G-pinions

Last November, two huge First Person Shooters were released alongside the launch of the Xbox 360. Perfect Dark Zero and Call of Duty 2 were two huge reasons why the X360 was so hard to find in those early days. They both turned out to be huge successes, each flying off shelves and building a steady following of loyal fans. PDZ had frustrating level design and CoD2 had AI issues, but both were ultimately fun. Games usually don't sell a million copies if they aren't at least fun. Why am I bringing these two games up now? One year after the launch of the X360, one developer is still bringing new content to an old game, the other developer has completely abandoned the game and the fanbase.

You know what the only thing better than new content is? New content that won't cost you a cent to experience. Rare has just released two new maps for Perfect Dark Zero and you can download them for no charge from the Marketplace. The two maps are rebuilt versions of Perfect Dark classics. The Facility, one of the best maps from the original Goldeneye, is back with a shiny new coat of paint. The lights have now been dimmed to allow for more stealthy kills, but the layout is virtually identical. A ladder now allows easy access to the bathroom air vents and snow falls through a hole in another room, but the rest is just how you left it on the N64. The other new map is Relic. On the podcast we recording last night, I incorrectly stated this was a remake of the fantastic Ruin map from the original Perfect Dark. Instead, Relic is a remake of Temple. I would have liked Ruin or Complex instead, but these are two solid maps. How can I complain about new content a year after release anyway?

On the other side of the fence, Call of Duty 3 has just gone gold. It will be on X360 next week, with Wii and PS3 versions to follow later this year. If you are a fan of Call of Duty 2, be prepared to watch your clan quickly dissolve. Anyone who wants more wartime shooing action will flock to CoD3, leaving owners of the launch day smash hit out in the cold. To extend the life of Call of Duty, you will have to shell out $60 for a new game.

I find this strategy very interesting. PDZ and CoD2 are very different from other shooters on the market. I didn't enjoy my time with CoD2, but I can't ignore its legion of fans. For people who enjoy the gameplay and scenarios in CoD2, there is no other game that can satiate that need. The same thing is present with PDZ. Some people had issues with it, but it is a very original title. When you tire of Desert and Jungle, there is no other FPS out there that can offer a similar experience.

My question is - why is Activision releasing a whole new game? There will always be a market for CoD2. Even if Gears of War takes the world by storm, there will be people who crave something different. There will be people who just want to kill Germans. So why wouldn't Activision release new content for the game already in people's homes instead of making people purchase an entirely new game? Why force gamers to shell out $60 when more than a million already own the first title? They could have taken their time, built a Call of Duty 3 from the ground up that takes advantage of these next generation consoles, and offered a steady steam of new content for CoD2 in the meantime.

With games costing so much money to develop and purchase, it makes sense that developers would try to make as much money as they can from each game they release. Rare is releasing a new version of PDZ. It is the Platinum Edition, one that includes the two new maps along with the four maps released earlier this year. For $20, people who have never experienced the game will be able to check out a huge game. PDZ can now be purchased to compliment other games. Check out this selling point: for only $20 you can buy a game that still has people playing online and is still being supporting by an eager developer. This is the way to build up mindshare in a product and a company. This is the way to make sure a game still sells well even after it has been sitting on some shelf for a few months. This is the way to build trust. I know that Rare will support their games even after the shiny wears off. I know that, when I buy Viva Pinata next week, I can look forward to new content some time next year. I don't have to worry about a new Pinata game coming out every year.

But Activision has taken a completely different stance. Instead of supporting their old games they are just making nominal sequels every year. What if someone buys an X360 next March? They will see a new CoD game has come out the last two years. If they are smart, they will just hold on to their $60 for a few more months. You know CoD4 will come out next November. You know Activision isn't going to support CoD3 for long. Heck, you know that every game receives a mere facelift from the previous version. By the time CoD4 comes out maybe they will finally iron out those game killing bugs from the past.

I'd rather spend $5 for some new maps than $60. But I may just be a crazy, cheap bastard. I'm sure there are plenty of people out there itching to throw out their copy of CoD2 so they can spend big bucks on a new version. You just won't find me waiting in line for another uninspired yearly sequel.