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Infinity Ward Responds To 100K Strong Modern Warfare 2 PC Petition
.[Update: Added IWNET details]
Almost 100,000 gamers have signed a petition against Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 developer Infinity Ward’s decision to drop dedicated server support for more console-like matchmaking in the PC version of the upcoming FPS.
The developer said recently that the PC version will not include code for dedicated multiplayer servers, instead relying on a yet to be revealed, peer-to-peer matchmaking service called IWNET.
“We're building in our own matchmaking so you can get in there and play with players your same rank," said Infinity Ward’s creative strategist, Robert Bowling, during a BashAndSlash.com podcast. "You're completely reliant on IW.net, and there are no dedicated servers or server lists."
The news hasn’t gone down well, with nearly 97,000 gamers asking the developer “to review their decision not to allow fully dedicated servers for their forthcoming game release COD: MW2. Remember that this Call Of Duty was made popular by PC gamers who have supported the series throughout”.
Bowling has reportedly issued the following response to the petition: "[It] definitely made a big wave, and the response will not be ignored. I'll ensure everyone at IW sees the petitions and responses to it.”
He also confirmed that there will be no delay to the PC version of Modern Warfare 2, which will launch alongside the PS3 and Xbox 360 editions on November 10.
Since this article was first published, the number of gamers to sign the petition has grown to 106,089. In addition, Bowling has written a blog post intended to dispel the “questions, assumptions, and speculation” about IWNET.
“Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is actually the biggest investment Infinity Ward has ever made into the PC version of our games. It’s also the most feature-rich PC version we’ve ever made. IWNET takes the benefits of dedicated servers and allows them to be utilised and accessed by every player, out of the box, while removing the barrier to entry for players unaware of how to maintain a server on their own,” he writes.
The blog post goes on to cover details of IWNET's matchmaking, party system, playlist, private match, anti-cheat and friends list features, among other things.
“All in all,” Bowling concludes, “IWNET adds a load of new features that the PC version of our games have never had before and allows us an infrastructure to continue to update and improve on the game post-launch.”
Check out our recent Modern Warfare 2 preview here.
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The main reason there has been such an outcry in the PC community for dedicated servers, is due to the competitive/professional scene. MW2 has been anticipated by the professional scene for almost a year but Activision's horrible decision has made this almost impossible. Since with no dedicated servers there will be no competitive mod such a 'ProMod' by raf1 which carried cod4 into many European events with relatively huge cash prizes. Although this has been described as a 'drop in the ocean' Activition are killing off the original scene which made their games famous. It’s just standard money grabbing on activitions part due to them being able to release map packs etc etc etc over IWNET... if people don’t see this as a valid reason, stick to xbxo360 and stop turning PC gaming into a low skilled matchmaking environment.
Just my 2cents.
I would imagine that the 100k Players who are moaning are a drop in the ocean compared to the sales that IF are hoping for with MW2 and so i sure they couldn't care less about the petition to be honest, and from the statement that they issued highlighting the benefits of IW it would seem so.
If PC players don't like it, don't buy it.
Personally, i can't see what the fuss is all about with COD:MW, it's essentially a glorified on-rails shooter.
No amount of matchmaking will equal the greater flexibility and customization of dedicated servers. This won't be a huge wave for PC games that changes things as we know it; it'll be a blight. There's no reason to do this, except for a profit grab. IW wants full control over multiplayer resources and no matter how many saccharine words they share with us, it won't change the fact that this is a terrible idea for the customer.
[Opps - Sorry]
Isn't it getting a bit close to release day for them to be making any changes to core functionality or will they be able to quickly revert back to the older method of server browsers and dedicated server installs?
Likewise with allowing server hosts like Multiplay or Gaming Deluxe to get the server side ready for action. It sounds as though this match making has been introduced to cut them out of the loop. I don't think Activision liked how the popularity spurned people onto renting servers in previous outings, it must have been a huge chunk of cash that third party server hosts made off the back of them.
Personally I was looking forward to renting a server like my brother and I did for Modern Warfare. I was very disappointed at the time to hear there would be a matchmaking option. At least the community has spoken, it remains to be seen if Infinity Ward or Activision will listen.
