Activision - This Is Unacceptable

NextGN writes: "Before I picked up Call of Duty: Black Ops for my PlayStation 3 I was well aware that it might be the down-ported version – it just seemed to be the more reasonable choice for me since I have the rest of the series on that console. The past games, though inferior, were still very much playable so it really didn’t bother me too much. Unfortunately, that’s not the case at all with Black Ops for the PlayStation 3. Treyarch/Activision have botched up something that I have been holding out for this entire generation, and only on the PlayStation 3 – it’s 3D gaming."

[SuggestionBoy]

It's all about money. They are probably taking bribes on the side and paying the PS3 port team less. It's all business.

[units]

take off the tin foil hat

[Kitchen_Sink]

It does sound a little bit crazy but people do all kinds of weird things for money. Microsoft knew that Call of Duty would be a big success so they could have easily signed a contract limiting the benchmark of the PlayStation versions. It's like this: you own a muffin making company. One coffee shop offers you a contract to only sell them the freshest and tastiest muffins, the others get the left overs. :P

[-Alpha]

It really doesn't matter how likely it is. If you don't have proof that it's happening then you honestly have nothing other than a belief. Not surprised everybody here would buy an Activision/MS theory. But if you have no evidence to support it there is no reason anybody should believe it.

If I were to tell you that the moon landing didn't happen and vaguely refer to how the government isn't trustworthy and is secretive, should you believe me? Or would you demand proof?

We know EA and Sony are partnering up. Does this mean Sony paid EA to make the 360 version of Dragon Age inferior? Since you guys operate on assumptions, this should be just as likely, shouldn't it?

By the way, anybody care to share what is inferior about this port that isn't inferior with any other multiplatform PS3 title? A lot of PS3 multiplat titles are inferior on the PS3. Some more than others, and other times the 360 version is inferior.

The biggest omission on the PS3 is the lack of dual-log in. Nobody seems to have a problem with Sony getting exclusive content for games. In fact, Sony promotes it with EA. MS promotes with Activision.

Why would MS go under the table to make the PS3 version inferior anyway? Why not promote exclusive dual-log in for split-screen? See the problem here? If Treyarch wanted to hold back the PS3 version they don't need to go under the table. They can make it inferior if they damn please and give the 360 version all the goodies.

It makes no sense for MS to bother sabotaging the PS3 version. What do they gain out of it? Rage on the internet? Declined sales for the PS3 version? Anybody who wants BO probably already has it on the PS3.

The lack of dual-log in and networking issues are the biggest things wrong with the PS3 version. There isn't much else except for maybe slightly superior graphics on the 360.

I am not surprised if the networking is acting differently for all 4 consoles or that the PS3 version has more networking issues than the 360. Treyarch however has been on top of fixing known issues on the PS3 regarding networking. If they have a deal with MS, why would they bother doing this? Do you guys sincerely believe MS decided to throw money at Activision for timed-superiority?

The PS3 version of games have always gotten second treatment from numerous games.

Bad Company 2 is getting patches out on PS3 first. The networking also was worse on the 360 than on PS3 around launch.

By everybody's logic, PS3 is conspiring with EA to keep the 360 version down, right? It couldn't POSSIBLY be that EA is using the PS3 as the lead platform like Activision is using Xbox, can it?

[Dragun619]

It's not really that hard to believe considering, before PS3 Slim, Kotick was willing to drop Support for the PS3.

Probably starts development on Xbox 360 first, then do a last minute port for the PS3. They probably see that Call of Duty will always sell, no matter what platform, especially Kotick, considering he joked about adding a Subscription for Call of Duty.

[gcolley]

paranoid much?

[RageAgainstTheMShine]

yup Microshaft at its very best.... stealing games.

This really ain't no news. This is so 2007.
Don't you PS3 owners never ever learn?

Whoever wrote this article, Come on learn from your mistake, shake your head, just help yourself & move on.

It doesn't take a genius to understand what MicroShaft has been doing to destroy the gaming industry.

We got Gran Turismo 5.

