One More Update on MW2

Just in case IW hasn't convinced any PC gamers yet that it doesn't care about them, Best Buy recently hosted an online chat with Mackey McCandlish and Ryan Lastimosa from IW. Aside from further confirming that there are no dedicated servers and that 9vs9 will be the maximum game size, they also dropped a few more bombs. Here's some of what they had to say.

Q: Is there a console in the PC version of the game, so we can change our field of view from the xbox's default 65 FOV to 80 also can we tweaks the weapon damage for each gun, removes perks, graphical debris, breathing sway, also thru console like we where able to before or is this all gone?

IW: We would like you to play the game the way we designed and balanced it.

So not only is there not going to be any mods, there most likely will be no customization at all. If its not in the menu system, it can't be changed. And just how far does their balancing go? There will also be no ability to lean around corners because the game "isn't balanced for lean."

It was then brought up that if there is no console, what about hackers? Will there be a way to kick them? Let's see what IW has to say.

Q: Since we cannot kick people in ranked matches, how will we stop hackers who get past VAC?

IW: Our goal is to ban hackers from the game.

Good luck with that one. In other news, I've also heard rumors that IW has found a cure for cancer and is currently in negotiations with all the world's leaders to end war forever. Is there anything they can't do? Unfortunately, yes, there is.

Q: Is there a /record feature? Answer yes... please. We're trying to give you a 'chance'.

IW: No.

(As an aside, the way I hear this specific Q&A in my head makes me crack up every time I read it.) Ok, so not necessarily a dealbreaker that it doesn't support a record feature, but why would they not. It's not like it's a difficult thing to implement or that the game wasn't "balanced" for it. My opinion: perhaps they didn't want a lot of videos on youtube with 5 second pauses in the game every time someone leaves the game.

Q: Please give me a direct answer. On the PC version. Are all games hosted by players, and is there a five-second delay when host migration is in effect?

IW: yes.

So every game is hosted by a player and if that player leaves, then there will be a five second delay while the game selects a different host. Oh, and there is no way to select who will host. That's determined by the game. If you thought a high ping or low frame rates would make a game annoying, just imagine what it's going to be like every time the host rage-quits. Oh, and what about the host having an advantage because of a really good ping. No need to worry, because that will be offset by the game "having a great tolerance for latency".

But luckily, it's not all bad news. There was at least some good news for PC players.

Q: Ignoring IW.net, is the PC version a direct port of the console version?

IW: No, PC has custom stuff like mouse control, text chat in game, and graphics settings.

See? Doesn't that make you feel better? You're going to be able to use your mouse and keyboard and use text chat in game. And what's that you say? You want to use a resolution higher than 800x600? Well, the folks over at IW have heard your cries. They're going to let you adjust you graphical settings. See, they spent so much time on the PC version that they're going to let you use features that have been in every PC game since Doom. Apparently, it was balanced for that.

But there is some good news. All those reports about how it's the best selling game at Gamespot ever. Well, those are only retail sales and a lot of Gamespot stores don't even sell PC games. So how well is it doing in the digital distribution world? Direct2Drive, Impulse, and GamersGate are all refusing to sell it because it relies on Steamworks. As for Steam, it has yet to go higher than 4th and is consistently being beaten by L4D2, Borderlands, Torchlight, Dragon Age, and even Football Manager 2010.