Modern Warfare: Frozen Crossing

This is really, really cool.

Party Chat returning to MW2?

One constant annoyance to some is that if you are in a party when playing Modern Warfare 2, the game automatically puts you in game chat. While not a fan of this feature I didn't let it bother me, and fellow authors expressed their approval of the measure to avoid silent games. Silent being no one talks to you.

However, apparently Infinity Ward has had many complaints according to Analog Hype, they now are considering the idea of lifting the measure.

It's quite ironic since NG4 had an article declaring the race to disable Party Chat in future game releases, making the invention of the feature dead in less than 2 years. Now it might go the other way around, and even if Infinity Ward doesn't change the auto game chat feature other developers might avoid integrating it.

Public Opinion wants it gone, but shouldn't people be communicating with their teams? That is the argument for the supporters of this feature, and we'll see how it turns out.

The budget of Modern Warfare 2

Modern Warfare 2 has made over 600 million dollars, with the game being so popular people tend to believe it was costly. THAT is what the game market wants you think, that good games take alot of money. Modern Warfare 2 is a defining example of this tactic.

VG Arabia has brought to my attention news from the LA Times that Modern Warfare cost 200 million to launch.

You may be wondering how much of the 600 million plus dollars that takes away, but before you do. Consider that only 40-50 million dollars was actually put into the development of the game.

Activision is definitely money hungry as any other company, and Bobby Kotick certainly does not help that. BUT WHO THE HELL SPENDS THREE TIMES THE COST OF THE GAME'S BUDGET FOR DISTRIBUTION AND MARKETING?

We knew this game was coming, we were excited for this game. But with Activision, Ubisoft, and many other publishers in the industry speaking on behalf of the developers. They say the $60 retail standard for games isn't enough per game to offset costs for most games and make the gamble some developers make worth the risk.

I have heard many statements from Activision and Infinity Ward regarding development of this game, but the standard for game retail has slowly increased over the years. I for one do not want to see ridiculous things like the supposed $100 retail for Final Fantasy XIII, it will only be a matter of time before gaming falls because publishers more than developers do this to gamers.

It's alot to ask the gaming development and publishers to change the way they do things, even if its common sense. But for god's sake, NEVER spend more on marketing than the game. This happens with so many games, and when games disappoint we lose as developers scramble to bleed us more for every game. All because of hyping games that don't need hype in some cases, it's completey fine to market. But when you spend more than the game cost to make, that's pathetic.

Reggie Fils-Aime comments on Modern Warfare 2

Nintendo Everything plucked this comment by Nintendo of America's president

...We know that it’s a high-quality title. We know that it will do exceptionally well. Their challenge is going to be sustaining that. It was so big so fast, what happens next week and the week after? Versus Mario is going to sell for high numbers every day now through, really, for the next couple of years.”

And I thought Bobby Kotick was the only one who could look stupid when talking. Of course Mario will probably outsell Modern Warfare 2, but not for good reasons. I agree it could, but only because:

1. Nintendo had a loyal fanbase
Think about it, Nintendo was selling the Wii in great numbers. But with the lack of good titles without the name Mario in it, the introduction of this "version" of Mario with 4 player is going to sell. But how many people don't bother with their Nintendo Wii lately? Quite a few, and this is probably the first Wii game in a long time to be a must have. It's Mario, who doesn't know Mario?! Then again, who hasn't seen the tons of terrible games for the Wii that borderline on gimmicks for the Wiimote.

2. Mario has existed since the 80's
There are plenty of dedicated Mario fans that span across all ages, Modern Warfare 2 is a specific game franchise that doesn't have a specific character (unless you count Soap McTavish). Modern Warfare 2 technically has a smaller follow up if people actually followed the M rated warning on the game(which they don't),Modern Warfare is a growing franchise separate from the Call of Duty franchise as a whole in just several years. It doesn't have the "desperately loyal" fanbase of the Mario fans, the inert Wii owners who haven't bought more than 4 good games a year on their Wii, and the easy-to-manipulate young minds as much.

Heck Reggie should worry about this, because it means they will lose more than just hardcore gamers.

New Modern Warfare 2 gametypes

Blend games gave us the heads up on additions to one of the best selling games of the year. They are as follows in case you want an idea of what you're playing:

1. 3rd Person Team Tactical - "Third person perspective with Team Deathmatch,Domination, Capture the Flag, and Demolition" (6-8 players)

2. Team Deathmatch Express - "Team Deathmatch with shorter time between matches." (8-12 players)

3. Mosh Pit - "Mixed bag of many game modes in one playlist" (8-12 players

Hmmm, lets see. The first one has that third person perspective some gamers craved and awaited following rumors of its existence.
The second one makes camping on the map a losing strategy if you're losing, and also makes it ideal since people will be chasing each other around the map. I bet that gametype will be frustrating when teams are neck and neck.
The last one solves the oh-so-prevalent arguments of what gametype to play, and instead leaves the decision to a crapshoot courtesy of Infinity Ward.

Thank you Infinity :D

Modern Warfare 2 sells 3 million in the U.K.

Kotaku

To say I'm stunned would be a gross understatement. To put the numbers of sales for Modern Warfare into perspective. GTA IV the biggest 1 day launch sold 3.6 million copies and 6 million in the first 7 days. Modern Warfare sold 3 million copies in the United Kingdom alone. I am sure that shortly after this post we will have the United States first day figures and jaws will drop once more. Prepare for the 6 million first week record to be crushed all Dark Knight Style.

So far I've poured about 5 or so hours into the game and sadly school keeps getting in the way. Hopefully I will be able to play the shit out of the game this thursday and friday. We have a couple of cool Modern Warfare 2 things going up so be ready to celebrate Infinity Ward month here on geeksquisite, let the good times roll.

Modern Warfare 2 originally planned CO-OP

We are all looking forward to Modern Warfare 2, any news of what they wanted to do or didn't do catches my interest. A website named VG247 revealed that MW2 was originally going to have a CO-OP feature, and even though I don't mind they cut that it did make me think about CO-OP in video games today.

Personally I am glad they didn't include CO-OP in this game because I wonder if CO OP ruins a game sometimes, since most games don't set up harder difficulties if it senses more than one player. I saw this a lot with Halo: ODST, the game is a lot more time consuming when played alone.

I really think CO OP needs to be left out of a game UNLESS they design CO-OP where each player is on his own and does things where it assists the other player. A good example of this is the Gears of War 2 co-op which made you dependent on the other player.