EA Confirms Fixes to Battlefield 3 Bugs After Blackout Threats
EA showcases over 200 planned fixes to Battlefield 3′s multiplayer, right after the threat of a blackout from its userbase.
Posted By AngryJoe about 11 months, 2 weeks ago
EA UK has a new video web series called, EA PWNED, groans aside they did something that is sure to attract hundreds of thousands of new viewers, an episode with exclusive focus on high-definition Battlefield 3 Footage straight from DICE HQ. A 17 minute feature! YES PLEASE!
The video covers the animations, destruction systems, art concept, new audio design (hopefully as good as Bad Company 2), and perhaps the best of the coverage is news that BF3 will have the Karkand Map from BF2 reworked in the new engine!
Frostbite 2 is effing amazing. I could hardly tell that was game footage I was looking at during the night-time city landscape tease. (5:06) It’s going to be hard to choose whether to play it on consoles (comfortable couch) or go the high end graphics with my PC. How will you play?
EA showcases over 200 planned fixes to Battlefield 3′s multiplayer, right after the threat of a blackout from its userbase.
A STOVL fighter jet, a desert buggy, an APC, and a… bulldozer?
Angry Joe gives the final word on Battlefield 3. How much does it improve upon
The best of BF2 in super HD-O-Vision!
Battlefield may have beaten Call of Duty to the punch, but does that mean it’s any good?
Angry Joe and Johnny M. of Blistered Thumbs tackle BF3′s Cooperative missions together while discussing this highly anticipated FPS heavyweight!
In one of the only examples ever where Frostbite sends Johnny somewhere he’d wind up getting sand in his crotch, his charged task of reviewing Battlefield 3 is now complete. By reading it, you’ll be taking part in the initial stages of “Operation Sugar Pants!”
Is Battlefield 3 the next best shooter? Daniel from ZGR gives you his thoughts!
Modern warfare on an open battlefield. Count me in.
Posted By Robert G. about 2 months, 3 weeks ago
EA showcases over 200 planned fixes to Battlefield 3′s multiplayer, right after the threat of a blackout from its userbase.
Posted By Austin Y. about 5 months, 2 weeks ago
A STOVL fighter jet, a desert buggy, an APC, and a… bulldozer?
Posted By AngryJoe about 6 months, 1 week ago
Angry Joe gives the final word on Battlefield 3. How much does it improve upon
Posted By Austin Y. about 6 months, 1 week ago
The best of BF2 in super HD-O-Vision!
Posted By Bennett The Sage about 6 months, 2 weeks ago
Battlefield may have beaten Call of Duty to the punch, but does that mean it’s any good?
Posted By AngryJoe about 6 months, 2 weeks ago
Angry Joe and Johnny M. of Blistered Thumbs tackle BF3′s Cooperative missions together while discussing this highly anticipated FPS heavyweight!
Posted By Johnny Maloney about 6 months, 2 weeks ago
In one of the only examples ever where Frostbite sends Johnny somewhere he’d wind up getting sand in his crotch, his charged task of reviewing Battlefield 3 is now complete. By reading it, you’ll be taking part in the initial stages of “Operation Sugar Pants!”
Posted By ZGRDaniel about 6 months, 3 weeks ago
Is Battlefield 3 the next best shooter? Daniel from ZGR gives you his thoughts!
Posted By Hopewithinchaos about 7 months, 1 week ago
Modern warfare on an open battlefield. Count me in.
