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Everyone rush! Multiplayer returns to PS3 Modern Warfare 2

by Andrew Yoon { Nov 12th 2009 at 12:05AM }

Just as Veteran's Day comes to a close, it appears Infinity Ward has finally been able to get the online infrastructure stable for the PS3 version of Modern Warfare 2. It appears the third party-powered servers simply couldn't handle the overwhelming demand following the game's launch. Makes sense: it did sell close to a zillion copies. "We expect smooth skies ahead," IW's Robert Bowling stated in a recent tweet. That is, unless all of you rush to your PS3s again now that multiplayer is working yet again. Remember, though: this is simply a server-side fix that allows you to play multiplayer. The party system still won't work until a patch, planned for release on Friday.

Like many Joystiq commenters have pointed out, we're hoping this closure means the end of Modern Warfare 2 stories for a while. Hopefully we can keep this tag closed for at least a few days, before people start murmuring about the inevitable DLC to come.

[Thanks to everyone that sent this in!]

Digital Foundry analyzes Wii Modern Warfare, deemed 'functional'

by Andrew Yoon { Nov 11th 2009 at 6:30PM }

Obviously, the Wii port of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare was going to have a few setbacks visually. However, Digital Foundry's recent hands-on with the game suggests developer Treyarch was successful in recreating the overall feel of the original game. "Texture detail and geometry levels are savagely hacked down, lighting effects and shadowing are brutally pared back, frame-rate is cut from 60FPS down to the more manageable 30FPS," the preview notes. However, "it does a good enough job of capturing the look of the original," Digital Foundry concludes.

Of course, visuals aren't the most important aspect of Modern Warfare's transition to the Wii. Digital Foundry answers the hard-pressing question: how does it control? At times "beautifully," although "awkward button placement on the controller makes things difficult for anything other than running and gunning."

It may be watered down, but Reflex will finally grant Wii owners the ability to see what all the fuss was about. While the port is deemed "functional," we can't help but lament the fact that this Wii port still can't best some games from the last generation of consoles.

As easy as 1.23 million: Modern Warfare 2 breaks first-day UK sales record

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Nov 11th 2009 at 1:29PM }

Citing "astonishing" first-day sales figures in the UK, the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association has trumpeted Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2's debut as a sign that "interactive entertainment has completely come of age." Said Michael Rawlinson, Director General of the ELSPA: "These first day sales figures are astonishing and clear evidence that video games are now mainstream in the UK."

Smashing through the estimated 631,000 units sold by 2008's Grand Theft Auto IV, Infinity Ward's slick shooter grossed £47 million (roughly $78.3 million) in first-day sales, which ELSPA and GFK-ChartTrack pair with 1.23 million units sold. Sold to adults, of course! "So, as an 18-rated video game, it is important that this game is not played by children, and parents should be appropriately vigilant," said Rawlinson. "We ask everyone to make sure they check the packaging of games to ensure they are suitable for their players, especially as we enter the festive season when video games are one of the most popular gifts of the holiday."

We hope you don't take offense, people of the UK, but some of you have awfully high-pitched voices online.

PS3 Modern Warfare 2 experiencing multiplayer issues; patch expected Friday [final update]

by Andrew Yoon { Nov 11th 2009 at 12:57PM }

It seems like only yesterday when players were complaining about Trophy-related issues in the PS3 version of Modern Warfare 2. Wait a sec -- it was yesterday. According to a tweet by Infinity Ward's Robert Bowling, a "trophy update" has been released. However, while said update fixes one problem, it apparently creates another. "It killed all multiplayer activity on MW2," tipster True_Darknight tells Joystiq. Today, launching the multiplayer mode from our own PS3 copy of Modern Warfare 2 did indeed prove futile, as we stared at the matchmaking screen for about five minutes before finally giving up.

According to Bowling, PS3 owners can expect a "party invite update by Friday," which should hopefully resolve this issue. Until then, players will have to make due with the single-player campaign. It's not like this "multiplayer" thing is important, right?

Update: Tipster Kenneth B. pointed us to a tweet from Activision support that says the MW2 outage is "totally unrelated to the patch." While this means a fix can be done before Friday, he admits "we don't have a hard ETA on the servers coming back up." We'll be keeping track of this problem, but don't forget to send us your tips.

Update 2: Tipster Brent point us to yet another tweet, this time from Robert Bowling who confirms the multiplayer downtime is caused by server overload. According to Bowling, "Xbox Live servers are maintained and ran by Microsoft. PSN servers are ran and maintained by 3rd party companies hired to do so." Seems this mysterious "3rd party" infrastructure simply cannot match the Microsoft-funded backbone of Xbox Live.

