The AT Battlefield 4 F.A.Q., News, and Discussion thread

[uclaLabrat]

Though I enjoyed it, BF3 was their COD pass. Not trying to stir shit, just my opinion.

I have mixed opinions...they did so much right with BF3 that was an immense improvement on BF2, with environments, gunplay, weapons and unlocks, but then went and took 8 steps back with no voip, no battlerecorder, lame vehicle handling, etc.

 

[maniacalpha1-1]

Though I enjoyed it, BF3 was their COD pass. Not trying to stir shit, just my opinion.

You're right insofar as BF3 was their COD competition, but I think what he meant was that DICE gets a free pass to have BF4 be a reskin of BF3 just like CoD is every year. I could be wrong but I think many people believe they may issue a reskin this time but that BF5 will innovate and that they won't do 10 reskins in a row.

I think DICE may try to compromise more this time, but I will be playing PS2 too much to crusade as much as I did before, of course PS2 isn't perfect and is often enraging but it's the best we have for people wanting a war, so credit where its due.

 

[GullyFoyle]

As per usual for a new Battlefield game, there arise new web sites with hopes of riding Battlefield's coat-tales to success. Some, like Battlefieldo, find it. Others, not so much.

A new Battlefield 4 site which which recently came to my attention is BF4CENTRAL.

They have been around for less than a month, but have a very comprehensive set of articles, some of which I have not seen anywhere else. Here's a sampler:

Battlefield 4 “mission package” sent out to press

Battlefield 4 “mission package” sent out to press

EA has sent out special press invitations in a huge ammo box to select members of the gaming press.

MARCH 22ND, 2013 IN NEWS
EA and DICE are gearing up for the big Battlefield 4 unveiling on March 26 at GDC, followed by a worldwide trailer premiere on March 27. And some of those lucky from the press who will be in attendance at the GDC unveiling have received a rather interesting package from EA. And by the looks of it, a rather large and heavy package.
Called the “Battlefield 4 Mission Package”, it includes the special invitation carved out in wood, basically confirming the 7:00 PM unveiling at GDC in San Francisco on March 26. The “Battlefield 4 Mission Brief” also includes a mention of “next generation technology and gameplay”. The whole thing is shipped in an old ammo box, and we take it that it weighs quite a lot. The rest of the press got a much simpler invitation.
Battlefield 4 “ammo box” package

DICE trademarks “Battlefield 4″, name confirmed?

Trademark registrations by DICE reveal that "Battlefield 4" is likely the final name of the next game.

MARCH 11TH, 2013 IN NEWS

There have been some rumors out there about the possible title for the upcoming Battlefield 4. Will the game receive a new name? Will it get a sub-title of sort? Even DICE acknowledged that it’s not the “most creative title” as general manager Karl Magnus Troedsson put it last year.
So did DICE come up with something “more creative”. Apparently not, as BF4Central went through the registered trademarks at the American USPTO and the European OHIM and found that the next Battlefield game will simply be called “Battlefield 4″.
Battlefield 4 trademarks found
DICE registered Battlefield 4 both as a “trademark” and “service mark”. We combed through all of EA and DICE’s trademarks at the two trademark offices with “Battlefield” in it, and no other upcoming game title was present other than Battlefield 4. There was no such thing as “Battlefield 2143″ nor “Bad Company 3″ etc. Check out the listing at USPTO:

This pretty much confirms that the next game in the series will simply be called “Battlefield 4″. You can check out the USPTO trademark listing here and the EU trademark here.

Plus, two articles on BF4 rumours, for those that like to daydream.

Battlefield 4 leaked details reveal 64 player maps, 3 factions, more

A huge list of leaked BF4 details reveal 64 player maps, 3 factions, Commander feature, and more.

MARCH 19TH, 2013 IN RUMORS

We’ve got an exclusive scoop on some Battlefield 4 features. First of all, it looks like the game will stick with 64 players, and overall, the game appears to be very similar to BF3. If the rumors are true, we’ll be getting some extra features though, most notably: the Commander will return and we’ll get a third faction,
Leaked Battlefield 4 details:
This info comes from the same source who was the first to leak the Battlefield 4 artwork / teaser, and who was also spot on about EA releasing a teaser trailer. So we’re pretty confident in this information.

