Crysis 2 writer Richard Morgan has a say about Modern Warfare 2. Although it is a big hit, the writer feels that it is a "immense dissapointment". Quote from Joystiq:
"It was a massive stepdown from CoD4. What I thought when I played it was, 'Jesus guys, what have you been doing? You've not ramped anything up. The story is worse and the game doesn't really hang together, it's just a bunch of mission levels. It made no sense. It was totally implausible. It doesn't resolve... I just think they were way too impressed with themselves and that's always a danger. It's just unfortunate."
I couldn't agree more with the comment. From the single player perspective Modern Warfare 2 didn't take any risk in relation to the story. They basically take the old formula which is already stale and put it into the sequel. I remember that my jaw drop when I learn that the hero was killed in CoD 4. And it was so memorable during the last stage when Capt Price throw the gun and let me kill the rest of the baddies.
So when jumping into Modern Warfare 2, everything is so predictable. Capt Price not dead? Check. Our controlled character dead? Check. Actually they did it twice! Fighting the bad guy in the end with slow motion? Check. Plus the story is twisted and twisted, in the end I don't know who's who and what the hell are we fighting against.
In term of story, I really disappointed with Modern Warfare 2. In terms of multiplayer gameplay, yes it is still solid but it really didn't tinker with the formula. The point is, like Richard Morgad said, Activision is way too impressed with themselves and it is always a danger.
Take a look at Battlefield: Bad Company 2. It really fix what's wrong with the first sequel. More teamwork, and the gameplay is more exciting than MW2. My point is Modern Warfare 3 has to change in terms of story and multiplayer perspective, Activision should keep their feet on the ground, don't just rush CoD every year and milk it. They have to improve it because others have catch up.
Read more...
Infinity Ward have yet release another update. The next update will only to fix glitch and balance some of the issues. It is basically to eliminate infinite ammo and private match exploit, as well as prestige hack found in PS3 and PC's texture hack.
An guess what IW will nerf? Yes. The classic 1887 shotgun. Apparently IW feels the weapon is a bit overpower. While the rebalance might not reducing power, and it could be something else. Accuracy perhaps?
Anyway IW hasn't saying anything about this. Guess we just have to wait.
Read more...
Being a Modern Warfare 2 fan. I see an interesting discussion regarding the 1887 shotgun. It seems like more and more players use it in conjunction with Akimbo perk. Meaning that you can carry the guns one in each hand and reload it ala terminator. The accuracy is high, the damage is punishing. So is it overpowered? Here are some of the discussion on Kotaku.
Mr Bionic
Akimbo 1887 shotguns are more of a game killer than the javelin glitch. Can we get the word out to get THOSE fixed too!?
Oh, wait, idiots LIKE the akimbo 1887s being over-powered. When people use them, I back out of the game immediately. THEY ARE BROKEN PEOPLE, STOP USING THEM
Beardbeardly@Mr Bionic.
Sniper Rifles are broken, they let you shoot ALL THEY WAY ACROSS THE MAP. Stop using them. Noob Toobs are broken. THEY EXPLODE ON IMPACT! Stop using them. Thermal sights are broken. THEY ALLOW YOU TO SEE HEAT SIGNATURES IN THE WILD. Stop using them. You should bitch about a genuine glitch, not something that makes sense in the context of the weapon. If you tell me 1887's aren't that powerful, btw, you're a liar or you're not aware of the actual range of an 1887 shotgun.
MrtheMoppie@Beardbeardly.
You can't use the real range or power of the weapon when you're allowed to carry one in each hand to fire at the same time while reloading like the terminator.
There's nothing wrong with the 1887 being a great gun. There's only a problem with akimbo.
Though, the 1887 was never designed to use anything besides the old school black powder shells. Not sure where you're getting all those these days. If you're so concerned with reality, that is.
MrBionic@Beardbeardly.
It doesn't make any sense in the context of the weapon at all. Real 1887s might have more range than your typical shotgun, but they lose power EXPONENTIALLY after a very short distance. Not in the game. They are as powerful at range as they are close-up, and it's ridiculous. Not to mention the ludicrously fast reload speeds.
Trust me, I'm far from the only person that feels this way, and the only people that tend to stick up for them are the people that just want to run around with them, don't want to have to worry about actually having any skill, and care only for stats.
IW needs to patch these guns so that they lose power outside a certain range, become WAY more inaccurate at range, and reload at a more realistic level. They probably won't, of course. Every game has an unbalanced weapon, but it doesn't mean I, or many, many other people, have to like it.