Update 3: It appears everything is finally fully operational. For more details, check out this updated story.

PSA: Modern Warfare 2 won't unlock on Steam until Friday

by Griffin McElroy { Nov 10th 2009 at 2:00PM }

While those who suffered the slings, arrows and unbearable social graces of the Modern Warfare 2 midnight launch lines have been playing the game for half a day now, those who decided to purchase and download the game through Steam won't be able to unlock their copy of the game until Friday morning at the stroke of midnight. If you've bought a retail copy of the game, Steam will go ahead and unlock it now -- the delay only seems to apply to the digitally distributed version.

It looks like the game was initially delayed to unlock at midnight on Thursday, but at some point this morning, an additional 24 hours was tacked on to the postponement. Valve and Infinity Ward still haven't commented on why Steam users are being forced to wait -- we'll see if we can get an answer from them.

The Onion reveals Modern Warfare 3, most 'realistic' military experience yet

by Alexander Sliwinski { Nov 10th 2009 at 12:30PM }

The Onion has the WORLD EXCLUSIVE first details of Modern Warfare 3, which developer Infinity Ward is apparently putting the "final touches on." There's so much scrumptious information in the Onion report, it's almost like the respected media source made the whole thing up.

Modern Warfare 3 will blow away its predecessor in the realism department, being the most "true to life" installment of the game ever produced. A "majority" of gameplay will have players hauling equipment, cleaning vehicles, experiencing home sickness and "filling out paperwork." Check out the full report after the break. We're so bummed we weren't invited to the reveal junket, which had journalists sleeping in the Pentagon and being briefed in "the war room" (which actually has a sign: "No Fighting Allowed!").

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Users report Modern Warfare 2 Trophies misfiring

by Griffin McElroy { Nov 10th 2009 at 11:00AM }

"Oh, man -- it was so awesome. First multiplayer match I get into, and I get like, a 200 kill streak. It was in this weird airport lobby level, and everyone else must have had really bad lag or something, because they didn't move much -- but still! It was the coolest thing I've ever done, and I didn't get a Trophy for it. WTF?"

While we're not certain Trophies are distributed for ... the feat mentioned above, it does seem that the PS3 version of Modern Warfare 2 is experiencing some trouble rewarding Trophies to its players. The problem seems to be with a pre-launch patch which, for some reason or other, disables the game's unlockable incentives. A fix for the issue has been discovered by a few fan sites, but we've contacted Infinity Ward to see when we can expect a more official solution to surface.

Review: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

by Kevin Kelly { Nov 10th 2009 at 3:01AM }

Wait, didn't everybody already buy this?

Even if your willpower or geography has kept you from picking up Modern Warfare 2, you're probably reading this as you drive to go do just that. Activision's marketing people like to call this one the most anticipated game of the decade, and there's no doubt it will sell oodles of copies from now until Modern Warfare 3: Even Moderner. But is it worth the hype? I spent some serious time pounding plastic to see if Infinity Ward's latest has the fun to back it up and you can find out what I thought right after the break.

Just pull over first, okay?

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This is Modern Warfare 2's official launch party

by Andrew Yoon { Nov 10th 2009 at 12:00AM }

It seems a bit silly to have a launch party for a game that pretty much "launched" already. NYC became host to the official Modern Warfare 2 launch, where enthusiasts were able to wait on line for their chance to play the game. After the festivities, they could walk one block away to GameStop to buy a copy of the game at midnight -- and no sooner.

Funnily, a good percentage of people waiting on line already had a copy of the game. Why bother going to the launch event, then? Perhaps the swag proved too enticing: XL Modern Warfare 2 t-shirts and the chance to oogle at IGN's Jessica Chobot were more than enough reason to wait on line for upwards of an hour.

Considering this is arguably the biggest game release of the year, the event ended up being a bit underwhelming. Other than the dozens of Xbox 360 demo kiosks (with nary a PS3 in sight), Activision didn't offer much else to see or do. For the sake of this blogger, a more "ridiculous" marketing budget would have offered a far more spectacular launch party, one filled with fireworks, ninjas and dedicated servers.

British MP Watson leading charge against Modern Warfare 2 media controversy

by Griffin McElroy { Nov 9th 2009 at 1:00PM }

Tom Watson, a member of British Parliament, has developed a sort of folk hero status among European gamers this morning. After his fellow MP, Keith Vaz, promised to decry the violence depicted in Modern Warfare 2 (specifically in that one scene) in the next session of Parliament, Watson publicly defended the game on Facebook and Twitter. He then kicked it up a notch and started a pressure group called Gamers' Voice on Facebook. The group's mission statement explains that its members will discuss "how UK video gamers can find their voice in newspapers and government."

