Speaking to The Guardian, Battlefield 3 producer Patrick Liu discussed the game's ongoing beta as well as other projects DICE may (or may not) have in the works. When asked about the disappointment expressed over the lack of vehicles in the beta, Liu put it down to the fact that it is indeed a beta test (we certainly hope so).
According to Liu, "We ran the alpha tests with a Rush map and we wanted to have some sort of reference so we could compare results – so we needed to have more-or-less the same map." Evidently this led to including Paris Metro – a linear Rush map with no vehicles – as the only map in the beta. For what it's worth, PC players will have a chance to try out Caspian Border, a much larger map with vehicles, throughout this weekend.
Liu also answered questions regarding the Battlefield: Bad Company series, saying that "we haven't killed Bad Company." He added that DICE doesn't plan on making Battlefield an annual title, largely because they don't want to hand development of any Battlefield game to another studio. "No studio can make an annual franchise by themselves," said Liu.
Other topics in the interview include the possibility of another downloadable Battlefield title and the learning curve involved in piloting (virtual) jets. Head over to The Guardian for the full interview.
Reader Comments (70)
Posted: Oct 7th 2011 11:08AM Don Cheeto said
hold on though, there was totally an APC or something in that map in the alpha
Posted: Oct 7th 2011 12:23PM AdamPflug said
@Mr Hett Maybe they did, but I rarely saw the attackers make it past the first stage in the alpha, and it wouldn't make it far into the tunnels.... I guess they did move the MCOM stations though to make it easier. I kinda miss the APC because it really transformed the battlefield. Also it gave people some reason to play the Engineer class.
Reply
Posted: Oct 7th 2011 1:07PM Dreamscape said
@Jay Z
Yeah, with all that *great* cover in the first area of Operation Metro, they truly have no need for hiding in the bushes...
You're probably one of those people who complains about defenders *camping* on rush.
Reply
Yeah, with all that *great* cover in the first area of Operation Metro, they truly have no need for hiding in the bushes...
You're probably one of those people who complains about defenders *camping* on rush.
Posted: Oct 7th 2011 11:09AM Rubbishy Me said
*Stares at ubisoft*
Posted: Oct 7th 2011 11:10AM ItchyBarracuda said
"He added that DICE doesn't plan on making Battlefield an annual title,"
OH GREAT...LOOK AT HOW EXCITED I AM
OH GREAT...LOOK AT HOW EXCITED I AM
Posted: Oct 7th 2011 12:43PM DigitalEmporer said
@StarcasM
No, DICE are logical developers.
Its been what, almost three years since BF BC2? Now we are getting BF3.
Expect BFBC3 in 2 years minimum! They are not actispamvision.
Reply
No, DICE are logical developers.
Its been what, almost three years since BF BC2? Now we are getting BF3.
Expect BFBC3 in 2 years minimum! They are not actispamvision.
Posted: Oct 7th 2011 3:59PM Manifest37 said
@fupayme
Wow, did you pay for the beta?
I was unaware you could judge a game before its final release.
Reply
Wow, did you pay for the beta?
I was unaware you could judge a game before its final release.
Posted: Oct 7th 2011 11:12AM pi4aama said
It might be spam , but when the hell is Silent hill downpour is releasing in EUrope ? Is 2012 or winter 2011 ?
Posted: Oct 7th 2011 4:20PM kentuckyfried said
@pi4aama
@pi4aama
Man, that just came the f u c k out of nowhere. lol.
Reply
@pi4aama
Man, that just came the f u c k out of nowhere. lol.
Posted: Oct 9th 2011 4:14PM SKYRIM111111 said
@pi4aama
Maybe its because you spelled it wrong.
Reply
Maybe its because you spelled it wrong.
Posted: Oct 7th 2011 11:13AM Pr1mus said
Finally some comon sense. No annual release. Hopefully they can actually hold on to this and EA can't do shit about it.
Posted: Oct 7th 2011 11:13AM Nirvash Planeteer Power of Capt said
"DICE doesn't plan on making Battlefield an annual title"
I'm okay with this.