• Battlefield 4 will stick with 64 players. Maps are larger and more detailed.
• Three factions: US, Russia, and an unnamed “Eastern/Asian” faction.
• 4 classes with “additional features and tweaks” compared to BF3
• Shipping with same amount of maps as BF3, there are plans for lots of DLC.
• DLC is already in planning stages.
• Battlefield 4 Premium will be available on day one and include some perks.
• Most of the guns and vehicles from BF3 will return.
• More squad features.
• Commander feature returns, but won’t be the same as in BF2
• Battlefield 4 is coming out on both current and next gen systems, and PC as well.
• Game is more of an evolution rather than revolution of the series. Both technically and gameplay wise.
• Will ship with more game modes than BF3
• Will ship with more close quarter infantry maps than BF3
• Frostbite 2 engine is pushed further in BF4. Better effects, higher res textures, more detailed game worlds, etc.
• BF3 will still be supported after Battlefield 4 launches.
• There is plan of some sort of integration between BF3 and BF4. Could be Battlelog-only.
• Battlelog will be updated for Battlefield 4 with more social features and more detailed stats.
• Single-player and co-op will return, new writers involved this time.

We’ll have to wait and see how things pan out. Battlefield 4 will be unveiled on March 26.

New Battlefield 4 rumors reveal more features, new DLC

Game features dynamic weather, better destruction, a Chinese faction, and more.

MARCH 21ST, 2013 IN RUMORS
According to rumors from Chinese tech forum Chiphell, a source within EA China has leaked some Battlefield 4 details. According to them, the game will be set in the year 2020 and will feature modern-day weapons and vehicles. Destruction will be back with an enhanced Destruction 4.0 which will make it possible to level buildings. Battlefield 4 classes will now include China, which is rumored to be the USMC’s main opponent in the game.
Technology wise, the Frostbite 2.5 engine will support DirectX 11 on PCs, and feature Tesselation, among other goodies. It’s also rumored that the game will sport dynamic weather on maps.
The PC version of the game will support 64 players, while consoles will once again be limited to 24. Next-gen consoles will also be limited to 720p resolution, but will run at 60 frames per second. As our own Battlefield 4 leak mentioned, the Commander feature will be back this time.
The source also reveals that the first Battlefield 4 DLC will be a remake of popular BF2 maps, just like Back To Karkand was for BF3. The alleged maps will be set with the Chinese faction in mind, and will feature 4 maps and some new vehicles. More on the DLC later.

Rumored Battlefield 4 maps
According to the rumor, all maps will be set in Asia. We think this is unlikely, as the Battlefield series has always included a few maps set in the Middle East (which were usually the most popular maps, like Strike At Karkand and Gulf of Oman. Although, technically, Middle East is in Asia&#8230. Either way, these are the rumored Battlefield 4 maps, based on real world locations:

• Tiananmen
• Diaoyu Island
• Shanghai Bund
• Xizhimen

The source also mentions a few Battlefield 4 vehicles. The US side will, as expected, feature the M1 Abrams main battle tank, while the Chinese side will have the Type-99.

Rumored Battlefield 4 Chinese vehicles
Since the game will feature a Chinese faction, it will include Chinese-made weapons and vehicles. According to the source, these are some of the vehicles which will be featured in the game:

• Xian Y-20 military transport jet (Wiki entry)
• Chengdu J-20 stealth fighter jet (Wiki entry)
• Chengdu Xianglong unmanned UAV

Rumored Battlefield 4 DLC maps
Shortly after released, the game is rumored to receive its first DLC, much like Back To Karkand in BF3. The rumored maps are all remakes from Battlefield 2:

• Wake Island
• Dalian Plant
• Daqing Oilfields
• Great Wall

Keep in mind that these are all rumors. We’ll have to see how much of this pans out.

 

[Grooveriding]

BF3 is a lot more forgiving than BF2 in regards to aiming and shooting enemies, amongst other aspects. It still provides a hell of a lot more than CoD does with much, much more varied game play and options.

