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New Modern Warfare 3 Patch Details – Dual FMGs to be Nerfed and More

Robert Bowling sheds some light on what’s being fixed and re-balanced in Modern Warfare 3 this week.

Infinity Ward’s creative strategist, Robert Bowling, reveals that there is an “update” in the works for Modern Warfare 3. Robert assures that the akimbo FMGs “will be getting some re-balancing in a new update this week.” It’s worth noting that at the moment the dual FMGs are indeed overpowered when compared to any other secondaries. Bowling also touched on the rank loss problem explaining “if you ever get knocked back to menus with an error, it stops writing stats, you should restart your console for fresh connection.” He went on to promise “this [rank loss issue] will be addressed in the next update to prevent it from ever happening so you don’t have to worry about it.”

On a different note, some players are claiming that they are getting banned for no apparent reason. Bowling explained that when players are reported, there’s a  team dedicated to verify these reports and “no one is banned blindly simply by being reported.”

Where do you stand on nerfing the FMGs? Let us know in the comments’ section.

Modern Warfare 3 – 15 Tips To Improve Your Game

Fahed Jaradat

Senior Editor and Co-Founder. Multiplayer runs in my blood. Don't believe me? Ask for a sample! Subscriber

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BF3 – DICE on Vehicle Balance, Back to Karkand Release Date, and More

DICE looks to fans for feedback on vehicle balancing while a possible Back to Karkand release date may have been revealed.

A rumor that has recently been confirmed to be “fake” by Daniel Matros was the speculation of Battlefield 3’s expansion pack, Back to Karkand, releasing on the 1st of December. However, it looks like the Asian PlayStation Store may have leaked the actual release date to be December 7th, meaning North America could see its release on the PS3 a few days before. This would put the release date on the PC and Xbox a full week later.

Also just in: PS3 owners are going to be receiving a patch tomorrow, November 30th. Check out the full list of patch details!

On the developer side of things, Alan Kertz once again looks to fans for feedback, this time in regards to vehicular warfare. He asks: “Looking for feedback on Tanks: Too many RPGs? Too few? How about Tank on Tank? What do you think?” Too many RPGs to take out a tank could significantly slow down game-play. Too few might take away a tanks effectiveness. Balancing is always a tough aspect to perfect in online FPSs like Battlefield 3. However, judging by DICE developers’ involvement with the community, it looks like they are on the right track.

Last week, Kertz asked for your thoughts about the one balance change you would like to see in Batlefield 3, as well as your thoughts on semi-automatic weapons. Regarding the latter, fans have also been asking if the changes being made will also fix the issue of burst-fire weapons jamming as well. Kertz assured that “it should fix both issues.”

What are your thoughts on the vehicle balancing as it is? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

If you haven’t yet, make sure to check out the brand new Back to Karkand gameplay trailer featuring footage from the returning Battlefield 2 map, Gulf of Oman.

David Veselka

Musician, Gamer, Geek. Subscriber

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Battlefield 3 PS3 Patch Notes for November 30th

Daniel Matros has posted the patch notes for the upcoming Battlefield 3 patch for the PS3. The patch will deploy tomorrow, Nov 30th, at 09:00 CET, midnight PST. The update will coincide with a scheduled maintenance that will affect all three platforms. The maintenance will last for three hours from 9:00 CET.

Here are the patch notes:

