Quick Jump Daily Digest

Thank you for your interest in the Quick Jump Daily Digest. Get notified of all new content on QJ in our free Daily Digest. To subscribe, enter your email address below and click the subscribe button.

Cancel and Return to page

Pachter: "All things are not perfect in Activision's world"

Posted Jun 1, 2007 at 12:36PM EST by QJ Staff

Listed in: PS3, Wii, Xbox 360, PC Gaming Tags: Activision, Electronic Arts, Harmonix, Iraq, Michael Pachter

0
With Activision's recently submitted financial performance report for fiscal year 2007, avid gamer and analyst Michael Pachter of Wedbush Morgan Securities remained optimistic about the future for Activision. For the fiscal year 2008, Pachter estimates a US$ 1.8 billion in revenue for the company, while eyeing a US$ 2 billion in revenue for 2009.

He also recommends a "Strong Buy" for the company's stock as a result, from a US$ 23 to US$ 24.50. But according to the analyst, "All things are not perfect in Activision's world." The so-so reviews of the game adaptation of blockbuster hit Spider-Man 3 were especially questioned by Pachter.

And then came the news that Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare was to be set in present-day Iraq, which Pachter points out as a bad move for the company. He said:

We understand that Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is set in Iraq in the present, and we believe that if true, there is some potential for sales to suffer as a result of widespread dissatisfaction with the U.S. war effort in that country. Of course, prior to release, it may be possible to change the venue for the game (we prefer the fictional country of Kreplachistan), and we are confident that Activision will consider carefully how to best position the product in the marketplace this fall.

That's not all: due to recent friction between Harmonix and Electronic Arts' Rock Band with upcoming Red Octane and Activision's riff-maker Guitar Hero III, Pachter expects one tough fight ahead of the publisher. He expects that the original creators of Guitar Hero, Harmonix, will be able to create a competitive title against its former franchise with Rock Band, even if the analyst has heard little details about the new game under Electronic Arts' wing.

This story sucks? This story rocks!

Vote Now!

(0)

(0)

There’re so many stup+d PS3 fanboys right now who bark that PS3 is superior to X360 console; that’s the reason why I wrote this informal essay.

Let’s compare the most sold X360 game and the most sold PS3 game (HEAD TO HEAD DEATHMATCH); then talk about which console is superior to another at the end. Each category is worth 100 points unless mentioned. If it’s drawn, both get half points.

I spent much time to read about 10 different reviews on both games. Most sentences below are NOT my opinions (remember this). Most sentences below are from the reviews I read online.

[Epic’s Gears of War Vs. Insomniac’s Resistance: Fall of Man]

- Gameplay (300 pts): Resistance is a generic and mindless run & gunner. Epic adopted and improved Resident Evil 4’s point of view; then GoW’s over-the-shoulder revolutionized the gaming industry. Now, Sony’s best future games Uncharted Drake’s Fortune and Ratchet and Clank Future (when using weapons) both totally copied GoW’s point of view. Winner: GoW

- Graphics (300): GoW wins by a land-slide. No need to discuss more. Winner: GoW

- Awards: Many gamers bought GoW because it won so many awards. Winner: GoW

- Main character (200): Epic did a very good job on this. Marcus Fenix is as memorable as Halo’s Master Chief. Resistance’s Nathan is simply too boring to control. Winner: GoW

- Average review score: GoW got 94 from 172 different game related publications; Resistance got 89 from 164 publications; many gamers bought GoW because it got extremely high review scores.