The get the free pass on BF4 for a reskin due to the engine still being very modern and fresh. As long as they add large new game play elements and don't further simplify the game by completely removing recoil or something else crazy like that, I am okay with it.

Obviously we will get another 4 DLC/Premium type system as well. A deal breaker would be micro transactions in game for better guns or some such nonsense. I don't care about the buying your way to full unlocks, so long as it's not offered at the release and used as a catch up/money maker later on.

 

[maniacalpha1-1]

BF3 is a lot more forgiving than BF2 in regards to aiming and shooting enemies, amongst other aspects. It still provides a hell of a lot more than CoD does with much, much more varied game play and options.

The get the free pass on BF4 for a reskin due to the engine still being very modern and fresh. As long as they add large new game play elements and don't further simplify the game by completely removing recoil or something else crazy like that, I am okay with it.

Obviously we will get another 4 DLC/Premium type system as well. A deal breaker would be micro transactions in game for better guns or some such nonsense. I don't care about the buying your way to full unlocks, so long as it's not offered at the release and used as a catch up/money maker later on.

Personally I don't see BF2 weapons as that much more unforgiving, sure they are a bit, but I see the real issue as BF2 weapons just aren't as deadly, which isn't the same thing, but I guess it seems that way to people who want a very fast killspeed, both in pure ttk and less recoil and cone to deal with.

Also, why still 64? It's coming for next gen consoles which can probably hand 128 themselves. There goes map size and development.

 

[Grooveriding]

Noooooo, how could they do BF2 themed DLC and do Wake again ? Especially with the Chinese faction, Dragon Valley was my favourite BF2 map :/ Battlefield 4 could be so much better if they would let modders create their own maps... that was the biggest fail in BF3 for me.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Personally I don't see BF2 weapons as that much more unforgiving, sure they are a bit, but I see the real issue as BF2 weapons just aren't as deadly, which isn't the same thing, but I guess it seems that way to people who want a very fast killspeed, both in pure ttk and less recoil and cone to deal with.

Also, why still 64? It's coming for next gen consoles which can probably hand 128 themselves. There goes map size and development.

Their map design department has a policy of stripping down maps.
The lead designer said the reason they took out at least 40% of the playable area of the BF2 remake maps was because they were too big and people weren't playing on them.
It's a different world we're playing in now, where TTK needs to be very short or people think the gameplay sucks.

I thought MAG on the PS3 was great, and that game had a fairly long TTK, held 256 players, and had vehicle combat.

I really don't have much hope for BF4, considering Dice is still EA's bitch, and everything we've seen from BF3 shows that they're going the more COD route constantly.

 

[scooterlibby]

Looking forward to new destruction. Seems like it really took a step back from BC2 to BF3 in terms of it affecting the action.

 

[uclaLabrat]

You're right insofar as BF3 was their COD competition, but I think what he meant was that DICE gets a free pass to have BF4 be a reskin of BF3 just like CoD is every year. I could be wrong but I think many people believe they may issue a reskin this time but that BF5 will innovate and that they won't do 10 reskins in a row.

I think DICE may try to compromise more this time, but I will be playing PS2 too much to crusade as much as I did before, of course PS2 isn't perfect and is often enraging but it's the best we have for people wanting a war, so credit where its due.

Nah, I think BF4 will be what BF3 should have been if they weren't so constrained by the crapbox consoles. There was no way they could make a passable FPS that utilized the power of the PC and have it be anything resembling the same experience on such an underpowered platform.

At least with BF4, there will be much more parity.

 

[maniacalpha1-1]

Nah, I think BF4 will be what BF3 should have been if they weren't so constrained by the crapbox consoles. There was no way they could make a passable FPS that utilized the power of the PC and have it be anything resembling the same experience on such an underpowered platform.

At least with BF4, there will be much more parity.

Well, we're still stuck with 64 even though I'd bet next gen consoles can handle 128. This reminds me of the old comment from one of the DICE guys that they tested 256 and found that 40 was the sweet spot. Of course, there are flaws with this - first, I assume that was in-house only testing, and we know that what EA wants and what the customers want aren't the same thing. And before you say that what the devs want/envision is all that matters, I personally believe that EA constraints and goals mean that the devs can't do what they truly want, either.

