Category: Activision (Page 5 of 8)

      Activision looking to further monetize online gameplay

      November 16, 2009 /

      Activision logo.It looks like Activision likes the idea of monetizing online gameplay for more than just World of Warcraft. Speaking at the BMO Capital Markets Conference this week, Activision CFO Thomas Tippl said he liked the idea of spreading the WoW business model to other games in the Activision lineup. From the context, it sounds like that means subscription fees, which would make all sorts of people unhappy.

      “We have great experience also on Call of Duty with the success we had on Xbox Live and PlayStation Network. A lot of that knowledge is getting actually built into the Battle.Net platform and the design of that,” Tippl said. “I think it’s been mutually beneficial, and you should expect us to test and ultimately launch additional online monetization models of some of some of our biggest franchises like Call of Duty.” So there’s also some potential for microtransactions, possibly for map packs or special equipment.

      Tippl also mentioned the demand from the gaming community to pay for extended support for games. Now I’m not sure why that would be the case, especially for games like Call of Duty. I usually find it worse for FPS games to get tons and tons of maps. That says nothing of the backlash from PC players over paying for something that has traditionally been available for free if Activision goes the subscription route.

      Whatever Activision chooses, it probably won’t be good for anyone. I understand the need to make money for the fast-approaching day people stop buying Rock Band, but maybe this isn’t the best way to do that.

      Activision, News

      Modern Warfare 2 sells…a whole bunch on day one

      November 12, 2009 /

      Modern Warfare 2 sniper.Alongside the release of Infinity Ward’s Modern Warfare 2 there’s a war of numbers breaking out. Analysts are trying to be the first to pin down a sales estimate, a number that has so far varied by several million units. At first it was Ben Schachter claiming 7 million for day one. Michael Pachter thinks Ben’s crazy, and estimates just 4 million copies for the first day. I’m inclined to trust Pachter, since even he puts things over the top at times.

      Whatever the real number, it has a lot of zeroes, and that’s got to make Activision pretty happy. Most analysts still think the 12 million unit estimate for the quarter through December is conservative. That puts total sales by year end somewhere around $700 million, which is just obscene. By comparison, Halo 3 just made it through 8 million units in its first 3 months. As a throwback, Joystiq also mentioned that Street Fighter II, which literally everyone I knew owned, sold 6.3 million units total worldwide.

      Hopefully the end of the quarter will bring some hard and fast numbers for us. Until then, go throw some knives at some people. It’s insanely fun.

      Activision, News

      Modern Warfare 2 pirate arrested

      November 7, 2009 /

      Modern Warfare 2 Bundle.Christian Del Adamo’s plan was simple enough – buy a stolen Modern Warfare 2 bundle before it released, crack the game code, and sell illegal copies for profit. Del Adamo was going to use donations to get the bundle, which he would later repay with copies of the game. He was even talking to a hologram maker to make his copies seem a little less shady. And it all would have worked out if it weren’t for that damn internet.

      Activision got word of the idea, which Del Adamo had apparently posted to sites Activision watches, and contacted IPCybercrime.com, who then tracked down our thief using Facebook, of all things. Poor guy had just turned 18 in August, too. Welcome to trial as an adult, Christian.

      Detectives in LA busted another guy who admitted to stealing a crate of the console bundles from a retail store and then selling them for $800 on Craig’s List. I’m not sure why I expect these people to show some discretion but I do. Then again, they are trying to steal, copy, and sell what is about to become the biggest entertainment launch of all time, and they’re posting about it publicly. Assuming they’re somewhat interested in gaming, shouldn’t decades of stupid villains have taught these guys something?

      Source: Venture Beat

      Activision, News

      No Doubt sues Activision over Band Hero

      November 5, 2009 /

      No Doubt.No Doubt is suing Activision over unauthorized use of the band’s image in the new Band Hero. Originally the two parties had a contract that allowed Activision to use likenesses of the band members for its own songs. The new game allows players to use No Doubt members as avatars playing other songs, which the band alleges turns them into a virtual karaoke act.

      You might remember Courtney Love raising the same stink about use of Cobain’s image for other artists’ work. In this case, though, it seems Activision has put the avatars into situations that could have some legal ramifications. As the lawsuit states, Band Hero stages Gwen Stefani, No Doubt’s sassy frontlady, singing The Stones song “Honky Tonk Woman.” The problem is that the feature “results in an unauthorized performance by the Gwen Stefani avatar in a male voice boasting about having sex with prostitutes.” I’ve certainly heard celebrities cry foul over less.

      As expected, Activision claims to be within its rights. No Doubt is looking for damages, an injunction, and a recall of existing copies of the game. Good luck with that one.

      Source: Reuters

      Activision, News

      Blizzard takes the plunge into not-so-microtransactions

      November 4, 2009 /

      Pandaren Monk in WoW.Propriety be damned, Blizzard’s decided to enter the ugly world of microtransactions. In true Blizzard style, though, the transactions aren’t so micro. World of Warcraft players can now spend a completely ludicrous $10 on an in-game pet from the Blizzard Pet Store. For now there are just two, the Pandaren Monk and Lil K’T, but there are plans to add more in the future.

      As though to curb some of the backlash that no doubt comes with this release, Blizzard announced that the purchases of a Pandaren Monk from now to December 31st will result in a 50% donation to Make-A-Wish, courtesy of Blizzard. Your purchases of Lil K’T, on the other hand, will simply help the Blizzard CEO’s buy larger stakes in football franchises.

      Really I’m surprised it took this long. WoW has held out for nearly five years, leaving the fees to maintenance services like realm and faction changes. As the next generation of MMOs prepare for launch, it’s not at all surprising that Blizzard would look to get its dues from WoWs most dedicated players.

      Activision, MMO

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