14 DAY TRIAL // Modern Warfare 2, the biggest videogame release of 2009, is set for November 10. But, as always, it is the best kept secrets that are most widely under assault and the title has apparently already arrived in the hands of some eager players, mainly from torrent sites but also from a few retail stores that have broken the street date.
No doubt those who have Modern Warfare 2 are happy thinking they get to play the blockbuster two days before the rest of the world. But it might not be that way after all.
Robert Bowling, who is the chief community officer at Infinity Ward and the guy who mostly talks for the company, has recently tweeted that “If you bought a retail copy on PC, you can play it on 11.10.09.”
He did not elaborate on the mechanics Modern Warfare 2 uses in order to limit access to the actual game and what penalties might be forthcoming for those who attempt it. Probably, the system is linked to Steamworks, the Valve software suite included in the shooter, allowing it to be activated the first time it is run.
The software could be used to actually limit access to certain files until the official release date and could also be used to report to Infinity Ward some data, including IP address, of those who are using illegal copies of the game. Microsoft has already announced that those who try to play Modern Warfare 2 early would be banned from Xbox Live and Sony will probably take similar measures on the PlayStation 3.
This means that even if you've got a copy of the most recent FPS from Infinity Ward, you are better off looking at the pretty packaging and thinking about the experience you will get on November 10 rather than risking the consequences.