Home Login Sign Up Forums News Articles Leaderboards Members Search
Welcome! Sign up to remove the advertisements.

Failure to Elite

Editorial | March 27, 2012 9:00 am
The word Elite evokes a certain sense of grandeur. To be called Elite makes one feel full of pride. It implies that you are the best of the best, the cream of the crop, and a role-model to be followed. People spend their lives striving to be Elite or to hold on to their Elite title. It is a word that is not used lightly, unless of course you are Activision or Beachhead Studios, and have a hand in the Call of Duty: Elite service.

To be fair Call of Duty: Elite is a brilliant idea, and it has the potential to become very beneficial to both new and veteran gamers. However it seems that potential is being squandered on quick fixes, and unethical maneuvering.

Call of Duty: Elite has four major divisions: Career, Connect, Compete, and Improve, of which only Career and Improve perform in the manner that they were advertised. However even these features are not without their flaws, and these flaws are only magnified when the whole system is found to be routinely inaccessible.

Most of the disdain for Call of Duty: Elite comes from its inability to successfully provide its two most hyped features. Clan operations/challenges, and competition operations. Clan Operations didn't make an appearance on Call of Duty: Elite until 3 months after the service officially launched (7 months if we include when the beta was released). When it did appear four operations were listed, but only three were carried out. The third clan operation was then retroactively canceled two days after it took place. The remaining two clan operations took two weeks to review before any awards were handed out. Clan operations has yet to return to the Call of Duty: Elite service.

Competition operations, on the other hand, has been available quite regularly. It is the monitoring of these operations that provides most of the problems. Several competition operations have been retroactively canceled due to the developers inability to monitor/prevent cheaters. Other competition operations are delisted just prior to the event happening, or during the event, and are then attributed to maintenance errors.

Despite all of this, there are some benefits to subscribing to Call of Duty: Elite. For starters (and most importantly) you receive early, and "free" access to all the DLC. You are able to access Call of Duty: Elite T.V. In addition you have three times the regular user's storage for match replays, and two times the length for video exporting. Finally you get access to unique titles/emblems/themes, and clan titles/emblems.

Call of Duty: Elite was a fantastic premise that was poorly executed, and even more poorly maintained.

Keywords: Call of Duty, Elite, Call, Duty, Black Ops, Modern Warfare 3,

Options:
Archived: Article Discussion: Failure to Elite

Posted Under: Articles
Re: Failure to Elite
Burnt Waffle
Burnt Waffle

This user has achieved a gamerscore of 25,000 or higher.

Bronze Waffle
Bronze Waffle

This user has achieved a gamerscore of 50,000 or higher.

Silver Waffle
Silver Waffle

This user has achieved a gamerscore of 100,000 or higher.

Golden Waffle
Golden Waffle

This user has achieved a gamerscore of 150,000 or higher.

3 Year Login Streak
3 Year Login Streak

This user has logged in to Xbox America every day for the past three years.

1,000 Posts
1,000 Posts

This user has written over 1,000 posts. Rock on!

Community Spotlight
Community Spotlight

This Xbox America member has been featured in the Monthly Community Spotlight.

Barterer
Barterer

This user has completed 3 or more game trades and is in good trading standing.

Discussion Sparker
Discussion Sparker

This user created a thread which attracted 150 or more replies.

Sociable
Sociable

This user introduced himself or herself in the Introduce Yourself forum.

Googler
Googler

This user used the Xbox America search bar.

Gamercard Lover
Gamercard Lover

This user has posted one of his or her official Xbox America gamercards on another website.

I agree - great idea, poor execution.

On the maintenance issue, only Bungie was fastidious and anal enough to maintain all of their services and keep a watchful eye on any of the players within those services.
Re: Failure to Elite
Xbox America Friend
Xbox America Friend

This user has donated $1+ to Xbox America.

Xbox America Sponsor
Xbox America Sponsor

This user has donated $15+ to Xbox America.

Xbox America Benefactor
Xbox America Benefactor

This user has donated $50+ to Xbox America.

