Battlefield 3 Open Beta Attack Helicopter Gameplay
Looks like the chopper is pretty effective with a good team at the helm. Most armor seems to go down in one pass.
Shout out: The video made me think of Bunnyfubbles, and his BFBC2 Vietnam chopper runs. You in on BF3?
For the 3D spotting, I take it as long as someone has eyes on the spotted enemy, the marker will stay for everyone.
These LAN 6 reports are certainly encouraging.
I thought Demize promised that it would be relative to whether there is cover between each individual person and the spotted, not between the spotter and spotted. And either way, that's how it should be, if I spot someone and you can see them through cover, that's called a team-triggered wallhack and is exactly like BC2.
Demize99 said:So, a soldier in direct Line of Sight that is spotted will have a 3d red marker. If he moves behind cover or concealment, including vegetation, the 3d red marker will disappear. He will always be on the minimap. Vehicles are always fully 3D spotted, and LOS does not apply since they are larger more important targets with less threats (and it plain did not work to have jets flying around who couldn't see the tank you spotted for him to take out).
This lets you essentially "nudge" your buddy to tell him about a target, or point out a sniper on a hill you see but cannot engage (with your shotgun for example). But it prevents players from using 3D spotting as a wall hack.
Additionally, the primary motivator for the change is that 3D spots that you cannot see are not threats. We noticed that players would focus on 3D spots over everything else, meaning they would ignore people in line of sight. It's far less confusing when the 3D spot on a soldier can only be seen if you can see the soldier.
OK, here it is:
So, people out of the line of sight will NEVER see the 3D spot, just the mini-map one.
That's fine, minimap spots are more like the spotter telling you roughly where they are, you still have to find them with your own eyes.
However, the autospot, ie when you fire your weapon you flash on the minimap, that's too much...
Too much for... what?
Bttlefield 3 Multiplayer: Map By Map Guide
Dave Cook
Battlefield 3s Maps and modes rated.
Published on Oct 10, 2011
Battlefield 3s large-scale multiplayer battles offer a very different prospect to Modern Warfare 3s lone wolf approach. Weve now spent a considerable amount of time playing every map and mode onthe Battlefield 3 disc, and while the style of play is different to Call of Dutys, the jury is still out on whether or not its necessarily better.
Its a personal choice really, as both games do things very differently. However, right now were here to talk purely about Battlefield 3, and the wealth of multiplayer goodness it offers.
Lets just say that the Operation Metro and Caspian Border beta maps only offer a mere taster of what to expect come 28th October.
Please note, the only map we werent able to play was Kharg Island, which was unfortunately unavailable at the preview event we attended.
Caspian Border
Chances are if youre a PC gamer, then youve already played this sprawling map to death. Its quite simply one of the biggest multiplayer maps weve ever played in an FPS, or any genre for that matter. It also has jets, which instantly makes it awesome.
We played this map on Conquest mode, and it comes complete with four territorial points to capture. If youre not very good at piloting Battlefields gallery of vehicles, then you will need to learn to get the best out of this map.
Walking on foot will take you an age, and you will more than likely be blown to pieces by long-distance tank artillery, snipers or jet bombing runs.
Its a lush map too; complete with rolling fields, visibility-hampering tree lines and the odd farm or warehouse dotted around to break up the open areas.
When defending on Conquest, we really had to be cautious about attackers, as the wide-open areas meant the opposing team could rush us from any direction. More than ever, teamwork was essential here, as simply hanging back and defending the first few points wasnt good enough.
Using jets to ferry our squad behind enemy lines, we attempted to kill the other team on their own turf and to disrupt their ranks. In the meantime, the rest of our squad held back to defend any points we had already captured.
Its huge, and it really does feel like youre fighting a war on two fronts, although Capsian Border definitely underlines the need for 64-player matches on consoles.
Our maximum lobby size on PS3 was 24-player, and this left the map feeling a tad barren and desolate, which is unfortunate as its a brilliant environment to play in.
Grand Bazaar
This Middle Eastern market is one of Battlefield 3s smaller maps, and we played it in both Rush and Team Deathmatch modes. The tight streets, and surrounding apartment buildings smack of an attempt to emulate Call of Duty. When you think Battlefield, you definitely dont think of environments like this.
Again, it was a well-crafted map, but it felt almost alien to the franchise. Team Deathmatch mode also baffled with erratic spawns and the occasional spawn death, with campers lying prone next to our teams respawn point.
