Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 for $20

Get ready to pay $20 for this game.

(Credit: Inifinity Ward)

Gamers looking to get their hands on Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 will have the opportunity to preorder the title and pay a net price of $20 if they follow basic guidelines announced recently by retailer Gamestop.

According to the company, anyone who preorders the game from Gamestop.com will have it when it hits store shelves on November 10. If those customers trade in the game by December 13, Gamestop will give them a $40 in-store credit.

Considering Modern Warfare 2 costs $60, that means that those who trade in the title will pay just $20 to play it. It's not a bad deal for frequent gamers who play through a game once and never play it again.

The $40 credit is also available to those who purchase the $80 Modern Warfare 2 Hardened Edition.

Of course, there are some rules that govern the deal. The $40 credit will only be offered for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of the game. And after December 13, Gamestop's $40 offer will expire.

Gamestop's decision to offer customers the opportunity to pay an effective price of $20 for the game is an interesting one. Modern Warfare 2 is undoubtedly one of the most highly anticipated games of the year, and having an ample supply of pre-played titles is important to Gamestop's bottom line.

But it's putting a lot of hope in gamer willingness to return Modern Warfare 2.

Call of Duty 4 is still one of the most-played multiplayer games. Modern Warfare 2 will likely follow suit. Realizing that, will gamers want to part with what could be the best multiplayer first-person shooter release this year? Let us know in the comments below.

[mattharms]

This is perhaps the most misleading title to an article ever. You aren't "getting" it for $20, you're in essence "renting" it for $20. I expect better headlines than this from CNet...

[megalomac]

No doubt...this was link bait. $20 to rent a game for 30 days? Actually, it's worse than that. You get a $40 credit which is only good at Gamestop. This is not a deal at all. Very poor article.

[bigrob029]

i was duped by the link bait too... this is in no way getting the game for $20. Really CNET? Riding the coat tails on the MW2 train just to get some page hits... How about someone find me some info on the new MW2 accessories, I have my pre-order covered and i might like to get the new throat communicator mic and maybe the new xbox controller, but i havent heard any chatter about them other than they come in a couple different camouflaged colors. Can we get some kind of preview, review, hands-on or something? There's at least 10 interesting articles on the site about the new Madden, but for Modern Warfare 2 we get "how to get shafted by gamestop for $20."

[spanthegnome]

Either this columnist was paid to write this article or new to his job. This isn't a deal and is quite frankly adding insult to injury with the recent new of no dedicated servers announced by the game maker.

[solidasiraq]

Agreed, what a tool to pull this kind of crap. At least it leaves him open for bashing.

[magnumfinger]

WE LOVE FREE PLAY! especially if we are talking Modern Warfare 2 :D But be careful now, it seems Microsoft had tighten their belt and
have recently banned 1 million xbox live players for using a pirated copy of Modern Warfare 2

so much for the "free-play": http://bit.ly/one-million-players-banned-on-playing-modern-warfare-2

[kewell82]

I will never trade in this game. I still can't get enough of MW1. The multiplayer is the best out of all the multiplayer games. I've watch video of MW2 and it looks amazing. I can't wait, just 11 more days.

[LoudHeart]

Other than the confusing game titles, Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 && Call of Duty Modern 4, the deal is not bad. I don't might trading in my old Xbox (not Xbox 360) games for that $40 in-store credit.

[solidasiraq]

What's wrong with you? There is only one modern warfare 2, the other was called cod4 modern warfare, not modern 4. There is nothing really confusing about that. And you have to trade in the NEW one after only a month of play to get the credit. Why would you get 40 dollars for trading an xbox original game in? Jesus, people on the internet have no reading comprehension. Yeah, it's a great deal /sarcasm

[lazycat202]

i'll spend $60 for the game.

[jets2400]

The whole reason for this deal is because the number of people that will trade in the game is so, sooo minimal. Its not even a deal at all its a poor attempt to make it seem like GameStop is cutting people a deal.

[tstarks420]

No way you could get someone who truly enjoys this type of shooter to return the game so quickly. The single player is nice, but what draws people to this type of game is the online playing experience.

People still play much older titles online, this is the type of game you keep, this model probably won't work.

[tubaloth]

Its a deal, but very few are going to do. Most people that buy the game are going to keep it.

The real thing is they want people to pre-order the game through Gamestop. This isn't just go buy the game day of, and take it bad the day latter. You have to pre-order it.

[CliffnMichelle]

Dan, I don't mean to be rude, but I have to wonder if you have something going with Gamestop? Seriously, a $20 rental?? Two days ownership for 33% product depreciation?? That only works out nicely for the people running Gamestop.