[Longrod_Von_Hugendon]

Meh.. I'm waiting for KZ3/RES3/Crysis 2.

[Da_Truth]

@ Alpha-Male: the problem is that modern warfare 1-2 ran identical on both systems...so there was no need for an inferior port this time. The only thing that changed from MW2 to BO is the deal between MS and Act for Call of Duty DLC...which makes you wonder if that deal affected the quality of the PS3 game...Act probably told MS we can't give you the game exclusivity since we make tons of money from the PS3 version, but we can make your version better.

[-Alpha]

@Da_Truth

Sure, but that still doesn't prove this conspiracy theory.

Note that as a whole, Treyarch's engine has been inferior to IW's and that you are comparing two different devs. WaW wasn't much different but that doesn't mean that the BO engine was sabotaged for PS3.

I have little doubt that they just didn't do a good enough port, it's got nothing to do with MS paying Treyarch to sabotage the PS3. It makes no sense.

"Act probably told MS we can't give you the game exclusivity since we make tons of money from the PS3 version, but we can make your version better"

Again, this is an assumption that has no proof. It's easy to assume such things, but if there is no evidence, there is no reason for people to believe it.

Can you list me everything you think is inferior on the PS3 version? Dual-log in is the big one, mind you. But wouldn't you think MS would promote that instead of secretly sabotaging the PS3? And if they did, why would they keep it a secret?

The thing with having a vague theory is that there are many questions left unanswered that get filled with assumptions.

[Eamon]

Alpha-Male22.

One of the few people on N4G that actually speaks sense and with pure objectivity.
Have a bubble. Although, you seem to have a lot anyway lol.

[jebabcock]

@Da_Truth

Treyarch had nothing to do with MW 1 or 2. The last COD they worked on was World at War. traditionally there has always been a noted difference between the COD games treyarch has produced compared to those that Infinity Ward has produced. That being the case, yes mw 1 and 2 could have worked flawlessly on the ps3 and black ops could have problems. It would be better to maybe compare how problematic WAW was on the ps3.

[TheLastGuardian]

Is it just me or does Bobby Kotick look a little stoned in that picture? Just look at those red eyes.

[SodoBot]

Could also be the reflection of the hell-fires burning deep inside his mind. :)

[dktxx2]

Naw thats just his true form showing.

[UnSelf]

he was crying from laughter at the millions who still buy COD

[xTruthx]

After game trailers, IGN and even square enix got caught switching pics from ps3 and putting them on 360, nothing is hard to believe. People can just live in denial if they want.

[n to the b]

never heard this. link please?

[PhoenixDevil]

@n to the b
http://www.qj.net/qjnet/new...
yer they got caught red handed, i dnt think this is the worst thing either as i remember seeing an article on N4G doing a graphics comparison n the PS3 photo had been edited so the L1 button turned into the left bumper n it was very hard to notice that looked very shady

[airforcex]

Unlike the PS1, the PS3 was poorly designed for quick ports.

[Guwapo77]

Like money is an issue when it comes to Call of Duty. Reserve a comment for games that barely scratch 100k sold.

[visualb]

bobby kotick doesn't care if your PS3 version of COD sucks

you gave him money. now shut up

or get a 360 and satisfy his deal with Microsoft.

[AKS]

A guy like Kotick only cares about money. Consumers aren't exactly sending him a message of displeasure by throwing bags of money at his feet every time an annual Call of Duty game is released. As long as he's getting paid like that nothing will change.

[mittwaffen]

Been caught before, hell even the chocolate industry has been caught fixing prices. Why wouldnt games be doing the same thing?

Same dev costs, give PS3 people a lesser version (They dont know better, they'll buy it)=Acitivison.

[Otheros00]

One word that describes everything about usa.
Healthcare

[BrownRanger]

Oh, Mr. Kotick, why do you have to be such a meanie? :(

[BeAGamer]

because he's the devil

[mittwaffen]

HES THE DEVIL!

[demonddel]

just get the 360 version or play ur many exclusives u always brag about u fucking cry babies

[Silly gameAr]

Sounds like a plan to me, minus the wasting money on Black Ops part though.