I'm okay with this.
Posted: Oct 7th 2011 11:15AM (Unverified) said
good to know their PLAN is not to make it a yearly thing.
Posted: Oct 7th 2011 11:18AM Milf Biggenson said
""No studio can make an annual franchise by themselves," said Liu."
Has anyone told Beenox and Activision this? I think what Liu meant to say was "No studio can make an annual franchise by themselves that's worth paying $60 for." If Spider-Man Edge of Time was $20.00, people might buy it. $60? No. Never. Not unless you're insane.
Has anyone told Beenox and Activision this? I think what Liu meant to say was "No studio can make an annual franchise by themselves that's worth paying $60 for." If Spider-Man Edge of Time was $20.00, people might buy it. $60? No. Never. Not unless you're insane.
Posted: Oct 7th 2011 2:15PM Cranky Penguin said
@eat it Brotherhood really wasn't much different from AC2 except they added multiplayer. Plus Revelations isn't out yet so we don't know if it will be good, probably won't be dramatically different from Brotherhood.
Reply
Posted: Oct 7th 2011 11:21AM (Unverified) said
caspian border is playable on pc now, you know that, right joystiq writer?
Posted: Oct 7th 2011 11:27AM RichardMitchell said
@(Unverified)
Friday is generally considered part of "this weekend," so yes.
Reply
Friday is generally considered part of "this weekend," so yes.
Posted: Oct 7th 2011 11:22AM TurbineTech said
Am I the only one who thought the beta was lame? I read that it was based on month old code and the actual shipped product would be different. If that IS the case why would you release a beta for people to make purchasing decisions with, and use old code? I cancelled my pre-order because it was not enjoyable to me.
Anyone else feel the same?
Anyone else feel the same?
Posted: Oct 7th 2011 11:35AM Liegia said
@TurbineTech No. This is a Beta, not a demo. It was never meant for players to use as an evaluation tool to decide if they wanted to buy the game or it; its purpose is to help DICE find errors and fix bugs as well as test out their backend hardware.
That said, I wasn't thoroughly impressed with the initial quality of the Beta software either. I am confident, however, that I will not be dissatisfied with my purchase of this game because the fundamental framework is all there. Once the bugs are ironed out (hopefully by release day) this has potential to be a phenomenal game.
Reply
That said, I wasn't thoroughly impressed with the initial quality of the Beta software either. I am confident, however, that I will not be dissatisfied with my purchase of this game because the fundamental framework is all there. Once the bugs are ironed out (hopefully by release day) this has potential to be a phenomenal game.
Posted: Oct 7th 2011 11:42AM TurbineTech said
@TurbineTech
With Arkham City, Uncharted 3, Skyrim, The Witcher 2 just around the corner and Rage and Dark Souls sitting on my entertainment stand I am just trying to be more responsible with my money. This is $60 I won't be spending on release day... Sorry DICE... :(
Reply
With Arkham City, Uncharted 3, Skyrim, The Witcher 2 just around the corner and Rage and Dark Souls sitting on my entertainment stand I am just trying to be more responsible with my money. This is $60 I won't be spending on release day... Sorry DICE... :(
Posted: Oct 7th 2011 12:45PM StarcasM said
@TurbineTech Downloaded it the Friday after the release day, Deleted it off my XBox Sunday.. Or was it Saturday?
Too many glitches, no communication, weak texture on soldiers, Quicksand locations, spotty explosive radius, can't run at times, no teamwork, one map and Lag.
sound was great though as well as the backgrounds and crumbling buildings. But I can tell, if you're not playing with a "team", Expect frustration.
I'm not feeling the fact of playing a beta that played like a alpha. Seems like EA used this to get everyone hyped up for the game, but I personally think that worked against them. I'll be waiting for a substancial price drop before I make a purchase.
Reply
Too many glitches, no communication, weak texture on soldiers, Quicksand locations, spotty explosive radius, can't run at times, no teamwork, one map and Lag.
sound was great though as well as the backgrounds and crumbling buildings. But I can tell, if you're not playing with a "team", Expect frustration.
