Wedbush Morgan's Michael Pachter has stuck his head above the parapet once more to say that he still believes that activision are going to launch a monthly subscription service for black ops (and possibly even more). He goes on to claim that the reason this wasnt announced before launch is the backlash and lost sales that making such an announcement earlier could have caused. Maxconsole Note: We really do believe that a subscription is planned. Notice the text on the game that says 'with free multiplayer' which makes it sound as if they are planning to charge for it sometime down the line. Big question is, would gamers go for a 'subscription package' on a console game in huge numbers?

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Wedbush Morgan's Michael Pachter said that Activision may have delayed announcing the idea so as not to hurt the launch sales of the game.

"It's likely that around 60-70% of the people who buy Black Ops do so to play online multiplayer, and a greater number of the first week purchasers," he told Industry Gamers.

"Even if Activision retained fully free online multiplayer, the mere mention of a 'premium' subscription service will tick off some consumers, and there might have been a backlash at the precise time that they needed to set records. They decided not to take that risk."

Pachter predicts that Activision could introduce virtual items for $1 each as well as an optional monthly subscription that would provide complete access to premium goods and map packs.

It was also added that Activision could introduce a subscription across all Call Of Duty releases, and even all Activision and Blizzard games.

http://www.maxconsole.net/content.php?43130-Black-Ops-subscription-still-coming-analyst-claims

Posted: Nov 23, 2010 8:10 pm