Battlefield 4 (Winter Patch)

[Himu]

oh fuck

[SantaC]

god damn, and this is during a multiplayer match.

[Stoney Mason]

#t=32

[headwalk]

720p? glaucoma is back for next gen.

[pilonv1]

"Next gen"

[mjemirzian]

I'll gladly take 720p 60fps over 1080p 30fps.

If I ever play BF4 it will be on PC, though.

[maxy]

Bashing Wii U makes you feel better about playing games at 720p until 2020?

 

[Stoney Mason]

[Eel O'Brian]

gotta admit, i sprung there towards the end

[Rahxephon91]

God even the level design seems better then the rather bland original 3 maps.

[Stoney Mason]

I love how DICE isn't afraid to show off their game and hide behind a hype wall.

[SantaC]

I love how DICE isn't afraid to show off their game and hide behind a hype wall.

apparently neogaf complains that they showed off an early X1 build @ pax this week.

[Stoney Mason]

edit ignore. Deal dead.

[Stoney Mason]

I assume just to make him stand out more or show his outline if he runs behind a building or something.

[cool breeze]

allegedly PS3 retail copies will include a code that lets you buy the PS4 digital version for $10/£10.  I think the 360/XB1 upgrade might be similar.

I was under the impression that you had to trade in the PS3 copy for the PS4 version.  This method sounds as exploitable as Portal 2, where people would buy it, redeem the PC copy, and trade it in.

[Groogrux]

The Xbox deal is that you trade the game in for the next gen version.  I would say that PS4 will do the same.

I meant to mention that my store manager went to the GS conference in Vegas a few weeks ago.  He got to demo a lot of games.  I asked him about BF4 and he literally went on and on about it for at least 15 minutes.  Then when I asked him about CoD, he said, "It looks like CoD with updated graphics."

I am truly excited for this game.  It's the reason I am getting a PS4 day 1.

[thisismyusername]

allegedly PS3 retail copies will include a code that lets you buy the PS4 digital version for $10/£10.  I think the 360/XB1 upgrade might be similar.

I was under the impression that you had to trade in the PS3 copy for the PS4 version.  This method sounds as exploitable as Portal 2, where people would buy it, redeem the PC copy, and trade it in.

It's either going to be that of like the cross-buy promotion of Vita titles where you put the disc in your PS3, grab the "disc bonus" stuff and that disc/digital copy combo is tied to your PSN account and no one else can use that disc for the bonus.

But if they're giving it away for $10 I can't see them giving it away for free. People will probably give that away if they don't have plans to get a PS4 for a few years to make some money instead.

[tehjaybo]

I know no one really likes GameStop on gaming forums, but I thought this worth mentioning for those who REALLY love Battlefield and special editions.

If you reserve BF4 Premium and pick it up at launch @ GS, you get a steelbook case for the game. 

[Eel O'Brian]

I'd imagine on current gen consoles it's pretty much gonna be BF3 with new maps/modes and some limited destruction, so if you were satisfied with BF3 you'll be okay.

[cool breeze]

yeah, I can't imagine it being much different than BF3 on consoles.  A couple million people will continue to play on 360/PS3 and EA won't abandon them yet.

And as mentioned on this page, upgrading to the next gen version is only $10 and I think your save data/progress carries over.  It might be limited by console manufacturer, meaning 360->Xbox One or PS3->PS4; don't know if you can go 360->PS4.

[fistfulofmetal]

Battlefield on console 

[Stoney Mason]

What are the odds this will be satisfying on current gen consoles? Should I just wait until I have a One or PS4?

I put around 450 hours into Battlefield 3 on the consoles. It was a great shooter but a very uneven experience because the game was caught trying to appeal to a 24 player count audience and a 48/64 player count audience. I think both the console and PC version suffer for it. On PC some maps feel over-stuffed and on console some maps feel barren. I can only imagine this will be even more extreme this go around.

If it was me and I couldn't get a PC version or a next gen console version I would just play on my current console and just say fuck it, it is what it is. Of course there would be a nagging part of me that is annoyed by the gimp nature of it but like I said, I spent so much time on BF 3 and thoroughly enjoyed it even still.