I'm not feeling the fact of playing a beta that played like a alpha. Seems like EA used this to get everyone hyped up for the game, but I personally think that worked against them. I'll be waiting for a substancial price drop before I make a purchase.
Posted: Oct 7th 2011 12:57PM TurbineTech said
@StarcasM
I couldn't agree more. I was really looking forward to the "team work" experience. Something you don't normally get with COD, and its hard for people to cooperate when no one uses the mic. Very disappointing IMO.
I haven't deleted it yet, but that could be because I'm out of town.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who had grenades with absolutely NO kill radius.....
Reply
I couldn't agree more. I was really looking forward to the "team work" experience. Something you don't normally get with COD, and its hard for people to cooperate when no one uses the mic. Very disappointing IMO.
I haven't deleted it yet, but that could be because I'm out of town.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who had grenades with absolutely NO kill radius.....
Posted: Oct 7th 2011 1:03PM HaVoK308 said
@Liegia
It does not matter what the intentions were. It matters how they were received by the general gaming public. You know...the people responsible for the majority of sales. Call it what you want, but I been gaming long enough to remember what a real beta is. This is a demo, by the sheer nature of it's marketing and hype. And it's how it was perceived by most gamers. It failed on all accounts.
Talking server loads? Test a small linear map with no vehicles? That makes no sense whatsoever. It was handpicked to appeal to the Call of Duty crowd.
The DICE defense force got their blinders on. I played every Battlefield game created, but I'm not blinded by personal justification and a sense of misplaced loyalty.
Reply
It does not matter what the intentions were. It matters how they were received by the general gaming public. You know...the people responsible for the majority of sales. Call it what you want, but I been gaming long enough to remember what a real beta is. This is a demo, by the sheer nature of it's marketing and hype. And it's how it was perceived by most gamers. It failed on all accounts.
Talking server loads? Test a small linear map with no vehicles? That makes no sense whatsoever. It was handpicked to appeal to the Call of Duty crowd.
The DICE defense force got their blinders on. I played every Battlefield game created, but I'm not blinded by personal justification and a sense of misplaced loyalty.
Posted: Oct 7th 2011 1:07PM HaVoK308 said
@sammo21
A month old? Try a year and a half. The game is done. No? There is a reason the fixes they claim to have taken place won't happen until you download the patch day one. Every BF game has shipped in poor shape. And it has always taken months before all major issues get fixed.
FYI...Sony has there own certification process. If MS held up the process, the PC would not be getting the Caspian map this weekend. If they wanted all platforms to have the same shitty "demo".
Reply
A month old? Try a year and a half. The game is done. No? There is a reason the fixes they claim to have taken place won't happen until you download the patch day one. Every BF game has shipped in poor shape. And it has always taken months before all major issues get fixed.
FYI...Sony has there own certification process. If MS held up the process, the PC would not be getting the Caspian map this weekend. If they wanted all platforms to have the same shitty "demo".
Posted: Oct 7th 2011 1:11PM Klearwater Killer said
@Panzival
Well, we sure will miss you. My battlefield experience just wont be the same without another whiney geek.
Reply
Well, we sure will miss you. My battlefield experience just wont be the same without another whiney geek.
Posted: Oct 7th 2011 11:22AM Mr Hett said
Hopefully the next Battlefield title will have more game modes.
Posted: Oct 7th 2011 1:10PM JasonA said
@Mr Hett
Not sure why you were voted down.
The lack of game modes in the recent Battlefield games is pathetic.
I'm not saying I want the number of modes in COD games, but there are sooo many types of cool modes you could imagine for this game that more than 2 or 3 modes would be nice.
Reply
Not sure why you were voted down.
The lack of game modes in the recent Battlefield games is pathetic.
I'm not saying I want the number of modes in COD games, but there are sooo many types of cool modes you could imagine for this game that more than 2 or 3 modes would be nice.
Posted: Oct 7th 2011 11:24AM MatthewMk2 said
Bad Company 3 had better happen. If not, why the hell did they end the game on a clifhanger?








