An Open Letter to the Community

[thejerk]

Ok, I'll keep this short. Since there are SO many different opinions on how this game should be played by those playing it, there's no point in making a long drawn-out argument for/against the patch or what IW's been up to with the future development of Call of Duty.

So here's my request of the community. First, understand when you read someone's views on the game that everyone has an opinion and there's no point in being hostile. All that will accomplish is to make more people hostile and nothing is ever accomplished when everyone's spending all their time bickering.

Secondly, IW's job is to develop this game. They do so based on their own preconceived notions of how this game is to be played. It is, afterall, their design... no one else's. When they created the game, they did so with a plan in mind, not based on what the community was thinking... that only truely came into play after it was published.

So I kindly ask that everyone consider this: while not all options are completely available or clear for the modding community, those that would like to see changes in the game are always working around the clock to produce such mods. So why not wait for this from the community if you don't like the outcome of IW's efforts? Or, if no one's producing the changes you enjoy, why not look into making these changes yourself (ie, learn to mod, or ask your neighborhood friendly modder if they can help you).

Personally I'm sickened by the flooding of forums with people who have nothing better to do than complain and especially sickened by petitions against the patch. If you ultimately don't like the results of the patch, reinstall the game minus the patch. Going around trying to make other people feel like crap because they enjoy the game one way or another surely can't be the most productive thing you could be doing.

[MSCSNIPERX]

"Secondly, IW's job is to develop this game. They do so based on their own preconceived notions of how this game is to be played."


You certainly have a point in so much that all the 1000s of spam complaints, dont like this don't like that about the patch gets out of hand and ultimately IW does what they consider best.


A point I'd like to make in response to what you have said, IW is in this for profit, and the HOST's are in this (largely) for fun.. The servers the Host's run promote and support both thier own interests of fun and also the intests of IW.. I know of many players' have purchased COD based on the servers I run switching over to COD which was our decision as a Host.

It's in the best interest of EVERYONE to allow for modability of the COD game/weapons and playstyle.. Indeed through hard work many modders have done just that. What we need to seperate and take issue with here is when IW's begins going BEYOND the relationship of developer and now begins making hard coded mods that the individual hosts are foced to use.. thus greately changing the game from what people have come to play for MONThS now.

There are people working hard to uno the sniper zoom out MOD that IW did.. As Hosts we welcome bug fixes and enhancements but GLOBAL mods that are hard to circumvent that have nothing to do with fairness/cheat protection etc.. that are done via a patch to a game that has been played for months now do us no favor.

Something that is an easy setting or toggle via a mod is completely wecome.. but a major weapon mod that takes alot of reverse engineering and workarounds are a host's/modders nightmare.

As host's that pay 100's of dollars and countless hours to support both our FUN and also maintain a FREE resource to the developers to market and promote thier Product, It is completely fair for the developer to encourage and help the host/modders and not make thier abilities less.. After all what is the point of hosting servers spending all our own resoruces if we have no control?

This isn't rocket science, not even an opionion.. what it is, is common sense.. thats all we ask for.

[thejerk]

This isn't rocket science, not even an opionion.. what it is, is common sense.. thats all we ask for.

In response I draw your attention to your first statement:
"Secondly, IW's job is to develop this game. They do so based on their own preconceived notions of how this game is to be played."


You certainly have a point in so much that all the 1000s of spam complaints, dont like this don't like that about the patch gets out of hand and ultimately IW does what they consider best.

I think the true common sense is to stick to their own conceptions... this is still their design, whether you pay for it or not (see the EULA that came with your game... remember, you bought a license to play the game, not the game itself). True, you are spending countless hours and dollars (or Euro, depending on where you are) to enjoy this game and for your community to do the same. But realism mods, custom scope mods, etc., etc... these are developed to enhance the game to personal pleasure, even if it's to undo what an official patch has done.

And just for the record, please accept my apoligies for not adding this disclaimer to my original post, but my argument is not directed at the modding community itself, but those who have nothing better to do than complain over and over, and worse, those who act like idiots doing so (f-this, f-that, looser, looser, looser... pfft, whatever).

[TimeWalker]

Again I agree with sniperx the ability to control the game on a server by server level is what makes ANY game or server "home"

IW should of thought about what kind of effect a hardcoded modification to a weapon/action would cause it's just not right to take "OUR" game and change it without seeking some opinions They wouldn't have a game without us frankly they would have a pile of code that they couldn't sell.. and I play as well as have a server going up soon and the bottom line for me is I want to be able to change, mod, play where I like it the best .

[thejerk]

Again I agree with sniperx the ability to control the game on a server by server level is what makes ANY game or server "home"

IW should of thought about what kind of effect a hardcoded modification to a weapon/action would cause it's just not right to take "OUR" game and change it without seeking some opinions They wouldn't have a game without us frankly they would have a pile of code that they couldn't sell.. and I play as well as have a server going up soon and the bottom line for me is I want to be able to change, mod, play where I like it the best .

Take a broader look at what's been done. They may have changed some of the things that mods used prior to the patch, but they didn't take away the ability for people to mod the game.