[headwalk]

yeah, I can't imagine it being much different than BF3 on consoles.

it doesn't look all that different from BF3 on PC, either.

it's a hard sell for me given that it's essentially an MMO with a quarterly subscription. i hear they'll be packing it with AMD GPUs though, so maybe i'll just do that.

[Stoney Mason]

[cool breeze]

Don’t wait to get into the action. You can buy the game on current-gen and benefit from up to three weeks of play time – time that can be used to rank up, giving you a competitive advantage on the next-gen battlefield. We respect the time you will invest in playing and don’t want you to lose all of your effort when you upgrade to next-gen. That is why we are making it easy to carry forward your multiplayer stats and your Battlefield 4 Premium membership. No more worrying about starting all over again. Your rank, score, K/D ratio, wins, time played, service stars, dog tags taken, vehicles destroyed, repairs, revives, squad score, accuracy and more will all transfer to next-gen consoles at launch.

mentioned the $10 digital copy voucher before.  seems like that's only for playstation, and the trade in deal is only for Xbox (trade in BF4 360, get BF4 XB1 for $10).

The Battlefield 4 Beta is coming soon. You’ll be able to play the Siege of Shanghai map in Conquest Mode or Domination Mode.

Beta is October 1st for preorderers, premium members, and people who bought medal of honor ().

Everyone on October 4th.

[drew]

Haha, why is this guy wearing so many American flags?

cause 'Merica.

I reeeally hope the stat carrying over is tied to your battleblog account and not to your platform gamertag, I bet I'm not the only 360 user that's savvy enough to recognize that the PS4 is the way to go in the upcoming gen...

[Cerveza mas fina]

Haha, why is this guy wearing so many American flags?

cause 'Merica.

I reeeally hope the stat carrying over is tied to your battleblog account and not to your platform gamertag, I bet I'm not the only 360 user that's savvy enough to recognize that the PS4 is the way to go in the upcoming gen...

Smart move Drew

[Groogrux]

I would say that it will be tied to Battlelog and not to the manufacturer. 

[Stoney Mason]

Almost certainly not I would guess.

[Stoney Mason]

There is a technical limit in some cases. You are rendering the screen twice. On a game like Battlefield that barely maintains 30 fps even when little is happening on screen on current gen consoles, its probably not a good call.

There is also the reality that outside of youngish kids and college dorms, local play is far less relevant today than getting the online stuff right so in the battle for resources that's a feature that is going to be cut in most cases.

 

[cool breeze]

Haha, why is this guy wearing so many American flags?

cause 'Merica.

I reeeally hope the stat carrying over is tied to your battleblog account and not to your platform gamertag, I bet I'm not the only 360 user that's savvy enough to recognize that the PS4 is the way to go in the upcoming gen...

call of duty has a similar promotion, and one that's a step further where you pay $70 up front for both a digital 360 and XB1 copy, and I'm pretty sure they shot down the idea that you can transfer save data from 360 to ps4, or ps3 to pc, or w/e.  maybe I'm trivializing it, but I don't get why save data can't be universal like that, especially when these games have premium services attached to them.

[drew]

damn, I knew it would probably be handled that way.  I'm not gonna get a ps4 for awhile but I know I'll be playing bf4 for years.  It might be a deal breaker if I can't carry over my level, don't know how I'm gonna handle it if that actually is how they're doing it.

[Stoney Mason]

#t=217

[Groogrux]

They really tried hard to edit out that speech impediment. 

Unfortunately, it juth wathn't enough.

[Stoney Mason]

For the first time ever my bizarre allegiance to AMD video cards has a benefit.

[Brehvolution]

I'll get BF4 now too, I guess. I wasn't planning on it, but that's a good incentive.

[Stoney Mason]

Battlefield 4 brings seven distinct game modes all playable on the ten exciting multiplayer maps – and all modes will be playable on all maps. By carefully zoning the playable combat areas, adapting flag layouts, and catering for a variety of gameplay styles, each map will accomodate any game mode you wish to play. Read on for details on each of the game modes in Battlefield 4!

