Battlefield: Bad Company 2 looking to catch MW2-jaded PC gamers on the rebound

by Christopher Grant on Nov 10th 2009 7:00PM

Perhaps detecting a dedicated server-shaped weakness in the competition's defenses, Electronic Arts is beginning to position next year's Battlefield: Bad Company 2 as a legitimate heir to the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare throne. On yesterday's Q2 earnings call, EA Games label prez Frank Gibeau said that, in addition to other things, Bad Company 2's "deep new online play with dedicated server support ... will put Battlefield in head-to-head competition with Call of Duty for quality and online gameplay." EA CEO John Riccitiello later said, "Battlefield: Bad Company 2 ... has every right to see itself as a rival to the #1 FPS game that one of our competitors is releasing next week." (Note: We presume Riccitiello misspoke and meant "this" week and not "next" week ... unless he thinks Left 4 Dead 2 is the #1 FPS game and that EA is its own competition).

Continuing to pour gasoline on the dedicated server fire, Gordon Van Dyke from Bad Company 2's DICE tells IncGamers, "On the PC, it's a PC version, which is getting that same treatment, and then also a little bit more as PC users are generally used to a different type of experience than console users are, and we recognize that and we want to make sure that we give that to the PC market and give the console market more." He was less committal when discussing modding tools, offering, "Once we start getting there and the engine gets to a level where we can release tools that are easy for our own guys to use, and then easy for people publicly, then we'll get into that and we'll really start to focus on it."

Though the first Battlefield: Bad Company never made its way to the PC, with promised support for the platform and a PC beta hitting this December -- just a few weeks after the PS3-exclusive console beta gets underway -- it's clear EA and DICE are making up for lost time.

Source – Electronic Arts Q2 2010 Earnings Conference Call [PDF link]
Source – DICE: Bad Company 2 PC Gets A "Little Bit More" [IncGamers]

Tags: Battlefield-Bad-Company-2, DICE, EA, EA-DICE, Electronic-Arts, Frank-GIbeau, John-Riccitiello

Reader Comments (72)

they got me!

and i like it!

Me too. They're playing this one very smart by basically doing everything people wish MW2 did and then having the classic BF element of vehicles.

I think it's funny that this graphic looks almost exactly like the MW2 cover though.

Every time I play these one of these war games, I think, "Wow.. war sure is awesome."

But then I grow up, and its like ten years later, and this new infinity war modern combat evolved shit comes out and i'm like... "where'd I put Bangai-O?

Same here, and I can't wait for this game. Although it played so great on my PS3 the first time around I might end up getting it for PS3 again this time even though I know its PC too. The old argument holds where lately it's been more fun sitting back on the couch with a blue-tooth mic and wireless controller than in front of a computer swapping between mouse+kb and joystiq. Either way I'm definitely getting Bad Company 2 day 1 though.

Well they won me over COD before all this "dedicated server stuff". But now that they are sticking with dedicated servers and mod support etc. I'm picking this game up for the PC instead of the PS3.

I wonder what the player count is going to be like for the PC. And also I wonder when Battlefield 3 will come out...probably 2011 at the earliest.

I'm getting both games because they are both awesome. I don't understand this quibbling. "I think mashed potatoes are a superior sidedish to corn on the cob." I'll have both, please. With lots of butter. Because I'm fat.

butter...

Heh with the money saved ill grab both versions !! MW1 and BF2 had some epic mods and maps, and its great to hear DICE giving us PC gamers that opportunity once more with the new engine. This also shows that they are not making a half assed console port either :)

I'm starting to feel like I'm missing out somehow by not playing COD or Battlefield obsessively.

I've played all of the COD's aside from MW2, no Battlefield yet. But for some reason I don't have the level of enthusiasm that it seems the entire gaming community has over these games.

@carmaction

I'm not happy with IW's support of the pc because...

They are charging $60 for the pc version, even though there are no licensing costs.

They are not allowing dedicated servers, which is bad because:
-No custom maps (more incentive to buy the new ones)
-No playing with a chosen community (clan/group etc)
-No custom mods/gametypes
-Inevitably worse connection speeds

They are going to charge for the map add ons

They are releasing it later than the console version even though it didn't have to be that way.

@carmaction:

Sure, except now Activision is telling you that you can't eat your corn the way you're used to, and that you must first cut all the kernels off with a knife. Also, you cannot have it with butter, and have to use lowfat margarine.

finally a relevant post
I feel like a spammer(last time) but

http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/10/just-cause-2-trailer-calmly-explains-why-grappling-hooks-are-awe/comments/23005210/

I'm in.

already saving for this game..

