Battlefield 3

[Sly Reflex]

Battle Recorder has been confirmed.

[hinn888]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuoU7uBNvP0&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LILgS-M2xo&feature=player_embedded

[Sly Reflex]

I got an invite to the alpha trail!

[illdog]

I got an invite to the alpha trail!

Nice dude, what did you have to do to get that?

[Sly Reflex]

I got an invite to the alpha trail!

Nice dude, what did you have to do to get that?

They sent me this email, edited down obviously. I am a valued and trusted Battlefield player. Hopefully they will see this and get me in on the console beta too.

Hi Mr Reflexious,

As one of our valued and trusted Battlefield players, we are happy to invite you to participate in the Battlefield 3 Alpha Trial. All the instructions you need to join are printed below.

[illdog]

Oooh, thats quite the acclaim.

[Sly Reflex]

http://battlefieldo.com/gamingexaminer-interview-with-karl-magnus-troedsson/

Gaming Examiner: A lot is being said in regards to the whole Battlefield 3 vs. Modern Warfare 3 showdown due to both games releasing very closely to each other. Based off what has been seen of both games so far, you must be feeling confident of taking over the FPS crown. What are your feelings on the whole match up?

Karl Magnus Troedsson: It’s going to be an interesting autumn that’s for sure! We’re 100% focused on finishing the game and want to deliver the best Battlefield game ever this holiday, and really do not spend much time worrying about what our competitors are doing.

GE: Battlefield 3 made a very strong showing at E3 2011, picking up over 40 awards. I imagine this would have a huge effect on the development team. How has this got the team feeling leading up to the final stages of development?

KMT: We’re extremely pleased with the outcome of E3 this year and the awards and accolades that followed have had a really positive impact on the team and the entire studio. When you invest so much time and energy into one game it’s always very uplifting to read that people enjoy what they saw and played.

GE: The Frostbite 2 engine is, from all accounts, an absolutely amazing piece of technology. How is it working with this new engine in comparison to the previous Frostbite engine?

KMT: Frostbite 2 has made some really big progress since the first installment we used for the first time in Battlefield: Bad Company. Things like streaming, better workflows and pipelines speeds up iteration times which leads to higher quality and more polish. The new lighting and animation definitely makes it easier to create a prettier game as well. This in combination with the more classic Battlefield elements like the possibilities of large scale maps, great destruction and advanced vehicle physics makes for a much better platform to build a game on. At the same time it’s more or less an entire new engine and that always come with some challenges when creating a game.

GE: Bad Company 2 had an entertaining and rather quirky storyline with memorable characters. Can we expect the same tone for Battlefield 3, or is realism and grittiness the name of the game here?

KMT: With Battlefield 3 we decided to take a step away from some of the more slapstick elements in the story and with the characters in Battlefield: Bad Company 2. We wanted to create something that is much more authentic and feels more plausible. So Battlefield 3 will have a rather different tone compared to Battlefield: Bad Company 2.

GE: For many players, the multiplayer is what Battlefield is all about. With such high expectations from gamers you must feel a lot of pressure to make sure you give them what they want. It seems like you have heard what the fans are saying and responded with what looks like an outstanding multiplayer mode. What are some of the major changes made in this version compared to Battlefield: Bad Company 2 and how do you think people will react to these changes?

KMT: Battlefield 3 is the spiritual successor to 2005’s Battlefield 2. At the same time we’re bringing in a ton of learning from the multiplayer components of Battlefield: Bad Company 1 and 2. A lot of the changes we’ve made come directly from the community with typical examples like bringing back prone and 64 players on PC. The challenge lies in trying to satisfy as many of the online players as possible and on some topics the community is really split. We’re also hell-bent on making sure that both the PC and the console version get their separate love, making sure none of the versions are a port of some other.

GE: Bad Company 2 was critically acclaimed for placing an emphasis on teamwork by working with your squad mates. In what ways does Battlefield 3 push the envelope once again?

KMT: Team work has always been at the heart of the Battlefield franchise and Battlefield 3 will introduce a lot of new elements to this. The new suppression mechanic is one example where you and your squad can work together and be successful as well as getting rewarded for it. We also have some other, unannounced, cool new vehicles and gadgets working together in new ways which I believe the tactical team players really will enjoy. This in combination of the social elements of Battlelog making it easier to play together and communicate will take the team play one step further.

GE: Bad Company 2 pushed the envelope in destructible environments. How is Battlefield 3 going to further enhance this feature?

KMT: One key element of the destruction which will take a big step forward in Battlefield 3 comes from the denser, more urban environments we introduce. In these you can take down the facades of huge buildings and expose or take out the enemies entrenched on the different floors.

