So Infinity Ward axed dedicated server support which was a significant blow to the advantages of going with PC. But after the most recent revelations, the remaining PC die hards have no reason to pick up this version if they wish to diverge from Infinity Ward’s ‘vision’ for Modern Warfare 2.

The PC version of Modern Warfare 2 will also have the following changes:

• lose the console command,
• lose the ability to kick troublemakers,
• support up to only 18 players,
• have no mod support,
• no more leaning,
• and no control of who will host.

But it will have graphical settings, text chat and mouse support! Which is good right? That’s the bare minimum, Infinity Ward. That’s what we’ve come to expect when Capcom or other console developers port their console works over to PC. For former PC developers, people expect the kind of features that was already in Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.

Here’s a handy comparison chart courtesy of NeoGAF’s Puck:

Infinity Ward drank the console Kool-Aid and are now comfortably addicted. At least they’re paving the way for other former PC only developers.

I feel your pain, PC gamers. I really do.

Ever wondered what the top selling games were for the last 9 years? Check it out.

BEST-SELLING US GAME SOFTWARE: JAN. 2000-AUG. 2009

RANK / TITLE (YEAR) / PLATFORM(S) / UNIT SALES

1. Wii Play with Remote (2006) / Wii / 11.1 million
2. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (2007) / PS2, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360 / 10.3 million
3. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004) / PS2, Xbox/ 9.8 million
4. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007) / DS, PS3, Xbox 360 / 8.5 million
5. Wii Fit with Balance Board (2008) / Wii / 7.9 million
6. Madden NFL 07 (2006) / GC, GBA, PSP, PS2, PS3, Wii, Xbox, Xbox 360
7. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002) / PS2, Xbox
8. Madden NFL 08 (2007) / GC, PSP, PS2, PS3, Wii, Xbox, Xbox 360,
9. Call of Duty: World at War (2008) / DS, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii
10. Halo 2 (2004) / Xbox

That’s a surprising list to say the least. Where’s GTAIV which sold for both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Where’s Halo 3? I would have liked to have seen the rest of the list since I’m curious how many of the storied franchises fared.

Along with a myriad of details, which you can read up on over at GamesRadar and GiantBomb, Microsoft went up on stage and unveiled a Limited Edition Modern Warfare 2 Xbox 360 with a 250 GB hard drive.

I approve of this bundle. For $399.99 USD (and possibly CAD), you get:

• Xbox 360 w/ 250 GB hard drive
• Two wireless controllers
• A copy of Modern Warfare 2

That’s quite the bundle considering the second controller and game will set you back $130 at the very least. I’m not fond of the paint job though. A little tacky.

So that’s all good news, but what of the game itself? I’m a bit worried about balance. Infinity Ward threw in a lot of interesting features and abilities, but how will it all balance out? And with the admission of no multiplayer beta, I’m worried that exploits and exploitable combinations will ruin the fun.

Who can really say though? This is Infinity Ward. They’re a talented bunch and I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt for now. After all, they did spawn a legion of copy cats after Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare dropped.

P.S – If you want check out footage (and sift through multiple 2 minute videos), head over to the Gameplay section of GameTrailer’s Modern Warfare 2 page.

The number of delays announced over the past few weeks. So much so that it feels like developers and publishers are moving Christmas 2009 into 2010.

Are retailers asking for less this holiday season? That’s what one podcast was speculating. Or perhaps everyone is afraid of Halo 3: ODST and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Whatever the case may be, holiday 2009 has slimmed down considerably, but that doesn’t mean there’s a shortage of quality titles to look for.

Here’s a little list I whipped up which hopefully clarifies the current holiday 2009 picture a little better.

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Announcements

• Ubisoft Delays Splinter Cell: Conviction, Red Steel 2 & More (via Edge-Online)
  • Splinter Cell: Conviction (360, PC) & Red Steel 2 (Wii) delayed to Q1 2010
  • I Am Alive & Ghost Recon 4 delayed to sometime after April 1, 2010
• Forza MotorSport 3 Confirmed for October 27, 2009 (via 1UP)
• Fat Princess Priced & Dated (via PlayStation.Blog)
  • Priced at $14.99
  • Debuts July 30, 2009

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Something happened to QSF5.com on Friday. It wasn’t the usual server outage. Something happened over at the Bluehost servers which required restoration from backup. While a majority of the site was restored, it didn’t come away unscathed. A handful of pictures and modifications which were made on Thursday did not make it over to the resurrected website.

That had me thinking about backup and restore situations for my own things.

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Announcements

Command & Conquer 4 coming 2010 (via Kotaku)

• Concluding the “Tiberium Saga”
• Developed by EA Los Angeles Studio

Confirmed: Mechwarrior Reboot Coming to Xbox 360 & PC (via IGN)

• Developed by Piranha Games and Smith & Tinker
• Will reboot the series
• In production; no release date

Summer of Arcade 2009 Titles Announced (via PR)

• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time Re-shelled
  • July 22 for 1200 MS Points
• Marvel vs Capcom 2
  • July 29 for 1200 MS Points
• Splosion Man
  • August 5 for 800 MS Points
• Trials HD
  • August 12 for 1200 MS Points
• Shadow Complex
  • August 19 for 1200 MS Points

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