It's looking grim in the near future, for sure.<div><br></div><div>I have hope long term though. I think Activision is trying to do to Microsoft and Sony what Google is doing to the carriers - turning them into dumb standardized platforms that have to support a standard. Software and an open platform drive the benefits in the future, not having the xbox360 with its dedicated titles, or the playstation with its dedicated titles or access to this network or that network. Unfortunately, the PC segment, which is the smallest segment by far, was the first casualty.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Once convergence happens (if they can pull it off), then the hardware standards and software standards (in terms of multiplayer) should start to rapidly develop and we should have a "console" version game platform that isn't really different than what the PC is today. </div>
<div><br></div><div>I guess that's when I'll start gaming again. LOL</div><div><br></div><div><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Feb 2, 2010 at 1:20 PM, MaydaX <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:maydaxone@gmail.com">maydaxone@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">It's looking grim either way you look at it. Two of the largest FPS franchises have stuck it to the smaller GSP and mod communities. On the IW side they abandoned dedicated servers while on the DICE side the dedicated servers are restricted to a smaller number of "trusted" providers. I am a firm believer that anyone should have the chance to get into the GSP business as it promotes healthly competition.<br>
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Players are hoping DICE will release mod tools for Bad Company 2 / FrostBite at a later date but how will that even work without server files to play one. All players have to do it look at mod downloads for BF2 and you will see client and server files. I don't see anything changing for BF3 or any future Battlefield game so long as people buy the games. In the end it's all about money and no mods means the players get tired of the stock game and will be more tempted to buy DLC's.<br>
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Mods have allowed game devs to see new ideas without having to invest money in making a new game that could possibly fail. Counter-Strike and Desert Combat mods have proven this just to name two. I think consoles have started this trend as they have proven that with no 3rd party content and official paid DLC's it means big money. Until PC gamers stop buying in mass numbers I don't see anything changing.<div>
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