In my opinion, Battlefield has always been the better series. While I might still pick up MW2 for my 360, I'll defo be getting BC2 for my PC on launch.

It is better because it less popular. Most people who make that statement haven't even played MW2 yet, so it is ridiculous.

No. Maybe it's better in his opinion because like he said "he PREFERS the battlefield series".

Popularity doesn't have anything to do with it, Mr. Cop Out. Destructable environments, Vehicular warfare. Very different gameplay-wise, and different game modes.

I know why I prefer it over COD now.

battlefield 2 for the pc (this is way before modern warfare), was definitely one of the most fun war games ever.

huge maps, 64 players (i know it seems bloated, but the maps were huge), and flyable jets in multiplayer, tanks, apmhibians,

you might think that jets are overpowered, but it was a fucking awesome game

I still play BF2... Go ahead, hurl your monkey feces at me, but where are you gonna get a pc experience with huge maps, awesome vehicles, awesome unlocks, and a ranking system that's easy to use on any computer? eh? EH?! For anyone that would say that dragon uprising thing, well I don't have the money and it would pushing my computer specs... so there to that one.

Poor people that couldnt or cant afford MW or MW2 tend to cheer for the under dog (that being B:BC2) because they can relate to their own status in society.

basic psychology. and you know its true.

Shadow, nothing wrong with still playing BF2. I do, it's an excellent game. Same with CS:Source, new games come, but great games stay.

You've never played a Battlefield game? Wow your missing out. Not only has the series been around longer than COD series it's superior in many ways... The vehicles, be it land (tanks, jeeps, etc), sea (boats, carriers, etc), and air (planes, choppers, etc), have always been outstanding. Also infantry is always extremely balanced with the vehicles. The maps are large and well designed so it's not a cluster-F of people running around like COD. You can run and gun if you like but you can also sneak around on the outskirts of a giant map as a sniper or call airstrikes, let your squad mates spawn on you and so on. The maps are much more objective based rather than people resorting to killing each other (although there is plenty of that too). And finally with the newer frostbite engine (Bad Company, BF1943, and BC2) they have fully destructible environments, and incredible sound effects (yes the sounds are that good). Blowing holes in walls, driving down trees, taking out buildings, sniper spots, and so on never gets old.

I don't know what more I can say, the Battlefield series is just awesome.

Wow fffunfarm06, you must make your old professors at the Las Vegas drive-thru psychological university proud every single day.

I've never seen a more blatantly correct assumption based on what a commenter *didn't* say in a small post.

I'm definitely going to pick it up since I'm no longer getting MW2, and battlefield games have always been great on the PC

agreed. i started with Battlefield 2142. was peeved when BF:BC wasn't on PC so im glad to see 2 is. i have never played any CoD games so i will not be picking up MW2. i haven't said this in a long long time but good job EA!

Good.

I hope enough companies do this that the pompous jerks at Activision / IW realize that caring about your customer base actually matters.

Hahah, oh right, I guess making an awesome game in the first place isn't enough for you.

What does that mean?

IW began with the first Call of Duty, which was only on the PC. Their whole success was thanks to the PC community.

I bought that game, as well as UO and CoD2, and played the living daylights out of them, competitively in leagues etc.

This was all thanks to dedicated servers and mods.

Sure MW2 is a fantastic game, that is not the issue here. The quality of the game is unmatched, but the fact that they literally ripped the heart out of the PC game and said "here, play the console version on your PC" is ridiculous, and they should get backlash for it.

I am glad that EA and DICE are making a deal about their support of dedicated servers, since having the most successful shooter throw them by the wayside makes PC gamers uneasy that other companies may follow suit.

They got off to a great start at capturing PC gamers' hearts with a PS3-exclusive beta. Good job, EA.

god, im not going to start complaining about a beta (since when is that mandatory).

when they destroy Online, then ill bitch, moan, not buy it, etc.

It's just a PS3 early exclusive beta on consoles.

If you had finished reading the article you would have noticed they said the PC version was coming a few weeks later in December.

it's because Activision and Infinity Ward are slurping the 360 right now with Microsoft. EA's trying to appeal to PC/PS3 owners because of this.

PC is getting a beta too come December. Probably one with more maps and more features too, so quit your whining!

Well this is certainly good news. Along with yesterday's announcement of EA refreshing the Medal of Honor franchise, PC gamers still have hope.

And why do I get the feeling Bad Company 3 will 'be forced to lose dedicated server support'?