Incidentally, I do agree it would be nice to have options to turn on a fix or not to. Instead of saying "down with the patch", though, wouldn't it be more fair to them as well as those subjected to your opinions (YOU as in the general sense, not YOU as in YOU specifically) to simply request that these options be made available, or petition for such a thing? My point isn't to say "stop requesting changes", but rather to say "instead of putting down what they've done, understand their purpose and stop acting like idiots." It really fits into the same category of someone making a tech support request with just "it locked up!" Instead of just crying "I don't like it", make a detailed explaination of your idea to make the game suit the whole public.

[MSCSNIPERX]

Jerk, you make a very good point.. The spam whining found on most forums regarding the patch.. with bad language only distracts from the host's and modders getting in any usuefull input.


As far as BIG PICTURES, I couldnt' agree more we need to look at the big picture.. Where does the online community come from? It doesn't come from thin air or from IW's 100's of servers .. it comes from a private base of customers that host servers spening much time and money.. Isn't it logical then to have a way to work with the hosts to help them help IW? We really want the same things.. there is no argument here I feel.. we want the people that host to have some control and we don't want to get bogged down by millions of mindless whinning posts..

As far as Eula agreements, as a customer that has fostered a FREE resource for a comapnies product and hence profict costing me and my players time/money I would see hardcore Eula statements as a turn off.. to say , "well it's thier product they can do whatever the hell they want with it" dosen't necissary give thier supporters and customers a warm fuzzy feeling or loyalty.... I'm sure IW realizes this and would never say that.. but in fact it IS implied when taking such control away from the hosts.. It is interesting to note, the community can be percieved at a disadvantage, after all they have already completed the relationship transaction between buyer/seller.. they bought the game! .. but does a product and busisness function like this in reality? Not if they want to sell and maintain a reputation for further products to sell..

Trust me, I don't need a EULA agreement shoved in my face to remind me of the buyer seller relationship.. This should be a relationship of mutual benifit not a we make you buy end of story..


As far as putting down the patch without offering input and solutions you 100% correct!.. Not speaking for others but I certainly am following up on this trying every resource in the IW/Activision depts. with a pesonal contact.. ,cough, wish me luck..

[Provider_oo1]

I agree - All the bitch spam has to stop.

Does IW know who thier customer is? Just from a pure business point of view - doesn't the modding community extend the life cycle of thier product? Therefore creating a larger revenue stream for a longer period of time?

Maybe IW or Activision should revaluate the impact the modding community has on thier product.

If it was not for all the great game mods that are out there - I might as well just play Console garbage.

[TimeWalker]

Again I agree with sniperx the ability to control the game on a server by server level is what makes ANY game or server "home"

IW should of thought about what kind of effect a hardcoded modification to a weapon/action would cause it's just not right to take "OUR" game and change it without seeking some opinions They wouldn't have a game without us frankly they would have a pile of code that they couldn't sell.. and I play as well as have a server going up soon and the bottom line for me is I want to be able to change, mod, play where I like it the best .

Take a broader look at what's been done. They may have changed some of the things that mods used prior to the patch, but they didn't take away the ability for people to mod the game.

Incidentally, I do agree it would be nice to have options to turn on a fix or not to. Instead of saying "down with the patch", though, wouldn't it be more fair to them as well as those subjected to your opinions (YOU as in the general sense, not YOU as in YOU specifically) to simply request that these options be made available, or petition for such a thing? My point isn't to say "stop requesting changes", but rather to say "instead of putting down what they've done, understand their purpose and stop acting like idiots." It really fits into the same category of someone making a tech support request with just "it locked up!" Instead of just crying "I don't like it", make a detailed explaination of your idea to make the game suit the whole public.


Since you chose to quote me.........

I gave a detailed reasoning why on the crappy patch thread ... But to summarise it on this one They HARDCODED ( read they are not variables that can be modded) the changes to the sniper rifles.

The sniper rilfes are right now for all intensive purposes unuseable they jump around all over the screen + other things but I'm not going to get into the problems on this thread

The bottom line is IW if not spoken to will not hear us if they do not hear us they will not know we are pleased or dissatisified , and frankly I'm pleased with their game and dissatisified with thier modification and especially the way they handled the patch where they hardcoded changes to the weapons which RUIN the game for a whole class of players, BTW the server I call home is still running unpatched because of the unrealistic way they did this patch

So to say whiners begone is exactly the wrong thinking that is what got us this patch, and I do mean that in a bad way not a good way.

[bystander]

Take a broader look at what's been done. They may have changed some of the things that mods used prior to the patch, but they didn't take away the ability for people to mod the game.

As sniperx notes, in the case of the all weapons in pak8/1.2 patch (everything but nades and pistols), this is not true. You can't mod them without client downloads and therefore they have taken away the ability to mod the game, at least in any realistic sense.

Reasonable people here and elsewhere may agree/disagree on the "best" settings for a server, but in the end it's always been up to the admins to make that determination. Now that level of control has been removed, and for what purpose I cannot fathom. It shows disregard for and distrust of the community at large -- a "big brother" attitude that I find shocking and quite disheartening given all the words of encouragement towards to mod community from so long ago.

Today it's the pak8 weapons - what will be the next "we know better" surprise in the 1.3 patch?