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

[realjetavenger]

Console question: DICE provides console servers right? (I don't play console). Do console servers rotate maps or do they tend to be 24/7 single map, or some of both?

Console servers rotate the maps. (I've never seen a server that kept you on the same map with no rotation - although Zargon says he did.)
You have an option of selecting what map you want to play but once you enter, you are now in that servers map rotation. So, if you wanted to stay on a certain map but got started on a new one after the match ended, you'd have to hop out of the game then go back to the map selection screen to pick your map of choice again.

For BC2, if you started on a vanilla map, you stayed on a vanilla map for all map rotations. And the same was true for vietnam.

 

[minmaster]

yeah no kidding

the game will run however fast or slow you want it to depending on what graphics settings you run and the hardware you run it on

for instance I run a heavily overclocked 2600K and a GTX580 and will actually turn some graphics settings off or down for Bad Company 2 to help maintain 120+ fps (for my 120Hz monitor), as well as get rid of or reduce some effects (as pretty as they may be) that mostly just turn out to be an annoyance for competitive play

I sure as hell hope BF3 isn't capped at 60fps.

wow you get 120 fps constantly on bc2? a single video card? that's insane.
it will dip below 120 here and there though right?

 

[Zargon]

Console servers rotate the maps. (I've never seen a server that kept you on the same map with no rotation - although Zargon says he did.)
You have an option of selecting what map you want to play but once you enter, you are now in that servers map rotation. So, if you wanted to stay on a certain map but got started on a new one after the match ended, you'd have to hop out of the game then go back to the map selection screen to pick your map of choice again.

For BC2, if you started on a vanilla map, you stayed on a vanilla map for all map rotations. And the same was true for vietnam.

are you on PC or console?

half the PC servers are 24/7 one map only, atacama, heavy metal, oasis, are very popular ones

 

[bunnyfubbles]

wow you get 120 fps constantly on bc2? a single video card? that's insane.
it will dip below 120 here and there though right?

oh definitely it will dip below, I don't stay glued to the frame rate counter but the lowest it generally goes is in the 80s although I'm sure its hit the 70s or 60s depending on the map and the action

but for the most part its well into the 100+ range

[WindowSettings]
Width=1920
Height=1080
Fullscreen=true
RefreshRate=120
VSync=false
[Sound]
Quality=high
VoipEnable=true
SpeakerCount=6
[Graphics]
Effects=high
Soldiers=high
Vehicles=high
Overgrowth=high
Undergrowth=low
StaticObjects=high
Terrain=high
Shadows=high
Bloom=false
HSAO=false
MSAA=1
Water=high
MainQuality=custom
Texture=high
DxVersion=11
Aniso=4
Detail=high
RenderAheadLimit=0
Fov=74

its not much really, the key differences are only a few but they're pretty big for the overall effect:

Undergrowth=low - drastically reduces if not eliminates grasses and what not, which there can be a ton of depending on the map

Bloom=false - most games bloom is, at least IMO, overdone, and BC2 is no exception, I don't like being blinded so I turn it off. Super helpful for the desert levels.

HSAO=false - super shadows, turning this feature off is one of the easiest ways to get a sizable performance boost

I also only run 2x AA, although I could probably run 4x or even 8x without much penalty, I suppose I haven't bothered messing with alternatives because the game's AA implementation is disappointing as-is and thus I never cared to bother with it

 

[Termie]

Console Battlefield 3 is Half the FPS of Modern Warfare 3

Battlefield 3's awe-inspiring tank battle demonstration at E3 was run on a PC, and it wasn't to make a statement about mouse-and-keyboard superiority. The game, according to developer DICE, will run at 60 frames per second on the PC—but 30 fps on the Xbox 360 and PS3.

...

Doesn't look like this has been posted. BF3 footage from Jimmy Fallon show on the PS3: http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/...-consoles-with-graphical-quality-detailed.ars.

Details we've already heard: "DICE developers confirmed via Twitter that the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions would run at 720p, as opposed to 1080p, which both consoles support. Furthermore, console versions would run at 30 frames per second, which is considered the bare minimum frame rate for first person shooters," an unofficial Battlefield 3 blog reported. "The news comes after DICE developer Johan Anderson confirmed via Twitter that the game will run at 30 fps on consoles, and later confirmed that it will be in 720p as well.""

 

[Zargon]

should not be a surprise

graphics look frigign great and the consoles arent THAT fast

 

[Stuxnet]

A lot of console kiddies are raging (I'm a console kiddie, but I'm not raging) over the reduced quality. I was actually impressed by the PS3 footage; I didn't think it was that much worse.

Six year old machines can't keep up with bleeding edge machines: News at 11.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

I agree I saw the Jimmy fallon game play and I was impressed that I really couldn't see a difference.

