Activision 'already charging' for CoD online - Ubisoft

Analysts anticipating a Call Of Duty subscription service may be wasting their time: Activision is already charging for the game's online component - just in a different way, according to Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot.

[movements]

Yeah, that's why I won't get this game.

[MGRogue2017]

There won't be no subscription fee.. Read the full article next time.

You will only need to pay for future map packs.

[BulletProofVess]

is that they've already planned them

which to me sounds like there done and could have just been included

yet activision wants to milkit

[Jake360]

Exactly. But they know millions of fools will buy the map packs regardless.

[vickers500]

Almost every game that's been recently launched has had DLC planned for it before the game was even released. Fallout New Vegas had DLC planned before the game was even out, and is supposed to fix one of Fallout 3's biggest failures, which should have been in New Vegas to begin with, but they are scamming people into buying their DLC so they can continue playing their own game.

I know you might say that people don't have to finish the campaign missions first and can complete all the side missions, and then the campaign, but if you have any gamer friends or surf the internet regularly, then everybody is going to be talking about everything about Fallout, including the ending, so you're likely to just have the story spoiled for you if you choose to wait.

Activision isn't alone in this pre-launch DLC bullsh*t, so don't act like they created this milking tactic, or are even one of the few who do this kind of sh*t, because they're not, a lot of companies do this kind of crap. But don't mistake this comment as a defense for Activision, because I personally hope they go bankrupt, but you should also apply the same standards to other companies such as Bethesda as well, and speak out against their milking tactics too.

[PinkFunk]

Agree with vickers500.

By no means am I defending Activision; I think they're downright crooks. But the same standard should be applied to every other company. I hope that most companies plan to release downloadable content, and even have it somewhat conceptualized, but still need additional extra time post-production to warrant actually paying for it.

I don't know what developers and publishers have in mind, but I can only hope that they keep a level of integrity when figuring this stuff out. I like to think that there's usually one or more persons that try to uphold the fight against some of these money-grubbing publishers.

The important thing is, as consumers, we try to be as aware as possible when our trust is breached, and maintain the discussion that further feeds our awareness. Unfortunately, as it goes, sales figures usually show how blind some consumers can be. But it only takes a few to change the masses... right?

[AndrewRyan]

$1 a month would be a fair price. This would mean that all DLC would be free, including the ridiculously priced map packs.

[SonyPS360]

So you're saying there will be one?

[skip2mylou]

@andrewryan no it wouldnt be fair because you would be paying for something that wont be out until like a year after the game comes out and even then you would already be paying for something that will not have support after 2 dlcs like other cod games havent had support for a while

[Longrod_Von_Hugendon]

He talk that shit now but when KZ3/Crysis 2/Resistance 3 come out pfft! Nobody is going to want your stinking DLC. ; )

[FishCake9T4]

Did you even read the article or are you just a COD hater?
I dont buy the DLC so im alright, and how is buying something extra for something you like classed as "charging".

[HSx9]

because it's already on your disk, this is why hackers are useful at times, they can view whats inside the disk.
Did you know shipment backlot and pipeline? they just weren't finished completely, so they aren't playable.

http://pvhax.com/showthread...

[TheLastGuardian]

Watch Activision announce that Call Of Duty: Black Ops will be pay to play online the day after release. I certainly hope not. They should wait until the next Call Of Duty comes out to have a subscription service. If there is with Black Ops I'm selling my copy.

[SonyPS360]

Because everyone else gives theirs away from free, and plenty of other games are just as high quality as CoD.

Doesn't include M$ forcing publishers to charge for DLC by the way.

[TROLL EATER]

rainbow six RIP

[SKUD]

DAMN SHAME!!!! *cries and hugs casket*

[Gago]

So stop bitching

[ZombieNinjaPanda]

@Gago

It's comments like yours that always make me laugh. See, what I get from your comment is basically saying "they're not forcing you to bend over so quit bitching".

[SonyPS360]

Yet thousands of drones like yourself will buy it, encouraging them and other publishers to charge more in the future.

