently a PC fanboy whereas I'd been a fanboy of those other systems I owned.
PC gaming shouldn't die, I'd hate to be stuck with consoles or PCs as my only gaming choice.
Street Justice @ Oct 21st 2009 3:49PM
Hence the removal of dedi. Servers in MW2 - activision realised they could milk the pc users as well.
Burn in hell kotick1!!!1one1!
VicViper @ Oct 21st 2009 3:48PM
I think the zombies picture and DLC purchasers mentality go together quite effectively.
Nice one joystiq!
Shadsy @ Oct 21st 2009 3:51PM
They're paying! For content! What stupid zombie-like idiots!
VicViper @ Oct 21st 2009 3:59PM
@Shadsy:
Correction, they're paying for content they should've got when they paid $60 in the first place.
Das Boot @ Oct 21st 2009 4:02PM
And this is why Team Fortress 2 is STILL fucking awesome of online-multiplayer. I swear, the fifty I spent for it keeps going, and going.
BONK!
Das Boot @ Oct 21st 2009 4:02PM
And this is why Team Fortress 2 is STILL fucking awesome. I swear, the fifty I spent for it keeps going, and going.
BONK!
The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] @ Oct 21st 2009 4:05PM
jesus dude, the last map pack came out in mid August this year. Remember when CoD 5 came out? NOVEMBER 2008. Why the fuck should a map pack that comes out a year later have been included on the disc?
Mr.ESC @ Oct 21st 2009 4:34PM
Dude you are doing it wrong.
That complain is only valid if the content is already inside the disc.Like RE:5 versus mode which I end buying for 240MSp because God knows that 240MSp can't buy anything good and Virtual clothing and Wallpapers aren't my thing.
I agree it is expensive but the maps are so well designed is hard to complain.
kentuckyfried @ Oct 21st 2009 4:34PM
That photochop is hilarious.
WINterfang ( Now with the power to piss you off ) @ Oct 21st 2009 4:00PM
You know for a Zombie, those guys have nice teeth.
Traceur_Ryuk [All Digital until December] (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Oct 21st 2009 4:06PM
Makes me want to be a zombie...
I have to go to the dentist because my damn wisdom tooth that I never got pulled cracked one of my other back teeth.
RKN @ Oct 21st 2009 4:08PM
Try getting a root canal with little anesthesia. Thankfully my wisdom teeth removal was painless, but the latter was done here in the U.S and the former in India.
Traceur_Ryuk [All Digital until December] (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Oct 21st 2009 4:12PM
They said I should just get the cracked one pulled and let my wisdom tooth replace it, cheaper and more effective. Cause I don't have dental insurance...
poop @ Oct 21st 2009 4:10PM
BF 1943 DOWNLOADABLE CONTENT
MISSED OPPORTUNITY
kentuckyfried @ Oct 21st 2009 4:35PM
yes, i agree. They could've earned so much extra.
Prolly wanted to focus resources on BC2.
FAnchax @ Oct 21st 2009 4:36PM
tru dat
Doug @ Oct 21st 2009 4:14PM
I bought all the maps. But it wasn't because they were great, or even that good, but because there wasn't much else going on. Bored and stupid. I sold WaW this week.
wormania @ Oct 21st 2009 4:19PM
Goddamn, with all this bitching about DLC, you'd think that games themselves were free. You pay for a game. You pay more money to get more content.
You don't go to a restaurant, pay for the main course, and expect to get dessert for free do you?
fred @ Oct 21st 2009 4:20PM
u can say is ur birthday :)
The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] @ Oct 21st 2009 4:26PM
they make you pay for that extra cake too
Mr.ESC @ Oct 21st 2009 4:30PM
It seems someone isn't familiar with the formule.
Most restaurants have formulés that include a salad and dessert.
rickjamess04 @ Oct 21st 2009 4:46PM
Well, we all know the cake is a lie
Lord Malvern @ Oct 21st 2009 9:02PM
You don't buy a book and expect get half the chapters do you?
Mr.ESC @ Oct 21st 2009 4:21PM
If you ask there isn't a map pack of any game that is worth more than $4.99.
With that said World at war map packs are actually very good.
Map pack 2: Banzai and Sup pens are one of my favorite maps.I hate corrosion.
Map pack 3 contains Revolution,Battery and Breach.I don't like Breach but REvolution and Battery are very fun to play.
Shi no numa isn't bad but the best map is Der Rise.
Mr.ESC @ Oct 21st 2009 4:28PM
Actually Map pack 3 is worth the 800MS points for Der Rise.I love that song but it would be a better deal if it included a premium theme.
Thinking about it I got a better deal with W@W than with Halo.If I had waited I would have saved 1,600p and I don't play Halo that much either (Massive amounts of lag).
Speaking of good deals Killzone 2 offers a good bundle with all map packs at a fair price.
I don't know why but W@W I can't criticize.The only downer are those people who play 24/7 and have prestiege 10 that know every possible move.I been playing for 36 hours in-game hours now and I haven't reach my first prestiege.