Update: Sign the petition to get Multi Profile Support here
The much awaited for and long talked about sequel to Infinity Ward’s popular Call of Duty 4 Modern Warfare (COD 4) was officially released yesterday and, being the cool-cat I am, I picked it up from EBGames that same day. Owning neither an Xbox 360 nor a PS3, I purchased the PC version of the game. I didn’t mind though as I also owned COD 4 for the PC and it was absolutely amazing. Anyway, I picked up Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 (or, unofficially, COD 6), installed it, and then unwillingly installed Steam. I have never been a big fan of Steam as I find it a little tedious to run extra software just to run another game but, being forced to as COD 6 wouldn’t run without it, I installed the bloated program.
The problem didn’t start until I decided to play around with the features a bit. I registered the product on Steam, played a bit of Multiplayer, and then proceeded to Log Out of Windows so that my brother could make his profile. After logging in, he couldn’t find any shortcuts to COD 6 on his Desktop or in the Start Menu. This was odd as I had installed COD 6 onto the computer, not just my account, yet I had shortcuts galore. I figured it was because he wasn’t logged in to Steam so I granted him access to my account and he started it up. COD 6 immediately launched but with something rather surprising… my game save.
After a little pondering I realized that the issue was because he was logged into my Steam Account and thus my data was being loaded (DUH!). So after creating an account for himself, he attempted to activate the product under his account (so that it would install) but without success. Steam gave an error saying that the product had already been registered. This was completely understandable as I had registered the product under my account. What wasn’t understandable was that there was no way for him to create his own COD 6 user profile! If I couldn’t create another user profile from within COD 6 when logged in under my Steam Account and he couldn’t use his own Steam Account to play then what the hell was we supposed to do… use my account?
I’m all for sharing and that other shit but I am not ready to give up access to my COD 6 profile to anyone but myself, no matter how close/brotherly they are. And I shouldn’t have to. I’m not the only person complaining about this too as users of both codnation.net and modernwarfare247.com have posted questions about this. This is obviously a ploy by Activision/Infinity Ward/Steam to get multiple users of the same computer to buy multiple licenses of the same game. Both Call of Duty 4 Modern Warfare and Call of Duty World At War (which was made by a completely different company) allowed different users of the same computer to have their own profiles. And with the majority of computers having multiple users/User Accounts, I can’t help but wonder what would lead Infinity Ward to the exclusion of this option. And don’t even get me started on the removal of Dedicated Servers from the game, or the fact that matches are constantly paused when the host of a server leaves and everyone waits while a new one is found. I’m not going to even mention those problems ;-). All I can say is that choosing Steam was a bad idea!!!
Update: I contacted Steam about the issue to ensure that I wasn’t overlooking the function and they confirmed my fears, stating: “There is not the ability to create multiple Modern Warfare 2 profiles within the game. [You] would have to use the same profile.” A wrote back to them with a formal complaint and the request that the featured be added with a future patch. I will update this post accordingly as they respond and if they respond.
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July 10th, 2010 at 3:29 pm
Looks like this will be the last game I buy from them if this is they treat thier customers.
Rick
December 28th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
This just sucks. I just bought the game and my son registered it and now I can’t play without changing all the settings.. what a joke.
December 28th, 2009 at 1:06 am
Thanks for the info and Mel’s link, I ran into the same problem with wanting to compete with my son – and it costs $120 for the game here in NZ.
December 28th, 2009 at 1:11 am
No problem. Be sure to sign the petition at the enclosed link. Also, I sent you an email so check your inbox/spam folder.
