Modern Warfare 2 will not be without some form of co-op. The game features Spec Ops mode, a mission-based multiplayer experience that supports up to two players via local split-screen or online. Infinity Ward initially had planned to offer co-op throughout the game's main campaign, but decided the overall experience ultimately suffered because of it.
Infinity Ward's Robert Bowling told VG247 that co-op in the main campaign "really broke the cinematic experience, took the immersion out of it, out of the story and the pacing and everything we'd spent so long crafting." Bowling also said it "ruined the experience" that Infinity Ward was aiming for, forcing the developer to redirect those efforts into polishing the campaign as an exclusively single-player experience. We'll all find out if the game is better off for it -- some in night-vision goggles -- come November 10.
Reader Comments (193)
Posted: Oct 15th 2009 7:33PM incubeezer said
They said the same thing about the first Modern Warfare, what's new here?
Posted: Oct 15th 2009 7:35PM Tonezorz said
Suuuuuper Stoked.
Almost as much as going to see DJ Tiesto.
Almost as much as going to see DJ Tiesto.
Posted: Oct 15th 2009 7:59PM (Unverified) said
hell yea! Tiesto in houston soon too, thought it would never happen
Reply
Posted: Oct 15th 2009 7:36PM 1251 said
Makes absolutely no sense.
If anything, it'd help immerse it.
What a cop out, only to deny the fact they can't craft a decent multiplayer experience.
If anything, it'd help immerse it.
What a cop out, only to deny the fact they can't craft a decent multiplayer experience.
Posted: Oct 15th 2009 8:23PM Shok said
Hey I agree with you and was thinking the same thing when I read it. Gear of War while a different style of game didn't suffer from the co-op mode. I know, I know people will just say that's because they created the Dom charater but I also didn't feel like Halo (The first game) suffered from it either with just a ghost version of the Chief running around.
Honestly I don't think they could figure out how to bring the two together, so I agree... they couldn't do it but at least they brought some form of a co-op mode to the table.
Reply
Honestly I don't think they could figure out how to bring the two together, so I agree... they couldn't do it but at least they brought some form of a co-op mode to the table.
Posted: Oct 16th 2009 11:13AM usualyksint said
who cares....we're all going to buy it anyway :)
Reply
Posted: Oct 15th 2009 7:37PM B3astofthe3ast said
I agree with them, It's the kind of game that doesn't need the distraction of another person.
Posted: Oct 15th 2009 7:38PM bagbozo said
Sounds like a group of developers were lazy and didn't want to implement Co-Op into MW2. Well guess I'm going to have to do this one solo.
Posted: Oct 16th 2009 1:20AM CaramelZappa said
Why would you defend a lack of co-op? If they included it you could still play through on "veteran" without sharing, but it also means later you could have a lot of fun messing around in the campaign with friends. Who cares if it "ruins the cinematic experience" if you still have single player?
Reply
Posted: Oct 16th 2009 3:48AM aristokrat said
How did co-op in RE5 take you out of the story? Maybe you played through on easy, but playing solo on Professional was so maddening because of the terrible Sheva AI. I played through with my buddy, we were both into the story, and no cinematicness was lost since I was constantly swearing at what an idiot Sheva was for running off to her death constantly.
Reply
Posted: Oct 15th 2009 7:39PM RileyFreeman said
this some dumb shit. nobody cares about the stupid cinematic vids in the game. PLAYING WITH A FRIEND IS MORE IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE. co-op just have been at the top of the priority list.
im still buying the game lol
im still buying the game lol
Posted: Oct 15th 2009 7:47PM 1251 said
WOW, SpyderTaco has got to be the dumbest shit on any blog.
Heaven forbid someone have a different opinion than you, you fucking idiot.
Get a life, and stop posting on blogs every fucking day, in every fucking update.
You're the most annoying comment to see.
Reply
Heaven forbid someone have a different opinion than you, you fucking idiot.
Get a life, and stop posting on blogs every fucking day, in every fucking update.
You're the most annoying comment to see.
Posted: Oct 15th 2009 7:50PM (Unverified) said
@Riley
You are the problem, and I'm glad IW didn't cave for nongamers such as yourself. You have multiplayer and spec ops, stop bitching and let the us enjoy what little remains of single player gaming.
Reply
You are the problem, and I'm glad IW didn't cave for nongamers such as yourself. You have multiplayer and spec ops, stop bitching and let the us enjoy what little remains of single player gaming.
Posted: Oct 15th 2009 7:53PM 1251 said
Are you fuckin retarded tmac? Scrtach that, by reading most of your posts, I know for a fact you really are.
