**OFFICIAL** AT Battlefield 3 FAQ and News Thread

[Grooveriding]

I still don't like the Battlelog UI. It has potential but the server browser is still clunky and awkward. It could really use an improved layout and more fluid visual style.

Also, DICE just can't make a proper chat window in their games. The chat window is poorly positioned and hard to make out.

Other than that, great game! Bring on CB 64 player, please

 

[Bill Brasky]

I think it's hilarious that everyone hates prone now. At first I thought it was going to be terrible, but I've really gotten used to it. The beginning of the rush map lacks so much cover that there would be no way to get to the mcom without it.

The biggest game breaker at the moment is when players fall through the map. I was killed by a guy who literally only had his head sticking out of the sidewalk (and his gun of course). Then there are times when I'm trying to just crouch, and I'll slowly fall through the map. Doesn't seem to happen at all when the bipod is deployed though.

 

[GoodRevrnd]

The thing that is going to make or break my purchase is if I can play conquest before it comes out, because I can not give the game a true fair shake with rush cause I really don't like rush, I like my god damn vehicles, big maps, and multiple places to attack/defend at once.

Prune is old already, saw a bunch of people on the servers I was going through bitching about it too. It didn't matter where the hell you went there was some motherfucker laying on the ground and still when you and someone else see each other the first thing I see them do 70% of the time is prune right that second lol

Prune is a map problem here and nothing more. On Caspian there will be about 800,000,000 ways to flank around people and with wider open spaces it will be MUCH less of an issue. Removing the LAV also removes the hard counter to all the prune campers. It gave a mobile spawn point to help get around them and all you had to do was see a muzzle flash and lay waste to them.

 

[VulgarDisplay]

Prone isn't the reason you can't see people on the first part of metro. It's because they are glitched through the map 90% of the time. That and your screen is hopping up and down like you're riding a motorcycle over moguls. Once you're out of the first part of the map the game is great.

As for the server browser one simple thing would make it much better. #rightSidebar {position: fixed;}

I'm kinda excited to get some friends on battlelog and try out the voicechat stuff they have built in.

Game plays a lot like Medal of Honor and not at all like BC2. Medal of Honor that they actually spent time on. So far I'm loving it.

 

[novasatori]

there are so many weapon upgrades now it is crazy

I got an IR/NV scope for the M249 and it is just amazing in the tunnels, all the people are illuminated red, and a silencer for the M249...

it's awesome

 

[The Boston Dangler]

Oh that's the best part! You can only modify settings when you're alive. Not when you're dead, not between rounds, and certainly not from Battlelog. No. You need to open origin, then start BF3, then try to find a server in Battleclusterfsck, spawn, hide, and THEN play with settings. But hurry: if you get killed while doing this, the settings screen closes and you have to wait to spawn again and try again.

For fuck sakes, DICE... It sounds even more ridiculous when I say it aloud.

and that's why i'll never be a sucker and pre-order a game again

I would just say... relax. It's a beta.

i've never played a beta that wasn't 99-100% final. and given EA's history, final means final.

 

[Axon]

There are a lot of issues. I'm not as impressed as I thought I'd be.

 

[SLU Aequitas]

I'm still quite happy minus the ground bugs, which I fully expect to be gone. Prone's addition is awesome, and the additional upgrades p/weapon/kit/vehicle that people are actually bitching about means you actually have stuff to do after level 20. And nova, you mentioned the nightscope--it is very nice to play with, but it gets owned by laser sight/tactical light I'm digging all the new mods. Also, noob tube isn't a noob tube Actual gunplay is very fluid and the reduced bullets p/kill + hitbox detection is also a nice improvement over BC2/BF2.

The biggest negatives:
- Collision glitches (guys floating underground that can still kill you)
- Current squad implementation (re: no control whatsoever...really lame)

 

[Grooveriding]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iO2hrjKeMY0

Some people got a hold of the password for the CB servers, it was 'sexyelevator' has since been changed though. :/

 

[novasatori]

with the night scope when i see a laser or flash light i just point at it and shoot till it's dead

I am using it on the m249 so they are like a shoot me magnet

and I agree the only real technical problem is the ground deformations, and I believe that is what is causing the servers to crash

once they fix that, it should be pretty damn awesome

better squad control would be a bonus, but with the patch tonight on battlelog it seems like when you join a server as a party it tries to keep you on the same team/squad now, unlike early this morning

 

[SLU Aequitas]

I should also add my biggest gripe is the browser plugin for ESN Sonar--which is how DICE is doing Battlelog's voice chat. Simply put, for myself and a smaller number of other users (seems to be primarily Wx64 users), it doesn't install correctly. Whenever I try doing anything voice related, ESN gives a missing resources code 0002 error, asking for reinstall. Which I've done. 20 times. I want my party voice chat

EDIT: @ Nova

I stopped playing around 12:30AM EST and didn't try party joining since like 2 or 3PM, so I didn't know that. Joy Still should at the least have the ability to manually choose squads. I'm sure it'll be in final, but annoying for right now

Also, considering the middle two rush levels I generally like to play aggressively, the range is short enough that taclight blinds people then strafe usually gives me a kill. I still think there's not enough flanking options for the 3rd stage

 

[novasatori]

here is a funny video of the ground bug in case anyone doesn't know of it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDQIbwGkoxs

my friend said on voice comms that I was stuck, so I showed him I knew a way to get out

 

[Stuxnet]

I would just say... relax. It's a beta.

