IGN recently addressed gamers’ woes, targeting Infinity Wars’ missteps in designing the
online multiplayer component of the otherwise stellar Call of Duty 2. With 77% of Xbox 360 owners playing
CoD2, any problem with the game, is a big problem. Even if you’re not a veteran of the Live service,
you’ve likely noticed that the game is marred by constant lag—pitiful, considering that most matches
max-out at 8 players. Lag aside, the layout and options available to online gamers are designed like first-generation
Xbox Live games; or rather, the beta version of those games. Sure, Halo 2 has spoiled us, but it has
also set a precedent. If so-called “next-generation” titles can’t ensure that I will be playing the
game how I want to (i.e. map, time limit, weapon sets, kill count, etc.) with who I want (i.e. members of my
friend’s list), then that is a giant step backwards. Let’s hope a massive patch is in
order…
Aside: while speaking with the game’s developers back in October, I was struck by how little interest they had in the multiplayer component of CoD2. It was as if the XBL-side of the game was an afterthought. Which, considering the direction Microsoft is headed with the Xbox 360, sounds like a serious miscommunication between Infinity Ward, Activision, and Microsoft.
[Thanks, SickNic]