Posted By Johnny Maloney about 6 months, 2 weeks ago
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Battlefield 1942 marked a turning point for my online gaming. Not in the sense that I started to play online with larger groups of people on larger maps, rather that I continued to play online with the same small group of people and just discovered there were more ways to arse around in Battlefield 1942 than in your regular first person shooter. “A first person shooter that lets me fly a twin engine bomber over enemy lines just so I can jump out, wreck the plane, and get shot in the face on my way down? That sounds like a great way to spend a hundred hours!” As the saying goes, that was then and this is now, and Battlefield has had more than just a few incarnations of actual wars, future wars, and the scaaaaaaaary wars that could be happening RIGHT NOW!! Perhaps not that scary, but everybody’s been giving me grief about not getting in the Halloween spirit. Battlefield 3 now marks Electronic Arts’ latest entry into the series, with the lofty goal of toppling “the (apparently) most anticipated game ever” of Modern Warfare off whatever decadent throne it now sits atop.
| PROS | It’s gorgeous, it sounds amazing, its variety, FROSTBITE 2! |
| CONS | Short campaign, some weird AI paths, PC specific functionality problems |
| WTF?! | I swear I’ve seen THAT guy in Transformers. |
No, seriously… I’ve seen that guy in Transformers. What’s even stranger, is that he’s also going to be in Modern Warfare 3 – what a racket! There’s even a fighter pilot that bears a strange resemblance to Michael J. Fox. That’s all immaterial however, we’re here to talk about the game.
Battlefield 3 is a game about shooting people with a variety of weapons. Got that? Good. Roll credits!
Now that’s out of the way, let’s dig out the core. Describing the gameplay of Battlefield 3 in detail is a fairly pointless affair, because if you’ve played any other multiplayer Battlefield game, you’ve played something quite similar to this. That’s not necessarily a bad thing in itself, but it pretty much primes you for what you can expect: conquest, rush, and a variety of deathmatch options in a variety of climate regions, with vehicles, a cavalcade of unlockable items, awards, badges, dogtags to collect, perks, and so on. A change or two has been made, such as the amalgamation of the medic class into the assault class, starting you out with medic packs and unlocking defibrillator paddles in what I think was the first rank advancement. PC players too are witness to the return of jets, as well as the 64 player conquest maps which can get pretty hectic (so long as you’re not walking everywhere).
Even if you did decide to walk everywhere, aesthetes would certainly enjoy themselves most of the time. Right out of the gate, it’s pretty obvious that this is one of, if not the, best looking game to hit the market this year. Previously I had awarded that honor to CD Projekt Red’s The Witcher 2, but some of the sprawling outdoor areas throw my admiration for it and other open world army games like ARMA II under the truck, run it over several times, and rub broken glass in its face, all before I remember that I loved ARMA II as a game before I could make her pretty. (I still love you baby… we’re a team, you an’ me!) While good looking however, Battlefield 3 does adhere to a strange habit games appear to be taking these days, in that it’s not necessarily trying to look more realistic, rather than how people perceive war as “realistic” through pop culture. The strangest example of this here to me is the grit and dust on the screen that in any real situation would likely cause a horrible conjunctivitis infection doesn’t seem to bother anybody. It’s still an impressive graphic effect, obviously taken from camera effects in movies and TV, but I screw my eyes up in confusion sometimes, wondering why it’s there.
These excellent visuals are brilliantly punctuated by immaculate sound design. The distant snap sounds of guns change incrementally the closer you get to them, echoes ringing in valleys pour through the speakers, and the delays between firing noises and the sounds of rounds striking your cover as the dull hum of an unfriendly motor whirrs closer to your desperate position strike phenomenal reactionary responses. Even conversations carried out in the campaign bounce off environments impeccably, with the small touches of chairs squeaking, or papers shuffling. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that many of the cutscenes were filmed, and then animated over in a rotoscoping-like fashion.
It seems like Modern/Near-Future war shooters are now like WW2 shooters in how there are so damn many of em.
As for this game, I definitely liked it, despite its annoyances like the Battlelog issue and if a server has a bad latency rate, its unplayable due to the player keep back-stepping while you move and shots will miss even if up close on the target. With that, the MP is pretty good and I like the feeling of the sniper class.
The campaign definitely ain’t worth writing home about, I’m probably willing to say its slightly better than the MW2 and BO campaigns, but nothing I’m going to play twice (though I could say that even to the great campaigns, guess the momentum of the first playrthrough just can’t be captured again.) For the most part, I think its worth the score it got, still got plenty more games to play this year though.
