It's taken a while, but the Battlefield 2 version 1.4 patch is now available. The update offers various gameplay tweaks and bug fixes, including another attempt to take care of the red/blue nametag bug. Also included is the new Road to Jalalabaad level. People with 1.3 installed can grab the incremental patch.

BUG FIXES
- Fixed the Linux server hangs when trying to load a Special Forces Co-Op map.
- Another attempt at fixing the Red/Blue nametag bug.
- Fixed the missing server info on the map briefing screen.
- Fixed the server browser issues with updating info.
- Fixed the filter by maps size option in the server browser.
- Fixed a low reproducibility crash bug related to the vehicle drop.
- Fixed a crash in Co-op after a player is revived without a kit.
- Fixed a server crash on Linux 32 when trying to rotate maps in Coop Mode.
- Fixed the occasionnal red distance marker appearing on the ground.
- Fixed the bug that caused the player's arms to become invisible when switching weapons.
- Co-Op bot console commands now function on local servers.
- Fixed the excessive damage taken by the Muscle Car.
- Adjusted the minimum number of players to start the round on ranked servers.
The new values for 16, 32 and 64 players are 6, 8 and 8 respectively.
- Re-enabled unlocks on unranked servers.
- Commander options are no longer available whilst commander is dead.
- Fixed bug where a spawn point is shown as selected when it is not if player has spawned in during the preview round.
- Co-Op (Local Server) - Fixed the issue where no other players may join the server if the server host is kicked and banned.
- Ranked Servers now force unlocks.
- Added support for multiple gamemodes in single maplist for mods.

Updated dedicated server files are available as well.

IGN has a new Battlefield 2142 preview, checking out two new multiplayer maps. DICE's multiplayer shooter sequel ships next month.

IGN has their newest Battlefield 2142 development diary up, penned by producer Anders Gyllenberg. He writes about the persistant character state in the game.

FiringSquad has been updated with a Battlefield 2142 preview, offering impressions of the multiplayer beta that's making the rounds.

Electronic Arts today issued two separate press releases, each announcing agreements that will provide in-game advertising for upcoming EA games. Today's first announcement describes an agreement with New York-based in-game advertising firm IGA Worldwide, which will see an unspecified number of EA franchises implement in-game advertising. The first game that will see ads from IGA is Digital Illusions CE's Battlefield 2142, which will be receiving dynamic ads tailored to players' physical locations. Interestingly, the press release also states that ads will be customized by platform, though the game has been announced only for PC, suggesting that the game may eventually be coming to other systems. "Consumers are increasingly gaming in deep, virtual worlds and advertisers need adapted ways to reach these audiences," said European VP for Online and Strategic Relationships Frank Sagnier. "The agreement with IGA is a first step in a detailed strategy to deliver advertising in a seamless format." It was not specified what type of real world brands will be used to seamlessly and realistically integrate modern advertising into the fictional setting of a war-themed game set in 2142.

The second announcement is regarding a deal with Massive Incorporated, an in-game advertising firm purchased by Microsoft earlier this year, and allows for up to four Xbox 360 and PC games from EA to be outfitted with in-game ads. EA Black Box's Need for Speed Carbon will be the first title affected by the deal. Though EA notes that the Need for Speed series has included static advertising in past games, Carbon will also include dynamic ads that are related to players' specific geographic locations and gaming platforms. "In places like a basketball court, football stadium or roadside in a racing game, advertising is not only nice to have, but it's an essential component to create the fiction of being there," said EA VP of Online Commerce Chip Lange. "This agreement with Massive allows us to vary what relevant ads are served to the game player." The announcement notes that Massive's technology allows for a variety of media types, including images, audio, video, and actual game objects, to be used in advertising.

Financial terms behind the deals announced today were not disclosed.

Update: Shacknews has received a response to various inquiries posed to EA regarding these deals. In regards to brands that will be used in Battlefield 2142, EA is not yet announcing specific companies. "We don't have any specific brands [to announce], but as we have said about any kind of ads in the past, they will be authentic and not distracting and in terms of being irrelevant of the time [period]," said an EA representative. "They will be contextually relevant." The company also clarified that the statement about multiple platforms in the Battlefield 2142 announcement is only a general statement about IGA's in-game advertising methods and does not indicate that 2142 will be a multiplatform game.

