Battlefield: Bad Company Official Thread...

[heybtbm]

It may seem like we already have tons of excellent modern FPS's out there right now, but the potential FPS game of the year is coming soon...

Beta info:
http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/859/859204p1.html

In short: You must be an IGN Insider member and have an XBL Gold membership to receive a beta key. The beta starts March 25th and is for Xbox 360 only.

EDIT: You can also get the beta key with a preorder at Gamestop...

http://www.gamestop.com/gs/swoffers/default.asp

[segagamer4life]

yeah I ended up pre-ordering, even though I was going to rent the game, but the beta is too sweet to pass up, hopefully I get in... oh well!

[segagamer4life]

anyone try the gamestop way, and get a key? Just curious.

[YoshiM]

What frickin' requirements are they looking for the IGN beta test? I've filled it out honestly and I got dissed.

[heybtbm]

What frickin' requirements are they looking for the IGN beta test? I've filled it out honestly and I got dissed.

From what I've read on various message boards today, IGN is looking for people with online FPS experience and that have played in previous beta tests. It's all pretty silly if you think about it since people can fill out anything on the sign-up form.

You can actually download the demo right now, but the servers aren't online until the 25th. All you can access at this point are the in-game menus and check on the "awards" for future online play. This game really looks promising. I can't wait for the 25th.

[consolecrusader]

I got my email from IGN today, I got my KEY ready to go for March 25th!

[YoshiM]

From what I've read on various message boards today, IGN is looking for people with online FPS experience and that have played in previous beta tests. It's all pretty silly if you think about it since people can fill out anything on the sign-up form.

You can actually download the demo right now, but the servers aren't online until the 25th. All you can access at this point are the in-game menus and check on the "awards" for future online play. This game really looks promising. I can't wait for the 25th.

My problem was my cache still had the "Beta Denied" page, even after I totally fibbed. Opened up another browser, white lied a bit with the Battlefield series experience (I never *owned* the games but I played the Battlefield 2 demo to death on Xbox and I read about Battlefield 1942 and the future one :) ) and I was able to get in. I did do beta tests before but not on FPS games (Diablo II, The Realm and Asheron's Call).

So we'll see how this rolls on the 25th.

[heybtbm]

EA has clarified the "pay for play" weapons. Link:http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/861/861449p1.html

In short it appears that half of the weapons are going to be used as pre-order promotional incentives and will be available to everyone else for free after the game launches. The other weapons will be included in the "Gold Edition" (i.e. the $69.99 version). People buying the regular edition will have to pay extra if they want those weapons.

[geneshifter]

I hope they separate the regular and gold editions online otherwise this is going to suck :(

[heybtbm]

The beta is incredible. After reading about the difficulty that people had trying to get into a game, I was worried. Fortunately for me, the process only took 3-5 minutes and I was in a game.

The multiplayer component is solid, Battlefield-style goodness. I've played the 360 version of Battlefield 2: Modern Combat for 400+ hours and the PS2 version for 30+ hours. Upon starting the game, I felt immediately at home with the gameplay and controls. You can tell from the improvements how much of an influence Call of Duty 4 has had on the online FPS genre. R6:Vegas 2, Frontlines and now Battlefield have sprint buttons. I honestly don't know if I could play an online FPS anymore without it.

The beta runs smooth and lag free with a 12 vs. 12 matchup system. The weapon kits are balanced and similar to the standard "Battlefield Five"...Assault, Spec Ops, Sniper, Engineer, and Support. Overall it's a great first impression. I'm really looking forward to its release this June.

[YoshiM]

I gave it a run for about an hour last night. It took me a bit to rewire my brain as I'm so used to COD4 but after a while I was doing ok. I'm so not used to large open maps anymore. I do miss using the D-Pad ala COD to select my equipment.

The game itself plays pretty well. Yeah there's some graphical glitches (weird swirling particles, some nasty draw in, etc) but it's a beta. Vehicles handle pretty well but didn't BF-2, at least in the Xbox version, have acceleration mapped differently? I never played the 360 version so I can't comment. To accelerate with the left trigger and then stop/back up with the left bumper somehow feels weird. I haven't had the pleasure of flying yet.

