This isn't too terribly surprising, unfortunately. The recent COD games have been moving in a console-ized direction. Even without eliminating dedicated servers the game would still be tailored to console gamers, at the expense of pc gamers.

It's our fault though. At least partially. Us and the greedy publishers willing to prey on our habits. Many gamers won't bother with games that aren't AAAAAA titles by major developers. Even major developers don't want to front the money it takes to make a modern AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA title ( a lot ). So they get a publisher to pay the upfront costs of development, hoping for good sales, and hence, returns on investment. But it seems that many publishers look at it as an investment more then as a game. They see that they could make more return on their investment if they make the developer create a console version. They don't care how in impacts the game, only that it expands their potential revenue base. The gamers who don't like the compromises made to make the game work across platforms are seen by the publishers as the hardcore fringe - and their relatively small numbers means that the publisher can basically ignore them.

It's not about consoles versus PCs. I have had both for a long time and I recognize that there are things that both do well. What really matters is that we as consumers are enabling this publisher driven business model. Big AAA titles and big AAA developers mean lots of development costs. Those costs are shifted to the publisher. Publishers aren't going to take risks with pc only development - unless it's a sure thing. As a result of the high cost of entry and publishers conservative nature - small developers have a hard time and fail, diversity in the game marketplace goes down, and innovation in games goes down. Publishers won't take risks, developers won't take risks, and gamers won't take risks and as a result mediocrity abounds.

The solution is simple. We as the consumer affect what gets made. If we only buy AAA titles then that's all there is going to be a market for. Games like COD:MW2 are AAA titles. They are dumbed down to the lowest common denominator precisely because they need to have the broadest appeal. If we want to change things then we need to support smaller publishers and independent developers, on the PC and consoles. More, smaller, developers in the marketplace means more variety, more choice, and more innovation. If you want innovative gameplay try World of Goo or Osmos. You guys were wondering where to spend your $60. Buy eitheir of those games for $10 and some magic mushrooms for $30. I can pretty much guarantee that you'd have the most intense gaming experience ever and still have $20 left over for one or two more indie games, lol.