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BF3 – EA Has “Gotten a Handle On” Server Issues. “Should be Solid” Now

  by   David Veselka  
October 30, 2011 12:51 pm in News

In a recent EA earnings conference call, Frank Gibeau, EA Games Label President, spoke of the state of EA’s servers that are currently supporting the online portion of Battlefield 3.

One investor in particular asked, “we’re hearing there’s some issues with recent server outages that prevented gamers from accessing the multiplayer game. Did these servers go down due to a larger-than-expected demand or was it some other issue?” Gibeau answered, “In terms of the network services, we have had unprecedented and historic peaks in terms of the activity that we’re getting from the Battlefield community and players, and it’s caused parts of our networks to experience some outages.”

This is something many players have obviously has issues with in the first few days after launch. However, it seems EA is getting the hang of things according to Gibeau. “We were very rapid in our response there. We were able to get those back up. We feel like we’ve really gotten a handle on it now, and the service as it scales to the release in Europe this weekend, should be solid.”

Also, look for an upcoming patch in the next couple of weeks!

Do you think EA will get a tight grip on the server issues? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below and follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Make sure to check out our Battlefield 3 Multiplayer Review!

Tags: Battlefield 3 EA Featured Frank Gibeau Servers

David Veselka

Musician, Gamer, Geek. Subscriber

Home > Features

Battlefield 3 Multiplayer Review: A Masterpiece In a Patch or Two

  by   David Veselka  
October 29, 2011 4:22 pm in Features

Patch Notes

PC

Xbox 360

PS3

DLC

Review

The scale of Battlefield 3’s multiplayer is gigantic; yet, where the game really shines is in the details. It’s this balance of macro and micro that make this one of the more fully-packed, yet polished, first person shooters of this generation.

The Scale

Battlefield 3’s online multiplayer is huge. It does everything: expansive and wide open terrains, large scale battles with many soldiers on the field at once (up to 24 on consoles and 64 on PC), vehicles like tanks, helicopters and jets, intense destruction, and a worldwide social networking system called the Battlelog to back it all up.

Where it all begins, though, is in the multiplayer menu. In this menu there are three initial options: quick match, for those who just want to choose a game mode and a map without being too picky; server browser, for those who want a more customized experience; and leaderboards. Quick match allows you to choose from five different game modes and nine different maps, with more on the way in the form of DLC.

Conquest allows two teams to battle it out over a number of flags, the number depending on the map. Whichever team has the most flags captured will have an easier time lowering the enemy team’s ticket count (lives). Many would consider this mode to be the staple way to play Battlefield, and in this iteration, it’s no different. The beauty of this game mode is that it requires strategy and communication. You need to stick with your squad, decide which flag you want to take, and how you are going to take it. Do you flank the enemy from the side, or attack head-on with helis and tanks? It goes much deeper than this, however, and it is one of the richest and most rewarding ways you can play battlefield.

Rush is a much more intense and focused game mode in that you are given only two objectives to attack or defend. Once they are taken, the map opens up to a new section, allowing the battle to progress almost like a story. Some of my only complaints lie in this game mode, however. I found some map layouts to be extremely unforgiving to the attacking team. Two examples I can think of is the first base in Tehran Highway and second base in Grand Bazaar.

Team deathmatch was an interesting and fun game mode that made its debut in Battlefield 3. Surprisingly, it actually works quite well. Since DICE has given us many customization options for our weapons, it really allows us to play the way we want to play and to shine more as an individual, rather than a team. I also love how quickly it is possible to re-spawn after death, making it a very fast paced game mode. It’s a great to just have some fun shooting other people without having to worry about an objective. It’s also a great place for newcomers to start in order to get a feel for the gunplay and basic mechanics of the game. For a new addition to the Battlefield series, it almost does a better job than some other shooters who have been doing it for years.

These three game modes are where I have spent most of my time up till now; however, squad deathmatch and squad rush are just more compact versions of their bigger brothers. One thing I would have liked to see in the quick match screen is the hardcore and infantry counterparts of each game mode. Right now, this is only selectable through the server browser.

A server browser in a console game is something uncommon, but it should be in every shooter with dedicated servers. DICE really went above and beyond with the console market by allowing us to choose our servers that we want to play on. Many options are available here, on PC as well, of course, including presets, ranked/unranked, and region. Battlefield 3 has three different presets for each game mode. Normal is fairly self explanatory; it’s the core battlefield experience with vehicles and regular HUD, health and damage. Hardcore takes your HUD away while increasing damage and lowering health. This makes for a very realistic and intense type of gameplay; however, expect the pace of the match to be much slower. Infantry is your regular Battlefield experience, but without the vehicles. This might be another good starting point to learn the game modes without having to worry about choppers and jets bringing the pain. Unranked servers are currently unavailable at the moment but should be later on and should allow for many customization options.

It would also be great if DICE could add tutorial servers, where we could  practice our piloting skills, for example. Of course, it’s always great to be able to choose your region so you know you’ll be getting a good connection. Ping is also viewable for each server before selecting.

Teamwork is a huge component to the gameplay in Battlefield, and it’s important to be able to manage your squad easily. Luckily, a squad management system is just a click away on consoles and is easily available on the Battlelog for PC players, though I have not been able to test it out on a computer. Pushing start on consoles will bring up a list of all your friends online that you can invite to a squad. Once you are all squadded up, it’s just a matter of the leader finding a game.

Unfortunately, this is easier said than done and this is where some of my biggest gripes lie. I had loads of troubles trying to find a game with my squad, even when it was only made up of myself and one other. We would constantly receive notices of connection problems to game session or simply be kicked out of a game the moment we joined. Though, once we were both in a game together, and even if were weren’t on the same squad or team, it was a easy to either switch sides or choose our own squad to join. Of course, something like this could be, and hopefully will be, brushed off as a “day-one” or “launch” problem, including the sometimes fragile connection to the servers. I fully expect DICE to resolve these issues.

If you haven’t yet, make sure to sign up for the Battelog. This amazing little social network allows players to find and follow friends, view stats and unlocks in great detail, contribute to forums and even chat with others. Of course, for PC gamers, it will be their main hub for joining up with squads and finding matches, since all matchmaking is done through the Battlelog. In-game, console users get a small feed of updates on the right of the main menues. If you’d like, you can become a fan of the MP1st platoon!

Jets are back!

Pages: 1 2
Tags: Battlefield 3 BF3 DICE Featured MP1st PC PS3 Xbox 360

David Veselka

Musician, Gamer, Geek. Subscriber

Home > News

New Battlefield 3 Patch Details – Changes to Aiming, PP-2000, and Much More

  by   Fahed Jaradat  
11:37 am in News

More details on the new patch for Battlefield 3 have surfaced including balancing, aiming mechanics, and other fixes.

Balancing

By far the easiest way to take down helis at moment is to use the Stinger against them; however, this will not be as easy in the near future. Alan Kertz, Battlefield 3’s Gameplay Designer, has pointed out that the Stingers’ nerf “is in discussion at the office now.” Fredrik Thylander, Senior Designer, reassured that the nerf is indeed “incoming”. To follow up on yesterday’s post, Kertz explained that Jets will not get disabled by 1 shot as it is the case at the moment; however, no further explanation was provided.

