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Modern Warfare 2 Won't Have Dedicated PC Servers, New Footage Emerges
by Chris Faylor, Oct 20, 2009 10:19am PDTThough Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 maker Infinity Ward recently told us that "PC [multiplayer] will be the same as it always was," the company has now revealed that the war-torn shooter will not make use of community-run dedicated servers.
"We've been building up this system on the backend called IW Net, to allow matchmaking for our PC users
just like you have on the console," Infinity Ward community manager Robert 'fourzerotwo' Bowling explained on podcast BASH 123.
"You're completely reliant on IW Net and there's no dedicated servers or server list. You rely on IW Net for your matchmaking and finding games, but then you also have the private match, much like the other platforms, where you can go in and...customize the game rules, all via private match, and invite people to the server that way."
Bowling added: "The mentality is making it much more accessible to the PC community as a whole and making it where it's a lot less cost burden for our community members."
He also noted that the PC version will make use of some integrated Steam functionality, such as Valve Anti-Cheat (VAC) technology, but offered few specifics beyond clarification that "our matchmaking is not through Steam."
While Bowling says Infinity Ward is trying "looking at ways we can improve the multiplayer game on PC and make it easier for everybody," the community is not happy.
"The silence that you hear is because we've got a community right now that is structured in such a way that relied on having dedicated servers," said one of the podcast hosts. Others expressed concern regarding latency, as games will now be hosted on home internet connections and machines instead, as well as the fate of mod support.
An online petition demanding dedicated servers popped up shortly thereafter, and currently has over 100,000 signatures. Bowling later told Appetite2Kill admin Peeter that "the response will not be ignored. I'll ensure everyone at IW sees the petitions."
"Hardcore PC players lose very little to this change relative to the returns that casual to moderate fans will see," wrote Game Informer after speaking to Infinity Ward.
Citing a conversation with studio head Jason West, Game Informer explained:
He points toward the mounting feedback IW has received from PC fans of Modern Warfare who couldn't find a decent server to play on between all of the cheaters, the insular communities, and huge skill level disparities that the original game's community fractured into. "We thought maybe it would be cool if the fans could play the game," he laughs.[...]Clans can set up private matches to do their training or what have you; all they lose is the ability to customize the game on a deeper level with mods and such. Infinity Ward sees the addition of solid matchmaking and community support like IW-run tournaments to the PC as a huge win, and not something that could be done under the old system.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 hits PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on November 10. Expect to hear more on the game and its integrated Steam functionality before then.
In related news, a new commercial for the game has emerged via retailer GameStop:
Thanks to everyone that sent this in.
Comments
They like our servers so much because we run realism mods on there, we make sure the game is clean and have always at least 1 (often 3 or 4) MP's watching the server to make sure it is clean, respectful and a great place to play.
I have no intention of joining a server full of idiots i don't know, or is laggy as hell or plays the game in the vanilla mode as it comes from IW, we don't have our servers as run & gun servers nor do i wish to play on ones that are
All of our clan have cancelled their pre orders and no longer willing to support either Activision or IW, it was the clan support, the modders that made the call of duty series what it is, and to stab them in the back is unforgivable. over 100,000 people have signed the petition, it that relates to sales it is over $6,000,000 lost already. They can not ignore that
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 51 replies.
I see the strawman argument (look it up) is still in full swing these days. You exaggerate his point and then demean your own assumption making his original point seem to have less merit.
"Without the hardcore there is no community, and without the community there is no longevity. Any game designed to be a multi-player game that doesn't support it's community, won't be a multi-player game for very long. "
The Hardcore community has its place but there is something you just don't get. Most people DON'T CARE about the community, they bounce around servers running and gunning for the fun of it and then after a month or so move on. Thats not you fine, in fact I prob played COD4 for over 6 months and did join a clan but face it we are in the minority. It would have done better if this feature had not been removed but it will still do great because it is still a good game.
"" "They could really care less if you stayed home and played every Friday and Saturday night as long as you'll buy the next one."
Do you honestly think the developers want people to buy their games but not play them? You're confusing video games with wii ware. ""
Do you honestly think that developers are little giddy kids dreaming about how all those people are gonna get to play this awesome game. Thats for trailers and dev diaries not real life. These people have jobs and they do what they do for a pay check. Its not the coders that roll with this stuff its the people at the top that want money. And you know what, they will make more money this way, they are a business I don't hold it against them for trying to make as much money as possible.
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