Battlefield 3

[Diablo25]

Server issues? I can't get on at all.

[Teal]

I played this afternoon, no problem. Don't know.

[Naples39]

Marc, there ARE medkits, and they do heal you. Also, after you level up a few times, the assault/med class gets a defibrillator, too, to revive fallen teammates. Ultimately, this is one that I'm gonna definitely want to play with a team of friends/DSP'ers. Communication is just so much fun with this type of game.

Oh I know it's all in there, but between the map and everyone being ranked too low, I didn't see any revivals in the games I played. It led to a bad first impression, that it didn't feel like battlefield but Medal of Honor.

[MizzouRah]

I keep telling myself it's a beta.. it's a beta. The retail version will rock...

I played a few rounds this morning and truth be told.. I was not impressed. Anyone else feel this way? Sure, the connection wasn't all that great AND it's a beta, but little things like the load out screen seem to have taken a big step backwards. The menu looked like something from last generation and the graphics themselves didn't seem to look as good as BF:BC2. I cant help but wonder what the ramifications are for designing a game for PC and stripping it down to a console friendly version.

Going to hold off on this one until I hear more impressions and if the solo campaign has any substance to it, thanks. (I know MP will be where the bulk of the work was done, but I still like to play though the solo campaigns)

I have Rage and Skyrim already preordered, so I'm not really chomping at the bit for more games.

[Diablo25]

What an awesome beta. I get to cruise around the menu, look at my options, cruise around the menu some more...awesome. Oh, actually play - hell no. Fn joke so far.

[Spooky]

What an awesome beta. I get to cruise around the menu, look at my options, cruise around the menu some more...awesome. Oh, actually play - hell no. Fn joke so far.

Same here. No go online...

[Diablo25]

Finally got on and it was a blast. I was chatting with Teal (he was in a separate game) the whole time. Very fun. Graphics are definitely better that BFBC2. Cannot wait for the full version to see all the maps and vehicles.

[Teal]

Hell, yeah-fun stuff, Dman! I'm having an absolute blast, and think I've found my niche as a machine gunner-got 28 kills, 3 deaths in my next to last match using the M249. Great stuff. I can't wait for the full version.

[Macca00]

Teal,

Thanks for the invite yesterday - sorry I had to jet, I got on at 10pm EST but had to leave in an hour.


I warming up to this game a lot more but I have to say my initial impressions of this game (apart from the wow factor of the visuals in the PC version - though the 360 one looks good too) was in line with FIFA and Naples'. I think that's due to a number of things;

1) My expectations were ridiculously high - this is my most anticipated game of the year, I pre-ordered the PC version, I'm definitely getting the 360 one too so if the beta didn't blow my mind it was going to be a bit of a let down.

2) My expectations were a bit misplaced - I adored Bad Company 2 online and I thought/expected this to be Bad Company 3 - it's not. If I run around like I did in BC 2 I'm dead in a second. Likewise in BC 2 you can take a few shots and still live - you could turn a corner, be surprised by 2-3 enemies but still on occasion take them out and live to tell about it. In Battlefield 3 if it's 1 vs 3 then you're f***in dead (unless you're Teal/Rambo) before you know it. Actually dead before you know it is a common theme unless you take the time to move from cover to cover, go prone and be patient.

To be honest, I'm not sure I'm super keen on this type of gameplay - I thought Bad Company 2 was a good intermediate between this and the madness of COD - but I'm getting more used to it. As Teal said, you HAVE to use teamwork and communicate if you want to have any chance to win/survive - playing with Randoms I've barely been on the winning side more than half a dozen times and some games where the opposition is well coordinated werent' fun at all because I'd be dead every 5 seconds. Whereas in BC 2 you don't have to plan as much and you can still enjoy games with randoms.

3) I think it's a poor choice of a map for the beta - no vehicles and just too narrow/confined.

I think as I've unlocked more equipment and am dying a bit less I'm enjoying it more but I'm not as psyched for this as I was before the beta but like I said, I think that's my fault for expecting Bad Company 3, not Battlefield 3.

[Naples39]

I'm just looking for the teamwork. When it comes to just shooting people I think COD does it better, and what Battlefield has going for it is the vehicles and strong teamwork element. That was missing for me yesterday. Hopefully it will emerge as people rank up and become familiar with the map.

