Modern Warfare 2 - PC version requires Steam

[mysterd]

Bluesnews
From BluesNews.
The next Call of Duty game is coming.
Modern Warfare 2 is planned for November.
Infinity Ward is making this one, as expected.

CoD: Modern Warfare 2 in November

[Mar 26, 2009, 09:26 am ET] - Share - Viewing Comments
Modernwarfare2.com now offers a new "security teaser" trailer for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, offering sounds and imagery from Infinity Ward's modern combat sequel. The clip ends saying "Modern Warfare 2 - www.modernwarfare2.com - 11.10.09" (with no "Call of Duty" in there) which means the game's release date is probably November 10 of this year, though since sometimes the month can be second in a dd-mm-yy notation, October 11 should probably not be ruled out either.

Update: A subsequent press release from Activision confirms November 10 as the proper date.

From ActionTrip
Call of Duty stamp is being dropped from the Modern Warfare line of games now, since they feel Modern Warfare has taken a life of its own on.

So, this Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 game is actually NOW just going to be called Modern Warfare 2.

Look like in the future, they're be more Modern Warfare games...

Modern Warfare 2 Without "CoD," Activision Talks CoD 4 Sales
[Ure "Vader" Paul]
09:09 am EDT @ March 27th, 2009
Filed under: CALL OF DUTY 4, MODERN WARFARE 2, ACTIVISION

Activision stated what was pretty much already confirmed with yesterday's trailer; namely that the official sequel to the kick-ass shooter Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is going to carry the title "Modern Warfare 2." The confirmation led to speculation that the game would be the first of a whole new spin-off series--speculation that a statement from an Infinity Ward rep appears to have confirmed.

"All I can tell you (officially) at this point is that Modern Warfare has taken on such a life of its own, it has become our focus now," says a company rep. "At this point, it's too early to release additional details." Infinity Ward CEO Vince Zampella also said: "Everyone on the team is laser-focused on making the most gripping experience we've ever created."

To go along with the announcement of Modern Warfare 2, Activion officially confirmed that Call of Duty 4 has sold 12 million units worldwide to date - sales figures were gathered by NPD Group (US) and GfK (Europe). Accompanying these impressive figures, is Activision proud announcement that the game is the "best-selling first-person action game of all time."

Modern Warfare 2 - Trailer Analysis
Lots of analysis of the Modern Warfare 2 trailer, Joystiq reports.

I guess there's a lot of stuff hinted at in this trailer, if you like to analyze everything and all.

Here's one blog that tries to go through all kinds of lengths to decipher it...

[mysterd]

PC Version of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 WILL require BOTH Steam and IWNet.
B/c it requires Steam, A LOT of other digital distributors (Direct2Drive, Impulse, and Gamersgate) are now refusing to sell Modern Warfare 2.

Also, MW 2 on the PC will have NO DEDICATED servers and NO MODDING.

Modern Warfare 2 PC's Multi-player games will have a maximum of 18 players online in one game (with versus events being a max of 9 players vs. 9 players), not the usual PC numbers of 30-32.

[Elliot Kane]

Sounds like they've worked really hard to come up with the best way to minimise sales on the PC. An extraordinary accomplishment...

[mysterd]

Basically Kane - yes.

Since they're using Steam - they'll probably be able to combat Day 0 piracy, which is good for them. A lot of people, for some reason, fear Steam's ban stick - since your games are tied to your account and if you misbehave, then you're screwed.

But, a lot of people probably don't want to be stuck w/ only Steam for numerous reasons - as we've been through about Steam's problems before. I can see why the dev's would do this and want it to use Steam - i.e. they'd only need ONE DRM scheme (free for them); one places for you to get updates, which is Steam.

The no dedicated servers (especially for competitive MP) and no modding aspect really is the major punch in my face.

[Terrordar]

I have literally never had a problem with steam. And love it.

Its great.

[mysterd]

I have not had many problems w/ Steam, either - but I know many people have.

Biggest problem I had w/ Steam was a week or so ago, none of my games would load from off the My Games tab - wouldn't load for like 10 mins. Solution to that is to rename the blob file and let it recreate itself, once you restart Steam. Problem was solved.

Also, sucks when Steam is down for maintenance - as you can't do any MP games over their servers when they do such a thing.

I've known one of the common Steam issues is getting "offline mode" to work. I never dealt w/ that problem luckily, but many others have.

[mysterd]

No surprise - looks like some GameStops are selling Modern Warfare 2 early.

[mysterd]

GameSpot - PC Version Review.
8.5 from GameSpot for Modern Warfare 2 PC.

Though the addictive action remains the same at its core, there are a host of new elements that make matches more accessible, more strategic, and more rewarding. Unfortunately, these improvements are marred by limited online flexibility that may leave the PC shooter community out in the cold.

If you compare Modern Warfare 2 on the PC to its console counterparts, the game is every bit as awesome and enjoyable. Yet when compared to other online shooters on the PC, the multiplayer component is decidedly limited. Players cannot set up dedicated servers to host their own custom-tuned matches, and the player count for each match has been capped at 18 as opposed to the possible 64-player matches of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. Furthermore, there is no support for user-created content, so rather than enjoying free mods and community maps, PC users will have to pay for downloadable content. And the money issues don't stop there: Modern Warfare 2 costs $10 more than most full-price PC games. Paying more and getting less is abhorrent to consumers, and this deterrent, along with the online restrictions, make Modern Warfare 2 much less appealing from a multiplayer perspective. Yet despite this disappointment, there is still a lot to love about the online multiplayer, and the other elements of the game remain unblemished.

ArsTechnica - PC Version Review
Anyone even think about touching Modern Warfare 2 for the PC...
READ THIS.
Excellent review of MW2 for the PC.

[mysterd]

We knew this was coming, w/ IWNet being made for the PC and w/ of course the XBL and PSN.

There is going to be paid-to-play content for Call of Duty.

We don't know if it's just buy-to-download DLC or if it'll be a WOW-like subscription-fee based program...yet...

[mysterd]

Holy crap at these sales. Mad crazy.
4.7 million copies sold by first day.
Over $300 million made by first day.

Does this even include digital distribution sales directly through Steam sales?

[Terrordar]

No Mysterd, it can't, they don't track those sales under normal circumstances.

[mysterd]

Nov 14, 2009 18:35:06 GMT Terrordar said:

No Mysterd, it can't, they don't track those sales under normal circumstances.

It'd be interested to find out how well it sold through directly Steam.
Someone tell Valve and Activision to get on that right now.

[mysterd]

Infinity Ward is thinking of giving the character Ghost his own spin-off game.
WARNING: SPOILERS are mentioned in the link here - click me if interested!

[mysterd]

Russia bans MW2 and recalls all copies due to the "controversial scene" in the game.
WARNING: Some SPOILERS are in this link about the "controversial scene" - click link if interested.