Secondly, I assume they did not design proper maps just to do this testing; and you can't just pack 256 guys into Caspian and declare it not fun.

 

[happybelly]

Noooooo, how could they do BF2 themed DLC and do Wake again ? Especially with the Chinese faction, Dragon Valley was my favourite BF2 map :/ Battlefield 4 could be so much better if they would let modders create their own maps... that was the biggest fail in BF3 for me.

Dragon was my favorite map too, I hope we get to see it on the new engine at some point.

I hope BF4 makes the jets and choppers handle more like the BF2 versions, but I doubt they will.

 

[uclaLabrat]

Well, we're still stuck with 64 even though I'd bet next gen consoles can handle 128. This reminds me of the old comment from one of the DICE guys that they tested 256 and found that 40 was the sweet spot. Of course, there are flaws with this - first, I assume that was in-house only testing, and we know that what EA wants and what the customers want aren't the same thing. And before you say that what the devs want/envision is all that matters, I personally believe that EA constraints and goals mean that the devs can't do what they truly want, either.

Secondly, I assume they did not design proper maps just to do this testing; and you can't just pack 256 guys into Caspian and declare it not fun.

Problem is, once you get over 20-30 players, you're basically dealing with little battles of 10-20 people on each side, so there's no real point in having bigger maps. Once you get over that threshold, you're moving from battle to battle and you might as well have separate maps

 

[maniacalpha1-1]

Problem is, once you get over 20-30 players, you're basically dealing with little battles of 10-20 people on each side, so there's no real point in having bigger maps. Once you get over that threshold, you're moving from battle to battle and you might as well have separate maps

People have said the same of 64, but having played Planetside 2, I don't believe that's true at all.

Of course, it IS true if everyone treats each battle area as a minideathmatch and makes zero effort to capture the objective and change what's going on in the map overall. But it doesn't have to be that way. If that's how some people want to play it then fine but not everyone wants to, proper maps should be there for those that will play objectives (which will end the 10-20 person battle on one section causing those guys to reinforce other sections).

And even when people do treat it all like a deathmatch, there's something to be said for running after a base with 80 other guys at once...

 

[raasco]

Day 1 Premium is a must. None of this "Limited Edition", then also get their money later on with premium.

Needs
1) Team VOIP with option for squad VOIP.
2) Battle Recorder
3) Increase squad play somehow. I got really tired of the lone wolves out there. The only time I play nowadays is when select friends are on.

 

[blackened23]

BF3 is a lot more forgiving than BF2 in regards to aiming and shooting enemies, amongst other aspects. It still provides a hell of a lot more than CoD does with much, much more varied game play and options.

The get the free pass on BF4 for a reskin due to the engine still being very modern and fresh. As long as they add large new game play elements and don't further simplify the game by completely removing recoil or something else crazy like that, I am okay with it.

Obviously we will get another 4 DLC/Premium type system as well. A deal breaker would be micro transactions in game for better guns or some such nonsense. I don't care about the buying your way to full unlocks, so long as it's not offered at the release and used as a catch up/money maker later on.

I'm still kinda pissed off that BF3 was 60$ at launch and then premium was again 60$.

I seriously doubt i'm going to buy BF4 at launch just to get segregated from half the playerbase due to premium. F that noise. I don't get it. Other games have season pass DLC for 20-30$ which is still a ripoff, but easy to swallow. A season pass for COD or BF3 is 60$ at launch? What the heck.

Anyone else feel this way? Why is season pass "premium" DLC such a ripoff at launch prices?

 

[NikolaeVarius]

I'm still kinda pissed off that BF3 was 60$ at launch and then premium was again 60$.

I seriously doubt i'm going to buy BF4 at launch just to get segregated from half the playerbase due to premium. F that noise. I don't get it. Other games have season pass DLC for 20-30$ which is still a ripoff, but easy to swallow. A season pass for COD or BF3 is 60$ at launch? What the heck.