Winner: GoW

- Level of Appealing (Fun Factor) (200): Resistance is all about run and gun like Halo 3 or Unreal Tournament 3. GoW has deep tactical play. Winner: GoW

- Online Modes (Multiplayer) (300): Resistance offers much more game types, but all of them are mindless run and gunner. GoW should have supported at least 8 versus 8 multiplay (4 Vs. 4 is just sub-standard). Winner: Drawn

- Single-player (SP): Resistance’s developers spent so much time, budget, and effort on this (Resistance’s SP is much longer); the thing is that Resistance’s SP is plainly boring and not even fun. Winner: GoW

- Weapons (200): Resistance has technically extremely advanced weapons, but these weapons are not balanced for multiplay. GoW has much less number of weapons; the thing is that lancer (the gun with chainsaw) alone is better (the powerful feeling; sound, lighting, and decal effects) than all weapons in Resistance combined. Torque bow and boomshot are extremely well made, too. Winner: GoW

- Music & Sound Effects (300): Resistance’s sound is on average; GoW’s sound is superb (especially guns and explosion sounds are mind-blowing). Winner: GoW

- Longevity (Replay Value) (300): Resistance’s run and gun gets old extremely quickly. Winner: GoW

- Technical Advancement (200): Resistance’s extremely huge maps + 42-player online + Resistance’s bull’s eye and sapper guns. Winner: Resistance

- General Concept & Originality: Resistance is a copycat of Half Life, Call of Duty, and Unreal Tourney. Winner: GoW

- Character Animation: Both games offer silky smooth movement of units. Winner: Drawn

- (NPC’s) A.I.: GoW’s AI is better made. Epic did a very good job here. If you kill one enemy in GoW, you feel satisfied and rewarded; if you kill one (or ten) enemy in Resistance, you feel bored and lame (LOL). Winner: GoW

- Atmosphere (Presentation) (200): GoW’s sci-fi movie like mood is all over the places. Winner: GoW

- Interface (attention to detail, how polished is the final game?): Winner: Drawn

- Overall Impressiveness (300): In general, GoW even deeply impresses diehard Sony fanboys. Winner: GoW

Finally, GoW won by f+cking huge margin.

- Resistance’s total score: 450 points

- GoW’s total score: 3,050 points

I said at the start that we need to talk about which console is superior to another at the end. Now, let’s talk about that. Which console is superior? If you’re still trying to defend your pathetic PS3 console then you must be illiterate and blind, period.

# Hold the Phone — Spector 2007-06-01 16:52

So this genius is telling me that people who don't like war aren't going to buy a war game.

I wouldn't say it's about supporting the war or not supporting the war. It's more like I enjoy war game FPSs or I don't enjoy war game FPSs. I've never really heard of politics being the main reason somebody won't buy a game...

until Abortion Center: Under the Knife comes out on the DS.

# Iraq War — AoxomamoxoA 2007-06-01 17:58

I think what they mean is people whos family has been affected by the war in Iraq are probably not going to want to play a game about it. My thought is that if a gamer has a brother or sister who died while in Iraq they would be less likely to buy a game where youre a soldier in Iraq.

Kinda like with that whole Columbine RPG game, some people thought that was insensitive reguardless of their position on RPG gaming. I believe it is the same view Activision is having with setting COD4 in a real life environment like Iraq. Its easy for them to make a WW2 game because most of the people from that era are deceased, and it has been 2-3 generations since then also.

As for me personally, I dunno if I will be getting COD4. The third installment was a disappointment, so Im wary of rushing off to purchase the newer one. Ill give it a rental and see how it plays first, then decide.

# bad post — Guest 2007-06-01 23:56

you never receive stars, right?

# .... — Guest 2007-06-02 17:12

cod2 was a big jump from cod 1...then cod3 was a dissapointment..it was more of an expansion of cod2 i dont think ill be getting cod4

Refresh comments list

Add comment

JComments

HOT GAMING NEWS | LATEST GAMING SEARCHES | FORUMS

QUICK JUMP DAILY DIGEST

Welcome to QJ.Net!

If you want your comments to go live without waiting for moderation, you need to be logged in. Being logged in has its benefits:

Logged in members do not wait for their comments to be approved.
Logged in members can create Profiles to be seen by other users.

So why wait? Create an account or login now! It's easy, quick, and free.

To get started, use the LOGIN boxes, or the REGISTER link below!

