I bet Battlefield 3 will score higher in the reviews anyway, I've seen more than my fair share of gaming magazines complain about COD's stagnation and how they hope that a new FPS will come along and bring some innovation to the table, I think DICE is going to give them just what they're looking for this year with Battlefield 3.
The only way for Activision's sales numbers to take a hit though is for people to stop buying COD, that will force them to fall back and revise things, to change and improve their product. Only problem is the target audience is although officially adults, let's face it, 12 year old kids. They're going to buy it regardless of what reviewers say just because it's Call of duty, and because of the high sales, Activision will see no reason to change their product.
Personally I'm going to try and abstain from buying MW3 this time, so not to make myself a hypocrite and also to try and back the claim that reduced sales will force Activision to rethink the design of it's leading yet highly flawed and boring product (not that my individual withdrawal will make much of a difference, but hey! it has to start with someone.)
Maybe if a day comes when people do put their foots down and say "No! We won't buy your rehashed bore of a game anymore Sir! It will force the boys 'n girls at Activision to reassess the fundamentals of Call of duty and actually implement some real forward marching change in their next product. Heck, maybe they'll even make a Call of Duty set in the future with rail guns and plasma rifles complete with customization, or possibly one set in the Korean war or WW1. Now those games I wouldn't mind seeing at all.
EDIT: New idea, if they really put their minds to it they could even make one set in the 1920's prohibition era, but instead of playing as soldiers you play as cops/gangsters.
Now hear me out before dismissing it, you'd still have all the fast paced action and weapons: Browning automatic rifles, Thompson submachine guns, etc they were all used back then. The campaign could have missions for both mobsters and cops, just as you play as different armies in the previous Call of duty games. Also it would make for some memorable single player characters.
The multiplayer maps would be diverse too, you could have warehouse's, Chicago streets, bars and clubs, farmsteads, docks etc. You could even have the road where Bonnie and Clyde where ambushed and killed complete with their wrecked car in the middle of the map. Perks could have a place too, just like in the current COD games. Think of the game modes too, instead of capture the flag how about capture the hooch crates?
Also customization could still have a place, different unlockable gangster/cop outfits, instead of red tiger camo for your weapons you could unlock nickle/silver/bronze plating for them like some of them actually had back in the day. Dynamite and petrol bombs in place of grenades, and surplus m1903 sniper rifles. The possibilities and endless. They could still name it Call of duty to on account of it being the duty of the cops to enforce the prohibition.
Yeah I probably went too far with this idea, but it demonstrates that there is still room for Activision to innovate and bring a new experience. I'm sure if they did it right, it could be a superb game.
And don't even get me started on an American Civil war call of duty... :shifty: