Modern Warfare 2 Most Pirated Game of 2009?

[Emabulator]

http://evavhost.com/i/news/CoDMW2HeaderLarge.jpg

Destructoid is reporting (http://www.destructoid.com/modern-warfare-2-is-most-pirated-game-of-2009-158639.phtml) that Infinity Ward's smash hit shooter, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, topped TorrentFreak's list of the most pirated games in 2009.

Shocker, right? Arguably the biggest game release of this year wound up being the one most stolen? Hard to imagine.

Yet that's exactly what the people at TorrentFreak are claiming. Their yearly research into the games people love to steal has found that the first-person shooter hit the top of both the PC and Xbox 360 lists for most unauthorized downloads with 4.1 million and 970,000 downloads respectively. The Sims 3, Street Fighter IV and Prototype also saw a considerable number of downloads.

[PSPfreak]

Probably because they don't want to pay to play such a flawed game :D

[ElfShotTheFood]

A popular game got pirated? Good thing I was sitting down when I read the news.

[Dag-Sabot]

Probably because they don't want to pay Not surprising considering the amount of attention the game has garnered. Only really news to us who aren't snorting coke off callgirls' tits with the crazy profits.

[sgtslappy]

I bought it, no regrets.

No surprise though, popular game. Same with Spore.

[defiant]

Geee im shocked....oh wait no I am not. Activision reaped what they sowed.

What would be really interesting would be to see the conversion rate of those who pirated MW2 and then subsequently bought a retail version for multiplayer, in comparison to the conversion rate for MW1.

[PSPfreak]

Not surprising considering the amount of attention the game has garnered. Only really news to us who aren't snorting coke off callgirls' tits with the crazy profits.

I know, I'm just doing my job as local MW2 troll! :D

[defiant]

No surprise though, popular game. Same with Spore.

Spore was hardly popular, it was an average game.

It was pirated into oblivion because of the way EA antagonized the PC community.

[SnakeMGS135]

*shakes head*

[Mozgus]

And to think, if they didn't gimp the PC version so horribly, 2 or 3 of that 4 million would have been additional sales. Oh I'm sure the forced DLC purchases will make up for it. Right.

[pwnophobia]

I bought it, no regrets.



Same here, happy that I bought it!

[sgtslappy]

Spore was hardly popular, it was an average game.

It was pirated into oblivion because of the way EA antagonized the PC community.

I could have sworn it as an extremely anticipated/hyped game.

[Raw]

But any numbers on the PS3 version? Nay, zero piracy for the PS3 (at least for bluray games). Come on publishers, invest on safety! More PS3 exclusives! (or at least multiplatforms).

[RUSKULL]

My only gripe is with Microsoft on the console end for allowing such a big game have such shit network support. Hey, it may be great for the size of the popularity, but people don't pay XBL to run into constant connection issues.

[sgtslappy]

I haven't had any connection issues in awhile..

[alienchild]

Fuck Activision and their 59.99 EUROs pricing policy. Even Wolfenstein is at the same price. Oh and MW1 is still 49.99. And they wonder why people would rather play it for free?

[HornetAJC]

I haven't had any connection issues in awhile..

Since when has a party of 4+ gotten into a game the first time they tried? "Back out, we lost (Player X)!"

[pwnophobia]

Since when has a party of 4+ gotten into a game the first time they tried? "Back out, we lost (Player X)!"

Lol, indeed. You can't play Team Deathmatch Express with more than 2 people and trying to get 9 players intro Ground War is like pulling teeth. Hell, Hornet and I have seen it first hand that you can hardly get 4 people into REGULAR Team Deathmatch without losing someone.

[yutt]

People do elaborate mental acrobatics to justify spending $60, or more, on a terribly flawed game.

If the game wasn't part of a popular franchise it wouldn't be a blip on the radar, and would have been widely criticized for its poor single player and terrible multiplayer architecture.

Once again, advertising beats quality.

[Conner Dain]

People do elaborate mental acrobatics to justify spending $60, or more, on a terribly flawed game.

... and people will make broad generalizations to support their own views. I paid $60, Actually I paid $120. (Bought it as a Christmas gift for a buddy.) Easily one of the best game purchases I've made in a long time.

Is it flawed? Oh my yes.

Is it fun? Oh my yes.

