Electronics Arts has engaged in some high level mudslinging with Activision over Battlefield 3 and Modern Warfare 3. Scott Steinberg of TechSavvy Global, however, thinks it’s a “clever ploy” by those at EA.
“It reflects just how seriously Electronic Arts and Activision take the coming clash of the titans – and how much each side has invested in the conflict’s outcome. Modern Warfare 3 enjoys tremendous brand recognition and a massive fan following, giving it a marked advantage over Battlefield 3 at the cash register… but Battlefield 3 may very well be the more ambitious, polished and critically-acclaimed of the two titles,” said Steinberg. “Moreover, each side plans to spend well into the eight or nine figures promoting the titles, reinforcing just how high the stakes are they’re playing for.”
“From a broader perspective, tasteful or no, the mudslinging means little from the perspective of semantics – subtlety’s never been an industry strong suit, as gaming rivals have been hurling insults since the days of ‘Genesis does what Nintendon’t.’ But what such smack-talk does do is galvanize attention around the coming showdown: A win-win for both sides from the perspective of pure publicity,” he continued. “Whether or not that’s by design, or simply a natural outpouring of the enthusiasm and emotional investment each publisher has invested in the projects is largely irrelevant. Regardless of your appetite for name-calling, there’s no denying the clear upsides gained via such scuffles, as these heated exchanges help keep both games in the headlines, and top of mind.”
Source: IndustryGamers {link no longer active}