If there is a Bad Company 3. But, DICE said that dedicated servers is something they will never lose since it's such a basic and necessary feature for Battlefield games. All of their BF games have had dedicated servers, this isn't something new to them. Even 1943, an arcade game on consoles, had dedicated servers. Why would they move backwards instead of forward?

Just goes to show that IW is making a big mistake no matter what excuse they come up with.

IW isn't the only one-Carmack is dumping them for Rage, and probably Doom 4 as well.

To be fair, Carmack said it wasn't a definite decision about dedicated servers.

“It’s not cast in stone yet, but at this point no, we don’t think we will have dedicated servers,” he says.

“The great thing is we won’t have to be a pioneer on that,” he says. “We’ll see how it works out for everyone else.”

http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/11/dedicated-servers-and-rage-news-you-probably-dont-want-to-hear.html

So if MW2 stumbles on the PC compared to MW1, and Bad Company 2 moves more PC units, I don't think that Carmack would hesitate to give us dedicated server support.

I had a blast playing the beta, more so than I thought I would. So I will definitely be getting this on the PC.

Disregard this, I put this in the wrong post. Sigh. But I'll also be getting BC2 on the PC, anyhow DOWNVOTE!

hey haven't played on pc in a long time is it a better game play than a 360 or ps3 i used to played C&C then i got a xbox so what do you think is it better on a pc... and will it have dedicated servers for ps3 and xbox 360..?

If they can give each group what they want, more power to them. I just hope PC gamers actually reward their effort with legit purchases.

I don't know if IW has come out and said it directly or not, but I believe much of reason behind the lacking PC port of MW2 is the rampant piracy of MW1. I think at one point they estimated that around 50% of people playing the PC version online were using pirated copies. I know people like to pretend piracy isn't a big deal, but 50% is enormous. You would have to be downright stupid to think that level of piracy doesn't do harm. And spare me any arguments about how the 360 version is also being pirated... it's a matter of scale.

While piracy is a problem for PC, it is the same on the 360 too. Just cause pirating a game is as simple as peanuts doesn't mean it doesn't exist on the 360 too. It has equal levels of piracy, but the thing is even Pirates buy a game if they see that its worth it. I had a friend who was broke most of the time, he used to pirate a few games, but he did buy games that were mind blowing (TF2, CoD4, etc) And even I have cracked a few games myself, but often only games which I own (hate inserting discs each & every time, Reloaded & Razor1911 cracks are a God send !!)

Even pirates buy games, piracy ain't a "problem". Its more often that they use it as an extended demo, save up and buy the game later. IW just gimped the PC version to make sure they can charge for upcoming map packs & other DLC ( they didn't charge for extra content on the PC ver of CoD4)

This game is really a must buy for me. The newest footage looks amazing and I've been keeping track on every bit of news to come out for this game, and it just seems like it's going to blow everyone away. The first Bad Company was great but it had its flaws, and plenty of them. It seems like EVERYTHING wrong with BFBC is being addressed and fixed in BC2, and with 4 game modes on release, and all this variety on how you choose to play, it's no doubt a must have.

Plus at least DICE respects PC gamers since a lot of them were PC gamers themselves. Sounds like PC is getting the full treatment here with dedicated servers and the features that just improve the game's experience even more.

PLUS I can't wait to roadkill people with the UAV! =D

DICE didn't bring Bad Company 1 to the PC. Battlefield 2 and overpriced DLC (booster packs). Battlefield 2142 is a disaster. Battlefield 1943 is taking forever to come to the PC. Yet, PC gamers are happy because it is the lesser of two evils.

Good job EA and DICE, lure those emotional suckers in. I don't get why anyone wouldn't have bought this game before anyways.

And of course those "hip" gamers who hate anything remotely popular.

Hopefully the game lasts longer than a month, though I doubt that will happen on the consoles. Looks like I'll be getting the PC version.

Haha, are you kidding me? How about you wait until the demo or even the beta before you start to make snap judgments? BFBC even with all it's issues lasted over 5 months for me so I doubt BC2 will be worse. GVD said that he feels this is the best Battlefield game he's ever played(and he was a modder before becoming a developer for DICE, he knows his games).

Can't wait for beta this Dec, Im happy to be able to back EA and Dice on this.

Day one purchase. Once I try the beta of course... but this has a much better chance than MW2 did.

DICE is NICE, I'm in and I'll be buying it on PC. MWwho?

Good.

This should be a different Battlefield, with smaller stages and less air combat.

I do hope BF3 returns with the large maps, large player counts, and great air combat of BF2 (but better!), though.

Also, Rage from id Software will not have dedicated servers, either.

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Battlefield: Bad Company 2 looking to catch MW2-jaded PC gamers on the rebound

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