Conquest (Beta)
Combat type: The definitive Battlefield mode – All-out vehicle warfare mixed with intense infantry action across land, air and sea
Designed for: 24 players (X360, PS3) / 64 players (Xbox One, PS4, PC)
Commander mode: Optional

Domination (Beta)
Combat type: Fast-paced infantry variant of Conquest
Designed for: 20 players (all platforms)
Commander mode: No

Obliteration
Combat type: Mad dash in vehicles and on foot to deliver explosives
Designed for: 24 (X360, PS3) 32 (Xbox One, PS4, PC)
Commander mode: Optional

Defuse
Combat type: Competitive close quarters combat
Designed for: 5 vs. 5 players (all platforms)
Commander mode: No

Team Deathmatch
Combat type: The classic shooter mode, Battlefield 4 style
Designed for: 20 players (all platforms)
Commander mode: No

Rush
Combat type: Fight deep into enemy territory by detonating their M-COM stations
Designed for: 24 players (X360, PS3) 32 players (Xbox One, PS4, PC)
Commander mode: Optional

Squad Deathmatch
Combat type: Four squads fight on the ground with limited vehicle support in a race to the top of the leaderboard
Designed for: 16 players (all platforms)
Commander mode: Optional


http://blogs.battlefield.com/2013/09/road-to-bf4-game-modes/?utm_campaign=bf-social-us-socom-tw-tw-road-to-bf4-game-modes-092613&utm_source=tw&utm_medium=social&sourceid=bf-social-us-socom-tw-tw-road-to-bf4-game-modes-092613

[Groogrux]

I'm really surprised that more of the game modes aren't designed to take more than 32 people in a server.  I would have figured Rush and Obliteration would have at least done it too.

[Stoney Mason]

You can preload the beta on PC if you own Premium now. I never bought it for the PC version though.

[Groogrux]

I don't have anything to play it on right now.  Traded my 360 in a while back at GS on a double credit deal.  Paid off my PS4 though.

[thisismyusername]

I'm really surprised that more of the game modes aren't designed to take more than 32 people in a server.  I would have figured Rush and Obliteration would have at least done it too.

Rush on 64 "hacked" servers on PC is a little insane. Too many bumping into people. I blame that on the fact the maps were designed for PS3 in mind instead of PC (no matter how much DICE says they started with PC leads, it's pretty apparent the console versions came "after the switch" and optimized most maps). It really depends on how bad the maps feel for me to go "yeah, 64 could've worked." But I don't really have faith in DICE being able to do that. I do trust them enough to at least go "yeah, these modes are a little stupid with more players."

[Stoney Mason]

[Stoney Mason]

I'm a sucker so I went ahead and switched my order to the deluxe digital version so I can play the beta tomorrow.

Some info for the PC version.



Also the beta is only running on 64 bit operating systems and not 32 bit although the full game will support 32 bit.

Apparently nvidia and amd also put out some drivers for the beta.

http://www.geforce.com/whats-new/articles/nvidia-geforce-331-40-beta-drivers-released
http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/windows/Pages/radeonaiw_win8-64.aspx

[Stoney Mason]

PC Beta is up.

Console betas will be up later.

[Rahxephon91]

Well I've downloaded and re-downloaded it three times and the thing won't even install.  This sucks.

[Stoney Mason]

Well I've downloaded and re-downloaded it three times and the thing won't even install.  This sucks.

Hmmm.... That's weird. By not install what do you mean? Do you see the BF 4 beta on the tab? When you hover over it do you have options?

The beta for 360 is up in certain parts of the world but not the US apparently. Although this currently works as a way to get it in the US.

[fistfulofmetal]

i booted it up for about 10 minutes this morning. joined an empty server and ran around a bit. went to the top of the skyscraper and then jumped off.

[Stoney Mason]

i booted it up for about 10 minutes this morning. joined an empty server and ran around a bit. went to the top of the skyscraper and then jumped off.

Yeah I booted it this morning and setup up my keybinds since I'm left handed and that means I have to reset nearly every freaking key. I was getting about 70 frames with everything cranked but it was an empty server.

