Activision wants gamers to pay monthly just to play online
Friday, November 13 2009 @ 04:00 PM GMT
Activision claims there is a demand from its core fanbase willing to pay monthly for additional services and content....
by Jim Reilly
The online business models for many of Activision's key franchises could start to change in the near future !
During today's BMO Capital Markets Conference, CFO of Activision Blizzard Thomas Tippl was asked if the successful World of Warcraft online business model will ever translate into the publisher's other major franchises, such as Guitar Hero and Call of Duty. While Tippl said WoW's model is difficult to replicate, players should expect new montization models for its other titles soon enough.
"It's definitely an aspiration that we see potential in, particularly as we look at different business models to monetize the online gameplay," said Tippl. "There's good knowledge exchange happening between the Blizzard folks and our online guys."
Activision Hints at Call of Duty Online Plans
"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," he added. "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."
Tippl added there is a demand from its core fanbase willing to pay for additional services and content.
"Our gamers are telling us there's lots of services and innovation they would like to see that they're not getting yet. From what we see so far, additional content, as well as all the services Blizzard is offering, is that there is demand from the core gamers to pay up for that," Tipple explained.
A supposed leaked online survey from June possibly hints at what Tippl is driving at. The survey centered around the idea of a monthly service that gives subscribers additional multiplayer and gameplay enhancements for future Call of Duty titles.
Is Activision Creating An Online Call Of Duty Service?
by Jim Reilly
June 12, 2009 - Gaming blog Destructoid received what is believed to be marketing survey hinting at Activision's possible upcoming online plans for the Call of Duty series.
The survey focuses mainly on the online space; specifically a new service where players would pay a monthly fee (much like a MMO game) that will "enhance the multiplayer experience and provide exclusive access to a group of gameplay enhancements."
Other features mentioned are access to early betas and expansions, character skins, enhanced stat-tracking, game modes, and "support for competitive play."
