Battlefield 3 - Part 1

[LegendaryCaleb]

That is creepy...nagini style

 

[Why Are You Crouching Spock?]

Caspian Border Unlocked

 

[GhostPoet]

So, I gave the PC version a try last night...just because.

Yeah ok. I don't like it. :P I thought it was pretty boring and the characters moved very sluggish. I know they are trying for "realism" with the movement...but it just sucked the fun out of it. BF2 is vastly better.

 

[Wolfwood]

Caspian Border Unlocked

Only on PC? Damn, where's the console love?

 

[Why Are You Crouching Spock?]

Infintry wise, I think it's less clunkyer than Battlefield 2.
The jets are really easy to fly in comparison the helicopters. Basically just pointing your mouse as you would in first person. The Jets are definitely slower than Battlefield 2.

 

[Wolfwood]

Here's an interview Dice did with the Guardian

Spoiler

How do you feel about the beta so far?
It's taught us a lot. Our primary intentions have been to test the backend. As we said at the beginning, we have six times the number of players we had with Bad Company 2, we have record high concurrent users compared to anything we've done before. And we know it works. In previous games, like Bad Company and 1943, we've had serious problems with the backend, it's just been overloaded – this time it hasn't been a problem.

So the purpose of the beta has been entirely about testing the infrastructure?
Yeah, we just wanted to know it wouldn't crash and burn at launch. It was horrible with Battlefield 1943 – it sold ten times the numbers we thought it would, and it was down for three or four days which is really bad. We don't want to go through that again.

Has anything surprised you about the way people are playing?
We've seen a couple of things with the gadgets, but not as much as we expect – but that's mainly down to the map we're showing – the Paris map – it doesn't have any vehicles, it's much more linear; I think we'll see a lot more emergent gameplay with the big, open conquest maps.

What made you decide to run the beta with that map? Some people have said that it's a shame you chose a level without vehicles…
Yeah, I think there's been a misunderstanding of the term 'beta test'! We ran the alpha tests with a rush map and we wanted to have some sort of reference so we could compare results – so we needed to have more-or-less the same map. But we do understand the concerns that we didn't show a conquest map, but we have demoed Caspian Border, and we did run a conquest map as a limited PC-only test.

Our readers have asked about knifing in BF3 – is it correct that it takes two stabs to kill someone with the quick knife?
That's true in a sense. We've put another layer into the knife mechanic. Knifing in Battlefield has never been a one hit kill, but if you manage to sneak behind someone it's now a one hit kill – and you then get the dog tags. It's a lot harder!

Have you ever thought of including a flight tutorial in the game to help people get to grips with the aircraft?
We've considered it! There will be tips to show you what buttons to use, but it's really about trial and error, and leaning by failing! You will crash a few times before you learn how to fly the jets. I have to admit, there is a steep learning curve. Once you know how to use a jet, it's very, very dangerous. It's been a long balancing process and we always need to provide tools to counter the aircraft. The philosophy is similar to rock, paper, scissors – everything needs to be countered. With jets, it's very har, but I know we've managed it with some of the gadgets and with the anti-aircraft missiles.

Will there be a strong clan infrastructure, complete with clan vs clan matches?
Yes. Right now we have the platoons in there, and one of the benefits of having Battlelog is that we can develop and update that element – and we will. We'll change it according to feedback and we can react much faster to what people want.

You've kept the story under wraps so far, do you feel it's doing different things that other military shooters?
Yes, I do think we're doing things slightly differently. It's another balancing act, you've got to think of the messaging you want to get across. It's an American game in a sense, but we're based in Sweden – that in itself is a challenge. But we do want to do something different with the narrative.

A lot of our readers are huge fans of Bad Company – has that series been put to bed for a while so you can concentrate on Battlefield?
Well, we haven't killed Bad Company! But we can only make so many games. Be patient – there might be something else coming up…

So you are actively working on other things?
We always have a couple of projects going on – some of them die, but some are more fruitful. We don't have any plans to make Battlefield an annual title – we want to make it ourselves we don't want anyone else doing it! And no studio can make an annual franchise by themselves – well, the sports titles can but they're a very different breed.