[yutt]

I assure you, my broad generalizations are at least as fun as Modern Warfare 2. Also free. ;)

But honestly, I don't get it. The game brings absolutely nothing new, and on top of a terrible architecture, was simply unbalanced, bugged, and broken. That may be remedied now, but I fail to believe $120 bought you more than the perception of value.

Is this just the nature of console FPS players? Since your communities die every 6 months you have to upgrade to the flavor of the week game?

[lockwoodx]

I can beleive it was the most pirated.

While I enjoy the Wii, this is a perfect example of Wii syndrome. MW2 was utter garbage but your mouth breathing friends all paid for it despite your warnings and for a month straight they played nothing but it so in order to join your friends you pirated the game.

[pwnophobia]

Is this just the nature of console FPS players? Since your communities die every 6 months you have to upgrade to the flavor of the week game?

Yes, great! Lets turn this into a "console vs PC" thread. Because we are not all gamers that enjoy different types of video games on different systems. :rolleyes:

[yutt]

Yes, great! Lets turn this into a "console vs PC" thread. Because we are not all gamers that enjoy different types of video games on different systems. :rolleyes:
It isn't a versus anything, I'm a console gamer too. Their are different, valid, justification that make people choose their system of preference. I just don't understand why the Xbox FPS multiplayer community at large simply shrugs and accepts whatever trash is shoveled to them. Worse yet, a large subset seems to rabidly defend even the most idiotic, anti-consumer decisions. P2P hosting, with centralized matchmaking, so when Activision needs you do upgrade to the next iteration, they just flip a switch.

But by then everyone will be defending Call of Duty 12: Modern Warfare 4: Eagle Seizure 3 being split into two games, one for multiplayer, one for single player, and $70 each.

Even if you enjoy a game or system you can acknowledge its flaws.

[yutt]

There*

Fucking hell there needs to be a 2 minute edit window. <_<

[Conner Dain]

I just don't understand why the Xbox FPS multiplayer community at large simply shrugs and accepts whatever trash is shoveled to them. Worse yet, a large subset seems to rabidly defend even the most idiotic, anti-consumer decisions. P2P hosting, with centralized matchmaking, so when Activision needs you do upgrade to the next iteration, they just flip a switch.

I can't speak for "The Xbox FPS multiplayer community...", but I don't pick up every FPS game. Frankly, most of them bore me. For me, the meat is the multiplayer, the more tactical the better. I cut my teeth on the original PC version of Rainbow Six. Initially, the "run and gun" aspect of most console FPS games didn't appeal to me. But over time I gave in to the mindless fun of jumping into a pub game and allowing myself to be enveloped by the carnage.

Here's the bottom line: it's fun.

Is the dissolution of the dedicated server a good thing for the consumer? Almost certainly not. Is it the end of the world for the muliplayer game? Almost certainly not.

Let's be clear... I am not saying the MW2 is the best game of the century, decade, or even year. It's a fun game. That's enough for me.

[pwnophobia]

I just don't understand why the Xbox FPS multiplayer community at large simply shrugs and accepts whatever trash is shoveled to them.

I wish I had an answer for you, but I can't really explain why I like Modern Warfare 2 so much beyond saying that its just fun. I'm an above average user but I don't play competitively, my KDR is like .8 and I still subject myself to dying....yet I still have fun doing it.

While I'm helping prove your earlier point I'm waiting for Battlefield Bad Company 2 to come out so I can shelf MW2. Perhaps I just want a better experience with each game so I move on to the next hoping to find that piece that'll keep me coming back. Heh, its a hobby that borderlines obsession, unless I decide to vote with my wallet I don't see many of these items changing....with I agree is unfortunate because I continue to deal with them for a few moments of fun.

[Conner Dain]

Even if you enjoy a game or system you can acknowledge its flaws.

I am in complete agreement with you. MW2 has plenty of problems. But for quite a few of us, the fun far outweighs the flaws.

[pwnophobia]

I am in complete agreement with you. MW2 has plenty of problems. But for quite a few of us, the fun far outweighs the flaws.

Everything I wanted to say in a simple sentence. :)

[Conner Dain]

I'm waiting for Battlefield Bad Company 2 to come out so I can shelf MW2.


Agreed. When BC2 comes out and if it's as good as it looks to be, no one will remember MW2.

[Franjo]

I wouldn't even play this garbage for free

[Conner Dain]

This is me trying to convey why the game keeps me coming back. Here's part of my experience from last night.

