Battlefield 3 Interview With Producer Patrick Liu: maps, betas and jets

[qubit]

The Guardian has published an interesting interview with the producer of Battlefield 3, Patrick Liu and in it a selection of reader's questions were put to Liu. The choice of maps and the meaning of what a "beta" and a "demo" seem to be causing confusion amongst players are just two. It appears that players were disappointed with the Paris map, because it doesn't have any vehicles, but there was a good technical reason for that. The alpha game had a quickly designed "rush" map just to test the basic code, performance etc. To make testing comparisons between the alpha and the beta as similar as possible, the map used in the beta had to be essentially the same but it looks like gamers were expecting a demo with lots of different maps. However, providing those isn't necessarily appropriate for a beta test. On top of that Liu is confident that the various technical glitches will be ironed out by the time of the launch on 28th October.




This remains to be seen, as there have been plenty of games from various publishers that were released very bugged indeed to meet a deadline and only properly fixed some time later, giving a poor experience for the gamers who have invested their hard-earned cash in the product and helped the company's bank balance.

There's also goodies such as being able to fly a jet aeroplane. Apparently, it's very hard to master and crashing features a lot in the training experience, but once you do, flying it is "very very dangerous". Just what you need in an adrenaline-fuelled first person shooter!

Two things weren't answered though: no word on whether it will be released on Steam; the question wasn't even asked in the article, which is a shame. The interviewer asked about the projected sales figures, but a PR spokesperson explained that "EA aren't discussing expectations for the title".

Tom's Hardware also has an interesting take on this interview here.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[MilkyWay]

 

[NC37]

I know they got mad at the fans for all being mad about that Paris map, but after doing it a few days before Caspian was added, it got real dull. Literally it is just a demo. If it was a beta, they would have a form to fill out on bugs we find/etc. DICE should have treated it as a demo so fans wouldn't be expecting a better experience.

 

[qubit]

http://i51.tinypic.com/2iw37mx.jpg

I admit that I don't quite get it, but it seems funny anyway.

 

[DrPepper]

Some people were expecting a Demo yet it CLEARLY states it is a beta. These people are fools if they somehow mistook the two.

 

[MilkyWay]

Some people were expecting a Demo yet it CLEARLY states it is a beta. These people are fools if they somehow mistook the two.

Exactly! Qubit the picture was meant to symbolise how obvious everything is yet people still moaned and didn't quite understand. Sometimes people need the obvious spelt out in order for them to "get it".

Beta is not derivative of the final product.

 

[qubit]

Exactly! Qubit the picture was meant to symbolise how obvious everything is yet people still moaned and didn't quite understand. Sometimes people need the obvious spelt out in order for them to "get it".

Beta is not derivative of the final product.

Now I getz it! Yes, people do make some silly assumptions sometimes. I reckon the finished game will be awesome and won't have too many bugs in it.

 

[_JP_]

AAs always have been a pain in the neck. I can forsee how it will be with the jets, for newcomers.

Spoiler: You, as a newcomer

 

[R_1]

There is a Demo-Beta difference, so what?. It is really great game , worth buying. Demo-Beta won't be enough playing time anyway.

 

[Deepstriker]

Hope They were like Battlefield 2.Hope The Jets will Be carrying Bombs,and Air to Ground Guided Missile.

 

[WarraWarra]

DRM ?? constant online incompetence or both on and offline users choice ?

Seriously thinking of buying BF3 + a dedicated pc to gaming on for BF3.
Love the fact of flying / driving vehicles, brings the outcasts pc gamers "vehicle & flight sims" into the same game and makes this more fun.

Would be great game if they included dedicated server files + editor map + a OGR co-op mode just for the heck of it then this game can last for at least 5 years on pc.

Finally the first buy-able pc game in 5 years of drought if DRM is user friendly.

 

[Richieb0y]

yea in the netherlands many forums are bitching about it does not look good mostly consoles(buy it on PC) and how laggy it is and about glitchs then im like its a Fu%^@$% Beta guys.