[Lyr1c]

Cry babies?

If I were a cry baby, I'd be playing Kinectimals........

[demonddel]

ok everybody is out to sabotage the PS3 and everybody is on MS payroll we all get it now i dont know whose worst these crybabies or them teabaggers i mean the tea parties

[Nathaniel_Drake]

Or I would be paying for online play hehehe

[TheNocturnus]

Well said. PS3 Blows! Buh our exkluzives! They blow too. Bubble for you!

[Lyr1c]

Hi, I'm Nocturnus30, and I'm a troll.

Thank you.

[TheNocturnus]

Hi, I'm Nocturnus30, and I HATE the garbage that the PS3 is. Call me a troll if you want, that will not change the fact that I hate the PS3 based on my own personal experience from owning 2 of them.

[ALFAxD_CENTAURO]

I avoided this game for any platform. Can't believe also had problems on PC, which this was the main Platform for COD Series, more reasons to avoid this game and next CODs also.

Good thing I save the money for GT5 and the G25 Wheel.

[Ace Killa 08]

U living in the pass bud, great games started on pc and now the industry does not care where it came from, just where it would sell more

[clintos59]

Im glad I didnt buy this garbage port. My lil bro doesnt care aslong as he can play online hes happy. Anyways just got my GT5 copy which I couldnt find in a few stores, luckily my friend is the manager of dispatching for sony & got a copy from him. Installing it now & cant wait to play this bad boy.

[mbmanhattan]

lol you lie little kid! GT5 didn't sell out in any store.

[Dark_Overlord]

Thats odd, I have a Game, Gamestation, Blockbuster, Asda, Morrisons and Sainburys all near to me that sell PS3 games, not one of them has GT5 left.

[Jazz4108]

Just bought slaughterhouse at my walmart and walmart is stocked to the ceiling with gt5 plus our llocal newspaper has it advertised as guranteed in stock all over the place for tommorows black friday sales. BTW this is in Las Vegas. No shortages here. I did notice walmart wass completley out of ps3 systems and had plenty of 360 kinect systems. This could be a good sign that gt5 is moving alot of consoles or it could be poor stocking, who knows.

[Gamer_Z]

So Crap Ops is a flop who would have guessed

[GT FLYINGDOG]

inferior on the PS3

[A LIVING LEGEND]

Lost in all of this......
or perhaps learned as a result.
"Build it and they will come"

[unseen49]

ps3 fans go buy mag and download mag2.0 then you be happy...MAG2.0 better then cod

[sleepy3]

Honestly, I don't know what all this is about. I can't believe i was almost swayed into not buying the game after all the negative stuff i bought. But i bought it anyway, and you know what? Its great. No lag (so far), not getting dropped from games, it looks good, no slowdown. And so far a lot less camping. there's a guy camping here and there, but a lot less than in MW2.

Just goes to show, don't believe everything you read. Experience for yourself.

[Ducky]

Unacceptable? THIS IS sPORTED!!

... I'm sorry, I'll show myself out.

[Leon_Blu]

Give us good PS3 games, not lame xbox ports with small dvd space.

[Ace Killa 08]

They take 6 years for development, but they'll come in a bit

[Jazz4108]

Black ops was the longest so far of all the call of duty campaigns so I dont think it was gimmped to fit 360 considering 95% of alll games including sony exclusives would fit on 1 dvd if they did not have so many cut scenes on there exclusives.

[unseen49]

Activision - This Is Unacceptable making the ps3 version bad now i want you to stay with MS im a MAG2.0 player......

MAG2.0 vs COD Blackops

[GuruStarr78]

Once again...this is why I buy all of my multi-plat games for my 360 instead of the PS3.....Nothing wrong with my PS3, but developers just seem to treat it like shite.

[Leon_Blu]

But why though ? PS3 is much better console and is just a much better quality product. I know the reason why really. It's because of development costs Blu-ray vs dvd and its much more difficault coding on the ps3.

[ps3_2006_trillwill]

they are getting the hang of it they just need time to fix it up and games are getting cut short too cause of there crappy dvds.