Anyone else feel this way? Why is season pass "premium" DLC such a ripoff at launch prices?

Its the perfect way to make money.

Instead of having the guy actually buying content, you have the guy buy something that basically is a reservation for new content. You get all the money upfront, and it doesn't matter what the new content is, or if he likes it or not. You have all his money already. And most of it is pure profit because, you've essentially doubled the amount of money gained from a single title, but you already have 95% of the work already done.

Its an amazingly EA like strategy.

 

[blackened23]

Its the perfect way to make money.

Instead of having the guy actually buying content, you have the guy buy something that basically is a reservation for new content. You get all the money upfront, and it doesn't matter what the new content is, or if he likes it or not. You have all his money already. And most of it is pure profit because, you've essentially doubled the amount of money gained from a single title, but you already have 95% of the work already done.

Its an amazingly EA like strategy.

Call of Duty has done the same thing. 60$ for the season pass. Still a ripoff, I don't like it.

I certainly won't buy BF4 at launch because of this, although i'm sure to be in a minority. I'm getting kinda sick of modern shooters anyway.

 

[DeadFred]

I know Im probably in the minority on this but Im not any any hurry for BF4 to be honest. Im still enjoying BF3 but Im sure BF4 will pretty much kill it so I may as well get ready for 4. I would have preferred a 2014 release which would have also allowed them time for more innovation.

I wonder why they dropped the BC series? I would think an alternating game release schedule between BF and BC would work out well for them and also satisfy the two different camps of battlefield player preferences.

 

[power_hour]

*removed*

 

[DarkKnightDude]

Also not in a hurry for this game. Mostly because right now I have no time to play but expect that to change in a year.

I have dim hope of a couple of odd ball options:

1. Disarm and take players prisoner of war (or they can off themselves and lose a point)
2. Fuel (limited!) for all vehicles
3. Hacking component (disrupt their drones, reduce fuel in vehicles, disrupt comms)
4. Spy drones

Yeah I know pretty silly. But hey, worth throwing it out there even if just one idea ends up being considered.

Only thing I could seriously see added from the list is maybe spy drones, since its 2020, we might see more robotic warfare since we had MAVs and EOD Bots in BF3.

 

[uclaLabrat]

If BF4 doesn't have PC features like spectator mode and battlerecorder, I'm not buying it. BF3 is so trash in that regard, I know there was a guy aimbotting just now, but we can't prove it. He's making insane kill shots with the M4 and the type 88, but people are ghosting him and it's inconclusive, though it looks like he's snapping back and forth like crazy in kill cam.

 

[blackened23]

If BF4 doesn't have PC features like spectator mode and battlerecorder, I'm not buying it. BF3 is so trash in that regard, I know there was a guy aimbotting just now, but we can't prove it. He's making insane kill shots with the M4 and the type 88, but people are ghosting him and it's inconclusive, though it looks like he's snapping back and forth like crazy in kill cam.

Yes, this is another major annoyance. PC multiplayer games in general are plagued with cheaters. Way more so than their console counterparts.

 

[GullyFoyle]

New Teaser images...

 

[DeadFred]

If BF4 doesn't have PC features like spectator mode and battlerecorder, I'm not buying it. BF3 is so trash in that regard, I know there was a guy aimbotting just now, but we can't prove it. He's making insane kill shots with the M4 and the type 88, but people are ghosting him and it's inconclusive, though it looks like he's snapping back and forth like crazy in kill cam.

That has been one if my biggest gripes with BF3, spectator mode should be a no brainer for any FPS.

 

[Chaotic42]

Their map design department has a policy of stripping down maps.
The lead designer said the reason they took out at least 40% of the playable area of the BF2 remake maps was because they were too big and people weren't playing on them.
It's a different world we're playing in now, where TTK needs to be very short or people think the gameplay sucks.

This is part of the reason why I'm going to bow out of the Battlefield series. On a graphics and sound level, Battlefield 3 was a huge improvement. In every other way that game was a massive let down for me. The series peaked right before they nerfed the blackhawk in BF2 and it's been all downhill since then.

Unless it gets some great reviews by people I trust, I just can't give them my money.