It was a wise, pre-emptive move on Watson's part -- as promised, Vaz brought up the game during today's Parliament session, explaining that it's so violent that "even the manufacturers have put in warnings within the game telling people how they can skip particular scenes." He inquired how the government was planning on "protecting our children." Watson stepped in and dropped the timeless observation that the UK already has a game rating system which restricts the game's sale to minors, and that it's more important to protect the gaming industry than it is to "create moral panic" in the media.

If you want to stay informed of Watson's other heroic, industry-defending activities, you might want to join the Gamers' Voice group. (We hear that shortly after that Parliament session, he doused a burning orphanage, then ate an entire maple tree for breakfast. Seriously!)

Activision establishing 'Call of Duty Endowment,' donating $1 million to war veteran aid

by Ben Gilbert { Nov 9th 2009 at 12:00PM }

On the eve of Modern Warfare 2's official release, the game's publisher has announced intentions to donate $1 million to veteran-related charities through a newly created foundation. The "Call of Duty Endowment" (or simply "CODE") is said to "support other groups that assist veterans with their careers," reports the Washington Post.

Though he's mostly known for facepalm-inducing hard business quotes, Activision head Bobby Kotick thoughtfully commented, "How do you expect people to actually join the military if when they leave the military they can't integrate back into the free market they're supposed to be protecting? The joblessness rate that [veterans] should have should be far less than the national average, not more." The foundation's first donation will be for $125,000 to the Paralyzed Veterans of America and will go towards the opening of a vocational rehabilitation center.

For the UK's best Modern Warfare 2 deal, head to the grocery store

by JC Fletcher { Nov 9th 2009 at 9:30AM }

Grocery stores aren't typically known for great video game deals -- we can't remember any notable supermarket game purchases since our local Albertson's cleared out its NES rentals. But Sainsbury supermarkets in the UK have an offer worth noting: the retailer has cut the price of Modern Warfare 2 to just £26 ($43.76), an amazing £29 off the regular price.

Tesco is also offering a big price cut on Modern Warfare 2: it's £25 with the purchase of another bestselling game (The Guardian specifies "top-20" games), or £39.70 on its own. Tescos, which are open all the time anyway, will begin selling the game at midnight tonight, as will five Sainsbury's locations. Unless they're like stores in the US, in which case they began selling them last week.

Modern Warfare: Reflex footage inspires passionate comment

by Griffin McElroy { Nov 6th 2009 at 11:40AM }

"now all you 360 lovers can suck it!!!!! this game looks great." – natevberg, YouTube commenter

No insight from us relating to the recently leaked footage of the training mission from Modern Warfare: Reflex (and, prior to that, the original Modern Warfare) is required. Mr. natevberg seems to sum up the raw emotion of the video beautifully. To see the modern waggle controls in action, check out the video after the jump.

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Modern Warfare 2 refused by digital distribution retailers; Steamworks to blame

by JC Fletcher { Nov 6th 2009 at 9:22AM }

PC gamers aren't the only ones angry about the way Modern Warfare 2 is shaping up. PC retailers, starting with IGN's Direct2Drive download service, have made the bold move to leave piles of money on the table by refusing to sell it. It's not in protest of the dedicated server issue or the multiplayer cap, but rather the fact that the game relies on Steamworks for updates, saving and Achievements; and Direct2Drive isn't thrilled about selling a game that requires the bundling of a competitor's product.

"At Direct2Drive," the statement on what would be the Modern Warfare 2 product page reads, "we believe strongly that when you buy a game from us, you shouldn't be forced to install and run a 3rd party software client to be able to play the game you purchased." The site offers an Amazon link to purchase the game, and a $5 coupon for other Activision titles on Direct2Drive.

Impulse and GamersGate won't be offering the Modern Warfare 2 either. Impulse tells VE3D that "the most obvious issue is the forced inclusion of a competitor's store that blocks us from carrying the game."

[Via Gamasutra]

Modern Warfare 2 limited to 9 vs. 9 on PC

by Justin McElroy { Nov 5th 2009 at 7:40PM }

Poor PC gamers. First they hear the soul-crushing news that Modern Warfare 2 won't support dedicated servers, and now Infinity Ward has broken their hearts yet again. During a Best Buy online chat, the developer fired off a string of bad news, affirming a 9-vs-9 player limit, the inability to kick players from ranked matches and a lack of console commands. Ars Technica has laid out the full list of disappointments, if you've got the stomach for it.

We feel for those of you on the PC side, but largely because you haven't yet had your spirits broken like your console brethren. We don't even notice having our dreams shattered any more (in fact, truth be told, we think we're starting to like it).