Acti Explains Why 360 Users Get CoD: Elite Content Before PS3

47
Lee Bradley

Activision has moved to clear up confusion surrounding DLC release date disparity across its Call of Duty Elite platforms. Trouble is, it wasn't done in the most delicate of ways.

Some PS3 users are unsure why, despite dishing out extra for the Elite service, they still have to wait longer than Xbox 360 owners. So "Activision blogger" Dan Amrich tried to explain.

Writing on his One of Swords blog, Amrich said, "Somewhere along the way, people convinced themselves that an Elite subscription would trump the 2010 DLC exclusivity deal that was created before Elite existed; that by paying for Elite, they were somehow invalidating a contract between Activision and Microsoft.

"It doesn't make any sense, but it is what people started to think," wrote Amrich.

The Xbox 360 exclusivity deal ensures that all Call of Duty DLC appears on the platform first, typically around a month before anywhere else.

"What I found was that you can't prove the non-existence of something," continued Amrich. "I can find no evidence of 'buy Elite, get PS3 DLC same time as 360' ever being so much as suggested by any official source."

"It was never one of the things listed in the official benefits chart; it was never promised by any representative of Activision, Call of Duty, Elite, or its developers."

Clearly in need of a customer service course, Amrich went on, "Honestly? I think gamers just convinced themselves that it would happen because they wanted it to happen. That makes sense, but it doesn't make it true.

"I'm seeing people scream 'rip-off' and stuff like that, but nobody's going to get ripped off; every gamer will get everything they were promised and everything they paid for. It's unfortunate that people assumed things about Elite that turned out to not be based in fact, but I hope the truth is clear now.

"Unpopular, I'm guessing, but clear."

[Thanks Eurogamer]

