Ben-DutkaSome analysts claim they're seeing signs of slowing in the Call of Duty franchise, despite another gigantic billion-dollar installment this year.
For the record, a "fad" doesn't have a limit to its popularity; it merely has a time limit. So the big question Activision should ask themselves is this- Is Cod a legitimate, lasting phenomenon (like Mario or something) or is it merely a passing fad?
There was another billion-dollar franchise that, as it turns out, was just a fad. It was called Guitar Hero . However, the series itself wasn't exactly the fad; the rhythm/dance/music genre with all the plastic instruments turned out to be surprisingly short-lived, although it hasn't completely disappeared. And of course, first-person shooters aren't going anywhere, so we're not asking if FPSs are a fad; we're asking about Call of Duty . Are its days numbered? Has this world-sweeping series already started a downward spiral? Will it be recognizable in ten years? Five years?
Fads come and go in all walks of life, but especially in our entertainment. There are very few enduring hits; for instance, one could argue that James Bond will never disappear from the movie world, and they'll probably keep making games based on Nintendo's timeless mascots forever. But will we always see Call of Duty titles? That's the question, really. Is it just a giant fad? Fads can rake in ridiculous amount of money and then suddenly, you turn around and they're gone. Perhaps one could look at the target audience for CoD and make a reasonable determination…will they stick with what they love, or will they just leap on board with the next big thing?
In other words- Are they actually loyal? I say it's a tough question.