With the UMP will soon be doing more damage, another PDW, PP-2000, is going to be buffed as well. When a fan asked Kertz to alter the PP-2000 to be in “a middle ground between the beta and final release”, Kertz simply responded “that’s the plan”. On the snipers’ front, a fan pointed out to Daniel Matros the discrepancy in the magazine size of the M39 EMR between the battlelog and the actual game; the battlelog shows a 20+1 magazine size as opposed to the current 10+1 in game. Daniel assured that this will be fixed.

Yesterday, in terms of balancing, we reported on Jets, UMP, and Sidearms being patched to become more effective.

Aiming

Some players have been vocal in their displeasure with the final release aiming mechanics, they felt that it was spot on in the beta and the issue can be easily sorted by setting the aiming back to as it was in the beta. Kertz shed some light on the issue by stating “if it was that simple, it wouldn’t be a problem. It’s not the controls, something else is going on. [DICE’s] engineers are looking into it.” Just a side note, Kertz was referring to real life engineers, not in game!

Issues

DICE is also working on the following:

  • Game activation problems.
  • Addressing lag on the 360 as well, which has been hampering our MP1st squad. If you’re looking for your fellow MP heads on BF3, the easiest way is to become a fan MP1st’s platoon.
  • Following up on one of our earlier reports, Tomas Danko explains “negative mouse acceleration fix should be included [in the patch]”
  • Australian servers, or the lack of thereof.
  • Spawning without having a gun in hand.
  • Please read yesterday’s post for the rest.

Make sure to follow MP1st on Twitter and Facebook for the latest on Battlefield 3 and check out:

Our Battlefield 3 Multiplayer Review: A Masterpiece In a Patch or Two

3 Reasons BF Players Would Get Booted From the Real Military

What else do think needs fixing? Personally, I’m still experiencing  reload animation problems from time to time, less frequent than the beta though.

Tags: Alan Kertz Battlefield 3 DICE Featured Fredrik Thylander Patch Patch Notes Tomas Danko

Fahed Jaradat

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

Home > Features

The 5 Most Iconic Multiplayer Maps

  by   Graham  
October 28, 2011 4:13 pm in Features

Map and level design can make or break a multiplayer title, and a great killing field can transcend its game and become the stuff of legend. Modders and amateur mapmakers often reproduce painstakingly accurate maps for games other than the ones it was built for. Why is this? What hold does an iconic map have on the gamers inhabiting it? While that philosophical debate might be better off held in another forum, it’s clear that the following five maps have that certain “x-factor,” or intangible element that makes them classics, and truly iconic.

de_dust2 (Counter-strike)

Appearing in both Counter-strike 1.6 and Counter-strike: Source (pictured below), the defuse map dust2 is arguably one of the most widely recognized multiplayer settings in gaming history. Seemingly bland and uninspired when viewed statically, the map surprises the first-time player with its well-balanced choke points and objective locations. The map features some wide-open areas that house intense firefights between teams, as well as s few tight corridors that are seemingly designed specifically for ambushes. Countless servers run this map exclusively 24/7, and are filled to capacity at any given time of the day. Rivaled only by office, de_dust2 is truly an iconic map that will no doubt be played for years to come (hopefully gamers will be setting and defusing bombs in a third iteration of the map when CS:GO launches next year).

Blood Gulch (Halo)

While the Halo campaign justified the existence of both Microsoft’s Xbox and console-based first person shooters, the game’s dedicated fanbase stuck around for years due to its local multiplayer. Featuring a variety of arena-style maps as well as more open, airy levels, Halo definitely set a precedent for console shooters. Its most iconic and beloved map? Blood Gulch. A broad valley featuring a solitary cave and cliff overlooking a field of grass connecting two small bases, Blood Gulch housed scores of capture the flag matches. A symmetrical map with extensive vehicle support, Blood Gulch was the go-to map for LAN parties and split screen warthog-racing mayhem. The map was so popular that Halo developers Bungie recreated it as Coagulation for Halo 2, and again as Hemorrhage for Halo: Reach.

The Longest Yard (Quake 3 Arena)

Quake 3 Arena was one of many excellent arena-style shooters to release in the late 1990’s, and fought a hard battle with Epic’s Unreal Tournament for deathmatch-focused dominance. Focusing primarily on team-based play, Quake 3 Arena was (and still is) the home for many gamers itching for a balanced, fast-paced game of capture the flag or team deathmatch. While Q3A boasted a number of maps upon release, the real reason to stick with the game was its extensive modding community. That being said, The Longest Yard is an iconic map that came from id Software themselves. The map takes place on a series of open platforms in space, with a number of bounce pads offering players access to the higher ground and power weapons. The Longest Yard matches are fast, brutal, and fun, with many a death to be found by both enemies and falling into space.

Gridlock (Gears of War)

Gears of War spat in the face of its first person competitors, and offered a new spin on an old standard. Players trundled along in third person, vaulting over cover, and methodically taking on enemies from behind sandbags, walls, and rubble. Its multiplayer offerings were an inspired set, and featured a number of unique maps with dynamic elements and devastating power weapons. Gridlock was the most-loved map from the game (so loved, in fact, that it is also featured in both of the game’s sequels), and is a slick symmetrical death-grinder located on a dilapidated city block. Most rounds begin with a race to the Longshot and the Boomshot, both of which can quickly turn the tides of any battle. The map has enough space to offer differing shootouts in any given scenario, but is still small enough so that no player could get lost or turned around. It’s an arena-style map for a non-arena shooter.

Rainbow Road (Mario Kart)

Hey-o! It’s a wrench in the works. While Mario Kart differs from the previous games in pretty much every respect, it still has its own iconic and awesome maps. Rainbow Road is no doubt the most iconic Mario Kart map/track. Featured in every iteration of the series, the map is known for its ridiculously long lap times and precarious, unguarded turns. When a single slight error in drifting or a mistimed projectile could take you from first to last, Rainbow Road was anyone’s game up until the end of the final lap. Most impressive was the form it took in Mario Kart Wii; dominating your competitors using the Wii Wheel as opposed to the Wii remote and nunchuck is a legendary task.

With a list of only five, we’re sure that we left off some great iconic maps. Let us know the error of our ways in the comments. Make sure to check out 3 Reasons BF Players Would Get Booted From the Real Military and The 5 Greatest Multiplayer Game Developers.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Tags: "Gears of War" CS:GO Featured Halo Mario Kart Multiplayer Quake 3 Arena

Graham

I teach, and I game. That is all. Subscriber

Home > News

MW2 and Black Ops Double XP Weekend Now Live – Including Nuketown 24/7

  by   Fahed Jaradat  
2:16 pm in News

Double XP Weekend has officially kicked off.

Now you can start earning Double XP on Modern Warfare 2 and Black Ops until 10 AM (PDT) on Tuesday. Also, Treyarch was generous enough to sweeten the deal with the return of the beloved playlist “Nuketown 24/7 “.

If you have struggled to cope with Nuketown, here’s a loadout you should try out.