[Teal]

The problem I have with COD is that it's too damned frantic. It's like Halo with real guns. I like CoD, don't get me wrong, but I want more tactical gameplay sometimes, and BF does tactical better. I LIKE knowing that one well placed shot will take you down. I agree that the beta isn't the most representative of classic BF gameplay, but it shows a branching into a different style, and I like it alot. I can't wait to see the larger maps, but already more or less know what to expect from those.

[Wilk5280]

the ability to go prone is a huge welcome addition.

As for graphics I'm surprised by the amount of people who think the 360 version looks good. I think it's a step back from BFBC2, personally. At the very best case scenario maybe on par with it, but certainly not better than. IMO anyway.

I like that you don't have to unload nearly a full clip to kill somebody (or be killed I guess). Hopefully it will slow the pace down a little bit, but to be honest this had a bit more of a fast pace feel to it so what do I know.

Not too fond of the font and feel that the florescent orange, green and blue text detracts way too much from the battlefield. Also as you unlock stuff while in action it's crazy how long you can have stuff popping up on your screen during the action. Way too intrusive.

All that being said, I cannot wait for this game to release. Still my most anticipated game of the year even though the demo is leaving a bit of a sour taste in my mouth.

[FifaInspected]

For me it's not an "expectations too high" issue.. I was expecting a game that visually and technically would at least be on par with BF:BC2. So far I'm not seeing that. I too agree on this being a very bad choice of maps. I'm also a bit fearful that the pace of the game could be a bit more hectic than BC2. Add jets, Vehicles and s**t blowing up all around you and it chaos could prevail.

However, I will still buy this on day one keeping in mind that if we get enough of us here interested we can play private matches where WE dictate the pace of play. Seems to me that people here that play BC2 prefer teamwork and a slower pace.

I'll for sure be hanging onto MF:BC2.. that game still has crack like addictive qualities.

[Naples39]

Teal,

Thanks for the invite yesterday - sorry I had to jet, I got on at 10pm EST but had to leave in an hour.


I warming up to this game a lot more but I have to say my initial impressions of this game (apart from the wow factor of the visuals in the PC version - though the 360 one looks good too) was in line with FIFA and Naples'. I think that's due to a number of things;

1) My expectations were ridiculously high - this is my most anticipated game of the year, I pre-ordered the PC version, I'm definitely getting the 360 one too so if the beta didn't blow my mind it was going to be a bit of a let down.

2) My expectations were a bit misplaced - I adored Bad Company 2 online and I thought/expected this to be Bad Company 3 - it's not. If I run around like I did in BC 2 I'm dead in a second. Likewise in BC 2 you can take a few shots and still live - you could turn a corner, be surprised by 2-3 enemies but still on occasion take them out and live to tell about it. In Battlefield 3 if it's 1 vs 3 then you're f***in dead (unless you're Teal/Rambo) before you know it. Actually dead before you know it is a common theme unless you take the time to move from cover to cover, go prone and be patient.

To be honest, I'm not sure I'm super keen on this type of gameplay - I thought Bad Company 2 was a good intermediate between this and the madness of COD - but I'm getting more used to it. As Teal said, you HAVE to use teamwork and communicate if you want to have any chance to win/survive - playing with Randoms I've barely been on the winning side more than half a dozen times and some games where the opposition is well coordinated werent' fun at all because I'd be dead every 5 seconds. Whereas in BC 2 you don't have to plan as much and you can still enjoy games with randoms.

3) I think it's a poor choice of a map for the beta - no vehicles and just too narrow/confined.

I think as I've unlocked more equipment and am dying a bit less I'm enjoying it more but I'm not as psyched for this as I was before the beta but like I said, I think that's my fault for expecting Bad Company 3, not Battlefield 3.

I'll be jealous of you if you're playing this, 32v32. 'Battlefield' is quite an apt name for this.


I downloaded the beta on my laptop, and got it to run once but saw no way to change any controls or video settings and it was quite chuggy. Since then I can't get it to start again, and it keeps telling me to update my drivers but the nvidia driver updates won't install on my machine. Ahh PC gaming.

