Why Call of Duty Doesn’t Use Real Gun Names (And Why It Matters)
Why Doesn’t Call of Duty Use Real Gun Names?
The Call of Duty franchise is one of the most popular video game series of all time, with over 300 million copies sold worldwide. But one thing that has always puzzled fans is why the games don’t use real gun names.
After all, other popular military shooters like Battlefield and Medal of Honor do use real gun names. So why not Call of Duty?
There are a few reasons for this. First, using real gun names can open up a game to legal challenges. For example, in 2009, Activision was sued by the manufacturer of the Steyr AUG assault rifle over its depiction in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. The lawsuit was eventually settled out of court, but it highlighted the potential legal risks of using real gun names.
Second, using real gun names can alienate players from certain countries. For example, the Chinese government has banned the sale of games that depict real-world weapons, so Call of Duty games that are released in China must use fictional gun names.
Finally, using real gun names can simply be seen as unnecessary. After all, Call of Duty is a work of fiction, and the use of fictional gun names doesn’t detract from the game’s realism.
So, while there are a few reasons why Call of Duty doesn’t use real gun names, the bottom line is that it’s a decision that the developers have made in order to protect themselves from legal challenges, to appeal to a wider audience, and to maintain the game’s sense of realism.
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| Reason | Explanation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing | It can be expensive and time-consuming to obtain the rights to use real gun names. | The M4A1 rifle in Call of Duty is called the “M4 Carbine”. |
| Legal concerns | Using real gun names could open the game up to legal challenges from gun manufacturers. | The AK-47 rifle in Call of Duty is called the “AK-47u”. |
| Marketing | Using fictional gun names can help to create a more immersive experience for players. | The FAMAS rifle in Call of Duty is called the “FAMAS F1”. |
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Call of Duty is a popular first-person shooter video game series that has been released on multiple platforms since 2003. The games are set in various historical and modern conflicts, and players take on the role of soldiers fighting against enemies.
One of the things that sets Call of Duty apart from other first-person shooter games is its realistic depiction of weapons. The guns in Call of Duty look and sound like real guns, and they behave in a realistic way. However, one thing that is not realistic about Call of Duty is the use of fictional gun names.
In this article, we will explore the reasons why Call of Duty does not use real gun names. We will discuss the legal reasons, historical reasons, and gameplay reasons for this decision.
Legal reasons
The most important reason why Call of Duty does not use real gun names is because of copyright and trademark laws. Copyright law protects the creative expression of authors, artists, and musicians. Trademark law protects the brand names of businesses.
If Call of Duty used real gun names, it would be infringing on the copyrights and trademarks of the gun manufacturers. This could result in legal action being taken against Activision, the publisher of Call of Duty.
In addition to copyright and trademark laws, there are also other legal reasons why Call of Duty does not use real gun names. For example, the use of real gun names could violate export control laws. Export control laws restrict the export of certain goods and technologies to certain countries.
Call of Duty may not want to pay licensing fees for the use of real gun names.
Another reason why Call of Duty does not use real gun names is because it may not want to pay licensing fees for the use of these names. Gun manufacturers typically charge licensing fees for the use of their trademarks. These fees can be expensive, and Activision may not want to pay them.
Using real gun names could create legal liability for Call of Duty if the game is used in a way that is harmful or offensive.
Finally, Call of Duty may not use real gun names because it does not want to create legal liability for itself. If the game is used in a way that is harmful or offensive, the gun manufacturers could sue Activision for damages.
Historical reasons
In addition to the legal reasons, there are also historical reasons why Call of Duty does not use real gun names. The early Call of Duty games were set in historical conflicts, and the use of real gun names would have been inaccurate.
For example, the first Call of Duty game was set during World War II. At the time, the United States military used a variety of different guns, including the M1 Garand, the Thompson submachine gun, and the Browning M1919 machine gun. If Call of Duty had used real gun names in this game, it would have been inaccurate because not all of these guns were used by the United States military during World War II.
Modern Call of Duty games are not set in specific historical conflicts, but they still use fictional gun names to maintain a consistent style.
The modern Call of Duty games are not set in specific historical conflicts, but they still use fictional gun names to maintain a consistent style. This is because the developers of Call of Duty want the games to have a realistic feel, and they believe that using fictional gun names helps to achieve this goal.
By using fictional gun names, the developers of Call of Duty can avoid the legal and historical issues that are associated with using real gun names. They can also create a consistent style for the games that is not tied to any specific historical conflict.
There are a number of reasons why Call of Duty does not use real gun names. These reasons include legal, historical, and gameplay concerns. By using fictional gun names, the developers of Call of Duty can avoid legal liability, create a consistent style for the games, and maintain a realistic feel.
Creative reasons
One of the main reasons why Call of Duty doesn’t use real gun names is because it gives the developers more freedom to create unique and interesting weapons. When using real gun names, the developers are limited to the existing weapons that are available. This can restrict their creativity and make it difficult to come up with new and innovative weapons.
By using fictional gun names, the developers are free to create any type of weapon they want. They can make the weapons as powerful or as weak as they want, and they can give them any type of design they want. This allows them to create weapons that are perfectly suited for the game’s setting and gameplay.
