The choice to remove dedicated servers was made for a reason, it was not a quick decision I am sure. Whatever reason it was, was obviously a greater concern than upsetting the pc gaming audience. Even the most dull of people would know this decision would cause a stir. Nothing is happening here, not even the petition, that is unexpected.

So understanding this, it is obvious that the monetary gain from this reason, would offset the pc gaming audience that decides not to buy the game. The only way Activision will care is if the amount lost due to the decision is more than they expected. At which point, something may be done on their end to rectify the issue. Otherwise, pc gaming sales could matter less and less to them in the future.

If MW2 bombs on PC, you can damn well expect Activision will change it's ways and start doing a proper job on the PC versions of their games. COD4 sold millions and millions on PC, and I doubt they are insane enough to stop releasing COD on PC.

Collector editions are non-factor, especially when both special editions of MW2 can't be done in DD copies of the game, which is where most of the sales of PC games are made.

No one knows for sure how much COD4 sold on PC, but there have been rumors that it was above 8 millions. All I can say is that I wouldn't be surprised if COD4 PC sales won't be too far fromthe 10 million milestone.

The thing now is that PC gaming is cheaper than Console gaming. Infact, in my opinion, PC gamers get the best out of almost everything.

^^I think you started those rumors shio.

First of all, digital distribution does NOT make up the majority of PC sales yet, not even close. Secondly, the sales figures released for CoD 4 as a whole along with what we know that it sold for PS3 and 360 suggest the PC sales were more in the 4-5m range. Having been around PC gaming for its ENTIRE history I can tell you that besides MMOs that just don't exist on consoles that PC gaming has declined majorly over the last few years.

The only explanation for their decision is to curb User-created content, so as to justify selling their DLC. Why do you think they spent resources just to make IW.NET? It would've been cheaper to just support dedicated servers. Then are doing this to sell DLC, and eliminate mods.

IW.NET won't stop piracy at all, even Infinity Ward said so themselves. Their only measure to fight piracy was to make MW2 Steam-integrated, which is a good decision.

EDIT: I didn't start those rumors. I have only said that I believe COD4 sold amazing and had a great chance to not be far from 10 millions lifetime on PC. but the 8 million figure was from some other dude.

There are more PC games being sold on DD services than Retail... I thought this was already common knowledge. Steam alone has been estimated to have made $600m in North-America, in 2008. Chart Track expects Steam to increase 78% in 2009, to $1.1 billion in NA.

If the PC sales of COD4 was 4-5m in retail, then it has a definite chance of reaching 8 to 10 millions sales lifetime on.

And what is this "PC declining" stuff?! Why are you arguing against facts?! PC gaming has been increasing steadily, and has never been healthier. There are far more PC games being developed than console games.

LMAO, wow dude, you really are trying hard with a bunch of unsubstantiated BS. Show anyone here some kind of proof that PC sales are going better through DD or that PC sales are up overall. Sorry man, but making up a bunch of crap does not make you look very good. Every game released on PC alongside consoles get killed in sales by the console versions. This is especially true for the biggest games like CoD 4. It is nowhere near 8m on PC and never will be, especially since the sales of CoD 4 will virtually disappear in 3 weeks when MW2 is released...

Gah don't make this into PC vs Console sales!

This is about the fact that consoles are making games histtier and shittier with every passing year!

Last thing that was said about MW2 sales on PC was that it sold ~ the same amount as the PS3 version. However, considering it cost less to make and a lot of those sales were on Steam where the publisher makes twice as much per copy sold it undoubtedly out-profited the PS3 version... and if MW2 costs them even a million sales from the loss of dedicated servers, especially if that million is people who would have bought it on steam, the financial gain from the decision undoubtedly will not make up for this.

I told you so^^
PC gamers are not the same drones that console gamers are.