[radphil]

And yet idling sitting by while people foolishly support this action is ok?

It's one thing when DLC is planned way later down the line. It's another when they REUSE older maps that were in other games, and re-charge you for them. It wouldn't be so bad if you were able to carry over a form of validation, like installing maps from previous CoD games.

[bananlol]

I dont buy milk flavoured titles, and if i must i buy them second hand(which is as bad as pirating but im to lazy for that). Seriously people, bitching online is never going to accomplish anything, vote with your wallets!

[Sirhc92]

your ridiculously obnoxious and retarded comment is exactly why:
1. no one cares about what you have to say
2. you only have 3 bubbles now & will probably have less in the future.

do everyone a favor and just cancel your N4G account douchebag.

[tacosRcool]

I probably won't get this game regardless of this or not. But this news makes me think pretty negative towards Activision

[badz149]

"But this news makes me think pretty negative towards Activision" - after all these times, you weren't already?? you must have very very low expectations! or maybe just too forgiving when it comes to Kotick and co.!

[CrIpPeN]

I won't get this game regardless of what they do.

But the DlC has got out of hand in general.

[Graey]

thank you.

I've been saying this shit since the DLC bonanza started. How are you going to release a game on wednesday and then the very next week have DLC for it. Are you serious.

In all honesty...voe with your wallets, or games won't be the same. Hell it will be the other way around, you'll just get a code or something that unlocks the game and then you will only be able to go so far until you have to pay to access another part of the game.

Bump that.

[Sirhc92]

i absolutely agree with you pal. the last MW2 map packs were really high. i mean $15 per pack? damn...i really hope that someone out there puts a stop to this relentless highway robbery from piece of s*** gamer developers out there.

[gtamike]

same old COD zzzz
This COD should be called "Call of Dusty Black MOD" as there is not any big improvements that make me say wow!

Unlike this
http://www.youtube.com/watc...

[BYE]

The thing is, it works. Kotick gets a free pass from gamers. At this point, he can basically say and do whatever he wants, people still stay loyal to him and his company no matter what. They complain every year, then open their wallet.

So much respect to Activion for a very successful business strategy.

[JeffGUNZ]

I disagree. Downloadable content is not mandatory for the completion of the retail version of the game. It plain English, it's OPTIONAL. If you don't want to buy the extra maps, then don't, it's the consumers choice. I think Ubisoft is on a strecth with that claim and I am pretty sure they charge for their Assassins Creed DLC.

[lightningsax]

Yes, and people buy Call of Duty in order to finish the single-player campaign only, right? All those eleventy-billion dollars they made were based on that wonderful single-player experience?

Anyway, no. Their market is hardly based on anything but multiplayer. They make a killing on that stuff. They'd make a bigger killing with a subscription service - *unless* a competitor comes along, does what they do (possibly better, we're not looking at MoH), and provides it for only the retail price. Remember that Zampella and Ward are off making something right now...

[Highlife]

what they should do with their map packs is let them work with every Call of Duty. It would be nice to have a huge selection of maps. I got one map pack for call of duty 4. Haven't got any packs since. I found it to be a waste but if you were able to play them with each game I might consider getting a map pack again.

[JeffGUNZ]

Your point? I know it's multiplayer based, but they are releasing like 14 maps with the game. It's not like they are making you pay for the maps that are released when the game is released. It's all EXTRA content. If you don't want to buy the map pack in the future, you don't have to and you can continue to play the game as you always were. Some people on here think you should get some more content for free. It would be nice, but this is a business and treyarch and activision enjoy making money. Back in the day we never had downloadable content due to technology gaps, but now that we do, there is nothing wrong with ANY company adding on content at a price.

If you want it, buy it. If you don't, then you don't have to.

[ZombieNinjaPanda]

@JeffGUNZ

Back in the day PC got free downloadable content, and still mostly does.

Either way, they've planned their DLC ahead of time. Maybe if it was an afterthought then yeah it'd be alright, like a fan request. But they're planning it before the game is done. Think about it.

