Analysis: DLC Pays off for World at War Franchise

October 21, 2009 -

Poking, prodding and massaging NPD U.S. videogame sales data, Gamasutra has arrived at the conclusion that the average owner of a console version of Call of Duty: World at War spent $9 on downloadable content.

DLC packs were released in March, June and August of this year with a price of $10 apiece. 6.5 million packs had been sold as of August, with the author rounding up to 7.0 million in order to make sales current. Based on estimates of an analyst, it was estimated that 65% of the 7.0 million DLC sales were within the U.S., meaning an approximate $45.0 million in additional revenue for Activision Blizzard stateside.

The average price paid for World at War was $56.00, adding in the total spent on DLC brings the total average price spent to $65.00, increasing revenue per software unit by 15% (with reduced overhead), ensuring that DLC is not going away anytime soon:

With Modern Warfare 2 expected to best World at War's 11 million units in sales, it seems certain that consumers will again be tempted with paid DLC throughout 2010 as Activision Blizzard attempts to maximize its revenue per sale.

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Comments

Re: Analysis: DLC Pays off for World at War Franchise

Submitted by OldManOnTheHill on Thu, 10/22/2009 - 11:15.

I just recently rented CoD:WaW and as a renter I really have no interest in buying these map packs.

That said my not buying these packs was not due to Treyarch not trying to get me to buy them. Three out of four lobbys you join are sitting on an optional map...and even should that get voted off more than half the time you get another optional map..which means a mass exodus of those who dont have the map..which prolongs the lobby experience. And god forbid you end up sitting in the lobby until the game loads at which point you're told you don't have the map to play (which is fine) and without asking are directed to the marketplace tab to purchase map packs(quite annoying). Both of these issues really soured my online experience with the game and ultimately makes me not want to play another CoD made by Treyarch outside of single player.

I certainly dont mind DLC maps as an option. However it must remain exactly that. Do not overpopulate playlists with optional maps. Allow individuals to filter optional content from their matchmaking. When these optional maps become nigh-forced upon you in order to enjoy the game it becomes a hinderance and shows poorly on the companies involved.

Re: Analysis: DLC Pays off for World at War Franchise

Submitted by Thomas P. on Wed, 10/21/2009 - 22:49.

DLC is a reason why used games are healthy for the industry.

Re: Analysis: DLC Pays off for World at War Franchise

Submitted by Roh02 on Wed, 10/21/2009 - 20:20.

they make that much money from dlc and still want to bump up the price? if anything it should be cheaper

Re: Analysis: DLC Pays off for World at War Franchise

Submitted by Bennett Beeny on Wed, 10/21/2009 - 20:26.

I don't understand it at all. CoD:WaW was absolute crap - at least compared to CoD4. I mean, sure - I bought the game, but I could always turn around and resell it to cut my losses. Can't do that with DLC. But I guess some folks actually liked it enough to pay for a second helping of crap.

It just goes to show that some folks will enjoy whatever the industry throws at them. Well, I guess Halo 3 and Gears of Homoeroticism proved that already.

Re: Analysis: DLC Pays off for World at War Franchise

Submitted by Kabyk on Thu, 10/22/2009 - 08:21.

Two words: Nazi Zombies.

Everybody I know who owns World At War bought additional mappacks solely for the Nazi Zombie maps, including myself. The sales for the mappacks would be at least half as much if Nazi Zombies was not involved, I garauntee you.

Re: Analysis: DLC Pays off for World at War Franchise

Submitted by Kojiro on Fri, 10/23/2009 - 17:59.

I admit it, I bought all 3 map packs just for Nazi Zombies. 24, 22, 16, 35 are my records, most of them with 2 people ;)

Re: Analysis: DLC Pays off for World at War Franchise

Submitted by killatia on Wed, 10/21/2009 - 19:31.

