Kotick: As Integral To Young People As Facebook, Texting

Call of Duty has become a phenomenon...a phenomenon that has a place alongside Facebook and texting.

Or so says Activision CEO Bobby Kotick. In speaking to CNN, the publishing boss says the franchise can "effectively adapt to changing communication habits." The latest installment, Call of Duty: Black Ops, has generated over $1 billion in sales after its November 9 release, and Activision reports that gamers have spent over 600 million hours playing. Due to such success, Kotick got to brag:

"More people play 'Black Ops' every day than watch Jay Leno, David Letterman and Jimmy Fallon, combined. The audience of 'Call of Duty' is probably greater in terms of size ... than in any other interactive form of entertainment."

Unsurprisingly, Kotick explains that it's the game's multiplayer component that draws people; as of now, about 60% of all online traffic on Xbox Live is due to CoD players. In this regard, rather than opting to watch a movie, people will "huddle around the living room game console," which is starting to become a more accepted entertainment trend. The Activision boss then made the comparison to Facebook and texting:

"If you look at the 500 million people who are on Facebook and the way that people text each other and instant message and use video chat, there is now an evolution of media. Those are the characteristics and attributes that a generation and audiences feel are very important to their media and entertainment experiences. And we expect that."

'Call of Duty' delivers on that trend. These games can be as integral to the social lives of young people, especially males, as any other form of digital communication."

Well...all right. Even if that is true, we're not entirely sure we'd be bragging about that. But then again, people brag about how great Facebook and texting is all the time so perhaps Kotick - at least from a technical standpoint - is right.

Tags: activision, kotick, call of duty, black ops

12/23/2010 10:56:41 AM Ben Dutka

Put this on your webpage or blog:
Email this to a friend
Follow PSX Extreme on Twitter

Comments (62 posts)

Toggle Scrolling | Reload Comments

BTNwarrior
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 11:12:48 AM
Reply

it may be cocky but he does have a point, now if only they could fix all the bugs

4 up, 0 down

Clamedeus
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 11:19:07 AM

I doubt they will. They sent out a patch and so far nothing has improved.

3 up, 0 down

NoSmokingBandit
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 11:29:07 AM

They have no motivation to fix it. People will buy every COD, year after year, no matter what is wrong with it. People still buy Bethesda games on day 1 and pretend its playable.

7 up, 2 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 1:22:37 PM

Bethesda games are just buggy, not broken, and there's no multiplayer to exploit the issues.

4 up, 1 down

bigrailer19
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 1:29:05 PM

The best running game bethesda has released for CONSOLES was oblivion. Fallout 3 had terrible frame rate issues especially the DLC. New vegas ha the same problems. In fact i cant play for more than 10 min without expetiencing some sort of hiccup wether its frame rate or freezing.

But they make fantastic games. I will say that. And sometimes you can look past the hiccups because they are good. But that causes a bigger problem. I need Jawknee to back me up on this one too ;) but a game shouldnt be released like that. And as an rpg it slows down the momentum.

In the case of cod its the same issue. And if the next installment isnt a great one those billion dollar numbers should start to decrease rapidly.

Last edited by bigrailer19 on 12/23/2010 1:31:32 PM

4 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 5:46:01 PM

They've built a new engine now, so let's hope they hammer out those issues.

3 up, 0 down

Fane1024
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 5:54:08 PM

I played Oblivion for nearly 200 hours and, while it was never a technical powerhouse, I never had a problem worse than the extreme slowdown in the Fighters Guild HQ.

You want to see a game with technical issues, try playing Max Payne on PS2.

3 up, 0 down

bigrailer19
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 6:43:45 PM

@ world-

Thats good news. Hopefully it runs very well cus i cant help but love theor games, regardless the issues. But it has tremendously cut down my playing time in new vegas! Shame!

1 up, 0 down

Clamedeus
Friday, December 24, 2010 @ 9:02:39 AM

Hmm, that's weird. I've never had an issue with Max Payne on PS2. Maybe because i never paid attention to the surroundings or something.

0 up, 0 down

Amazingskillz
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 11:19:10 AM
Reply

Sounds like he's moving toward putting adds or something in the Multiplayer. One day adds will become way more popular in video games. If publishers/developers are smart they will strike a deal to put adds in games eventually.

0 up, 2 down

Clamedeus
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 11:29:00 AM

That's all we need is adds in the games..

3 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 1:23:11 PM

adds and subtracts would both be bad.

6 up, 0 down

Clamedeus
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 1:26:58 PM

Indeed World.

2 up, 0 down

maxpontiac
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 11:30:30 AM
Reply

Not that it matters in the big picture, but he didn't get my money.

