Battlefield 3 beta getting 'hundreds' of changes from alpha

DICE is implementing "hundreds" of changes from the alpha version before releasing the beta, and the second test will go down to the wire as well. DICE plans on releasing a day-one patch.

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The Battlefield 3 beta is just around the corner, but already DICE has made quite a few refinements to the multiplayer with help from fan feedback. According to executive producer Patrick Bach, the number of changes already made to the game based on alpha feedback ranges in the hundreds. The beta promises to keep even more changes coming, making a day-one patch likely.

"There were plenty of complaints, of course," Bach said at a roundtable interview in Sweden, reported by VG247. "There were some things we found out that we wanted to change based on the alpha; quite a lot, actually." He referenced map changes, and said they are "still moving things around" on the Rush map. "That's why we're doing it. It's not to market the game, it's actually to test it in a proper way. There are hundreds of things that we've changed since the alpha."

He also says that the beta will close very near the ship-date of the game, but feels confident DICE can finish patches for launch. "We will still have time to do, for instance, day one patches and changes to the Battlelog that will actually be game-changing," he said.

Bach was less forthcoming when it comes to actual beta release timing. "Soon," he said. Another staff member added, "Sometime between now and the end of September." We've heard that release target before, so DICE apparently doesn't want to commit to a more specific date yet. On the bright side, if you picked up the Medal of Honor Limited Edition, you're guaranteed a spot.

Not only will DICE have to scramble to make its day-one patch for the October 25 launch, but it will have to account for platform differences on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, as compared to the PC. Check out our PAX 2011 hands-on for more our own impressions on the latest demo.

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From The Chatty
  • reply
    September 6, 2011 3:15 PM

    Steve Watts posted a new article, Battlefield 3 beta getting 'hundreds' of changes from alpha.

    DICE is implementing "hundreds" of changes from the alpha version before releasing the beta, and the second test will go down to the wire as well. DICE plans on releasing a day-one patch.

    • reply
      September 6, 2011 3:17 PM

      Beta now please!

    • reply
      September 6, 2011 3:50 PM

      How do we get into the Beta? I preordered from Direct2Drive, but haven't got a key yet.

      • reply
        September 6, 2011 4:11 PM

        I think you had to buy Medal of Honour last autumn.

        • reply
          September 6, 2011 4:22 PM

          Or preordered on Origin apparently. D2D doesn't get you anything but the Back to Karkand pack.

      • reply
        September 6, 2011 4:17 PM

        Everyone get in the beta. It's just you will need to wait an extra 2 days once its out.

    • reply
      September 6, 2011 4:43 PM

      Oh god... I hope they don't do this again...

      They patched BF2 to crap. This actually has promise. I guess all we can do is cross our fingers...

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      September 6, 2011 5:59 PM

      A lot of people try to play this game like COD or another "lone-wolf friendly" FPS. If thats where the feedback is coming from it could actually hurt the initial vision more than help it.

      Also, this is why a lot of CS/COD people dont "get" BF/TF games and vice versa. You need to "switch modes" when going back and forth between these different styles games. Team style games are designed so it is a lot harder for one person to make a big impact on their own, but if well placed in a team, then their efforts synergise with the teams' and then they can make a huge difference.

      On the other hand, in more twitchy infantry games, team effort is rewarded, but not the primary focus. Its quite usual for one person to do a "rambo run" and dominate the other team.

      Neither is necessarily better - its a matter of preference/mood; When you have a good team/squad in BF it feels amazing, but if you are stuck with a bad one, it can be infuriating... on the flipside, at least with COD/CS you are not as dependant on your team, and can still 'win' regardless of how horrible they may be.

      • reply
        September 6, 2011 6:00 PM

        Kinda went on a tangent there...

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          September 7, 2011 7:55 AM

          its all good buddy :) well said

        • reply
          September 7, 2011 10:11 AM

          I get what you're saying and agree. I hope they didn't take a lot of CoD style feedback and implement it.

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        September 6, 2011 11:40 PM

        bFBC2 was very "lone-wolf" friendly. You just need to be sneaky.

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      September 6, 2011 11:33 PM

      Is it still a browser game?

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      September 7, 2011 7:56 AM

      I will have a PC beta code if anone wants to trade for an XBOX or PS3 beta code ^^

      • reply
        September 7, 2011 7:56 PM

        I got an Xbox 360 code coming to me, from my MoH purchase. I'm interested, if you're serious. Can you PM on Shack? If so, PM me.

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