For example, in the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare series, the developers created a number of fictional weapons that were based on real-world weapons. These weapons included the M4A1 assault rifle, the AK-47 assault rifle, and the MP5 submachine gun. However, the developers also created a number of unique and interesting weapons that were not based on any real-world weapons. These included the SCAR-H assault rifle, the ACR assault rifle, and the P90 submachine gun.
These fictional weapons helped to make the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare series more interesting and exciting. They gave the developers the freedom to create weapons that were perfectly suited for the game’s setting and gameplay.
Immersion
Another reason why Call of Duty doesn’t use real gun names is because it can help to create a sense of immersion in the game world. When players are using weapons that have real-world names, it can break the illusion that they are actually in a warzone. This is because players are likely to be familiar with the real-world weapons and they may start to think about the game in terms of real-world conflicts.
By using fictional gun names, the developers can help to keep the game world separate from the real world. This can help to create a more immersive experience for players and it can make the game more enjoyable.
For example, in the Call of Duty: Black Ops series, the developers created a number of fictional weapons that were based on real-world weapons. These weapons included the AK-74 assault rifle, the M16 assault rifle, and the M24 sniper rifle. However, the developers also created a number of unique and interesting weapons that were not based on any real-world weapons. These included the MPL assault rifle, the Crossbow, and the Death Machine.
These fictional weapons helped to create a sense of immersion in the Call of Duty: Black Ops series. They helped to keep the game world separate from the real world and they made the game more enjoyable for players.
Marketing reasons
One of the main reasons why Call of Duty doesn’t use real gun names is because it can help the game to avoid negative associations with real-world weapons. In recent years, there have been a number of high-profile shootings in the United States. These shootings have led to increased scrutiny of the media’s portrayal of guns.
By using fictional gun names, Call of Duty can help to avoid any negative associations with real-world weapons. This can help the game to appeal to a wider audience and it can also help to protect the game’s developers from criticism.
For example, in the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare series, the developers created a number of fictional weapons that were based on real-world weapons. These weapons included the M4A1 assault rifle, the AK-47 assault rifle, and the MP5 submachine gun. However, the developers also created a number of unique and interesting weapons that were not based on any real-world weapons. These included the SCAR-H assault rifle, the ACR assault rifle, and the P90 submachine gun.
These fictional weapons helped to keep the game world separate from the real world and they helped to avoid any negative associations with real-world weapons. This helped the game to appeal to a wider audience and it also helped to protect the game’s developers from criticism.
There are a number of reasons why Call of Duty doesn’t use real gun names. These reasons include creative reasons, immersion reasons, and marketing reasons. By using fictional gun names, the developers are able to create unique and interesting weapons, create a sense of immersion in the game world, and avoid any negative associations with real-world weapons.
Q: Why doesn’t Call of Duty use real gun names?
A: There are a few reasons why Call of Duty does not use real gun names.
- Licensing: The use of real gun names can be expensive, as companies must obtain permission from the manufacturers to use their trademarks. This can be a significant barrier for developers, especially for smaller studios.
- Legal concerns: There is also the potential for legal liability if a game developer uses a real gun name incorrectly or in a way that could be seen as defamatory or damaging to the manufacturer. This is why many developers choose to use fictional gun names instead, which can help to avoid any potential legal issues.
- Accuracy: Another reason why Call of Duty does not use real gun names is to maintain a level of accuracy. While the game is not a realistic simulation of war, developers do want to make sure that the guns in the game are portrayed accurately. Using fictional gun names can help to ensure that the game is not seen as promoting or glorifying real-world weapons.
Q: What are some of the fictional gun names used in Call of Duty?
A: Some of the fictional gun names used in Call of Duty include the M4A1 Carbine, the AK-47, and the M16A4. These guns are based on real-world weapons, but they have been given fictional names in order to avoid any legal issues.
Q: Do any Call of Duty games use real gun names?
A: Yes, some of the earlier Call of Duty games did use real gun names. However, this practice was discontinued in later games due to the reasons mentioned above.
Q: Does it bother you that Call of Duty doesn’t use real gun names?
A: This is a matter of personal preference. Some players may prefer that the game use real gun names, while others may not be bothered by the use of fictional names. Ultimately, it is up to each individual player to decide whether or not they find the use of fictional gun names to be a problem.
there are a number of reasons why Call of Duty does not use real gun names. These reasons include legal concerns, branding, and artistic license. Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to use real gun names is a complex one that must be weighed carefully by developers and publishers.
While there are some potential benefits to using real gun names, there are also a number of risks. By using real gun names, developers and publishers open themselves up to the possibility of legal challenges from gun manufacturers. They also run the risk of alienating players who may be sensitive to the use of real-world weapons in video games.
On the other hand, using real gun names can also provide a number of benefits. It can help to create a more realistic and immersive experience for players. It can also help to build brand awareness and generate excitement for new games.
Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to use real gun names is a complex one that must be weighed carefully by developers and publishers. There is no right or wrong answer, and the best decision for one game may not be the best decision for another.
Here are some key takeaways from this discussion:
- The use of real gun names in video games is a controversial topic. There are a number of potential benefits and risks associated with using real gun names.
- Legal concerns, branding, and artistic license are all factors that developers and publishers must consider when making the decision of whether or not to use real gun names.
- There is no right or wrong answer to the question of whether or not to use real gun names in video games. The best decision for one game may not be the best decision for another.