News

Call of Duty "out of the category in 2-3 years," EA strikes again
Posted: 22.08.2011 13:07 by Simon Priest Comments: 24
Activision's Eric Hirshberg believes EA's baiting words are "bad for the industry," and feels Call of Duty and Battlefield can succeed commercially together.

EA's Jeff Brown welcomes Hirshberg "to the big leagues" and reminds the 'newcomer' that "this is a competitive industry." They've "every reason to be nervous."


EA isn't letting up on the verbal assault and is betting big that the Battlefield franchise will effectively destroy Call of Duty, which Jeff Brown believes will become extinct soon enough given Activision's track record of handling IP franchises.

"Welcome to the big leagues Eric -- I know you're new in the job but someone should have told you this is a competitive industry," zinged EA communications exec, Jeff Brown.

"You've got every reason to be nervous. Last year Activision had a 90 share in the shooter category. This year, Battlefield 3 is going to take you down to 60 or 70."

"At that rate, you’ll be out of the category in 2-3 years. If you don't believe me, go to the store and try to buy a copy of Guitar Hero or Tony Hawk." Someone's had their spinach.

What do you think of EA's war of words? Is Call of Duty suffering from creative stagnation while Battlefield enters a period of gameplay renaissance? Battlefield 3 releases on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC October 25th in the US, 27th in Europe.


Comments

By Optimaximal (I just got here) on Aug 22, 2011
Optimaximal
They're being a bit too cock-sure about Battlefield's success...

Maybe save the posturing for next year when BF3 has a proven success against MW3 and there's some real base to the claims.
By JPerry06 (SI Core) on Aug 22, 2011
JPerry06
We never know what MW could release next time. Don't think BF will kill off MW this time round but they do need to think about new things soon
By nocutius (SI Elite) on Aug 22, 2011
nocutius
Unless they get a completely new engine for the next game i agree with him, COD is dead. But i'm sure they're not so stupid to let that happen.
By Chosen_One (SI Elite) on Aug 22, 2011
Chosen_One
well, this is the last time when I was try to compare this two games...ummm MW3 cannot be a competitor to BF 3, but MW3 outsell BF3 because of franchise, and that fact will make MW3 much success than BF3, personally I'll never buy CoD games because of Infinity's history.
By Xyfer117 (SI Core) on Aug 22, 2011
Xyfer117
Its too early to be saying things like that because nobody knows yet how successful either are ACTUALLY going to be, people can predict all they like. Tbh, If COD is going to be laid to rest I hope they do it before ruining the modern warfare series and they have a good ending to its story as im a mw fanboy :P
By herodotus (SI Herodotus) on Aug 22, 2011
herodotus
Big words, big bluff? All just hot air being blown back and forth, but when EA starts getting personal with comments surrounding "GH" and the like then all bets are off. Actually EA's PR campaign thus far has been pretty much a smear campaign, similar to a politcal election race - a dirty one.
After the poor reception that "MoH" had, and the semi-success of "BF:BC2 - Vietnam" (it has been heavily criticised for being too much like "MoH" maps and gameplay), I won't plug "BF3" as the best FPS ever just yet. "CoD" - it's a stayer.
By unsilviu (SI Core) on Aug 23, 2011
unsilviu
While I like how BF3 looks to be more than CoD, I must say that EA are big a-holes in talking like this, especially since Activision are being conciliatory. Their attitude almost makes me wish BF3 will be a flop.
" go to the store and try to buy a copy of Guitar Hero or Tony Hawk" - And you go buy Medal of Honor if you're so successful, mister.
By nocutius (SI Elite) on Aug 23, 2011
nocutius
True :)
But they do have a point, COD needs to evolve to survive as such a huge franchise.
By K3Spice (SI Core) on Aug 23, 2011
K3Spice
Same game... Just some new/different weapons, maps, gamemodes.... Otherwise exactly the same gameplay, engine, experience, ect... I honestly don't get how people are not bored of this shit already...
By herodotus (SI Herodotus) on Aug 23, 2011
herodotus
Which, "BF" or "CoD"? They are both the same basically, with a few tweaks and twitches....and the new eye candy:)
By K3Spice (SI Core) on Aug 23, 2011
K3Spice
COD... BF has a lot more difference between games... Just compare BF1942 to BF2 to BFBC to BFBC 2... They each have enough differences to be a new game, although BFBC and BCBC 2 are very close to one another. Now look at MW, WAW, BO, MW2, and soon to be MW3. The differences between all of those is about the same to BC2 and BC which are the two closest games in the BF series...
By Chosen_One (SI Elite) on Aug 23, 2011
Chosen_One
CoD I think he means. It's Copypasta(special MW3 meaning).
By herodotus (SI Herodotus) on Aug 24, 2011
herodotus
Yes, but as you raised "BF:BC", K3 I point you to the fact that subsequent releases ("MoH", "BF:BC2", "BF:BC 2 - Vietnam") are not that different.
Who is to say that "BF 3" won't just be the start of a new "CoD"-like franchise? After all there are "FIFA Infinity" and "Tiger Woods - *Yawn*" still to come.
By chiefone (SI Veteran Member) on Aug 24, 2011
chiefone
COD is getting old. I think people are looking for something new.
By arten800 (SI Veteran Newbie) on Aug 24, 2011
arten800
The Call Of Duty series is awoseme
but also battlefield is good but i wish call of duty would have some varaeity yes cod is getting old and a little boring for me but the battlefield series is also awoseme
By bosnian_dragon (SI Core) on Aug 24, 2011
bosnian_dragon
I played CoD2 last night with my friends at a private LAN party and boy we had fun playing it :) I still believe that CoD2 is the best Call Of Duty out there :D Call me out of duty and old-fashioned but I'm speaking from my experience :)
By herodotus (SI Herodotus) on Aug 24, 2011
herodotus
Ditto, Bosnian. The last "CoD" I played myself was "CoD 2", and was a member of a Clan for MP. Ahhh, some good times back then....
By bosnian_dragon (SI Core) on Aug 25, 2011
bosnian_dragon
:/ It seems like a really long time ago, but it isn't...
By Pearsoap (SI Newbie) on Aug 25, 2011
Pearsoap
Cod is going out of fashion real quick, I suggest they take a break from bringing out new games and sit back and spend their money on new engines and stuff.
By herodotus (SI Herodotus) on Aug 26, 2011
herodotus
I'm afraid there are so sales figures or player numbers to back that comment, Pear.
By unsilviu (SI Core) on Aug 26, 2011
unsilviu
If anything, CoD numbers have gone up, and investors are always going to go with the safe route, the one they have already seen gives them big bucks. They'll only think of changing the formula if a CoD game isn't at all successful. But as long as they keep breaking sales records...
By K3Spice (SI Core) on Aug 27, 2011
K3Spice
It makes no sense though. People buy the game realize it was shit, and same old, then the same company releases the next version for that game, and people go crazy for it... Maybe most people just have short term memory...
By unsilviu (SI Core) on Aug 27, 2011
unsilviu
Crowd mentality, and there is also the matter of people liking the game, and when the new one comes, they know that everyone will go to the new one. It's not dissimilar to how expansions work in WoW, the difference being that those actually bring new things to the game -.-
By arten800 (SI Veteran Newbie) on Aug 28, 2011
arten800
Cod 1 Cod 2 Cod 4 I Have them all and i cherish them the multiplayer in Cod 4 is Godly