How about some more Battlefield 2142 screenshots to start off the day. DICE's multiplayer shooter sequel is currently scheduled for an October release.

Electronic Arts let us know that the Veterans Program for Battlefield 2142 is now live, allowing Battlefield 2 players to reserve their name for Battlefield 2142. Battlefield 2 players who sign up will also get indicator next to their name in BF2142 "so everyone will know they had a tour of duty in Battlefield 2", plus they will receive an immmediate promotion + unlock, as well as an exclusive verbal taunt. EA also sends along information on pre-ordering the game

To celebrate the Battlefield franchise’s leap into the future, EA and DICE have special incentives for the motivated troops who pre-order Battlefield 2142 from our participating retail partners:

* Battlefield 2142-branded "Dog Tag" USB 64MB Flash Drive
* Exclusive wallpapers and more from Crysis and Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars
* $40 in mail-in rebates for several Logitech products, including their G15 Gaming Keyboard

Order from GameStop or EB Games and receive an instant promotion the first time you log on to Battlefield 2142! You’ll get immediate access to unlocks including the shotgun add-on for the assault rifle, an EMP grenade, or the squad leader beacon!

For the BF2 Veterans who pre-order with GameStop or EB Games, the promotions stack, so they will really be ahead of the game as they hit the rank of Private 1st Class right out of the gate. Keep your eyes peeled for even more exclusive values from our some of our participating pre-sell partners, and remember to enlist early!

Last night's Late Night Consoling carried EA's announcement of Battlefield: Bad Company for PS3 and Xbox 360, but according to this Swedish press release on the DICE website we'll see a PC version too. The press release mentions that more information on a PC and PSP version will be released at a later date. Thanks Blues News.

Yet another preview of Battlefield 2142 has gone up at GameSpot. This time they take a look at soldier customization and persistance. There's also a new gameplay movie.

The Battlefield 2 1.4 patch has been in beta for quite a while now, and there was a possiblity it would be released this week. However, that's no longer the case according to this statement sent out by EA

As many of you are now aware we have made the choice to take some extra time with the 1.4 patch before release. During our standard final processing of the 1.4 client update we came across an issue that, although it does not compromise stability, we felt needed to be addressed in order to meet our goal of improving the overall player experience with Battlefield 2. It has come to our attention that a beta version of the 1.4 client has leaked to the general public. It should be noted by players that this file is not final and being such could cause damage to players systems. We want to warn players to avoid the use of any client files that are not distributed by EA/DICE or one of our trusted partners. Once we have set a new schedule for release we will communicate this information to everyone.

Over at IGN you can find a Battlefield 2142 development diary, in which DICE associate producer Patrick O'Shaughnessy writes about prototyping the game's vehicles.

The Battlefield 2142 website has launched (thanks Blues News) and among other things, it offers nine screenshots that we didn't have yet.

Boomtown is the latest site with a Battlefield 2142 preview, going hands-on with DICE's multiplayer shooter sequel.

GameSpot has been updated with yet another Battlefield 2142 preview. The article takes a look at the game's infantry classes, weapons and unlocks and includes new media.

The PC Gamer podcast website has been updated with the 14th video podcast. This one offers Battlefield 2142 gameplay footage along with a developer interview.

The second part of Computer & Video Games' Battlefield 2142 Q&A is now up. Producer Jamil Dawsari is asked about rewards for squad-based gameplay, the Battle Walkers, the game's Titan Mode, the game community, and a few other things.

IGN has a new Battlefield 2142 article, penned by DICE Canada designer Alan Kertz who writes about the weapons found in the game.

Computer & Video Games is the latest site with a Battlefield 2142 Q&A, asking producer Jamil Dawsari about the game. Topics include the sci-fi setting, the storyline, the two opposing forces, and weapons and items.

BF2142.com has the latest Battlefield 2142 Q&A. DICE community manager Colin Clarke is asked about mod importing, server performance, mod tools, the cloaking ability, the ranking system and more.

The latest Battlefield newsletter is up, offering a new set of screenshots from Battlefield 2142 along with a release month for the game: October. According to the newsletter, there will be information soon about a Battlefield 2 Veterans Program where EA will be "rewarding our loyal BF2 community by giving them exclusive benefits for enlisting with Battlefield 2142".