Infinity Ward Respond To No Dedicated Server Backlash
Three days since the decision to leave dedicated server support out of Modern Warfare 2 surfaced, and 100,000 petition signatures later, Infinity Ward have spoken about the reasons behind the new system for the first time. They describe the decision as “a conscious effort to improve their [PC gamers] game for the vast majority of their players..”
Vince Zampella and Jason West
Speaking to Gameinformer, IW Head honchos Jason West and Vince Zampella had this to say.
“We’re just prioritizing the player experience above the modders and the tuners,” says West. 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.
IW says that gameplay concerns for the majority of MW2 players are the overriding reasons for the decision. Zampella downplays the obvious piracy prevention angle (IW has cited numbers of people online playing illegal copies of Modern Warfare up to 60 percent). “The Steam stuff helps with the piracy. I don’t know that the matchmaking stuff does,” he notes. West takes a shot at the motives behind some of the outrage, noting that there’s money to made by selling dedicates servers and adspace on them: “It’s a little dubious. Some of the people complaining are complaining with their pocketbook.”
Again and again during our conversation, West and Zampella hammer the point that hardcore PC players lose very little to this change relative to the returns that casual to moderate fans will see. 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.
Robert Bowling
Infinity Ward Creative Strategist, Robert Bowling, has tried to explain exactly how IWNet will work via his blog. He could have saved a whole wall of text and just said it will work exactly the same as the Xbox 360 version!
IWNET takes the benefits of dedicated servers and allows them to be utilized 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.
How does it do this?
Matchmaking & Smoother Gameplay: When you want to player a multiplayer game on PC, in the past. You’d have to scroll through a Server Browser which listed every available server which was hosted by individual server admins. Each had their own private rules, mods, or ways of playing the game. Most players would also use the server browser to find just the best quality game (based on PING). With IWNET matchmaking, it takes all that into account for you. All you have to do is select the playlist (pre-set gametypes with custom rules) that fits the style of play you are in the mood for. When you do, it will automatically find you a game with the best performance, ping, and preferences based on your location and individual connection as well as matching you with players of your same SKILL. So you’re always guaranteed the best game performance for where you are and what connection you’re playing on as well as an equal game with other players of your same skill level, not rank, but skill level. It doesn’t mean you’ll just be thrown into a random game! It will put you in the game that will give you the smoothest gameplay possible without you having to manually find a server with the best ping.
Playlists and Private Matches: As I described above, Playlists are pre-set game modes and gametypes for public games. If you just want to jump into a public game of Search and Destroy or Hardcore Search and Destroy and you don’t care about fully customizing it, then you can utilize playlists to do that quickly for you. 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.
Party System and Friendslist: Modern Warfare 2 on PC also makes it much easier if you want to party up with your friends, or again, with your clan for a match. You can utilize the friendslist to see when your friends are online, and invite them to your Party. A Party allows you to move from game to game as a group. It’s great for clan matches, because you can party of with your clan and move from public game to public game together. Or if you’re doing a scrim, party up and invite the other clan (who is in a party) and they’ll all join at once. Set up a private match together and play. It makes setting up scrims or games with friends easier and hassle free.
Cheat / Hack Free Games: The biggest benefit of using IWnet by far is the fact that you don’t have to worry about joining a server full of aim-bots, wallhacks, or cheaters. Or relying on the server admin of the server to constantly be monitoring, banning, and policing it. Modern Warfare 2 on PC allows us to control the quality of the game much more than ever before as well as utilizing the VAC (Valve-Anti-Cheat) system to keep games clean of hackers and cheaters.
All in all, 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.
So, it seems like IW will be sticking to their decision to not support dedicated servers for Modern Warfare 2……. No matter how many signature’s and canceled pre-orders!
Discuss this story Here
36 Comments
i dont really care anymore, as long as it doesnt have any major lag then im fine with it. I just hope that you can create your own account like in Battlefield 2
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…because the PC version needs it more than consoles, since you might have a virus and you would have to reinstall Windows, then all the information (rank, guns, challanges etc) are gone. With real accounts this would not be a problem
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There’s no way this will provide as smooth an experience as dedicated servers. I’m expecting all kinds of terrible pings and lag spikes ruining games.
This “P2P” type of multiplayer connection has been done time and time again in games and it never works. Well, it “works” but it never works truly right. If everyone is connected to everyone else then one bad connection can f**k everything up for everyone. This isn’t the case with a dedicated server handling the connections.
Consoles outnumber PCs by a large margin so the added density makes this type of connection alright. It’s doubtful the experience will be anywhere near as smooth for PC players. And then, of course, we get no mods, no custom maps, no viable way to practice with our friends/clanmates for hours at a time, and we hand all control of how the game is played over to IW.