BATTLEFIELD 3 PLAYSTATION 3 CLIENT UPDATE NOV 30TH 

General fixes 

• Significant improvements to the Squad Join interface, full details in this earlier blog post
• Removed FIND ME A SQUAD option
• Allow players to join empty Squads alone, thus having 1/4 Squad members
• Change order of options to LEAVE SQUAD, INV A FRIEND, SWITCH TEAM
• Disable Privacy flag when 1 man Squad
• Reset Privacy flag from Private to Public when Squad drops to 1 player
• All occupied Squads will now show up colored blue on the Squad selection screen
• Players who choose not to join Squads will also show up as Blue in the “Not in a Squad” line
• Squads that are currently empty will display as white — if you wish to join an empty Squad, you can choose the first one marked with white text
• Added round duration and ticket summary at end of round screen
• Fixed sound for when climbing ladders
• Fixed and issue with some weapons’ sounds in first person view
• Fixed a swim sound loop error
• You should no longer be able to damage a friendly vehicle when sitting in an open position
• Grenades now drop to ground if you get killed while attempting to throw it
• Spawn protection now should work in Conquest so you no longer should spawn too close to enemies
• You should no longer spawn too close to enemies in TDM and SQDM
• Fix for missing input restriction during intro movie, causing players to potentially fall and die while watching movie if moving controller (or having a controller with a bad stick zone)
• Combat areas on Kharg Island in Rush mode tweaked in order to disallow defenders to access the carrier ship after first base is taken and being able to enter the AA gun
• Fixed a problem with revived players not being able to get suppressed
• Fixed a problem with the camera when being revived in co-op
• Spotting VO now plays when spotting from MAV/EOD bot
• Fixed several issues regarding the kill card, including showing wrong weapons used for the kill
• Fixed that sometimes you would be stuck on a black screen when kicked from server
• Fixed so when a team captures two flags at the same time, the UI does not show wrong owner of the flag
• Fixed a problem where the capture progress bar was shown as friendly when the enemy was capturing
• Fixed a problem with the bipod deploy sound
• Fixed a problem that you could be spawned in with no weapons after being killed while using the EOD bot
• Fixed problems with health bars not displaying health properly when using EOD bots
• Fixed a problem with flickering name tags
• Fixed a problem where you could damage friendly helicopters
• Fixed a problem where you could get stuck in the co-op menu when attempting to join the session twice
• You should now be able to spot explosives
• You should no longer spawn in home base if your selected spawn point is disabled while waiting to spawn (e.g. if your teammate dies right before you are about to spawn)
• Damage from bullets will now continue to cause damage even after the firing user is dead
• Fixed several client crashes
• Fixed a problem where players could get stuck in the join queue
• Fixed the repair icon on the minimap
• Fixed a problem with changing camera on certain vehicles
• Fixed a problem with the grenade indicator when in guided missile mode
• Fixed a problem where the machine could hard lock when joining a public coop game
• Fixed a problem where the headset attached icon would not show up in the UI
• Fixed a problem with the falling antenna on Caspian Border. It should now more instantly kill anyone in its falling path
• Fixed a problem where tank turrets would turn too slow
• Fixed a bug on co-op mission “Exfiltration” where you could end up outside the vehicle and not being able to enter it again, thus blocking the mission
• Fixed a problem where a user can become invulnerable after being resurrected
• Fixed a problem with the M60 reload sound
• Fixed a hang in terrain streaming, causing the user to get stuck on black screen under special circumstances in single player
• Fixed a problem where the enemy would not be able to get a road kill on a user that was using the SOFLAM
• Fixed soldiers disappearing in the mortar kill cam
• Fix for Type88 and MG36 zoom in animation offset when in supported shooting mode (using bipods)

Balance changes 

• Increased the damage of helicopter miniguns, AA guns, and jet cannons against infantry
• Increased the damage of helicopter miniguns against jeeps
• Reduced the physics impact of AA guns and jet cannons so players under attack from these weapons no longer should lose control
• Increased the damage of the 44 Magnum slightly
• Increased the range and minimum damage of the .357 Round from the MP412 Rex
• Increased the range of all .45cal and 9mm weapons
• Slightly increased the range of the P90 and MP7 and PDW-R
• Slightly increased the range of the 5.56mm PDW-R and decreased the minimum damage at long range
• Slightly increased the minimum range of the Mk11, SVD, and M39 EMR 7.62mm rifles
• Decreased the maximum damage and maximum range of the G3 and SCAR-H 7.62mm weapons
• Reduced the damage from FIM-92 and SA-18 IGLA missiles against aircraft
• Increased the damage and range of the 40mm BUCK rounds
• Reduced the damage .50cal weapons do against helicopters
• Updated T90 canister shell tweaks to match Abrams canister shells

Fahed Jaradat

Senior Editor and Co-Founder. Multiplayer runs in my blood. Don't believe me? Ask for a sample! Subscriber

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BF3: Gulf of Oman Gameplay Trailer Reveals a Classified Vehicle

DICE has released a brand new trailer of the map “Gulf of Oman”, one of four maps packed in Back to Karkand. The map pack is due out next month and will be free for Battlefield 3 Limited Edition owners, otherwise you’ll be able to purchase it for $14.99. DICE states “we are bringing back three popular combat vehicles from Battlefield 2 into the Battlefield 3: Back to Karkand expansion pack: The STOVL fighter jet, desert buggy, and one of the APC’s. In this gameplay trailer from the Gulf of Oman map, you can also get a first glimpse of a classified fourth vehicle bound to strike fear into the very hearts of the enemy.”

[youtube id=”emGXp-qRrVg” width=”600″ height=”350″]

Fahed Jaradat

Senior Editor and Co-Founder. Multiplayer runs in my blood. Don't believe me? Ask for a sample! Subscriber

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MW3 – Hacked Lobbies “Addressed In Under 12 Hours!”

It seems that a fix for the hacked/modded lobbies in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 has been found, and rather quickly as well.

Robert Bowling, Global Community Manager at Infinity Ward has just announced that the issues regarding infected lobbies plaguing the MW3 community have been resolved. “Thanks for all the reports of Speed / Slo-mo lobbies, with your help, we found & addressed in under 12 hours! Keep reporting MW3 feedback.” We’ve tested this ourselves and it does, indeed, seem to be alleviated.

If you’re a bit lost on the whole situation, you can read about what these infected lobbies were all about right here. Note that this only effected the Xbox 360 version of Modern Warfare 3 and we sure hope that it won’t find its way to other platforms. Unfortunately, as with many mega-popular titles such as Call of Duty, you’re bound to attract both good-willed players, and players who are in it to ruin the experience for the rest.

Record timing? We’ll let you decide. However, it is nice to see one of our favorite first-person shooters back up and running. Happy gaming!

 

David Veselka

Musician, Gamer, Geek. Subscriber

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MW3 – Despite Updates, Activision Is Still “Looking Into” Hacked Lobbies

Despite recent updates meant to combat hacked lobbies in Modern Warfare 3 on the Xbox 360, players are still running into these “infected” lobbies games. Fortunately, Activision is aware of the infestation.