(About the video review:)
Judging a Battlefield game by it’s singleplayer is like judging Yoda by his size. Sense it makes not.
Personally, Battlelog is a non-issue. It doesn’t hamper my experience, it has some nice features, and it works great to get me into a game. I’ve seen people go totally negative on it and I don’t think that is fair at all. You get into games much quicker than you would an ingame browser and generally everything works as it should. Some things can be a tad iffy, but when I hear people say that Battlelog is the reason they won’t get BF3, I laugh at how they are missing out on a game for a simply ridiculous reason.
A great review though as I would pretty much agree with this. While the singleplayer is competent, it doesn’t really do anything new and is way too familiar to what Black Ops did last year, though with abit more realism than that, but still an idea already used. I actually don’t know why they have those cutscenes there as to me, it seems like they could’ve almost removed the flashback stuff entirely and not hurt the game, though I still am a few levels from completion.
The multiplayer is top notch though. It does MANY things better than Bad Company 2, though people who played that will still be familiar with the game, same for BF2 veterans, though it’s very much an amalgam of both series. This game is gonna keep me hooked for a long time, especially with consistent expansion packs over the next 6 months, starting with Back to Karkand in December.
Might be just that it screwed up in the beta most of the time (1 out of 5 attempts to join a game succeeded for me, this is not counting when I got in and was immediately kicked or lagged out for whatever reason), but I got fairly irritated by it and I have no intention of going through that again.
Also the fact that you have to actually start a game to change your settings, then in case of some graphics settings leave and start another one if you actually intend to play with those settings is ridiculous.
Well that was because of Beta. I haven’t had any issues with Battlelog since Beta and it all seems to work just fine, though of course it’s hardly perfect. The settings thing again, isn’t an issue, that your kinda trying to make it out to be. Even if the game had an ingame menu instead and you are able to change your settings, you would have to restart your game anyways if the settings said so, so I’m not really seeing the problem here. And really, how often is a person changing his settings? You do it once till you get it running right, if it isn’t already doing so, and then you never touch them again.
I guess now that I wouldn’t have to find and connect to a multiplayer game for that, but can instead do it by starting a single player game, or possibly hosting my own (if that’s possible), I guess it’s not that much of a hassle anymore.
Origin is more than enough reason to not get the game.
It amazes me how these companies can continue to produce these straight-faced, military themed shooters and how people can keep buying them up like hot-cakes. I know it’s old hat to hate on shooters right now, but I still don’t get it. How can people NOT get bored of this stuff? I can only hope that soon enough shooters will go the way of the JRPG when people get tired of playing through the same old archetypes with a fresh coat of paint and the releases will become farther and fewer between. Maybe the next gaming trend will appeal to me more.
Saying it out loud, that does sound a bit selfish, but oh well. I doubt it will happen anytime soon, anyway.
I originally hadn’t intended to buy this, but because of a reviewing schedule snafu, it got dropped in my lap. I do agree with you that the military shooter has been played out, and I don’t nearly enjoy them as much as I do other genres these days. That said, I felt like it would be unfair to review BF3 against a backdrop of other genres of games. It’s almost as if the “war fps” has become a genre independent of the fps altogether. I wouldn’t recommend people buy it until there was a price drop, but then as time goes on and I see more and more $60 titles from companies like Ubisoft, Activision and EA, I’m feeling I have to draw a hard line in the sand.
It goes without saying that if you’re sick and tired of war fps games, then BF3 does *not* deserve an 8. But if we were all to review games on whether or not they tread familiar ground, it’d be a much crueller profession indeed. Judging from your comment, you’d do well to save your money… it doesn’t do anything new or groundbreaking.