Weapon: One of these assault rifles: AK-47, Famas, AUG, Galil, Commando.

Attachment: Duel mags or Silencer

Equipment: Motion Sensor or Claymore

Perk 1: Flak Jacket (Pro or not)

Perk 2: Sleight of Hand (Pro)

Perk 3: Tactical Mask (Pro)

Killstreaks should be picked based on your skill level.

Be sure to follow MP1st on Twitter and Facebook!

Tags: Black Ops Double XP Featured Modern Warfare 2 Nuketown

Fahed Jaradat

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

Home > News

Battlefield 3 Patch Details: Jets, Pistols, and UMP will be Adjusted and More

  by   Fahed Jaradat  
12:55 pm in News

Update: New Battlefield 3 Patch Details – Changes to Aiming, PP-2000, and Much More

Now that a patch has been confirmed for Battlefield 3, we’re getting more information on which weapons and vehicles will be affected and what issues will be ironed out.

Balancing

Alan Kerts, Battlefield 3‘s Gameplay Designer, reveals that “pistols will be getting a bit of love in the near future.” A slight improvement in the damage department for pistols is certainly welcome. After nerfing the UMP since the beta, Kerts admitted “it [UMP] got the nerf bat pretty hard. Gave it back some power today. I’ll be playing to monitor balance.” The UMP is unlocked at level 16 and can be used on all kits.

Some fans have been outspoken about the effectivity of the jets asking for improvement. One fan expressed his concerns to Fredrik Thylander demanding “they [jets] need a buff.” Thylander, Senior Designer at DICE, confirmed “they [jets] are getting it [the buff].”

Issues

DICE is looking into the following issues, besides the usual server problems:

  • PS3 users communication problems.
  • BF3.exe has stopped responding on PC.
  • Teaming up with friends and getting into the same side.
  • PS3 input lag.
  • Other issues in yesterday’s post.

Make sure to follow MP1st on Twitter and Facebook for the latest on Battlefield 3 and check out:

Battlefield 3 – 15 Tips to Improve Your Game

Our Battlefield 3 Co-op Review (stay tuned for our MP review tomorrow.)

What else would you like to see fixed or altered? We’ll try to get your comments to DICE.

Tags: Battlefield 3 Patch Featured Issues Jets UMP

Fahed Jaradat

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

Home > Features

Ghost Recon Future Soldier: The Next Online Sensation?

  by   Graham  
October 27, 2011 7:04 pm in Features

After a decidedly unimpressive showing at E3 2010, Ghost Recon and its developers Ubisoft Paris went into stealth mode for almost an entire year, tweaking and tuning the game in order to please the fans of the series as well as garner interest in new players. After a number of reveals over the past six months, including an impressive stage demonstration at Gamescom, it appears as though Ghost Recon Future Soldier will not only be an acceptable 10th entry into the franchise, but also take it to new multiplayer heights. Currently scheduled for a March 6, 2012 release, the online multiplayer portion of GRFS is looking to challenge some of the big hitters at their own game.

Many of the adjustments and enhancements made to the multiplayer portion of GRFS are minor, but combined they make for a drastic change an improvement to an already solid, if a little generic, multiplayer series. The cover system has bee refined, allowing Ghosts to seamlessly move from cover to cover in quick SWAT-turns reminiscent of Gears of War. Sprinting is quick and necessary; running from cover to cover will keep you alive in GRFS, as most cover is destructible and degradable, and with the plethora of airborne enemy equipment tracking your position, staying put will likely get you fragged.

Many of the minor additions to GRFS seem to be cribbed from other successful games, and the borrowed elements fit Ubisoft’s shooter like a glove. In an odd twist, the two most obvious HUD additions are lifted from EA’s Dead Space series. In Dead Space, players can click in the thumbstick to reveal a brightly lit line on the ground, directing them towards their current objective. It is a helpful feature that cleans up level navigation and pathfinding. In GRFS, the same button-activated line will appear to lead players towards the current map and gametype’s objectives. This is a minor yet incredibly helpful feature that should have been regularly implemented into online multiplayer games years ago. From the first day of play, players will know exactly where to go in an online match, and the pathfinder will greatly aid in the team-based focus of the game. Another basic HUD tweak inspired by Dead Space is the W.A.R., or Weapon Augmented Reality. Stemming from the player’s equipped weapon will be a virtual display of ammunition and clips, helping the player recognize reload and resupply times without having to look at the far edge of the screen.

Weapon customization has become an implied requisite in every modern multiplayer shooter, and the unique gun options and tweaks that made the Modern Warfare series such a massive success look to be dwarfed by Ghost Recon’s new Gunsmith. Gunsmith allows the player unparalleled customization with each and every weapon, from overt additions such as scopes, optics, and barrels, to minuscule tuning such as the gas-powered firing mechanisms and trajectory mechanics. Each of the three classes features a variety of weapons and equipment, and the extensive customization options are sure to keep players invested and gameplay fresh for months.

While there seems to be a division between popular multiplayer shooters, with science fiction and futuristic games clashing with modern military titles, GRFS will erase that disconnect and offer up a battlefield appealing to both. While the game features the standard modern military weapons, environments, classes, and aesthetics, the equipment and abilities are more reminiscent of Crysis or Halo than Modern Warfare. The light-bending suits that the Ghosts don provide limited time of complete invisibility, and the stun gun can paralyze an opponent, giving the attacker a precious few seconds to hack into the downed enemy’s suit and gain precious intel. This intel will offer the player and his team information as to the location and status of the paralyzed player’s teammates. The drones also play more akin to Aliens than Black Hawk Down, and are flyable and drivable by the player, and operate like a souped-up version of Battlefield’s UAV fliers. This marriage of the futuristic and the modern will do well in bringing together a wider player base.

Ghost Recon will ship with 4 different competitive multiplayer game modes, each featuring a heavy emphasis on objective play (even their version of Team Deathmatch is based around objectives). In addition to these modes, a fleshed-out cooperative campaign and a main story campaign will offer players a huge amount of variety in how they wish to tackle the game. Ubisoft is also one of the few developers that appears to be taking core Kinect gaming seriously; the game is playable with the motion-controlled add-on, and operates rather fluidly (if E3 and Gamescom demos can be trusted). For instance, to fire an equipped weapon, the player just opens his hand. To stop firing, he closes it. Whether the entire Ghost Recon experience will be playable with Kinect, or just the Gunsmith and a few specific game modes, has yet to be confirmed.

Ghost Recon is shaping up to be a killer multiplayer game, and will launch at the right time; by March, many of the early Battlefield 3 and Modern Warfare 3 adopters will be itching for some variety. Most retailers are already accepting preorders for the game’s March 6 release date, and Gamestop preorders will be instantly (and freely) upgraded to the Limited Signature Edition. The Signature Edition will include an exclusive head customization mode, 2 new in-game weapons, a new cooperative map, and a Penny Arcade weapon skin.

Stay tuned to MP1st; we’ll continue to bring you information and coverage of Ghost Recon Future Soldier and other upcoming multiplayer games. Make sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook! Speaking of upcoming games, check out 8 Upcoming Fighting Games Worth Brawling For.

