[Metallicorphan is an Ass]

remember that rumour that Activision were toying with the idea to charge monthly for some sort of Call of Duty title?

well.this is it....but why Metal have you not stuck this in the game section?

because its a site that will work with MW3 and future COD titles


you pay a monthly fee,and you can get extras,including map packs

here is the link
fuck knows what the site is called

and here is what is said

Quote

Consumers are used to paying $60 each for videogames that run on consoles like the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Now the publisher behind the industry's biggest videogame franchise— "Call of Duty"—is about to find out whether it can get them to pay a monthly bill, too.

Activision Blizzard Inc. plans to launch an online service called Call of Duty Elite this fall that will work with the next major edition of the game, "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3," and future installments of the hyper-realistic combat-simulation game. In a move industry executives describe as a first, Activision plans to charge a monthly subscription fee for the service, which will provide extra content that isn't offered on game discs sold in stores, including downloadable map packs that give players new "Call of Duty" levels to play.

Activision executives said they haven't yet figured out how much to charge for the service, but they expect the cost to be less than fees for comparable online-entertainment services, such as a $7.99-a-month Netflix Inc. movie subscription. Portions of the service will be free, including features inspired by Facebook Inc. that will let "Call of Duty" players meet for online gun battles with others who share various affiliations and interests.


Another feature of the service will give "Call of Duty" players tools, modeled on those from stock-trading websites, to analyze their performance within the game, gauging factors such as which weapons have been most successful for them in killing enemies.

The plan—which comes a week ahead of the videogame industry's big E3 trade show in Los Angeles—is a potentially risky bet by Activision that it can further milk profits from consumers, who could feel the $60 they spend on "Call of Duty" in stores is enough. Charging a monthly subscription fee is more common for multiplayer games that run on personal computers. The most successful of those is "World of Warcraft," a fantasy game from Activision's Blizzard division that has over 11 million subscribers, who typically pay $15 a month for the service.

For players with a Microsoft Corp. Xbox 360 console, a Call of Duty Elite subscription will come on top of the $9.99 monthly fee they typically pay for Xbox Live, the online game service that provides players of all Xbox games to meet and compete against others online. Sony Corp.'s PlayStation 3 console owners don't pay a monthly fee to play against others online.

The PlayStation Network that provides those multiplayer capabilities recently suffered an outage of more than three weeks after a hacker intrusion on the service. Players of PC versions of "Call of Duty" don't pay to play others online.


In an interview, Activision Chief Executive Bobby Kotick said he isn't worried about pushback from gamers about the Call of Duty Elite fee because players will still be able to compete against each other online without subscribing to the service. While he is coy about many of the offerings that will be included in the service, Mr. Kotick said Call of Duty Elite, and the customer-service operation that will be needed to support it, wouldn't be possible if the service was free. "This is an enormous investment," he said.

"Call of Duty" is in a unique position to seek a monthly fee from customers. The game's previous installment, set during the Cold War and called "Call of Duty: Black Ops," was the best-selling game last year, with global retail sales of more than $1 billion during its first six weeks on shelves.

Since Activision first began publishing the series almost eight years ago, it has accounted for more than $3 billion in retail sales, according to the company. Unlike hit movies, new versions of "Call of Duty" come out every year, with "Modern Warfare 3" due to arrive in stores Nov. 8.

"It's probably the biggest entertainment franchise in the world," said Dennis Durkin, corporate vice president in Microsoft's interactive-entertainment business.

Just as important is the degree to which "Call of Duty" has become the biggest online-game hit on consoles. While many gamers still play the old-fashioned way—by themselves against enemies operated by the game itself—"Call of Duty" has been the most successful console game at getting players to battle other human-operated opponents over the Internet.

Jamie Berger, Activision's vice president of digital for "Call of Duty," said the company has about seven million daily players of the game who spend, on average, about seven full days a year playing the game against others online. Players often use headsets to communicate verbally with other online gamers.

Like other publishers, Activision has earned money selling "Call of Duty" map packs and other digital content for one-time charges, but subscriptions to its new service could give it a continuing way to capitalize on the online popularity of the game.

Rob Dyer, senior vice president of publisher relations at Sony's U.S. games division, said only a few games have the audience loyalty and size to support a subscription service like Call of Duty Elite. Mr. Dyer said he is "very confident" other publishers will follow Activision's lead. "There's money to be made there," he said.