Beardbeardly @MrBionic
The guns only have a range of about 15 paces in game. Anything outside of this and they're about useless, even in hardcore. The only REAL problem people seem to be having with them is that when it comes to up close and personal confrontations, they have two options "Akimbo SOMETHING" and knifing. The reloading only has to do with using Slight of Hand and if you have a problem with the perks then thats between you and IW. Now, playing hardcore, all I use is akimbo g18's which fire faster and more accurately than any of the shotguns and most people with shotguns get shot LONG before they reach their target. Perhaps your problem is that you're stuck in a game type a la "domination" where shotguns are the weapon du jour and you need to re-assess how you're playing YOUR game
Witzbold@MrBionic
I agree the range is bullshit same with the accuracy considering the fact that its being fired one handed.
Even more so when put into comparison with the newer shotguns that have been modernized.
Shit from "John Wayne" days should not be wiping folks out left and right.
*All of this talk is put into simple and easy to understand terms rather than going into the long boring conversation in regards to realism and the workings of the real counterparts
Flik Nightshade
@MrBionic
There is a difference between your examples and what he is complaining about. First off, the range on these guns are completely out of whack. I've personally been killed with these things at sniper distances before. Second, the kick on the gun shouldn't allow for dual wielding of them to begin with. Yes, I know we're bringing realism into a video game, but ffs, it's ridiculous.
So overpowered? I belive no game is perfect. I do believe if you carry 2 shotguns, the accuracy will drop as you will also flinch when firing the weapons due to huge recoil. In medium distance, assault rifle should not lose againts double shotgun. But alas, this is a game and it happens. What do you think?
Some of you who encountered Javelin glitch in Modern Warfare 2, fear not, the patch is coming to fix this in 1.06 version. Apparently, the glitch lets you to become human bomb when died and kill all enemy with a quite significant radius around you. For those who want to exploit it before the patch, here is a video.
The current 1.05 version of Modern Warfare 2 is improving the match making system. And I'd say that I am impressed with this tiny patch does. My average latency is improving to 3 bars from previously always 1 bar. I do think other game should take a look and learn from Infinity Ward on how to make multiplayer matchmaking system.
Read more...
After a day of release, highly anticipated Modern Warfare 2 already rolled out a patch believed to fix trophy bugs that won't allow trophy to be registered. However, it is still evidence especially in PS3 that bugs still exists. Friends sometimes can't be invited or join another party's session. More over the Modern Warfare 2 PS3 game server has been down since yesterday.
Robert Bowling, Infinity Wards community manager said that the server was overloaded, and they are trying to fix it as soon as possible. The server problem only affected PS3 players as PS3 server are being handled by third party Demonware, while Xbox Live are handled by Microsoft itself.
Read more...
Modern Warfare 2 is here!! Time to see how it fare in metacritics!!
1Up.com: A
With real-world locations and bombastic set-pieces, Modern Warfare continues the thrill-ride experiences and multiplayer fun of its predecessor.
IGN: 9.5/10
It's set to be one of the biggest selling games of all time.
Game Informer: 9.5/10
Multiplayer reigns supreme in game of the year candidate.
Oh well... So, what are you waiting for? Grabs your copy now!!
Read more...
This is a list of perks and kill streak rewards that circulate around the web. Rumor is that somebody got a hold of pirated PC Modern Warfare 2 and list out all the things. So please take it with grain and salt while viewing the list. It might not be 100% accurate. But it looks alright by me.
So, looks like gunner chopper won't be the end of your kill streak. There is a reward for those with 25 kill streak. Its a weapon of mass destruction. Watch the video.
Apparently I never ever, get 25 kill streak in CoD 4. Looks like this is as far as I can see.
Couple days ago, rumor that Modern Warfare 2 having 3rd person mode surface. Today it is confirmed by Infinity Ward's Robert Bowling.
The mode is not toggle on and off ala Fallout 3. The mode is totally seperate from the first person view mode. Meaning that players in 3rd person mode can't play with players in the 1st person mode and some website said that is only available for private match.
Read more...
Infinity Wards recent announcement that it will drop dedicated server on upcoming Modern Warfare 2 sparks a huge protests among PC users.
With no dedicated server feature, PC players can't play using private server thus preventing mods support, more probable lag issues, and unsatisfactory match making.
Robert Bowling, IW's community manager, tried to clarify the issue saying that Modern Warfare 2 is the biggest investment IW ever made to PC, and it won't throw players to random match making. In fact, playlists, the party system and friendslists will make playing with clans sessions "easier and hassle free."
The biggest benefit of all is anti cheat system. "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," Bowling writes. "Or relying on the server admin of the server to constantly be monitoring, banning, and policing it."
