Initial Battlefield 3 Open Beta Impressions

[Aidan]

1. BF3 servers are slammed. Difficult to connect to one or even fine one that is not full. This is typical of a new AAA FPS.

2. I like the lobby interface. It is web based and very efficient.

3. Launching into a server takes a little longer but once in, the switching back and forth from game to lobby is easy and seamless.

4. Graphics are excellent! Edit: Let me change this. It is a Beta but there are signs of dumbed down graphics. For example the stone walls in Metro are a concession for the consoles. But over all, the graphics are very good.

5. Metro map really focuses game play. Very intense fighting in the tunnels.

6. Audio is also very good. The spatial dispersion of the sound is excellent.

Cya on the battlefield ! 

BF3 player name is Jimbo6499

[(TLL)CapperDeluxe]

I've seen a couple videos, seems to play almost exactly like Bad Company 2. There anything that feels different in a significant way (besides ability to prone)?

[lessergod]

Does it still look like you are hurling a styrofoam grenade?

[xInVicTuSx]

Been watching streams, looks like I expected so far, a cross between BF2 and BC2.

There isn't constant HDR and bloom and shit in your face like there was in BC2, so I like that about the graphics.

Seems really arcadey at times though... the guy I was watching was reloading his assault rifle after every burst and it took less than a second and allocated the ammo between clips for him...

Have yet to see anyone use LMG but this one guy was using a sniper and was strafing back and forth destroying people with the SVD... this would never happen in Bf2. So snipers are looking too mobile for my tastes.

Have yet to see a single vehicle... just lots of infantry rush... i hope this is just the early beta.

I want to see my 64 man maps with vehicles or this isn't a battlefield game. 


EDIT: Actually one of my old JKIII friends just got be a beta code, looks like I will be playing the beta.

[Mitchpate]

I want to see my 64 man maps with vehicles or this isn't a battlefield game. 

There will be few 64 man slots due to the cost.  The few there are will likely be packed all the time.

[Aidan]

I want to see my 64 man maps with vehicles or this isn't a battlefield game.

From the server browser, looks like they are privately testing the 64 player boxes now.

[Mitchpate]

From the server browser, looks like they are privately testing the 64 player boxes now.

No doubt GSPs trying to figure out how many they can squeeze on a box before people start complaining.

[Hartsblade}12th VR{]

Got my invite yesterday, but I'm AFK until Sunday...will join up and see how it plays then.

[Aidan]

I've seen a couple videos, seems to play almost exactly like Bad Company 2. There anything that feels different in a significant way (besides ability to prone)?

Capper,

Well the only map I have played so far is Metro. It is in Rush game mode. As the attackers progress, the fight goes from outdoors to indoors in a Metro train station. There is a lot of glass in the tunnel and when the fight heats up the sound of breaking glass is everywhere! I have seen no new game modes yet but from the documentation, there is going to be a huge number of vehicles, weapons, and achievements.

[xInVicTuSx]

It plays ok so far I guess, but its really crashy for me. 

Crashing way more than MWLL ever has. 

[Aidan]

It plays ok so far I guess, but its really crashy for me. 

Crashing way more than MWLL ever has. 

I think in the FAQs, crashing may be resoved by closing the game and browser and then restarting Origin and then the game. At least this has worked for me.

[Mitchpate]

Sounds like Steam circa 2005 

[xInVicTuSx]

Nah, its video card crashes, it keeps telling me the driver has crashed.

[Aidan]

I am using the latest AMD 11.10 driver.

[Mitchpate]

Nah, its video card crashes, it keeps telling me the driver has crashed.

That's still Steam circa 2005 

Steam and ATI used to hate each other with a vengeance.