Yesterday, Mikey from Activision’s customer support team mentioned that “an update went out” to care the infected lobbies problem and also stated that he is now “trying to find people who are seeing [hacked lobbies] post update”. Unfortunately, players are reporting that the infection is still being spread. So far, the only official response from Activison support is that the security teams behind MW3 “are currently looking into this.” For a full analysis of these modded/infected lobbies and how to get un-infected, please read up on it here.

As an update regarding modified clan tags, Mikey has recently warned that “the security team is taking action on those tags. Action can include suspensions and bans. Don’t do it.” Stay tuned to MP1st for more Modern Warfare 3 news!

Modern Warfare 3 – 15 Tips To Improve Your Game

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“The One Balance Change You’d Make in Battlefield 3” Asks DICE Dev

DICE developers are looking for feedback to help shape the future of Battlefield 3.

“If you could make 1 balance change to BF3, and only one, which one would you make?” asked Senior Gameplay Designer at DICE, Alan Kertz. DICE has already put out one patch for the PC with two more on the way; one for the Xbox 360 and one for the PS3. They’ve also already stated their plans to begin work on a second patch for the, hopefully, near future.

So far, some feedback has included concerns of  semi-automatic or burst fire weapons and their damage and medium range. While Kertz has already commented what changes will be made to semi-automatic weapons, he replied, “Ok, agreed. I’ve been working on both. The AN94 and SKS should both be getting a “buff” aka, more effective, but not more damage.” This is in line with what he stated earlier about changing the “feel” or “effectiveness” of semi-automatic weapons, and not necessarily the damage output.

Of course, much of the feedback has been regarding the IRNV scope. Many fans are hoping for a nerf of sorts for this weapon optic. Kertz reveals his thoughts on this attachment: “On the IRNV… My first instinct is range reduction, but seems many use it for CQB right now so that might not help? Tough call really.”

Please, let us know your thoughts in the comment section below. What is the “one” balance change you’d like to see made in Battlefield 3?

These are just a few of the tweaks that will be considered for Battlefield 3. Stay tuned to MP1st for more Battlefield 3 info!

David Veselka

Musician, Gamer, Geek. Subscriber

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Modern Warfare 3 Hacked Lobbies Confirmed and Explained – 360 Only So Far

With just a little over 3 weeks since its release, hacked lobbies have “Infected” Modern Warfare 3 similar to the ones MW2 had.

Hacked Game is Hacked

I will not get into the history of hacks in past Call of Duty titles as that would warrant its own feature, so I will keep this simple. There are two types of infected lobbies in Modern Warfare 3, Slow Motion and Super Speed. Keep in mind that there is a private game mode called “Infection”, but that mode is completely different than the aforementioned hacked lobbies and not accessible in online matchmaking. I’ve been hearing some mumbling over these infected lobbies, but I couldn’t write about this problem until I experienced it firsthand. I ran into 5 infected lobbies last night; they were all “slow-mo” infected, so basically time is slowed down to be about 3 real-time seconds for 1 in-game second (similar to right before a M.O.A.B. goes off or the final second of the game winning killcam). Everything you do is in slow motion expect for when you turn around.

How Can I Get Infected?

If you get into an infected lobby, then your game is carrying the infection after you leave. After being infected, the only way to get others infected is to host a game in matchmaking or private matches. This is good because once you run into a hacked lobby, all you have to do is to back out of the lobby and find another clean game. However, if you end up being the host of the “clean” lobby, then the infection you’ve carried will turn the lobby to a hacked one. In the process, you’d be infecting everyone in that lobby.

Will I Be Infected Until Infinity Ward Fixes the Game?

No, all you have to do once you know that you’re carrying the infection is to dashboard or restart your 360, so when you play Modern Warfare 3 next time, your game will be clean once again until you get infected again.

How can I get Infected whenever I want?

There is an easy way to do it whenever you like, but we at MP1st are trying to get Infinity Ward’s attention by reporting on this phenomena, not ruining the game for everyone, specially that you can’t pick whether you want to play the game in infected mode or regular. If you really like this hack, then consider playing it with your friends in private lobbies. So, voice your opinions in the comments’ section, not instructions on how to tamper with the game. These kinds of hacks are hated by the majority of the community, and we will not tolerate anyone spreading this problem.

What Platforms Are Affected?

I own MW3 on the 360, so my personal experience with hacked lobbies was on that platform. Fortunately, for PS3 and PC players, I have yet to find one person on the official forums or elsewhere that would confirm running into hacked lobbies. So, cross your fingers for now, but I hope when Infinity Ward/Sledgehammer Games work on fixing the 360 version, they would have provisions in place for the PS3 and PC versions.

Be sure to follow MP1st on Twitter and Facebook to keep up on the latest Modern Warfare 3 News.

Modern Warfare 3 – 15 Tips To Improve Your Game

Fahed Jaradat

Senior Editor and Co-Founder. Multiplayer runs in my blood. Don't believe me? Ask for a sample! Subscriber

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Modern Warfare 3 – 15 Tips To Improve Your Game

1. Hip fire.

It’s more accurate than you think, especially with steady aim. Of course, we don’t recommend this for every engagement, but it saves a lot of time in close quarter engagements when aiming down sight isn’t needed. It is also a great idea to master firing into aiming. Think “fire and aim at the same time,” rather than “first aim, then fire.”