However, it still doesn't keep PC users satisfied. Up to date petition for IW to enable dedicated server reached 108.000 names.
Source: Kotaku & Gamasutra
Robert Bowling (IW Community Manager) has confirmed that there won't be a region selection option for multiplayer matchmaking system in MW2.
But don't you worry, for international players like us (Indonesian Gamers) Infinity Wards has set up a new Matchmaking System that will reduce lag. Even though they still doing it with Auto Assist matchmaking system, the function are quite different from previous COD 4.
In Call Of Duty 4, The matchmaking system is looking for the first available game. It doesn't care if you in Asia and the game host is in US. All it matters is to get you into the game quickly, so you will have unstable latency from time to time.
Now in MW2, the matchmaking system will first look for the best connection. It will scan if there is a four signal game available for you. If there are no four signal game for you to join, it will scan and look for 3 signal game available and so on.
This is really good news for us and personally I think it will be better. This system will make us easier to find good signal and hence better competition.
But what if the system doesn't work? Robert Bowling say they will monitor all the international users in the IW forum. And if the current matchmaking system does not satisfy, IW will consider to give players a select region option via patches. Read more...
Recently Infinity Ward Community Manager, Robert Bowling held 2 hours section in Tweeter by answering all question thrown at him by fans,
I am going to conclude all the facts I was able to gather in that 2 hours with Bowling
Facts
1) The Special OPs could be as long or even longer than the Single Player (if you go for all the stars)
2) There are 69 Stars in CO OP to be collected. Each Mission will give you 3 stars plus 1 star if you beating it on regular, 2 stars in hardened, 3 stars in Veterans
3) The reason the rise the level cap from 55 to 70 because this time around there are more weapons, perks, call signs, etc to unlock. Therefore they need to rise the level cap.
4) There are some goodies to be unlock if you go prestige. It has not been revealed yet.
5) There are 23 missions in CO OP with these following game types: Assault - Send you to run the levels killing bad guys while avoiding Civilian
Stealth - Where you and your buddy need to sneak past the enemy
Wave Defense - Where you going to defend against wave and wave of enemies. (just like the Horde mode in Gears of war 2)
Elimination - Send you down to kill all enemy on that level. Enemy can spawn with a limited number of times
Snowmobile racing - very straight forward. just Finish first and you WIN!
Snowmobile Combat - Race against and shoot your friend.
AC 130 - One of you become a gunner in AC-130, while the other become a soldier on the ground calling death from above.
6) There is no region selection in MW2 Multiplayer. But they have installed a new system in Match Making system that will help reduce the lags. But if the international still having problem with LAG, They will consider to patch MW2 so we can choose which region when we play. In the mean time they would like to see if their new Match Making auto assist working or not.
7)It is possible to shoot down enemy helicopter while you are in AC-130. Since AC 130 will be Flying much higher then a chopper ever could, enemy helicopter will an easy target for you to shoot down... YEAH!
There are more question answer by bowling but, I don't think it worth mentioning here.
I will up date again if there are some new and interesting stuff to show in this blog in the future. Read more...
It is really hard to keep every thing a secret, especially when you have many people working on the project.
A toy factory worker in China recently realized that they are producing Modern Warfare 2 Night Vision Goggles which will come with the Prestige Edison. Claiming a COD fan him self, He decided to make one for himself or I should say "Steal" from the factory and post it on the internet. I hope he don't get fired over this.
At the moment we don't know how many NVG he managed to bring out from the factory.
Infinity Ward and Activision held a press conference in LA, and here is a summary from the event:
- Microsoft announced that Modern Warfare will be bundled with 250 GB Xbox 360. The bundle will consist of Black console, a copy of the game, and two wireless controller. It sells for $399 and its available for preorder.
- Some new rewards for killing streak: 3 kills will get you UAV, 4 kills you get a care package random drop. You can get ammo or hop in into AC-130 gunship. But anyone can get the care package once it is drop, so better be careful.
- New deathstreak rewards will give less skilled player a balance after being owned. Some of the rewards are copy cat, mimic the killer's class and weapons for 1 life, and painkiller, increase your health for short period.
- There is a new feature called "Callsign" which enable you to customize your online account with emblems.
- There is a new perk called "scavenger". Basically it lets you to "scavenge" enemy bodies for ammo supply.
- Hardline perk lets you reduce kill streak requirement by one.
- Bling perk allows you to put 2 attachment to your weapon.
- Secondary weapon is not limited to pistol, you can equip a rocket launcher, shotgun.
- You can carry additional item such as throwing knives and tactical insertion (flare that mark your next respawn point).
Posts