9 up, 3 down

mexgeo86
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 11:31:47 AM

same here, my game library is COD-free

9 up, 1 down

Clamedeus
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 11:34:30 AM

I only got Black Ops because my buddies play it, but I'm regretting even purchasing it, instead of rewarding the good players the bad players get rewarded, when they go into Second Chance, it's like they are in God Mode or some crap.

When you go to knife them it misses even though you aimed down at him when knifing, but you are away from him and he still manages to knife you? And the pistol is overpowered in Second Chance as well I'm putting a full clip in his face with the Commando (early version of the M4) and he's just sponging it and kills me.

Lag, even though everyone has a full connection so many issues it needs to be addressed.

Last edited by Clamedeus on 12/23/2010 11:35:52 AM

8 up, 0 down

maxpontiac
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 11:37:37 AM

Clamedues -

I didn't even do that, even with family playing the game daily.

6 vs 6, small maps, host quits, etc.. No thanks.

1 up, 0 down

Clamedeus
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 11:45:14 AM

I'm the kind of guy who likes to play games with buddies, so that's why i did it. I don't mind small maps with 6v6 but it's the problems within the game that kill it.

0 up, 0 down

BikerSaint
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 11:30:35 AM
Reply

Guess which brand kotex gargles with after each of his oral times of the month.....

Massingill or Summers Eve?

2 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 1:24:32 PM

Vagisil?

2 up, 0 down

FatherSun
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 4:13:29 PM

Preperation H!

2 up, 0 down

Killa Tequilla
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 12:02:05 PM
Reply

He has all the rights to brag because his game is doing very, very good.

2 up, 9 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 1:24:56 PM

he acts like he made it.

5 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 1:34:43 PM

"his game"

Only it isn't.

6 up, 0 down

Underdog15
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 6:42:40 PM

I agree that he has bragging rights. (The man's rich.)

I hate Kobe Briant, but he has every right to brag about his abilities. I also hate Alex Rodriguez, but he too has a right to brag. I hate Bobby Kotick, but unfortunately, he also has the right to brag. (Of course, I at least have respect for the former two.)

I just wish they would take some pride in their product. The main bugs and issues are really minor from a programming perspective. They just don't seem to be willing to change it. Problem is, most people just dismiss it as something that can't be changed. (Despite how un-true that statement is!)

Last edited by Underdog15 on 12/23/2010 6:43:34 PM

0 up, 0 down

Snaaaake
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 8:34:40 PM

What's with all those thumbs down?
The guy speaks the truth.

0 up, 0 down

Underdog15
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 11:01:03 PM

As much as every fibre of my being hates to admit it, you're right Snaaaaaake.

0 up, 0 down

Ludicrous_Liam
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 12:08:00 PM
Reply

Lol, it's like he reckons CoD is a new social medium...or something. Eh, I don't think so..

0 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 1:25:21 PM

No it is a social medium... for little kids cussing at each other.

6 up, 0 down

Ludicrous_Liam
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 2:54:38 PM

Haha.

But seriously, I hope the next cod falls flat on it face. I just do. The sooner we wipe that smile of his face, the better.

4 up, 0 down

CH1N00K
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 12:24:11 PM
Reply

At least he's modest...

6 up, 0 down

Qwarktast1c
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 1:23:14 PM

let's be honest here. he's a douche. and his biggest franchise is a piece of crap

11 up, 1 down

PANICinc
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 12:37:00 PM
Reply

So now CoD is as big as Farmville, and just as "important" to communication between, well face it, 14 year old boys!
Maybe Kotick should buy Neverland Ranch and teach kids how to become zombie slaves to his mediocre games!

8 up, 0 down

kevinater321
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 12:42:40 PM
Reply

I'm still playing the online in Uncharted 2. That is probably my favoirte part of the game. Maybe it's because i am actually good at that game...

1 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 1:03:41 PM
Reply

Only, people use Facebook to interact on a personal level with another human being where as Call of Duty your just playing a game. So it's not really the same thing. I would argue sitting in from of the TV and playing something as mindless as Call of Duty as much as some(i know people who have called in sick to work just to play)people do is more of a net negative than a positive.

1 up, 0 down

Amazingskillz
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 1:12:17 PM
Reply

@ Kevinator - I'm still playing UC2 too. I'm a level 56. Its so fun. I wonder how it compares to COD games multiplayer. The guy at gamestop says the COD multplayer is much faster. Is that true?

0 up, 1 down

Jawknee
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 1:17:23 PM

This would have been the perfect opportunity to try out that Reply button. ;)

5 up, 0 down

Clamedeus
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 1:25:53 PM

It depends on the peoples play style, it can go slow or fast. But i much prefer UC2's MP over Black Ops.

