A few hours ago Rob Bowling at Infinity Ward let this piece of news out on Twitter after being asked about dedicated servers and modding tools (thanks to Lamonte for the tip):



Let the speculation begin

Traditionally mod tools are for folks making new maps.

By providing us with "Mod Tools", IW could indeed provide us with the ability to make new maps, say...but of course that would still mean that you would have to run the maps through IW.net.

Fresh from being acclaimed the geniuses behind the Shooter of the Year at the posh VGA's, I don't think anyone at IW will question their strategy to date. By that I mean that I think they will not acquiesce to the PC community's request for Dedi's and Mod Tools "as we have known them".

It is too early to understand what Bowling meant in his Tweet of course but I think it would be a safe bet that whatever modding will occur it will be on Infinity Ward's terms.


How will we play the new maps?

BASHandSlash.com reader Lamonte has a good theory:

"Maybe just custom maps for private matches. Or a system like Battle.NET back in the day for WC3. If they do it like BNET that means they'll have to add in a lobby system".

Whatever they do, I'd be surprised they will get any of this done before the end of January as most of their team is still on vacation.

What about DLC?
Providing us with the ability to make maps could undermine IW's ability to sell us downloadable-content. However, I can see IW meeting us halfway on this one.

After all...there were no games that could touch MW2 a few weeks ago. Now BF:BC2 and MoH are yapping at its heels. IW might need to woo back some of the PC guys after all.