 

[VulgarDisplay]

Doesn't look like this has been posted. BF3 footage from Jimmy Fallon show on the PS3: http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/...-consoles-with-graphical-quality-detailed.ars.

Details we've already heard: "DICE developers confirmed via Twitter that the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions would run at 720p, as opposed to 1080p, which both consoles support. Furthermore, console versions would run at 30 frames per second, which is considered the bare minimum frame rate for first person shooters," an unofficial Battlefield 3 blog reported. "The news comes after DICE developer Johan Anderson confirmed via Twitter that the game will run at 30 fps on consoles, and later confirmed that it will be in 720p as well.""

What everyone is failing to realize here is that while Call of duty runs at 60fps on consoles it's also only running at 576p. BF3 would be a FPS boost if it reduced resolution.

Also very very few games actually run at 1080p on PS3 or xbox 360. I didn't do much research before buying my PS3 and I was extremely disappointed to find out that it really wasn't an HD gaming console. Calling the xbox and ps3 HD was the biggest scam in all of video gaming history.

 

[Kristijonas]

I must agree. My sister has a PS3 and GTA 4 looks terrible compared to GTA 4 on my PC. Also, GTA 4 on PS3 appears to be slower. Is if specifically slowed as not to spike-lag.

 

[GoodRevrnd]

What everyone is failing to realize here is that while Call of duty runs at 60fps on consoles it's also only running at 576p. BF3 would be a FPS boost if it reduced resolution.

Also very very few games actually run at 1080p on PS3 or xbox 360. I didn't do much research before buying my PS3 and I was extremely disappointed to find out that it really wasn't an HD gaming console. Calling the xbox and ps3 HD was the biggest scam in all of video gaming history.

I'm pretty sure NO games run at 1080P (natively) on the 360. At least, if you don't count XBLA games.

 

[Bill Brasky]

What everyone is failing to realize here is that while Call of duty runs at 60fps on consoles it's also only running at 576p. BF3 would be a FPS boost if it reduced resolution.

Also very very few games actually run at 1080p on PS3 or xbox 360. I didn't do much research before buying my PS3 and I was extremely disappointed to find out that it really wasn't an HD gaming console. Calling the xbox and ps3 HD was the biggest scam in all of video gaming history.

This. I also didn't realize my PS3 wouldn't be 1080p until after it was on my shelf. Now that I understand what kind of hardware inside the consoles, it makes sense. But it was certainly news to me back then.

 

[minmaster]

oh definitely it will dip below, I don't stay glued to the frame rate counter but the lowest it generally goes is in the 80s although I'm sure its hit the 70s or 60s depending on the map and the action

but for the most part its well into the 100+ range

[WindowSettings]
Width=1920
Height=1080
Fullscreen=true
RefreshRate=120
VSync=false
[Sound]
Quality=high
VoipEnable=true
SpeakerCount=6
[Graphics]
Effects=high
Soldiers=high
Vehicles=high
Overgrowth=high
Undergrowth=low
StaticObjects=high
Terrain=high
Shadows=high
Bloom=false
HSAO=false
MSAA=1
Water=high
MainQuality=custom
Texture=high
DxVersion=11
Aniso=4
Detail=high
RenderAheadLimit=0
Fov=74

its not much really, the key differences are only a few but they're pretty big for the overall effect:

Undergrowth=low - drastically reduces if not eliminates grasses and what not, which there can be a ton of depending on the map

Bloom=false - most games bloom is, at least IMO, overdone, and BC2 is no exception, I don't like being blinded so I turn it off. Super helpful for the desert levels.

HSAO=false - super shadows, turning this feature off is one of the easiest ways to get a sizable performance boost

I also only run 2x AA, although I could probably run 4x or even 8x without much penalty, I suppose I haven't bothered messing with alternatives because the game's AA implementation is disappointing as-is and thus I never cared to bother with it

yea i think everyone turns off bloom and hsao for performance.
your FOV is pretty crazy, isn't 74 = 100? that might be a little bit too much for me.
as for AA, yea AA sucks in this game but i use either 4x msaa or 8x csaa, and i do notice slight improvement over 2x. audio quality and i can't really tell the difference between low and high so i leave it on low to free up cpu a little.

 

[Zargon]

I run like 90 or 105 FOV

a little fisheyed but worth it....

 

[maniacalpha1-1]

Demize tweeted yesterday that Squad Leaders will be able to spawn on any squad member, and members will only be able to spawn on the SL.

Still think we need 6 man squads but seems like a good idea. The SL no longer has to stay back out of the fight, but unlike BC2 allspawning, everyone still has to stick to the SL without being all over the place.

 

[Zargon]

yeah, its atleast a nice compromise

 

[minmaster]

wtf? then everyone will want to be squad leaders.