[airforcex]

And yes, developers are getting better at developing for ps3, but the also get better for 360. In the end, it's easier/cheaper to work on 360 and get results. Look at GT5, slightly better looking than Forza 3 (read the reviews) and took for ever. In that time T10 sold 2 games. Selling is the name of the game.

[Jazz4108]

Dude i love my ps3 but to say its so much better and much higher quality is just a fanboy talking. They both are great systems and have there weakness. 360 was built like crap whe it first came out but the new systems are a brickhouse. the ps3 had alot of issues with the fatty but the slimm has helped them. Alot of people prefer xbox live due to its streamlined look vs psn but agains its opinion and to say one is that much more powerfulll is wrong when IBM who made both gpu's say they are very similar. It comes down to Sony devs being much better programmers then 360 devs and thats why the diffrence in the exclusives. Multiplat is entirley a diffrent story though. So my point is even though I love my ps3 and prefer it I still play and love my 360 and both consoles have a healthly user base and are here to stay and to knock one or ignore the other is shutting the door on the hobbie we all love and becoming a n4g fanboy.

[ps3_2006_trillwill]

Tired of getting these crappy ports cuz of those crappy dvd's. I just wish they spend a little more time for the PS3 version because they are getting the hang of the coding just needs a little more time. Im just glad they have a seperate studio working on Bioshock Infinite which is what they need to start doing for the better ports. Glad I didn't buy this game yet just wait for the patch and see what happens.

[GigaGaia]

Call of Duty should be 360 exclusive. No offense, but a crappy game like this isn't even worthy of being on the best console, which is the ps3. Microsoft can keep this. They'd need it considering they have nothing else left except Kinect.

[ps3_2006_trillwill]

I wish it didnt have to be exclusive though to xbox or ps3. I dont hate the xbox I just dont have the money to buy one. I just wish they had seperate divisions within the same company to make really good games for both consoles equally so it dont have be this way. Its not like they can start with ps3 first to port it over cuz they have to end the game with a certain amount of data or the 360 will end up with 3/4 of a game.

[Ace Killa 08]

Haha funny dude

[vickers500]

If CoD went exclusive to 360, then ps3 sales would plummet, and almost no casual gamers (who make up about like 70% of the market) would ever consider buying a ps3. It wouldn't matter how good ps3 games were, it would get horrible sales and would be in danger of going in the way of the dreamcast.

I love my ps3 to death, but if such a high selling game like CoD went exclusive to 360, it would greatly hurt ps3 sales, and then potentially hinder the quality of the games.

The highest selling games on ps3 are the CoD games, so taking CoD away from ps3 isn't a good idea.

And Black Ops isn't a crappy game. Only an idiot would say that it's crappy. At most it's mediocre, but a bad/crappy game it is not (when it's not having connection issues that is, which can and will be fixed, and actually are fixed for some people).

Wait, why did I take the time to type this? It just goes over the heads of ignorant retarted children who make up this site that can't accept that can't accept people with different opinions and tastes who think they are right all the time no matter what and anyone who disagrees with them on anything is an idiot.

[dragunrising]

I find it amusing that Bobby Kotick is the poster child for greed and other gamer grievances. He's that guy people love to hate. Personally, I have little love for Kodick however I don't believe for a second that he is ultimately responsible for every poor decision on the part of Activision. They are a massaive company with hundreds (thousands?) of employees.

On topic: In a perfect world it would be nice if Activision was liable for a poor PS3 port, however this reality isn't meant to be. Gamers need to vote with their wallet and not buy garbage.

[I_C_PEE]

Modern Warefare 1 & 2 ran near identical on both 360 & PS3. Why is it not the same with Black Ops, even though it uses the exact same outdated engine as Modern Warefare 1 & 2. Add to the fact Black Ops is advertised as a 360 exclusive and now with the news that Activision gets a cut of Xbox LIVE revenues, there will be questions and usually in situations like this there's something going on behind the scenes that leans heavily in MS favour. Not even the most hardcore 360 fans can deny that. I can stomach timed DLC, but its infuriating when the PS3 gets trashy versions of a game that proved in the past is more than capable of running on the PS3 just fine.

