Seriously Though, Fuck Black Ops 4 (The Jimquisition)

The marketing and greed behind games like this is getting out of hand. It's disgusting how many different editions there are of Black Ops 4.

I think that, with them getting rid of the campaign and focusing on zombies (which I don't like), multiplayer (which I don't play much) and battle royale (which I've never bothered with), this may well be the first Call of Duty I won't bother with. I have it preordered, but only because I can get it for $30 off thanks to E3 promos. Even then I probably won't keep it.

Was prepared to "eehhh, whatever" my way through this video, but he made a lot of good points.

Activision is definitely pushing the limits lately and they're lucky that their franchises are not beloved like Star Wars for them to get universal backlash.
BFV for me this year.

Wait I thought they were going to stop sales of individual map packs and force people to buy the entire season pass outright?

First I've heard of it being exclusive to one preorder version of the game: surely that would cut their revenue stream right down by stopping season pass sales to second hand buyers, people who just purchased the base game and weren't aware of this etc?

Has Jim got this the wrong way around?

Call of Duty with a battle royale mode. I was onboard immediately.

Little Old Man said:

Wait I thought they were going to stop sales of individual map packs and force people to buy the entire season pass outright?

First I've heard of it being exclusive to one preorder version of the game: surely that would cut their revenue stream right down by stopping season pass sales to second hand buyers, people who just purchased the base game and weren't aware of this etc?

Has Jim got this the wrong way around?

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According to their own FAQ on their site the Black Ops pass will be sold standalone. Your correct on that the current plan is to stop sales of individual map packs. However as pointed out by Lampa in this thread, it says they might still sell content (in the pass) separately too.

Problem is that we just don't know all the specifics and so many YouTubers are jumping the gun with wrong information.

"it's not need, it's greed". Well, yeah of course. He's stating the obvious here but I do agree with Jim. Activision Blizzard are going about this in an extreme way but if people keep throwing money at the game I don't see that changing. Gamers have to collectively vote for something else.

JustinH said:

I didn't know anything about this game, but it appears from the article he flashed in his video about the deluxe edition the only way to get the season pass (or battle pass, or whatever) was true, but Activision reversed course on that idea. That might be why people are getting confused on it.


https://www.polygon.com/2018/6/13/17447600/call-of-duty-black-ops-4-dlc-season-pass-price

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"At a later date" Could be a year after release...or 5 years. Who knows? That's the problem.

Coolade said:

"At a later date" Could be a year after release...or 5 years. Who knows? That's the problem.

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At a later date could also mean launch. Treyarch already said on /r/blackops4 that they plan on talking about the Black Ops pass which will probably clarify stuff like this.

Sure it's a problem that we don't know but come on people, Jim doesn't even mention that it will be at all. He states in his video as as 100% fact that you will not be able to buy the pass without a special edition. Can people not see how that could be seeing as twisting the facts?

Also can anyone confirm if you've been able to buy previous season passes prior to launch?

Very good video like many he's made. Tried to come back to CoD with Infinity Warfare (also to get MW remaster) but I haven't played it... looking at the box already gives a bad taste in my mouth. They won't win me back with Black Ops "4" that's for sure
I'll prey and thank the gaming gods for you Jim ^^

Chû Totoro said:

Very good video like many he's made. Tried to come back to CoD with Infinity Warfare (also to get MW remaster) but I haven't played it... looking at the box already gives a bad taste in my mouth. They won't win me back with Black Ops "4" that's for sure
I'll prey and thank the gaming gods for you Jim ^^

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Sucks, Infinite Warfare has the best campaign since Modern Warfare.

Inb4 watching the video: Fuck Activion Blizzard. And after watching the video: same opinion. They don't even try to improve.

stumblebee said:

I mean its a fair thing to wonder. They're nowhere near as popular as the heights of MW2 and MW3, but these games are still a massive media juggernaut.

I started playing Black Ops 3 after getting it for free on PS+ and that shooting hasn't changed much since CoD4 but it's still some of the best feeling shooting in the entire industry. I'm looking forward to seeing how this game does now that it has its Battle Royale mode.

If you're looking for a review of Blops 3 than I'd say if you're a multiplayer fan play a few rounds and see how it feels if you haven't been in the CoD scene for a while. The single player story sucks, but hey the gameplay is fine.

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About how I expected. I haven't played a CoD since MW2 so I'm curious what the multiplayer is like after so many years

Either way this game is going to break records and probably sell extremely well.

shanafan said:

Call of Duty with a battle royale mode. I was onboard immediately.

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I still don't understand why people think this will be a good mix.

When I think of COD I think of quick TTK, killstreaks, perks and immediate respawns in case something kills you. Everybody wins in COD, if even in the smallest way possible. None of those things match up with Battle Royale.

I just don't see it.

Jim's stuff is usually pretty good, but he gets a bunch wrong about how the BLOPS4 DLC will work and then says things like, "activision blizzard games have pay to win microtransactions." (paraphrasing) while the image on screen is of Overwatch.

Everyone is right to complain about Activision's practices with BLOP4 and loot crates, but you have to at least come at it with a well-informed argument.