Tags: Featured Ghost Recon Future Soldier GRFT Ubisoft Ubisoft France

Graham

I teach, and I game. That is all. Subscriber

Home > News

Battlefield 3 – Incoming Fixes and Patch Confirmed

  by   David Veselka  
4:12 pm in News

Two days after it’s launch, It looks like fixes for Battlefield 3 are already in the works. The game did suffer from a few launch issues, but those seem to have been fixed.

According to Fredrik Thylander, Senior Designer at DICE, a future patch is already being worked on. When asked when we will be seeing a bug fix, Thylander responded yesterday, “it’s the day after release here, so I do not for the life of me have a schedule, but the fix has gone in to the patch-code.” There are a few fixes that we can speculate will make it into the incoming patch.

DICE has reported that they are “aware of the issues that are affecting users’ ability to activate BF3 and to redeem game codes. [They’ll] update once fixed.”

Regarding some problems PC players have been experiencing with the mouse, it seems DICE has “found the issue thanks to your guys’ threads. Sneaky bug.” Apparently, “it’s a code thing, not a setting. When [the mouse] hit the cap for movement it interpolated time of movement instead of distance.”

Many fans on the PC and PS3 have reported issues of look sensitivity. On PC, it probably has much to do with the problem noted above. However, Ian Tornay has stated that “we’ve heard similar concerns regarding the sensitivity and control for PC and PS3. We’ve forwarded all of these concerns along to the DICE team who is looking at this issue.”

These are most likely just a few of the things that will be making it into the first patch for Battlefield 3. Again, no expected date has been given. Remember to report any problems you notice to DICE in order for them to make the proper improvements. Meanwhile, check out Dr. Pepper’s Giveaway. It seems they are giving out in-game content as prizes for purchasing their product. If you’re interested in earning some exclusive new dog tags, then grab your self some Dr. Peppers.

Make sure to follow MP1st on Twitter and Facebook where we can keep you up-to-date on the latest Battlefield 3 news. Also, check out our review of Battlefield 3 co-op and stay tuned for a full multiplayer review!

Tags: Battlefield 3 DICE Featured Fredrik Thylander Ian Tornay Patch

David Veselka

Musician, Gamer, Geek. Subscriber

Home > Features

Battlefield 3 Co-op Review

  by   MP1st Staff  
October 26, 2011 7:48 pm in Features

It is hard in the beginning, not to compare this Battlefield 3’s co-op to Battlefield Bad Company 2’s Onslaught. In Battlefield Bad Company 2, the co-op mode placed 1-4 players in a simulated battle against bots to capture various points on multiple maps. No story, no unlocks, but fun for a while. Battlefield 3’s two player co-op takes you and a friend on six missions that have a variety of objectives related to the surrounding events of the campaign.

Your first unlocked stage is called Operation Exodus, which places you into an US camp where several enemy POWs are being detained. Your mission: defend the base until all personnel have been evacuated. At first, it starts off slow when an enemy scout is spotted far off on the horizon. Suddenly, action erupts as a wave of enemies race non-stop towards your team. You need to destroy vehicles, spot enemies, and protect Humvees as your cover is being chipped away by bullets flying past your position. It gets loud, insane and extremely fun as they attempt to break your defensive line.

Keeping your teammate alive is vital in this game mode. If your partner is “downed”, you are given a prompt to revive him by holding a button till his health is restored. If your teammate dies or you fail the mission, the game ends and you have to start over. There are no checkpoints in co-op, which makes beating each level very rewarding. This quickly forces each player to communicate and work as a team, since it is impossible to win on your own. Communication between teammates is the only way to succeed, so having a headset is almost a must. If you don’t have a headset you can still spot your enemies for your teammate, which places an orange dot over the enemy. Also if you don’t have a partner to start with, there is an option of starting the mode as public and have someone join your game.

Once you have completed a mission, your stats are saved on Battlelog where you can compare co-op stats, leaderboards and unlocks. Your combined points during each mission also go towards your co-op specific multiplayer unlock, which just like in multiplayer, can take thousands of points to unlock.

As much fun as this mode is, it does has a few flaws. After retrying a few rounds, the waves of enemies predictably crowded into the same area, so it was easy to plan ahead. Eventually mission success would be based on remembering what to do in each scripted situation. Vehicles are touched upon in this mode, but can severely handicap you since you can’t choose which position you will be assigned. Which can lead to a frustrating death mere seconds after starting the stage. Also there is no split screen available and co-op can only be played online.

Battlefield 3’s co-op is not perfect. However, the fun I had with friends made me overlook the flaws. It is simply a short but fun distraction from Battlefield 3’s main draw, the massive online multiplayer.

Stay tuned for the competitive multiplayer review tomorrow and follow MP1st on Twitter and Facebook.

 

Tags: Battlefield 3 Co-Op DICE Featured

MP1st Staff

Home > News

PlayStation Network Maintenance Coming Up

  by   Fahed Jaradat  
7:35 pm in News

The PlayStation Network will undergo maintenance in the upcoming hours.

The European PlayStation Blog revealed that “there will be a routine PSN maintenance on Thursday between 02:00 and 08:00 UK time. PS Network services may be intermittent for some users.”

Unfortunately, it is unknown if this will only affect PSN users in Europe or internationally, so just in case here are the time conversions in different territories.

From

Asia/Tokyo

10:00:00 27-Oct-2011
Australia/Sydney

12:00:00 27-Oct-2011
CET

03:00:00 27-Oct-2011
CST6CDT

20:00:00 26-Oct-2011
EST

20:00:00 26-Oct-2011
Europe/London

02:00:00 27-Oct-2011
GMT

01:00:00 27-Oct-2011
MST

18:00:00 26-Oct-2011
PST8PDT

18:00:00 26-Oct-2011

Until:

Asia/Tokyo

16:00:00 27-Oct-2011
Australia/Sydney

18:00:00 27-Oct-2011
CET

09:00:00 27-Oct-2011
CST6CDT

02:00:00 27-Oct-2011
EST

02:00:00 27-Oct-2011
Europe/London

08:00:00 27-Oct-2011
GMT

07:00:00 27-Oct-2011
MST

00:00:00 27-Oct-2011
PST8PDT

00:00:00 27-Oct-2011

Don’t forget to follow MP1st on Twitter and Facebook!

Tags: Down Featured Maintenance PSN Times

Fahed Jaradat

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

Home > Features

3 Reasons BF Players Would Get Booted From the Real Military

  by   Graham  
3:22 pm in Features

Listen, online Battlefield players – we know that your skill rank is top-notch, your kill-to-death ratio is 2.0, and your score-per-minute is astronomical. To an extent, these types of statistics prove your prowess at the game, and I love being teamed up with you online. I am greatly appreciative of your ability to read the battlefield and provide assistance in any given combat scenario. That being said, don’t get too high on yourself; the skills you hone on the online battleground in no way translate to actual warfare. You would think this is obvious, but too many times I have heard a player tout Battlefield’s realism, and claim that playing the game will fill your brain with real military tactics.

Good luck, man.