The point is, the co-op and SP, don't have to be identical. THAT's the problem with IW. They're shitty developers, and don't give anyone enough band for their buck.
I wasn't gonna buy this pile of shit in the first place. Rental, all the way.
Reply
The point is, the co-op and SP, don't have to be identical. THAT's the problem with IW. They're shitty developers, and don't give anyone enough band for their buck.
I wasn't gonna buy this pile of shit in the first place. Rental, all the way.
Posted: Oct 15th 2009 7:56PM Sly C said
1251, they give a ton of bang for the buck. i've been playing COD4 for a year. the multiplayer is amazing and really gives the game value. if it was just single player, i doubt i would have paid more than $10 for it. but the full package was definitely worth $60 for all the fun times i've had with the game.
Reply
Posted: Oct 15th 2009 8:01PM DangerMouse001 said
"Are you fuckin retarded tmac?"
Heaven forbid someone has a different opinion than you blah blah blah...
Reply
Heaven forbid someone has a different opinion than you blah blah blah...
Posted: Oct 15th 2009 8:02PM 1251 said
I bought 4 a couple months after it released. Great game, great fun- for a little while.
Leveling up, and unlocking everything goes by in a flash, and no offense to these people, but those who continue to play it and nothing else- I just don't understand, lol It's like crack to those people.
Instead of telling Activision to go fuck themselves, people are actually purchasing the insanely priced SE in the UK. That isn't bang for your buck, it's worthless crap that you'll never have any use for besides saying "look how stupid I am! I could have paid the light bill!"
4 and 5 had decent stories at best. I'm not expecting a whole hell of a lot from MW2, but a measly little side-track for co-op wouldn't have hurt at all. I enjoy what immersion 4 gave, but MW2 could benefit from at least a micro-wave story for you and a couple buddies to play through on the hardest difficulty a couple times.
Reply
Leveling up, and unlocking everything goes by in a flash, and no offense to these people, but those who continue to play it and nothing else- I just don't understand, lol It's like crack to those people.
Instead of telling Activision to go fuck themselves, people are actually purchasing the insanely priced SE in the UK. That isn't bang for your buck, it's worthless crap that you'll never have any use for besides saying "look how stupid I am! I could have paid the light bill!"
4 and 5 had decent stories at best. I'm not expecting a whole hell of a lot from MW2, but a measly little side-track for co-op wouldn't have hurt at all. I enjoy what immersion 4 gave, but MW2 could benefit from at least a micro-wave story for you and a couple buddies to play through on the hardest difficulty a couple times.
Posted: Oct 15th 2009 8:10PM maveric101 said
tmac: can you tell me how the availability of coop would hurt your precious single player experience? all they did was remove a choice from people. different people may want to experience a game different ways. i don't see why IW feels they need total control over the experience. if everyone was supposed to have the exact same experience in a game, they might as well make a movie.
Reply
Posted: Oct 15th 2009 8:36PM RageOverdose said
You know, if you're going for a goal with the story in your book, you don't write distracting side stories or overly irrelevant information. You put in what you feel brings the experience to life.
I don't see why Infinity Ward shouldn't do what they wish. They're controlling the experience, maybe, but it is their game to release. It's your choice to buy it. If they were so worried about losing sales over something so menial, then they probably would include it.
One of the reasons people can't appreciate games as art is because we don't let the developers that want to be "artistic" actually make artistic choices that may expand beyond aesthetics, instead they have to conform to what everyone wants, not what they want to create. Besides, there is the multiplayer mode that people will obviously shit over, and then the Spec Ops mode which offers difficult missions that can be co-op. I'm all for a good co-op game, but the experience had is more with the friend than with the story, and it's hard to immerse yourself with a buddy yelling every five seconds about his kill or just bitching for random reasons, especially in a shooter where you're the main killer. Instead, I want to play through the story (which I've always enjoyed IW's campaigns) and enjoy every second of it.
And you still get the choice of co-op: Why does it matter if it's in the main story or the Spec Op missions? It's still co-op, it's still MW2, and it's still your friend.
Reply
I don't see why Infinity Ward shouldn't do what they wish. They're controlling the experience, maybe, but it is their game to release. It's your choice to buy it. If they were so worried about losing sales over something so menial, then they probably would include it.
