The holiday season release of Battlefield 3 is just over a week away, and many gamers already have very mixed opinions of what this title holds in store. Moreover, console gamers have expressed their reservations about a title that was essentially built from the ground up as a PC game first with ported console versions taking some cuts in somewhat vital areas. Most of the BF3's content will remain intact on console versions, but gamers can't help but feel like they are missing out on something special by not having access to the glorified PC version of the title. With these things in mind, let's examine some factors that may have shaped what ideas fans of the franchise have about the console version of this game.
Battlefield 3 Multiplayer Beta
There is no way to discuss this game without mentioning what impact the Beta had on gamers' views of what the final version of BF3 will be like. Few things can stratify a person's expectations for a game's final product than a Beta release. Furthermore, when said Beta is presented within such a short time before the release of the aforementioned game the forums are bound to buzz. A majority of gamers that purchase FPS titles like BF3 do so with the intent to play the multiplayer component exclusively. The singleplayer campaign is somewhat of an afterthought. Therefore, a multiplayer Beta is the ultimate presentation piece that sets up what consumers can expect from the basic layout of a multiplayer game.
Even though game developer DICE disclaimed that the Beta was run on months old code, and that the final game would perform much better graphically and technically, the numerous map glitches and delay issues many players experienced were enough to turn them off of the game completely. Several discussions regarding the Beta's performance centered around the fact that releasing a product as seemingly flawed as this early build version so close to the final launch date signified that the developer would never have time to correct errors or patch glitches in the final version before release time on October 25th.
Such concerns are bound to turn up, but is possible that the final build will be accompanied by a patch update that coincides with the title's launch. Some glitches are bound to sneak through with the official launch, but with game systems being connected to publisher servers so intimately through the multiplayer system, this title is bound to evolve somewhat for the foreseeable future through numerous minor updates. Hence, release versions are no more final than the evolution of the gaming industry itself.
On the upside, the Beta gave players a glimpse at BF3's robust and intricate leveling and upgrading system. Though many elements are similar to the leveling systems employed by previous Battlefield titles, there is an even more prevalent emphasis on weapon mastery in BF3. Each weapon performs very differently within each character class type. However, players who have spent more time unlocking more weapons within a class won't necessarily have an advantage over players who have chosen to grind it out with earlier unlockable weapons. Ultimately, a player's success is determined by what accessories he or she equips based on his or her play style. Another aspect of this system displayed in the Beta revealed that unlocked weapons can be employed across the entire range of classes regardless of faction thereby adding another level of customization that surpasses any found in any previous Battlefield game. Bad Company 2 explored this concept by allowing select weapons to be equipped by every class, but the new system more effectively blurs the lines that distinguish one class from another while still retaining those strengths that make each role unique.
Introducing the Battlelog
My initial response to the concept of the Battlelog was a mixed one. What EA and DICE seem to be doing here is giving more access to players who want to track their stats without being forced to access in game statistic menus or filtering through EA's Battlefield homepage stats menus. The Battlelog is, in essence, not unlike a player's Facebook profile page for all things Battlefield 3. Players can view their recent achievements as well as those of their online friends. There was also a server invite component that I was unable to explore fully, so I will leave that for a future review of the released game.
Multi-Platform Support
Forums have been buzzing with debates between PC gamers and console gamers regarding which version of the game is really worth the purchase. DICE literally explained that BF3 would be a PC game first and a console game second when the title was originally announced. As such, there will be obvious presentation differences between versions of the game. There will be omissions on consoles such as a fractional downsize of players per match (24 vs. 64 on PC), and larger maps will be scaled down to conserve memory and to accommodate the smaller lobby sizes. Even with these obvious, and somewhat disheartening changes, would anyone really call console versions of BF3 unworthy of purchase? The biggest limitation to the PC version of this game is that the system specifications required to run the title are likely to alienate casual PC gamers or those without the resources to upgrade their systems with expensive hardware.
It is true that current generation consoles use years old hardware that hamper developers' ability to push the envelope on increasingly explorative game innovations, but consoles are the low cost solution that bridged the gap between the PC elite and the casual gaming community in the first place. Despite the hindrances to console versions of Battlefield 3, the title still deserves exploration. While it is true that the opportunity to play a 32 v 32 round of Conquest or Rush on larger multiplayer maps is enticing, I for one am not willing to spend the money on a system that will require constant upgrades to continue playing heavily anticipated titles.
Final Thoughts
DICE has continued to push the envelope in terms of creating games that are innovative, and that cater to a special demographic of players who value dedication to realism and precision. In regard to whether or not Battlefield 3 will be able to dethrone the current king of most copies sold, Call of Duty, the verdict remains unclear. However, to say that BF3 is competing with itself between consoles and its PC version is an unfair assessment. DICE has a way of making choices for console players that may seem cheap to the consumer on the surface, but ultimately improve the multiplayer experience in the long run.
My own experience with the series since I was introduced to the Bad Company series has been excellent. The BF3 multiplayer Beta was also very enjoyable once I was able to look past the random glitches that occasionally hampered my matches, and I maintain my opinion that gamers will either love BF3 or be disenchanted by it. Ultimately, BF3 is Battlefield, and Call of Duty is Call of Duty. CoD may sell more copies at the end of the day, but I believe that Battlefield loyals will always come back to the franchise for years after its release. Battlefield may not be the new king of sales this year, but it will definitely provide an alternative to the frenetic pacing of games like Call of Duty for those who prefer a more tactical approach.