2. Pre-fire around corners.
If you can tell someone is lurking behind a nearby corner, either by way of sound whoring, visually seeing them hide there, or through the mini-map, start firing as your turning that corner, especially if you have an automatic weapon. Even if your aim isn’t perfect, a bullet or two might hit, causing them to flinch, increasing you chances of winning the engagement. Greatly recommended in conjunction with hip firing.

3. Know your limits. Pick your pointstreaks accordingly.
Don’t waste time shooting for that 17 pointstreak in the Assault Strike Package if you’re only hoping to get there by way of luck. You’re much better off sticking to rewards you know you can achieve. Also, try the Support Strike Package if you’re new to the game, are maybe just having a rough day, or trying to help out your teammates.

4. Shoot while drop-shotting, a technique used by many players who run with the tactical button layout.
Much like our hip-fire tip, think of dropping and firing at the same time, rather than dropping first, then firing. Keep in mind, this mechanic isn’t as effective as it used to be in other Call of Duties.

5. Hover your thumb over the ‘knife’ button while reloading.
Again, for those using tactical button layout, consider keeping that thumb ready to knife while reloading either to cancel your reload, or to get out of sticky situations.

6. Consider using the Stinger as a secondary.
It takes care of air support very nicely and hopefully negates the need to use the Assassin perk. Also, remember that destroying air support earn you points, points which now count towards your strike package rewards.

7. If using a semi-auto weapon as a primary, use a full-auto as a secondary. Having a balanced loadout is key.

8. Kill the gun pull-out animation.
Immediately after spawning, if using machine pistols (e.g. the infamous akimbo FMGs), switch to secondary to bypass slow switch animation for later firefights. It goes without saying that, at the moment, dual FMGs are the most powerful secondaries in the game. It also applies to the Overkill perk.

9. Leave enemy care packages alone.
We suggest that it’s not worth it, especially in game types like FFA where the Support Strike Package is often used. Otherwise, if it’s a juicy reward, camp it to wait and see if the enemy comes back for it. If after a few seconds they do not show up, it might be best to move on.

10. This game is not like MW2.
Don’t rely too much on your mini-map. Focus on what you can see. Of course, this is down to the fact that many players are running the Assassin perk.

11. Stick to the outsides of the maps.
This should reduce number of sight lines, and there are many in this game. This, of course, will also allow you to flank the enemy. It is an extremely good idea in FFA where you could be shot form anywhere and any angle.

12. How to level up fast in Modern Warfare 3.
Kill confirmed+Specialist Strike Package+Hardline Pro=Muchos points. After your 6th kill (5th with Hardline Pro), you should start racking up some sweet bonus points for every kill thereafter. Remember to also keep confirming and denying those kills. Those too will help you level up quickly with this setup.

13. Get creative with cover.
There’s not a whole lot in Modern Warfare 3 compared to past titles. You may have to think outside to box to find yourself some good cover on these maps. Don’t forget to duck to cover when needed.

14. Don’t run, walk around corners.
If you are unsure of what awaits around a corner, sometimes its best to calmly walk than to get caught of guard running. Again, if you do know someone is there, walking while pre-firing might be a great idea.

15. One thing to always keep in mind. Try to minimize lines of sight.
Also, memorize the spawn points on each maps and when the spawns tend to flip.

Of course, these our just our tips. Let’s hear your tips in the comment section below!

Also, check out our 15 tips for Battlefield 3!

MP1st

MP1st Staff

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BF3 – Changes to Semi-automatic Weapons On The Way

Could we see some exciting changes made to sem-automatic weapons in Battlefield 3 in the near future?

Alan Kertz, Senior Gameplay Designer at DICE, stated last night that he is “working with a coder today to make semi-automatic weapons fire smoother (like it was in BC2). Still some work to be done, hopefully soon.” While we’ve recently seen a PC patch (soon to come to consoles), it hasn’t included a significant amount of balance changes to weapons, at least in the terms of the way they shoot or the way they feel. Most of the changes have been teaks made to damage or range values. Now, Kertz hasn’t revealed if this is something that will be making it into an upcoming patch, but judging by his words, “still some work to be done, hopefully soon,” it looks like these changes may be happening in the near future.

Of course, fans have been asking if assault rifles/automatic weapons might be seeing changes as well. Kertz responded, “ARs are pretty ok, mostly this is pistols and semi-auto rifles and shotguns.” Other fans have stated that they believe semi-automatic weapons are fine the way they are, at the moment. Humorously, Kertz responded, “I assure you, they are not.”

Are you excited about some of these changes Kertz has mentioned? Did you prefer the semi-automatic weapons (rifles, pistols and shotguns) the way they were in Battlefield: Bad Company 2? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

 

David Veselka

Musician, Gamer, Geek. Subscriber

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New Modern Warfare 3 Patch is Now Live on PS3 and Xbox 360

A new Modern Warfare 3 patch is now available to download on consoles.

