Kotick: Activision 'not preoccupied with CoD subscriptions'

[mankind]

Activision CEO Bobby Kotick says that the company isn't preoccupied with the idea of launching a Call of Duty subscription service (even though he'd really like to release one right now).

Asked how the company can translate the $60 a year Call of Duty retail release model into a digital subscription business that offers more longevity for players. Kotick tells CNBC:

"You know, we don't really spend a lot of time thinking, honestly, about how do you convert this Call of Duty experience to a subscription model.


"What we really spend time thinking about is, how do you create really compelling Call of Duty experiences that are going to delight our audiences, and usually people are willing to pay for the content if you deliver them something spectacular, which is out intention."

Earlier this week, Activision announced the formation of a new digital-focused Call of Duty development studio called Beachhead, although what it'll produce content-wise is still a mystery.

When Kotick goes on to say that Activision intends to focus its bets on products that get consumers excited, the news anchor says violent games seem to be the most popular with punters. She then says she was struck by the subtitle of the latest - and probably last? - Guitar Hero title, Warriors of Rock, which she believes is "an interesting term to use for a music game", and asks: "Is it possible that a music game like Guitar Hero is having a harder time competing when other games are so much more violent?"

Kotick responds: "I don't think there's any connection between the success of Call of Duty, for example, and the lack of success in the music genre, and I think if you look at our announcement on Friday [later today] at [New York] Toy Fair, it's a brand new universe that's very broad appeal and I think there's still a tremendous opportunity for big audience type new style games that have really compelling, fun characters that are family-oriented entertainment."

According to juicy industry rumours, Activision is eyeing a potential takeover of Grand Theft Auto owner Take-Two.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com...subscriptions/

[coolguy]

CEO Bobby Kotick wants a CoD subscription so bad its killing him. but the reson why they are not doing it is because they will lose
millions of dollars on people not buying cod game because of this.

[PsychoMantis]

CEO Bobby Kotick wants a CoD subscription so bad its killing him. but the reson why they are not doing it is because they will lose
millions of dollars on people not buying cod game because of this.

Not to mention the fact that they will have to upgrade how they run **** server wise. Many people will expect the gaming experience to be much better than it has been in the past with the servers being so screwed up and (in the PS3 case of black ops) still unplayable to a certain extent. If they charge a fee for it and its the same ol song and dance they will lose more than just sales. The entire ship will go down in flames and COD will be ignored no matter what they decide to come up with to attract peoples attention.

[unicron7]

If they charge a fee for it and its the same ol song and dance they will lose more than just sales. The entire ship will go down in flames and COD will be ignored no matter what they decide to come up with to attract peoples attention.

I don't know man. Have you seen this generation? People will buy s*it products because they are cheaper/more popular without blinking an eye at whether the product is actually good or not. I could see Activision charging an online fee for a sucky service and fanboys would still defend it.

-Using this thread as a means to start an XBL "isn't worth the cost" argument needs to end with this edit. The example you gave using XBL has no relevance here. - Cuguy

[ddPLaNeT]

I'm sure if COD becomes subscription based, it'll fail hard. It's a fps for funks sake, what does he thinks ? because it sells well that he can milk it the way he wants ? Not gonna work for sure !!! This is not an MMO, it's a fps and if that ever happens, it'll be the first sub based fps game and mark my words, it's not gonna work.

Kotick needs to STFU big !

[reader65]

If that happens omg i will shoot activision