People won't appreciate it when your release schedule maintains a similar tempo to annual crapfests like Madden. However, COD does appear to be a higher-quality product in comparison. But with that many iterations in a franchise, outside observers can't help but come away thinking that it's just a bunch of reskins parading as updates.
Agreed.
Thats why Activision tries to wipe out the repetition with 3 different settings of games on a rotation. From each setting, most of the guns and perks and attachments are the same. The biggest difference from game to game is the maps. And even that is muddied with rehashed classic maps being released instead of more new maps.
Imagine what sales and interest would be if it was solely MW and we on MW12 by now. No doubt sales would be less. I know I wouldnt buy 14 COD MW games in a row no matter how much I loved COD back in the day.
As for EA, FIFA sales seem to sell great every year, so some reason that franchise holds. I dont play FIFA, so maybe the annual innovations(?) keep up interest, but I think every other EA game have nosedived in sales for a long time. NHL sells way less, NBA doesn't even release, and neither does boxing or golf. I dont think UFC games sell a ton either. And I dont think Madden sells as many copies as before (might be wrong though).
Thats why mtx is so important.