Editor's note: This seems like a good time to remind everyone of Bitmob's Modern Warfare 2 Game Night this Friday. Jon may or may not be joining us...no pressure! I'm sure we'll have a horrible time. -Demian
Almost a month ago, I wrote an article for Bitmob listing the factors in my decision not to buy the PC version of Modern Warfare 2, the latest offering from Infinity Ward and Activision. My resolve was strong -- there were plenty of games to play this holiday season and I didn’t see how missing one game could bother me. Then...I watched the Giant Bomb quick look.
A horrible idea, in hindsight. So much about the original Modern Warfare that appealed to me back in 2007 flashed before my eyes as Jeff Gerstmann and Brad Shoemaker tore through some of the different aspects of the sequel. I thought to myself, “Maybe I can just go back and play some Call of Duty 4, get completely demolished in multiplayer, and rebuild my resolve not to buy this new game.” So, my hopeful journey to demoralization began.
The horrible video that potentially ruined my life.
Since I just upgraded my PC and started a clean install on Windows 7, I started from scratch as a lowly level 1 with a M4A1 and a USP .45. My first game in at least a year led to a decisive victory for my team, with me ranking a modest fifth place out of the ten people on my team. Kills? 12. Deaths? 7. Hey, with a KDR greater than 1.0 and decent placing, I thought that maybe I just got lucky and the loving, familiar pain would come soon.
Some higher power clearly wants me to be tempted by Modern Warfare 2, because I did progressively better in each subsequent game, with a consistent KDR of 2.0 or more. I’m not saying this to toot my own horn, because each victory was a crippling blow to the gut of my resolve and one step closer to a shameful reversal of my principles and $60 out of my pocket.
The horrible number that potentially ruined my life: 2.28, my kill-to-death ratio.
I find myself in a confusing moral dilemma. Activision and Infinity Ward deeply disappointed me with their treatment of the PC community, so I still feel strongly compelled to overlook this version of the game in order to materially show my disdain for their actions. At the same time, I’ve felt a strong affinity to the PC as my source for first-person shooters, with the precision of the mouse and keyboard as well as the sheer power of my new Radeon 5770 teasing my appetite for fidelity.
With my impulsive temulency driving my holiday buying decisions, I’ve come to consider even buying the 360 version of this game. With lots of my friends playing and the Bitmob Game Night coming up, this version would be the best "social gaming" choice. Not only that, but the idea crossed my mind to buy a used copy in order to actively route my money to the slightly less evil corporate overlord of Gamestop, rather than the slightly more evil corporate overlord of Activision.
None of these options are ideal; Infinity Ward has surprised me again and again with their holier-than-thou attitude and stubborn commitment to completely controlling the user experience.
On the other hand, the game looks to be a quality product and genuinely fun experience, which isn’t surprising considering their past successes and massive bankroll. Gaming has always been about fun for me -- morality has rarely come into question in my hobby of choice. Do I stand firmly with my principles and ignore the game? Do I give in to my most basic gamer’s instinct and buy it? Do I bridge the gap and try to find a way to play the game, and yet still show my disapproval?
Comments (21)
...But do you know if you slide, you won't be the only one.
...But do know that if you slide, you won't be the only one.
Thanks for the reassurance.
At least I wasn't stupid enough to dramatically sign a petition or join a meaningless Steam group, I suppose. Except for the keyboard and mouse aspect. Definitely cooler than a 360 controller. Graphics are better for PC, too... Typing makes you look smarter than voicechat...
Hnnnngh!
Sticking to your ground is a good, but I have a feeling your lack of buying the game will get ignored with the number of people buying the game.
If you want it, get it. At least you are buying a quality game, from a studio who is excellent in most regards. I hate some of the moral messaging in MW and MW2, but I respect IW so much that I could not pass on the game.
Sure, me skipping the purchase of this game isn't going to create a thought of a dent for IW and Activision but then I would be financially supporting what I despise.
Sure, this isn't a decision that's going to have massive consequences or emotional implications, but I just find it interesting that I actually have to give a game a second thought for a reason other than "it looks like a bad game".
Similarly, I feel like this happened earlier this year with Shadow Complex, though boycott had much more serious implications. Nonetheless, it left a group of gamers with a decision as to whether or not to buy a game albeit their principles.
Back then, I actually found it easier to buy the game and donate $10 to the Human Rights Campaign to hopefully counterbalance any unintended support I might have given to Orson Scott Card. Now, it's much harder to find a "counterbalance" to supporting what Infinity Ward is doing, unintentionally or not.
I understand how much it might cut into the reason to play. My uncle only plays shooters on his PC, and nothing else. If you call soccer moms with a Wii Fit gamers than you can consider my uncle a gamer too. He only plays the Battlefield and CoD games with a dedicated clan he's been a part of for years. They're a diverse group of older men who have specific rules regarding profanity, cheating and other behaviors. I imagine they won't be buying or playing MW2 since this hampers them. But couldn't they just stay in a teamspeak channel to excise the communications of outside players? Is there no way that some group of dedicated hackers will find a way to play multiplayer without going through IW?
If people could get Mario Kart on the Gamecube online doesn't that mean this would be possible too? If this is such a problem than why not just stick to CoD4 and other games that allow dedicated servers? The allure to play this can't be so tempting after the next two or three months. I know that once I stopped playing WoW/Cod4/Halo2 online there wasn't that burning desire after a month or so.
Is there no way that some group of dedicated hackers will find a way to play multiplayer without going through IW?
And my answer is that hackers shouldn't have to circumvent the system. All that does is further separate that hardest of the hardcore, alienate the typical PC gamer, and open the doors to a casual audience who has no interest in the PC.
To your argument concerning the appeal of new games, again, I don't think that people should have to ignore advancement in order to enjoy playing games. The reasons for wanting to switch from COD4 to MW2 are obvious and I don't feel like anyone should have to defend their desire to play newer, better games.