December 26th, 2009 at 2:10 am
It sucks
December 25th, 2009 at 6:04 am
Just got this for christmas for me and my brother and he cant even create an account! whats the point in the game if we cant level and compare independantly. What a joke, ffs why cant they just let multiple users like any other game!!! im not buying another copy for my brother to use, just a waste of money. All thats going to happen is people feel ripped off and so find a way to hack the system, create multiple accounts, sounds like a great idea personally. Reconsidering future puchases for sure if this is how they treat their customers, its all just money money money, rather than customer satisfaction. Bloody con men…
December 6th, 2009 at 8:18 am
WTF my bro bought the game and i cant even play it? if they dont make a patch for this they can *** my *** and **** my ****** ******* and then go jump off a cliff.
December 5th, 2009 at 10:47 pm
Same here. Shame on these guys for not including multiple profiles. If I remember correctly, didn’t cod4 have this same issue, at first, and then they came out with a patch? I know that I’ve dealt with this crap before.
My son and I would both like to play the game, but $120 is far too much to ask for us both to have our own copies. (Wait till Microsoft starts pulling this… they start thumbprint scanning to allow you into Word)
November 30th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
I have an Idea! Copy your players folder in steam program files, save it elsewhere and delete it. I assume you want everything in there copied. Then Restart game and see what happens…. If so then it may be as simple as swapping folders before you play. Thought about this to help rank up my friends but not hurt my stats. I have not tried it as I do not want to buy another game for some bs file misplacement. Should work though and intend to try it to start over for better overall score now that I know the game.
November 26th, 2009 at 6:23 am
If everyone would have had return their games asking for money back I bet infinity would be forced to rethink their strategy
This is a major bulls
I will definitely think twice when buying the next release
November 22nd, 2009 at 2:05 pm
I have the same problem. Me and my brother played Call of Duty 4 and we bought the sequel. And find out this non-sense… This sucks and I hope they’ll make a patch for this crap! They better make it!
November 22nd, 2009 at 10:16 am
i have the same problem, me and my son are really sad for this and i think that we are not going to play the game untill they fix this issue.
November 20th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Well, I’ve just tried out Mel’s program and it works 100% brilliantly! :D
Thank you, Mel!
(Just make sure you start the profile loader first, select a profile, launch (then it gives an error, this doesn’t matter) and then you can just launch the game via Steam)
(Multiplayer doesn’t work but that doesn’t really matter, it’ll come soon)
November 19th, 2009 at 7:11 pm
It’s not Steam’s fault. Infinity Ward just didn’t build in multiple profiles into the game. I understand linking it with your steam account for online, but for singleplayer?
They really don’t give a fuck about PC gamers. What a pity its such a good game…
November 19th, 2009 at 4:35 am
My brother and I were also a victim of this mulptiple profile fail. Now Mel has been so kind to create this profile loader, I’ll try it soon, and I hope it’ll help..
Otherwise I’ll be going to the shop where I bought it, tell them the keycode was no good, and then try to trade it for a new one. Then we’ll have a new keycode for my brother to play with, comletely legal.
I’ve tried changing other games before because of a bugged keycode, and it worked. So this is supposed to work too.
If it doesn’t work, I’ll ask my money back. And I’ll wait untill it IS possible..
November 18th, 2009 at 11:01 am
Bought the game yesterday. Found out the same thing when my son wanted to create his own profile (just like in all the other versions).
I’ll be returning it tonight until there is a remedy to this.
B.S.
November 17th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Hell!! Why the hell I can not use two accounts on one PC. It is so awfully inconvenien! :(
November 15th, 2009 at 7:49 pm
I read through the license agreement that came with the product, and it states that the software can be used on only one computer, by one user at a single time. Nowhere does it say that seperate users must have their own license. I’m under the opinion that they are breaking their own licensing agreement. I contacted Activision with this, and we’ll see if they get back to me. Highly unlikely. I’m going to keep pursuing this. I feel like what they’re doing with this is almost illegal. Btw, Ridiculous, Modern Warfare 1 was not involved with Steam…ever.