Xbox America Backer
Xbox America Backer

This user has donated $100+ to Xbox America.

Burnt Waffle
Burnt Waffle

This user has achieved a gamerscore of 25,000 or higher.

Bronze Waffle
Bronze Waffle

This user has achieved a gamerscore of 50,000 or higher.

Silver Waffle
Silver Waffle

This user has achieved a gamerscore of 100,000 or higher.

Golden Waffle
Golden Waffle

This user has achieved a gamerscore of 150,000 or higher.

1,000 Posts
1,000 Posts

This user has written over 1,000 posts. Rock on!

Community Spotlight
Community Spotlight

This Xbox America member has been featured in the Monthly Community Spotlight.

360Voice Group
360Voice Group

This user is a member of Xbox America's group on 360Voice.com.

Waffle Philanthropist
Waffle Philanthropist

This user has donated three or more games to the Waffle Order thread.

Barterer
Barterer

This user has completed 3 or more game trades and is in good trading standing.

Discussion Sparker
Discussion Sparker

This user created a thread which attracted 150 or more replies.

Representin'
Representin'

This user has given Xbox America some love in his Xbox Live motto.

It Defines Me
It Defines Me

This user mentioned Xbox America in his Xbox Live biography.

Sociable
Sociable

This user introduced himself or herself in the Introduce Yourself forum.

Googler
Googler

This user used the Xbox America search bar.

Gamercard Lover
Gamercard Lover

This user has posted one of his or her official Xbox America gamercards on another website.

Community Player
Community Player

This gamer participated in Xbox America's Xbox.com Community Playdate.

Beta Tester
Beta Tester

This user has participated in a Xbox America beta test.

Yet another reason the casual shooter fan should steer clear. Nice editorial
Re: Failure to Elite
Xbox America Friend
Xbox America Friend

This user has donated $1+ to Xbox America.

Burnt Waffle
Burnt Waffle

This user has achieved a gamerscore of 25,000 or higher.

Bronze Waffle
Bronze Waffle

This user has achieved a gamerscore of 50,000 or higher.

Silver Waffle
Silver Waffle

This user has achieved a gamerscore of 100,000 or higher.

Golden Waffle
Golden Waffle

This user has achieved a gamerscore of 150,000 or higher.

1,000 Posts
1,000 Posts

This user has written over 1,000 posts. Rock on!

Head of State
Head of State

This user has one of the highest gamerscores in his or her region.

Community Spotlight
Community Spotlight

This Xbox America member has been featured in the Monthly Community Spotlight.

360Voice Group
360Voice Group

This user is a member of Xbox America's group on 360Voice.com.

Ron Burgundy
Ron Burgundy

This user has written 10+ published Xbox America news articles.

Discussion Sparker
Discussion Sparker

This user created a thread which attracted 150 or more replies.

Sociable
Sociable

This user introduced himself or herself in the Introduce Yourself forum.

Googler
Googler

This user used the Xbox America search bar.

Gamercard Lover
Gamercard Lover

This user has posted one of his or her official Xbox America gamercards on another website.

Yeah, I would never trust anything from Activision and I always find it funny they try saying "free" when you have to pay a ridiculous fee upfront.
Re: Failure to Elite
Competition Pro
Competition Pro

This user has won three or more gamerscore competitions.

Burnt Waffle
Burnt Waffle

This user has achieved a gamerscore of 25,000 or higher.

Bronze Waffle
Bronze Waffle

This user has achieved a gamerscore of 50,000 or higher.

Silver Waffle
Silver Waffle

This user has achieved a gamerscore of 100,000 or higher.

360Voice Group
360Voice Group

This user is a member of Xbox America's group on 360Voice.com.

Sociable
Sociable

This user introduced himself or herself in the Introduce Yourself forum.

Googler
Googler

This user used the Xbox America search bar.

Yes, the early access to the "free" DLC always makes me laugh too.
1 16308
This thread has been archived. When a thread has been inactive for an extended period of time, it becomes "archived." These threads may be viewed but may not receive new posts. If you have something to post relevant to the topic, try searching for a more recent thread or create a new thread.