What IW-NET might look like

[zeroy]

An article @IncGamers (http://www.incgamers.com/News/19161/cod-mw2-pc-dedicated-servers-out-iwnet-is-in) today suggest that IW-NET might be similar to the service deployed by Blizzard, Battlenet (http://www.incgamers.com/Features/239/blizzard-outlines-battlenet-20-features). Remember that ATVI-Blizzard is one company now...

Some shots:

http://www.incgamers.com/images/screenshots/11017orig.jpg

http://www.incgamers.com/images/screenshots/11016orig.jpg

http://www.incgamers.com/images/screenshots/11015orig.jpg

SOURCE (http://www.incgamers.com/Features/239/blizzard-outlines-battlenet-20-features)

[triphammer]

Yeah.. I was thinking of a battle.net scenario with IW.net.

[Kioti]

Still not buying it!

[YewNork]

i hope there is still channels on battle net

[woowoo]

I'm fine with IW-Net IF it connects you to dedicated servers ....

[YewNork]

I'm fine with IW-Net IF it connects you to dedicated servers ....

i agree with that if it includes:
ability to add custom maps
custom mods
have admin ability
allow you to set up your server 24/7
(so pretty much a free dedicated server from IW)

[vampiejay]

i agree with that if it includes:
ability to add custom maps
custom mods
have admin ability
allow you to set up your server 24/7
(so pretty much a free dedicated server from IW)

yeah like thats going to happen the only way i will buy this game is if the allow dedis like thay have in l4d and have mod tools as combination of iw-net and dedis would work well they have to see this

[Kioti]

Most L4D servers are on private clan servers who installed and tried to control their own server for their members. We ran one one for a little while. It filled with strangers not our members and used up a lot of memory and band width that we paid for. Are you going to give up your dedi and its resources to IW-Net?

[zeroy]

The current reaction from the PC community must have been foreseen by IW/ATVI, no doubt about this. They have new plans in regards to MP for the Call of Duty IP and MW2 + IWNET will pave the way....

I remember rumors and stories when ATVI merged with Blizzard when everyone was talking about COD going like the MMO with pay DLC, weapons, Maps ... Well, IW denied it at the time but now the fog is somewhat clearing: They want us chained to them.

From a Eurogamer's Article (05 March 2008):


Activision CEO Bobby Kotick has been boasting about his relationship with Blizzard again. After claiming last week that he thought it would cost up to a billion dollars to compete with World of Warcraft, he used his speech at the Morgan Stanley Technology Conference yesterday to discuss what he's learning from talks with the developer as the companies prepare to merge. One topic, apparently, has been how to make a successful MMO out of Call of Duty.

"Just the few hours of conversations we've had in brainstorming has given us a lot of value..." Kotick said, referring to Blizzard's expertise in the Asian market before moving on to MMOs. "And then when you think about other properties that we own and control like Call of Duty, and what would be the natural evolution of a property like Call of Duty into a massively multiplayer environment, and how do you monetise that, the same rules apply."

It's a vague mention, but indicative perhaps that despite his warnings about cost, Kotick's plans for the MMO market don't stop at merging with Blizzard owners Vivendi for a slice of the World of Warcraft pie.

In the same speech, Kotick also mentioned the possibility of using Blizzard's Asian experience - its "institutional knowledge" in his words - to introduce Guitar Hero to Chinese and Korean game rooms. Guitar Hero is "the best-selling game we've ever had," he noted.

He also discussed new revenue streams for Starcraft, including advertising, sponsorship and esports. For more details on Kotick's comments, check out the report at GamesIndustry.biz (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=33780).


SOURCE (http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/activision-boss-mentions-cod-mmo)

Not to forget Kotick's Moto:

"So, what used to be a $50 sale is a $500 sale today."

See HERE (http://www.industrygamers.com/news/activisions-kotick-talks-guitar-hero-platform-making-500-sales/)

[Omega*]

Interesting stuff Zeroy. Bottom line is $$$ > everything else, even if quality is sacrificed.

IWNet is the just the beginning of controlling and monetizing a franchise like CoD on the PC platform. With dedicated servers they cannot seize that control.

DLC is nothing more than a sorry excuse for an expansion pack. A game that used to cost $50 might turn into $80 or $90 for a consumer that buys all the DLC.

But the advantage for a developer and publisher is they don't have to use as many resources to output DLC in contrast to expansion packs. This is why you now see IW and Treyarch supporting a game through DLC, which brings in as much revenue in the end as an expansion pack, but simultaneously start the development cycle again with a new title.

Consoles have made this all possible, and now they want to integrate the PC market into the same strategy.

[Acidrainopg]

Oh yeah, from all that is or has been written about the IW.net it seems as if it is what will be used for MW2. Oh man, Battle.net rip off, Activision is already exploding Blizzard technology.

Anyone else concerned with Blizzard titles? I sure am.

[triphammer]

I'm concerned that eventually these networks will follow the WoW model and start charging to be on these networks playing. Developers are looking for ways to change what used to be a $50 game into a path to mo' money. Charge for the game.. charge for DLC.. and eventually charge to play.