As Robert Bowling, Infinity Ward’s Creative Strategist, promised a few days ago, today MW3 has been patched with supposedly the much awaited “thanksgiving” patch that should address lag, matchmaking, and rank loss issues. The patch size for the PS3 is 21 MB and 4 MB for the 360, and you should be able to download it when you log into the multiplayer section of the game. Unfortunately, there are no official patch notes for this update, but Bowling is going to highlight what the last few patches have fixed at a later date. Based on limited firsthand experience and threads on the official Call of Duty forums, the patch seems to have addressed some of the aforementioned problems to an extent, but as the patch is still being rolled out not everyone is having the same experience. Most notably, the lag compensation seems to be removed, but we still await confirmation.

Make sure to visit our Modern Warfare 3 section to learn more about what’s being fixed in MW3.

Tell us about your experience after the new patch in the comments’ section below.

Modern Warfare 3 – 15 Tips To Improve Your Game

Fahed Jaradat

Senior Editor and Co-Founder. Multiplayer runs in my blood. Don't believe me? Ask for a sample! Subscriber

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MW3 – Modded Clan Tags to be Fixed, Still No Luck for Gamers 17 and Under

Lately, things are looking very good for Modern Warfare 3 with all the patches, hotfixes and updates that will be rolling out this week or soon after. However, there are still a few kinks to be worked out.

One issue that many gamers are finding rather annoying, as small as it may be, are the modded clan tags. You know, the guys who’s tags are made up of button symbols, often taking up more room than should be allowed. While it may seem like a little thing, Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games do take any exploitation seriously and have stated that they are taking action.

ATVIMikey has reported that “we are looking into it. Please continue to report them as you see them.” Remember, you can report players in-game by highlighting them in the matchmaking screen and choosing “report player.” Another example of tampering has also been noticed on some players with different colored gamertags. Fans looked to ATVIMikey asking if it can be confirmed to be an exploit. He responded, “looks like it. Report them in the game.”

Guy Beahm was asked if he could possible give an ETA as to when a fix might take place for these modded clan tags. He responded, “no ETA as of yet… I hear you though.” So, it looks like the team(s) behind Modern Warfare 3 are looking into it and can hopefully provide a fix in the near future.

Lastly, some concern has been raised regarding the age limit of Call of Duty Elite and the map packs. One fan asked if he will have access to Elite even though his xbox age is 17 and if not, will he still be able to get the map packs? ATVIMikey answered, “not currently, no, but we are looking it. Not sure about the map packs.” It would be extremely unfortunate if gamers under 17 were unable to access upcoming downloadable content, especially if they have already paid for Elite. Make sure to stay tuned to MP1st where we will provide you with an update once these issues have been resolved.

David Veselka

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Battlefield 3 PS3 Owners Getting Free BF 1943 After All

Battlefield 3 PS3 players will receive vouchers to redeem their free copies of BF 1943.

Last month, we reported on the fact that there was no mention of BF 1943 on the final box art of BF3. Then, EA confirmed that the downloadable title was not going to be available to PS3 owners for free. That was the end of the story until last week when a lawsuit was filed against EA for misleading and profiting “from thousands of their customers by making a promise that they could not, and never intended, to keep”, according to Kotaku. Now that the court is involved, EA claims that the Battlefield 1943 gate was simply a “misunderstanding” and wants to make good on its original promise for PS3 BF3 owners. Here are dates and instructions on when and how you will redeeming your free copies of BF 1943 via the PSN as shown on EA’s website.

When will I get it?

Battlefield 1943 PlayStation 3 vouchers will be available on the following dates via the 1943redemption.battlefield.com portal:

  • November 26th, 2011 for Battlefield 3 players on PlayStation Network Sony Europe.
  • December 10th, 2011 for Battlefield 3 players on PlayStation Network Sony America.
  • December 17th, 2011 for Battlefield 3 players on PlayStation Network Sony Asia and Sony Japan.

How can I redeem it?

To download your copy of Battlefield 1943 for the PlayStation 3 please follow the easy steps below.

  1. Activate your Battlefield 3 Online Pass for the PlayStation 3 using the voucher included in the game (see step #5 for additional instructions).
  2. Visit 1943redemption.battlefield.com on or after the dates outlined above for your region and log in with your Origin ID and password. Click here if you need help with retrieving your account information.
  3. Select your territory. Note vouchers do not work across regions.
  4. You will then receive a PlayStation 3 voucher for Battlefield 1943.
  5. input your voucher into the PlayStation Network store. Instructions below.
    1. From the XMB (cross media-bar) of the PlayStation 3 connected to a network, choose [account management] under the [PlayStation Network].
    2. From the menu select redeem codes.
    3. Enter voucher and select continue.
    4. Download Battlefield 1943.

Fahed Jaradat

Senior Editor and Co-Founder. Multiplayer runs in my blood. Don't believe me? Ask for a sample! Subscriber

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MW3: “No Weapon Re-balancing Being Discussed Currently” – Robert Bowling

Robert Bowling, Creative Strategist at Infinity Ward, talks of future updates and DLC.

You may have recently seen this video pretending to be  promotional material for an up-coming “Nostalgic Map Pack” for Modern Warfare 3. Robert Bowling was asked if he could confirm this, to which he replied, “No I can not. We have not announced what our future DLC plans are at this point. Right now focused on free updates.”