I hope this falls on it's ass,because if it succeeds you can guarantee others will follow

[SkinToxicated76]

im stunned, i cant belive thay are seriously entertaianing this. This is just greed, the CoD series sell squillions and make squillions of $/£ for them, they push the price up of the standard (not to mention, doing the Mugged off/Hardened and the "more money than sense" Prestige versions) and robbing us blind for recycled maps, mor commonlu know as DLC, they now wanna charge for extra for premiun content?!!

As you said Orph, this has to fail otherwise we could see this happening with other multiplayer games, I can see Gears of War stroking its chin

[Metallicorphan is an Ass]

thankfully it doesn't seem as bad as we thought

here is a Q and A

this is all i care about,i can still get the map packs the normal way

Quote

DLC will be available as part of Elite as well as a standalone download.
Again, nothing is being taken away and nothing is compulsory — you simply have another choice when it comes to getting DLC. You can buy COD DLC the traditional way — a map pack at a time — or you can automatically get the DLC as part of your Elite premium membership. Chacko Sonny, studio head of Beachhead, makes this extremely clear in an interview that is part of this week’s upcoming podcast: ”If you are the player who wants to purchase DLC seperately, that option is still there — you can go ahead and buy the DLC independent of the premium membership if you want. That said, if you want to purchase the premium membership, get the benefits that will be offered in terms of the features on Elite and get the DLC with it, it will be a great deal for you.”

there is also this

Quote

COD Elite is NOT going to sell players competitive advantages with microtransactions.

Quote

Call of Duty: Elite is free for all players, and there will be an optional premium membership.

[SkinToxicated76]

well thats not as bad, still fail to see what the incentive is if you can get all this stuff as an add on. At least its still a choice, I suppose if you a die hard CoD fan and you will hoover up anything that has a CoD label on then this saves hassle as you get it.

Personally, i wont be bothering, I still prefer to pick and choose what DLC I buy. My ankles are sweating from the amount of times i had my pants pulled down with CoD DLC

[Homebuilt PC]

IMO, this still needs to fail. Because it is only one step away from 'pay to play'.

I think I'll be passing on this game anyway. I may rent/borrow it for the single player, but you'll never see me play this in multiplayer, I just can't support EA's business practices when it comes to this series.

[Metallicorphan is an Ass]

here is a Q and A,i suppose i will probably go in for it,but not pay up for the subscription,which at the moment i can only see that you get the DLC for 'free' when it comes available,surely there must be more than that for the subscription or else it wouldn't be worth it

I think it would be more interesting to make it a 360 dashboard thing like Halo Waypoint,not sure i will be bothered looking on the net for my stats etc...and that shit should be in the actual game anyway IMO



GameInformer

Quote

Is Elite a new website?

* We're on the web of course, but we're designing Call of Duty Elite to be widely accessible and customized for a number of platforms -- via web browsers, through the game, and through mobile applications as well - including iPhone and iPad, as well as Android tablets and smartphones.

Will you be charging for multiplayer?

* No, we are offering players more choice and are not taking anything away from our fans. If you like playing the way you always have, with a great campaign, co-op and multiplayer experience out of the box, then you can. Additionally, many of Elite's key features that we've listed will be free to all Call of Duty players.

What about stats? Do I get free access to my stats with Elite?

* Absolutely. Elite's Career section gives players an in-depth look at statistical details of their own performance and gameplay as well as that of the entire Call of Duty community, including heat maps, load-outs, stat trends, custom leaderboards, and integration of your Facebook friends. The Career section is free to all registered users.

How will Elite compare to free offerings that currently exist?

* We believe that the free elements of Elite alone will be better than any free service currently on the market today. Elite ups the ante of any free service by offering a range of innovations on well-established multiplayer features, such as leaderboards, heat maps, and rich player data. Additionally, other Elite features are completely new to the industry. For example, with Elite's new Groups featured integrated with Modern Warfare 3, you will be able to join custom groups based on your likes, interests, or affiliations, and then have those groups follow you directly into the game. Soon you'll be playing in a social group, making new friends (and rivals!) who play Call of Duty and share your interests, home town, or play style.

Is there a beta? When can I try Elite for myself?

* Elite will officially launch this fall with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, but you can try key features earlier with our free public beta test. In order to deliver the best possible launch this fall, we need to test the service at scale and get your feedback on key features. The Beachhead team is working with Treyarch to hold a public beta this summer for Elite with the multiplayer community of Call of Duty: Black Ops. The earlier you sign up, the earlier you can play. All you need to do to sign up is register your email address and gamer tag. Sign up now at www.callofduty.com/elite.

Will the beta include everything that comes at launch in November?