I asked this question to someone else a few weeks ago who said pretty much the same thing (and they never answered me). How would you change shooters to be more original and “not Boring”
I will be honest, I don’t buy shooters for the campaign, bought BF3 on 360 and havnt even used the campaign disc. Its all about the multiplayer and while the general mechanics of shooters remains the same, it is the new maps, weapons, gadgets etc that change the overall experience. Plus upgrades to the game engine and graphics play a part too. that is just my opinion though, and I am generally curious about your opinion. ![]()
People like what they like I suppose.
I’m still not bored with zombie games for example.
Funny enough, unlike King Walrus, I pretty much only buy shooters like these for the campaign, which is why you’ll never see me buying them at launch, I gotten all the recent CoD games for under 20 bucks each. I just don’t care about competitive MP, it’s just not for me.
It just seems to bring out the worst in people, I don’t buy games to get online just to be insulted by racist 12 year olds.
don’t worry man, battlefield doesn’t have any kids playing it and no body really mic spams either
yeah, but what about other genres like fantasy RPG’s, there are mostly the same, especially the free to play ones. oh, and how about racing games, most of them are all the same right? just like shooters?
First of all, we’re not talking about online games here at all, that’s a whole different animal entirely. Anyway, look what happened to the JRPG. Same goes for racing games. They’re not nearly as popular or frequently produced as they once were. When the innovation and creativity stopped, so did the sales. You’ll notice that a lot of modern racing games also have a somewhat creative hook to help sell them. Sports games are obviously a bit different because people have more of a real world investment in what they represent, which allows the producers to be lazy. Fantasy WRPG still aren’t as released nearly as frequently as military shooters and tend to have more variety or creative ideas. I mean, I could easily tell the difference between Skyrim, Witcher 2, Fable. Not so much the case for BF3 and MWF and any other generic military shooter I can think of. I’m aware that all genres are guilty of this, but the military shooter is the only sub-genre I can think of that can garner such great sales while doing so little to innovate. Space marines are getting pretty fuckin’ old too. The only “shooters” that interest me are the ones that aren’t just shooters anymore. They’ve mixed themselves in with other genres (like Bioshock, deadspace, uncharted, Deus ex, Mass Effect etc. ) and attempted to actually do something different. Besides, to imply it’s okay for shooters to do it because other genres are guilty of the same is a tu quoque fallacy.
I am in full agreement with you, in all honesty… I don’t pimp ARMA II because I get paid to, I write about it because it supercedes my military-shooter desire by measures I cannot express.
The videogame industry is becoming more and more like the movie industry. The lowest common denominator is becoming increasingly more lucrative. Bad games DO get made, and they get made frequently for the risk/reward return. When gamers become tired of pretending to be people who demonstrate their skill (the unlock system is now ALL about making gamers feel better about their level of skill) in environments that are “realistic” we’ll see a change.
I wonder about Michael Bay movies similarly.
I would also counsel you to edit your litany of games that “actually do something different,” including Bioshock and Deus Ex.
EDIT: upon re-reading, that last bit reads a bit bitchy. I apologize for my tone, I do believe I’ve been a little distracted and stressed lately. Mea culpa.
I absolutely hate punkbuster. Back when I was playing a lot of PR I swear that stupid little application caused hours of grief because it doesn’t update properly, and even though I’ve opened all of the pertinent ports in my firewall to allow it to do its thing, it still would randomly boot me off of servers, not allow me to connect at all, and generally be unpleasant.
As for the game, sounds good – but also sounds and seems a lot like BFBC2. I’m not sure jets & 64 player maps make it different enough for me to want to come back.. espescially since I played a ton of BFBC2. Not at $60.00 at any rate.
Battlelog. That’s why this is the first Battlefield title I’m going to skip.
you can’t be serious? also, the reply system in blistered thumbs suck ASS
I’m really enjoying this one. I can really see why people dislike Battlelog though. It can be a nuisance having to load Orgin, a Browser, just to click on the game, even for single player.
That said, I really do like the game.
Awesome I was hoping to see your review of this game, great as always.