GE: A lot of the community is asking for details about the Battlefield 3 Beta. Is there anything you can tell us at this stage?

KMT: All I can say at the moment is that our Beta will take place in September, as announced at E3. We’ll have more details soon.

GE: What do you say to the gamers who have expressed their displeasure over the console version being limited to 30 FPS and 720p resolution?

KMT: Console gamers shouldn’t worry about this, this topic is discussed out of proportions. For those tech-savvy enough to have looked into the actual resolution of their console games it won’t come as a surprise that a lot of console games today do not run at 1080p but rather 720p. We’ve done this for our last games and we believe it can still look amazing. When people ask for 1080p they don’t see the compromises that would be needed to get there. As for the frame-rate we’ve made a conscious decision to stick with 30 FPS on console. It’s not a technical problem with getting our game to run in 60 FPS but we do this in favour of the large amount of players, large scale maps, huge amount of vehicles, full on destruction and so on. The pace in Battlefield is slightly slower than some other twitchy shooters of today which lends itself well to this frame-rate.

GE: What would be considered a success for Battlefield 3?

KMT: That the people who play the game tell us that they enjoy it!

It looks like the campaign will be a bit serious for this one. I'm not really fussed though, I'm not really buying it for the campaign.

[TopGunKnacker]

KMT: One key element of the destruction which will take a big step forward in Battlefield 3 comes from the denser, more urban environments we introduce. In these you can take down the facades of huge buildings and expose or take out the enemies entrenched on the different floors.

hope you can level some of these big buildings

[Sly Reflex]

Tried the alpha. This should be called Bad Company 3, not Battlefield 3. Some of the weapons could do with more recoil too. The knife kills are awesome although a bit hit and miss. I think they might end up nerfing the bipod. It's a bit good, beastly even. The claymores don't kill which I found a bit weird. The phrases for spotting are too long.

I can see a lot of balancing going on with this, although it feels really nice to play it feels unfinished, like it is missing something. I think that ingredient might be friends though, it's hard to tell. You can tell the finished article is going to be good, but there are a few things that could slip through the net if DICE don't pay attention to feedback.

[TopGunKnacker]

tbh minimal recoil sounds great to me!

i downloaded the alpha but it wouldnt launch, fucked it off. ill be buying come release day.

[Sly Reflex]

http://blogs.battlefield.ea.com/battlefield_bad_company/archive/2011/07/28/battleblog-4-up-close-and-personal.aspx

Dog tags have always been a part of Battlefield, acting as a personal calling card for every soldier on the field, and these little emblems will be making a return this fall in Battlefield 3. After the launch of Battlefield 1942, the development team received physical dog tags from DICE as a token of appreciation. The team was so tickled by the gesture, they made sure dog tags have been a part of the in-game experience, becoming a part of the franchise since Battlefield 2142.

Your dog tag is your personal business card in Battlefield 3 – it’s what you dangle in front of an enemy you’ve taken down, and you can also collect the dog tags from your enemies as trophies, adding an extra bit of bragging rights to the festivities. “When we introduced dog tags in Battlefield 2142, we immediately knew we’d turned the knife duel into something new and very personal,” says Alan Kertz, Senior Multiplayer Designer at DICE. “Now players could have a record of their humiliation takedowns, and players were striving to protect their neck.”

With that in mind, DICE wanted to make sure dog tags in Battlefield 3 were even more personal, bringing an extra weight to them. You’ll be able to choose a design that goes with an in-game stat that gets tracked dynamically. “Dog tags in Battlefield 3 go beyond just having your name on them,” explains Kertz. “We have hundreds of dog tags that can be your personal calling card. Every time you kill an enemy, they see your tags. It’s your calling card – it’s your place to brag, and dynamic tags can show off how great you are with a knife, a jet, or even show off your personal play style.”

The only way to get a dog tag from your adversary is by performing one of the new, brutal knife takedowns. That not all – you’ll have to take out your target from behind. That’s right – you’ll have to employ some stealth and sneak up on your enemy and put them out of their misery before they realize you were even there, making for some well-deserved bragging rights. Now that these dog tags are highly customized for your own play style, it helps make things that much more personal, so the only way to gain one is to get the jump on your opponent. Yes, these dog tags may demand a bit more than usual to collect them, but that just makes it a greater insult when you take one from your foe.

These knife kills look amazing and provide a great new way to prove your prowess on the Battlefield, and thanks to the new ANT animation system, these takedowns add a dynamic visual flair. “ANT technology allows us to make the knife takedown a truly immersive part of the physical Battlefield,” Kertz adds. “Takedowns encourage players to get in there for stealth kills, and makes bringing a knife to a gun fight the risky but rewarding experience it was always meant to be.”