Some people are saying nvidia cards are struggling at the moment.

[thisismyusername]

i booted it up for about 10 minutes this morning. joined an empty server and ran around a bit. went to the top of the skyscraper and then jumped off.

Yeah I booted it this morning and setup up my keybinds since I'm left handed and that means I have to reset nearly every freaking key. I was getting about 70 frames with everything cranked but it was an empty server.

Some people are saying nvidia cards are struggling at the moment.

If it's the beta drivers, yeah. I'm still on 320.16 or something released in July and have been getting a solid 56-60 from the auto video setting setting things to high/ultra for me. Ultra drops it to 30-45FPS, which isn't bad but definitely shows the impact.

Auto looks good, but I'm kinda worried about cooling for the card.

[fistfulofmetal]

the deployment interface is much better

[cool breeze]

to you guys playing the PC beta, does it still use the web plugin and all that nonsense?

[fistfulofmetal]

to you guys playing the PC beta, does it still use the web plugin and all that nonsense?

Yeah. And that's improved as well. All around the processes to get into a game are much more polished.

[Stoney Mason]

Played for a few hours on both the 360 and PC version. It's as expected. Very good incremental upgrade to Battlefield 3. The sound is better. The game seems better. Just don't go in expecting a revolution because its clearly an incremental upgrade to the already solid game BF 3 was.

The battlelog integration and battelog in general is better than it was in BF 3 which is nice. You can run a two monitor setup and have the menu on one screen and the game on the other. I tried this. Not my video below but it does work.



They upgraded the ios companion app so that's its actually useful now which is good.

I won't go into balance stuff and lag stuff because both currently have issues but its a demo that's relatively old as all mp demos are so there is that. (Well one gripe. That air bust grenade launcher the support class has is stupid and op at the moment.

The lean and peek system seems nicely done and fairly simple without turning the game into a gears of war type stuck in cement game.

The domination game type mode is a nice COD inspired action take on Battlefield that is better than the ill conceived close quarters DLC was.

One complaint I would mention at the moment are that I don't think the commander mode stuff is in the game or hasn't been in the games I've played (or I haven't noticed it at all which would be worse).

[thisismyusername]

Commander isn't in the beta unless a DICE employee is playing on your server. Yes, it's royally stupid.

the deployment interface is much better

Disagree. I hate how it's clicky clicky clicky  when I used WASD for deployment in BF3. I wish they gave the option for both but playing the console version the WASD type movement to select vehicles is FUCK AWFUL. So it seems they designed it around tablet/mouse in general. :/

[Rahxephon91]

Jesus, I get back home and read that you should put the cbr files into a new folder. Finaly the game installs. But now punkbuster is fucking shit up. I could have sworn I clicked to install that.

But I think I got this thing working now.

[drew]

i remember the bf3 demo being much closer to what the game looked like at launch...grateful to be playing but I'm just saying I was kind of shocked at first.

[Stoney Mason]

Commander isn't in the beta unless a DICE employee is playing on your server. Yes, it's royally stupid.

the deployment interface is much better

Disagree. I hate how it's clicky clicky clicky  when I used WASD for deployment in BF3. I wish they gave the option for both but playing the console version the WASD type movement to select vehicles is FUCK AWFUL. So it seems they designed it around tablet/mouse in general. :/

Agree with you on both counts.

i remember the bf3 demo being much closer to what the game looked like at launch...grateful to be playing but I'm just saying I was kind of shocked at first.

If you're talking about the console versions, yeah they look a bit shit now but I also don't think the beta is using the HD pack like the final version will.  Also I don't like how the back button is the battlelog button.

[fistfulofmetal]

The fact that it's a mouse driven interface is exactly why it's better. Makes it quicker and easier to tell where I'm spawning and what's happening at the spawn.

[Stoney Mason]

The fact that it's a mouse driven interface is exactly why it's better. Makes it quicker and easier to tell where I'm spawning and what's happening at the spawn.

It may be just that I'm not used to it that makes it feel foreign. It's definitely worse on the console version but what you say has merit for the pc version.

[Stoney Mason]

Beta should be open to all now.