"Isn't Call of Duty today just like Guitar Hero was a few years back?" asks Activision publishing CEO Eric Hirshberg in a leaked internal memo.
This was the topic of the memo apparently circulated internally within Activision in February as the firm announced plans to halt its Guitar Hero business.
"This is a great question and one we have thought about a lot," says Hirshberg, as he answers the question by explaining why the annually released Call of Duty series won't suffer the same fate as its once insanely popular rhythm-action franchise. Here's what Hirshberg had to say:
"But there are several key differences between the two franchises worth considering. Guitar Hero quickly reached incredible heights, but then began a steady decline. Call of Duty, on the other hand, has steadily grown every single year of its seven-year existence.
"Guitar Hero was a new genre which had incredible appeal, but which had not stood the test of time. Call of Duty exists in a genre--first person shooters--that has shown remarkable staying power and wide appeal over a period of decades. Plus, Call of Duty has inspired a massive, persistent, online community of players, making it perhaps the 'stickiest' game of all time.
"If you really step back and dispassionately look at any measurement-sales, player engagement, hours of online play, performance of DLC-you can absolutely conclude that the potential for this franchise has never been greater.
"In order to achieve this potential, we need to focus: on making games that constantly raise the quality bar; on staying ahead of the innovation curve; on surrounding the brand with a suite of services and an online community that makes our fans never want to leave. Entertainment franchises with staying power are rare. But Call of Duty shows all of the signs of being able to be one of them. It's up to us."
Activision will continue its CoD onslaught with the next Call of Duty: Black Ops map pack, entitled 'Escalation', which hits Xbox 360 as a timed exclusive on May 6.
Has your interest in the series waned since its annual release schedule hit its stride with Modern Warfare? Will you buy this year's update?
I find the best part to be this one:
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In order to achieve this potential, we need to focus: on making games that constantly raise the quality bar; on staying ahead of the innovation curve; on surrounding the brand with a suite of services and an online community that makes our fans never want to leave.
They sure are doing a great job at that aren't they?
P.S. Guitar Hero is not dead, but on a Hiatus.
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"I don’t know whether I’m alive and dreaming or dead and remembering. How can you tell what’s a dream and what’s real if you can’t even tell when you’re awake or when you’re asleep?" - Johnny Got His Gun
Guitar Hero was never really that great either... Sure, it started the whole guitar playing video game thing, but Rock Band REALLY improved on it a lot. I'd much rather play Rock Band then Guitar Hero.
Honestly, if they want to give their fans what they want, just release a multiplayer only game that updates every year or so with new guns.
People are just buying it for the multiplayer (which sucks) and not even playing the campaign, so why waste time and money on it?
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Activision is crap and so is Call of Duty.
Agreed.
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CoD has been the same game since 2007. Sales are going to start decreasing with the next one, and with a new game EVERY year, plus DLC, it will kill itself.
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"I don’t know whether I’m alive and dreaming or dead and remembering. How can you tell what’s a dream and what’s real if you can’t even tell when you’re awake or when you’re asleep?" - Johnny Got His Gun
Guitar Hero was never really that great either... Sure, it started the whole guitar playing video game thing, but Rock Band REALLY improved on it a lot. I'd much rather play Rock Band then Guitar Hero.
This is kinda a "duh" article... I don't see cod dieing any time soon. Cod has been on top for a while, and one of it's closest competitors (Halo) just lost it's dev team. I think COD has become the Final Fantasy of FPS games... Basically youre paying for the name. (the reason I say this is because I think FF is in decline)
Halo did not really loose it's dev team. Bungie wanted to move on, and signed a 10 year deal with Activi$ion. If I am correct, there are quite a few employee's from Bungie now working at 343 helping create a new game. Besides that, CoD will die, just because a bunch of dumb 10 year olds are buying it, it has ran the FPS genre into the ground. EVERY studio developing a FPS feels like they need to make it like CoD to sell, and that disturbs me.
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"I don’t know whether I’m alive and dreaming or dead and remembering. How can you tell what’s a dream and what’s real if you can’t even tell when you’re awake or when you’re asleep?" - Johnny Got His Gun
Halo did not really loose it's dev team. Bungie wanted to move on, and signed a 10 year deal with Activi$ion. If I am correct, there are quite a few employee's from Bungie now working at 343 helping create a new game. Besides that, CoD will die, just because a bunch of dumb 10 year olds are buying it, it has ran the FPS genre into the ground. EVERY studio developing a FPS feels like they need to make it like CoD to sell, and that disturbs me.
I suppose that is true... Eventually something is bound to come along and break the mold (like halo and it's regenerative health)
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Originally Posted by Seb
Fixed.
Agreed... I actually enjoyed FF 7-9, but I think 7 is over rated. I'm playing 3 on my iPod (commence the flaming for using an iPod), I know it's different, but it's still awesome!
Activision: CoD Won't Die like Guitar Hero.