[JeffGUNZ]

I am thinking about it and it's a good idea. I am glad they are thinking of supporting their product after it gets released. That gives me more incentive to buy it knowing they plan to support it fully after release. I think some people get the word "plan" confused with "completed". Just because they plan on making additional map packs does not mean they have completed making them. I plan on becoming rich in the future, doesn't mean I AM rich now. You know what I am saying? In this day and age, for console gaming, post support for a game should be mandatory. No one complains about fallout, assassins creed, borderlands, and other games having DLC. I think a lot of hate here is because people just don't like activision. I for one, am super pumped they have map packs in the future planned. Also, again, everyone has the option to NOT purchase them if they do not desire to.

[lightningsax]

That's fine, and they've earned people paying for a multiplayer game up-front and then paying for maps down the line. People wouldn't do it for a bad multiplayer experience; I know full well that it's a fine-tuned kind of game.

At the same time, do you remember "microtransactions?" You know, all those free MMO's with absolutely no barrier to entry, but once you were hooked, you'd pay a small amount for every little thing? It's a lot like that, except those free MMO's, a few exceptions aside, blew chunks. COD isn't bad, so they've earned the right to make tons of cash on DLC. It's "extra," sure, but if you're still playing MW2 multiplayer, and you have been since launch, who are you kidding? You're buying the new maps. You want more MW2, not a new game, not an expansion pack, just more.

Chill. You're right about the past, but current-gen production and marketing are friggin' expensive. They also have to retain their audience until the next game, so they make new stuff and you have to pay for the staff time taken to make the new stuff. The most expensive part of creating content, especially on existing tech, is paying staff.

One thing that was much, much, much better back in the day was support for user-created content. Consoles have all the power and storage of a three-year-old-PC, but games made for these closed consoles are killing something that's thrived on PC's for years. You don't see a COD Map Creator on PS3 or 360, you can only buy what they give you, and that sucks. Can we at least agree on that?

[JeffGUNZ]

Yes, I was never a big PC gamer, but you do have a great point. I wish they did have user-creator levels, that would be real nice. I remember I use to do that with Starcraft back in the day and it real expanded the experience. I don't disagree on all you're saying at all, I just mainly disagree with Ubisoft saying that COD is charging people a subscription because they charge for DLC maps and such, yet all their expansions for singleplayer games cost money too. I don't disagree with your views, just with what Ubisoft commented.

[xXxSeTTriPxXx]

are letting their voices be hard loud and clear with there money and they liked being shafted plan and simple.

[Nihilism]

Guess what kiddies, you brought this on yourselves. How much was that >8hr shooter that was bugged on release and had online only MP with no splitscreen or offline gameplay?, $59?, and how much was it after the map packs so you could keep playing the same maps as your like minded fickle friends?, $79?

DLC ftl, online only MP ftl, yearly rehashes..that have that same features...that you keep buying ftl

[Substance101]

Sadly thats what its comedown to, people brought it on themselves. I havent purchased a COD after MW1, since its only been rehashes later on.

Activision really is running out of ideas, everything else they do just fails. Asides what Blizzard does ofcourse. People will learn sooner or later, if COD sales were to go down Acitivision will have nothing left.

[retrofly]

I've played Online for 20d 4hrs, +7hrs SP, +7hrs Spec ops
Thats 498 hrs. I purchased both DLC's so that means I spent $79.
Which works out at $0.16 dollars per hour.

Compare that to a 2 hour movie for $15 = $7.50 per hour.

I'd say I'm getting pretty ausome value for money.

Hahahaa at disagrees. You can be petty all you want, the facts speak for themselves. Even with the DLC MW2 has provided more bang for my buck per hour than any game I've ever owned, and I've owned quite a few!

[Substance101]

There are other FPS out there that would provide the same fun factor. MW1, TF2, L4D2, Battle field 2, CS just to name afew.

