FPS General

Now, while we haven't been covering the game on FPSGeneral.com, we have been following the disastrous launch of SimCity very closely. And what a disaster it has been to observe. Jerry Springer himself couldn't fabricate drama like this. Every time you think it's finally over, it picks back up again and surprises you with new and impressive depths of disaster.

As EA and Maxis struggle to save face and try to make up for shipping a completely unplayable game, they have announced that players who register a copy of SimCity by March 25th will be entitled to a free game from EA's Origin catalog. Now, this is why we finally feel like we're able to chime in on the SimCity disaster, because half of the games that are available are actually first- or third-person shooters.

Here's what you can grab for free by registering a copy of SimCity on Origin by March 25th:

• Battlefield 3 (Standard Edition)
• Bejeweled 3
• Dead Space 3 (Standard Edition)
• Mass Effect 3 (Standard Edition)
• Medal of Honor Warfighter (Standard Edition)  
• Need For Speed Most Wanted (Standard Edition) 
• Plants vs. Zombies
• SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition 

Battlefield 3, Dead Space 3 and Mass Effect 3 are all incredible games and we're actually really surprised that they are included in the free offer because they are still very popular games. Medal of Honor: Warfighter wasn't as amazing, but it's certainly worth more than the $0.00 that EA is asking for in this deal. All these amazing shooters at your finger tips...this is going to be a tough choice, but we're sure you'll make the right one.

Bejeweled 3, here we come!

It's over. We're done with #BF3 . Both happy and sad at the same time, but the future holds exciting things. @noken @cbennison @diceslinde

— Roland Smedberg (@RollieThePollie) March 6, 2013

With the release of Battlefield 3: End Game this month, DICE is officially done with production on Battlefield 3. This is both a tough and exciting time for DICE (and the community at large) but as one chapter closes, another begins. The time for Battlefield 4 has officially come and we are looking forward to covering the game all year long.

Recapping what we know about Battlefield 4 is a pretty easy process as we don't know much yet.

Here's what we do know, though:

• Battlefield 4 will have a beta in the fall of 2013 and may release in 2014.
• We know that Battlefield 4 will take place in a modern setting, based on DICE GM Karl Troedsson's statements last year.
• The game will be available on next-generation consoles, meaning the PlayStation 4 and next Xbox.
• Battlefield 4 may support the brilliant Occulus Rift virtual reality headset.
• The game is able to be shown right now, making an appearance at GDC 2013 very possible.

Do you know something that we don't?

Join us over in the forums where we're gathering everything we know about the upcoming shooter and could certainly use your help.

Just a heads up for all of you Battlefield 3 players that DICE released Battlefield 3: End Game on PlayStation 3 this morning, bringing a bunch of new content to the game. Right now, this content is only available for Battlefield Premium members on PlayStation 3 but it will be made available at large in the coming weeks.

End Game features four brand new multiplayer maps, the return of Capture the Flag and Air Superiority game modes and includes two new AA vehicles, the much-anticipated dirt bike and a dropship that will deploy troop transports in the heat of battle. 

If you're wondering when all of this content will be available, check out the release schedule below.

Battlefield 3: End Game is available now on PlayStation 3 for Premium members and runs you $14.99. Check out the launch trailer below!

The life cycle for Battlefield 3 downloadable content is nearing its end with Battlefield 3: End Game, but it's not over yet. We're looking forward to getting some hands-on time with the final expansion pack and DICE has made the way a little bit harder with some brand new screenshots.

Before we delve into those, here is what End Game offers:

- Fight all year round in four vast and breath-taking maps including Kiasar Railroad and Operation Riverside. Each location is inspired by one of the four seasons, providing distinct terrain and visuals, all designed for high speed combat

- Jump in the seat of three new vehicles including the fast and agile dirt bike, and two new AA vehicles

- Return of the classic Capture the Flag and Air Superiority game modes

- In the skies, the new dropship introduces the abilty to turn the tide with rapid deployment air drops of troop transports

- 5 new Assignments

- 16 new dog tags

- 5 new Achievements/Trophies

Battlefield 3: End Game is going to be available in March, check out the screenshots after the break!

DICE has released the first look at the upcoming Battlefield 3: End Game expansion, showing off the dirt bikes that players will be able to pilot when the content ships next year.

As announced by DICE, Battlefield 3: End Game is set to include:

• Four new maps designed for high speed combat and action
• Three new vehicles including the fast and agile dirt bikes
• New dropship provides support to ground troops with vehicle drop capabilities
• Return of the classic Capture The Flag game mode

Available at the bottom of this page, the trailer gives us a look at the upcoming content, although it focuses heavily on the dirt bikes. We're expecting a full trailer before the end of the year, but for now, this is a great preview. The dirt bikes look quick and very maneuverable as you can see in the trailer and should be a lot of fun to drive. Capture the Flag is a classic game mode that no good shooter should go without, so we're looking forward to seeing the game mode make its Battlefield 3 debut next year.

Check it out below and visit http://www.battlefield.com/battlefield3/1/end-game!

EA DICE has released the brand new expansion pack, Battlefield 3: Aftermath. The content update features new weapons, new vehicles, four new multiplayer maps and a brand new game mode.

Battlefield 3: Aftermath is available now for Battlefield Premium users on PlayStation 3. The DLC includes:

Four New Maps

• Azadi Palace
• Epicenter
• Markaz Monolith
• Talah Market

New Vehicles

• Phoenix
• Barsuk
• Rhino

Scavenger Game Mode

New Scavenger game mode, an objective based Conquest mode where lost soldiers armed only with a pistol must search the environment to find more powerful weapons and increasing their chance for survival

Battlefield 3: Aftermath also includes the highly anticipated crossbow weapon, that features four unique types of bolt that all do different types of damage. The crossbow is a great weapon at all ranges and is a blast to use. Check out our preview of the weapon for more information.

