There's a Battlefield 2 Q&A on Games Fusion, asking several DICE employees about the recently announced modern warfare action game. Topics include the graphics engine, research when it comes to weapons and vehicles, flight physics, locations and the commander mode.

Q. What will the new game engine bring to Battlefield 2? And what features have you implemented to bring the game up to date with other competing titles?
A. To achieve our goals and expectations for Battlefield 2 we had to raise the bar for visual quality several notches from our previous titles. The new rendering engine, developed from scratch for BF2, is completely shader driven, and is written to utilize the full potential of next-generation graphics hardware. One of the major improvements over the first Battlefield installment is that in the new rendering engine, every pixel you see on screen is dynamically lit and shadowed from multiple light sources ...

The Battlefield Vietnam website has a new community update, offering information on an upcoming 1.01 patch for the game. The update lists server and client fixes/changes; they include actually being able to sort by ping in the server browser, the removal of jerky movements when walking and jumping and the removal of the M60 from the LAW kit (replaced with an M14). A release date will be announced in a few weeks. Thanks Firehawk.

GameSpy is the first site with a Battlefield 2 Q&A, asking executive producer Scott Evans about the modern combat title which was announced yesterday. Questions are about the gameplay, differences between the three sides, technical improvements, scalable maps, improved bots and the release date.

GameSpy: We've heard that Battlefield 2 will feature scalable maps that change size according to the number of players. Can you elaborate on this?
Scott Evans: That's correct. Ever joined a Gazala server to find 16 people running around looking for action? As a server option, the maps in BF2 will dynamically expand and contract to concentrate the players and vehicles to help ensure the action is always hot.

Update: PC.IGN also has a Q&A posted.

The Digital Illusions website now has a Swedish language press release, officially announcing Battlefield 2 following last week's CGM story. The press release features a few details such as an early 2005 release date, and China, the United States, and the "Middle Eastern Coalition" as playable sides. Despite the similarities between this game and the PS2 game Battlefield: Modern Combat (announced last week), they are seperate projects. Thanks GameSpot. Update: you can find an English language press release right here.

The Computer Gaming World website has a story posted mentioning that the next issue of the magazine will feature a preview of Battlefield 2. Like the recently announced Playstation 2 game Battlefield: Modern Combat, BF2 (working title) is about modern warfare and will have the "latest in modern small arms, heavy weapons, and fighting vehicles". The preview can be found in the July issue (due out soon), which will also feature a first look at Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2. A small screenshot can be found at the end of the story.

This one is for all the Apple fans here on the Shack: Battlefield 1942 is coming to the Mac. Aspyr Media will be publishing the port, which will include the original game and Road To Rome expansion pack for $49.99. Look for it in June.

Boomtown has posted a reader question submitted Battlefield Vietnam Q&A, covering all kinds of gameplay related topics when it comes to the DICE Canada shooter.

Visiting DICE - The Road to the Battlefield is an article on Boomtown, describing a trip to the DICE Canada offices and the development of the recently released Battlefield Vietnam.

Today seems about as good a day as any to start a Battlefield Vietnam chat thread since quite a few people have been picking it up already. Is it really good, or does it feel like a simple Battlefield 1942 mod? What do you think about the graphics, weapons, and levels? While you engage in friendly discussion with other Shackers you can also check out this postmortem Q&A on GameSpy with producer Reid Schneider and lead designer A.J. Marini. They talk about what went right and wrong during development of the game. This Thursday (since a lot of you seem to be waiting for Best Buy's DVD edition offer) we'll have an Unreal Tournament 2004 thread.

Update: in case you don't have the game yet and want to see some more footage, the official website now has a new "Flight of the Valkyries" movie.

Justin from Battlefield Central let us know that EA has now released the Battlefield Vietnam Windows dedicated server, which you can grab from FileShack. The server is a 110mb download.

Yet another updated Battlefield Vietnam Linux dedicated server is avaliable, fixing things related to maplist.con and the remote console. Thanks 3D Gamers.

A new Battlefield mod toolkit has been released, adding support for Battlefield Vietnam. Version 2.0 also has an updated menu editor, a new vehicle importer tool, and several other new additions and improvements.

Over at Primo Technology you can find a chat log from last night's IRC event with DICE and EA about Battlefield Vietnam. Questions were about things like system requirements, the gameplay style, modding, voice over cast, heat seeking missiles and a whole bunch of other things.

The guys at GameSurge are hosting a Battlefield Vietnam IRC chat tomorrow, with Armando Marini from DICE Canada and producer Ben Smith of EA attending to answer questions about the game. The chat will start at 6PM CST, in the channel #bfvietnam on irc.GameSurge.net.

A few days before its retail release, Digital Illusions has released the Battlefield Vietnam Linux dedicated server. The 104mb allows you to run a server without owning the game.

3D Avenue is the latest site (and you would assume one of the last since reviews will roll in soon) to preview Battlefield Vietnam, offering brief hands-on impressions. Some new screenshots from the game can be found at SimHQ. Update: another preview can be found at Computer & Video Games.

Swedish game site FragZone has posted a Battlefield Vietnam interview with AJ Marini, who was on hand to answer questions at a recent press event. Questions and answers are about the new gametypes, historical accuracy, the balance between infantry and vehicles, boobytraps, SDK plans, and memorable bugs.

Good morning Vietnam! Electronic Arts sent over a press release announcing that Battlefield Vietnam has gone gold. The DICE developed first person shooter will ship to stores Monday, March 15.

The Battlefield franchise is entering a new era with more firepower and beautiful yet ferocious new combat settings. Offering an arsenal of weapons and vehicles authentic to the Vietnam conflict, players will battle in first-person perspective. Staying true to the over-the-top, action-packed multiplayer style that gave Battlefield 1942 its critical and commercial success, Battlefield Vietnam will drop players into some of the Vietnam War's fiercest battles. Fighting in theatres from jungles surrounding the Ho Chi Minh Trail to the city streets of Hue, players will choose from two well-equipped forces, the United States or the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) and Vietcong. All of this action will be accompanied by the sounds of an authentic Vietnam era soundtrack to immerse the player into an experience similar to that of a Hollywood film.

New at HomeLAN Fed today is a Battlefield Vietnam preview, taking another look at what this first person shooter from Digital Illusions' Canadian studio has to offer. Battlefield Vietnam is due out in two weeks.

The official Battlefield Vietnam website has been updated, offering this user submitted Q&A with designer A.J. Marini. Topics include use of tunnels, combat on water, bot AI improvement, mod tools, system requirements, weather change in maps and voice chat. New screenshots have been released as well. Battlefield Vietnam ships next month.