EPTCall of Duty Elite – There has been much outcry recently over the announcement of the Call of Duty Elite (for-pay social service). I thought I would give my two cents in regards to this leap (or fall) in the Gaming Industry. Although my voice alone does not carry much weight, it should at least give some insight on the matter.
A slight background-- I have been quite worried regarding the supposed progression in the Gaming Industry. I will admit that I am by no means a representative of any community nor am I a spokesperson for one. I am but a single gamer that has become quite fearful of the currently and possible state of games of the world. My fear is grounded not so much in what has happened (although I do have some qualms with what has happened), but more along the lines of what will happen.
I am unsure of when it truly began, but I do know for myself, I feel as if it began with the introduction of DLC's (Downloadable Content) and subscription based games (driven forcefully by World of Warcraft). The emergence of these two concepts altered how games were to be produced as well as controlled for years to come. Granted, there have been games prior to World of Warcraft, but I do believe that in terms of gaming history. It had the largest impact of any other subscription based game in the world. Primarily due to it addictive nature as well its sheer quantity of users (reaching a million is by no means an easy task).
When this game came out, it gave Gaming Companies the possibility of not having to make their money bases solely off of a release of their next release, but a chance to continue making a profit to help pay for their fees (such as server upkeep). This opened the floodgates to so much potential, showing companies that people would be willing to pay monthly fees to play a videogame. I think if someone had mentioned to us back during warcraft I days. Mentioning that we would get to the point where we would be paying monthly just to play a videogame, it would be ridiculous (granted, many invested quite a large amount of quarters in arcades).
This showed just how much strength the gaming industry has at its fingertips. Along with the concept of subscription based games came the idea of DLC's. An idea that I think originated in the mind of its creators as something to do for the gamers, for the consumers. And it eventually turned to a means of making profit. As for myself, I do not have a problem with DLC's. My qualm has to do with how the gaming industry has turned into such a money grubbing machine. I will not be so bold and naive in believing that companies ought to focus primarily on their goods (games) and than worry about profit. I know companies like Blizzard Entertainment which originated as a rather, gather of hobbyist banding together and making games for gamers. But as with many other companies and franchises, it has turned to dust.
I find it quite difficult that someone would not have a problem with the current state of the DLC's. It went from an addition of content for the faithful consumers. To well, potential customers that will eat up anything given to them for a game someone loves. I mean, how much do people pay for when it comes to a few more (average and sometimes pitiful attempts at new maps) additions. But even that, even the addition of content that I truly believe ought not be a gimmick in making a profit, that does not disgust me. What truly disgusts me is when a brand new game comes out and there is already DLC content being advertised and released shortly after. To me, I think that is a pitiful attempt to release content and make a profit out of it.
It is not difficult to feel as if we are truly getting incomplete videogames when we purchase a videogame and shortly after that, there is new content that can be purchased. It is not something that would have just out of the air been thought of and developed. A company spends a lot of time planning and figuring out when and what is to be developed. And for a company to release a videogame and than a DLC (and require a fee), I find that absolutely appalling and a hindrance to the potential growth of the gaming world.
It is the same way of how we purchase a game only to have hotfixes and patches released within a week of the games release. I understand that it is near impossible to fully test a game and work out the kinks. But there are times when it feels as if (as with the DLC's) we are given incomplete videogames and we are paying to be beta testers. That is pretty much what we have become as gamers; we pay companies to let us beta test their products. On top of that, we no longer own our videogames. Ask anyone who plays Starcraft II if they own the game. They may think they do but in reality, all they (myself included) paid for was a license to play their game. Which only enforces the idea of us being beta testers since they do not even own the games they test, nor do we. Merely purchasing the right to play their game.
I should clarify though, I do not see things as being black-and-white. When I see decisions that the companies have made, I can see why they have made them. And for some of them, I actually agree with them. I will not be so blind in believing that they [the companies] are entirely at fault. But with that said, it does not mean the companies are entirely innocent. Times truly are changing, and that is why I am fearful. The winds have changed I cannot see where we are going.
Which brings us full circle to what my problem with the Call of Duty Elite truly is. To put it simply, it is a test from the developers. They [developers] are testing the waters to see if it is safe to venture in. The social networks in the world have shown how profitable they can be. On top of that, the companies have shown that profit can be made by using subscriptions and that diehard fans really will pay for such fads and gimmicks. And in the end of the day, that is what it is all about. We are given these devices and gimmicks because they work. If no one were to abide by such urges to purchase every little thing tied to the franchise, than this would not happen. But since there is a consumer base already willing to pay, such social content will continue to be developed. And that is my ultimate fear now.
If this paid-for social content truly works, than none should be surprised when we see it in our next videogame. Look to Blizzard and b.net 2.0. It is slowly trying to become a social network within a game. Allowing the contact and communication between the videogames. Should we have faith in Blizzard Entertainment in believing they wont follow the same path? Who knows, I for one do not. I mean, Blizzard Entertainment has put out a paid for service for the auction house/armory software for smart-phones. A software that was released buggy, not working for all, and not even developed for Android. Than there are the paid for maps that will come out in the future as well. It is like DLC's but now will be paying for maps for Starcraft II.
Games no longer feel the way they use to be. Times have changed, and there are certain aspects of the change that we cannot fight against. The integration of social content will become more immerse and become the norm for online gaming. But is the content being released intentionally limited so that they can be released via payment of subscription payment? It is something I do not know as of right now. It is something that only the companies and developers can answer themselves. When we all heard that Starcraft II would be broken up into three games, how many of us questioned whether what we were getting was truly a full game or just a piece of a game? I know for myself, I felt as if I only bought a segment and the game felt incomplete. And that is what is happening all around us. So long as we are adamant in purchasing the next release of the popular franchise, we will continue getting sub-par games.
Although there is much to be said, for example the actual content of the Call of Duty Elite. That will have to wait a bit longer; but I will say this, from what I saw of the trailer video. I do believe that some of the parts do merit a potential cost. I am not completely against it. But, there are other aspects of it that ought to be in the games regardless.
I will end this blog/article or what ever you would call it with one last point. Although much of what I have said may fall onto deaf ears. And that much of what I said was not steeped in facts or content, and more along the lines of whining (which can be good for the heart!). I do believe that we truly are at a crossroad. On one side, we have the paid integration of social content on a subscription based program, and on the other end, we have the all more frequent change from paid games into free games. It is something that is becoming all the more common with subscription videogames, and although it may be true that it is due to economic reasons. It does not change the fact that they are going to free-to-play instead of simply letting it die. With the varying cost of games from steam, the change to free-to-play videogames, as well as paid social content, we truly have a choice of where we ultimately will go. There is going to be a drastic change soon and it is up to all of us to decide which road we will ultimately take.
Do not forget; If we are to become mere paying Beta Testers, let our voices be heard and echo for real change, and not let the developers and gaming companies control what we want to play. They make videogames for us, the gamers. So it comes down to us, remember that.
