It's marketing speak. he's not saying no, what he's REALLY saying is "We're going to be watching how well IW takes off and might go that way."
Letting IW be the guinea pig, essentially. He's non-committal because frankly they're non-committal. So, all I can say to people who care about this issue is A). don't break down and buy ANOTHER modern FPS if you feel about this issue B). Keep letting it be known that the reason you are not purchasing this game is the lack of dedicated support. That's about the only way this is going to stop. #ruhroh
I don't see why it's so hard for them to say, "yes, of course we're going to have dedicated servers". We've had dedicated servers up for over twelve years now. It should be a given, and it's frightening that people even have to ask about dedicated servers in the first place, not to mention the fact that we can't even get straight answers anymore. Sure, the game's quite a way from release. But that's no excuse not to know if you're going to have dedicated servers or not. #ruhroh
I buy games for the single player unless the game is expressedly multiplayer. BF and the like come to mind. I want to buy this for the single player, because it'd be amazing, but if they're going to kill off a portion of the game that many, MANY people want to indulge in, then I'll be tempted to get the game through other means.
@tetracycloide: Seeing as how it's almost as easy to pirate on consoles now and there are no shortage of seeders for console games they are only shooting them selves in the face by punishing and taking away what PAYING PC customers have come to expect. #ruhroh
@AmnesiacJack: you're damn straight they are and the proper response is to not buy the game. pirating the game only justifies their DRM schemes and migration to console development. so just because developers are shooting themselves in the face doesn't mean PC gamers should too by coming up with a convoluted excuse to pirate everything. #ruhroh
Well, they definitely dodged the question several times with a lot of "if".
I think devs are re-thinking the potential of no ded-servers, trying to figure out how many sales are they losing VS how much money they can make off of DLC and such.
For IW this won't be an issue since they bathe in dosh. #ruhroh
@Durandal: seperating the server functions from the client functions costs money to develope and offers little benifit (other than consumer loyalty) to the developer. from a developer standpoint they would essentially be spending time and resources on a function that removes their ability to control DLC and authenticate keys server side. that's pretty much a loose loose for them. #ruhroh
Can someone explain to me WHY dedicated servers seem to be going down on new PC games? I mean, they're run by players, aren't they? Seems like a good way to save some money if you're a game developer. Maybe I'm missing something. #ruhroh
@roq: Devs are trying to take creative control of their games back and are also looking for new ways to enforce DLC. DLC is the future of gaming whether we like it or not and killing dedicated servers / mod support has to be done in order to ensure the community can not put out a competitive, free mod that would cut into the bottom line $$$.
In some ways I'm torn because I really enjoy playing a good AAA title but I'm also not going to bend over and be a good little consumer just because they tell me it is in my best interest. If all of the big devs turn their back on dedicated server support I'm pretty sure that some one else will step up to take their place. We might not get multimillion dollar graphics but at least we'll still be able to form communities and share our creativity together. #ruhroh
Dedicated servers are monumentally expensive, eh? Yeah, if you don't release the freaking server so people can run their own, which is what we want to do in the first place.
Don't be fooled. This is about content control (read: DLC sales), and nothing else -- Exactly like MW2. #ruhroh
Game servers can be classified as listen servers and dedicated servers.
Listen server (IWNET) refers to a situation in which the server typically runs in the same process as the game client, allowing a player to both host and participate in the game. As a side effect, the server is usually terminated when the client is. Listen servers are operated mostly by individuals, often in LAN Party situations rather than over the Internet, and usually with a lower number of players due to the increased processing and bandwidth requirements associated with operating both server and client simultaneously on the same machine.
Dedicated servers are servers which run independently of the client. Such servers may be run by individuals, but are usually run on dedicated hardware located in data centers, providing more bandwidth and dedicated processing power. Dedicated servers are the preferred method of hosting game servers for most PC-based multiplayer games. Massively multiplayer online games run on dedicated servers usually hosted by the software company that owns the game title, allowing them to control and update content. In many cases they are run on clustered servers to allow huge environments and large player counts. #ruhroh
"I guess on our side the thing we're focusing on is whatever your set-up at home, you get the best possible experience from it. We're just trying to use our time and resources wisely."
