Video game publisher Activision is creating Call of Duty Elite, an online service to let diehard fans elevate their experience with the popular first-person shooter games.
Set to officially launch with the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 on Nov. 8, Elite will have some free basic features for players of the online multiplayer modes of the game, as well as a premium level.
The most popular Call of Duty games, played onPlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PCs, let up to 18 players compete in virtual combat online, beyond the standard single-player story and two-person play modes.
Currently, players organize offline or in online "lobbies" for multiplayer sessions; a smattering of post-match statistics can be viewed. The Web-based Elite service will track all aspects of players' online performance, allow for creation of groups and clans (one of the premium perks) as if on a social network, offer events and prizes, and provide in-depth facts for studying past match strategies.
Aspects of the service will be available on game consoles, PCs and mobile devices, including smartphones and Apple's iPad.
"When you have 30 million people playing (Call of Dutygames) you have a lot of different tastes," says Robert Bowling of Activision's Infinity Ward studio. "Elite lets players enhance and alter the way they experience the game."
Activision has sold more than 100 million Call of Duty games, with tens of millions playing 2010's Call of Duty: Black Opsand 2009's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 for months after release. When Activision releases more details and begins an Elite trial period this summer, the service will be populated with players' Black Ops stats.
Analysts have long expected Activision to begin charging for Call of Duty online play because the enormous amount of time spent playing already purchased games online cuts into sales of new games. Activision internal estimates show the average Black Opsplayer has spent 170 hours with the game online in the six months or so since the game was released.
"There's been speculation that we are trying to charge for multiplayer. That is not the case," says Jamie Berger, vice president of digital for Activision. "But we know tens of millions are expecting more from us."
No price has been announced for the service, which Activision has been working on for two years. But Berger says that "for the super-engaged player who already buys (post-release downloadable gameplay maps) and plays nine or 12 months out of the year, we want this to be a no-brainer."
Consumers will be able to buy the standard Modern Warfare 3 game for an expected $60. But those interested in Elite will be able to buy a higher-priced package that will include the standard game, free access to any downloadable maps and the premium online features.
Previous games such as Halo and StarCraft have had online data hubs, but those were free and not as impressive as Elitepromises to be, says Evan Narcisse of Time.com's Techland. "It's almost like they are starting their own competitive gaming league. It's ambitious, but how much of an added value this is going to be to the average Call of Duty player remains to be seen."
Set to officially launch with the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 on Nov. 8, Elite will have some free basic features for players of the online multiplayer modes of the game, as well as a premium level.
The most popular Call of Duty games, played onPlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PCs, let up to 18 players compete in virtual combat online, beyond the standard single-player story and two-person play modes.
Currently, players organize offline or in online "lobbies" for multiplayer sessions; a smattering of post-match statistics can be viewed. The Web-based Elite service will track all aspects of players' online performance, allow for creation of groups and clans (one of the premium perks) as if on a social network, offer events and prizes, and provide in-depth facts for studying past match strategies.
Aspects of the service will be available on game consoles, PCs and mobile devices, including smartphones and Apple's iPad.
"When you have 30 million people playing (Call of Dutygames) you have a lot of different tastes," says Robert Bowling of Activision's Infinity Ward studio. "Elite lets players enhance and alter the way they experience the game."
Activision has sold more than 100 million Call of Duty games, with tens of millions playing 2010's Call of Duty: Black Opsand 2009's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 for months after release. When Activision releases more details and begins an Elite trial period this summer, the service will be populated with players' Black Ops stats.
Analysts have long expected Activision to begin charging for Call of Duty online play because the enormous amount of time spent playing already purchased games online cuts into sales of new games. Activision internal estimates show the average Black Opsplayer has spent 170 hours with the game online in the six months or so since the game was released.
No price has been announced for the service, which Activision has been working on for two years. But Berger says that "for the super-engaged player who already buys (post-release downloadable gameplay maps) and plays nine or 12 months out of the year, we want this to be a no-brainer."
Consumers will be able to buy the standard Modern Warfare 3 game for an expected $60. But those interested in Elite will be able to buy a higher-priced package that will include the standard game, free access to any downloadable maps and the premium online features.
Previous games such as Halo and StarCraft have had online data hubs, but those were free and not as impressive as Elitepromises to be, says Evan Narcisse of Time.com's Techland. "It's almost like they are starting their own competitive gaming league. It's ambitious, but how much of an added value this is going to be to the average Call of Duty player remains to be seen."
