Its so simple to understand: CoD is one of the most popular videogames right now, as long as the game and mp works, the masses dont give a shit about slightly worse graphics/guns/cookies than the xbox version.


Nuff said.

Exactly, the people screaming about the port are the minority. Call of Duty is HUUUGE and Black Ops was a good game. I favor Black Ops more than all the COD games except for COD4.

As for the PS3 preorders surpassing MW3: I think the move to a dark future with future gadgets/weapons is enough to interest some potential new buyers along with the faithful audience (the majority of whom aren't super-upset about the version differences).

As for the 360 preorders lagging behind MW3: I agree with a couple of others, it's the Halo effect.

Is it? It's install base is increasing yearly, so are we not simply seeing an increase in hardware leading to an increase in software sales?

COD games have grown massively in popularity in the EU if I'm not mistaken, so while it used to be a case of the Xbox having a large lead in in NA where shooters traditionally sell the lions share, this lead is being offset by the growth of COD in Others. At least that's what I'd imagine, but I'm to hungover right now to go and check the numbers.

Most PS3 owners I know buy the yearly incarnation of FIFA/Madden or COD. The only reason they own a PS3 is because it's the brand they know from the last two gens and also because of the control pad.

Well seeing PS3s biggest selling games of all time would suggest that. The vocal internet minority says PS3 has variety, which it does, but in truth the masses like shooters almost as much as xbox gamers. 

Pretty much this. It is the bigger shooter during that period and everyone is probably expecting the best in terms of how well it will work on the PS3.

And this.

When you generalize by saying "shooters" you don't mention that we are talking about two games that have become ridiculously popular and they are a cover story everywere.

And the "vocal internet minority" are the folks who focus and make a big deal out of minor and meaningless performance issues but when it comes to the PS3's variety, it is not a matter of opinion.

So the truth is the masses are doing what the masses are usually doing, going for the more luxurious, popular, bigger prodcutions.

8 player zombies?

I will go with this one. Xbox 360 has CoD, MoH and Halo 4 as options, PS3 has CoD and MoH only, there is no Resistance or Killzone to split the crowd.

I'm pumped for BLOPS 2, I still play BLOPS 1 (I was playing last night)

I think that them making Nuketown (The best MP map) a pre-order bonus was evil genius, because I never pre-order games but I'm thinking about doing it to get the map.