It has also been discovered that older maps from Modern Warfare 1 and 2 were also found some of the game files of Modern Warfare 3, which you can view here. Returning maps is a definite possibility, though nothing has been confirmed.

As to what these updates mentioned above will entail, Bowling has so far confirmed that the lag and matchmaking issues will be their main focus. It was recently thought that only the PS3 was to receive lag fixes, but Bowling has made it clear that “both platforms will be receiving updates to address lag concerns.” In fact, it seems that other issues like balance aren’t even on their plate at the moment. Bowling recently stated that “no weapon re-balancing being discussed currently. Focused on gameplay and performance updates first and foremost.”

What weapons or equipment do you feel need balancing in Modern Warfare 3? Let us know in the comments below!

David Veselka

Musician, Gamer, Geek. Subscriber

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DICE Reveals “Next” Battlefield 3 Patch Details

The Battlefield PC patch has been out for a full day now but already, fans are craving more, and perhaps rightfully so.

While the November 22nd patch looked at many issues, including hefty tweaks to balancing, it still left much to be desired. Many of the more sought-after changes were left out, like the much desired tweaks to flashlights and IRNV scopes. Though these two were addressed in a previous post which you can view here, DICE is beginning to reveal what sort of things we can look forward to in the next patch.

Of course, if you’ve missed what was included in the last update, you can view the entire list of patch notes here.

First, just to reassure, Daniel Matros, Global Community Manager at DICE has once again stated that though changes to the flashlight and IRNV “didn’t make it in this one,” they will be “coming with the next.” This should hopefully put out the fire burning in many BF fans’ eyes. On top of this, he was also asked if there are any plans to change the chatbox on PC, to which Matros responded, “there are plans to that, yes.” As for issues players are experiencing with the servers, Matros mentioned that he has “raised this with our team here.” I think we can all agree DICE wants us to play their game and so they will be doing everything in their power to make sure these game-restricting issues will be dealt with. On the topic of upset fans, Matros had this to say: “I think people have different opinions as to what Battlefield 3 should be. We’ve gathered fantastic feedback though.” Make sure to keep the feedback (hopefully constructive) coming.

Updated: On Reddit, Ian Tornay, EA Community Manager for Battlefield 3, has also cleared up many concerns that fans are having with the recent patch. This should also give a good idea as to what will be included in the next Battlefield 3 patch.

So, here’s what I’m seeing.

We’ve made progress that most of you appreciate and the fixes we are making are welcome. That being said, there are still some issues that you’ve been asking about that weren’t included in this patch. These include, but are not limited to:

  • In-game VOIP
  • Various nerfs including Taclight
  • changes to chat window (size, positioning)
  • Additional changes to squad interface, including the ability to make squads
  • Beep beeps (Which will be implemented, just not in this patch)
  • Squad and in-game interface changes (mostly revolving around the proposed fan-designed interface)
  • EDIT: TV Missles – definitely known (can’t believe i left it off)
  • EDIT: Spectator/Battlerecorder – Another very popular request. (I can’t believe I left it off! I’d like this too)

Please know that these are definitely on our radar as top issues for community requests.

Some of the issues addressed in this patch were brought to our attention by you guys, including the “negative acceleration” issue. We’re committed to continuing to act on your feedback!

Not all of the issues we’ve solved are as impactful or sexy as some of you were hoping for, but I hope everyone appreciates how hard the DICE team has been working.

Keep in mind that we’re still awaiting a patch for consoles which will most likely include similar balancing tweaks, but obviously other fixes specific to console issues.

What other issues would you like DICE to look into for a second patch? Let us know in the comments below!

David Veselka

Musician, Gamer, Geek. Subscriber

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MW3 Matchmaking is Going to be Patched “Hopefully” This Week

The two biggest issues that have been hindering your Modern Warfare 3 experience are being worked on.

A few days ago, we reported on the upcoming patch to address the lag problems in Modern Warfare 3. The other major annoyance with MW3 is the fact that matchmaking is not pairing players properly. Currently, when players leave the lobby, the matchmaking system is not bringing in other players to fill the void in many cases. This leaves players with no choice but to back out of the lobby and start searching for a new game. As we reported earlier, matchmaking for smaller countries is not letting players to team up with their friends who live in another country. Robert Bowling assures “updates to improve [matchmaking] should be included in the updates hitting this week (hopefully). Its something that’s important to us.” Unfortunately, Infinity Ward hasn’t released a complete list of patch notes for much anticipated patch. Although, Robert Bowling did promise that they “will be posting up some changelogs for all the updates since launch. Probably post-Thanksgiving update.” While patches are being deployed throughout the week, you might be having problems accessing your online vault. Don’t worry! Robert Bowling assures that your recorded gameplay is “not wiped. They’re still saved on the server, but are currently inaccessible in games while they do some updates. They’ll be back.”

Stay tuned to MP1st for the latest on Modern Warfare 3.