I got it pre ordered way back and the beta got me really hyped i cant wait but too bad i have to wait

im impressed that my Pc can handle it whit almost all the settings up

 

[techtard]

Console gamers don't know what a beta test is unless they are professional game testers.
A surprising amount of PC gamers don't know what beta TESTING is either, anymore.
Most people just see it as a free demo.

Gotta love the ADHD generation.

 

[Zhriver]

If Dice wants my money they are going to have to release a polished demo leading up to the launch.
Playing the "beta" I honestly lost fate(also from past experiences with Dice) in it.
I honestly doubt that they are capable of releasing a polished product with around 14 days to go.

My biggest gripes with the beta:
1: Netcode/Hitdetection. Time and time again you be instantly killed cause the code fails.
Time and time again you get killed even when you've been in solid cover for the last 3secs.
I've mostly played on local Danish servers, it's a small country so its not uncommon to only have a 10ms ping.

2: Hardware compatibility, currently there is a lot of hardware within specs of the game that simply cannot run the game or the game crashes at 3min intervals.

I truly hope that Dice whips out that "magic" build that they keep referring too, but that they didn't feel like sharing with us and release it as a Demo.
Then you'll have my cash Dice/EA.

 

[brandonwh64]

If Dice wants my money they are going to have to release a polished demo leading up to the launch.
Playing the "beta" I honestly lost fate(also from past experiences with Dice) in it.
I honestly doubt that they are capable of releasing a polished product with around 14 days to go.

My biggest gripes with the beta:
1: Netcode/Hitdetection. Time and time again you be instantly killed cause the code fails.
Time and time again you get killed even when you've been in solid cover for the last 3secs.
I've mostly played on local Danish servers, it's a small country so its not uncommon to only have a 10ms ping.

2: Hardware compatibility, currently there is a lot of hardware within specs of the game that simply cannot run the game or the game crashes at 3min intervals.

I truly hope that Dice whips out that "magic" build that they keep referring too, but that they didn't feel like sharing with us and release it as a Demo.
Then you'll have my cash Dice/EA.

They will not release a demo period. They have already said they are taking all of the bugs/feedback and pushing it with the retail release. pushing a demo at the last minute would be stupid

 

[Zhriver]

They will not release a demo period. They have already said they are taking all of the bugs/feedback and pushing it with the retail release. pushing a demo at the last minute would be stupid

OFC, they'll say that. It's the only way to get people to pony up their money.
Cause honestly, that fixed build that they have implied so many times doubtfully exists.
It was rather frustrating to be part of the alpha, only to come back to the beta and see that every single problem still persisted.

 

[techtard]

Beta testing is all about testing and submitting bugs. But most players aren't submitting bugs, or testing. They are just playing normally, and then raging and bitching on forums.

If you aren't going to properly test and then submit feedback, don't join a beta test.

 

[Covert_Death]

Hope They were like Battlefield 2.Hope The Jets will Be carrying Bombs,and Air to Ground Guided Missile.

they aren't :/ the caspian border maps are up for everyone now, and i gotta say, the jets in BF2 were SO realistic that this is embarasing...

the jets have three speeds, if you hold S you go 250~ if you don't hold W or S you go ~340 if you hold W you do ~400 (if you add shift you get ~440)

it almost instantly gets to those speeds too, i know it MIGHT be different with joysticks and analog thrust once they are properly supported but even the flying feels "lame" honestly you think after 6 years or so, flight mechanics would be improved

 

[Rylan]

If Dice wants my money they are going to have to release a polished demo leading up to the launch.
Playing the "beta" I honestly lost fate(also from past experiences with Dice) in it.
I honestly doubt that they are capable of releasing a polished product with around 14 days to go.

My biggest gripes with the beta:
1: Netcode/Hitdetection. Time and time again you be instantly killed cause the code fails.
Time and time again you get killed even when you've been in solid cover for the last 3secs.
I've mostly played on local Danish servers, it's a small country so its not uncommon to only have a 10ms ping.

2: Hardware compatibility, currently there is a lot of hardware within specs of the game that simply cannot run the game or the game crashes at 3min intervals.

I truly hope that Dice whips out that "magic" build that they keep referring too, but that they didn't feel like sharing with us and release it as a Demo.
Then you'll have my cash Dice/EA.

