Thanks for the response guys. I went ahead and pre-ordered from Origin. I enjoyed the Alpha and am looking forward to the Beta testing. I wonder what map we will play then?
Not true...I've DL'd BF2 and expansions many times over different computers for years.
I hope it comes out on STEAM, I really don't want origin.
Thanks for the response guys. I went ahead and pre-ordered from Origin. I enjoyed the Alpha and am looking forward to the Beta testing. I wonder what map we will play then?
There are a number of pre-order offers for Battlefield 3 available. Some countries have already announced their offers, while others will follow. Check with your favorite retailer/digital download service to see what offers they have available.
By mid-August, you should be able to find all of these items where they are supposed to be available. Here is what they all are and how to get them. We have also attached a handy FAQ on the Open Beta for Battlefield 3 at the bottom of this post.
BREAKDOWN OF ALL PRE-ORDER ITEMS FOR BATTLEFIELD 3
Battlefield 3: Back to Karkand
What it is: An entire themed expansion pack the size of Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Vietnam.
Where to get: You will be eligible to download this expansion pack (once it is released) if you pre-order Battlefield 3: Limited Edition at Origin or at any retailer all over the world.
Available: The release date of Back to Karkand is not yet announced. This expansion pack is not on the disc and is not available on the launch date of the base game. Everyone (pre-orderers and those who buy it separately) will be able to start playing Battlefield 3: Back to Karkand at the same date.
Cost: At no extra charge with every pre-order of Battlefield 3: Limited Edition. You will be able to buy it separately for $14,99 if you don't pre-order (release date not yet announced).
More info: In this blog post.
Physical Warfare Pack
What it is: A set of three time-based exclusive items and one early weapon unlock for Battlefield 3.
Where to get: By pre-ordering Battlefield 3: Limited Edition on Origin or at select retailers all over the world.
Available: Day 1 if you pre-order. You will get access to this content at no extra charge at a later date if you don't pre-order (date to be announced)
Cost: At no extra charge with your pre-order at Origin and select retailers.
More info: In this blog post.
SPECACT Kit Upgrade
What it is: A set of 8 multiplayer skins, one for each class and side in Battlefield 3.
Where to get: At select retailers all over the world when you pre-order Battlefield 3: Limited Edition.
Available: Day 1.
Cost: At no extra charge with your pre-order at select retailers.
Dog Tag Pack
What it is: A set of 10 unique in-game dog tags to choose from. Dog tags in Battlefield 3 serve as your in-game signature, displayed on screen every time you defeat an enemy. You can also claim the dog tag of your enemies via skillful stealth knife takedowns. This pre-order exclusive pack gives you 10 unique dog tag designs to complement the standard range in the game.
Where to get: At select retailers all over the world when you pre-order Battlefield 3: Limited Edition.
Available: Day 1.
Cost: At no extra charge with your pre-order at select retailers.
More info: In this blog post.
Avatar Battlefield 3 Gear
What it is: Battlefield 3 gear for your console avatar.
Where to get: At select retailers all over the world when you pre-order Battlefield 3: Limited Edition.
Available: Day 1.
Cost: At no extra charge with your pre-order at select retailers.
Shotgun and Beret for Battlefield Play4Free
What it is: An 870S shotgun and a beret for in-game use in our play-for-free title Battlefield Play4Free.
Where to get: By pre-ordering Battlefield 3: Limited Edition on Origin.
Available: Day 1.
Cost: At no extra charge with your pre-order on Origin.
More info: In this blog post.
48 Hour Early Access to the Open Beta
What it is: A 2 day (48 hours) early access to the Battlefield 3 Open Beta starting in September 2011.
Where to get: By pre-ordering the digital download PC version of Battlefield 3: Limited Edition on Origin or by being a first-hand Medal of Honor: Limited Edition or Medal of Honor: Tier 1 Edition player.
Available: 48 hours before the Open Beta goes public for everyone.
FAQ on the Open Beta
How early is early access?
Early access to the Open Beta is 48 hours before the public is allowed to enter.