Fahed Jaradat

Senior Editor and Co-Founder. Multiplayer runs in my blood. Don't believe me? Ask for a sample! Subscriber

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BF3 – DICE Settles Patch Note Confusion: UMP-45, G3A3, SCAR-H, Tac Light and IRNV

Early this morning, a PC patch and server update was released for Battlefield 3. Of course, you can view the complete list of patch notes here. While it provided many improvements both in-game and server-side, many fans were still left wondering about the few, but important aspects that were left out such as the tactical flashlights and the IRNV scope.

DICE explains:

At first, it was thought that the tactical flashlights were indeed updated, but never made it into the patch notes. However, Alan Kertz, Senior Gameplay Designer at DICE, later confirmed that “the Flashlight was NOT changed in this patch, the Patch notes are Correct,” and also that there were “no IRNV changes in this update. Planned in the future.” When asked why they have been left out, Kertz simply responded, “It wasn’t done in time.” Daniel Matros, Global Community Manager at DICE added that the “IRNV and flashlight fixes are in a later patch. Didn’t make it into this one. We found these changes to be more necessary than waiting.” Of course, many of you may remember these 3 pictures of how the tactical light was to be nerfed, posted by Kertz himself. However, Matros clarified that it “wasn’t an official ‘this will be in the patch’ kind of statement.” These statements also confirm that another patch for Battlefield 3 is in the works, besides the console updated that will be rolling out later this week. Make sure to stay tuned to MP1st via Twitter or Facebook where we will have these notes posted as they become available.

Alan Kertz also spoke further of what types of changes were made to some of our favorite Battlefield 3 weapons. Many have been curious as to why changes to the UMP-45 were left out of the patch note list when, in fact, it was not. “UMP is changed by the .45cal weapons note. PDW-R twice to note it had a unique change in addition to the group change,” Kertz clarified. When asked how could the G3A3 possibly still be useful after such a nerf, Kertz responded, “damage over range, and it’s only lost a bit of damage up close, it’s still competitive.” Kertz also assures us that the SCAR-H has been nerfed “only slightly up close. Very Slightly.” When asked is this means it will now take 4 shots up-close to kill an enemy, rather than 3, Kertz answered, “indeed. Still will be the same in hardcore though. 3 shots.”

Lastly, as a follow-up to one of our earlier posts, Daniel Matros further confirms that consoles with be receiving “3 and 5” flag Conquest maps in the upcoming Back to Karkand expansion pack, due out this December.

According to these Patch Notes, what fixes are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments below!

David Veselka

Musician, Gamer, Geek. Subscriber

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Battlefield 3 Official and Complete Patch Notes for November 22

Recently, DICE and EA have revealed the entire list of upcoming fixes on the Battlelog which will be available tomorrow, November 22nd.

 

Patch notes for Nov 22 patch

Major client update for the PC version Battlefield 3 as well as a server-side update for all platforms. The update will be made on Nov. 22nd 7:00 AM UTC / Nov. 21st 11:00 PM PST.We’ll share release timing on the console patches as soon as we are clear on the timing, these take a bit longer due to console certification process.

—- Client-Side Changes:

— Visuals, Stability and Performance Fixes:

• General performance and loading time improvements
• “Black Screen” fix for an issue occurring on some PC Configurations
• Stereo and Rendering Support for Nvidia and AMD Graphics Cards
• Adjusted the “stuttering” encountered on some PC configurations.
• Fixed several Crashes when joining MP and Co-Op sessions
• Fixed multiple problems when using multiple monitors (Eyefinity / Surround).
• Fixed visual corruption issues on certain Nvidia Cards
• Improved loading times for certain textures
• Added console command “GameTime.MaxVariableFps” to limit max FPS
• Added console command “UI.DrawEnable” to hide UI for screenshots / videos

— Balance and Gameplay Adjustments (PC)

• Fixed a problem with high speed mouse movement
• Added back some missing Growlers on Kharg Island Conquest Large
• Added back EOR sound for SQDM and TDM
• You should no longer be able to damage a friendly vehicle when sitting in an open position
• Grenades now drop to ground if you get killed while attempting to throw it(note the affect this will have on Hardcore mode!)
• Spawn protection now should work in Conquest. You should no longer spawn on points too close to enemies
• You should no longer spawn too close to enemies in TDM and SQDM
• Combat areas on Kharg Rush tweaked in order to disallow defenders to access the carrier ship after 1st base is taken and being able to enter the AA gun
• Fixed a problem with revived players not suffering suppression
• Fixed a problem with the camera when being revived in COOP
• Added joystick deadzone setting
• Fixed sound for when climbing ladders
• Fixed an issue with some weapon sounds in first person
• Fixed a swim sound loop error
• Increased the damage of Helicopter Miniguns, AA guns, and Jet Cannons against infantry
• Increased the damage of Helicopter Miniguns against jeeps.
• Reduced the physics impact of AA guns and Jet Cannons, players under attack from these weapons should no longer lose control.
• Increased the damage of the 44 Magnum slightly.
• Increased the range and minimum damage of the .357 Round from the MP412 Rex.
• Increased the range of all .45cal and 9mm weapons.
• Slightly increased the range of the P90 and MP7 and PDW-R.
• Slightly increased the range of the 5.56mm PDW-R and decreased the minimum damage at long range.
• Slightly increased the minimum range of the Mk11, SVD, and M39 EMR 7.62mm rifles.
• Decreased the maximum damage and maximum range of the G3 and SCAR-H 7.62mm weapons.
• Reduced the damage from FIM-92 and SA-18 IGLA missiles against aircraft.
• Increased the damage and range of the 40mm BUCK rounds.
• Reduced the damage .50cal weapons do against Helicopters.
• Updated T90 canister shell tweaks to match Abrams canister shells
UI Changes (PC)
• Added round duration and ticket summary at EOR
• Advanced squad polish – should be more intuitive
• Significant changes to the Join Squad functionality (see below)
• Fixed a problem regarding keybindings while playing
• You should now get a better error message when being disconnected via Battlelog