* Because Elite was designed to be deeply integrated into Modern Warfare 3, not all of the features will be able to be part of the free beta with Call of Duty: Black Ops. You will get to try a number of key features, but the beta will still be just a slice of the full service that launches with Modern Warfare 3 in November. We plan to test some specific features, such as the Program Guide and Groups. However, a number of new features and services will be coming online specifically with Modern Warfare 3. Additionally, a number of our dedicated applications will be launching this November as well.

Can you tell me more about what "Connect, Compete, Improve" means?

* Connect: Elite will give our players unprecedented control over their Call of Duty multiplayer experience, transforming it into a true social experience. Players can compete against friends, players of similar skill levels, players with similar interests. Connect will include:
o Find and join Groups of people with similar interests
o Create Clans, which are private player groups that can compete with other Clans in organized competition
o Track your performance, progress and activity within your Groups and Clans through mobile and web interfaces
o Upload and share your videos with your Groups and Clans
o Access high-quality original video programming, tailored to people who love Call of Duty

* Compete: Call of Duty players want to compete, but are looking for a way to do it that fits their skill and style.
o The Program Guide, gives players a choice of dozens of daily and weekly competitive Events, individual and clan Operations, official Leagues, and Tournaments all tailored to different skill levels
o These competitions will offer both digital and real prizes - everything from digital trophies and badges to a new Jeep

* Improve: Everyone wants to improve their game, and Elite will be like having a personal online coach.
o It provides players with a dynamic strategy guide that tracks their statistics and performances -- down to minute details -- showing gamers how they stack up against their friends or others in the community
o Improve will offer continually evolving professional tips and advice. Tools and information are provided so players can learn and up their game, regardless if you're a newer player or level 15 Prestige

The Program Guide sounds cool, but I'm an average player. How can I have a chance to participate in competition?

* Just like a sport, we believe competing in Call of Duty should be fun and accessible regardless of skill. Highly skilled players may want to join the most competitive Leagues and Tournaments, while a more moderate player can find Operations, Events and Clan competitions that are tailored based on their skill level or particular play style. We want all Elite players to find a range of competition that fits them, and gives them a chance to succeed.

Is Elite only for hardcore players?

* Connect, Compete and Improve are universal needs regardless of skill, and Elite has been tailored for Call of Duty's diverse base of players. If you are a hardcore "Prestige" player or a casual weekend warrior, you can enjoy personalized communities, daily competition and events, community-generated video content, and a dynamic strategy guide that tracks your statistics and performance trends. Elite also will offer high-production value, original entertainment programming designed exclusively for the Call of Duty community. Different players will use Elite in different ways, but we want there to be something for everyone.

Will Elite support Call of Duty: Black Ops?

* Yes. Because Elite was designed to be deeply integrated into Modern Warfare 3, not all of the features will be able to be part of the beta with Black Ops this summer. When Modern Warfare 3 launches this fall, players will be able to have a unified relationship through Elite - they can create a single profile in Elite and build their career in Call of Duty that will carry forward as they play every supported Call of Duty game.

How is Elite different with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3?

* The Beachhead team has been working closely with Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games to build Elite from the ground up to support Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. When Elite launches this November, the service will include a number of all-new features and innovations being built directly by the developers into the new game. For example, your Elite community Group and Clan affiliations and identity will be incorporated directly into Modern Warfare 3.

When will Elite launch?

* The service will launch with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 this November 8th, 2011.

Where will Elite be available?

* Elite will be available on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC. In addition, there will be custom Elite applications available on iOS and Android tablets and smartphones.

How can I become a member?

* With the roll out of the Call of Duty Elite beta this summer on Call of Duty: Black Ops, players can sign up on www.callofduty.com/elite to queue up for participation. Once the platform officially launches with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 on November 8th, players will be able to enter the service in through a variety of ways, which we will be announcing later this year.

So, if I just want to buy Map Packs standalone, I can still do that?

* Yes. Call of Duty Elite has been built around the tenets of value and choice. To us that choice means that players who purchase Modern Warfare 3, who want to extend the game may prefer the option of a map pack. We will continue to offer that option. So if you want to just buy a map pack only, no problem.

If I get the premium membership to Elite, do I really get all of the DLC?

* Yes. Elite is an all-inclusive membership, and that means you get all of the playable game DLC for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 as part of your premium membership. No need to buy additional DLC.

Will there be Customer Service?

* Absolutely. It's a priority for us that Elite membership comes with 24/7 worldwide customer service. We will have a team dedicated to programming, administration, and service, starting with our public beta this summer.

