MW2 Devs Accused Of Hindering Hearing-Impaired Players With Mini-Map Fiasco
Following an argy-bargy between Modern Warfare 2 players and its developer team at Infinity Ward, it appears that the hearing-impaired have drawn the short straw and been left behind by their playing experience.
It all stems from a variety of changes that the Modern Warfare 2 beta brought, giving players an insight into how Infinity Ward envisions the game.
After one week of beta action, Infinity Ward received a barrage of backlash about the mini-map changes, and while it may only be a small detail to the overall MW2 experience, the domino effect has now hindered the deaf (or partially deaf) players in the community.
Infinity Ward double down on Mini Map Changes
Click to enlargeThe mini-map fiasco has been rife for the third time in three years, After 15 years of unsilenced weapons appearing on the mini-map whilst firing, Infinity Ward removed this feature to prevent campers (or "Sentinels" as IW are calling them) from being "hunted".
Despite more pushback from the mass population of players, the developers took to a blog to say that they are not reverting their decision and that players should seek out opponents via other means. So, if you can't see them, taste them, touch them, or smell them - unless Captain Price is a very sweaty man - Call of Duty players will have to rely on their ears.
Infinity Ward Accused Of Hindering The Hearing-Impaired
Having taken away the element of sight within the game, at least for the ever-important mini-map, players are having to make use of their ears instead.
However, for people who cannot hear, or hear well, this change completely impacts their Call of Duty experience and will cause for them to be lost within a Modern Warfare 2 game.
CDL insider Cory "Cronee" Davis joked that "IW are deaf themselves so it's strange they forgot about hearing impaired players," given that the developers are often ignoring feedback.
It may come as a last-ditch attempt for the wider community to get what they want, but the accusations against Infinity Ward are valid. Despite this, the devs have made no effort to rectify the eye-damaging flash bang problem by offering a dark-flash option either, like Counter-Strike, despite calls for it.