I got about a 1000hours on TF2 so far, 19usd game released in 2007, gets updates from Valve every other month. Its a different game then when it was released. Along with Community support and mods.

[wicko]

I skipped WaW and MW2 but I am buying black ops. The reason for that is because of the return of dedicated servers and mod support. But I don't plan to pay for any DLC. Even if the game is somewhat shitty, mods will make it better. And while I hate Activision, I want to send a message saying I will support your PC games when you properly support them. Lets just hope they hear that message.

You are right though, there are much better supported games, but I am tired of the ones you listed.

[smashman98]

I dont get why ppl disagreed with that. First off im not a big fan of call of duty at all. But what have gamers become when

1. we cant appreciate other gamers' choices in games and consoles

2. we sit here and say another gamer is flatout wrong when they make an opinion on a game / console it rlly is ridiculous

now @ the article

activision aint forcing anyone to buy this its a personal choice and we all now at the end of next year all the black ops maps will be included in one giant pack at budget price so really its your choice

personally i could careless about what activision does they aint screwin me over and theyre only screwin you guys over if

1 you feel that way

and 2 you continue to let them

[kasasensei]

And ubisoft is charging for CAMPAIGN components, see Assassin's Creed 2.... So who's the greedy bitch?

Edit : i think the Exact opposite! lol
i can easily avoid multiplayer components but i don't want to get fu*d and buy a game with a incomplete story.

[Baka-akaB]

both are , but you can easily avoid sp elements they try to sell you .

What are you going to do when all of your friends play a specific map packs , or when half the playlists are dedicated to those ?

[Baka-akaB]

@edit

Most of the time sp dlc arent missing part of a story only extra . hell even in assassin creed 2 , the part missing , while it should never have been cut in the first place , wasnt even related to the main plot , important , nor any good .

[atticus14]

I actually think Ubisoft is 100x worse then Activision (and thats saying a lot)but Ubisoft doesn't have that one juggernaut game to hold over peoples heads like the CoD series - so they dont get called out for it as much.

The AC series is pretty big but still is a mere shadow to CoD...

[NickX]

You come down hard on Activision for charging for map packs, but say fuck all when Bungie do it. Like I said, you're pathetic butt hurt COD haters.
And irrelevant as millions enjoy the game.

CRY MOAR

[MGRogue2017]

... I just hope that the map packs are 800MS Points.

If they are 1200MS Points, Forget it.. I will not be buying 'em. I didn't buy the MW2 ones either.

Buying 'em is like bending over & having Activision's penis shoved up your ass man.. I ain't having that.

[denero1]

again that is dumb logic its dlc that they had plenty of time to add to the game it could have very well been in the game but they decided to charge for it to make more dough

[WLPowell]

but it shouldn't be aimed at just Activision. Ubisoft and Capcom and some others are on my shit list for day one DLC and other corporate-greed shenanigans. But i guess the people who don't get screwed in the ass have the luxury to research before they buy, the ones who don't, get to sit around wondering where their cash went, but continue to buy the next yearly installment for 60-200 dollars (depending if you also buy the limited/collectors editions too.)

[danielle007]

I don't like Activision, and I disagree with the vast majority of things they do.

But, I'm not going to cry foul for them releasing DLC. I can just not buy it, and be fine. I'm crossing my fingers that they stick to Treyarch's pricing of map packs in the past, the 800 points, though, since I very well might have to buy them this time around.. I'm a zombie addict.

So many devs have DLC. If I love the game enough that I feel it warrants buying DLC for, then that's fine. If I don't love the game that much, then I just won't buy it. My friends will make do with playing the original maps with me when I'm on.

[TheRealist2102]

"via its drip-feed of DLC" LMAO...that is so true..up next..$20 maps please.

Anyway..subscription based cod will be here very soon. I wont be apart of it but I can see it now.

59.99 monthly ( MP only )
20.00 map packs ( four maps four times a year )
15.00 for unique weapons
15.00 for extra perk
15.00 for an extra KS

[cdland]

Why don't you console kids get out of here and use your consoles instead of your computers...Oh ya mommy is watching TV... lol. What ever happened to Make something Unreal? Unreal had so many maps and mods... oh the publishers seen the money. Sad but true eh...