—- Server Update Highlights

• EOD Bot exploit fix
• Several crash fixes
• Anti-stat padding measures taken, disallowing ranked servers to run obscure settings
• Improved team kill kick configuration
• Support for unranked servers. Unranked servers do not report players’ scores to Battlelog, but server administrators can freely control all settings

— Share your profile and stats with new Battlelog functionality

• Ability to share your Profile and Stats pages to Facebook, Google+, and Twitter
• User Profile and Stats pages on Battlelog can now be accessed without being signed in to Battlelog if you know a user’s URL
• Single sign on from Battlelog to Origin. If you’re not logged in to Origin and join a game server, Battlelog will automatically sign you in to Origin in the background and join the game server

— Quick notes on Squad changes in the Nov 22 update

• Removed FIND ME A SQUAD option
• Allow players to join empty Squads alone, thus having 1/4 squad members
• Change order of options to LEAVE SQUAD, INV A FRIEND, SWITCH TEAM
• Disable Privacy flag when 1 man squad
• Reset Privacy flag from Private to Public when squad drops to 1 player
• All occupied Squads will now show up colored blue on the Squad Selection screen
• Players who choose not to join squads will also show up as Blue in the “Not in a Squad” line
• Squads that are currently empty will display as white — if you wish to join an empty Squad, you can choose the first one marked with white text

— A detailed look at Squad refinements

Today’s PC client patch features numerous tweaks to Squad functionality and is part of our ongoing efforts to make it easier to play with friends and Platoon mates. These changes will also be implemented for consoles when we release the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 updates shortly. Stay tuned for the exact date of the console updates.

First, we need to look at how joining with Squads and Platoons affects the balance of teams. Initially, servers are commanded to equal out each side, so joining with friends can impact that balance while joining with Platoons further hinders this. As a result we have made some adjustments to the in-game Squad management screen.

For PC, you are now able to highlight the various Squads and select which one you wish to join by selecting a Squad and then clicking the Join Squad button. Please note that the Squad Privacy option still allows 2 man Squads which, during 64 player sessions, can lead to players with no squad position –- the number of people with no Squads will be shown at the bottom of the Squad selection list.

After the patch is applied to consoles (in the near future) you will be able to join Squads by cycling through the list and selecting which Squad you wish to join.

Not mentioned in this list were the changes DICE originally planned to make regarding Mortars and the IRNV scope.

Make sure to follow MP1st on Twitter and Facebook for more Battlefield 3 news!

David Veselka

Musician, Gamer, Geek. Subscriber

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New Battlefield 3 Dog Tags Available in the Official DICE Store, Stay Tuned for Upcoming Givaways

You’ve been stealing dog tags off of dead soldiers playing Battlefield 3 for almost a month now. Might be time to get yourself a real pair!

The Official Dice Store is now offering four class-specific dog tags for you to proudly wear, on top of an already wide selection of Battlefield 3 t-shirts, hoodies, artwork, and much more.

Make sure to head on over to the store to grab yourself a pair of these Battlefield 3 dog tags! Just watch your back while walking down the street with these bad boys. Don’t want to lose them now.

Also, make sure to stay tuned to MP1st as we celebrate our partnership with the DICE store. We have some up-coming and exciting give-aways for you guys so make sure to follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook!

For now, get an up-close view of these tags (click on image to enlarge):

Assault
Engineer
Support
Recon

David Veselka

Musician, Gamer, Geek. Subscriber

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Battlefield 3 PC Patch Incoming, Consoles to Follow Shortly

Update: Battlefield 3 Official and Complete Patch Notes for November 22

Not quite a month after the highly anticipated release of Battlefield 3 and DICE has finally released details on an incoming patch.

The first update rolling out next week will be exclusively for the PC version of Battlefield 3. Console patches will follow shortly after, once the certification requirements have been met.

In this update, players will see improvements to:

  • polish
  • stability
  • weapons balancing
  • squad control functionality
  • user interface enhancements
  • several other feature enhancements based on community feedback
  • plus a removal of the “negative mouse acceleration”

In addition, DICE has stated that they will “continue to analyze data to identify and hold accountable (ban, wipe stats) players that cheat or boost.” For the moment, DICE advises clicking the warning symbol next to any name on the Battlelog that you suspect is cheating, or head to the EA Help Desk to report any issues.

Stay tuned to MP1st for a full list of patch notes! Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter, or like us on Facebook!

For the moment, it might be a good idea to review a list of bugs and glitches DICE has confirmed to be looking into.

David Veselka

Musician, Gamer, Geek. Subscriber