However, the rule of thumb for Battlefield 3 seems to be objective-based modes, and its here that Grand Bazaar becomes awesome. Playing in Rush mode, the map becomes a tense, claustrophobic killing floor, where you really need to coordinate and watch your environment carefully.
Every open window could house a sniper waiting to kill you in an instant, packs of foes could be around any corner, and there is a real sense of urgency when both teams are contesting an M-COM station. Our advice is to skip team deathmatch and head straight to Rush.
Grand Bazaar is interesting in that its a small, tight map that is favoured by snipers, thanks to the plethora of high vantage points and apartment buildings dotted around one side of the environment.
We also kept on getting a brief flash of red light when being targeted by laser-targeted sniper rifles. This is a neat addition to the mix, as it gives you a brief second to hit the deck or strafe to the side when being targeted by Recon class soldiers, and it balanced long-ranged play perfectly.
As a Team Deathmatch map, Grand Bazaar feels weak compared to almost any Call of Duty map, but in Rush mode it feels like a real step up for the Battlefield series. Just remember to be wary of snipers to avoid being picked off unexpectedly.
Operation Firestorm
Possibly a contender for best map in the game, Operation Firestorm takes place in the blazing heat of a burning desert oil field, leading up to a petroleum warehouse at the top of a sun bleached hill.
This is one of the few maps that boast jets too, but as we found as we nose-dived our plane into the ground after just a few seconds, becoming a good pilot will take some practice.
We played this map on Conquest, and its a match made in heaven. All three points can be found among the petroleum warehouses, and because both teams get to pilot tanks, jeeps and jets from each spawn point, the centre of the map quickly becomes a hotbed of activity.
You can approach each Conquest point as you see fit. You can roll tanks up the hill and dominate the road running through the complex, or you can climb a ladder up to the factory rooftops and provide sniper support from up high.
Operation Firestorm is one of those sweet maps that reward teamwork, and demands a strong mix of classes. The thrill of running between Conquest points as jets duke it out overhead is exhilarating, and delivers a consistent pace throughout each match.
Operation Metro
If youve played the Battlefield 3 beta, then you already know all about Operation Metro. Its an odd map in that it starts out in a wide park area, which then bottlenecks into the Metro underground before opening up into the Paris streets at the end.
Changing up your tactics to suit each new area is vital, especially as you enter the tight, constricted corridors of the Metro itself. On Team Deathmatch mode, this is once again something of a lame duck, paling in comparison to the Call of Duty style of play. But on Rush, its excellent.
The ranged battles of the park are neat, as players are forced to use low wall and ridges as cover, while inching towards M-COM stations to avoid long-range fire. However, the lack of vehicles in this area, along with a restricted amount of players makes this area feel a touch underwhelming.
The interiors demand intelligent movement however, as you really need to be cautious when navigating around corners and avoid sprinting blindly where possible. Destruction-wise, its incredibly underwhelming, and is by far one of the least impressive maps on the disc.
Tehran Highway
This is thin urban map with two highways that stretch from north to south. There is the occasional overpass, back alley and apartment block thrown in for good measure as well.
This is one of those great Battlefield maps that reward whichever team manages to hold a tank longest, as it can be used to patrol the streets and blast any stray troops running around.
Running on foot, we had to use the backstreets to move forward, as running on the open roads will either get you killed by sniper fore or blown to smithereens under tank strikes. As a result, tight exchanges down thin alleys were common.
Its also a night map, so using thermal scopes and spotting enemies regularly will help pick them out for long-ranged kills. It seemed that as soon as we started to capture an M-COM station, this alerted the other team, and in seconds, their tank was upon us.
Tehran Highway is a constant cat and mouse game between troops on the ground, snipers up high and that bloody tank. Just make sure you either get to the tank first, or use RPG rounds to see it packing as soon as possible. Its simply another great tactical map.
Noshahr Canals
Similar to the third Rush stage of Battlefield: Bad Company 2s Nelson Bay map, Noshahr Canals features a string of dockyards surrounded by stretches of water.
Running around the maze of freight containers was tense, thanks to the threat of sniper shots from cranes above, and the lack of vehicles meant that both sides were evenly matched.
To get to Rush or Conquest objectives quickly, we had two choices. We could either take the long way to each point, by navigating the dockyards, or we could simply swim between points at speed. The problem with taking to the water is that youre a sitting duck should anyone spot you.