According to General Manager Karl Magnus Troedsson's blog post, "The Battlefield 3 Open Beta is based on software that is more than one month old." So, your 14 days is off by another 30. I would hope that 44 days is enough to fix the problems.
http://blogs.battlefield.ea.com/battlefield_bad_company/archive/2011/10/03/battlefield-3-open-beta-update-2.aspx


Also, regarding the netcode.
"10. Why is the hit detection seemingly different from Battlefield: Bad Company 2?
The netcode is one of the many things that we are testing as part of the Open Beta and is not necessarily reflective of the final retail game. The DICE team appreciates and has heard the feedback you’ve provided and is further optimizing online play."
http://blogs.battlefield.ea.com/battlefield_bad_company/archive/2011/10/06/246-dfj-246-dfj.aspx

I feel you on the hardware issues. It's frustrating to crash randomly and frequently. I may or may not have rage quit last night because I was crashing so often.

 

[Bjorn_Of_Iceland]

Good to see gaming news in the page as well.

 

[.:{KC}:.]

It will be a fine game and make bookoos of cash!

 

[ice_v]

If Dice wants my money they are going to have to release a polished demo leading up to the launch.
Playing the "beta" I honestly lost fate(also from past experiences with Dice) in it.
I honestly doubt that they are capable of releasing a polished product with around 14 days to go.

My biggest gripes with the beta:
1: Netcode/Hitdetection. Time and time again you be instantly killed cause the code fails.
Time and time again you get killed even when you've been in solid cover for the last 3secs.
I've mostly played on local Danish servers, it's a small country so its not uncommon to only have a 10ms ping.

2: Hardware compatibility, currently there is a lot of hardware within specs of the game that simply cannot run the game or the game crashes at 3min intervals.

I truly hope that Dice whips out that "magic" build that they keep referring too, but that they didn't feel like sharing with us and release it as a Demo.
Then you'll have my cash Dice/EA.

Totally agree...

I'm sick of having to contine "beta testing" on the final product even though I should be playing a finished product, since that's what I paid for

After Crysis 2 (just one of many examples out there), I am never, ever going on pre-order again (though I might consider an exception for CD Project's next title).

To all the others who keep praising the outcome of this game...and are all about "Don't worry, the game's gonna be A-OK and in perfect polished shape" who the f**k are you? Are you working on this title? Do you have inside info on the status of Battlefield 3 that the rest of us don't know? You seem to be so sure about this, that it sounds you're just about ready to bet on it...big time!

well excuse me just from the start if, in my humble opinion, you sound just like a pair of nut case fanatical fans with consumerism issues; and since I have witnessed some marketing a** drilling of concearning proportions in this industry in the last couple of years...before I reach for my credit card, I tend to double check latelly...how silly of me right?

 

[qubit]

Totally agree...

I'm sick of having to contine "beta testing" on the final product even though I should be playing a finished product, since that's what I paid for

After Crysis 2 (just one of many examples out there), I am never, ever going on pre-order again (though I might do an exception for CD Project's next title).

To all the others who keep praising the outcome of this game...and are all about "Don't worry, the game's gonna be A-OK and in perfect polished shape" who the f**k are you? Are you working on this title? Do you have inside info on the status of Battlefield 3 that the rest of us don't know? You seem to be so sure about this, that it sounds you're just about ready to bet on it...big time!

well excuse me just from the start if, in my humble opinion, you sound just like a pair of nut case fanatical fans with consumerism issues; and since I have witnessed some marketing a** drilling of concearning proportions in this industry in the last couple of years...before I reach for my credit card, I tend to double check latelly...how silly of me right?

I think your points about waiting and seeing what the finished product will be like are valid and reasonable. However, I think a general attack on people who feel confident that the finished product will be fine is unwarranted and not very nice.

And to reverse your argument, do you have inside knowledge that the finished product is gonna be a bug-ridden piece of crap? No? I didn't think so.

 

[[H]@RD5TUFF]

it's beta I get that, but it was pretty damn broken

 

[R_1]

DX11 games are pretty rair, so your GPU gets extra stress and overclocked settings don't work anymore, push them down a bit. Don't know what all are complaining about, this is a great game, certainly best FPS this year.