Here are three reasons that BF3 players’ online skill would get them dishonorably discharged (or killed) from the real military:

#3: Vehicle Spawn Camping

Vehicles are tools in Battlefield. So are the guys that camp their spawn. In real life, not only is controlling one of these vehicles an intense process that requires years of training, but not just anybody can do it. If you get recruited into the military, make your way to an overseas war, and attempt to commandeer a jet when you are not in fact a jet pilot, you will either a) die in a fire, or b) get shot. By your own side. Battlefield players, it’s okay to hump it on foot if there isn’t a vehicle present. You should also recognize your skill level; if you consistently crash and kill your passengers, maybe you should take the gunner seat, instead.

#2: Parachuting Behind Enemy Lines

A favorite tactic of many Battlefield Rush players is parachuting down behind enemy lines, spawning a squad, and then rushing the Mcom station while the enemy tries in vain to down the chopper they hopped out of. It’s a great tactic. For the game. In real life, parachuting down behind enemy lines is a risky endeavor that’s just as likely to get you instantly killed as it is to help you disable enemy communications, or assassinate a terrorist. Hopefully I don’t have to explain to you why it’s impossible for people in real life to spawn friends out of their butthole; when you pull the cord in real life, all bets are off. The slightest miscalculation, random occurrence, or bad wind can split your squad up and send them drifting miles apart. Need to regroup? Well, you’d better stay really quiet, because it’s a scary world filled with terrorists, wolves, and hillbilly cannibals, and if they hear you calling for help and your buddies, it’s game over (man).

#1: Refusing to Fulfill Your Role

Here at MP1st, we tend to harp on playing the objective. If you’ve read even three or four of our editorials (like this one: Forget Your K/D and Play the Objective) you know it’s an ever-present annoyance when players refuse to play to win the current objective. Part of completing objectives and winning entails each player fulfilling the requirements of his chosen class. It’s been an issue not just with Battlefield, but with multiplayer games in general for years. For Pete’s sake, man, if you are playing engineer, then use your rockets! Those tanks are making a meal out of our spawn tickets, and you’re too concerned with your submachine gun killing spree. Man up!

You get recruited into the real military. You attend sniper training school, and spent years studying the craft, and practicing the art of patience. You then spend a number of missions in the field, marking targets and providing much-needed intel from your secret perch. You then line up a critical shot, wait for the “go” signal, and take out your target. Nice. As the rest of the enemy troops run around in a heated panic, you remain calm and still, and request evac. OR…you run into the enemy’s camp with a pistol, flapping your ghillie suit like a crazed maniac, taking potshots at random enemies. The opposition looks at you with a quizzical wonder, and then shoots you to death before dumping your body in their latrine.

If your job in the military were to provide ammo for your comrades, and you instead refused to give any out, just keeping it for yourself for whatever bizarre reason, you would be discharged in a hot minute.

As always with my incessant ramblings, this post is to be taken with a heavy grain of insoluble salt; don’t take it too seriously. Let me know in the comments what video game tactics are preparing you for a life of military success.

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Enjoyed this article? Be sure to check out:

Battlefield 3 – 15 Tips to Improve Your Game

Battlefield 3: A New Era for the Battlefield Franchise

Tags: Battlefield 3 DICE Featured Military

Graham

I teach, and I game. That is all. Subscriber

Home > News

BF3 – Launch Issues Resolved and DICE Dev Dog Tags

  by   David Veselka  
1:22 pm in News

Battlefield 3 has been out for a full day now and is being enjoyed by millions. However, it’s launch was not a smooth experience for all. Xbox 360 servers were up and down like a roller coaster, and Russian gamers had a hard time just connecting to the MP portion of the game. You can check out our earlier reports here, which also included some awesome, early gameplay footage for those still waiting for BF3 to release.

For now, it seems like these issues have been resolved, according to Community Manager, Daniel Matros. He stated earlier today, “maintenance is now complete. Enjoy the game.” For those wondering of the cause for these outages, Matros mentions, “the maintenance earlier on 360 and all platforms was to ensure server stability and re-orgs.” Good news for Russian players: Matros recently announced, “Russian users should all now have the proper entitlement to play online. We can all be friends now,” jokingly. Regarding other issues, he also mentioned, “I’m direct messaging people [on Twitter] with solutions to issues from time to time as well as posting on devblog in Battlelog.” Meaning, the Battlelog would be a great place to keep updated on current issues and fixes. For now, it seems like most maintenance is complete and everyone should be able to enjoy the game.

On a lighter note, we’d like all Battlefielder’s to turn their attention this:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, you can, indeed, take the dog tags of DICE developers. So be on the lookout! Alan Kertz, Senior Gameplay Designer said earlier, “…lost my first set of DICE Dev Dogtags,” confirming that this is the case.

Let us know if you’ve taken any of these dog tags yet and what types of issues you are still experiencing with Battlefield 3 in the comment section below. Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook and check out Battlefield 3: A New Era for the Battlefield Franchise.

Tags: Alan Kertz Battlefield 3 Daniel Matros DICE Dog Tags Featured

David Veselka

Musician, Gamer, Geek. Subscriber

Home > News

Battlefield 3 Launch Issues and New Gameplay Vids

  by   David Veselka  
October 25, 2011 9:51 am in News

By now, many gamers in NA and other regions of the world should have their hands on Battlefield 3. As expected, a launch this big is not without its small hiccups.

Limited Edition owners may have noticed that they are unable to redeem their rewards like The Physical Warfare Pack just yet. According to Daniel Matros, “The Physical Warfare Pack has not yet released. We will announce details of how to redeem this content as it becomes available.” He also urged us to spread the word to other fellow Battlefield fans.

Another common issue at the moment has to do with connection to the servers. Apparently, many gamers on the PC are experiencing issues with servers and are constantly getting kicked from them. Matros assures us that DICE is “looking at resolving it asap. Will give you an ETA for fix later today.”

Unfortunately, It seems like Russian gamers are having basic problems connecting to the multiplayer side of Battlefield 3 in general. Matros has this to say. “For my russian friends with MP problems. Don´t worry. We are on it.”

Remember, just like during the Beta, the best place to leave your comments and concerns is within the Battlelog. Another great place, besides the official forums, is on Twitter or Reddit.

For those still waiting to dig into Battlefield 3, we’ve rounded up some brand new footage of the multiplayer to drool over below! Let us know in the comment section how you are finding Battlefield 3 so far!

Don’t forget to follow MP1st on Twitter and Facebookfor the latest Battlefield 3 news! Also make sure to check out Swordsman75’s debut article, Battlefield 3: A New Era for the Battlefield Franchise.

DCRU Colin

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DCRU Aethyal

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DON7BL1NK – EOD Bot Base Jump

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Tags: Battlefield 3 Daniel Matros DICE Featured Launch Server Issues

David Veselka

Musician, Gamer, Geek. Subscriber

Home > Features

5 FPS Games Releasing This Fall: Picking the Right One

  by   MP1st Staff  
October 24, 2011 8:46 pm in Features

As we all know the next few weeks are going to be huge in terms of First Person Shooters.