Noshahr Canal is another Battlefield 3 map that has underwhelming destruction, and looks really bland compared to the lush veneer of Caspian Border. Weve actually lost count of how many FPS games feature maps littered with freight containers and bland, grey concrete structures.
Its not a bad map as such, but its far removed from the wide-open spaces and grand scale encounters the Battlefield series is known for. Just be careful not to swim around for too long, or youll sink like a rock and look really foolish. Not that we did that at any point of course.
Damavand Peak
Oh yes, this map is an absolute beauty. Damavand Peak is massive, and while it doesnt have any jets, the chopper gameplay here is outstanding. We played this map on Rush mode, and while defending, found it to be a manic and never-ending barrage of action.
The map is full of mountainous facilities, sheer drops and tunnels carved through the peak, and its also one of few maps that fully shows off the Frostbite 2 engine. You can blow holes in the side of facilities, level defensive walls and nosedive choppers into the environment to your advantage.
The first point is stunning, as the defenders must protect the first mountain facility from attackers coming over the ridge. This means plenty of sniper fire and sneak attacks through the thick tree line around the area. Sitting there, waiting for enemies to come is tense and exciting.
Even better is the second point, as attackers must base jump off the mountain facility or take a chopper, which is less fun and descend down onto the second facility below. The defenders have to really keep their eyes skyward here, in order to catch any sneaky buggers trying to infiltrate the base undetected.
Point three is even better, forcing the defenders into the bottleneck of a dank tunnel that leads through the rock face. There are plenty of corridors in there, as well as low cover and dump trucks to hide behind. This is also when attackers get a tank too, so the defence really has to be careful no to lose out at the final stretch.
Damavand Peak is a masterclass in map design, so its a bloody shame that too few of Battlefield 3s environments can match the scope, enjoyment and intensity of whats on offer here. We can already see this becoming a true fan favourite once the game launches.
Seine Crossing
Finally, we played a few rounds of Seine Crossing on both Rush and Team Deathmatch. Its another small urban map that recalls Call of Duty in terms of scope and design. We found quite quickly that the spawn points were constantly being camped, and that we were being killed right out of the gate without warning.
There are also far too many tight streets that make for uninspired exchanges from one end to the other. Again, Rush mode makes things more tactical, but there is a real sense of déjà vu here, as you fight down the Parisian streets, using cars and the occasional freight container as cover.
With a lack of vehicles, this feels like another wasted chance from DICE. The scope and true warfare vibe of the series feels lost on this map, and you really do pine for something bigger and more inspiring. Thats not to say the developer wont be expanded for other modes by way of DLC, but for now, it feels all too familiar.
Summary
The lesson here is that Team Deathmatch modes feel foreign to the Battlefield series, as each match falls closer to Call of Duty than previous instalments. Playing objective-based modes is infinitely more enjoyable than simply running around trying to farm kills, and it also stays true to the series legacy.
When Battlefield 3 delivers large maps with tons of vehicles and increased player count, it radiates quality. Caspian Border, Damavand Peak and Operation Firestorm are absolutely brilliant locations, and are easily three of the best Battlefield maps ever created.
Its just a shame that the other offerings feel small and restricted by comparison. It will be interesting to see if DICE delivers more large maps after launch, or create expanded versions of the smaller locales, as this would seriously help flesh out the map selection.
For now though, we feel slightly deflated by whats on offer, and concerned that DICE has tried to hard to coax the Call of Duty crowd away by trying to copy its smaller, urban maps. Battlefield 3s multiplayer still plays well, but its not the grand your of duty we were anticipating.
@crash7800
Ian Tornay
Official word: Firing a weapon without a suppressor in #BF3 will ---NOT--- mark you on the mini-map. Only spotting flags players.
@crash7800
Ian Tornay
To clarify - You will appear on the map for a short time (twitter.com/#!/Thylander/s…, but you will not be flagged/spotted
Monday, 17 October, 2011 at 15:46 PST | ^Scott^ | Print News
The Battlefield Blog posted a graphic with some stats on the Battlefield 3 open beta. Over 8 million people played in the multi-platform beta, which ran September 29th through October 10th.
The Battlefield 3 Open Beta has come and gone. We wanted to thank you all for participating by sharing a few interesting stats.
Did you know that if we had an empty 9mm casing for every shot fired in the Open Beta, we would have enough brass to melt and build almost 3,900 SU-27 Flanker jets? Okay, Flankers are not made out of brass, but still. For more stats and figures, check out the pic below. And thanks again for playing and helping make Battlefield 3 a better game at launch!
