download speeds way to looooong... so im just gonan buy it. AND WTF NO DEDICATED SERVERS? When did this happen? now pings will go up x2. sigh stupid consoles making the game have P2P severs.
Here is all the information you need about how bad it really is
QUOTEModern Warfare 2 is a straight console port, except it works much worse on the PC than on consoles. MW2 is currently practically unplayable (and will likely remain so) and the game is not worth your money.
Here are some of the problems with the game that you may encounter if you decide to purchase it:
Installing problems:
1) The game comes in two DVDs. Many PC systems will not recognize the content on the second one.
2) You will have to register at Steam and download missing files -- the download can easily be a multi-hour hassle.
3) Generally installing is anything but "easy and casual". Troubleshooting can require hours of research and re-installs.
Direct crashes:
4) You may not be able to get beyond the first screen at all (freeze).
4b) Missing or unreadable text on starting screen.
5) During singleplayer gameplay, the game is likely to inform you that you miss some file, and you can't continue the campaign.
6) Game may crash at any time during single-player or multi-player play ("iw3mp.exe has stopped working").
General limitations:
7) There is no customer support to help you solve the problems above and below.
8) The game does not support Sli (two graphics cards).
9) There is no command console. In particular, you can't change the FoV from the default 65. You may end up with a stretched image depending on your monitor's native resolution. You may also end up seesick from the limited FoV if you sit in the normal distance to your PC screen.
10) Lean has been taken out of the game (it is a console port, remember).
11) You can only play the game with one profile (your Steam profile), so you can only have your brother or missus have a go on your own profile.
Multiplayer issues:
12) Your internet router is likely to prevent you from logging on to the online part of the game at all.
13) The game doesn't support dedicated servers. This means you can't have favorite servers where you get to know people and can instantly play the game in your preferred mode and with a preferred social atmosphere.
14) Instead the game uses P2P technology and automated matchmaking. This means that players host the games themselves, far from the internet-highway. The result is a much higher average ping for the players.
15) The hosting player will have a 0-ping advantage. Meanwhile, you can't see your own precise ping but only an "ping-bar". Expect pings at 100ms and above (100ms is best case).
16) All but one game-mode are capped at 6 vs. 6 players or lower (one mixed game-mode is 9 vs. 9.)
16b) You are thrown into a random map, and rounds will typically last around 5 minutes.
17) There are no mod tools, so there will be no user-made maps or game-modes. There will be no competitive gaming or realism mods.
18) Hardcore is limited to only two game-modes, and they are not unlocked before you reach level 21.
19) There is no /record command (remember, no command console).
20) Kill streak bonuses are hugely overpowered, destroying any fun if you are still hanging on now.
21) All games will be un-admined, meaning you can't kick players from the auto-generated matches. This means that cheaters have a free reign (whereas they would be instantly kicked and banned from dedicated servers).
That last point 21 is enough to completely kill the game, apart from the generally horrible IW.net connection quality. As it is, the game will most likely be almost completely deserted in a few weeks time. Since you can only get even remotely acceptable connection speeds if there is a huge player-base, this is a self-reinforcing effect after the first hype is over.
On a more general note, you are warned against purchasing Modern Warfare 2 since it is important to send a message to the gaming industry with the only thing that counts, your wallet. Infinity Ward should be punished for:
1) Repeatedly lying about the PC version ("online same as it ever was", "not a console port", etc. etc.).
2) Completely abandoning the PC community that has helped them get to where they are now.
3) Insulting the PC community while doing so.