[airforcex]

If you want it to look like the 360 version, you end up spending more. This is a business. You should boycott Sony, not game developers.

[sp1deynut]

" The game does run fine in single-player campaign mode – not so much with multi-player, but it is still playable. The split-screen online mode can’t handle anything more than small team death-match games, if you play ground-war split-screen you will be getting anywhere between 15-20 frames per second "

Two words: FREE ONLINE

[Masta Kaos]

I ddnt buy the stupid game for my PS3 so im not complaining......reviews warned you but u ddnt wanna listen. If a game is inferior on your platform then don't buy it instead of busy irritating us with whining. DUmmy

[Masterchef2007]

Activision are a bunch of arseholes when it comes to developing games for the PS3. What i dont get is that they did a great job with visual parity for modern warefare 2. And all of a sudden they do a crap job with black ops

[godmoney]

Activision..... blahhhhhh...

[airforcex]

Just like the PS1 was easier to program for than the technically superior Sega Saturn. In general, companies spend more money on the PS3 version to make it look like the 360 one, and the game sells less anyway on that system.

[0oAngeluso0]

Cry me a river, go play some Killzone 2 if your not happy with Black Ops, I'm sure the 200 people online on that game would welcome you with open arms.
Also, 3-D isn't strictly a "Sony" thing, as the 360 can do it as well, despite my personal objections to the format. Cant wait for the fad to die out like always. It's a typical COD game on the PS3, people should already know what to expect, I mean didn't Activision threaten to drop support on the PS3 altogether at one point? Count yourselves lucky to get any type of COD game on that console.

[L30N4KU]

Is the PS3 version really inferior?

[Trroy]

Its slightly inferior outside of stereo 3D mode, but its really the networking issues, and the stereo 3D performance on the PS3 that people are upset about, I think.

There's really only one method of doing 3D on the 360, and while that method works on the PS3, there's a much faster method available via the SPUs. Activision obviously chose the shared technique on both platforms, rather than using the shared technique on the 360, and the fast method on the PS3, which really makes the PS3 shine in 3D, and is supposedly easy to implement.

It kinda does look like a case of "platform neglect", which is why people are so upset.

[dorron]

Activision is gaining a really bad reputation. They should take care of it before it explodes in their face.

[NeloAnjelo]

Stop f*cking buying their shit, rehashed, games that everyone insists on buying every year (Thats COD by the way). 4 CODs in 4 years... What has changed... shorter campaigns, worse stories, glitched and online imbalances... Plus they shut down good developers...

Gamers, make a statement with your money, and make something happen. Dont just Bit*h about it!

[Tzuno]

I have toilet paper with that smiling face.

[SpinalRemains138]

LOL if this is so unacceptable, why are over a million PS3 owners accepting it?

[Trroy]

I doubt these people are playing in 3D.

[TheChemicalShed]

They still got all your money. Blame all the paid-off gaming sites for giving this bullshit game good reviews.

[KaiokenKid]

how was the PS3 inferior again, atleast to the extent that people are creating petitions and crap like that? I played it on both, while maybe 360 looked better, PS3 version was perfectly fine. And honestly, is it really a common accurance anymore for the PS3 version to be noticeably worse?

[bunfighterii]

PS3 version is often unplayable at times. I don't say this out of being a prima donna and throwing my controller down at the frame rate and lag issues- I say this because 60% of your gaming time is spent getting kicked out of parties with your friends, having your connection interrupted, or just not being able to stay in a game or lobby. It's a joke.

[Der_Kommandant]

i swear to God i'll never buy an activision game again

[bunfighterii]

Kotick is the whipping boy for this one, but it was really Treyarch who f'ed it up royally. Modern Warfare 2 was a perfect on both (as in no differences between the games).

Treyarch have just proven they're not on the level that Infinity Ward was with Modern Warfare and Modern Warfare 2- they're B list mulitplat devs.

[y0haN]

Shame Black Ops has huge problems on the PC. Come on, guys!