Totalitarianism. D:
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@Coheed, u know, he is so right it hurts me.
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I guess its back to the PC xP
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Additionally, why are IW catering to the blind masses when most of them will only play the game for a month or two tops? The people who are “whining” about not having dedicated servers are the only ones *still* playing CoD4 — they’re the true fans.
The “fans” they’re trying to help forgot about the game a long time ago, and they’ll forget about MW2 in a similarly timely fashion.
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@nazz3 with promod this does not care. No perks, no ranks, balanced weapons. Just istall the mod and play pub and pcws. Damned IW, doesn’t even care about mods, the only thing that could vitalize multiplayer gaming (mods are not for single)
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I just feel bad for the die hard PC gamers that’s why I play the 360
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PC just got screwed, PSN has always been bad, XBL is the way to go.
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@K1, have you ever played on PSN? There’s nothing wrong with any game I’ve ever played on PSN
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@bic501, yes I have played Socom and Resistance 1 on PSN. Doesn’t reach the XBL standards.
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f**k you people ! you like cheaters or you are cheaters ! and that ruins a game !
how many times do you get killed by a cheater and leaved the server !
i dont like to pay for the game but this one i think will be a good bet …. soo save some money and buy the game just like e will do
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It’s an insult to PC community..how can they tell something worse (bigger lags,lower player count) is better?PC players aren’t r****ds to need some matchmaking system think for them what is good
@Coheed:That’s what they want..they don’t want you to play the same game for 2 years..they want you to get bored and buy another one
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stop whyning stupid cheaters finally get kicked out but eventually they’ll find a hack if they’re smart enought pc is finnally getting the same treatment concels are which sucks since i wished we could have had more modded gamemodes on concels
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I honestly think all this whining is simply whining. The PC version of CoD4 was nice because of all the custom game types and maps, but 360 and PS3 players still play to this very day because it’s a good game. It doesn’t need mods or custom maps to be good, Infinity Ward does a fantastic job as it is. I’m proud to say that I play it on the Xbox 360 to this day, and still have a lot of fun playing it.
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As long as we can sure about not much lag..I’m fine and my pre-ordered still there
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@Echoes, well.. the problem is, we lag. the problem is, u have to connect to a network symtem with ur network, so that ur internet is very is to hack, to… well u get my point.. i hope -_-
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C’mon wake up people. This is IW’s first step on changing the game to a subscription service. They control the servers and make all the profits. They saw that there was profit to be made for themselves by eliminating the gameserver rental companies. The people that will truly suffer are the dedicated clan players that enjoy hosting their own maps and mods.
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How many players can be on at a time ? and can u play with ur friends if ur behind on rank ? come on IW tell us the truth that US u dont CARE AT ALL .
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you guys are all r****ded.. WHO CARES, i prefer matchamking, you get nothing that special with dedicated servers, private matches are good enough, and if ur worried about going into matches with your friends, you first invite ur friends into a “lobby” and then start matchmaking and ull b in the same game! Sorta simple guys. Stop winging
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@Navi,
‘Matchamking’ is not invented by IW. COD series get this far BECAUSE of dedicated servers AGAINST custom networks (and their own ‘matchmaking’)!
In that time (when COD series started) IW used that feature to attract customers and since that concept PROVED to be cutting edge against competition they have kept it in later editions.
‘Dedis’ gave players ability to have their own servers where you can play without network spikes and lags.
NO custom network (IWNET or whatever) will host servers in every major city in the world that can give you that perfection in your gaming experience.
If you don’t ‘lag’ with your PS you are:
1.Not aware what lag is
2.Live close to some Sony datacentre or
3.Just jealous that PC gamers can have them
Using MOD, PC gamers have created more then 400 new maps for COD4, how’s that for your ‘network’?!
What do you get throe your ‘network’, the ability to PAY for this, PAY for that?
To visit THEIR website and see what THEY want?
If they wanted to accommodate settings of their own they could have simply run their own dedicated servers, but they want it ALL.
They want to force EVERYBODY to play on THEIR servers, acting WORSE then ANY Gaming Clan.
They are just GREEDY and want MORE MONEY!
When they force players on their network, they can charge for everything they want.
You like that?
Make games even for PS,Xbox and PC gamers. GIVE ALL ‘DEDIS’! NOT take them away, that should be attitude of console gamers! Support not confrontation. Can you imagine having your consoles outa their networks?!
So much about your ‘matchmaking’.
‘Crysis2′ FTW
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Im still not buying PC version anymore. I guess no online for me.
Xbox360/PS3 for me, just no online. Good thing I have all the consoles xD
2/3 Epic things for me, Campagin, and Spec-ops.
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@console players:I respect you but you don’t know what you are losing by not having dedicated servers..Imagine playing without any lags.And on console it’s obvious that you want to just put disc in and play,not search for servers..but once you find good server you can favorite it and voila.