If you just want the single player component, then just rent it from Blockbuster or Gamefly, why on earth would you buy it at full price and trade it in at a depreciation two days latter, that's fiscally irresponsible when you have much better rental options.

[kewell82]

I think you misread the article. They have until December 13, not November 13. So they have a month and 3 days instead of two.

[solidasiraq]

Oh wow, a whole month. Great.

[junemania]

gamestop is banking on the fact that the 20 dollar gimmick would lure in buyers who otherwise would had waited out for a while, and also that most people would either "forget" to return the game by the due date, or just keep the game because its going to be so good and forego the 40 dollar store credit.
given cod4 single player was on the shorter side, i dont expect mw2 to be much longer, but the lure lies in its multiplayer...
credit cards do it all the time....fantastic schemes, but then they work because many people forget to cancel the freebie...

[shining_down]

lol play the story mode on veteran and see how long it takes. I can't beat it. Though I agree its just a plot to take your money. They sell you the game at $60, you return it at $40, then they resell it at $55.They take all that profit from selling the same game twice. If you want to sell your game sell it on-line, some one will give you $50 for the same game game stop has at $55. Just 1 more game stop schemes, Don't trust them and always ask how much they will give you for the game without their deals. For me at least it was more then what the sale was giving me but it was still less then if I would have sold it on-line.

[Clarksvegas]

The margin of people who return this game inside of the month are very slim, if they do then Gamestop can flip the title for what, 55 bucks probably. They'll pull in 15 buck on profit after paying out 40 dollars in credit, which i'm sure they're going to tell the sales folks to talk you into taking the store card instead of cash.

Honestly, you would have to have some odd standards or no interest (or capability in some cases) to want to return a game that it's predecessor is built around online play instead of the single player.

I'll say it's a smart move for Gamestop to snag some profit on a missed expectations. But alas, I'll just pass up this offer and keep the game for a while.

[Grifter02]

You can rent it for less than that and not be stuck with a $40 GameStop gift card afterward. This is the worst article I've ever seen on Cnet.

[stepyourgameup]

Uh, you could rent it from Gamefly for less than $20 in the same time frame.

[A_GIANT_SMURF]

I still dont understand the big of gamestop selling used ps3 games, high end games go for 55$, WOW a 5$ DISCOUNT!!!!, not to mention no one is going to play this game online for a month and even consider trading it back in.

[Duckdodgerrs]

As a Gamestop employee let me put this into perspective. First off we get trades of brand new releases from regular customers with in a week of release all the time and that is when trade value is only $20 or $30. Gamestop is there for people that want to sell back games and do not want to go through the hassle of doing it themselves. Also most people that trade in games have our edge card where they get 10% used games and 10% more on trades. So CODMW2 for our regular customer trades in for $44 and we would sell it used for 49.50 (assuming the price is $55 used which is expected). So for a regular customer, Gamestop only makes a $4.5 profit on that game. Then ofcourse take into account the staff's payroll, rent for that building, utilities for that building, employee health insurance, supplies to operate all thier stores and that profit starts to lower. Plus who is to say that game will not sell right away. Also at least a third of the games Gamestop sells new is paid for with trade-in credit. Thats like telling a car dealer that they should take your car in as trade because they make a profit on it. So many people wouldn't buy cars if they couldn't trade in. Also some games do not sell well as used, I can tell you every store in the country has at least 30 plus copies of Assassins Creed used. But at the end of the day, what is wrong with Gamestop making a profit. If you do not want to sell it to them, then don't. If you do not want to save $5 to $10.50, then buy new. Last time I checked there are not many profitable retailers, but Gamestop is one of them. Ok thats enough for my rant.

[TheHBK23]

Go back go work. Gamestop does offer that convenience of trading in. But when they give you only 20 bucks on a game then turn around to sell it for $55, then we have a problem. Please dont come in here talking about Gamestop as if they are doing anyone a favor. Like you said for profit, but they are terrible at it.
Why do I need to preorder to get a game? When the best buy down the street always has enough copies? Your store sucks so bad that you cant get enough? Or how about when you take in more preorders than you know you can fill and then insist on not giving anyone their money back when they want to buy it elsewhere?
How about selling used games as new? Oh gutted copies are new? Not when they are taken home to be played. Not when you cant return it as new. Would you ever buy a new game that was open? How about when you see the guys blow drying some plastic wrap on a game to sell as new?
Or how about when you claim a price drop on a game or system, but it really was just a change in the MSRP?
Or when you still sell games at 50 bucks when it has been placed as a platinum/greatest hit?

And car dealers have to fix and inspect the car. All you do is look for scratches and that's it. The dealer will put some money into the car to sell it back out. And Gamestop? nothing.