We have:

  • PayDay: The Heist (PSN, PC) on October 18th
  • Battlefield 3 (PC, PS3, Xbox 360) on October 25th
  • 007: Goldeneye Reloaded (PS3, Xbox 360) on November 1st
  • Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 (PC, Xbox 360, PS3) on November 8th
  • Halo Combat Evolved Anniversary (Xbox 360) on November 15th

But what one is right for you?

Let’s take a look at the contenders.

PayDay: The Heist:

Good For:

  • Team Co-op multiplayer. I’ve seen this described as a Left 4 Dead type or co-op experience where the only way to be successful is to work together.
  • Your wallet. Its $19.99 price tag is very manageable, although it is admittedly high for a PSN title.
  • PS3 and PC Owners. Sorry Xboxers this baby is exclusive to these two only.

Bad For:

  • Communication. A teamwork based game on a system where nobody ever seems to have microphones could make for some frustrating rounds.
  • The community. Of all the titles here this one will have the hardest time building a solid online following. Let’s hope it takes off.
  • Variety – 6 missions at launch with the promise of more DLC to come, but the real question is, how much will this new DLC cost us?


Battlefield 3:

Good For:

  • Impatient Gamers – it comes out a full 2 weeks before Call of Duty.
  • Gamers Who want a change of pace: COD is COD is COD this, puts a different spin on tactical shooters.
  • Vehicles – Over 20 different types!

Bad For:

  • Gamers who buy pre-owned – EA’s online pass is required so you either buy it new or shell out an extra $10 to play online.
  • Lacks mode variety. I realize there’s always DLC and such but out of the box the pickings are slim.
  • Gamers Expecting COD. It’s similar but it’s not quite there yet.


007: Goldeneye Reloaded:

Good For:

  • Anyone tired of the military shooter genre. Shocking as it may seem, there was a time when shooters weren’t about world wars and jungle combat.
  • Crazy game modes. Escalation upgrades your weapon each kill, while Detonator Agent has a point multiplying bomb that must be passed off before it detonates, clearly these guys weren’t afraid to break the standard FPS model.
  • Reliving the glory days of the N64.

Bad For:

  • James Bond games have never been able to live up to the legend that was Goldeneye, there have been a few respectable titles over the years but nothing has come close to the Father of the console FPS. Keep your expectations in check.
  • Oddjob. The online universe won’t follow the same No Oddjob rules you and your friends had a decade ago, so get used fighting Oddjob. You’ll be doing a lot of it.
  • I know it looks like I’m gushing over this title, but I want to make it clear that the constant reuse of the Goldeneye license is a shameful money grabbing attempt, but hey, it could be worse. It could be Call of Duty James Bond: License to Kill.


Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3:

Good For:

  • Playing with friends. Black Ops sold 7 million copies worldwide in the first 24 hours. You will know a lot of people with this game and will always be able to find someone playing it.
  • Call of Duty fans – this seems redundant but If you’ve been playing Call of duty the past few years, you know what to expect. There’s nothing too Earth shattering about this.
  • People who didn’t like Modern Warfare 2 – Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer have made a lot of changes to how perks and killstreaks are done to make gameplay more balanced.

Bad For:

  • Fans of Zombies – that’s a Treyarch thing. Don’t expect to see it in MW3.
  • Casual Gamers/Noobs – stay with me here – of all these games, which do you think is hardest for new players?
  • Grades. Relationships and sleep.


Halo Combat Evolved Anniversary:

Good For:

  • Gamers who like balanced gameplay – no perks, no weapon unlocks. Everyone starts the same, aside from armor abilities.
  • Gamers on a budget – at $39.99 it’s the cheapest of the three.
  • Xbox 360 Owners.

Bad For:

  • Halo: Reach owners. It’s basically the same game with a couple new playlists and a few new maps.
  • People used to killing enemies instantly. It’ll take more than a shot or two to bring your foe down (in most cases).
  • PS3 Owners.

Be sure to check out:

Battlefield 3: A New Era for the Battlefield Franchise

A Detailed Analysis of the Battlefield and Call of Duty Franchises Part 1 and Part 2

Let us know in the comment section which game, or games you’ll be picking up this fall! Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook!

Tags: 007: Goldeneye Reloaded Battlefield 3 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Featured Halo Combat Evolved Anniversary Payday: the heist

MP1st Staff

Home > News

DICE to “Possibly” Ban Accounts Using VPN to Gain Early Access to BF3

  by   MP1st  
4:48 pm in News

DICE has drawn the line in the sand regarding PC gamers who are using VPN (Virtual Private Network) techniques to gain early access to Battlefield 3 through EA’s Origin.

For those using VPN techniques to gain early access to Battlefield 3. DICE has this to say. “We strongly advise you do not use VPN. You can compromise the security of your account.” When asked by some fans if it is indeed possible to have their accounts banned, DICE responded. “If your account is related in suspicious activity, quite possibly.” Daniel Matros weighs in as well saying that though “it isn’t illegal,” DICE highly advises “against doing it and [to] instead wait for the launch day of your territory.”

If you are curious about the exact date and time of launch for your region, please refer to our earlier article, Battlefield 3 Launch – Server Admin Manual and Unlock Times for PC Pre-Load.

DICE might be just blowing smoke as the players who “violated” the terms have purchased the game legally. Our advice is to either mask your IP like a boss, or just wait until it’s available in you territory.

While you wait for Battlefield 3, read up on some of these interesting articles!

Battlefield 3: A New Era for the Battlefield Franchise

A Detailed Analysis of the Battlefield and Call of Duty Franchises Part 1 and Part 2

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook!

Tags: Battlefield 3 DICE Featured VPN

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Battlefield 3 Launch – Server Admin Manual and Unlock Times for PC Pre-Load

  by   David Veselka  
3:24 pm in News

The first draft of the server administrator’s manual is now available for download, which can be found here in the Battlefield 3 UK forums.

Some highlights from the post include:

  • Remote admin protocol spec included
  • lists of all maps
  • lists of all gamemodes (and all maps can be used in all gamemodes)
  • list of gameplay-affecting settings in the admin manual
  • you can mix gamemodes in the maplist
  • For BF3 PC, Normal / Hardcore / Infantry Only are umbrella names for a specific group of settings; details in the manual
  • there is a section in the manual which describes how changing server settings affect filters and Quickmatch on Battlelog
  • unranked mode is, well, “nearly working” so for the first few days after launch all servers will run ranked
  • in ranked mode you can control all settings (but at some point we will enforce PB on, game-password off .. or similar)

Interested in the server browser for consoles? Check it out here!

Also important are a list of times for all regions of when the PC digtial pre-loads will actually be able to be playable. Found at support.ea.com.