I have never been the biggest fan of the whole matchmaking concept, how are you supposed to get good if you're only playing people at your own level?
Id say that matchmaking makes more sense. If you're consistently the better player, you'll move up and play better players. If you're not, you'll stay at the level you are playing people at the same level, and actually have fun.
Granted, I'd rather cut out randoms entirely, which is what the forum is for.
I understand the concept of matchmaking Alex!
Matchmaking is fair enough and they should make it an extra option, I can certainly understand that it keeps things nice and balanced. But it should not be added at the expense of features that are integral to the experience. PC gaming should be treated a little differently to consoles with respect to online functionality, with features tailored accordingly.
Where does it leave all those PC based Modern Warfare clans? If IW don't allow dedicated server solutions, they'll loose the clans and those privateers that want play in there own server rather than being shunted into a over populated laggy one? To change the format of the online side now after so many years of using server browsers and allowing players the freedom to rent their own, would be silly! In that respect I hope IW will listen to the community. But I have a sneaking suspicion that what Activision wants, Activision gets!
IW claim that it will actually be better for clans:
"However, say you’re in a clan and you want to play a Clan match with another team, or you want to practice for an upcoming tournament that has specific rules in a private game. Then you can start a Private Match (which is essentially like running your own private server) where you have complete control over the rules, who can join, boot players you don’t want, and essentially control the entire game or tweak it to your liking. Once the rules are set, you can invite the other team in or just start it up with your clan to practice with the custom rules before the match. This now allows you to play custom games out of the box without the need to install mods, find a modded server with the rules you like, or worry about not being in control of the match."
http://www.fourzerotwo.com/?p=745
I don't understand why matchmaking translates to overpopulated and laggy either.
I have come across examples on consoles and PC where lag has been a problem, mainly you can't never tell where the server is resident. You might have been shunted to a server 6000 miles away for all you know. At least with a dedicated server you know exactly where it is and you the rest of you clan pay a nominal fee for a good hosting package that will enable lag free gaming.
For example my brother and I used to use Gaming Deluxe and ran AWE mod and custom maps with Modern Warfare, our choice for choosing the host was there high bandwidth and openness about the equipment that our server was resident on. Not to mention the the fact that server were located very close to where we live. All of this things will be unknown quantities with anything that Infinity Ward will provide via IWNET and that has me worried as well as disappointed.
Some existing Modern Warfare dedicated servers are overpopulated and lag ridden. I don't see this being any different with MW2, even with a swanky new system for managing it all.
Some key features do remain through IWNET. However, the fact that 100,000 people petitioned IW for a very good reason! It's not like IW are the big bad wolf or anything but there decision to change the online side, may leave it sterile and without the freedom you once had. IWNET promises to be a lot of things by enforcing controls on users that haven't been needed in the past.
Thats not to say people won't buy Modern Warfare 2 the single player promises to be something a bit special. However, with other PC shooters coming up, IW's window of opportunity for online play is small. They have to get it right first time or it'll fail. There have been online elements of some games that have bombed because of shoddy matchmaking, not to mention the differences in a approach to online facilities on PC in particular. I find is strange that IW would want to take the risk!!
Well, they know that it's the biggest game launch of the decade, possibly in history. It will certainly put Burning Crusade to shame I'd say, and HMV described that as the biggest entertainment launch ever. So if anyone will have the muscle to try this, it will be Infinity Ward.
I won't be playing this on the PC, so it doesn't affect me, but I wasn't too keen on the COD 4 approach. I'm hoping that they have simply ripped off Halo wholesale. I've rarely encountered lag that's too bad on that, even in customs with our Australian brethren.
I'm sure in the coming weeks as the Activision marketing machine rev's up we'll be hearing more of that "This is the biggest game of the decade..." rhetoric. A lot of hype floating around the net at the moment and although the evidence points to it being a class act, we won't know for sure until it hits the shelves. So don't pop your cork just yet!
It's not about "muscle"! plenty of developers have had muscle and invested millions into their games only to see them nose dive. Its about judging the market. PC gamers have made this franchise what it is today, let's not forget that! (it's clear that Activision and Infinity Ward have!)