“The world’s most passionate online gaming community can now connect, compete and improve their Call of Duty multiplayer experience,” says the press release that’s already had its thunder stolen overnight, “through Activision’s innovative new online service, Call of Duty Elite.”
We’ve covered most of the details this morning, but it’s perhaps worth doubling up so as to avoid any confusing over what’s included and what’s extra – or, indeed, Elite.
First up, it’s a Beachhead studio product, and will offer “cutting-edge features that significantly enhance the franchises’ multiplayer experience and deliver a new level of social engagement that will unite more than 30 million players worldwide.” Pure PR speak, of course, but it’s certainly new stuff.
“Additionally, the service will offer exclusive, high-production value, original entertainment programming designed exclusively for the Call of Duty community.”
Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision Publishing says that the average CoD player player spends just short of an hour every day playing multiplayer. “That is more than the average Facebook user spends per day on Facebook,” apparently. Elite, then, is set up to unite and “super charge” that community.
“Whether it’s allowing you to connect with your friends, or people of a similar skill level, people who live in your city, people who share your favourite passions, join competitive clans or social groups, or upload, view and comment on the incredible mass of player-generated content, or watch and comment on exclusive created content, Call of Duty Elite will give people more ways to connect with fellow players than ever before.”
“Elite will also allow players of every level to improve their game with an intuitive suite of tools, and compete in tournaments for both real and virtual prizes.”
The first game to include Elite is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. Activision are breaking the service down into three distinct areas:
- Connect: Call of Duty Elite gives players unprecedented control over their multiplayer experience, transforming it into a true social network. Players can compete against friends, players of similar skill levels and players with similar interests, join groups, join clans, and play in organised tournaments. They can also track the performance, progress and activity of their entire network, both in the game itself, as well as through mobile and web interfaces. Elite will be an “always on” way for players to connect with the Call of Duty community.
- Compete: Call of Duty Elite establishes the most exciting, competitive environment in a multiplayer game. Players will have available a constant stream of events and competitions, tiered to group them with those with similar abilities. Both in-game and real-world prizes will be rewarded to all skill levels.
- Improve: Call of Duty Elite is like having a personal online coach. It provides players with a dynamic strategy guide that tracks their statistics and performances down to the most minute details. It can show gamers how they stack up against their friends or others in the community. Tools and information are provided so players can learn and up their game.
“Carrying forward to future Call of Duty games,” continues the press release, “Elite will chronicle a player’s gameplay history in a cohesive career record, keeping track of every kill, every game and progress.”
“Many key features of Call of Duty Elite will be available to Call of Duty players free of charge. Additionally, for players who want to up their game, Call of Duty Elite will offer a premium membership with a wide range of state-of-the-art services, exclusive entertainment programming and all-inclusive game content for less than the cost of any comparable online entertainment service currently in the market.”
No pricing, as expected, but what are your thoughts?
yogh_wayne
About a year ago there was an article on TSA “Kotick Wants COD Subscriptions”. Well, here they are now. I wonder how many players will actually pay a monthly fee for this, I don’t think anybody needs statistics to know which gun he plays best with.
http://www.thesixthaxis.com/2010/06/21/kotick-wants-cod-subscriptions-tomorrow/
Crocadillian
So this is basically a Halo: Reach like service that costs money. Hmmm…..
kingpowell
i couldn’t even connect to my friends in black ops, we all traded it in, now they expect to me to pay for half a game and pay monthly for half a service. all these extras that they want you to pay for should just be part of the evolution of the series. i didn’t have to pay for Rockstars social club.
summary = piss take
spooferbarnabas
To be honest, i personally wold never pay for that. A number of games already have a similar stat thing included in the game itself (and they don’t want £55 for the game either). For instance, KZ2 has had a very similar setup since 2009!
fattyuk
£55??
:|
a inferior race
£55 is COD RRP or SRP (whichever it is these days)
Mick939
Isnt this in things like killzone bf and nfs anyway?. Is this simply autolog?
fattyuk
Remember kids it uber cool to be anti cod fans these days! Instead of leaving the fans to enjoy there specific gaming and to spend there money on how they want just go on every COD news blog story and whinge about how you don’t like it and etcetc.
PS.
How much does world of Warcraft or any other pay monthly gaming cost including Internet fees and PC? I guess there all suckers and losers cause they like what gaming they like!
And yes I will be investing in this MW3 premium, and I don’t see why on earth anybody who doesnt like it can even comment on how I spend my hard earned cash
Pete_UK
If we pay the subscription, do we get the yearly patches (sorry, I mean new games / next installments / euphemism here) free of charge?
Foxhound_Solid
Even though you are all moaning you will all pay it. Glad I chose to preorder bf3
fattyuk
What on earth has bf3 got to do anything!!
LOL
DarkKniight
Absolute nonsense. I refuse to buy MW3 on principle that Activision seem to think their game is worth so much more than any other on the market, despite the fact it’s actually one of the worst in terms of technicality and innovation. CoD is officially dead to me now. have fun earning killstreaks to unlock some crazy-fangled-game-changer those of you that buy it, I’ll be in the safe hands of Mr. Drake by then =)
fattyuk
I’ll be in the hand of drake,ezio and mw3 without the need of whinging at you for nonsense negative comments to people who are interested in cod.
I like cod because I do, nothing wrong with that! And just because you’re not interested in cod, then guess what! There is nothing wrong with that either! Each to there ownppp
grimm
I like cod too but there’s no way I’m paying a monthly subscription to play it when it should have those features as standard, as do all its peers in the FPS genre.
This is the problem. People ARE interested in cod, but it’s not worth the £100+ per year they want us all to pay for it when compared to other games where you can get the full experience without paying monthly fees.
Cerberus64
The first step in Activision’s “Pay to Play” business model.
So that’ll be me only playing the far superior Battlefield games from now on.