And to the comment from Lowlander about Payday Id say that both games are great multiplayer games but are apples and oranges when compared, I think there is space to enjoy both games multiplayer separately but equally.
Oh certainly. But I’m fine with what I’ve got.
Or at least, I would be if more people were playing it. GET ON IT, GUYS!
there are alot of people playing it, lol
I’ve got Payday to fill my multiplayer needs, thanks.
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! Suck it EA! ![]()
Angry Joe gives the final word on Battlefield 3. How much does it improve upon
Battlefield may have beaten Call of Duty to the punch, but does that mean it’s any good?
Is Battlefield 3 the next best shooter? Daniel from ZGR gives you his thoughts!
Modern warfare on an open battlefield. Count me in.
Wez, Larry and Ian glitch their way through the Battlefield 3 Beta in this very funny video!
Wez, Larry and Ian glitch their way through the Battlefield 3 Beta in this very funny video!
Joe, if you don’t get this on PC, I’ll be sorely disappointed in you. But whatever, its your prerogative.
this game is a PC title first and fore most and it is very likely that the console verson is going to suck really hard, the thing that ppl need to understand is that the 17-24 old age group in sweden grew up on the pc and that will reflect the way swedish game devs work there games.
so save yourself from a horrible port and get the PC verson, (also getting a PC that will be able to run this game in a good setting when it comes out is not going to be all the expensiv)
also playing FPS games on a console for me allways becomes me yelling “turn around faster plz!!”
You can hook up your PC to a tv and play from your couch and even use a controller, though i don’t why you will want to use something with less precision, but i digress. There is really not reason to play this in a console when you can have both, comfort and all the good perks of PC gaming
Heh, I always thought FIFA’s character animations were amazing. BF3 shows just how amazing that engine really is, HOLY CRAP! I played the crap out of 1942 and dabbled in BF 2 6-8 years ago. I’ve been teasing at the idea of getting a new gaming PC soon(had a pretty good one, but that was back when BF2 came out, lol) but now it’s definite.
I just upgraded my PC so I’m going PC, if I decide to get it. I was never big on the Battlefield franchise but after seeing this in contrast the same old same old I’ve been getting from CoD, I’m willing to convert.
Another military shooter? No thanks.
im buying it for PC and for xbox…because i luvs me some battlefield! and i want the whole package!
PC = DX11 version and earlier release
Joe, why in gods name would you want to play this on a console?
Pc offers you:
>Superior Controls
>Superior Graphics
>Superior Netcode
>More Players
>Jet Dogfighting
..and you don’t have to give Microsoft £40 a year, or let Sony give away all your personal info.
Oh, you don’t have to pay 60 dollars a year my ass. Is the internet just free in the UK now? And it only has superior graphics IF your computer can handle it. There’s no question whether it can handle it on the consoles. The other stuff is true though. I’m really not sure why developers would leave out an entire freaking mode in one version and not in the other. It’s stupid and unfair to people who don’t have that console.
Your right the internet isn’t free, but i only have to pay for the internet.
You pay your internet fees plus £40 to Microsoft for:
Matchmaking
Demos
Voice Chat
Which is all free on the PC, not to mention you will be playing as you said, an inferior version with modes/vehicles missing/Auto Aim, and with less players running at a MUCH lower graphical level.
I’m not a fanboy, im not trying to start an argument, its fact. If you have a PC that can run this well (Which Joe has) there is ZERO reason to buy a console version.
Game. Set. Match!
Lol joe you can play PC games on the couch too you know
PC all the way. Not only for the graphics but also for the superior FPS controls of keyboard/mouse. Also, it will probably be easier hosting some kind of BT gaming events on PC.
I’m not sure if I should get this for PC or PS3 (my 360 ruined my BC2, Forza 3, Just Cause 2 discs so that is out of the question).
I’m getting a laptop for when I graduate highschool, but I have more friends on PS3 so I can’t decide on what to get this for.