Nerd Rage Against Infinity Ward is Misplaced: Let's Talk Console Tax Instead

Sure, everyone seems to be raging about the lack of dedicated server support for the PC version of MW2, but shouldn't people be talking more about the fact that MW2 is priced the same on both console and PC? Why should a PC game cost $60?

[Feral Gamer]

Is it me or is the term "nerd rage" bothersome? Something about it just gets me the wrong way.

[Cliff Forster]

I'm full of nerd rage personally. I think the world has gotten past the point where the term "nerd" is no longer a derogatory reference, at least I hope it has. In the scope of the article, its intended to be playful and not offensive.

I'm a nerd, geek, whatever. Its a label, but I don't think it has the negative connotation that it once did. I nerd rage constantly, over dedicated servers, over hardware specs, over games, over films. Nerds and geeks are my people, they are my brothers and sisters, I feel a strong sense of community with them, in fact, I love them, we just "get it", you know?

[STK026]

You're like our Moses, we're your people.

[UltimateIdiot911]

I agree with Cliff. Maybe back in JHS and HS, nerd can be seen as a negative thing but once you get into college and the real world, it's just another way of identifying a dominate trait. Remember the saying, don't pick on the nerd/geek because one day he will be your boss.

On topic, I don't think price should be a primary concer. I personally feel quality should take top priority. If the quality of the game does not justify even 2 cent, then it's not worth 2 cent. If PC gamers can justify $60 if it had included dedicated servers, then so be it. But I do admit it is troubling to see that PC gamers should pay the same price as console owners.

[Feral Gamer]

I'm not bothered by the nerd part, it's more of the rage part. It seems like such a strong word for some pretty minor anger issues. I've always referred to myself as a nerd and now I'm 29.

[darx]

Nerds are annoying!

[Poopface the 2nd]

taking away the option for dedicated servers makes it even worse that the price was raised. It costs more and they took out a feature that is always in PC FPS.

They probably wanna release a dedicated servers DLC for PC. ahahhaha assholes.

[madpuppy]

when I hear the word "nerd" I see the far side comic characters.
http://dandrake.org/images/...

A nerd is like Napoleon Dynamite.

A geek is a technical person into computers and such.

[edgeofblade]

People really need to get f**k over themselves when it comes to pricing. If people buy it, it's justified. That's how a free market works. If you don't want to pay $60, don't. If you want to play, you pay $60.

End of discussion.

[Cliff Forster]

Edge,

That is more or less what the article suggests. If you can get a better deal elsewhere, just go there. Don't like the lack of dedicated servers, or the console tax, rather than gripe and fill out a petition just buy a competitors game with the money you had reserved for MW2. Thats the only way to get your point across as a protest.

[thor]

Isn't the console version priced even higher? Even still, the price is not so great an issue as the lack of dedicated servers.

If I look for 10 seconds on Counter-Strike, TF2, Crysis, CoD4 or pretty much any other online PC game, I will find HUNDREDS of servers playing user-created maps, user-created game modes with user-created settings. Rather than being limited to just the maps that come with the game, there are thousands that I could play. These games may be designed for 16 players, but if a host wants to set up a game for 60 players, that's fine!

The actual issue of having dedicated servers vs P2P wouldn't be quite so bad if we could still have custom servers, but it would still suck.

[toaster]

IWNet or whatever they're calling it only supports 9v9. That is complete and utter bull. There goes clans....

I see this game's multiplayer taking in about... a few months. No user created content will pull MW2 down quickly on PC.

IW should take a page from DICE. 60+ player fragfest FTW.

[UPSLynx]

9v9 is the part that everyone should be raging about (which, consequently, is no doubt a result of no dedicated servers.)

9v9 MP on the PC? What a load of bullcrap. This game is a joke.

[thor]

Especially since I remember playing some 50+ player games on CoD4. (On shipment lol)

[OpiZA]

Why are console games 60 clams in the first place...

[STK026]

as written in the article, consoles are usually sold at a loss, which means they have to find a way to turn it in profit, by selling accessories and receiving royalties from every game sold.

Of course, Nintendo has been making profit with every single Wii sold since day one, but that's mostly because they used older tech to make it, while both Sony and MS were losing money for every console sold when they launched. I don't know about the X360, but the Sony is still losing some cash with every PS3 they sell. Royalties, or "console tax", is the best way they have t make money. Would you rather pay 10$ for every game you buy, or have the consoles launch at a ridiculous price like 1 000$?

[dirthurts]

Licensing fees.
PC games are not charged this fee.
Hence the typical 10 dollar price difference.

[Immigrant]

funny pic

[Lakuspakus]

The price is not IW´s fault. It is the fault of the "new EA", also known as Activision. I feel sorry for Blizzard for having to be associated with Activision.

[Cliff Forster]

IW selects its marketing and distribution partners like any developer. Its their chosen relationship so I think its fair to say they are guilty by association.

[ryan2107]

I want a copy of that nerd rage face.

[robedias27]

It's unfortunate that they wanna charge $10 more. But, it's sorta understandable. The only reason i say this is that PC gaming has become less profitable as software piracy has created such a concern for developers. MW2 shipping with steamworks is one way they hope to combat piracy. I'd like to see a successful DRM put an end to piracy before all PC games get the price hike.

Personally, my "Nerd Rage" comes from the seemingly neverending coverage of MW2. IW is doing everything it can to attract the media because they know the power of advertising and media. If they can be the "controversial" game this year, they're gonna sell big. Last year it was the GTA series, this year, no doubt...MW2 has all the media attention.

It's always been my stand to be grateful for the work that developers put into grade A titles (I'm not one to complain), but it's difficult to agree with some of IW's decisions.

[Cliff Forster]

You do have a valid point. MW2 is seriously hyped, some people may miss some real gems as a result.