So far I only have two things I see off the bat that need work. First is fall distance. I'm climbing down a ladder and when I touch down I take damage. I thought I climbed all the way down but I guess I fell off but the distance was only like 2 feet. Unless mercs have calcium deficiency this should be fixed. Also the indicator detecting where you're getting shot doesn't seem to register hits properly. I've been shot in the side while driving a tank so I stopped to look and no one was there but they were behind me and no it wasn't them shooting and moving. I'm wondering if it's a physics thing where a bullet shot from behind grazes the side and it shows up as a side hit. Who knows.

Off topic a bit, does anyone know if BF2 is still played on the 360?

[consolecrusader]

Hmmm I dunno right now for me if any game beats out COD4....I am just so use to it. As long as the COD4 community stays strong I won't switch to another FPS. I do have a beta key for this but I sold it on eBay before they could take the listing down. I guess I check it out rental wise once the game comes out.

Can you create your own class like in COD4?

[YoshiM]

Can you create your own class like in COD4?

Thus far, no.

[segagamer4life]

I have to say I agree with the positive feedack here, the game is solid, and lag free thus far, and the destructable environments.... sweeeet!!! this game could use the option of going prone, of which right now you can only crouch, but I doubt they won't fix that in the final version. Other than that, the game is a good COD4/Frontlines mix. Is it better than COD4, probably not, but it is too early to tell.

[heybtbm]

It's official, there will be no "pay for play" weapons in the final product. EA got cold feet after learning of the negative response.

In the regular edition, the weapons will be unlocked after completing certain "milestones". The $69.99 "Gold Edition" will come with these weapons unlocked from the start.

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6189011.html

[heybtbm]

The new single player/multiplayer demo is up for everyone to download on XBL. Apparently the PSN version was up for a short while yesterday and later taken down.

I played the multiplayer last night for two hours and had an unbelievable amount of fun. Let's be honest...COD4 is the king of online FPS's, but Battlefield BC will definitely hold its own. I've always preferred the "conquest" style game modes with online FPS's. Huge maps with vehicles/multiple weapons hold my interest much longer than the Halo-esque, "turn a corner, bump into your enemy" style of FPS.

I've been yearning for a new take on this kind of FPS experience for a long time (sorry Frontlines: FOW). COD4's version of Battlefield's gameplay, "Domination" is fun, but nowhere near as refined as this game's "gold rush" and BF standby "conquest" modes.

In a cool addition, playing the demo and ranking up to level 4 actually rewards you with something in the real version of BF:BC. It's one of the previous "pay for play" weapons (an UZI) that are now all free. It's going to be the only way to get the weapon for the time being, so all interested parties should download the demo and get playing.

[Ed Oscuro]

heybtbm: Can't see a word of that when you specify white color in the SubSilver profile.

Anyhow, I suppose I could play the 360 version, but I'd probably rather go with the next PC version of the game (aside from Heroes which I'll also be checking out).

I need to track down Modern Combat and try that out sometime as well, if only in single player.

[geneshifter]

heybtbm: Can't see a word of that when you specify white color in the SubSilver profile.

Anyhow, I suppose I could play the 360 version, but I'd probably rather go with the next PC version of the game (aside from Heroes which I'll also be checking out).

I need to track down Modern Combat and try that out sometime as well, if only in single player.

No, you don't want to play MC on the 360 if you come from playing the PC versions. Trust me, I know first hand. This new BF game on the 360 is much more like the PC version of BF2 than anything. Plays much much much better than MC.

[heybtbm]

heybtbm: Can't see a word of that when you specify white color in the SubSilver profile.

Sorry about that. I thought it was set on the "default" font color.

[Ed Oscuro]

No, you don't want to play MC on the 360 if you come from playing the PC versions. Trust me, I know first hand. This new BF game on the 360 is much more like the PC version of BF2 than anything. Plays much much much better than MC.
I like variety in gaming. I played BF2, Special Forces, and 2142 to death on PC (and did decently), and I've always wanted to fool around with the soldier-switching feature for a change.

