News

Activision defends Modern Warfare 2 price
Posted: 05.10.2009 04:49 by Jamie Davey Comments: 12
Activision UK managing director Andrew Brown has defended the publishers decision to price Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 at £55 RRP.

When Activision originally revealed the price, retailers warned of the effect that the increase would have on consumers, which is £5 more than other Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 titles on the market.

But Brown is confident that consumers will feel that they are getting a good deal with the content provided by Modern Warfare 2.

"At the end of the day, there is a spectrum of what people can afford and what people are prepared to spend. These things are key," said Brown.

"This is an industry where things cost a lot to develop and it’s a risky business. We talk about building franchises; it is very expensive to do this from every respect. What we are finding is that for the right products, if you look at the time someone will spend playing something and compare it to something else, people are saying it's worth it." he added.

How do you feel about the price increase, gamer?
Source: MCV
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User Comments

By Kres (SI Elite) on Oct 05, 2009
Kres
Personally I can't imagine a reason how such a far release of an old franchise could require so much extra expenses to develop. It's all there already mostly. 55 pounds... Well lot of people are paying their games + monthly subscriptions that aren't little. So there's room to do this. Ain't a MMO but...
By dirt (I just got here) on Oct 05, 2009
dirt
This has NOTHING to do with do with what he just stated, this is quite clearly Activision's flat out greed! I for one will be making use of a famous torrent site to get this game. I hate pirating games, really do. But I hate being lied to by greedy company's more.
By Kiam99 (SI Member) on Oct 05, 2009
Kiam99
Well I have been waiting for this game and really looking forward to it...but that price is just TOO MUCH for me + there are no demo to try it! If there were a demo and i really liked it I might consider giving full price for it.

They are hurting themselves on this I think.
By scubadiver9 (I just got here) on Oct 05, 2009
scubadiver9
I'll wait a few months for it to hit the bargain bin for about $20
By Knave (SI Core Member) on Oct 05, 2009
Knave
unfortunate, but CoD games rarely make it to bargin bin prices.

in NA they only dropped the price of CoD 4 earlier this year, by 10 dollars from it's original price.

The only reason they're charging more is because of greed. The number of units they will shift of this game alone will ensure a huge profit margin.

Activision is really becoming more like EA every day.
By outwar6010 (I just got here) on Oct 05, 2009
outwar6010
What was that Brown? you're okay with me pirating it on my pc instead of buying a ps3 version? okay im cool with that :)
By Kres (SI Elite) on Oct 06, 2009
Kres
Unless the game gets in a 9+ score from reviews, I will not be buying it for sure.

Please guys ease with the pirating talk. But something like this is what feeds the piracy community and expands it in all directions.

But who is buying it for singleplayer anyway?
By Orihalcon (SI Newbie) on Oct 06, 2009
Orihalcon
Me personally. I don't play shooters online, just lan them at tournaments sometimes. RTS more my drug of choice for online competition.
By herodotus (SI Herodotus) on Oct 06, 2009
herodotus
I remember when Acti announced the pricing in the first place as a testing of the consumer base. If we buy it, they win.
By FoolWolf (SI Core) on Oct 07, 2009
FoolWolf
Considering that there are so many fanbois and fangals out there, I don't think that the price increase will be a problem for this title, but I think that it will in time lead to a heat up in the piracy war - and that will spell bad for all gamers - legit as un-legit.
With this price increase, more developers will want to increase the money flow - and as the bad people they are, they believe a price increase is the way to do it. When people then turn back to piracy more - the problems of integrity shitty deals passed on from a piracy war will induce even more developer and consortium control over triple A titles.
OK, now I have been really gloomy for one day. Me, I will just wait and see where the price is the lowest and also - of course - don't pre-order the game for whatever plastic toy or in-game boost (they will be better in the GOTY revision anyway) bought at a Chinese supermarket to entice you but stay your money hungry gamer genes until the reviews are in. Oh, and question the reviews because this is a big title - if this one sinks, I guess we could have serious fun watching another - "Is Gamespot bought?" internet war all over again. :D
By Kres (SI Elite) on Oct 07, 2009
Kres
Well, we all agree, the price is too high. Except Activision.

People that wont buy it due to such higher price versus people that will still buy it... I wonder if their figures will add up to a profit. I presume they did their research and know what they're doing, and we're just ranting for nothing. They'll earn plenty
By Nicolas19 (SI Core Member) on Oct 07, 2009
Nicolas19
They'll just get away with it, that's the worst. As someone mentioned, all the fanboys-fangals'll buy it, as it's that overhyped. Around release there'll be an enormous ad campaign, they'll proclaim it the best game in the world (and buy some excellent reviews on sites I'd rather not mention) and all the fathers/mothers/newbies unfamiliar with the usual pricing will buy it in a heartbeat.