Last month Activision announced that the PC version of Modern Warfare 2 would not feature the same dedicated server setup that Call of Duty 4 uses. Instead, the PC version will use a matchmaking protocol in conjunction with IW.net.
Unfortunately for local PC gamers, early reports suggest that because SA does not have a local IW.Net host, they will not be able to play on local latencies.
If this is the case, then the multiplayer component will be rendered unfeasible for local PC gamers.
It is not only local gamers that are upset, and a petition has gathered a massive 184,000 signatures calling for dedicated servers to be implemented.
Activision firmly believes that the new matchmaking system will make the multiplayer component far more accessible that it is with the current dedicated server solution. Instead of having to enter server IP addresses, there will be an automated matchmaking system built into the game. The matchmaking system will supposedly match players up with equally skilled opponents, and Activision believes that it will open the game up to new users.
The publisher is so comfortable with its decision, that CEO Mike Griffiths has stated that they are not overly concerned about the 185, 000 signature petition.
“We’re of course watching this very carefully and paying attention to it, but we’re not overly concerned about it,” said Griffiths according to Gamesindustry.biz.
Griffiths went on to say “One of the problems with our PC SKUs on this title in the past is that it has not been as friendly a consumer experience with matchmaking and online play as the consoles have allowed it to be. Our solution here improves that overall by a significant margin so we think the benefits that we will see are going to far outweigh the negatives that seem to be surfacing.”
While it has to be said that Griffith’s explanation does make sense, it will not console local PC gamers who look set to miss out on the year’s most anticipated multiplayer experience. Furthermore, it does not explain why Activision elected to remove dedicated servers altogether, as opposed to implementing it separately alongside the new matchmaking service.
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