Why announce now if you can't show us all the Modern Warfare 3 launch features and pricing?

* Elite was designed from the ground up to integrate with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. Therefore, many of the services which will be a part of the premium membership will not be able to be demonstrated fully until the launch of Modern Warfare 3. The reason we launched the service ahead of that time was to invite people to participate in a public beta of the service using Black Ops, which will help to test the service at scale and fine tune it before its official release this November. The premium membership to Elite also will include many industry firsts, and will represent the ultimate Call of Duty experience.

Are you letting people buy prestige weapons or levels through Elite?

* No, players are not able to buy prestige weapons or levels through Elite. While Call of Duty Elite wants to help people become better players, there's still only one way to level up to new weapons, XP and prestige, and that's to earn it in game.

When will launch details be released?

* Throughout the summer we will be talking about Elite in detail, so stay tuned for more information.

Who is Beachhead Studios?

* Beachhead is a new development studio, who is creating the Elite service for the Call of Duty franchise. We are entirely focused on making Elite the best gaming service in the world, and improving it every day. Our Beachhead Studio will be supporting our Call of Duty games throughout the year.

[wnchstr96]

I agree, this could be the end of the CoD series for me.

[SkinToxicated76]

wnchstr96, on 04 June 2011 - 08:06 AM, said:

I agree, this could be the end of the CoD series for me.

i would llike to say the same, but I'll get sucked in and end up getting MW3, they definately wont be me shelling out extra though for this Elite crap

[Metallicorphan is an Ass]

thats what i don't understand

you pay a subscription you get the DLC for free(that will be available for everyone else like normal through the marketplace i guess for 1200 points)and that's it...

the rest of the site,is free for everyone and it WILL be on the xbox 360 dashboard according to todays SentUAMessage show

so....who the fuck would pay monthly,unless it was no more than a quid?..the DLC costs about a tenner per map pack

i am sure i am missing something,or they will announce more free shit for subscribers,i dunno

[Homebuilt PC]

dont know, dont care. I've had it with thier business practices of milking the customer for all they can get. Pretty soon we'll be paying a fee based on how many shots we fired.

I'm SO done with this series. I skipped COD Black OPS, and you know what? I didn't miss a thing. Of all the people on my friends list, no more than 7 people ever played it at the same time. Plenty of other games to play, without having to deal with the 12 year olds.

We have to tell them that it is NOT OK to do these things, and we must use our wallets to do it. As long as we keep buying this crap, it will only get worse.

[Metallicorphan is an Ass]

here is a list of everything that will be free

Eurogamer

Quote

* Access Elite through the web as well as Elite's free custom iOS and Android applications for smartphones and tablets
* Communicate any way you want across mobile, console and the web with your friends
* Track and share thousands of stats with friends - k/d ratios, score-per-minute, win % and loads more, all represented in easy to understand charts and infographics
* Create your own custom leaderboards to track friendly rivalries - who is moving up and down in your group of friends?
* Analyse advanced heat maps detailing your match-by-match performance - where you killed or got killed, when it happened, and more
* Analyse your weapons performance - which weapons you are best with in which situations
* Upload and share videos of your greatest moments through our exclusive theater mode with the touch of a button
* Customise your loadout - search through all the weapons, attachments and perks, and push them directly into the game menu from the web or your mobile device with the touch of a button
* Join dozens of groups and find other players with common interests to play with and compete against
* Create a Clan with players who share your interests and taste for competition
* Bring your Facebook friends right into the game, easily taking your existing network into the Call of Duty experience.
* Seamlessly be placed into Groups with those who share your affinities and interests based on your Facebook profile.
* Start tracking your Call of Duty career - everything you wanted to know about your performance across the franchise starting with Black Ops

[wnchstr96]

Metallicorphan is an Ass, on 06 June 2011 - 05:47 AM, said:

here is a list of everything that will be free

Eurogamer

Yawn..... You know some of us just want to play a friendly game with our friends and that's all.

[Metallicorphan is an Ass]

about bleedin' time




I'll have the lowdown for you if i get it working alright

[Metallicorphan is an Ass]

well its okay,i have connected my Youtube account and you can view your vids from there(no big deal),it's mainly for those who love their stats


it does take awhile to load a few things,but it is still the beta

few pics anyway





I am pretty sure stuff like this has been done before though,i am sure Battlefield Bad Company i used a website similar to this,maybe Elite goes into more detail i am not sure,it will be interesting to see what the extra stuff included in for people paying for this

[wnchstr96]

Nice K/D ratio Orph. I don't think mine is even half that.