- Multiplayer Map Breakdown - Strategy Informer
- DICE: Despite Beta Concerns it's "Mission Accomplished" - IGN
- The Controller - Battlefield 3 Series Trailer (Competition reality show)
- Firing a weapon without a silencer + mini-map clarification
- Lengthy Impressions of BF3 from GeForce LAN
- GameStop Midnight Release Locations
- Best Buy Midnight Release Locations
- Video Interview w/ Andy McNab - Author of "Battlefield 3: The Russian"
- Mass Effect Meets Battlefield 3
- Curse visits BF3 @ GeForce LAN
Raptr is holding a Battlefield vs Call of Duty promotion where they will be building a giving away a custom built PC along with other prizes.
Raptr LAUNCHES Battlefield vs. Call of duty SHOWDOWN PROMOTION TO DETERMINE WHICH FRANCHISE REIGNS SUPREME
Raptr to Compile Data Based on Community Activity and Provide the Ultimate Incentive
to Participate A Custom PC Gaming Rig Based on the Winning Franchise
MOUNTAIN VIEW, California Oct. 17, 2011 - Raptr, the leading social network for gamers, today announced the Battlefield vs. Call of Duty Showdown to determine which leading videogame franchise dominates the first-person shooter category. Based on community voting, playtime hours and achievements, Raptr will compile the definitive breakdown of consumer opinion and gameplay activity. In addition, Raptr has partnered with an award-winning PC modder, Brian Carter, to build and give away the ultimate PC gaming rig (estimated value of nearly $5,000), based on which franchise reigns supreme. Raptr users can earn additional prizes for logging gameplay hours and unlocking achievements.
In the first phase of the Battlefield vs. Call of Duty Showdown promotion, fans of both game franchises will have the chance to vote on which influential first-person shooter franchise is superior, based on multiple categories.
To enter, players must sign up or log onto their Raptr accounts and visit the event page at http://raptr.com/topic/bfvscod/. Beginning Oct. 17, 2011, Raptr will post a series of questions several times a week for fans to debate franchise supremacy in different categories. Votes will determine the winning franchise and ultimately which custom PC rig will be built.
The custom PC rig will feature the industry-leading AMD FX 8150 processor, dual Radeon HD 6970 graphics cards and premium components from Origin PC, including a liquid cooling system, solid state hard drive and a Blu-Ray drive. Renowned modder Brian Carter (aka Boddaker), who has won a number of awards for his stunning designs, will build the rig -- see samples of his work and follow his progress on the project here
Raptr is known for its comprehensive data tracking of gameplay behavior, and we wanted to tap into the community of 10 million users to help answer once and for all which AAA first-person shooter franchise dominates the gaming industry, said John Lee, Raptrs VP of Marketing. What better way to kick off a series of showdowns than to compare the two biggest games of 2011? Whether you play on the PC, Xbox 360, or PS3, Raptr loves bringing the gaming community together around such events, because it showcases the unbridled enthusiasm fans have for their favorite games.
This project with Raptr is a dream for me since Im such a fan of both game franchises, said Carter. Its exciting for me to take my love of these games and create an amazing PC rig. Mini-guns, rocket launchers well, youre just going to have to wait and see because its going to be crazy.
In addition to the first phase of voting, Raptr will compile additional data based on gameplay activity automatically tracked via Raptrs client, as well as achievements and trophies unlocked. A comprehensive Raptr Report on the Battlefield vs. Call of Duty Showdown will be revealed in the next few months.
Monday, 17 October, 2011 at 19:34 PST | ^Scott^ | Print News
An amusing Battlefield 3 TV spot created by GameStop was posted on YouTube a couple weeks ago. The ad, noticed by teslasmash from reddit, shows various Battlefield 3 soldiers shooting weapons from the Physical Warfare Pack. The Physical Warfare Pack is of course one of the pre-order bonuses if you order from GameStop as well as EA Origin, GAME (UK) and GameStation (UK). The pack is a time based exclusive and DICE have said it will be free for all later on this year.
GameStop - Battlefield 3 "Golf" - :30 TV (HD)
By Mark Serrels on October 17, 2011 at 2:00 PM
In a perfect storm of hype, timing and technology, the momentum behind Battlefield 3 has been staggering. As it accelerates towards its release October 27, we caught up with the games Creative Director Lars Gustavsson to discuss the games development, his influences, and what history will make of Battlefield 3.
