Modern Warfare 3's Pepsi cross-promotion steps over the line - Polidicks

• [url]http://www.forbes.com/sites/insertcoin/2011/09/28/modern-warfare-3s-pepsi-cross-promotion-steps-over-the-line/[/url] • [url]http://www.rankupxp.com/Teaser[/url] I can understand a studio and a brand attempting to work together to figure out some sort of reasonable ad campaign for an upcoming game, as there’s nothing inherently wrong with that concept. Product placement or cross promotion is nothing new in the industry, but this new collaboration between Pepsi and Activision is nothing short of unholy. The promotion is called “Rank Up XP” and the long and short of it is that by buying certain Pepsi products, namely Mountain Dew and Doritos, players can redeem codes in the packaging for Double XP time in Modern Warfare 3. A 20 oz gets you 15 minutes, a 12 pack gets you 45, and so on. Why is this a problem? Because XP is currency in these games, and whoever has more of it first is at a distinct advantage. More XP, especially when the game is new, means more weapons, more perks, more attachments, more killstreaks, and subsequently, usually more wins. [b]Offering Double XP to someone who purchases Pepsi products is selling out about as much as you can, and for a franchise that’s already been accused of pushing the limits with “Elite” monthly membership and overpriced map packs, it goes to show that Activision will exploit its fans in any way they can.[/b] I though the line was being drawn with pre-order bonuses promising weapons and attachments that couldn’t be found in the actual game, but to me, this is a new low for an industry that wants to keep digging. Many companies are guilty of trying to squeeze blood out of the stone, but Activision in particular appears to be more than OK with abusing its customer base for the sake of some quick advertising cash. I understand you want to maximize on a popular game’s appeal, but when your last title sells $360M worth of copies in 24 hours, and this new title is looking to beat that record haul, it seems more greedy than usual to roll out a tacky ad campaign like this. Now when players fire up the game next month, there’s no telling if those at higher levels have been playing twice as long and hard as you, or if they simply bought a ton of Mountain Dew and Doritos. I’m going to choose to ignore the whole childhood obesity epidemic factors that accompany such an ad campaign, but it’s worth noting that kids are now being bribed with more XP (in a game that keeps them sedentary for long hours) to get them to buy completely unhealthy junk food. It’s not that this XP is SO valuable where this is the end of the world, but it’s definitely a slippery slope, one we seem to be sliding down at a record pace. Above all, I think it says that Activision is getting complacent, and is willing to see how far they can push their fans before they rebel and abandon the franchise which is largely content with churning out almost identical products year after year, and now piling on bonus promotions to net them even more cash. This is a bad path to walk down, and hopefully it ends up biting Activision to a degree where they actually course correct. That day may still be a long ways off, however. [img]http://blogs-images.forbes.com/insertcoin/files/2011/09/double-xp2.jpg[/img]

I don't think this is stepping over the line and i am perfectly fine with this.

So? CoD games get hacked days after release and then half the players are the highest rank.

This is gross. It's like buying free XP only you get super fat too.

[quote]Many companies are guilty of trying to squeeze blood out of the stone, but Activision in particular appears to be more than OK with abusing its customer base for the sake of some quick advertising cash.[/quote] How is this news

The MW Fanbase: "This sucks Activision! Take my money this time, but the next game better be good or else!" Rinse and repeat

Uhh, from what I've played previously, the starting guns work just fine. Unlocking further items doesn't necessarily make you better, just more versatile.

Double experience points? Only the desperate and soulless depends on double experience points.

[QUOTE=Atlascore;32541379]You mean fat people?[/QUOTE] No. Gingers.

[QUOTE=Spacewolf;32541358]Uhh, from what I've played previously, the starting guns work just fine. Unlocking further items doesn't necessarily make you better, just more versatile.[/QUOTE] That probably means that the further unlocks are overpowered as hell.

I'm tempted to get this on xbox again simply for the trolling.. I had such fun causing arguments with idiots on there.

[QUOTE=AngryChairR;32541416]I'm tempted to get this on xbox again simply for the trolling.. I had such fun causing arguments with idiots on there.[/QUOTE] Trolling Xbox COD players isn't a particularly tough thing.

So what? At least they're offering something that's arguably useful even if it's just in game unlike Coke Points.

[QUOTE=Slithersoul;32541352]The MW Fanbase: "This sucks Activision! Take my money this time, but the next game better be good or else!" Rinse and repeat[/QUOTE] [img]http://i.istockimg.com/file_thumbview_approve/2634771/2/istockphoto_2634771-hitting-a-nail-on-the-head.jpg[/img]

[QUOTE=icemaz;32541406]No. Gingers.[/QUOTE] What about fat gingers?

Why not fruits and vegetables?

Who cares? I could see this being news worthy if every Mountain Dew the Red Wings bought gave them 15 min. of power-play time, but who cares about Call of Duty?

The silly Elite membership is stupid. But rewarding players with very brief moments of extra XP for supporting their partners isn't anything awful. If it were something like several hours of XP and a set XP bonus, sure. But this is just double XP for a real short period of time. Pretty much all the people I know who play CoD drink Mountain Dew anyway. So this is a win-win! :v:

[QUOTE=AngryChairR;32541416]I'm tempted to get this on xbox again simply for the trolling.. I had such fun causing arguments with idiots on there.[/QUOTE] You have 90% of machinima for trolling pleasure

[QUOTE=solid_jake;32541530]What about fat gingers?[/QUOTE] They eat souls to fill the sheer lack of soul they have. I do like this promotion a bit better for the principle of it. And because it's a drink I actually enjoy. Then again I don't really play CoD all that much and when I do, I play for fun and not to win, so it'll hardly effect me. I hated promos like the Mass Effect Dr.Pepper item codes. I still never got that Sentry Interface. That thing is so cool man. Even worse was the Spore Bots Part Pack one. It was the only way to update and add these features fans have wanted for a while. If you never got Dr.Pepper, you were fucked.

Don't be mad, The hardcore players will still eat the Double XP players anyday. Doesn't really change anything and it's up to you if you want to participate in this or not.

[QUOTE=solid_jake;32541530]What about fat gingers?[/QUOTE] [I][B]OH GOD IT'S A HORRIFYING BIFECTA OF SOULLESS EVIL[/B][/I]

writer implies that level=skills a bad player will be bad regardless of his perks and weapons

Don't drink soda, rarely eat Doritos (or any chips for that matter) and I have no problem with this. OP is exceedingly sensationalist and fearmongering with his "IT WILL TOTALLY UNBALANCE THE GAME" nonsense.

[QUOTE=Slithersoul;32541580]You have 90% of machinima for trolling pleasure[/QUOTE] At the same time there are way better ways to spend your hard earned dolla.

Giving one player a better advantage than another is annoying and dumb. I doubt people would waste time on inserting the code though. I am amazing at Call of Duty but I will probably get stomped because of the cheap perks and bonuses you can get for paying more money.

[IMG]http://i51.tinypic.com/1zna42a.jpg[/IMG]

I give the Call of Duty Franchise 5 years before it fails due to reptitiveness.

[QUOTE=BCell;32542232]I give the Call of Duty Franchise 5 years before it fails due to reptitiveness.[/QUOTE] this is number 8....

[QUOTE=BloodFox1222;32541337]I don't think this is stepping over the line and i am perfectly fine with this.[/QUOTE] I'm fine with this because I don't play bad games and therefore this doesn't affect me