Will be the first Treyarch game I've not purchased. Its more to do with the futuristic stuff returning, no story and still charging full price. Id rather take my money elsewhere and get a complete package. BFV is where im spending my money this year.

did jim just never notice a COD coming out every year with map pack dlcs and basically being like fifa just throwing out the same thing over and over? Hard to believe he liked it so much and shitted on EA so much

thebigcountry said:

Treyarch are by far the best CoD studio, but I am just not excited for BO4 given Activision's business practices, and the changes Treyarch are making for BO4. At this point, Fortnite is closer to the spirit of classic CoD than BO4.

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Pretty much how I feel. I have very little, if any, excitement for BO4. These terrible changes in this post Fortnite world feel awful.

Aquavelvaman said:

I don't even read gaming side. How am I supposed to know as an average consumer if these games are still as popular as they used to be.

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There is a new one every year. Fairly easy for a consumer to determine popularity if there is always a new version available for the holiday sales rush.

Aquavelvaman said:

Do people still likes these games

Edit: the answer is yes and I don't want to be a part of this conversation

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No, people only like Dark Souls.

Please.

Aquavelvaman said:

I don't even read gaming side. How am I supposed to know as an average consumer if these games are still as popular as they used to be.

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You know, that comment piqued my curiosity. Who the hell register in this forum that not is interested in games?
Well, in the end, it wasn't true, your post history says otherwise. Not only that, I see you participated actively in several of the E3 live conferences thread...

and somehow didn't know CoD are popular games. Yep.

Just admit you were being facetious with the comment.

CormoranStrike said:

It's a good thing you aren't forced to view his content then, or even to look at the topics about him.

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it's hard sifting through all the youtuber rage threads that litter gaming discussion at all times. we get it, gamers are miserable.

Part of the reason I bought Activision/Blizzard stock is they know how to market and sell a games and COD and WoW are cash cows at this point and not going away anytime soon.

nynt9 said:

BLOPS4 broke their preorder records so... maybe the gaming public is larger than the forum bubble

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This makes me sad. I would hope the gaming audience would stand up against the shitty practices that Activision is pulling here but that doesn't look to be the case. Fuck Activision for what they continue to do to this industry.

Make your own Jimquisition subject with this handy formula:

[game/publisher] is basically despicable and [game/publisher] is the worst

Is Switch getting this piece of crap, because I an't buying it

Beatle said:

Is Switch getting this piece of crap, because I an't buying it

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No

Kind of a stark contrast with Battlefield 5, but I guess EA already had their come to Jesus moment with Battlefront 2.

Turin Turambar said:

You know, that comment piqued my curiosity. Who the hell register in this forum that not is interested in games?
Well, in the end, it wasn't true, your post history says otherwise. Not only that, I see you participated actively in several of the E3 live conferences thread...

and somehow didn't know CoD are popular games. Yep.

Just admit you were being facetious with the comment.

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Forum Sleuths creep me out

It seems every year around this time I say "the next COD will not have a season pass", only to be proven wrong.

So hell, I'll say it again; Modern Warfare 4 will not have a season pass.

It would make zero logical sense to only sell DLC in an initial special edition sale of the game, forcing people to rebuy the entire game to play DLC if they already bought the regular edition.

Good thing that isn't the case here because why the hell would it be.

The reason you can't buy it at release is likely because it's pointless. If you want it at release just get the edition of the game that includes it.

I'm sure you will be able to upgrade your game to get the DLC before any actual DLC content is released. However they don't need to really worry about it until that point.

Also there aren't really that many editions of this game. There has been like a million worse examples of games with a ludicrous amount of special editions.

There is: game, game with season pass and some free internet money, game with season pass and some more free internet money, and retailer special edition with pretty box and trinkets. The only unnecessary one IMO is game with season pass and even more free internet money, but if people want that stuff, have at it. It's just a different voucher inside of a game box.

Also I have never played CoD but am actually interested in playing this game because of Battle Royale and Overwatch modes lol. I have to say the season pass model is a turn off though. Looking forward to BFV.

Maybe Switch owners don't really need modern CoD. He brings a lot of good points up as well.

Turin Turambar said:

You know, that comment piqued my curiosity. Who the hell register in this forum that not is interested in games?
Well, in the end, it wasn't true, your post history says otherwise. Not only that, I see you participated actively in several of the E3 live conferences thread...

and somehow didn't know CoD are popular games. Yep.

Just admit you were being facetious with the comment.

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I listen to wrestling podcast, and I haven't watched wrestling since 2002

While the info on how the Black Ops Pass is being sold is factually wrong, I think that the very existence of the Black Ops Pass in today's landscape where maps are finally being released for free again is reason enough to make this video. I am a huuuuuge fan of the CoD series, with having played every single game except for CoD3 and the early expansions, and this year - although I'm usually the most hyped for Treyarch's games - I will skip it entirely. I'm sick enough of everything that is going on with CoD that I will not buy into it anymore. And there is a shooter franchise in which I'm more invested in anyway that releases its new game in the same timeframe, so I'll enjoy BF V with the free maps.