While there are, of course, hordes of gamers lining up to pre-order Modern Warfare 3, it appears as though there is a sea change in our midst almost as if the culmination of smart brand protection, combined with a series of dazzling trailers has set fans of core shooters alight with hype. Amongst core shooter fans, Battlefield 3 is arguably the most anticipated game of the year.
Gustavsson thinks the quality of the game itself may have something to do with it!
Were bringing something fresh to a market which, to be honest, has gone a bit stale recently, says Gustavsson. There are so many shooters out there and they all come from the same recipe.
I play all shooters out there to stay up to date, but I really like Battlefield, because I can of the sheer variety. I often get this religious feeling when I look at some of the larger scale levels, just feeling amazed that we somehow managed to accomplish this!
Years of development experience, with the same core team, has enabled DICE to focus their efforts on creating the best Battlefield product possible. In that respect, Gustavsson believes that the force sweeping gamers towards the Battlefield 3 juggernaut is more than hype its a gut response to what he believes is a quality product across the board.
Where does our optimism come from? He asks. I would say its simply our experience in making the Battlefield games. We have an amazing engine. To look at the package of Battlefield, theres so much to it.
You have everything to small team deathmatch, to the full journey through a single player, to squad deathmatch theres a full, wide palette of possibilities. This time it feels like weve really stretched ourselves, and listened to feedback from the community.
Our optimism is similar to how we felt about Battlefield 1942 when that was in development, he continues. When were playing in the office, we know its a really rock solid game. This time round weve done so much and improved so much. Weve put so much into it.
The FPS genre is, in a sense, a continual exchange of ideas where innovations are constantly being shared, implemented and improved upon with subsequent releases. Battlefield has innovated within this space before, but it has also borrowed from the best we wondered in Lars could think of any specific influences that affected the development of Battlefield 3.
Im not sure if I should pin point one, he begins, reluctantly. Well, Conquest was a game I was definitely inspired by Day of Defeat, with its flag system is another. And the medic in Battlefield 2 was definitely inspired by Enemy Territory: Quake Wars medic system.
Thats the beauty of the games industry. You might hear rumours of developers going after each other but for the most part its a friendly environment. And you borrow freely its the team that executes the feature best that will be remembered.
That word: remembered. In the world of PC gaming in particular, its one thing to shift millions of units, its another create and maintain the kind of community that Counter Strike: Source, Team Fortress 2 and Call of Duty 4 currently have. You get the impression thats precisely what DICE are shooting for with Battlefield 3.
Really I want our game to be remembered for giving gamers a fresh take on the shooter, claims Gustavsson. Hopefully Battlefield 3 feels like it took the first person shooter to the next level and made the competition look a bit old and stale.
As it accelerates towards its release October 27
I am only just barely managing to cope with the waiting for this game.
I've never been so glued to the latest news of a game before.
You know you're excited for a game when time is blocked out in your calendar to play it.
...
But now I'm scampering about like a drunken puppy, trying to find some tunnel or doorway that will allow me into the guts of this enemy base. The objective markers are below me, so unless the game is horribly glitched, there must be a way in. One of my brothers in arms sprints past me and hurls himself off the helipad, clearly driven to suicide in the hopes that a respawn would put him back on track and make the way forward clear.
That's when, after an embarrassingly long time, the penny drops. I dash to the side of the helipad and peer cautiously over the edge. There, half a kilometre straight down, is the next objective. Halfway there already, my fellow soldier's parachute flutters into life. I take a deep breath and jump.
...
Damavand Peak, it turns out, is a quintessential Battlefield map. It's vast. It's varied. You can approach its objectives from dozens of directions, and join the battle in countless ways. Whatever class you favour, whatever loadout you've picked, it feels like the map was designed just for you. And yet for all its flexibility, it keeps moving forwards, relentlessly. Apart from, you know, when feckless journalists don't pay attention and somehow miss that their entire squad has performed a 500m base jump.
Wait what? I thought it was the 25th. :'(
Damavand Peak sounds fun.
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-10-18-battlefield-3-multiplayer-preview
can't ....... wait ....... anymoooooore.
I hope we don't get a bunch of "no shooting dropping parachutists" server rules. Makes for a lack of fun on a lot of maps. Falling soldiers need to be fair game.
Or when you drop over $1500 to upgrade computer for best possible experience