Steamworks is the DRM for Modern Warfare 2

[Golgatha]

http://www.bluesnews.com/cgi-bin/articles.pl?show=1135

Hmm, no mods, no dedicated server, no free maps, and no way to resell the game = no sale for me.

Infinity Ward is taking the hard nosed approach with this game. It is Steam only now as far as I can tell, even for retail boxed copies.

All PC versions of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 will be powered by Steamworks, providing gamers with auto-updating, anti-cheat technology, Steam Achievements, and the recently introduced Steam Cloud.

Steamworks Details - How it Works

 

[JSt0rm]

steam provides a service along with the drm and for some reason I'm ok with it.

 

[Zensal]

Meh. I'd buy it on Steam anyway.

Steam Cloud looks awesome though. Never have to worry about my saved progress ever again.

Lack of dedicated servers sucks though.

 

[masteryoda34]

You forgot that they are also charging $60 for the PC version.

 

[Golgatha]

Originally posted by: masteryoda34
You forgot that they are also charging $60 for the PC version.

I imagine it will come down since Amazon.com and Wal-Mart are already offering $20 off the pre-orders. I'd probably pick it up for ~$20 for the SP aspect of the game, as that has always been top notch.

I suppose the bright side of all this is CoD 4 MW players will be around for quite some time longer for MP on the PC. CoD 4 is always a LAN favorite with the group I play with.

 

[Krakn3Dfx]

Good stuff. I still have no interest in buying it at this point, but if I was going to, it would be good to have it in my ever growing Steam account.

 

[chevyman88]

Originally posted by: Golgatha
Hmm, no mods, no dedicated server = no sale for me.

This ... I have a one finger message for IW for taking that away.

 

[mwmorph]

Wait a second, is the no mods thing confirmed? That would be a massive deal for almost anyone and I think that would be their biggest mistake yet.

 

[Krakn3Dfx]

Originally posted by: mwmorph
Wait a second, is the no mods thing confirmed? That would be a massive deal for almost anyone and I think that would be their biggest mistake yet.

I dunno how they would handle modding if all of the servers are run by them. I guess they could potentially allow some sort of process that allowed for certain mods on their servers.

But since it's a pretty general consensus that part of the reason for this shift to IW-only servers is to force PC gamers to buy their $10 map packs, I seriously doubt you'd see anything like that.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: Golgatha

Originally posted by: masteryoda34
You forgot that they are also charging $60 for the PC version.

I imagine it will come down since Amazon.com and Wal-Mart are already offering $20 off the pre-orders. I'd probably pick it up for ~$20 for the SP aspect of the game, as that has always been top notch.

I suppose the bright side of all this is CoD 4 MW players will be around for quite some time longer for MP on the PC. CoD 4 is always a LAN favorite with the group I play with.

its not $20 off the pre-order. if you pre-order, you get a $20 gift card for future purchases.

 

[lupi]

sweet, let me know when it's only $10.

 

[Scrodes]

Originally posted by: chevyman88

Originally posted by: Golgatha
Hmm, no mods, no dedicated server = no sale for me.

This ... I have a one finger message for IW for taking that away.

My feelings exactly

 

[mindcycle]

Charging $60 for rehashed gameplay was enough to make me avoid this game, but adding Steam DRM makes it an avoid at all costs title. I'm sure it will still millions though.. lol

 

[Lonyo]

They are using Steamworks and taking away modding so that they can charge you for every little thing they add, just like the can with Xbox Live.
In a roundabout way, you can blame Microsoft.

 

[marmasatt]

I don't know why no one is mentioning the big picture unless I have problems w/ reading comprehension. This game is forever tied to your Steam account. So like Fear 2, you go ahead and spend $40-$50 on a retail game. Most of us play the crap out of it and then go and resell it in the forums or on ebay for about $25.... That's not happening here. Takes away the whole second hand market. You forever own the game.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

Extraordinarily restrictive DRM... check
Not resalable... check
No mods... check
No user made maps... check
No dedicated servers... check
Steam only... check

There is absolutely no way I'm playing this game.

 

[Arglebargle]

Follow the money...

 

[zerocool84]

Not buying this game. I got bored extremely quick of the first one and this will obviously be more of the same and especially it's just more of the same.

 

[EarthwormJim]

I like steam, the not reselling part doesn't bother me.