Demolition game on Skidrow. Overtime... we're defending. Site A has long since been bombed and we're hanging on to B by the skin of our teeth. Both sides have been hoarding kill streak bonuses. Consequently, death is raining down from the heavens. Players from both sides are running sentry guns into positition. The guns spit out a few rushed rounds, score a few kills and are taken out.

I'm crouched outside, opposite the site in a semi-protected doorway. My position allows me to cover all three entrances and I'm racking up kills with my M240 and RPG, enhanced by Danger Close. The other side catches on and a shotgun round takes me out. I spawn across the open area and sprint towards the site. It's clear for the moment and I crouch down into the corner, covering the alley entrance with my RPG. There's a glimpse of shadow...the red lettering of the enemy and I fire... double kill. Again and I'm out of ammo for the RPG. My M240 comes out. Visibility is gone as the room fills with smoke. Blind-firing, I rack up more kills as enemy blindly rush the room. We hang on, win the round and the game.

That win pushed me up to level 67 where I unlocked the General. I jumped into an FFA match to try to unlock Akimbo for the shotgun. That game saw me running the entire time, trying to get my 10 kills. Mostly it saw me dying. It took me two FFA games (and many, many deaths) to unlock Akimbo. We'll see if it's worth it.

[Conner Dain]

I wouldn't even play this garbage for free

No one is asking you to play. I suppose this is what really confuses me. Of the people voicing their enjoyment of the game, I've not seen anyone saying "You should be playing this game and if you are not, there's something wrong with you."

But it seems I've seen a lot of "You are a tool for enjoying this game."

What's up with that? Really?

[pwnophobia]

That win pushed me up to level 67 where I unlocked the General. I jumped into an FFA match to try to unlock Akimbo for the shotgun. That game saw me running the entire time, trying to get my 10 kills. Mostly it saw me dying. It took me two FFA games (and many, many deaths) to unlock Akimbo. We'll see if it's worth it.

Akimbo Generals are SEVERELY nerfed, they took the range and quartered it. I got to experience them at "full power" and boy were they hoot. I was basically sniping people with a shotgun!

However, if you want a good secondary, close quarter, weapon the generals are a great choice.

[Ulysses]

That was unexpected, impressive numbers though.

[RUSKULL]

Since when has a party of 4+ gotten into a game the first time they tried? "Back out, we lost (Player X)!"

Exactly! Thank you!

I've also recently found myself on quite a few choppy servers where most people were getting two red lines. Not sure if the system is mistakenly setting up a party in North America with one in Antarctica though. Then it will find a new host, and next thing you know I'm alone again in the lobby.

Doesn't happen all the time, but no less annoying when it does.

[sgtslappy]

Since when has a party of 4+ gotten into a game the first time they tried? "Back out, we lost (Player X)!"

That's not entirely their fault. It just works differently from most games. In Halo 3, it'll kick everyone out but in MW2 when X player can't connect to the host they've selected, it drops them.

It happens, so I see what you mean. Tell your friend to forward their ports and open up their NAT!

[brandonjclark]

Tell your friend to forward their ports OR open up their NAT!


Fixed that for you;)

[dr_wily]

bleah why would people only want to play single player? Pirating a game is retarded when the whole point is to play online.

Still playing MW2 and still loving it despite all its flaws.. I went back to MW1 after not even maxxing out for WAW. Still have no plans to go back to MW1... although my KD ratio is reduced with 2..

I do miss the perfection of 80% of MW1's maps though.

[NuK]

i played a lot of MW2 for a while, but all the bugs/exploits and the fact that IW/MS wouldn't let them be patched for weeks turned me off. W/ the new release of the TF2 soldier/demo weapons I've switched back to that many years old game, and couldn't be loving it more. MW2 doesn't hold a candle to it :) Here's for patches to exploits that you have to wait hours, instead of weeks, for.

[Conner Dain]

I've also recently found myself on quite a few choppy servers where most people were getting two red lines.


Have to agree with you there. Most of the games are pretty smooth. But when it's choppy, it's murder. Don't every remember that happening with MW1 or with WAW.

[Conner Dain]

Regarding the "choppy\warping" effect.. does anyone know if that affects the host? I remember in the old days of Quake non dedicated servers, the host was ALWAYS smooth. Is that true of this game or does the game bork the host's gameplay too?

Just curious.

[vallor]

At the end of the day people who are smugly proclaiming "what did you expect" are missing the fact that developers and publishers will use this as reason to further erode the amount of support they give the PC.