I'm going to admit it, they stole this flashing your id in peoples faces from another shooter. This is pretty cool how it tracks your stats to go hand in hand with the design, but knowing EA's servers it will be fucking broke half the time.

[retroed]

Played a bunch of MW2 and BF1943 tonight. We had loads more fun on 1943. Suffice to say, Battlefield 3 preorders are in, and MW3 may only be a rental at this point. I'll probably end up having both, but think I'll play Battlefield more online.

[Sly Reflex]

I fucking love you Ed.

Also, I fucking love DICE. ♥

[Sly Reflex]

http://blogs.battlefield.ea.com/battlefield_bad_company/archive/2011/08/01/former-sas-operator-andy-mcnab-expands-the-bf3-storyline-in-battlefield-3-the-russian.aspx

We are very happy to announce the upcoming novel Battlefield 3: The Russian. Set to coincide with the Battlefield 3 launch on October 25, this novel is written by former SAS operator and Battlefield 3 consultant Andy McNab (co-authored with Peter Grimsdale).

In the game, the single-player storyline is revealed through a series of flashbacks as Marine Staff Sergeant Henry Blackburn races to prevent an attack on New York City by a deadly force known as the PLR. As Blackburn recalls key events leading up to the attack, players take control of several characters in heart-pounding missions across land, sea and air.

One of these characters is Dmitri “Dima” Mayakovsky, a legendary and pragmatic GRU operator in the twilight of his Special Forces career. Known as a “cleaner”, Dima is the sort of person that does whatever it takes to get the job done. The book picks up where the game leaves off, allowing McNab and Grimsdale to give a thrilling new perspective into Dima’s own personal quest as well as the events of Battlefield 3.

“It is impossible for any single medium to fully capture the emotion and intensity of war. The Battlefield 3: The Russian novel is one window into the experience, and the game is another. They complement each other perfectly,” said Andy McNab. “Working with DICE has been a fantastic ride. Battlefield 3 is going to surprise people this autumn. The story, the characters, the world and the intense action come together to create a resonant, memorable experience.”

McNab is also working with the team at DICE to ensure the authenticity and grittiness of today’s warfare is experienced in the single player, co-op and multiplayer campaigns. Below, you can see him in action as he directs our motion capture actors to move and behave like bona fide soldiers in Battlefield 3.

In 1984 McNab was 'badged' as a member of 22 SAS Regiment and was involved in both covert and overt special operations worldwide. During the Gulf War he commanded Bravo Two Zero, a patrol that, in the words of his commanding officer, 'will remain in regimental history for ever'. Awarded both the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) and Military Medal (MM) during his military career, McNab was the British Army's most highly decorated serving soldier when he finally left the SAS in February 1993. He wrote about his experiences in the bestseller Bravo Two Zero.

Meh.I bet the story to BF3 isn't all that great.

[Sly Reflex]

Shopto are knocking this out for £30 now. I just got an email from them saying so. They also said I was fucking awesome and that I bring honour upon my family. Good ol' Shopto.

[hinn888]

Hmm Single player was interesting me the most.

[TopGunKnacker]

^ sarcasm surely. if bad company is anything to go off, theyve got their work cut out for them. but fuck that shit anyway, i want to squad up and rush down

[retroed]

Shopto are knocking this out for £30 now. I just got an email from them saying so. They also said I was fucking awesome and that I bring honour upon my family. Good ol' Shopto.

I think you'll find it was an error, and that it's back to £36.85. I had the same email, and then a follow up.

[Sly Reflex]

Shopto are knocking this out for £30 now. I just got an email from them saying so. They also said I was fucking awesome and that I bring honour upon my family. Good ol' Shopto.

I think you'll find it was an error, and that it's back to £36.85. I had the same email, and then a follow up.

Doh! I had no follow through ticket. That's odd.

[Sly Reflex]

Holy fucking hell!

http://blogs.battlefield.ea.com/battlefield_bad_company/archive/2011/08/05/bb.aspx

Battleblog #5: Years worth of unlocks and rewards in Battlefield 3

Battlefield 3 will be the deepest shooter in DICE history. Read on for the full story on how we will reward skill and dedication, and how our flexible unlock and customization system allows you to tailor the game for your personal play style.

“Battlefield players are among the most loyal out there. Our games are literally played for years by our hardcore fans, and we want to actively support that. There should always be something left to achieve in Battlefield 3.”

Valerian Noghin and Fredrik Thylander are Persistence Designers on Battlefield 3. They’re the guys making sure you will have as much fun with the game in 2013 as on launch day.

