RA Dunk

(Sourced from Clanbase)
Black Saturday?

A day of infamy?

It's hard, very hard, for me to write objectively right now, but here is a summary of what we heard on BASH 123. If you missed it...we will have it on demand in a few minutes.

The raw version of BASH 123 can be found here temporarily.

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.

StickyMicky

I was reading a few forums yesterday and the PC gamer backlash at having no dedicated servers was huge, they were also complaining about the price.

I suspect the console version will sell fine, plenty of places selling the basic game for as near as 40quid as they can, so it is not a massive increase, i am not so sure the PC version will sell as well.

I bought COD4 on the 360, and enjoyed it, but always got bored with it after a while for some reason, i skipped COD5.
Looking forward to MW2 and will now probably pick it up for the 360
OFP: DR on the PC is utter gash when playing multiplayer, terrible lag, constant host connection drops, it seams almost desperate for dedicated servers, it really harmed this games multiplayer IMO. I suspect the recent news will do the same for the PC version of MW2

scoobyverysoon

iTrader: (1)

Ive always loved the PC versions and taken part in clanbase and enemydown ETC

But MW2 I will get for PS3 I just hope I can get used to the controller

P1Fanatic

I played CoD4 to death on the PC and MW2 I have pre-ordered on the PS3. Im hoping I can handle the controls. Some games Im fine (Call of Juarez) and others (Uncharted, Killzone 2) I suck at online. Uncharted admittedly is a 3PS.

From what I read this will be the way forward on multiplayer games as costly upkeep of dedicated servers unless you have a subscription like for XBL or WoW etc. That said they shouldnt stop people running their own servers but I guess someone still has to maintain software, provide updates, anti-cheat compatability etc.

Will reserve judgement til Ive played it. Did used to like hanging out on the same friendly zero lag servers though.

Simon