I mean 4.1 million copies? That is nearly 2 additional blockbuster titles in profit gone. I don't think it is much of a stretch for some suit to say "Well if it had been on a console we could have halved the number of pirates, at least. And of the half that didn't pirate it 50% might have actually bought it.

That is at least as fuzzy a logical leap as "I bet a bunch of people converted after pirating."

[blackzc]

At the end of the day people who are smugly proclaiming "what did you expect" are missing the fact that developers and publishers will use this as reason to further erode the amount of support they give the PC.

I mean 4.1 million copies? That is nearly 2 additional blockbuster titles in profit gone. I don't think it is much of a stretch for some suit to say "Well if it had been on a console we could have halved the number of pirates, at least. And of the half that didn't pirate it 50% might have actually bought it.

That is at least as fuzzy a logical leap as "I bet a bunch of people converted after pirating."

Ill say that number is more like 10 percent would actually bought it. People who are excited enough about a game will pay for it, people how like eh....will DL it play it for 1hour if they can figure out how to install it then delete it. Conversely id say they could have had a 10% increase in sales from people DLing it, liking it enough to want to play on ranked servers then going out and buying it.

Not saying people should be stealing but its prolly a moot point.

[Dag-Sabot]

I'm not sure whether the game is good or not, (having the good sense to avoid it) and after reflecting and hard while reading a cracking good book on piracy over the holidays, I've decided that I don't actually have issues with pirates in the classical nor modern sense. What will be interesting to see what Activision does, being the big fat bloated galleon that it is.

[Dag-Sabot]

*long and hard oops. No edit.

[ÜberJumper]

There's still no Demo according to Google.

I'm one of those people who can't *stand* game pirates, even if they're doing it to "demo" the game. I can't help wondering how many of those are people "Demoing" the game?

Also, any pirated version would have no multiplayer right? I wonder how many of them would have shelled out for a single player only version at a lower price point? I know I would have bought a single player only version.

[PSPfreak]

People do elaborate mental acrobatics to justify spending $60, or more, on a terribly flawed game.

If the game wasn't part of a popular franchise it wouldn't be a blip on the radar, and would have been widely criticized for its poor single player and terrible multiplayer architecture.

Once again, advertising beats quality.

Fully agreed. That said, people will enjoy it. I don't know how ANYONE can get spawn-killed every other spawn (at BEST) and have "fun," but to each his own. Not everyone is competitive, and most who aren't have come right out and say so.

For the sake of people like you and me, though... let's just hope the next IW installment is balanced. Patch it all you want, this game will never be balanced. You'd need to somehow get rid of just about ALL the maps and get better ones in its place (an impossible thing to ask), fix the spawning, remove Lightweight and Commando, etc. etc. etc.

So you and I unfortunately have to accept the fact that for the average crowd this game is fun, but anyone looking for a competitive shooter sadly must look elsewhere.


No matter how you spin it, though... this game was going to make some SERIOUS dough, and I doubt anything could have and would have prevented that.

[Smithersnz]

I'm still angry that it costs $90 USD in Australia and New Zealand. That's just a blatant kick in the teeth.

[Phoenix1985]

Huh. How many copies were sold of this, again? Somewhere around 12 million at this point?

[Mojopin]

Fully agreed. That said, people will enjoy it. I don't know how ANYONE can get spawn-killed every other spawn (at BEST) and have "fun," but to each his own. Not everyone is competitive, and most who aren't have come right out and say so.

For the sake of people like you and me, though... let's just hope the next IW installment is balanced. Patch it all you want, this game will never be balanced. You'd need to somehow get rid of just about ALL the maps and get better ones in its place (an impossible thing to ask), fix the spawning, remove Lightweight and Commando, etc. etc. etc.

So you and I unfortunately have to accept the fact that for the average crowd this game is fun, but anyone looking for a competitive shooter sadly must look elsewhere.


No matter how you spin it, though... this game was going to make some SERIOUS dough, and I doubt anything could have and would have prevented that.
Just STFU, you went so far as to prestige a "terribly flawed game", and that requires a bit of time to reach the top (70), I haven't even got to 70 yet and I have played the game quite a bit, (@ 66 btw). Why would you play a "terribly flawed game for so long, if it didn't have a little fun embedded in it...

[blackzc]

So you and I unfortunately have to accept the fact that for the average crowd this game is fun, but anyone looking for a competitive shooter sadly must look to the PC since the PC owns the planet and consoles are gay.
.

