With the release of the two hottest FPS titles this year, console gamers find themselves confronted with the implementation of online social integration services.  Dice with Battlefield 3 is rolling out the “Battlelog” and Call of Duty brings its version called “Elite”.  So, what are these services?  How do they compare? How will they impact our gaming? … and how could they impact the future of online play?

So lets start at the beginning…  What are these services?    Social integration services…what a mouthful.  Think of it as extending your current console friends list into the games websites and forums.  With all kinds of real time stat tracking, match making, friend list extentions and clan play services.  As well as the older form of forums based on the game tied in and your pretty much there… but these go farther then that.  They will also provide focused medias and marketing directly to their target audience… you the gamer.   All this will also be accessible from multiple web capable devices like pc’s, lap-tops, smart phones and tablets.  So instead of having to wait to get home to find out your clan mate scheduled a match, to which your are now late…  with smart phone in hand you, the now informed gamer are aware of the match and able to take action to prevent any issue. Therefore, let the H.A.M. role.  Pretty cool stuff huh?

Now lets get specific with the service details in a side by side comparison:

In comparison the two services seem very very similar except in one very important way….$$   While BatteLog is free, Activision is charging $49.99 a year if you pre-order the service and $59.99 a year otherwise.  Yes there is a free variant to the Elite service but with greatly reduced access, overall services and no DLC.  As to the DLC i would like to make clear that while the Elite service subscription includes it, the BattleLog does not.  However all pre-ordered versions of Battlefield 3 come with a redeemable code for the future full game exspansion “Back to Karkand”.    Also it is noteworthy that in the past Dice has made all new maps released free to all users who have a Vip code(purchased game at release).  Thereby the only significant difference i can see between the services, is the price tag.

Like most of you, when i read all these services,  i was like WOW!  They look to be very cool and greatly enhance the communities surrounding each game.  This is for sure, yet these are the first implementations of such services and i myself have talked with players that seem less then enthusiastic about them.  They are a experiment of sorts and players may find them redundant and unimportant, but I think these are examples of what we will come to expect in gaming.

In thinking of the future of online play, competitive gaming and the role of these new social services, i found myself left with a question.  One that is being placed before each of the players sitting in excited anticipation of these titles.   A question that i wonder if the players even see.  It is clear that “BattleLog” and “Elite” are the first of there kind and the success or failure of these services will act as a very influential business model for any title or developer considering doing the same.  So the question being placed before the FPS communities is, pay or free?

 

Battlefield 3: BattleLog vs COD: Elite, 10.0 out of 10 based on 2 ratings