And so the Modern Warfare 2 boycott begins
Gamers tend to get upset over nothing, but the Modern Warfare 2 price tag is a pretty legit reason to rage. Activision's pricing plans for DJ Hero and Tony Hawk: Ride specialty controllers only toss more salt on the wound.
Fans were irked enough when Activision first announced that £54.99 price tag -- equal to $90 USD -- but then Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick said in Q&A session that he would raise video game prices even further, were it up to him. You know, that infamous line: "And Tony, you know if it was left to me, I would raise the prices even further."
Nevermind the fact that this guy sleeps on a mattress stuffed with $100 bills. Possibly. Probably. His 2008 income sat just below $15 million USD.
As such, various online communities are coming together to boycott Modern Warfare 2 and other Activision products. Online petitions have also sprung up:
TO: Activision
As the "biggest entertainment launch of all time" approaches, you're increasingly making your fanbase more angry. Your recent moves on the business side are head scratching and completely apauling. Tony Hawk peripherals to start, PC and UK price hikes and ridiculously overpriced collectors editions for MW2. Gamers were left scratching their heads wondering why? Than your CEO decided to further anger your customers with this quote "And Tony, you know if it was left to me, I would raise the prices even further." I believe we are in what we call a "recession." What the consumer needs is not more expensive items, but less expensive, which we're obviously not screaming for you to do. As people we speak with our wallets as we know you wont hear our words. Everyone who signs this petition disagrees with your approach and your smug attitude. The undersigned agree not to purchase your game at full retail value. We instead will either choose to A.) not purchase MW2. B.) Purchase only in used form allowing no revenue for you. C.) Import from a cheaper country. This may not seem like much of a threat, but the internet is a large place and your wallets may seem a little lighter come Christmas time. Thank you.
And will this petition / boycott follow through? Only time will tell. More importantly, does Activision care?
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Many readers will see a petition and simply move along, the power of the word isn't there. Activists against Activision, that really would be amusing for a title.
Also I'd encourage just cutting the company off now instead of waiting until November to get anything done. Choke the sales figures through the rest of summer and early Fall and they can find out how well the pricing strategy is working for them.
Petitions work well enough in a limited respect, to empower the message people need to utilize the world around them.
It's not like it will be a significant loss for activision unless everyone joins.
and frosted storm has a point people bich and yell but they still pay the companys what they want
all this supossed boycott will do is give activision free publicity why becouse 90% of people saying to boycott will still buy the game
WHAT? Have you even played the first one?
Did you know that I didn't even know about this game until there was controversy over it's price? Now all they have to do is lower the prices, and I just might buy it. The chances of me buying it are higher at this point than it was a day ago. (And in all likeliness, they'll probably lower the prices.)
I, for one, think this petition is quite a joke, and so will Activision.
Hell, it was written by a 10 year old!
Game companies just don't give a ****. They claim everything costs an arm and a leg, when some of these games are made for pennies on the dollar. Don't get me wrong some cost a lot to make, but when you see a game like Everyday Shooter that should shut them up.