COD4:MW2 hmm

[Skyus]

Just reading about a development in the Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare 2 release.

They're basically abandoning the long standing COD multiplayer strat of self-hosted, dedicated COD servers with the new game and going with a battle.net like environment. It's to be a combination of IW.NET (InfinityWard's new play thing) and Steam.

Articles about it are here on the front page here: bashandslash.com

I'm not liking the change. Battle.net is a clear example of what happens a few years after. They refused to upgrade the environment for years (it seems only recently did they overhaul battle.net). By virtue of the change from private to company hosted games, it seems like gamers will be losing the ability to set their own rules and enforce them as their dedicated server's administrators.

On top of that it'd also kinda cut out the groups that like to play modded versions of the game. I fell in with this lot last year and have been loving it ever since. "Realism" mods add quite a bit of fun to the game for me and so do rules of game play. If you've ever played COD4:MW MP, you know what I mean when I say it sucks to get killed at spawn by a grenade launcher at the enemy spawn!!

I've heard that IW is claiming this is in response to "dropping sales" and "piracy", I'm kinda wary. I understand sales are dropping, but they continue to refuse to count online sales in their numbers. The internet is NOT a recent invention, nor is online retail! They, like the RIAA, need to get over their like of selling a package game and move into the future. Of course numbers of sales at stores are going to drop! People are either not buying at all or not buying IN STORES.

As for the piracy part.. I really don't think as a model this is a good way to go. There's been some amusing ideas (the recent batman game amusingly disabled key parts of the beginning (functions allowing you to continue were disabled, effectively stopping people from continuing) if you didn't have a valid copy). Some companies, rightly or wrongly, act like Windows with Genuine Advantage and communicate their authorization (though Windows doesn't go to the length of deactivation if you don't connect every few weeks!).

Anyway. All in all I think the idea is a bad one. I imagine COD4:MW and COD2 will still be popular sellers. MW2 will likely take a hit from the clan and MOD crowd that like their dedicated servers.

[Fandaran]

It really depends on the quality of IWNet, if it works as well as IW is promising than it won't be that bad. The motivation for IW is that they have control over all the content in their game that way they can sell DLC to PC gamers, but I can't believe they would go forwards with that if the online service would harm the gameplay with high lag and bad connections.

[Skyus]

I'm not so convinced. I think companies generally under estimate releases and their needs. But I'll keep an open mind and find out when it comes out.

It's sad if that's the case though. I think some of the modders do a great job and they offer it for free. Unless the company offers something spectacular, I'm sure how many they can hope to rope out of the old game and into the new one. As far as CLAN gaming goes and more "hardcore" gamers.

[Tamandra]

Certainly on the PC I don't see MP getting that much play. MP will simply be a novelty and will soon wear off. People will head back to games like CSS where there are established communities based around dedicated servers.

I personally think MP in this game will feel like it lacks substance. People might dabble but they won't commit like they do with dedicated servers.

[Rick]

Looks like Modern Warfare 2 has a whole different set of issues. They're trying to ban it in AUZ (http://www.incgamers.com/News/19394/) and the terrorist action at the start of the game is pretty alarming. Even for the open minded it's simply mass, senseless, slaughter of innocent civilians. Makes GTA look like a Disney/Pixar release.

[Verem]

Well, I will come out of my slumber to voice my opinion here.

I never liked the PC version of a FPS with Multiplayer. Way too many hackers (Modders) with aim-bots, insti-kills over impossible distances, etc... Saddly it ruins it for those that created cool and interesting mods, yet I still cant bring myself to play on a PC.

XBox 360 and PS3, I will. Yes, I know there are modders who hack the controllers that add rapid fire and impossible reload speeds. Yet it takes the time to catch up and become popular. AND it costs $79.00 to get a modded controller (unless you do them yourself).

I never play on the PC so I remain neutral about it.

[Tamandra]

Well, I will come out of my slumber to voice my opinion here.

I never liked the PC version of a FPS with Multiplayer. Way too many hackers (Modders) with aim-bots, insti-kills over impossible distances, etc... Saddly it ruins it for those that created cool and interesting mods, yet I still cant bring myself to play on a PC.

XBox 360 and PS3, I will. Yes, I know there are modders who hack the controllers that add rapid fire and impossible reload speeds. Yet it takes the time to catch up and become popular. AND it costs $79.00 to get a modded controller (unless you do them yourself).

I never play on the PC so I remain neutral about it.

I'm gonna risk sounding like a PC elitist here but console online play is still, in most cases and as with this game, quite stunted.

For all the aimbots and wallhackers, I suspect no console game's online life will match the likes of CounterStrike Source. Heck, even CS 1.6 is still played.