I've never sold a PC game, getting $5 (I have yet to see anything I'm no longer playing sell for more) for a game I've finished doesn't seem worth it.

 

[Arglebargle]

Not being able to resell is a legit beef for some people: not me, I keep everything, if I don't lose it. Anybody need a pristine copy of Ultima 5??

But they are obviously trying to lock down all possible revenue streams, keeping them under their thumb, so they can continue to churn out stuff to sell. It will probably not be worth the cost, but it will be to a captive market.

 

[mindcycle]

Originally posted by: EarthwormJim
I've never sold a PC game, getting $5 (I have yet to see anything I'm no longer playing sell for more) for a game I've finished doesn't seem worth it.

The reason PC games don't resell for more is because of restrictive DRM like Steam, SecuROM, Tages, etc.. They cause the value of the game to drop substantially in a very short period of time. Once the initial demand is gone it's very hard to move units because a second hand market isn't there to drive sales (yes, contrary to what some believe a strong second hand market will actually drive sales in both the second and first hand markets, look at GameStop as an example). Console games on the other hand keep their second hand value for longer because the same restrictions don't exist. And unfortunately, restrictive DRM doesn't just affect sales of the specific title that uses it, it affects the whole industry.

Seriously, take a look at the typical cost of a popular PC title at 1 month, 3 months, then 6 months. Then look at that same title for consoles. I bet you'll see a massive difference in price reduction on the PC title and not nearly as much on the console title.

And yes, I know there's a good chance someone will respond to this post and claim that piracy is to blame, but i'm not buying that any longer. Most PC gamers are now wise to things and recognize that there is little to no value in used copies of PC games with restrictive DRM, especially after the Spore debacle and other high profile "fuck ups". So they either stop selling games or they abandon the platform, neither of which benefit anyone involved. The reality is that restrictive DRM is hurting the entire industry.

 

[Gothgar]

Originally posted by: lupi
sweet, let me know when it's only $10.

hopefully most people won't purchase it and it will drop to this price quickly... at least by xmas

 

[eggrolls]

Restrictive DRM is needed for some games. It's a way to stop people from reselling their game, while keeping a copy and playing it themselves.

I would never buy a used PC multiplayer game, whether it has DRM or not.

 

[Scouzer]

Originally posted by: Gothgar

Originally posted by: lupi
sweet, let me know when it's only $10.

hopefully most people won't purchase it and it will drop to this price quickly... at least by xmas

lol this game will be a smash hit regardless. it will probably outsell COD 4. i wouldn't expect it at $10 for years.. COD 4 is still $40 on steam

 

[EarthwormJim]

Originally posted by: mindcycle

Originally posted by: EarthwormJim
I've never sold a PC game, getting $5 (I have yet to see anything I'm no longer playing sell for more) for a game I've finished doesn't seem worth it.

The reason PC games don't resell for more is because of restrictive DRM like Steam, SecuROM, Tages, etc.. They cause the value of the game to drop substantially in a very short period of time. Once the initial demand is gone it's very hard to move units because a second hand market isn't there to drive sales (yes, contrary to what some believe a strong second hand market will actually drive sales in both the second and first hand markets, look at GameStop as an example). Console games on the other hand keep their second hand value for longer because the same restrictions don't exist. And unfortunately, restrictive DRM doesn't just affect sales of the specific title that uses it, it affects the whole industry.

Seriously, take a look at the typical cost of a popular PC title at 1 month, 3 months, then 6 months. Then look at that same title for consoles. I bet you'll see a massive difference in price reduction on the PC title and not nearly as much on the console title.

And yes, I know there's a good chance someone will respond to this post and claim that piracy is to blame, but i'm not buying that any longer. Most PC gamers are now wise to things and recognize that there is little to no value in used copies of PC games with restrictive DRM, especially after the Spore debacle and other high profile "fuck ups". So they either stop selling games or they abandon the platform, neither of which benefit anyone involved. The reality is that restrictive DRM is hurting the entire industry.

That's all very true, but even DRM free games aren't reselling that well (Elder Scrolls Oblivion being the most resent one I'm thinking of.)

The PC resale market has always been worse than consoles, the main reason being that PC games sell for dirt cheap a year or two after they have been released. Why get a used copy of STALKER when you can get a brand new one for $5.

That doesn't really happen to A title console games, they still sell for nearly their original price.