Treyarch: Multiplayer Beats Pre-Owned
Quality support renders codes obsolete?
Published: 16:15, 10/09/2010 by Chris [cc_star].
67This year it has become clear that publishers want a slice of the pre-owned pie, EA were first to make the move when they launched project ten dollar.
This means that their games are shipping with a single use redeemable code for an assortment of in-game content ranging from maps in BF:BC2, to the Midnight Show in The Saboteur and the Cerberus Network in Mass Effect 2. These are obviously included in the initial purchase price, but as the codes are single use, it’s likely if you buy the game pre-owned that the only way to access this content is by paying the aforementioned ten dollars.
It’s not just EA though, because THQ, Ubisoft and Take2 were quick to embrace the new revenue opportunity, and recently Sony have got in on the act with ModNation Racers on the PSP which was followed up by a statement of intent from SCEE President Andrew house during a Gamescom interview which surely means we haven’t seen the last of single use codes as far as Sony are concerned.
There is however one company which is still to show its hand in the so called war on pre-owned, and that is Activision. An interview given to trade publication MCV by Activision studio and Call Of duty developer, Treyarch gives the clearest indication yet on where Activision stand on the matter of trying to generate revenue from the pre-owned market.
This may come as a shock to some people who believe all sorts of rubbish they believe on the internet but Treyarch believe providing a quality multiplayer experience will dissuade people from trading the game in. Studio head Mark Lamia said “I want to take that in the other direction and bring consumers really great reasons to keep their games, rather than trade them in”
“Multiplayer is critical to the success of this series. It has such tremendous staying power – there are millions of people playing Call of Duty every day. It’s entertaining people on a magnitude that’s mind-blowing and we work really hard to make sure it’s supported for a long time. We’re going to support the hell out of Black Ops. That will be our focus post-release: making sure we keep our fans engaged, and hopefully as a result, they’ll want to keep playing our game and won’t want to trade it in.”
Talking about whether secondhand customers would have to pay extra to join in on the multiplayer action Lamia went on to say ““You won’t see that for Black Ops, the multiplayer comes with the game you buy – you don’t have to do anything else for that.”
So there you have it whatever the analysts might have suggested and whatever myths have built up around the comments section’s of internet-land, there is no subscription, no premium clan system or paid for wager matches, just good ‘ol fashioned, traditional buy your game, stick it in yer console and enjoy!
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10/09/2010 at 16:21
Member since: Nov 2009
Good on em, let’s just hope for another supermarket price war on release ;)
10/09/2010 at 16:27
Member since: Jan 2010
Yeah that was awesome when MW2 came out. Got mine from Morrisons for £26. Was chuffed to bits.
11/09/2010 at 11:19
Member since: Mar 2010
sainsburies for me! hopefully again
10/09/2010 at 16:28
Member since: May 2010
Although i mostly buy new i like that they have done this as multiplayer is a huge part of the cod franchise.
12/09/2010 at 19:07
Member since: Feb 2009
It’s definitely the main part of their most recent games, it has to be when you spend 6 hours on the SP, but 240 hours on the MP. He’s dead right too, if you provide a lasting game experience, people wont want to trade it in. The reason people trade games in is because they’re bored of them. Make a game that people don’t get bored of, and they wont trade it in, simples :)
10/09/2010 at 16:30
Member since: Feb 2009
This should shock the Activision haters/boycotters a bit. I think Teryarch is absoloutely right there, and a game such as Call of Duty gets traded in a lot less than other titles which is just part of the reason sales are STILL strong for MW2. People keep hold of the game for the multiplayer. It also sounds like Treyarch are saying they are a bit above one use codes and that their title is so good it dosnt need them, which hopefully will turn out to be true.
10/09/2010 at 16:34
Member since: Dec 2009
These guys are top. I can’t wait to buy COD 2nd hand :-)
10/09/2010 at 18:14
Member since: Mar 2010
XD ahhhhhh yeah
10/09/2010 at 16:36
Member since: Dec 2009
Gosh, well done Activision!
10/09/2010 at 16:37
Member since: Apr 2010
I have 2 Ps3′s in my house, and my brother is getting Black Ops..
I would have had to pay that extra for a game that isn’t even pre-owned, hence why I am totally against it..
So, yeah, thank you Treyarch xD
10/09/2010 at 16:39
Member since: Jun 2009
blimey, Activision have done something right for a change. Well done chaps.
10/09/2010 at 17:18
Member since: Aug 2008
in all fairness, for people like me who only want the SP mode, this isnt a good sign. sounds like MP game with and secondary SP mode :(
10/09/2010 at 17:23
Member since: Forever
It was like that with Cod4, 5 & 6 so 7 isn’t going to be any different is it?
Next year’s rumoured Sledgehammer produced CoD might be more geared around the SP (Sledgehammer was set-up by the head-honcho that brought the world Dead Space)
10/09/2010 at 17:23
Member since: Jun 2009
yeah I can see what you mean, but i’m sure there will still be a price war like last time in the supermarkets. Hopefully anyway.
10/09/2010 at 18:40
Member since: Apr 2010
In all fairness, I don’t think you can really say that about COD 4…The single player in that game was fantastic.
10/09/2010 at 16:41
Member since: Jun 2010
Well, well. Treyarch with the right reply. Now all we need is a good game.
10/09/2010 at 16:41
Member since: Jul 2009
“bunch” God, how I hate how we’ve picked up on this being used to breaking point in the US. Sorry, Chris, not aiming it at you specifically. To have a bunch of bananas (something that is bunched up, is perfect usage) but what’s wrong with a handful or collection or assortment or *explodes*…
Sorry. I just see it all of the time now and it’s very lazy. Sorry, sorry, sorry! My current pet hate.
11/09/2010 at 16:29
Member since: Nov 2009
The Brady Collection would make a great show. :D
10/09/2010 at 16:53
Member since: Jul 2010
at leased there is 1 company for the time being that is not jumping on the ripoff bandwagon. i may actually buy the game afterall
10/09/2010 at 18:17
Member since: Mar 2010
just wait until the DL€ comes out
10/09/2010 at 18:39
Member since: Forever
Yeah, it will probably be on the upper-side of acceptable, but I wouldn’t have thought they’d price themselves out the market else people simply wouldn’t buy it.
10/09/2010 at 18:56
Member since: Mar 2010
coughareyoufuckinkiddingcough what was it for mw2 3 map packs at £11 each O_O i didn’t even pay that much for the game
10/09/2010 at 19:09
Member since: Forever
Good job its a choice to buy the DLC… seriously why would anyone pay more than they think is reasonable?
If it was unreasonable surely no one would have bought it, or is that just me?
10/09/2010 at 20:33
Member since: Mar 2010
nah that is fare enough as not only did i not buy said DL€ but i sold the game and got 3D dot game heroes instead