No Dedicated Servers for Modern Warfare 2 PC

Garrettwannabe on 17/10/2009 at 22:22

IW's 402 revealed today that Modern Warfare 2 will NOT have dedicated servers and/or clan servers and that PB is out and Steam/VAC is in. Glad I didn't pre-order this one & think of this as a stab in the back to the PC Gaming/Modding Community.

(http://bashandslash.com/index.php) BashandDash.com has compiled the info from the webcast (where 402 revealed the info) and their points are below:

Quote:

Fourzerotwo was on our BASH webcast this morning and he had a few surprises for the PC community.

Here are the snippets:

* We're doing a lot on the backend to make the game accessible for everyone.
* There is no delay for the PC version of MW2
* There's prestige mode
* 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.
* You are completely reliant on IW.NET. There are no server lists. There are no dedicated servers.
* You have private matches where you can customize the game
* You cannot put MW2 on a dedicated server.
* This is the first time we've ever done something like this and the team has huge plans for what IW.NET develops into.
* Customizing your game...you have quite a few options in a private match
* You're getting same game (as in Console), plus matchmaking and private match.
* 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.

Today our game has changed for ever.

I'll leave this post with Josh Peckler's comments from planetmedalofhonor.com:

The server community is what's made us. It's what defined us. IW.NET is getting the PC community to turn into consoles. You're trying to re-write our history.

EvaUnit02 on 17/10/2009 at 23:08

Wow, first Operation Flashpoint 2, now this. Are FPS developers (who aren't Valve or East European) trying to purposely sabotage any success that their titles may achieve on the PC platform?

Stitch on 17/10/2009 at 23:13

Quote Posted by Garrettwannabe

IW's 402 revealed today that MW2 will NOT have dedicated servers and/or clan servers and that PB is out and Steam/VAC is in.

more like LOL is out and WTF is in

EvaUnit02 on 17/10/2009 at 23:41

There's a (http://www.infinityward.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=121918) petition thread on their forum that can be signed.

I signed up to Twitter specifically so that I could message their community manager, (http://www.fourzerotwo.com/) fourzerotwo, directly.

SubJeff on 18/10/2009 at 00:10

Someone explain to me why this is bad again and how it nixes modding.

EvaUnit02 on 18/10/2009 at 00:15

Quote Posted by Subjective Effect

Someone explain to me why this is bad again and how it nixes modding.

No dedicated servers usually means no server side modding. Everything's on lock down, having to go through their proprietary network service.

SubJeff on 18/10/2009 at 00:23

I'm so out of the loop I don't know what you mean by server-sided modding.

Garrettwannabe on 18/10/2009 at 00:29

Basically - just like we've done in here for Thief - using the Editor(s) to modify/change the game and build FM's/maps to futher give life to the game years after it's release.

For example, all these COD4 Mods that COD4 Consolers (no offense to them) cannot use/experience: (http://bashandslash.com/index.php?Itemid=89&id=236&option=com_content&task=view) Bash and Dash COD4 Mods

All these Community Maps (probably over a 1000 by now...) that COD4 Consolers cannot play: (http://www.codutility.com/index.php?file=Page&name=Latest_CoD4_Maps) COD Utility Link

On the dedicated servers - I see these as some of the major advantages:

* Little to no lag - i.e: link to servers closer to your geographical location (sounds like IW.net will route you now)
* Can have up to 50 players on one server
* Clans can have their own servers and/or friends meet on specific servers to play together
* Ability to Admin & kick trouble makers
* Community Mods to limit Noob Perks, Helis, Loadouts, & ect

Iroquois on 18/10/2009 at 01:07

I was under the impression that mods increase a game's lifespan. People still play Half-Life 1 mods.

Or maybe that's the new game; predetermine the lifespan of a title to last until a new sequel is promptly on the shelves.

Epos Nix on 18/10/2009 at 01:41

Can we make it a forum rule that acronyms must be spelled out at least once in the original post before they can be used?