Kindly fuck off, Activision.

Turin Turambar said:

You know, that comment piqued my curiosity. Who the hell register in this forum that not is interested in games?
Well, in the end, it wasn't true, your post history says otherwise. Not only that, I see you participated actively in several of the E3 live conferences thread...

and somehow didn't know CoD are popular games. Yep.

Just admit you were being facetious with the comment.

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The Front Mission avatar was a dead give away.

Really hope this has Battlefront levels of backlash but I doubt it will. Such a shame, I was on board even without the campaign till all this.

Jamie OD said:

You are in a hole. Stop digging.

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What if we stopped being condescending assholes to people asking simple questions? This sort of attitude needs to fuck off into the sunset.

Jim in the Video said:

..it sent Activision Blizzard into a freefall of shameless cash grabs. Todays Call of Duty is a mangled mess of nothing but trend setting liberty taking intellectually insulting and philosophically offensive hot wet garbage and the zenith of the overly produced focus tested vapid filth ejaculated from Bobby Kotick's round pink nuts is Call of Duty Black Ops 4 and it perfectly encapsulates how Activision Blizzard is abunch of sniveling shit slinging fuckbuckles who should shove their games up their own asses and fuck off while they're doing it...

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Never change Jim. Never fucking change lol

Everything doesn't need to be a thread

HockeyGuy412 said:

Everything doesn't need to be a thread

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Every Jimquisition gets a thread usually and its been that way before Era even existed. Stop thread whining. No one is forcing you to click on it or read it.

Re-Bastard has me laughing.

Jim is bang on with this one. Fuck Activision.

Railgun said:

Really hope this has Battlefront levels of backlash but I doubt it will. Such a shame, I was on board even without the campaign till all this.

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Did you take a look at r/BlackOps4 after the Black Ops pass was announced? And even in the weeks that followed? And even today? Tons of constant backlash.

The only people not upset are the people hugely into zombies, who are fine with paying an extra $40 for more zombies zombies zombies.

Coolade said:

"At a later date" Could be a year after release...or 5 years. Who knows? That's the problem.

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It does seem like it's not immediately at launch, but it doesn't matter because of question 10. You will be able to upgrade from standard to deluxe, which functionally works the same as buying a season pass. If this upgrade costs more than $50, then you can riot.

Hamster Plugin said:

It does seem like it's not immediately at launch, but it doesn't matter because of question 10. You will be able to upgrade from standard to deluxe, which functionally works the same as buying a season pass. If this upgrade costs more than $50, then you can riot.

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My question is, how is it going to know (the system's stores), that you have a copy (especially physical) in order to 'discount' the Deluxe editions? Especially if you use the web store on your computer or phone.

That would be a first.

HotHamBoy said:

Kind of a stark contrast with Battlefield 5, but I guess EA already had their come to Jesus moment with Battlefront 2.


Forum Sleuths creep me out

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Looking at someone's post history isn't really being a forum sleuth ... It's there for reason. Forum sleuthing is more about researching people outside the forum, which is creepy.

On topic, what's been the response from fans of COD about how Activision is handling this? I mean, it's all well and good for me as a casual player of the series to be outraged, but if the core fans are ok with it, I'm not sure there is a problem ... Even if I think it's a terrible practice.

Normally my hype levels for a new CoD are at 9/10, and a new Treyarch game it's usually at 12/13 but for Black Ops 4 my hype meter currently sits at 1/10.

That 1 is for Blackout.

Briarios said:

On topic, what's been the response from fans of COD about how Activision is handling this? I mean, it's all well and good for me as a casual player of the series to be outraged, but if the core fans are ok with it, I'm not sure there is a problem ... Even if I think it's a terrible practice.

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There are TWO megathreads on r/BlackOps4 as we type in this thread. And those are in response to the sub being filled with endless threads on the issue. And it's still being filled with anger and rage.

So yeah, COD fans are upset. Except, like I said, zombies fans, who are okay with paying for more zombies maps.

Catdaddy said:

Part of the reason I bought Activision/Blizzard stock is they know how to market and sell a games and COD and WoW are cash cows at this point and not going away anytime soon.

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Ditto!

One confusing thing in the video is that he says sales have gone down slightly from game to game, but if you actually look at the chart and sort it by release - that actually isn't true. The drop in sales has been dramatic: 30 mil for BO1 and MW3 which released in 2010 and 2011 to 12 mil (less than half of that) for the last two games. Which doesn't justify what they're doing, but certainly explains it. And it doesn't help that the games themselves are also getting worse.

Edit: I guess the numbers were only up to january. So WW2 is probably long past 12 mil by this point though.

EvilChameleon said:

There are TWO megathreads on r/BlackOps4 as we type in this thread. And those are in response to the sub being filled with endless threads on the issue. And it's still being filled with anger and rage.

So yeah, COD fans are upset. Except, like I said, zombies fans, who are okay with paying for more zombies maps.

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Thanks for the info ... Well, then, there you go. I find it mind boggling that there are perfect examples of companies making tons of money on games after release and yet Activision models none of them.