How will my early access to the Open Beta be delivered if I am eligible?
This will be communicated later. Stay tuned.
Who can participate in the Open Beta?
The Battlefield 3 Open Beta will be available to all, on all platforms, in September.
Can I get early access to the Open Beta by pre-ordering Battlefield 3 on Origin?
Yes, if you pre-order the digital download PC version of Battlefield 3: Limited Edition on Origin. This will also entitle you to the pre-order items Physical Warfare Pack plus the Shotgun and Beret for Battlefield Play4Free -- see above.
I bought Medal of Honor Limited Edition/Tier 1 Edition and was promised entry to the Battlefield 3 Beta -- is that a different Beta than the Open Beta just announced?
No, it is the same Open Beta, but as a first-hand buyer of Medal of Honor: Limited Edition/Tier 1 Edition, you will have 48 hours early access.
What if I bought Medal of Honor: Limited Edition/Tier 1 Edition as a digital download -- do I still get early access to the Open Beta?
Yes.
What are the exact dates for the Open Beta?
The exact dates for the Open Beta will be announced later.
What if I pre-ordered the digital download version of Battlefield 3: Limited Edition on Origin before they announced the early access to the Open Beta -- do I still get this early access?
Yes.
$15 for one map is idiotic. Used to be, that was an expansion pack, not just one map. I hate how things are going.
I'm gonna be SRAW sniping again! Woot!No, they call it "Back to Karkand" but you actually get Karkand, Sharqi, Wake and Oman. Plus the vehicles and weapons are different from base BF3.
BTW.
Gustav Halling tweeted that you would be able to cross-use BTK weapons in vanilla BF3. If that means that if you own BTK you can use BTK in vanilla against other people who can't, that will generate some ire.
No, they call it "Back to Karkand" but you actually get Karkand, Sharqi, Wake and Oman. Plus the vehicles and weapons are different from base BF3.
BTW.
Gustav Halling tweeted that you would be able to cross-use BTK weapons in vanilla BF3. If that means that if you own BTK you can use BTK in vanilla against other people who can't, that will generate some ire.
I saw that tweet on Gustav Halling's blog, and wanted to see what it was a response to before mentioning it. When I checked from home that tweet was deleted. I can't find it anywhere. I think he misspoke and had it removed.
It should work just like the BFBC2 Vietnam (which was $15, no surprise), the weapons will be game specific.
StallownageDave Nolan
@gustavhalling How integrated will BF3 and BTK expansion be? Will we be able to use BTK weapons in BF3 and vice versa, for example?
3 AugFavoriteRetweetReply
in reply to ↑
@gustavhallingGustav Halling
@Stallownage I would use B2K instead (back 2 karkand) And yes, you will be able to use your weapons a cross BF3 and B2K.
Well, the thing that I don't like is that the Amazon pre-order bonus is just the "Dog-Tag Pack". Who the hell cares about dog-tags. I want the Physical Warfare pack as that has some cool stuff. Also, when I ordered BF3 on Amazon, it was $59.95 not $50. How'd you guys get it for a lower price?
Great, so they're going to splinter the community immediately upon the game's release with the BTK pack. Hooray for DLC!
I am getting more and more disappointed the closer we get to the release.
As a special thank you for playing, we're offering Battlefield 3 Alpha Trial players a bonus PC digital download game when you pre-order Battlefield 3 Limited Edition at Origin. Hurry-this offer is only good for the next 3 days. See below for more details.
The games you can pick are Mass Effect 2, Dead Space 2, Medal of Honor. I think ME2 has been $5, DS2 has been around $10, and MoH has been around $10.
twitter.com/L_Twin: "Just experienced some awesome Conquest action - #BF3 is getting ready for #gamescom!"
Gamescom 2011 is from August 17 to August 21. Sounds like they will have a Conquest map ready for the beta...
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 customisation 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 honours 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, specialisations, and camouflages usable by any class.
From left to right: Marksman Medal (obtain the Marksman Ribbon 50 times), Maintenance Medal (Obtain the Maintenance 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.?