Boycott COD:MW2
Sunday, October 18th, 2009I don’t speak for everyone in LandsElite when I write this but I for one have cancelled my pre-order based on the news that dedicated server support for the PC has been chucked. I know a lot of you guys will still buy and play but this shits all over forming any sort of community around a server, setting it the way we like it, modding, new maps etc etc. So maybe I’ll pick up a second hand copy off ebay later on, especially if they decide to release a dedicated server later. However for now, cancelling the pre-order is the only real pro-active way we can disagree with IW’s decision to shit on the PC community and herd us into the console arena. Losing money will make them notice, whining and signing petitions will generally not, just look at op flash 2.
On another note, think how this affects GSPs (game server providers), who have invested money into buying hardware to host MW2 servers from MW2 server pre-orders. We paid £80+ for our pre-ordered server and I have now had to ask for a refund. Nice of IW to let them know early on isn’t it, such a considerate company.
Shock Horror
The lack of understanding shown by IW and especially Robert Bowling (aka FourZeroTwo) is amazing, what are they paying this guy to do? Creative Strategist at IW? Vocal puppet more like. This guy is a typical XBOX player with no experience of PC gaming, you could literally feel the restrained wrath in the discussion between BASH123 guests and Rob Bowling as certain members struggled with their anger and confusion at the announcement.
Thanks to Rob, PST*Joker from mycallofduty.com, Rudedog from fpsadmin.com, Garetjax from codtv.tv, Josh from Planetmedalofhonor.com, MatTks from @weplaycod (Twitter) and weplaycod.com, iBleedv20 at omnilinkit.com and the hordes in our chatroom and ventrilo.
Expensive mistake Rob, wonder if he’ll keep his job after this.
Fourzerotwo was on our BASH webcast this morning and he had a few surprises for the PC community.
Here are the snippets:
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We’re doing a lot on the backend to make the game accessible for everyone.
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There is no delay for the PC version of MW2
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There’s prestige mode
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Jason West at the MP event, said that he was dead on, on the matchmaking servers. We’ve been building a system on the backend called IW.NET.
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You are completely reliant on IW.NET. There are no server lists. There are no dedicated servers.
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You have private matches where you can customize the game
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You cannot put MW2 on a dedicated server.
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This is the first time we’ve ever done something like this and the team has huge plans for what IW.NET develops into.
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Customizing your game…you have quite a few options in a private match
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You’re getting same game (as in Console), plus matchmaking and private match.
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Server admin point-of view, NO DEDICATED SERVERS
I’ve summarized some of my own thoughts from the cast here:
General
* IW partnering through Steam is what you will see in the future. Matchmaking is not through Steam, but IW.NET is run in conjunction with Steam.
* GSP’s will no longer be renting out servers.
* No PunkBuster. VAC will be used as an anti cheat.
* Retail distribution: Pre-orders will get a disk. Or you could order from Steam.
* DLC may now need to be paid for – not confirmed.
* Piracy was only a small reason for going to IW.NET – not the whole reason.
Clans:
* No more clan servers. Private matches, replace clan servers.
* Listen servers will connect to each other.
* IW.NET/Steam will replace the community server admin
Competitive Gaming
* Competitive gaming has changed forever.
* It might be possible in the future for IW engineers to load a “competitive” setting on IW.NET, but it is far from a guarantee. It might also never happen.
Modding
* Modding the game is now very much in question. Fourzerotwo had no info on modding. However, it appears that there will be no mods or maps for MW2.
* Modding in SpecOps? Unknown.