Tuesday, October 25th, 12:01am Korea Standard Time (GMT +9)
Brunei, Cambodia, Cocos Islands, East Timor, Fiji, Guam, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Korea, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Northern Mariana, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam

Tuesday, October 25th, 12:01am Pacific Daylight Time (GMT -7)
American Samoa, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Falkland Islands, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Honduras, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Martinique, Mexico, Moldova, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Tajikistan, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Virgin Islands

Tuesday, October 25th, 12:01am Moscow Daylight Time (GMT +4)
Russian Federation

Thursday, October 27th, 12:01am British Summer Time (GMT +1)
Antarctica, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Christmas Island, Cook Islands, Denmark, Finland, France, French Guyana, French Southern Territories, Germany, Heard and McDonald Islands, Kiribati, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Mauru, Mayotte, Micronesia, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Norfolk Island, Norway, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Island, Poland, Polynesia (French), Reunion (French), Romania, Samoa, Serbia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futura Islands

Friday, October 28th, 12:01am British Summer Time (GMT +1)
Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Ireland, Italy, Nepal, Pakistan, Portugal, South Africa, United Kingdom

Wednesday, November 2nd, 12:01am Japan Standard Time (GMT +9)
Japan

If you guys found this information helpful, make sure to follow MP1st on Twitter and Facebook. See you on the Battlefield!

Tags: Battlefield 3 DICE Featured Pre-Load

David Veselka

Musician, Gamer, Geek. Subscriber

Home > Features

Battlefield 3: A New Era for the Battlefield Franchise

  by   MP1st Staff  
1:04 pm in Features

With the release of the franchise’s most highly anticipated game, a mere hours away, many gamers
across the world sit with baited breath, ready to help usher in a new era of Battlefield. On Tuesday,
October 25th, Battlefield 3 will kick the door off of the hinges as it makes its debut. Bringing with it, will
be a large swath of players who are new and fresh to the Battlefield experience. Battlefield 3 has been
given more marketing and advertising resources than any battlefield game has ever received. With all
of the new attention being thrust upon Battlefield 3, there will be millions of people who will be making
the plunge into Battlefield for the very first time.

For the few of you who may have taken up residence under a rock for the last year or so, the reason
for such a large amount of resources being put into the advertising campaign for Battlefield 3, is largely
due to the fact that E.A. has decided to set its sights on the perennial Call of Duty franchise. Electronic
Arts has decided that they are no longer content with allowing annual Call of Duty installments to run
through the fall release schedule with no real competition of note. Over the last year, both Activision
and Electronic Arts has engaged in a two sided war of chest thumping over which publisher will be
bringing the best game to the market this fall.

While many gamers have been content to dismiss school yard antics of the publishers as nothing but
bravado for the public, there are those that have gobbled up this perpetual war of words that have
lingered on for a year. Many of them insisting on trying to put Battlefield 3 and Call of Duty: Modern
Warfare 3 as direct rivals, as though they can only be an “Either / Or” decision for gamers. While it is
impossible to expect that the two games will avoid being directly compared to one another for their
similarities, it is my belief that it is their distinct differences that should be compared, and valued as
strengths for both storied game franchises.

At the end of the day, the fact remains that with Battlefield 3’s aggressive marketing campaign, it is
bound to have attracted the attention of players who have never played Battlefield previously. The
success and rampant popularity of the Beta earlier this fall, should provide all the evidence you need
for the amount of gamers who have taken up an interest. Millions of them are likely to have come
from a more Call of Duty heavy gaming experience. The influx of new, fresh and excited players being
introduced into Battlefield 3 is going to do a lot of positive for the Battlefield community, bringing both
more revenue to the franchise, but as well as increasing the overall size of the community, pushing it
into uncharted territories.

There’s no denying that with previous installments to the Battlefield series, the community has been
much more of a fringe community within the gaming landscape. Some might have even be willing to
paint Battlefield as a franchise that really fills a small niche in the FPS market, and in some cases, you
could very easily be correct. Battlefield 3 however, looks to change all of those things. I do not think
DICE or EA is willing to see their flagship AAA title be relegated to the “also ran” category once again.
The resounding success of BF3’s open beta should give a clear indication that at the very least, they have
the attention of the millions of Call of Duty players across the globe who are at least interested in giving
Battlefield 3 a whirl. But that can bring with it its own share of very serious negatives as well.

The negatives will sprout up most dramatically when it comes to the very different cultures that each
franchise has built itself around. Many, but not all, of the gamers coming from a Call of Duty background
are used to kills being the only thing of importance of many situations. Even in game modes with active
objectives, they may very well still have the mindset of if you get the most kills, you’ll still easily win that
game of Domination. That simply isn’t the case in Battlefield. While kills can be vital, simply gathering
a lot of them will many times mean very little to the success of your team or bare any correlation to
how well you are doing in relation to helping your team. In Battlefield, you won’t be sitting back to
stack up your kill streaks so that you can then unleash havoc upon your enemies. No, in Battlefield, you
ARE the kill streak. You won’t find a Chopper Gunner that will fly you around the map in an automated
path while you hold the trigger. But for those players who enjoy the bird’s eye view of the battlefield,
while giggling with glee as body parts and debris go flying under the vicious, unrelenting barrage of your
helicopter, you’ll need to put in some time to master the control of the vehicles. Once you find your
groove of a Jet or an attack chopper, you’ll be in for a reign of chaos that no AC-130 or Chopper Gunner
from Call of Duty could ever hope to offer you.

It seems apparent to me that Battlefield 3 has purposefully taken the approach of, “play it your way”
this time around. There seems to be an abundance of ways for you to be able to enjoy the game no
matter what your personal preference may happen to be. If you are a more gun on gun based player,
with little interest in vehicles, DICE has provided you with a variety of options, including infantry only
mode. You could play Rush and Conquest all day, without ever encountering a tank shell to the face, or
needing to run from cover to cover, trying to pull off Neo-esque evasion moves to escape the torrent of
bullets from an attack chopper.

Pages: 1 2
Tags: Battlefield 3 DICE Featured Swordsman75

MP1st Staff

Home > News

BF3 – 25 Mil Points to Reach Highest Rank, and B2K Weapons Available in All Playlists

  by   David Veselka  
11:53 am in News

Today is the last day of your life without Battlefield 3. Make sure to spend whatever time left that you have with your family and loved ones. They will miss you.

Some updates have become available regarding Battlefield 3 multiplayer.

First off, we reported earlier on the highest rank available in Battlefield 3. Many fans have been wondering, what exactly is at the end of the tunnel? What do we get for reaching the highest rank? Fredrik Thylander had this to say: “for those who asked me about ranks, max rank (colonel service star 100) is at about 25 million points… and it does have an unlock on it.” He continued, “we dont want to keep tools away from the players. Nothing after rank45 is gameplay-affecting. Dogtags and the like.” So, don’t expect a mini-gun or a laser rifle as your last unlock reward.

In another earlier report, it was mentioned by DICE that the Back to Karkand DLC would be similar to the Vietnam DLC for Battlefield: Bad Company 2. Meaning, that maps, vehicles, and weapons would potentially all have their own separate play list. However, Gustav Halling recently clarified, “you can use all weapons,” when asked if they would be integrated with the rest of the BF3 weapons. Click here to check out B2K’s weapons.

When it comes to the Battlelog, many have been asking if a smart phone app would be available as well. Daniel Matros replied, “not on launch.” I think it’s safe to say that we could expect something at a later date.

Who’s going to be first to reach rank 145?

Make sure to stay tuned to MP1st as we cover the launch of Battlefield 3. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook!