Termed "beta" or not, the game's release is less than a month from now. More importantly, many complaints have nothing to do with anything DICE intends to fix. We're not pissed off about bugs (for the most part). The interface presents an enormous obstacle, and most of that obstacle is by design (Battlelog).

Unless DICE has a serious change of heart, this is going to still be a problem a year from now, long after DICE can hide behind the terms "alpha" and "beta."

People extended a great deal of latitude and understanding for the alpha because it was an alpha. A beta is supposed to be production-ready software that may still need performance tuning. The DESIGN of this game isn't production-ready.

 

[novasatori]

also the servers seem more stable since the patch at midnight, I've been on the same one for like 6 hours now, but it causes huge problems with the terrain glitch, since the holes never get reset

 

[GullyFoyle]

Here is another video of Caspian Border game play, with some Helicopter flying.

Here is a message posted on the EA UK forums:

So I´ve seen the replies on the forums and I think you guys deserve the Caspian Border experience..

the password is: sexyelevator (yes I picked it).

Password will be changed again to something else at 18:00 CET.

According to my internet search, 18:00 CET is 12 Noon EST. So this should still be active? I saw other passwords floating around too...

==================================================

Apparently, if you right click on BF3 Beta in Origin and select Check for updates, it downloads another 3.9 GB file which is a slightly different version.
The new update creates a folder call "Battlefield 3 BETA", the original one was "Battlefield 3 Open Beta".

No official word from DICE on if this should or should not be used.

==================================================

 

[GullyFoyle]

 

[novasatori]

that password does work, all the caspian border servers are full though

some with 70+ player queues haha

 

[Capt Caveman]

Termed "beta" or not, the game's release is less than a month from now. More importantly, many complaints have nothing to do with anything DICE intends to fix. We're not pissed off about bugs (for the most part). The interface presents an enormous obstacle, and most of that obstacle is by design (Battlelog).

Unless DICE has a serious change of heart, this is going to still be a problem a year from now, long after DICE can hide behind the terms "alpha" and "beta."

People extended a great deal of latitude and understanding for the alpha because it was an alpha. A beta is supposed to be production-ready software that may still need performance tuning. The DESIGN of this game isn't production-ready.

Please stop with the FUD. Operation Metro is more than likely an old beta build, the open beta isn't even scheduled for another day.

 

[smackababy]

I played a bit and kept getting DC and when I wasn't DC'd I was getting killed by assholes glitched in the map. I did see something cool though: someone had a laser sight and when they pointed it at my face all I could see was the laser in my eyes. Sure, I died, but at least it was interesting.

 

[novasatori]

they just brought up a ton of caspian border servers and that password works, playing it now

 

[GullyFoyle]

Please stop with the FUD. Operation Metro is more than likely an old beta build, the open beta isn't even scheduled for another day.

Typo? The closed beta is scheduled for another day. The open beta starts tomorrow, and runs until October 10th.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Typo? The closed beta is scheduled for another day. The open beta starts tomorrow, and runs until October 10th.

Semi. I should have said the open beta doesn't start for another day.

 

[Stuxnet]

Please stop with the FUD.

Sorry, with no U, the F and D are completely justified.

I have no doubt the keybinding issue will be fixed in the final build (though it's still pretty laughable that they released the beta without it working), but Battlelog is here to stay, and that blows. The concept is cool, but a multiplayer PC game requires an integrated server browser to streamline the experience.

Battlefield 3 is the opposite of streamlined.

the open beta isn't even scheduled for another day.

I'm not sure what that has to do with anything, unless you're saying you expect a fresh build with an integrated server browser, fixed prone/glitching, and a usable keybinding utility on 9/29.

I really REALLY wanted to like this game. The gameplay itself is fine from what little I've played, but unfortunately it's all overshadowed because the software is such a PITA to use.

 

[chavo12345]

caspian border is AMAZINGGG!!!

You can get into a server using the following password:

sexyelevator

I got lucky and got into one!

original thread where i found the password http://forums.electronicarts.co.uk/battlefield-3/1431035-baspian-corder-password-leaked.html, it was leaked by the community manager, if you don't believe me, then just look at the conquest servers, they are FULL! You have to be quick guys

 

[leeland]

I am enjoying it so far...

As far as all the people who are complaining about the prone...I didn't have that big of a problem with it...as long as I as proceeding with caution I wasn't getting wasted...

Reminds me of a dumbed down version of RO2...where you just can't bolt from one side to another.


The biggest issues I have had is graphical glitches (screen flickers when moving mouse up and to the right).

About a half dozen times when I was killed or about to be killed I had my screen drop from full screen to a window (with a 15 second black screen pause).

the tactical flashlight, red dot and sniper scope glint were all way over done...

I was still trying to figure out bullet drop and of the couple of head shots I got on people running at distance I didn't think I should have gotten them how I did...I felt like I had shot behind them and still registered a head shot.