Dedicated servers are the better experience for pc gamers, they create a better, more competitive community that lasts longer, and costs the developers nothing since the servers are independently run and owned; managing their resources better would be not bothering to develop a matchmaking code for pc and just depend on a server browser like usual.
I would be interested to see how companies that rent out servers are responding to these developments on pc, they can't be too happy. #ruhroh
Yeah, IW and Activision may have just nailed shut the lid on PC gaming. No dedicated servers, paid DLC, and pc games will cost 60 bucks. Bummer... I just bought a new pc graphics card. looks like it may be my last pc gaming purchase... #ruhroh
@cwbys21: If a bunch of people buy MW2 for 60 dollars, other companies will surely follow. If the no-dedicated server model catches on with MW2 and AVP, then other companies will follow. If there's no dedicated servers they can charge for DLC on a closed system; other companies will follow.
PC gaming is already damaged. If the above happens it will be severely injured.
These companies are taking the lead on what could be pc gaming's future. #ruhroh
10/28/09
I think Deanbmmv has some photoshopping on a certain picture to do. #ruhroh
10/28/09
Letting IW be the guinea pig, essentially. He's non-committal because frankly they're non-committal. So, all I can say to people who care about this issue is A). don't break down and buy ANOTHER modern FPS if you feel about this issue B). Keep letting it be known that the reason you are not purchasing this game is the lack of dedicated support. That's about the only way this is going to stop. #ruhroh
10/28/09
10/28/09
10/29/09
10/28/09
Stop killing PC gaming. #ruhroh
10/28/09
10/28/09
10/28/09
10/28/09
10/29/09
10/28/09
I think devs are re-thinking the potential of no ded-servers, trying to figure out how many sales are they losing VS how much money they can make off of DLC and such.
For IW this won't be an issue since they bathe in dosh. #ruhroh
10/28/09
10/28/09
10/28/09
10/28/09
In some ways I'm torn because I really enjoy playing a good AAA title but I'm also not going to bend over and be a good little consumer just because they tell me it is in my best interest. If all of the big devs turn their back on dedicated server support I'm pretty sure that some one else will step up to take their place. We might not get multimillion dollar graphics but at least we'll still be able to form communities and share our creativity together. #ruhroh
10/28/09
Don't be fooled. This is about content control (read: DLC sales), and nothing else -- Exactly like MW2. #ruhroh
10/28/09
10/28/09
Game servers can be classified as listen servers and dedicated servers.
Listen server (IWNET) refers to a situation in which the server typically runs in the same process as the game client, allowing a player to both host and participate in the game. As a side effect, the server is usually terminated when the client is. Listen servers are operated mostly by individuals, often in LAN Party situations rather than over the Internet, and usually with a lower number of players due to the increased processing and bandwidth requirements associated with operating both server and client simultaneously on the same machine.
Dedicated servers are servers which run independently of the client. Such servers may be run by individuals, but are usually run on dedicated hardware located in data centers, providing more bandwidth and dedicated processing power. Dedicated servers are the preferred method of hosting game servers for most PC-based multiplayer games. Massively multiplayer online games run on dedicated servers usually hosted by the software company that owns the game title, allowing them to control and update content. In many cases they are run on clustered servers to allow huge environments and large player counts. #ruhroh
10/28/09
Dedicated servers are the better experience for pc gamers, they create a better, more competitive community that lasts longer, and costs the developers nothing since the servers are independently run and owned; managing their resources better would be not bothering to develop a matchmaking code for pc and just depend on a server browser like usual.
I would be interested to see how companies that rent out servers are responding to these developments on pc, they can't be too happy. #ruhroh
10/28/09
10/28/09
10/28/09
PC gaming is already damaged. If the above happens it will be severely injured.
These companies are taking the lead on what could be pc gaming's future. #ruhroh
10/28/09
10/28/09
_ #ruhroh