Activision has announced Modern Warfare 3's subscription-based service, which promises to annoy existing users and win the hearts of thousands of others.
Skipping all the drama that went down in the blogosphere last night over the Wall Street Journal's allegedly exclusive scoop of the release, and the subsequent breach of embargo from various outlets, here is what you need to know about Call of Duty Elite.
Elite is a social layer to the Call of Duty experience, and is a subscription-based online service. It provides 'social engagement' by allowing players to track their progress in the game, special matchmaking options and various forms of organization including clan support, groups, and organized tournaments.
The service will be accessible at any time within the game, through web browsers, and even mobile devices. The idea is to provide players access to Elite at all times.
Connect: Call of Duty Elite gives players unprecedented control over their multiplayer experience, transforming it into a true social network. Players can compete against friends, players of similar skill levels and players with similar interests, join groups, join clans, and play in organized tournaments. They can also track the performance, progress and activity of their entire network, both in the game itself, as well as through mobile and web interfaces. Elite will be an “always on” way for players to connect with the Call of Duty community.
Compete: Call of Duty Elite establishes the most exciting, competitive environment in a multiplayer game. Players will have available a constant stream of events and competitions, tiered to group them with those with similar abilities. Both in-game and real-world prizes will be rewarded to all skill levels.
Improve: Call of Duty Elite is like having a personal online coach. It provides players with a dynamic strategy guide that tracks their statistics and performances down to the most minute details. It can show gamers how they stack up against their friends or others in the community. Tools and information are provided so players can learn and up their game.
Most of the Elite's key features will be available free of charge, but 'entertainment services' and 'new game content' (read: maps, weapons, skins) will be available for a $9.99 monthly subscription fee.
Activision says Elite offers better value for money and is "less than the cost of any comparable online entertainment service currently on the market." We assume they are referring to their very own World of Warcraft.
Speaking to the press, Activision's Eric Hirschberg said that the average Call of Duty player spends 58 minutes per day in multiplayer, which is more than the average amount of time a user spends on Facebook. we're not sure where he got his statistics, but we'll take his word for it because it's besides the point to make it an issue. The bottom line is that the company seeks to build a social layer within the Call of Duty community, and Elite is precisely the tool to do that.