Sorry for my rant. Gamestop does have a convenient trade in program that would be better if it wasn't so blatantly trying to rip people off. And their business needs to improve their practices.

[Zoobie]

"All you do is look for scratches and that's it."

I thought they stopped looking for scratches based on some of the garbage I've seen them selling. I have no idea how discs get so scratched...

[Byteme2009]

@ TheHBK23

I agree with a lot of what you say, but that said I can't say I have ever experienced most of the things. If they are selling used copies as new, then that is wrong. If they are not able to fulfill pre-orders then they should be giving the money back. If they are selling greatest hit games for $50 bucks when they should only be $20 then that would be wrong. Again though I have never experienced any of these issues. Personally I wouldn't pay $55 for a used copy of a game when $5 more gets you a new one. I guess some people do though otherwise they would have to change the pricing.

As for scratches, that is one of the thins I love about PS3 games. I have bought a few second hand ones and the discs look like they haven't ever been touched (and I just KNOW some fanboy is going to say 'well what do you expect, it is a PS3 game - of course it hasn't been touched'). The blu-ray format is certainly fantastic for those who buy a lot of pre-used.

Finally, with regard to the article I personally knew as I hit the button that there was not going to be a $20 copy of this game, but I was curious as to what the catch was. I was expecting the usual 'Trade in 3 games from this list' kind of deal.

[TheHBK23]

A rip off if I ever saw one. They are just trying to get people to rent it for $20, then sell it back to others for christmas, USED, for 55 bucks anyway. Whats the big deal here then. The game would probably still fetch 35 to 30 dollars from them after that date, and for some time after since COD4 didnt ever really go down in price. GameStop is the biggest con in the gaming business.

[C0mmanderB0nd]

Wow thanks for wasting my time with another misleading headline!!!

This is not a deal, and if you think it is you are a moron.

[scrubbingbubbles]

wow.
there are plenty of people that like trying new games and would spring for this deal in a second. They get through the campaign and then trade it for something else. Way to be closed minded. Go home now

[goatfinder]

@ scrubbingbubbles,

Uhh....I gotta agree with C0mmanderB0nd on this one. This is a blatantly misleading headline and a not even close to being a deal.

[solidasiraq]

So rent it from blockbuster or gamefly scrubbingbubbles you idiot. Why spend 20 dollars to rent a game for a month, especially a game that is so multiplayer based.

[Silentmercy]

Wow, this is the worst idea I have seen. Maybe do this for non stellar titles such as Borderlands, or DJ Hero which people have never played before and might actually be happy to get their $40 back after trying, but to think that core gamers will give up MWF2 is just silly.

Hey gamestop fire your marketing 'mis-director' ..

[authenickrunn4]

Its pretty much like getting the game for 40$

If you are a person like me who likes to keep his games and pop them in on a rainy day after a few months of not playing, this can be a good deal. I would pay 60$ for the game and then return it to get the 40$ credit. 20 dollars spent. Purchase the game again for another 60 dollars and use the 40$ credit towards the purchase of a new disc to get that game for 20$ after credit is applied. In total...40$ spent.

If the credit is not valid toward the purchase of the 60$ version of MW2 then forget it.

[authenickrunn4]

Its pretty much like getting the game for 40$

If you are a person like me who likes to keep his games and pop them in on a rainy day after a few months of not playing, this can be a good deal. I would pay 60$ for the game and then return it to get the 40$ credit. 20 dollars spent. Purchase the game again for another 60 dollars and use the 40$ credit towards the purchase of a new disc to get that game for 20$ after credit is applied. In total...40$ spent.

If the credit is not valid toward the purchase of the 60$ version of MW2 then forget it.

[bourgtai]

That's what I was thinking. Buy the game, return it for the $40 credit, and then purchase it used.

[authenickrunn4]

I forgot about purchasing it used. So i guess it would be roughly over 35$ total spent on the game.

[Grifter02]

Go back to school and learn some mathematics. Total spent in your little story there is $80 (60-40+60).

[AnotherJackass]

Let's assume I buy the game for $60 ... then wait a month and 3 days and trade it in for $40 credit... then I buy the exact copy I just traded in for let's say $50 ... Total money spent for the game is ,,, $60 + $50 = $110 (now subtract the trade in ) $110 - $40 = $70. In the end I actually would spend more using this methodology. Just buy the game once for $60 and stop screwing around with mathematics/economics that are clearly beyond your comprehension

[Byteme2009]

@ Another Jackass

Too funny! But wait, if you..... hang on, what was the middle bit?

I wonder if Authntickrunn4's mathematics would work on the average Gamestop employee......? This could be the way to get all of your games for next to nothing!!! Unfortunately though the employees at my local Gamestop I think are sharp enough to get the math right. I would love to see someone trying it though!