 

[maniacalpha1-1]

wtf? then everyone will want to be squad leaders.

But not everyone can be! if everyone is a SL then they will have no members to spawn on.

Related: One thing I wish they would do is put in squad-only kits, that you can only select by spawning on the SL.

Example 1: MANPADS(stingers), with a limit of 1 per squad
Example 2: Player fired mortar kit
Example 3: Spotting binoculars for another player to spot for player fired mortar kit

 

[GoodRevrnd]

I run like 90 or 105 FOV

a little fisheyed but worth it....

Wow, you're crazy. BC2 FOV is vertical for some reason. 105 is actually like 130.

http://www.rjdown.co.uk/projects/bfbc2/fovcalculator.php

 

[Bill Brasky]

Demize tweeted yesterday that Squad Leaders will be able to spawn on any squad member, and members will only be able to spawn on the SL.

Still think we need 6 man squads but seems like a good idea. The SL no longer has to stay back out of the fight, but unlike BC2 allspawning, everyone still has to stick to the SL without being all over the place.

Not really a big fan. All that does is slow the game down. If you happen to get a squad leader that doesn't advance, the whole squad starts camping.

 

[maniacalpha1-1]

Not really a big fan. All that does is slow the game down. If you happen to get a squad leader that doesn't advance, the whole squad starts camping.

Not from my experience in BF2. Of course, perhaps BC2 simply attracts the kind of player that is easily distracted into camping.

With that said though, allspawning, regardless of camping concerns, causes, as your squad moves, there's always 1 person that tends to move a bit away, and people that die with the main group there's always one more guy that can't resist to temptation to spawn on the other guy and you end up with half your squad in one place and half in the other.

And also. BC2 is WAY too fast paced. Slowing down is a good thing as long as it's for reasons other than people camping. Bigger maps, and the changes to sniping should help with that. Not sure if it has been mentioned in this thread yet but snipers have to hold their breath now to get a more accurate shot...

 

[KayGee]

Not really a big fan. All that does is slow the game down. If you happen to get a squad leader that doesn't advance, the whole squad starts camping.

I don't like it either. But I guess it's better than the nerfed squad system in BF2.

 

[maniacalpha1-1]

I don't like it either. But I guess it's better than the nerfed squad system in BF2.

The thing is, you guys are clearly showing that BC2 is your game. BF3 is ours. BC3 can't be that far behind, plus, BC2 is still active for you.

 

[KayGee]

The thing is, you guys are clearly showing that BC2 is your game. BF3 is ours. BC3 can't be that far behind, plus, BC2 is still active for you.

I don't mind BC2's squad system and I really liked BF2's original squad system (which was retained a couple of years after the game was released) where squad-hopping was possible while dead.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

yea i think everyone turns off bloom and hsao for performance.
your FOV is pretty crazy, isn't 74 = 100? that might be a little bit too much for me.
as for AA, yea AA sucks in this game but i use either 4x msaa or 8x csaa, and i do notice slight improvement over 2x. audio quality and i can't really tell the difference between low and high so i leave it on low to free up cpu a little.

I adhere to the oldschool standard of 4:3 ratio @ 90 degree horizontal FOV. Extrapolating out to where 16:10 and 16:9 give us wider FOV without losing horizontal FOV we get values of 100 and 106 respectively

For BC2 the proper vertical FOV (which will work for any aspect ratio) just so happens to be 74 when adjusted to that 4:3 @ 90 standard. For whatever reason DICE thought that 16:9 @ 90 degree horizontal should be the standard.

Wow, you're crazy. BC2 FOV is vertical for some reason. 105 is actually like 130.

http://www.rjdown.co.uk/projects/bfbc2/fovcalculator.php

Well its actually a smart reason they changed to vertical because you only need to find one vertical FOV value you are happy with and it should work out for whatever width aspect ratio you ever use.

In previous games I'd often have to change my FOV setting from 90 to 100 or 106 depending on whether I was playing on a 4:3 or 16:10 or 16:9 monitor, for BC2 I only need to remember 74.

Demize tweeted yesterday that Squad Leaders will be able to spawn on any squad member, and members will only be able to spawn on the SL.

Still think we need 6 man squads but seems like a good idea. The SL no longer has to stay back out of the fight, but unlike BC2 allspawning, everyone still has to stick to the SL without being all over the place.

wtf? then everyone will want to be squad leaders.

as long as the Squad leader is the automatically the highest ranked player I have less issue with such a feature, and given the fact that I'm a top 100 BC2 player I would more than likely love that if true, as it would mean I could finally count on players spawning on me and my being able to better steer them into helping the team

its bad enough that any idiot can commandeer vehicles in previous BF games (of which I'm still very much hoping they somehow address in BF3), it would be even more terrible if its any idiot that can be the squad leader