[PirateThom]

See, that would be all well and good... except, the Modern Warfare 2 maps were best sellers on Steam for a good few weeks.

[CrippleH]

Mods are way better then DLC and it's free and endless. It seems to me that publishers are trying to get rid of PC mods. I see less fps supporting it now.

[SuperStrokey1123]

This is activision guys... we can be sure the bobby is planning on selling map packs and charging a monthly fee...

[Fadetoblack69]

Sort of amusing the direction this is going. Soon the 'Top Players' won't be the most skilled, but the ones willing to spend the most $$ on a game. Add a few 'light bonus' weapons & armor to a DLC and voila', a perfect "Buy or fall behind" system just like the MMO's

[xg-ei8ht]

Killzone3 for me:)

[Xander756]

I agree, I never download any DLC for Call of Duty games.

[writersblock]

Didnt pay for a single one, got them all off friends

[Sirhc92]

how the hell do you download map packs from other ppl. and if u can, then i would still probably be the milking fountain cuz im always the one who buys and shows off the latest in gaming entertainment. lol.

[moogle84]

Looks like everyone is trying to cash in as much as possible on everything.

[Paralex]

So, we can safely assume that every game with paid DLC is charging for online play? People pick on Activision just for the sake of doing it.

[Anti-Fanboyer]

release game, wait few months, release extra maps= CHA-CHING!!!!

[DFresh]

Well I do know PC gamers have to pay $15/month to maintain the dedicated servers they will be getting with COD: Black Ops.
On PS3/Xbox 360 we still have the same P2P servers running on those consoles.
I'll be picking up the standard edition on PS3 soon enough once I pick up my FRAG FX Shark controller.
:D

[brettski2024]

I'm getting this and I most likely won't get the map pack. I never got it in the past and still enjoyed the games. Cod4 is still the best call of duty BTW

[swinesucker]

None of this matters as half you fools complaining will buy this for 60 and 30 more on maps packs with the biggest fucking poop sniffing teenage sucker smile you could imagine.

[SpaceFox]

Hell people it's not like COD is alone in this. What DICE does is way worse. The VIP "map packs" were a complete joke, they were maps we already had for other game modes. They should have been in the game on day one, yet DICE held it back and drip fed us those maps to make it appear as though we were getting new content.

Well here we are 7 months after BC2's release, and still no new maps. It's pathetic. I personally would LOVE for DICE to release a map pack with BC1 maps or new maps set in the same time period as BC2. But instead they do a Vietnam expansion that nobody asked for.

DICE is far worse than Treyarch. Treyarch at least supports their games with new content. Since when is post-launch support considered a bad thing?

[zeksta]

Didn't know you were on N4G! :D

And yeah, i completely agree, the fact that DICE has overused the VIP system to an extent where it's Ridiculous, but the fact is, they've made the game, and the only support they give us is nothing more then a mere expansion pack and one probable update.

[jjank11]

You get an agree and bubbles. Even though I love BC2, the VIP maps were a complete joke, as well as the stupid idea for Vietnam expansion.

But I didn't have too much trouble with the VIP maps because they were free. COD maps you actually have to pay

[GameGuy]

If they make a separate online service subscription fee only for CoD games and not for xbox live. Where you can play Cod online without buying a xbox live card. I would be ok with it.

[austin128]

...is the main reason why I started boycotting Activision, and until they put an end to that BS, or release some free maps for EVERYONE (not just people that bought the game new, etc.) then screw them!

Black Ops does look so sweet though...

[g-nome]

Gosh , I have never heard anybody bitch and complain like the gaming community.

[J_Cob]

Looks like Microsoft taught Activision then. I didn't buy any of the map packs for Halo 3 and they restricted a lot game modes unless you bought those packs. I was pretty damn pissed. Never played Halo again.