Tags: Battlefield 3 DICE Featured Fredrik Thylander Gustav Halling

David Veselka

Musician, Gamer, Geek. Subscriber

Home > Features

The Greatest Multiplayer Game of 2001: Counter-Strike 1.1

  by   Fahed Jaradat  
October 23, 2011 7:21 pm in Features

My fellow MP1st writers and I proudly present an 11-week-long series leading up to MP1st’s 2011 Multiplayer Game of the Year. Over the span of the next 11 weeks, we will be featuring the greatest multiplayer games of this millennium. Every year will feature 1 winner that is selected by the writer who tackles that particular year after weighing in arguments posed by MP1st editors. It breaks down to 1 winner, 2 runner-ups, and X number of honorable mentions.

Counter Strike 1.1

I can’t  find a more worthy game to kick off this series than Counter Strike 1.1. Where all the modern FPS craze began.

I grew up playing games from the original GameBoy to PS2, but I didn’t fall in love with gaming until I tasted Counter Strike. It’s when I got my first bite; I found out that I was cut out for the multiplayer world. Counter Strike is one of the few FPS games that helped shape the genre forever. Before I dive into my story with Counter Strike, I’d like to explain the concept of the game for those who weren’t fortunate enough to grow up on it. The two opposing sides in each match are Terrorists and Counter Terrorists, and there are two main game modes that pit teams against each other, Hostage Rescue and Bomb Defusal. The premise of Bomb Defusal, which I mainly played, is simple yet effective; you have a spawn zone and bomb site; if you’re a Terrorist, then you have to either eliminate the enemy team or plant the bomb successfully. On the flip side, Counter Terrorists have to either eliminate the enemy team or successfully disarm the bomb. In Call of Duty, the Search and Destroy gamemode is the most akin to CS. In the other main game mode, Hostage Rescue, terrorists have to either wipe out the enemy team, or see out the round without losing the hostages. Counter Terrorists can either rescue the hostages or kill the terrorists. One of the things that makes CS a harsher game in current standards is the no-nonsense health system where your health doesn’t regenerate; when you get shot, you lose health (out of a hundred). You don’t heal until the round is over.

Inferno is one of the best maps I have ever played.

I’ve had some standout moments in my multiplayer gaming history, but nothing beats the thrill of pulling a ‘clutch’ with all of your dead comrades watching your every move. Especially, if you’re playing a LAN tournament, where all of your teammates’ screens would turn black when they die, and they would all huddle up behind you hoping you can clinch the win.  Or, when you enter the map ‘Assault’ with a teammate through the air ducts, with one squatting forward and the other backward to cover each other. Counter Strike is mp gaming at its purist. Speaking of Assault,  it’s one of the first maps I played on. My friends and I spent well over a year completely addicted to that map until we stumbled on what I would argue the greatest multiplayer map of all time, and no it’s not Dust, or Dust 2. It’s Inferno, a map I spent 5 years of my multiplayer gaming life playing on almost everyday. I haven’t played CS in a few years now, but I were to boot it up, I can tell you every invisible wall, call-out, and object in Inferno; it’s second nature to me. Side note: Dust is arguably more balanced and loved by the community, but for some reason my friends and I were perfectly content with inferno; we tried to change maps, but mapathy rarely creeped in its ugly head. However, when we got a tad mapathetic, we turned to one of the countless number of community maps, such as Ice World.

Ice World

I could write books on my CS adventures, but one of the things that in hindsight seems amusing is that I scoffed at the notion of CoD and BF being contenders in the genre all along, and I’d said many a times that those were “wannabes” and would never be anywhere at the top in terms of fan base.  Even I remember playing CoD 2 because I was curious about the “superior” visuals. When I found out that you have to aim down the sights with every weapon, I burst into laughter thinking how ridiculous the system was. Ironically, CoD and BF are the 2 series that I now play to satisfy my multiplayer itch.

When it comes to the modern FPS genre, I would argue that CS is most influential modern FPS in the history of gaming. I longed for CS enough, and I can’t wait to get my hands on GO next year. Maybe I’ll find home in the ‘sniper room’ again (a position call-out on Inferno). If you have never played CS, you should check out GO, but even if you don’t, you have to respect a series that paved the way for your current favorite modern FPS.

Halo: Combat Evolved

Definitely my 2nd pick. The original Halo legitimized FPS’ on consoles by properly utilizing the controller. I don’t have anything but fond memories of the blood gulch, which will soon be featured in an upcoming editorial.

Super Smash Bros Melee

Arguably, Super Smash Bros Melee is the best game in the long running series, and Nintendo still has yet to top it. Hopefully, Wii U’s iteration will be at least as good as Melee.

I’ll leave the honorable mentions to you, so please let me know what I overlooked and share your CS stories.

Make sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook if you’re looking forward to this series.

Tags: Counter Strike 1.1 Featured The Greatest Multiplayer Game of 2001

Fahed Jaradat

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

Home > Features

Battlefield and Call of Duty: A Detailed Analysis of Both Franchises Pt. 2

  by   MP1st Staff  
2:43 pm in Features

Before reading, make sure to catch up with part 1 of our analysis!

The Graphics Engine:

DICE and the community have been putting a lot of emphasis on the importance of a games graphics engine. Call of Duty, in particular, has garnered a lot of criticism for making incremental updates to the engine used in Call of Duty 4 (and in some respects, Call of Duty 2), and not started from scratch, like DICE did when they engineered Frostbite. I’m a little puzzled by this though, because DICE themselves have used their first engine for almost a decade. I know that sounds blasphemous, but I don’t consider reusing an engine a bad thing anyway. The maps were still epic, and the gameplay was still fun.

Refractor 2:

This was the first engine ever used in the Battlefield Franchise. Refractor 1 was designed (fittingly enough) by Refraction Games, who were bought by DICE, and worked together with DICE to build Refractor 2 for use in Battlefield 1942.

Battlefield 1942 (2002):

After DICE finished 2 expansions, and handed Battlefield: Vietnam off to their Canadian studio, the time came for a true sequel to Battlefield 1942. Rather than develop a new engine, DICE updated Refractor 2.

Battlefield 2 (2005):

DICE continues using Refractor 2 to this day, and so far, has been used in:

Battlefield 1942 (2002)
Battlefield Vietnam (2004)
Battlefield 2 (2005)
Battlefield 2142 (2006)
Battlefield Heroes (2009)
Battlefield Play4Free (2011)

Frostbite:

So where does Frostbite fit into all this? When DICE began work on the Frostbite engine, they asked themselves what they wanted to do that hadn’t been done before. So while keeping their excellent support for large maps, they created an incredibly dynamic engine, with dynamic lighting, destructible environments, and (award-winning!) prioritized sound. All very modern, and requiring a lot of processing power.

The Frostbite 1.5 version of Wake Island:

However, the biggest drawback to the introduction of Frostbite was that Bad Company wasn’t available for the PC, where Battlefield was born. This was also the case with Battlefield: 1943. To put it another way, DICE made a sequel to a beloved game unavailable to the same audience as the original!

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Tags: Battlefield Call of Duty Featured Frostbite IW Engine Refractor

MP1st Staff

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