Back in 2005, Battlefield 2 was one of the first shooters to introduce a deep persistence system to add that extra layer of tasty rewards and unlocks to keep players returning to the battlefield for hundreds of hours. With Battlefield 3, we are pulling all the stops. Compared to Battlefield: Bad Company 2, Battlefield 3 will have more than 10 times the hardware unlocks spread over weapons, weapons attachments, gadgets, and a huge unlock tree for vehicles alone.

Skill and dedication equal rewards

On top of these ingame hardware items, players will also be richly rewarded with medals, ribbons and service stars displaying their skill, commitment, and teamplay prowess. You will be rewarded handsomely in Battlefield 3 for exemplary skill, such as capturing X amount of bases in one round. Excellent teamplayers who keep the team’s vehicles in mint condition and revive fallen comrades will not go unnoticed either. These type of skill-driven rewards are typically handed out in the form of ribbons, and good players can often get more than one ribbon in a single round.

From top left to bottom right: Assault Rifle Ribbon (7 assault rifle kills in a round), Nemesis Ribbon (2 nemesis kills), MVP Ribbon (be the best player in a round), Ace Squad Ribbon (be part of the best squad in a round), Medical Efficiency Ribbon (5 revives in a round), and finally the Air Warfare Ribbon (6 air kills in a round).

Winning a round for the team should always be the priority, so we are making sure that even when players are chasing their personal achievements, they are contributing to the overall battle. You will also be rewarded for true dedication and commitment, such as playing x amount of hours as a U.S. soldier. These honors come in the form of the much harder to get medals. They are typically given at specific milestones in your career.

There are a large number of ranks in Battlefield 3, similar to Battlefield: Bad Company 2. Your rank badge is a quick measure of your overall progress in the game. And even if you hit the max rank, there is always more glory to strive for with the new concept of Service Stars that we are introducing in Battlefield 3.

Service Stars challenge the hardcore

Even getting your first Service Star would be a major achievement. But keep playing, and you will be eligible for even further promotion by getting Service Stars added to your weapon skill badge, your vehicle, your kit, and your overall rank. Anytime your kill card is displayed, everyone will see exactly how experienced you are with your current equipment. The ultimate bragging right would be for a player to be awarded the rank of Colonel with 100 Service Stars attached, and to have 100 stars in all weapons, kits, and vehicles. Getting there will be a massive task – consider that a challenge!

The design philosophy behind the unlocks in Battlefield 3 is pretty sweet. We basically give you more hardware to play with for doing what you love to do. Case in point: Using gun X will give you more upgrades specifically for that gun. Playing with a kit and vehicle earns more upgrades for that kit and that vehicle. In addition, all XP gained also goes towards your overall rank, which in turn unlocks new weapons, specializations, and camouflages usable by any class.

From left to right: Maintenance Medal (obtain the Maintenance Ribbon 50 times), Marksman Medal (obtain the Marksman Ribbon 50 times), and the U.S. Army Service Medal (spend 100 hours in the U.S. Army.)

Play Battlefield 3 your way

The mantra we keep coming back to when designing Battlefield 3 is “play it your way”. What that means is there’s an unprecedented flexibility in how you tailor your kits. The playable classes are not rigidly defined in what they are supposed to play like. While all four classes in Battlefield 3 (Assault, Engineer, Support, Recon) start out with everything they need to be an efficient soldier in the field, it is totally up to you and your personal preferences how you want to tailor them.

Take the Assault class, for example. As you may know by now, this is now the class that has the ability to equip both a defibrillator and medkit for frontline medic abilities. But if you would prefer to switch your add-ons to, say, an underslung grenade launcher with 40mm grenades, go ahead! That will give you an Assault soldier with a more offensive set of capabilities than the player who opts for the default medic approach.

Tactical unlocks force you to choose the right loadout for you

That’s the way all of the unlocks and upgrades work. They are specifically designed to be tactical in nature, forcing you to choose loadout based on the map and situation. Do you go for the heavy barrel for your assault rifle? It gives added accuracy for single shots, but at the cost of stronger recoil in burst fire/full auto mode. A standard assault rifle can be modified into a long range accurate weapon or for close quarter, almost SMG-like, combat. For jets, do you go with Maverick ATG missiles to take out tanks or AA missiles to dogfight airborne threats? With your Engineer, do you bring your anti-tank or your anti-air RPG launcher?

In short, we think there has never been a better time to be a Battlefield gamer, no matter your play style.

Spend 100 hours in the U.S army? I've a feeling getting these ribbons and medals will take a hell of a lot longer than it took the usual player to grab them all in Bad Company 2.