And how about Battlefield 1943, which I loved. Is there a chance of Dice bringing out another digital download title?
Certainly, that kind of downloadable game is something we're very keen on. Battelefield 1943 was kind of a disruptive game when it came out; there weren't really any other shooters – XBLA games were very different then. Nowadays there are a lot of big triple A games on Arcade – I'd like to believe we started that trend. I like the whole idea of transforming something as complex as Battlefield into something much more accessible with only very small tweaks to the gameplay mechanics… I could talk about Battlefield 1943 all day, that was my baby!

So what's going on in the office right now? Are you still in the midst of crunch?
I think we're over the peak, that's for sure. There's a still a lot of work to do. And the launch is just the start really. We'll then be releasing more content, tweaking and balancing the game – we have a team dedicated to servicing the game after launch.

Have any Battlefield 3 multiplayer maps emerged as team favourites?
There are a bunch of them, but what's funny is that we're making the Back to Karkand map pack with all the old BF2 maps and even Wake Island – again! – and people are gravitating towards those once more. It's nostalgia, they're just so familiar. And I love Wake Island! There are a couple of basic map layouts, basic structures that usually work. There are maps that live on, that we just keep re-making over and over again – we do that for a reason: because they're so good. Just looking at Strike at Karkand, thinking of how many hours have been spent on that map – we've seen the statistics, we know it's popular. We've had to analyse //why// it's so good… so we can make it all over again!

The modding community played quite an important role in the early popularity of Battelfield, creating several high-profile offshoots, including Desert Combat, of course. Have you looked into supporting that community with BF3?
We've investigated it, but we don't currently have any plans for it – we have no tools that'll be ready for launch. We do recognise the modding community, it's just that it's such a huge undertaking to make a toolset like that – it's like making another game. But we'll see.

Finally, do you have any idea what EA's expectations are for Battlefield, in terms of sales figures?
(Pause) I know the figures…

[At this point a PR person politely informs me that EA aren't discussing expectations for the title.]

But, okay, is there a blackboard on a wall somewhere at Dice HQ with a figure on it representing the number of units you want to sell?
(Laughs) No, it's not something we talk about!

 

[nogap87]

Boooo to lack of flight tutorial. Not looking forward to seeing my teammates explode to death because they have no idea what they're doing. Myself included.

 

[marvelman2006]

I like the gameplay alot but I thonk you die way too quick and easy. It seemed like I would die from 1-2 shots each time and none were head shots.

 

[Why Are You Crouching Spock?]

You can't John Rambo.

 

[The Morningstar]

It's good that you die from a couple of shots. Better than CoD where you can empty near enough a whole clip into someone.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

I like the gameplay alot but I thonk you die way too quick and easy. It seemed like I would die from 1-2 shots each time and none were head shots.

Thats how it should be, altho its not. From what iv played, its the complete opposite. Thats why i plan to play hardcore modes once the game is out. I should be able to kill someone in 3 - 4 shots every time.

 

[Why Are You Crouching Spock?]

It's good that you die from a couple of shots. Better than CoD where you can empty near enough a whole clip into someone.

I think having lots of health tends to suit arcade deathmatch games, which is exactly what Call Of Duty is. I prefer the focused rock/paper/scissors in Team Fortress 2 over Battlefields loose class structure. Health, speed, cooldown and abilties vary widely.

 

[GhostPoet]

Infintry wise, I think it's less clunkyer than Battlefield 2.
The jets are really easy to fly in comparison the helicopters. Basically just pointing your mouse as you would in first person. The Jets are definitely slower than Battlefield 2.

Infantry wise...BF2 was a lot smoother. Just infantry wise. The soldiers in BF3 move like tanks.

 

[Why Are You Crouching Spock?]

Infantry wise...BF2 was a lot smoother. Just infantry wise. The soldiers in BF3 move like tanks.

I never seen that at all. Battlefield 2's infintry combat was basically recuced to "he who swan dives first" it was by far the weakest aspect.