Want to learn more about the team who brings you the QJ news?

Read about them now!

HOT FLASH GAMES

QJ.NET Categories
• Apple • E3 • Featured Articles • Gadgets • Games for Windows • iPad • iPhone • MMORPG • Mobile • News • Nintendo 3DS • Nintendo DS • Opinions & Analysis	• Photography • PlayStation 3 • PoV • PS Vita • PSP • Rumors • Science • Site News • Tabula Rasa • Wii • Wii U • World of Warcraft • Xbox 360

Sitemap

Newest Downloads

05/22/2012 - 05/31/2012

WiiFlow Mod 3.0 r431	05/31/2012
XeBuild GUI 2.061	05/30/2012
edicpopDS v0.3.01	05/29/2012
RGLoader 0v290 Beta	05/27/2012
WiiMod 3.2	05/27/2012
WiiMC v1.2.7	05/25/2012
True Blue Firmeware v2.7	05/24/2012
3DS Video Converter v2.3	05/24/2012
Mobile Assault 1.8.2	05/24/2012
PSP Tools Alpha 0.1	05/22/2012
Newton War	05/22/2012
DaedalusX64 r766	05/22/2012
PSPMarble	05/22/2012
The Undead 4 - Nazi Zombies	05/21/2012
3DSExplorer v1.2.1	05/21/2012

Most Comments this Month
Sound Off: On Game Expirat..	(58)
Say Goodbye to the Xbox 36..	(31)
EA Blames iOS Rock Band Ex..	(28)
Flash0 Contents Of Vita's..	(27)
Sony Had a Rough Year; Vit..	(26)
PlayStation 3: Now Featuri..	(23)
Sound Off: Toughest Game C..	(20)
Apparently You Can Pre-Ord..	(19)
Love It or Hate It, It's A..	(16)
Pre-Order Generic Shooter..	(15)
PoV: This Collectors Editi..	(15)
You've Been Up in Arms Abo..	(15)
Get Off Xbox Live, You Ped..	(14)
This is Next Gen?	(14)
Metal Gear Solid For Vita..	(14)
PoV: Paid MMOs are Dead	(14)
PoV: You Are Wrong about C..	(14)
PSP Is Back, Whiter, Cheap..	(13)
Wii Will Be U	(13)
Stop Your Whining, Start C..	(13)
Does Microsoft Ever Have a..	(12)
Operation Raccoon City Pro..	(12)
Diablo III Getting Mauled..	(12)
Pokemon Liquid Crystal! K..	(12)
OK, So Maybe Microsoft Can..	(12)

Top Jumps this Month
Naruto Shippuden: Ul..	(176)
Pokemon Liquid Cryst..	(113)
neur0n Knocks Out An..	(103)
Bust Out Your PSP Fo..	(94)
PSP homebrew - LameC..	(73)
Wii homebrew - WAD M..	(58)
PSP Comics Reader v2..	(54)
PSP Homebrew: 6.xx P..	(44)
Hellcat Working On R..	(42)
PSP Homebrew - PSPDi..	(42)
PSP homebrew - DSonP..	(40)
neur0n Gives You Mor..	(37)
Sound Off: On Game E..	(36)
Latest Left 4 Dead 2..	(33)
PSP GBA v1.2: Gamebo..	(33)
Another CFW Goodie F..	(30)
Soywiz Releases PSP..	(30)
Sound Off: Should Ap..	(29)
GTA IV patch 1.0.6.0..	(29)
Download full Sid Me..	(28)
Homebrew - PSP/PS3 P..	(26)
Brian Lara Internati..	(23)
PSP homebrew - Mario..	(23)
DS homebrew game - S..	(21)
PSP homebrew - PSP..	(21)

HOT GAMING NEWS TOPICS

Quick Jump Daily Digest

Pachter: "All things are not perfect in Activision's world"

Related Stories:

Comments

Add comment

Newest Downloads