I fixed that for you....

[PSPfreak]

Just STFU, you went so far as to prestige a "terribly flawed game", and that requires a bit of time to reach the top (70), I haven't even got to 70 yet and I have played the game quite a bit, (@ 66 btw). Why would you play a "terribly flawed game for so long, if it didn't have a little fun embedded in it...

Actually, I'm almost done with second prestige to be honest. I'm not saying there isn't any fun it at ALL, but a majority of the time things are frustrating. Most of the time spent playing MW2 is with my friends/clanmates; I don't touch team games without bringing a party with me. The game still DOES have COD4's excellent engine, controls and level-up system w/challenges, etc. and that's what's kept me playing (that and the "new factor;" I'd go back and play COD4 more often but there's nothing left to do and no other console shooter begs my time right now). It's definitely fun to play sometimes, my point is that regardless it IS a terribly flawed game above all else.

"STFU" wasn't necessary. Try some reason next time. I'm sorry you misunderstood.


I fixed that for you....

I assume that was a joke, otherwise you should be given a badge for being "Posterchild Fanboy," among other idiot labels.

Seriously, what is the logic behind being a fanboy?

[sgtslappy]

I still don't think the game is as flawed as you make it out to be.

[Johan]

Actually, I'm almost done with second prestige to be honest. I'm not saying there isn't any fun it at ALL, but a majority of the time things are frustrating.

I don't mean this negatively. I just don't know why you'd bother playing a game that is frustrating for you a majority of the time. After all, it is entertainment, not work, and there are more games than anyone could ever hope to play. Find another one!

Play what you enjoy, enjoy what you play. Life is short.

[Conner Dain]

I still don't think the game is as flawed as you make it out to be.

Mere mortal gamers like us could never begin to understand such gaming gods.

[PSPfreak]

I don't mean this negatively. I just don't know why you'd bother playing a game that is frustrating for you a majority of the time. After all, it is entertainment, not work, and there are more games than anyone could ever hope to play. Find another one!

Play what you enjoy, enjoy what you play. Life is short.

To be honest, I don't entirely know either; I suppose it's because it's one game all my friends/clanmates play and are good at; we operate as a great team. But when I'm on my own I prefer FFA, but some nights the spawning is so bad I just stop playing. As I said, I am still in LOVE with the engine, controls, mechanics, etc. so I suppose that still keeps me hooked, even though some of the perks NEED to be removed, spawns are terrible and the maps are TERRIBLY designed.

[Anenome]

...when I'm on my own I prefer FFA, but some nights the spawning is so bad I just stop playing.

...You play FFA and you're complaining about spawn killing???

W...T...F...

Nothing else need be said.

[PSPfreak]

...You play FFA and you're complaining about spawn killing???

W...T...F...

Nothing else need be said.

Not sure what the purpose of this post is or what you're trying to say. What the hell does that mean? Something "else" kinda DOES need to be said.

FFA certainly wasn't anything like this in COD4, I can tell you that right now. Spawns were, for the most part, very well spaced. Maybe you aren't aware that the spawning seems PERFECTLY set up for this "revenge" bullshit. I've had the same person spawn 5 feet in front of me after killing him... 3 straight times. I recall a game where I was in a small booth (practically a SHACK) in Rundown; I was in the window and had a Claymore set up at the door; this guy spawn right behind the table in the corner... 3 feet behind me in a room about the size of a large prison cell.

So you seem to be insinuating that this type of thing SHOULD happen. Otherwise, please explain your useless post.

And since you may not have picked up on it, spawn-killings occur very much in other gametypes as well. And since the maps cater to campers, you can imagine how the results are.

[Anenome]

Look, you're not wrong. The spawn system for FFA kinda sucks in MW2. So stop playing FFA.

[PSPfreak]

Look, you're not wrong. The spawn system for FFA kinda sucks in MW2. So stop playing FFA.

The spawn system for the entire game "kinda sucks." And while I admit me playing is subjecting myself to punishment, even if I stop playing, that's not a valid excuse for the game. Sure, I can stop playing but that doesn't change the fact that the game has major faults. It's like you're trying to say that since I have played long enough to spot broken aspects of the game that my complaints aren't valid. It's not my fault for playing; it's the devs' fault for blowing it.

Forgive a guy for being disappointed after the sequel to one of the best shooters he ever played ended up kinda sucking.