Chalk one win up to Modern Warfare 3 in the ongoing battle between it and its modern FPS competition, Battlefield 3, as the once fake site ModernWarfare3.com finally redirects to the official MW3 site.
Starting first as an anti-Call of Duty fan site, and then blossoming into a Battlefield 3 official site redirect, the ModernWarfare3.com URL has been quite the headache for Activision. But, putting words into action, Activision was able to not only have the fake site brought down, but also earned the right to use the URL as they see fit (which we now know is to direct viewers to the official site).
While this isn’t a particularly harsh blow to Battlefield 3 or its fan base, it is surprising to see Activision move so swiftly against free marketing for their competition, on their property’s behalf. Most figured that the site would simply be hit with a cease and desist, and that would be the end of it.
Perhaps this was Activision’s way of bypassing the mud slinging that has gone on with EA’s Riccitiello, and putting their actions before their words. Either way, the statement has been made, and by this time next month no one will even care that ModernWarfare3.com once sent them to the official Battlefield 3 site.
With both games set to release in under a month it’s time to let the most important part of this competition, the games, do the talking. We’ve already had substantial tastes of both title’s multiplayer offerings (Battlefield 3 in beta form and Modern Warfare 3 at Call of Duty XP), but the single player elements have only be detailed in trailer form. Who will win out in the end isn’t important, what is important is that both developers put out a product that is well worth the price tag and the time commitment.
What do you think of this whole ModernWarfare3.com redirect situation? Will we ever see the day where Battlefield and Call of Duty peacefully co-exist.
Modern Warfare 3 releases November 8, 2011 for the Xbox 360, PC, and PS3.
Source: Fusible
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As for the ending question, my answer is this:
‘Until EA grows up and decides to be an adult about things, there will be no peaceful co-existence between the two (EA and Activision).’
Look at InfinityWard, Sledgehammer and Activision. What have they been focused on? MW3, and MW3 alone.
Now look at DICE and EA. What have they been focused on? Bashing MW3, and making claims that BF3 is better.
Which side is showing more maturity?
The answer is IW, Sledgehammer and Activision.
I feel that IW and Sledgehammer are completely fine with DICE, and that (As the spokesmen for IW and S.H. have stated,) they even respect DICE. However, I am not so sure about DICE respecting IW and Sledgehammer.
As for EA and Activision, who knows. All I know is that EA has been very childish about the whole thing, and Activision has remained silent for the most part.
The other factor is the fanbase. And lets face it. Fanboys, from either side, will take a long time to settle down.
Maybe one day they will all grow up and get over it. But until then, we will be seeing a lot more of this type of stuff. (Unfortunately.)
You might want to be a bit less biased in the article and explain that in no way did DICE, EA, or the Battlefield franchise have anything to do with the redirect. This was one guy acting on his own… whose rights were violated, by the way. Not condoning what he did, or anything, but did Activision have the right to force GoDaddy.com to take down the site and eventually award it to them?
@AlphaRogue. What have they done to bash them exactly? It’s called marketing (which EA handles most of, not DICE). If they poke a little fun at COD its no big deal. Id rather have that than how activision has been taking every little scrape against their reputation as an attack and a reason to go to court.