[Diablo25]

I must be in the minority because I think the graphics are better. Not head and shoulders but definitely better. I am loving the game. Sure, they could have given us a better map but remember this is a beta for DICE to iron out kinks. The audio is fabulous. I was on a great team last night and we won all 4 matches I was a part of. I had fun in all classes and that was with no vehicles. The best part of the night might have been Teal's play by play of him shredding the enemy with a scoped machine gun I'm guessing the graphics could/will be better in the full version. I'm still pumped for the final product.

[skinsfan]

Prone is great, but snipers are going to be very difficult to take out on large maps. Wookie camping will increase tenfold.
The class changes are questionable-Assault is now the medic? Meh.
Definitely feel like the game is being pushed into the direction of Call of Duty. In fact, it feels most like Killzone 3 right now.
Still some wonky server stuff right now, too.

[Teal]

It makes just as much sense for assault guys to have medkits as it does machine gun guys having them. And the deal with a game like this is that the ability to go prone and snipe means the little ADD-preteens are either gonna have to slow down and play this game the way it was meant to be played...or go play CoD. I mean, yesterday, I scored 28 kills and only 3 deaths. Know how? I sat my bipod M249 up at the end of a long hallway, zoomed in, and they kept coming like damned caffienated zombies. So...I kept shooting. Never once did someone think "Oh, well maybe we need to flank him and take him out so that we can get where we're going." Nope-just keep jumping into the meat grinder. I'm happy to lay prone and take little weasels like that out. Maybe they'll get so demoralized that they'll stay away from BF and go play something else...

In fact, with prone, it's being pushed AWAY from CoD, not toward it. Just because there are a ton of knuckleheads running around like their heads were on fire and their asses were catchin' doesn't mean the game is turning into that. It's like some of those idiots fantasize about being the headless freaks with bombs for hands in Serious Sam...

[Wilk5280]

How does incorporating the prone position make it less like CoD instead of more like it? I don't get that statement.

[Spooky]

Just played a couple rounds. Have to say it felt GREAT! Love the gameplay and the slightly quicker deaths.

Graphics are interesting. They are pretty incredible, really, BUT they have that PC port feel to them. And after playing so much Gears for the last couple weeks they take a bit to get used to. Overall really digging it though.

[Diablo25]

Just played a couple rounds. Have to say it felt GREAT! Love the gameplay and the slightly quicker deaths.

Graphics are interesting. They are pretty incredible, really, BUT they have that PC port feel to them. And after playing so much Gears for the last couple weeks they take a bit to get used to. Overall really digging it though.

Gears is pretty damn incredible graphically. I LOVE the ability to go prone.

[Teal]

Can you go prone in CoD? If so, I don't remember. In any case, once the full game arrives, and you jump in a jet, or a humvee, or a tank, or a heli, and you fight in maps the size of Rhode Island...well, I think that's when the CoD comparisons will end...

[skinsfan]

Prone has been in every COD since Last-Gen.

[btmmayor]

I mean, yesterday, I scored 28 kills and only 3 deaths. Know how? I sat my bipod M249 up at the end of a long hallway, zoomed in, and they kept coming like damned caffienated zombies.

And right there is why I couldn't stand the Beta....Rush on a tight map. As an attacker with very few routes and the ability for defenders to go prone covering every route, its nothing but a giant camp-fest. Thats just not fun to me. I really hope that was just Rush rearing its ugly head and that Conquest will be a different experience.

[Teal]

Well, without taking my statement out of context, I made an easy fix for the 'camping' as you call it. Flank. Sure, a sniper or gunner might get you once, but if you come back to that same spot, and take the same route, expect the same result. That's just not a smart move. Find a way around. Flank. Draw his eye while another flanks. It's not realistic to expect someone to 'move' when they're coming like moths to the flame. It's like cancelling Christmas to suggest so...lol

[RobVarak]

I mean, yesterday, I scored 28 kills and only 3 deaths. Know how? I sat my bipod M249 up at the end of a long hallway, zoomed in, and they kept coming like damned caffienated zombies.

And right there is why I couldn't stand the Beta....Rush on a tight map. As an attacker with very few routes and the ability for defenders to go prone covering every route, its nothing but a giant camp-fest. Thats just not fun to me. I really hope that was just Rush rearing its ugly head and that Conquest will be a different experience.

Aren't there frags or flashbangs? If you know that people are camping at the ends of halls, that's an easy fix without having to flank.