4 up, 0 down

kevinater321
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 9:24:54 PM

The multiplayer in cod is more...twitchy. Thats the best way to describe it. The faster your reaction time, the better you will do (normally). It is insanely addictive if you manage to get a good game. The problem is that there are way too many people that devote every min of free time they have to it so they get really good and know the maps like the back of their hand. So when you get a casual cod player like me who plays once a week, you get your ass kicked. And that just isnt fun for me.

Last edited by kevinater321 on 12/23/2010 9:27:57 PM

1 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 1:20:23 PM
Reply

The comparison is ridiculous, this man is ridiculous. This doesn't help his image as KoDick.

Facebook and texting are here to stay, CoD will fade as it is milked.

3 up, 0 down

Fane1024
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 5:59:20 PM

Facebook will go the way of Myspace and whatever that thing was before it when the next fad hits.

That's why they had to rush The Social Network to movie screens. In five years, people will be saying "Face-what?".

p.s. I use none of the things mentioned in Kotick's comments, though I might use Skype if Sony would finally put it on the PS3.

Last edited by Fane1024 on 12/23/2010 6:01:56 PM

0 up, 0 down

Alienange
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 1:27:47 PM
Reply

You hear that ladies? Kotick thinks you're second tier gamers. Why don't you turn your mics on when you're shooting people so he knows you're there.

3 up, 1 down

Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 3:08:30 PM

Of course they're second-tier gamers. They're second-tier citiz-

....
........
................

'runs away'

...(a JOKE, obviously)...

6 up, 0 down

Alienange
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 6:04:33 PM

LOL

You're asking for trouble.

0 up, 0 down

Kiryu
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 1:29:06 PM
Reply

Why oh Why Sony can't you market Killzone 3 like these guys .Please do so because Killzone 3 will kick call of duty in every way possible!
I hope Killzone 3 will atleast sell 5 mil!

5 up, 0 down

kraygen
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 3:05:59 PM
Reply

So over 60% of 360 players are playing CoD? I think that says more about what kind of ppl own 360's than it does about Call of Duty.

4 up, 0 down

Ludicrous_Liam
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 7:13:05 PM

Yeah it does. 360 is for casual gamers..

But man, I can't WAIT to see what happens in 2011. Maybe sony sees a huge spike in PS3 sales, or maybe uncharted really does turn out to be the best game ever (besides MGS4 ofcouse), or maybe it'll mark the year microsoft scrap or sell the xbox brand to apple or something. Seems only good things can happen to sony/us next year.

Oh & sorry for going off-topic s'much, its a bad habit xD

Last edited by Ludicrous_Liam on 12/23/2010 7:14:51 PM

0 up, 0 down

Ergi
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 4:51:52 PM
Reply

Wow, as integral as texting? Seriously?
How about calling CoD a necessity? Like electricity, or maybe CoD should be a basic human right. Somebody call the UN! We need the declaration adjusted!

3 up, 0 down

StevieRV
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 6:38:57 PM
Reply

i agree with kotick here

i play cod with my mates and we organise events with each other through private chat, even if we arent playing we just sit on the XMB and chat, its like free calls

0 up, 0 down

BigBoss4ever
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 8:03:17 PM
Reply

Not interested in FPS, ever!

Shower the world with JRPGs...

Last edited by BigBoss4ever on 12/23/2010 8:04:42 PM

0 up, 0 down

Kevin555
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 8:35:30 PM
Reply

Although it seems as though this man's head is clearly buried up his own arse, he does have a right to smile, you would be smiling too if you were raking in the money that his company is.

I own a 360 too & when i do play a COD game i make sure my mic is on mute to avoid ear pain from 12 year old pre teen "elite campers" telling you how "leet" they're at the game. If you want an idea on how many people play COD just go on PSN or LIVE and plant a headset on your ears to hear the amount of kids playing this game, there is nothing like it! It's little wonder it's becoming as wide spread addictive as it is when you have 10 years old hurling abuse at eachother like gimps.

There is nothing wrong with COD, it definitely isn't the godsend of FPS imo but what it does, it does really well for a FPS. I am not ashamed to part money for a title that gives me a solid campaign & a decent multiplayer fare to have some fun in. I don't buy a game with the sole intention to support the makers (even though money from my wallet is money into their hands), i buy it if the game is worth my time & that's how all decisions are based for me. If the next COD sucks balls i'll avoid it, if it remains solid i'll pick it up if i think it's worth my hard earned.

Last edited by Kevin555 on 12/23/2010 8:40:26 PM

0 up, 0 down

556pineapple
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 8:45:29 PM
Reply

I admit to using facebook, but not as much as most people. I rarely text, and I have never played a CoD game in my life. Take that, Bobby!

1 up, 0 down

Highlander
Thursday, December 23, 2010 @ 8:57:08 PM
Reply

"'Call of Duty' delivers on that trend. These games can be as integral to the social lives of young people, especially males, as any other form of digital communication."