Comments
47
  • You are a bore! Just report the news. Thank you.
  • More reason not to like Acti.
  • That`s bit of bullshit
  • So true, I feel bad for the 13 yr olds screaming for no reason, I'm just here to enjoy my games :)
  • I don't really see any problem with what he said, he's not dancing around the issue or insulting people, he's just being straight up about the situation. He could have said "You know what happens when you assume.....". good on him for getting straight to the point. It's pretty refreshing coming from Activision.
  • I don't understand why companies want exclusivity deals to exist. It makes no difference to me whether PS3 users get the same content as I do at the same time. Does anyone really base their console decisions based on the timing of DLC?
  • @6 Fanboys do.
  • @ Night45Fox (#6) "Does anyone really base their console decisions based on the timing of DLC?" No, but I did purchase an Xbox 360 and not the PS3 because it was made available in Australia first. Not the same thing, but I know for a fact that there are a lot of people out there like myself, who opted for a 360 over the PS3 because it was released first. That should be a clear indication that if one idiot like myself is willing to spend $300+ on a console, surely someone who owns more than one console would opt to spend $60 on the other console to gain early access.
  • It's been clear for the last couple of years that Activision are going to milk every last drop they can from the COD franchise. Expect to be ripped off more and more as the years go by and until people realize they are just re-making the same game year after year and finding new ways to break into peoples wallets it will continue.
  • "nobody's going to get ripped off" considering the source, I'm going to say that's a whoppin' ten tons of bullshit, Activision have turned ripping people off into a science, and they have a PhD in it.
  • Dear Activision Shove the DLC up your arse. Thanks.
  • Article sort of sums up Activisions approach to customer service as a whole TBH. Soon as people stop feeding the machine that is COD the better.
  • I like Call of Duty but I just don't like Activision.
  • i can completley agree, i'm going to assume the next call of duty game will be givn away free to everyone because activision love us all, doesn't mean it wiil happen, all elite ever promised was early access compared to those who don't have it, so i assume on ps3 elite users will get it before the non elite users
  • Thought this was common knowledge. Plus, wasn't this announced at the last E3?
  • @ 11 Brilliant comment, thanks for making me laugh.
  • ... good on him for just being blunt and to the point, i wish more game companies were like that activision have a lot of bad points but you cant exactly scream and rave about something that was never even promised
  • @6 - Yes, they do. If you have a PS3 and an Xbox, then you hear 'Microsoft just bought the exclusivity to the Skyrim DLC to be released a month earlier than anywhere else!' If you had the choice, buy Skyrim on the Xbox, get the DLC a month earlier than the PC and PS3, or buy it on the Xbox and enjoy a new quest earlier than anyone else. I'm pretty sure most people with both consoles bought it on Xbox for that reason. It helps people with more than one console decide. And yes, I used a good game to get my reason across.
  • Activision has blocked the video due to copyright, lol....
  • Copyshite abused again!
  • To be honest, i'd rather have the B3 DLC'S a week early but hey, thats just me. Plus i hate COD
  • What load of bullshit. How about tell the truth and just say, "Because Microsoft paid us a shitload of money."
  • @22, thats what he IS saying, genius. Its right there in his own words "people convinced themselves that an Elite subscription would trump the 2010 DLC exclusivity deal..."
  • it's clear that if xbox gets dlc first for cod. then elite cod will get their dlc first as well why even bother writing this?
  • Thank god he has finally stated the obvious so people can stop crying. Everybody who has played any cod knows microsoft made a deal with activision to get the dlc 1 month earlier than other platforms but at a cost (of which we will never know). How people thought "oh im buying elite on ps3 so i will get it the same time as the xbox" i will never know. PSN is free for a reason.
  • @1, if you don't like what's being reported, then go out and do something worth reporting. @22, yeah, something tells me that if he said that openly...he wouldn't have a job past the end of the blog update. I personally think this is kinda funny. This is what happens when certain ps3 owners talk a bunch of shit when they get something we as 360 owners don't get. Karma people, it's a bitch
  • Something tells me this guy received A LOT of hate comments from PS3 owners. Either way, it shows Activision's attitude towards their paying customers. "We have your money, screw off."
  • I agree that this is another case of entitlement issues. As much as I disagree with most of the way Activision deals with business, Dan Amrich is right, that the issue at hand was never stated by anyone. I find it hard to believe, though, that Activision did not know this would happen and they expected PS3 owners to buy-in to ELITE as soon as it showed up. Activision did nothing legally wrong, no lying about the product or promising anything the users won't get. They just so happened to not mention something that could cause fans to be upset but still gain that extra $50 from each of them.
  • Why does everyone complain as soon as Activision or Call of Duty is mentioned? Get off your high horse and get on with your lives.
  • "Clearly in need of a customer service course," haha. "Activision blogger" -- is that an official title? I have a 360 (obviously), and Elite and i still think Amrich's an asshole. Nobody likes a corporate mouthpiece/douchebag. I'm also thinking of "Major Nelson."
  • I like the way he said it.. You can tell hes not in a great mood from all the BS talk like "RIP OFF" or "SCAM"... BUT he didn't let that get in the way of what he wanted to say.. He told everyone straight up.. Elite doesn't void the contract between MS and Activision.
  • I know so many people just LOVE exclusives, personally I don't. Even though this benefits me as a 360 owner I'd rather see it (and anything else) released evenly across the board.
  • that didnt answer the question: why do xbox get cod DLC before PS3. i have never understood that.
  • I like that he didn't use the standard corporate speak and just told it like it is. To be honest though, it didn't matter how it was said, people still complain no matter what. Be it PS3 gamers that don't understand they get the DLC before non Elite members on PS3 or the ones who don't like MW3 but still feel a need to bitch about it every time a new article is up.
  • @1: douche
  • @33: it said right up there. because of Microsoft + Activision's deal for "Xbox release firs" "The Xbox 360 exclusivity deal ensures that all Call of Duty DLC appears on the platform first, typically around a month before anywhere else."
  • EA gave PS3 owners Battlefield 3 stuff early, even the stuff paid for in advance with the limited edition. Only a week rather than a month, but isn't that the same thing?
  • @33: because of the exclusivity deal between Microsoft & Activision, that is the main point of the article...you sir, can't read.
  • Like I ever cared about a month difference between DLC release. Seriously, don't ppl have better things to worry about, like games not coming out on specific platform at all?
  • They may be money-grubbing fags, but at least they're blunt about it.
  • it has nothing to do with fanboys.. its a money and marketing decision... In fact most fanboys already have their version or copy.. and have made their choice.. and dont care about a month.. As far as average joe consumer.. aka non fanboy... If i have 1 months early rights DLC.. i got a wayy better shot at getting all you millions of ppl who bought the game to send me 10 bucks.. 1 million times 10.. 10 million... do the math... Now in the long run.. how much did M$ pay for the exclusivity?... and will they recoup what they payed for it?.. if they don't, the'd never tell us.. lol Some ppl hit the nail on the head here.. ppl are saying from the tone of his words.. or in this case, text, in which might not be word for word, from his lips.. lol... that he is not in a good mood from the BS.. well.. a day or 2 ago.. ppl were all pissed off about getting 20 peices of content in 12 months.. instead of 20 bundles of mappacks lol... The key word of this entire article is ASSUME... alot of fans on here.. hopefully, the 13 year olds only.. assumed entirely too much out of this game.. and it's DLC.... I personally think this article has less to do with elite NOT nullifying ACti/M$ deals, and more to do with fanboys upset with DLC distribution time tables and content not being labled as in packs... LMAO Where's my pack??????? Can get some more wine with my cheese... then a tissue...
  • how could you assume that you'd get it before it released on your platform? sounds like the problem is with sony not acti. you bought the package deal for when the dlc was avalible, you over paid for the content and now you're mad that your friend won the daily arguement over ps3 vs. 360. a month? may as well wait for the next cod.
  • KNOW WHAT YOUR BUYING BEFORE YOU BUY IT! we all new that Xbox was getting DLC content for MW3 first. If you did not and you bought a $55 product then you have some financials problems. If you cared so much you would have watched some news trailers or articles.
  • just shows ps3 gamers are dumb if they thought they would get dlc at the same time as 360 owners even if owning COD elite
  • @2 I'd love to know what viable excuse this gives to hate Activision? Companies have been doing the 'DLC a month early' crap for ages now ... and it quite clearly says that with Elite, you get it free... not at the SAME TIME. Personally, I don't see why anyone would buy a gaming system just to get CoD DLC a month early... or buy a PS3 to get BF3 DLC a WEEK EARLY. But Meh. On another note: Microsoft need to start paying for more non-kinect exclusives, instead of paying for 'month-early DLC' -_-
  • @45 *Correction. Failed to stress the 'Free'... because, lets be honest, the majority of people brought Elite for the Maps, not for the 'exciting clan tournaments!'
  • Speaking of what they promised..... Wheres Elite for PC!! I'm missing out on slightly cheaper DLC and organised tournaments.
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