@Zato:Couldn’t they request payment/subsrciption/licence from server providers?Sure it would raise the cost of dedicated servers but I’m sure most players could live with that..better experience (than COD4)=more expensive
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So why not include dedicated server support and put in an automatch feature for the noobs? Why did it have to be either or? All they had to do was put in a tab saying “dedicated servers” and another with “Jump in” or “automatch” They are just trying to lock down all revenue for themselves in future use of the system. They now will run everything.
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bulls**t explanation on the non-dedicated server
they expect their revenue to drop this year due this stupid decision
COD is dead
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I’ve cancelled my reservation of the game. COD is really dead.
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this is a load of s**t. No Dedi servers = Fail game. only wanting more money simple as, not respecting the fans of the game. may help match making but not if you want to play competitive completely f**king up the game cheers IW.
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@Gogens I’m sure they already do get payments from the providers for the right to host servers. If they don’t then they to rethink their business model.
Hopefully this won’t work as well as they envision and they will return to a dedi based system but the truth is that the gaming market is ruled by consoles and not the PC anymore.
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Do you guys actually think their anti cheat system will be better that PunkBuster? They’re gonna use VAC which sucks Donky ass…
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Zato:
Hmm I didn’t know that server providers paid them subscription for COD4 but it’s possible..if it’s true IW is more stupid than I thought..and to correct you a little on PC market..money is ruling it and not consoles..and since we have more stupid people who can’t get past server browser (according to IW) games are made for the stupid majority:///Cheers to you dude you seem to be pretty well informed on PC gaming and all..hard to come by people like you in the sea of trolls and kiddies..BTW I hope for a patch too when they (IW) recieve nothing but flaming from angry “casuals” 2 weeks after relase
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Hey, I also have a lot of respect for PC gamers, it takes a completely different kind of skill to do that than from me with my 360. But, a word for you guys, matchmaking isn’t that bad. I know you guys are copmplaining about lag, but I live in Asia and when I get on I might have to try two times to find a game with near no lag, but usually just once. IW did a great job with machmaking in COD4 in my opinion. The whole no custom maps and mods ducks for you guys, but it also takes out many cheaters I have come across in COD4 for the PC. When I get lag games repeatedly if it is in the afternoon US time, I suck it up and play with it. I am now a way better player now that I have experience with lag. It has made me quicker than ever before, because I have to beat the guy even harder than if I had good connection.
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It is ridiculous to say that the CoD4 console game rules and has a lot of people playing because it has no cheaters. There are exploits in the XB version! The truth is, the PC player is a bit more discerning than a console player. We enjoy “tweaking” games so that they REMAIN FUN. Unfortunately, most console players appear to be like toddlers — whereby you see programs for toddlers run the exact same episode every day for an entire week, so does a console gamer enjoy playing, and replaying, a dated product. The old, staid maps on CoD4 are why I do not play it. It is too difficult to get people to download maps on their own, and the download in game SUCKS at best. Look at a game like TF2 (or any Valve product), new maps make the game GREAT! The ability to have developers in the mod community produce things to modify physics and the like just add spice! The complaint about cheaters is pathetic — VAC Secured servers are run as dedicated servers all the time; Valve continually works to remove cheaters. This move will be changed, they will release a patch once they find that the PC community has enough balls. OH, and the old line about console games costing more because the authors have to pay royalty to the console manufacturer really burns me up considering I’m now having to pay a royalty to f**king Activision for them to give me LESS service.
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if i wanted a console game, i would buy a console game, simplez!!
‘mw2′ pre-order now canceled
roll on ‘Bad Company 2′
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See, what it seems like to me is that they’re improving the game for people who suck at it. I’ve not once been in a server and had a problem with people cheating, I’ve really only ever seen people who are terrible call players who repeatedly mug them cheaters. My main concern is losing the ability to moderate games. My clan runs a NO MARTY server in which the language must be PG at all times. In cases where someone has that stupid perk, we kick ‘em. Plain and simple. Same deal with the vulgarity, it’s just not necessary and we don’t tolerate it.
Matchmaking is a stupid dumb stupid system, and in my opinion, is what makes the PC version more desireable to play. I might as well just go out and get a PS3 now.
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Thanks for giving my a reason to pirate it..!!!!.!.! It took longer to download than it did to finish the game.
Thanks again.
P.S I wasn’t going to buy it anyway trollface.jpeg
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i would even give money to someone, to make a webpage so that when someone searched to see cod – they would not buy it.. they would see all the annoying stuff there are about this, this servers, they fail, they fail big time those servers, they aren’t good at all.. for me, i play alot, but, i’d rather have my money back! Peace, to those with me.
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