Modern Combat's gotten cheap enough that I won't feel particularly ripped off even if the single-player is as shallow as the PC games' (and that I know it isn't).

[geneshifter]

I like variety in gaming. I played BF2, Special Forces, and 2142 to death on PC (and did decently), and I've always wanted to fool around with the soldier-switching feature for a change.

Modern Combat's gotten cheap enough that I won't feel particularly ripped off even if the single-player is as shallow as the PC games' (and that I know it isn't).

Yeah, well, go ahead and try it. If you like a really slow BF, you will love this, lol.

[swlovinist]

I love this demo, and think that it will appeal to a mix of people who are burnt out on COD4, some possible Ghost Recon Fans, and probably a good mix of BF fans.

Looks like there is a new kid in town to mix it up :)

I think that this has a chance to at least knock Halo 3 off from the #2 spot.

[YoshiM]

I haven't downloaded the demo yet-been too busy playing some of the XBLA games I haven't gotten around to before :) .

Hopefully they fixed some of the issues I ran into with the beta. The 5 foot fall damage comes to mind.

[swlovinist]

I downloaded the 360 version and the PS3 version. The PS3 version took way longer to download and install, but other than that not a huge difference. I will play them more today to see if I can tell anything major apart. I think that this might be the next big multiplayer game on the next gen systems.

[heybtbm]

Heads up. The game hits stores @ 2pm tomorrow.

[unwinddesign]

I decided to read up on this for some reason...holy shit. I can't believe I almost passed up this game. I bought it after reading that the environments are destructible. Fully. Ever since Red Faction 2, I've been wanting a game that offers that feature...but better. FPSs are all the same shit these days. This one looks so f'in good it's unbelievable. It's really a shame that it's not been better promoted, even being an EA game; I hope to god this sells well, so that we get some more innovation. COD 4 was a nice break away from those shitty WW2 Call of Duty games, and looks to be influencing the genre, so here's to more change...

I'm more of a Halo 3 person than COD 4, but this game might tear me away from Halo...lord knows I've gotten sick of the glitches and fucked up deaths in Bungie's game.

[heybtbm]

I managed to play through 12 or so matches last night. Unbelievably fun. The servers are lag free...which is a first for an online FPS on release day. EA/DICE really planned this one perfectly.

The destructible environments completely change standard FPS tactics. Let me speak from experience...hiding inside buildings for cover is a bad idea in this game. Of course, not all the structures are destructible. Metal-type objects still provide good cover (dumpsters, metal pipes, steel beams,etc.). Also, destructible buildings don't completely collapse. There is still a solid framework as well as stairs that never seem to get destroyed. Think, "predetermined destructibility" more so than anything spontaneous.

The influence of COD4 is obvious. The new sprinting and aiming features as well as the numerous awards, patches, mini-achievements seem directly inspired by it. One thing that is still distinctly Battlefield are the huge maps and multiple vehicles.

The only online gameplay mode right now is "Gold Rush". It consists of Attackers and Defenders. Each defending team must defend two gold crates (hidden inside various buildings). After the Attackers destroy those two crates, two more crates appear further back on the map and the Defenders are pushed back to defend the two new crates. It's a lot of fun, but the real Battlefield game mode is yet to come. The famous "Conquest" mode (two teams capturing points on the map and trying to hold them) that has been a staple in every Battlefield game before will be available via a free download later this Summer.

[FrakAttack]

Can't stop playing the demo. Definitely picking this one up on payday.

[TallMike]

I was enjoying the game a lot myself, at first I wasn't really into it, but I gave it another go and now I can't stop playing the demo. I'll try to pick it up today maybe. It's going to be a must buy for fans of all the battlefield games.

[heybtbm]

FYI: The traditional Battlefield online mode is back. "Conquest" is now available to download for FREE via XBL or PSN.

Damn this game is a lot of fun online. I already have put in more hours of Bad Company online than COD4....and I bought both on their respective launch days.

10,002 kills...here I come!