One of the reasons people can't appreciate games as art is because we don't let the developers that want to be "artistic" actually make artistic choices that may expand beyond aesthetics, instead they have to conform to what everyone wants, not what they want to create. Besides, there is the multiplayer mode that people will obviously shit over, and then the Spec Ops mode which offers difficult missions that can be co-op. I'm all for a good co-op game, but the experience had is more with the friend than with the story, and it's hard to immerse yourself with a buddy yelling every five seconds about his kill or just bitching for random reasons, especially in a shooter where you're the main killer. Instead, I want to play through the story (which I've always enjoyed IW's campaigns) and enjoy every second of it.
And you still get the choice of co-op: Why does it matter if it's in the main story or the Spec Op missions? It's still co-op, it's still MW2, and it's still your friend.
Posted: Oct 15th 2009 10:37PM (Unverified) said
@1251
I enjoy playing the game. That's why I continue to play it. Games do get old for me, but all you have to do is switch to a different one for a while. Instant fix.
Reply
I enjoy playing the game. That's why I continue to play it. Games do get old for me, but all you have to do is switch to a different one for a while. Instant fix.
Posted: Oct 16th 2009 12:11AM (Unverified) said
I cant wait to play the Co-Op in MW2. Personally.
I rather be whispering commands for no apparent reason to my buddy thats right beside me than cussing him out for blowing the bejeez out of both of us!
Spec-Ops seems better for Co-Op in my mind.
Reply
I rather be whispering commands for no apparent reason to my buddy thats right beside me than cussing him out for blowing the bejeez out of both of us!
Spec-Ops seems better for Co-Op in my mind.
Posted: Oct 15th 2009 7:41PM zartan75 said
I am going to say that some games do suffer from co-op. I played Halo Odst with my friend and I was not immersed at all. We just runner and gunned through the whole thing on legendary. The whole time we just cracked jokes. I'm glad that they split co-op from the single player story.
Posted: Oct 15th 2009 8:09PM MasterGouken said
Just jump in the pool if you want to fell immersed... Its a freaking game...
Reply
Posted: Oct 15th 2009 8:19PM maveric101 said
well then why did you play it on coop? idiot. you had a choice.
Reply
Posted: Oct 15th 2009 7:42PM chrisrackley said
I think, after the great campaign of Modern Warfare, that they've more than earned the right to keep the campaign a truly single player one.
Anybody who's played through Halo 3 and ODST on co-op knows that the story takes a back seat when going through it with friends. MW2 clearly wants the campaign to be their bread and butter.
Again, if this was some unknown, I'd be "Whatever!" But Infinity Ward has shown what they can do when they're given total control over their product, so I won't doubt them here.
Anybody who's played through Halo 3 and ODST on co-op knows that the story takes a back seat when going through it with friends. MW2 clearly wants the campaign to be their bread and butter.
Again, if this was some unknown, I'd be "Whatever!" But Infinity Ward has shown what they can do when they're given total control over their product, so I won't doubt them here.
Posted: Oct 15th 2009 7:46PM mylittlepwny said
Their bread & butter is MP, if playing with other people really ruined the "cinematic experience" I'd like to see how well they would fare if they dropped multiplayer and just made it a campaign game.
Reply
Posted: Oct 15th 2009 8:00PM chrisrackley said
OBVIOUSLY, they wouldn't do that. OBVIOUSLY they want both; but they want the campaign to really tell its story. Can you name a co-op game that, when played cooperatively, has a storyline nearly as strong as Modern Warfare?
It's pretty obvious - you'll be going through a major moment in the game, and when with friends - your far more focused on completing the game, conquering the level, rather than involving yourself with the story. That's exactly what they don't want.
Reply
It's pretty obvious - you'll be going through a major moment in the game, and when with friends - your far more focused on completing the game, conquering the level, rather than involving yourself with the story. That's exactly what they don't want.
Posted: Oct 15th 2009 8:02PM Toop said
I haven't played ODST yet, but I have heard that playing the story coop hurts the atmosphere the campaign tries to create. Considering some of the footage Infinity Ward has shown, It doesn't surprise me that they want to isolate the single player storyline.
I understand how many people are arguing that adding a coop mode wouldn't prevent players from going it alone if they desire the experience, but it costs time. If Infinity Ward used that extra time to perfect the campaign, it will be more than worth it.
People calling this decision lazy is just ignorant. Tough decisions have to be made to ensure quality. Make no mistake, cutting a feature that would attract people to the game was probably a tough decision.
Reply
I understand how many people are arguing that adding a coop mode wouldn't prevent players from going it alone if they desire the experience, but it costs time. If Infinity Ward used that extra time to perfect the campaign, it will be more than worth it.
People calling this decision lazy is just ignorant. Tough decisions have to be made to ensure quality. Make no mistake, cutting a feature that would attract people to the game was probably a tough decision.