November 15th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
Under no circumstances are we “overreacting”. I reiterate…as noted by Thomas…that Infinity Ward reports “There is not the ability to create multiple Modern Warfare 2 profiles within the game. [You] would have to use the same profile.†Nowhere in the promotional campaign for MW2 do I recall seeing this admission. I bought the game confident that, as in the past, my son and I could create different profiles in both single and miltiplayer modes. This simply isn’t the case.
November 15th, 2009 at 2:29 am
Hey all,
I\’ve created a custom loader that adds multiple profile support for Modern Warfare 2. Try it out and see how it works for you. If you have any questions or need help just leave a comment on the article.
http://mel-green.com/2009/11/modern-warfare-2-multiple-profiles-loader/
November 14th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
i have the same exact problem!
me and my brother played COD:2 COD:4 and so we were really excited to get this game!
my dad bought for my birthday and then we find out we have to pay another 60 bucks for my bro to play
its ridiculous!!
i am trying to find a way around it…..I know several people who play “Battlefield” and they say that steam runs it too. And they said theres a way to hack it.
ive been talking to them
if i find out i will let you guys know!
November 14th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
You people are overreacting. While I too am disappointed about this (reason why I’m here), there is a tedious but highly doable workaround: Mission Select and manual changing of key config and game options (if desired). Also, Steam is not the one to blame; the original Modern Warfare had multiple profile support ON STEAM. So does Crysis. Not BioShock though. But does it make sense to blame Steam for that or Boston 2k? At the moment, I’m only wondering if the console versions have the support.
November 14th, 2009 at 12:52 am
ZZ mulit player support should be allowed for clan manangements, or create a clan section that is seperate for cod6
November 13th, 2009 at 6:42 pm
I’m pissed, just shelled out the 60 buck despite all the warnings about the PC version. Then I find out that my son can’t even play on his own profile. We would need 2 copies of the game at $120.00 to play on the same PC. WTF!!! Do console players have to pay for every different person that plays the game?
I would have NEVER EVER NEVER bought this game had I known a retarded monkey was responsible for the PC port.
November 13th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
You can now sign the petition to get the feature added here
November 13th, 2009 at 6:30 pm
Hi, I too have fallen victim of Steam and agree with all of you. This long awaited game is an absolute rip off. How can Infinity change the goal posts without telling anyone. Please keep us posted as to how you get on with any complaints and let me know if you organise a petition. I and my two sons will gladly sign it.
November 13th, 2009 at 9:03 am
No multiple profiles. My son and I both play with different keyboard and mouse setup. What they expect multiple users of the same pc to each buy the game. What a rip off. I wan’t my money back. I will never buy anything from steam again.
November 13th, 2009 at 2:18 am
This was a huge letdown for me. Me and my brother play it at seperate times on the same computer; unlike every other version of the game, and every other game out there, you are able to play multiple profiles. How can I file a formal complaint with Steam or Infinity Ward?
November 13th, 2009 at 2:02 am
That really sucks.
Lucky for me im an only child and my parents hate this sortof stuff.
November 12th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Hi,
Same problem for me (with my son too), and same feeling to be frustrated about this guys removing a standard feature in all “normal” games…
Interested too if you get news from steam or any community finding a tips to create these mandatory profiles.
At least, I have the good argument to say to my son he is not old enough to play the game.
November 12th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
I bought the game for my son and I to play on the PC. As noted, Steam will only allow the game to be associated with one Steam account…there’s no way to create multiple profiles…basically, we have to play using the same profile….and that’s absolute BS!!! Had I but known, I NEVER would’ve purchased MW2. Infinity Ward has no credibility as far as I’m concerned.
November 12th, 2009 at 4:08 am
Thomas,
well out and I feel your pain. I have the same issue (son, not brother though ;) and I think it’s shameful that they’ve pulled this tactic on us. I would love to hear if you get any further with your complaint.
Maybe someone can start a petition group or something to [try] to force IW to patch this feature in?
November 12th, 2009 at 12:32 am
No Nintendo Wii support is another fail.
Next, please!