So, he's saying that males are so deficient that their preferred social environment is a virtual shooting gallery in some far flung corner of the world? Seriously? If that's true, I worry for our future as a species.

2 up, 0 down

Qubex
Friday, December 24, 2010 @ 1:44:05 AM

You know very well the world is getting dumber :)

Q!

"play.experience.enjoy"

1 up, 0 down

Zorigo
Friday, December 24, 2010 @ 10:52:21 AM

its soooo true Qubex. no seriously, even the UK and America, apparently very advanced countries, can be thick as sh*t.
i should know, i live in the UK.

0 up, 0 down

spiderboi
Friday, December 24, 2010 @ 11:05:34 AM

3 things that make me drop/ leave a CoD game:
1. Very bad host connection
2. Cheaters/ spawn killers/ glitchers
3. Stupid people with mics.

for the record, while i buy and play CoD games, I never keep them. If i buy the next one, i will sell the old one, since as i mentioned, they are mostly the same.

0 up, 0 down

___________
Friday, December 24, 2010 @ 12:26:14 AM
Reply

just goes to show the power of the sheep ray.
;)

2 up, 0 down

sha4dowknight05
Friday, December 24, 2010 @ 8:58:13 AM
Reply

There's only 300000-600000 on the ps3 at the most we'll see on christmas day how that number increases!

0 up, 0 down

Zorigo
Friday, December 24, 2010 @ 10:50:51 AM
Reply

You know the wosrt part is, i play MW2, but i get annoyed a little because its pathetic, but at least its good, not great, but good. i come back for more and what not.

Black ops actually is sh*t. not just somewhat, its properly sh*t. and its the best selling game of all time. :|

0 up, 0 down

spiderboi
Friday, December 24, 2010 @ 11:01:28 AM
Reply

I liked zombies more than the toted MP coz it really separates stupid gung-hoes from strategic-thinkers. MP suffers from lag (no surprise), but it gets me my fix of stress relieving. but cmon Kotick, you should know better. One day, another shall rise, and give us our much deserved MP game that we shall brag about and not constantly complain about (KZ3 we're looking at you to step up!)

0 up, 0 down

BikerSaint
Saturday, December 25, 2010 @ 2:59:52 AM
Reply

Well, I'm stumped!!!!!!!

I've been frigging looking & looking, at that picture of the horse's a$$ with the big grin, and damned if I can tell whether it's Bozo, or just Happy the clown.

1 up, 0 down

SnipeySnake
Monday, December 27, 2010 @ 12:04:02 AM
Reply

I asked my brother if he's gonna get call of duty 8. I expected a "Wait for gameplay" or "Not sure". Instead it was a straight up yes. Without even seeing gameplay he wants, he even knows its not made by infinity ward or treyarch, hes getting it because it has "Call of duty" in the name. I wanna slap him.

0 up, 0 down

Please login or register to leave a comment.

Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories cheats	PSP
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas cheats	PS2
NBA Shootout 2000 cheats	PS1
Glover cheats	PS1
Twisted Metal 4 cheats	PS1
Quantum Theory cheats	PS3
WWF Smackdown! cheats	PS1
PAIN cheats	PS3
Sideway: New York cheats	PS3
South Park: Chef's Luv Shack cheats	PS1

Do you plan to buy a PlayStation Vita this year?
	Yes, I'll definitely get one in 2013.
	No, but I'll get one eventually.
	No, I have no intention of buying the Vita.
	No, I've already got one.

Playstation 3

Playstation 4

PSP

Playstation Vita

Playstation 2

Playstation

Other

PSX Extreme

Site Stats

Kotick: As Integral To Young People As Facebook, Texting

Comments (62 posts)

Leave a Comment

Latest Updates

Popular Cheats

Recent Reviews

Recent Previews

Popular Sections

Extras

Sponsor

Our Poll

Resident Evil: Revelations review	PS3
Metro: Last Light review	PS3
Zombie Tycoon II: Brainhov's Revenge review	PS3
Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon review	PS3
Star Trek: The Video Game review	PS3
Injustice: Gods Among Us review	PS3
Dead Island: Riptide review	PS3
Defiance review	PS3
Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2 review	PS3
Army of Two: The Devil's Cartel review	PS3

The Bureau: XCOM Declassified preview	PS3
Time and Eternity preview	PS3
Ride to Hell: Retribution preview	PS3
Call of Juarez: Gunslinger preview	PS3
Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon preview	PS3
Spartacus Legends preview	PS3
Payday 2 preview	PS3
DUST 514 preview	PS3
Dynasty Warriors 8 preview	PS3
Disgaea D2: A Brighter Darkness preview	PS3