 

[GhostPoet]

they fixed the dolphin dive later on at least. There was an extra animation before you could go prone. Everything was very smooth...jumping was instant. It was more arcadey...maybe that's what I miss. I feel like BF3 is trying to be both an arcade game like BF2...but with more realistic movement like BC2. Doesn't work.

 

[B]

I like the gameplay alot but I thonk you die way too quick and easy. It seemed like I would die from 1-2 shots each time and none were head shots.

Instantly better than Call of Duty's softcore mode then considering you've to empty a whole clip into someone to kill them.

That's why I only ever play hardcore on CoD, 1 or 2 bullets depending on range & your dead.. the way it would be in real life.

BF3 actually has a health bar though, it's in the bottom right hand corner. I think you can take 4 or 5 bullets to the legs or arms before your dead, but if you take 2 or 3 your health would be about 10% & you'd be badly wounded.

I'm very pleased with Battlefield's bullet damage, CoD's is ******ed.. especally the softcore mode.. you can pump about 6 bullets into someones chest & he can kill you with 1 swipe of a knife.. the softcore in MW2 was comepletely unplayable with those commando *****es running about with knives.

 

[Why Are You Crouching Spock?]

I'm having a blast with Caspian Border, so much fun.
At one point, I ejected from a jet and managed to shoot the plane that shot up my own plane up while falling. It made me feel like a really cool dude with big muscles like a real army man.

Spoiler

 

[gregtestagent]

I think my Beta just bricked on me. I start it up and try to join my friends and get: "The connection with EA Online was lost." I also see it when I try to see my friends in the squad menu or when I'm just trying to go into multiplayer by myself. Someone said it was that the servers are full right now, EA did not commit all their servers to the Beta and also that it is a Friday night. So if ur in a match, stay in, because you may not get back in for a while.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

I'm having a blast with Caspian Border, so much fun.
At one point, I ejected from a jet and managed to shoot the plane that shot up my own plane up while falling. It made me feel like a really cool dude with big muscles like a real army man.

Spoiler

Wait, you shot down the plane, that shot you, with a rifle? If so, that is THE dumbest thing iv heard of in a long time. Even CoD doesn't have something that ridiculous. I mean good job by you, but that nonsense shouldn't even be in the game.

 

[Master Chief]

Even CoD doesn't have something that ridiculous.

Melee from 5 feet away.
Dual-wielding shotguns.
Tactical Nukes.

 

[Why Are You Crouching Spock?]

In realistic modern wars such as Afghanistan, 60% of British troops get killed by IED's. So for authenticity purposes you should just do this for 8 hours straight.
Then maybe return home abit mental ill.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

Melee from 5 feet away.
Dual-wielding shotguns.
Tactical Nukes.

Shooting a jet that is flying away from you, while you are parachuting to the ground tops those. You wouldn't even be able to pull a rifle out to even attempt that. You are strapped into your seat, there would be no where for you to even have a rifle once ejected. Even if you somehow managed to pull a rifle out of your ass, there is no way your rounds would even reach the plane, by the time its passed you and you have ejected the plane would be way out of range. I know this game isn't trying to be hyper realistic, but shooting a jet with a rifle and destroying it is ridiculous. If i got shot down by an AK 74 in a jet id cut the game off.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

In realistic modern wars such as Afghanistan, 60% of British troops get killed by IED's. So for authenticity purposes you should just do this for 8 hours straight.
Then maybe return home abit mental ill.

Thats due to the enemy we are fighting. I guarantee you if North Korea or China invaded the UK, they wouldn't just slap IED's all over the place. Just because its a "Modern" war doesn't mean the enemy has to use IED's. IED's are used by the insurgents in Afghanistan due to the lack of resources and organized army they have.

 

[Why Are You Crouching Spock?]

I think it's a great idea, if you add RPG mechanics it could be like a really exciting Mass Effect.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

I think it's a great idea, if you add RPG mechanics it could be like a really exciting Mass Effect.

Im not saying it couldn't be a good idea. The amount of tension in the film The Hurt Locker could be great if properly translated to a game.