You mean they're making money off DLC?! Wow I never saw that coming!

http://www.magicinkgaming.com/

http://www.killatia.com/

Re: Analysis: DLC Pays off for World at War Franchise

Submitted by Zerodash on Wed, 10/21/2009 - 18:33.

Are we to assume the next COD game will be World at War 2?

Re: Analysis: DLC Pays off for World at War Franchise

Submitted by Hreinzi on Wed, 10/21/2009 - 18:43.

if so i want a god damn Axis campaign

Shout box

Technogeek: If the developer were male there wouldn't have been a "conversation" in the first place.10/19/2014 - 2:27am

Monte: trolls are just at their absolute worst when it comes to women and feminist. You could bet good money that if the developer were male the trolls would be silent and the conversation would actually focus on the journalism.10/18/2014 - 9:18pm

Monte: Papa: Not the first time we've had a journalism scandals before, but the harassment never got close to this level; the difference with this scandal is that feminists are involved. Without the feminist angle, their would be A LOT less harrassment10/18/2014 - 9:15pm

Papa Midnight: Monte: That's honestly rather short-sighted. As has been proven with other persons who have been targeted, if it wasn't Quinn, it would be someone else.10/18/2014 - 6:26pm

Avalongod: I think that's part of what gives an esoteric news story like this real life...it taps into a larger narrative about misogyny in society outside of games.10/18/2014 - 3:29pm

Avalongod: @Monte, well the trolls made death threats that came to police (and media attention). I think this is tapping into a larger issue outside of games about how women are treated in society (like all the "real rape" stuff during the last election)10/18/2014 - 3:28pm

Wonderkarp: Zippy : Havent tried the PS4 controller. might later.10/18/2014 - 2:37pm

Monte: Seirously, If Quinn was not involved and GG was instead about something like the Mordor Marketing contracts, the trolling would have never grown so vile and disgusting. There have been plenty of movements in the past that never sufferred from behavior..10/18/2014 - 1:57pm

Monte: We have seen scandel's before but the trolling has never been as vile as what we see with GG. Trolls usually have such a tiny voice you can barely notice them, but its like moths to a flame whenever femistist are involved.10/18/2014 - 1:53pm

ZippyDSMlee: Wonderkarp: You might be able to if you had a PS4 controller.10/18/2014 - 1:00pm

MaskedPixelante: http://store.steampowered.com/app/327940/ Night Dive starts charging for freeware.10/18/2014 - 12:21pm

Matthew Wilson: the sad thing is there are trolls on both sides of this. people need to stop acting like their side is so pure.10/18/2014 - 12:19pm

MechaTama31: So, only speak out on a scandal that hasn't attracted trolls? I wouldn't hold my breath...10/18/2014 - 10:49am

Monte: I feel like GG just needs to die. The movement is FAR to tainted by hatred and BS for it to be useful for any conversation. Let GG die, and then rally behind the NEXT gaming journalism scandal, and start the conversation fresh.10/18/2014 - 10:33am

quiknkold: and we dont have a Dovakin to call a cease fire10/17/2014 - 7:37pm

quiknkold: The whole thing is Futile. Both sides are so buried deep in their trenchs that there isnt a conversation. Its just Finger Pointing, Name Calling, Doxxing, Threats. there needs to be a serious conversation, and GG isnt it.10/17/2014 - 7:37pm

quiknkold: I thought it was a good article. Jeff is right. I feel like GamerGate did destroy its message. I am for Ethics in game journalism, but man. so much hate. and its on both sides. I've seen some awful stuff spewed on twitter. Its a big reason why I exited..10/17/2014 - 7:34pm

Matthew Wilson: while he focused on gg, he did call out both sides crap.10/17/2014 - 7:18pm

Papa Midnight: That was a damn good read offered by Jeff Gertsmann.10/17/2014 - 7:17pm

Matthew Wilson: http://www.giantbomb.com/articles/letter-from-the-editor-10-17-2014/1100-5049/ deferentially a nice write up.10/17/2014 - 6:44pm

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