Based on the precedent set by your reaction to similar news for StarCraft 2 and Modern Warfare 2, we're guessing you're not going to like the information Command & Conquer 4 lead designer Sam Bass recently shared with Destructoid. According to him, the FMV-filled strategy title won't provide any LAN or dedicated server support to its players.
These two features were apparently struck from the game in favor of a server-based character progression system. Bass explained "if you go to another machine -- friend's house, Internet café -- whatever, you can login with your profile and all the stuff you've unlocked is accessible to you there. It all lives on a server so you can't really do dedicated servers with that." He also explained that the game's online networking is "a lot more solid," so you won't be left completely high and dry, as far as multiplayer skirmishes are concerned.
Still, we're worried about the future of the LAN-friendly strategy game, which appears to be turning into an endangered species. We've contacted Bono to see if he'd lend his musical support to a charity concert event.
Reader Comments (74)
Posted: Feb 20th 2010 10:26PM RKN said
QUOTED FOR THE TRUTHS!
Posted: Feb 20th 2010 10:53PM The Scout said
They completely changed the gameplay and now there's no LAN or dedicated server support.
Looks really downgraded.
Looks really downgraded.
Posted: Feb 20th 2010 11:05PM armageddon said
What the f*** is EA thinking, didn't they see the user response to this kind of crap with cod mw2 (hell they're using that as a reason to buy bf bc2).
Posted: Feb 20th 2010 11:08PM (Unverified) said
Do RTS games usually have or need dedicated servers?
But dropping the LAN support is a pain in the butt. I think we can sum up the last few months of PC Game news as:
We don't like your platform because lots of people in Russia who'd never have bought the game anyway pirate it, so we're going to get rid of all the good features that make PC games good, AND add horrendous DRM.
But dropping the LAN support is a pain in the butt. I think we can sum up the last few months of PC Game news as:
We don't like your platform because lots of people in Russia who'd never have bought the game anyway pirate it, so we're going to get rid of all the good features that make PC games good, AND add horrendous DRM.
Posted: Feb 20th 2010 11:10PM Cheesus Crust said
WTF? The dedicated server isn't really important, but the LAN part? I MEAN WTF! Me and my freinds wont be playing this I guess, gonna stick to Supreme Commander/RA3 for now. I LOVE the beta, but this is just outrageous. I will be pirating out of smite. SC2 I don't mind though, its big enough to overcome this.
Posted: Feb 20th 2010 11:39PM Cheesus Crust said
That comment was written HOURS ago.
Back then, I was young, I was foolish, I had fresh anger.
You must forgive me for my abrupt behavior.
Reply
Back then, I was young, I was foolish, I had fresh anger.
You must forgive me for my abrupt behavior.
Posted: Feb 20th 2010 11:40PM Cheesus Crust said
By hours I meant as in a decimal form. It should be interpreted as "0.5 hours ago"
Reply
Posted: Feb 20th 2010 11:38PM Neebs said
Wtf? Because there are dedicated servers there can't be profile unlocks? What was I doing in Battlefield 2 FIVE YEARS AGO THEN (holy crap, I've been PC gaming for a long time)
Posted: Feb 21st 2010 12:04AM ColorblindMonk said
On the bright side, this game is not under that Ubisoft DRM. Sort of, damn internet connection.
Posted: Feb 21st 2010 1:27AM (Unverified) said
Ubisoft - "Please don't buy our game"
Posted: Feb 21st 2010 2:15AM (Unverified) said
"all the stuff you've unlocked is accessible to you there. It all lives on a server so you can't really do dedicated servers with that"
Apparently TF2 does not have cloud based settings, server side unlock tracking, or dedicated servers.
oh wait you're just spouting bullshit
Apparently TF2 does not have cloud based settings, server side unlock tracking, or dedicated servers.
oh wait you're just spouting bullshit
Posted: Feb 21st 2010 2:57AM (Unverified) said
No Lan, well excuse me for being in the boonies and you know what is a family tradition every holiday, Starcraft and then C&C games. Yeah doesn't look like we'll be playing C&C4 because our internet out here is statellite which means in RTS or FPS games it's unplayable (don't get me started with out of sync errors with C&C3, sheeiit). I need a dislike button on my google reader. grrrrrrrr
Posted: Feb 21st 2010 6:33AM Bones3D said
Game publishers are learning that private long-term replay value in game titles isn't profitable. If you aren't constantly buying new titles or offering a doorway for targeted direct-to-user advertising, there's no additional money to be made off you.
Posted: Feb 21st 2010 7:47AM Snowblind said
I would've used this as an excuse not to buy the game, but I was already very unimpressed by the beta..
Posted: Feb 21st 2010 9:38AM (Unverified) said
Really? Is there a point in having Joystiq & Kotaku? THEY'RE THE SAME DAMN SITE! Formula: Take News Story From Kotaku, Insert similar snarky overview, hit submit. Also, both sites have crappy podcasts. Awesome!
Posted: Feb 21st 2010 10:44AM Mandor said
"It all lives on a server so you can't really do dedicated servers with that."
Nonsense. Of course you can do that. The dedicated servers just need to connect to the central server to access the data. Team Fortress 2 does this.
Nonsense. Of course you can do that. The dedicated servers just need to connect to the central server to access the data. Team Fortress 2 does this.
Posted: Feb 21st 2010 2:29PM (Unverified) said
I agree, dedicated servers don't even really make sense for an RTS.
Posted: Feb 21st 2010 3:07PM (Unverified) said
Good way to raise the funds to buy...ALL THREE FREAKING VERSIONS of the game.
Posted: Feb 21st 2010 11:14PM EvoHelix said
This is DRM.
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