Everyone has one… someone to guide them in the right direction. Batman has Oracle, S.H.E.I.L.D. has Nick Fury and even Darth Vader had the Emperor. What does this have to do with the newest creation in the Call of Duty franchise? Well, instead of someone, it’s something. It’s Call of Duty: Elite.
While the concept isn’t a new one, Activision has made sure its web based personal trainer is unique… at least in most ways. With the stage set between Modern Warfare 3 and Battlefield 3, Call of Duty is going to need to pull out all the stops to take the advantage.
So what is CoD: Elite? The main function of the website is to calculate every possible statistic from your in-game performance. This can range from basic stats on gun proficiency, to how long it will take you to reach the next prestige level. The stats are designed to give you an inside look and advantage on how you play. For example, someone who uses the M14 assault rifle may excel in head shots, but their kill to death ratio is too low to compensate for the accuracy. It’s these stats that can guide you down the right path and make you a better player.
Now Elite was designed to be more than just numbers. It allows you to network with other players, join groups and compete in exclusive competitions. Using a built in search engine members can seek out other players who share the same interests. For example, if you’re a fan of the New York Yankees, you can find others like you. The search range can be anything. School, sports… hell I made a group called #Over9000.
“Events” and “Operations” are held only for members. Think of it as a Top 10 competition. Players submit videos (depending on the competition.) of their most outrageous and successful shenanigans.
Now, all this comes with a price tag. A yearly subscription of $49.99 U.S.. So, is it worth it? Personally, I wouldn’t pay for a service like this. In the end you have to ask yourself, do you play enough and take the game that serious. It seems like this might turn into a fan boy service… for those who only own a console to exclusively play CoD.
I hear it all the time. People complaining about how old CoD is getting. It’s a foolish thought if you think MW3 won’t do well. The word coming out of Call of Duty: XP 2011 this past weekend is MW3 plays a lot different from previous instalments.
So will all this be enough to keep people from straying to Battlefield 3? It’s too soon to tell, but with the BF3 beta approaching sometime this month; we will soon have a better idea.