Call of Duty sales slow, Modern Warfare 3 lags behind Black Ops

I have to admit, it is to be expected in my opinion. The series is progressively getting worse in terms of quality and issues that require fixing are being overlooked. I'd hazard a guess at the next Call of Duty falling further back.

CoD is simply a strong starter when released but fades as the months progress. As Whelan said, it is to be expected.

I think people forget why Activision tries to squeeze so much money out of you: they rely on it. For the longest time, that company was supported by only World of Warcraft, Call of Duty, and Guitar Hero. One of those are now out.

What's with everyone getting voted down?

Anyway, what Whelan and ShadowJ said is completely true.
Even my casual gamer friends who don't play any games beside Call of Duty say that even they feel that CoD is becoming too repetitive, and that they stopped playing MW3 soon after release.

Black Ops is better IMO anyway. MW3=MW2.

quote Whelan

I have to admit, it is to be expected in my opinion. The series is progressively getting worse in terms of quality and issues that require fixing are being overlooked. I'd hazard a guess at the next Call of Duty falling further back.

So COD Blackout is still a go?

quote nnnddd101010

What's with everyone getting voted down?

Meh it happens

and indeed, two of my friends loved the CoD series, especially CoD 4: Modern Warfare (The sole reason why Activision are now using Modern Warfare in the recent titles) but when MW2 hit the shelves they weren't impressed.

Black Ops released and they thought Activision may have learnt their lesson, due to Black Ops also being more "friendly" to new comers (Hell I dislike the CoD series but even I fell into the trap of buying Black Ops) so along with myself, they also bought Black Ops and again they weren't impressed.

MW3 was announced and instantly both of them said "no"...it was the first time I ever heard them both say no to a CoD game, they even bought World at War (They were disappointed with it but still bought it)

So yes, that might be two of the millions that bought the CoD franchise but ever since Activision released MW2 and onwards, more and more people are realising what is happening.

Of course, there will still be those that buy the games and the DLC and keep Activision afloat. Unfortunately as much as I dislike Activision, I have to commend them on how much of a powerful force they have become with only CoD and Guitar Hero as their core titles (Guitar Hero is no more but the franchise still did well) Along with having Blizzard at their side and the behemoth of MMO's as another core title for a cash cow.

All in all it does make you wonder what Activision would do next or even have if they ever decided to lay CoD to rest

at least people are starting to realize now but this isn't the first time activision has pushed a game to staleness

Well it's as if Sales are going to improve after so many months of the game being out...

Really though. They more than overkilled Guitar Hero. I got bored of it after the 2nd one. CoD is getting the same way: repetitive, except adding minor differences. I find myself buying and playing other games now. I have all the CoDs starting from WaW, but now I'm buying different games like Resistance or Rage or something.

quote bloodyvamp

Really though. They more than overkilled Guitar Hero. I got bored of it after the 2nd one. CoD is getting the same way: repetitive, except adding minor differences. I find myself buying and playing other games now. I have all the CoDs starting from WaW, but now I'm buying different games like Resistance or Rage or something.

I'm not the biggest fan of the music games but I would say the 3rd one was the best out of the franchise, at least it had most songs I liked...hell nothing beats playing La Grange

I've honestly never been remotely interested in Call of Duty since Modern Warfare started. Ever since then, it's been the same year after year for another $60. Maybe if they tried to put a little more innovation into it, they can get some of their old fans back.

Guitar Hero really went downhill after the third.

As for Call of Duty...the only (modern) ones I liked were the first Modern Warfare and Black Ops.

quote DragonSlayer45

I've honestly never been remotely interested in Call of Duty since Modern Warfare started. Ever since then, it's been the same year after year for another $60. Maybe if they tried to put a little more innovation into it, they can get some of their old fans back.

They would, if their current method didn't work or didn't give them much success. As much as I hate to say it, their method works in the sense of "gaining profit"

It's the motto "Why change fix something that isn't broke?". They have a formula that people are quite happy to dish out $60 a time, it might be the same game year after year but the last three CoD's prove that 70% of their fanbase is willing to pay for the next one and further for DLC.

So what do Activision have?

Well unlike EA and DICE where they have spent time, money and manpower on a new engine and game, they have been able to recycle their old games to keep the cost of production down. Already that gives them a nice comfy profit. The addition of Elite will entice those that are competitive or social or prefer to grab freebies etc....again that's profit.

People also have to remember with Activision is that it's all about getting people to buy games, not play them...if someone buys at $60 then to Activision their job is done

To put it in practical terms: (These are just figures for example purposes)

Cost of production (Reduced due to old engine etc.) = $1 million

Cost of game = $60

Acti needs to sell 17000 (1667 to break even) to make profit, everything after that is fun change (and wages etc.)

In other words, with their method as long as they have 20,000 fans buying their games, they will always have a profit...granted if they did only have 20,000 it wouldn't be record breaking profits or as a big a profit as they did get but to put it bluntly they will have a "panic zone" when the fanbase reaches a certain number...they will panic and realise what has happened

Until then, Evil warlord Kotick will continue with his diabolical plans to drain the very ocean of its wealth!

quote ShadowJ

To put it in practical terms: (These are just figures for example purposes)

Cost of production (Reduced due to old engine etc.) = $1 million

Cost of game = $60

Acti needs to sell 17000 (1667 to break even) to make profit, everything after that is fun change (and wages etc.)

In other words, with their method as long as they have 20,000 fans buying their games, they will always have a profit...granted if they did only have 20,000 it wouldn't be record breaking profits or as a big a profit as they did get but to put it bluntly they will have a "panic zone" when the fanbase reaches a certain number...they will panic and realise what has happened

Except, you know, there are also employee costs, costs of distribution to retailers who take their cut, (meaning your figure of $60 is defunct and illogical, because why buy something and resell it for the same price?), having DLC production costs, advertising costs, server upkeep (which, as far as we know, is forever based on CoD4's server status and meaning that the game is constantly needing to be paid for), and many other costs. Lastly, they also have to pay their staff year-round- which includes vacation time and given the modest salary of a developer over the course of a two-year development cycle, it all adds up.

They need to continually keep selling games and without having full numbers or being an accountant at Activision, you can't possibly come close to the actual figures of what they must sell.