The content goes live for Battlefield Premium members on Xbox 360 and PC on December 4th. For PlayStation 3 players, not subscribed to Premium, the DLC is available on December 11th. Finally, if you play on Xbox 360 or PC but do not subscribe to Premium, you can enjoy Battlefield 3: Aftermath on December 18th.

Visit http://www.battlefield.com/battlefield3/1/aftermath for more information on Battlefield 3: Aftermath!

OXM posted an interview this morning with Electronic Arts vice-president Patrick Soderlund, in which he revealed that EA does not want DICE to become 'a Battlefield factory', that perpetually churns out Battlefield titles.

This means that the studio does, indeed, have other projects in the works aside from Battlefield 4.

Patrick Soderlund, EA Vice President

The minute we start saying 'you're going to make a Battlefield game for the rest of your life', they're going to go some place else. So for them to make great Battlefield games there need to be other things for them to do as well. That's why we have people who move around quite a bit. And then obviously we have a boatload of people that just want to make Battlefield because they love it.

While we speculated on whether this would mean a brand new franchise or perhaps a sequel to something DICE made previously (Mirror's Edge), the news was spilled on Twitter that DICE was, indeed, working on Mirror's Edge 2. The news this morning is coming from a Tweet delivered by form DICE executive producer, who said:

As much as we tend to rely on Twitter for breaking news these days, it is not a guarantee of accuracy by any stretch so take this rumor with a grain of salt.

None the less, we're excited to see what DICE can do with Frostbite 2 outside of Battlefield. We've loved the game engine in uses that other developers have put it to, but we're curious to see how the masters themselves can use it in a non-Battlefield game.

EA DICE has announced that players can pick up a free copy of Battlefield 1942 on PC via Origin. The press release didn't specify if this is for a limited time, so we would advise picking up the game as soon as you can. 

The digital re-release is in honor of both Battlefield's 10th anniversary as a franchise and the surpassing of 2 million global users on Battlefield Premium. These accolades, combined with 10 years of sales on the books, have merited a free copy of Battlefield 1942.

This is a great deal for players who didn't join in on the Battlefield action until the Bad Company games were released, or perhaps even with Battlefield 3. There's nothing wrong with joining the Battlefield community late in the game, but we definitely encourage you to pick up Battlefield 1942.

If nothing else, it will certainly give you a feel for how far these games have really come. On top of that, Battlefield 1942 is one of the great pioneers in first-person shooters and we'd be remiss in our duties if we didn't encourage you to experience the game firsthand.

DICE Vice President & GM, Karl Magnus Troedsson:

“When we launched Battlefield 1942 ten years ago, we had lofty ambitions to create a first-person shooter that would push the boundaries of innovation, creativity and design. We evolved the FPS gameplay formula by introducing the world to all-out warfare via land, air and sea. Since the beginning, the reception to the Battlefield series has been incredible thanks to our amazing fans.

Every day, we strive to provide our community with great games and new ways to play as evident with Battlefield 3 Premium. We wanted to thank our fans who have supported us throughout the years by restoring Battlefield 1942 for a digital re-release and give everyone a chance to play the game that started it all.”

Check it out at http://store.origin.com/ or simply fire up Origin on your PC, it should be the first offer that pops up when you log in.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 isn't the only game boasting a military-grade crossbow these days. With Battlefield 3: Aftermath, DICE is joining the ever-growing club of first-person shooters featuring badass modified crossbows. Oh, Turok called, by the way, he wants his weapon back.

If you've been looking forward to the crossbow like the rest of us, DICE is giving us a preview of the weapon in advance of its November release.

Inspired by real life military engineering ingenuity, this crossbow is created by taking the stock of a malfunctioning assault rifle and adding the other parts needed, like a piece of wire for the string and some scrap metal for the bow mechanic. The result is an improvised and silent way to deliver deadly force to the enemy, including four distinct types of bolts to switch between depending on what the situation calls for.

The crossbow can fire four unique bolts, providing ammunition for any occasion. The standard barbed crossbow bolt is your run-of-the-mill crossbow ammo, capable of dealing high damage but not at any great range. The high explosive bolt is very reminiscent of the original Black Ops. This bolt has C4 attached to the end, exploding on impact. This bolt doesn't deal the same punch that an RPG can issue, but it's a great weapon to have in your arsenal.

Things start to get really interesting with the scan bolt, which actually has a radio transmitter on the end. This is a tactical bolt, and scans the perimeter for enemies upon being fired. This can be a great way to sniff enemies out who may be camping inside buildings near objectives.

Finally, we have the double feathered bolt which deals death over long distances. Thanks to its aerodynamic build, this bolt can effectively serve as a sniper weapon of sorts.

We can't wait to check out the crossbow for ourselves when Battlefield 3: Aftermath goes live in late November.

Source: Battlefield Blog

DICE has given us out first good look at the first of the final two Battlefield 3 DLC offerings, Aftermath. This expansion pack includes a brand new game mode, new vehicles, new environments and even a brand new crossbow that you can use to deliver a quick and silent death to your enemies.

Battlefield 3: Aftermath is inspired by the earthquake theme that features in the single player campaign. This content exists post-earthquake, in the...aftermath...of the crisis. Aftermath introduces some brand new content to Battlefield 3 multiplayer, including the brand new Scavenger game mode:

The new Scavenger mode is a frantic hunt for survival. A new concept to Battlefield, lost soldiers start equipped with only a knife, one grenade, and sidearm and must search the environment for more powerful weapons to increase their chance at surviving and eventually winning.

In Scavenger mode, weapons spawn in predetermined locations all over the map, so it pays to learn the map to stand a fighting chance. The particular weapons spawning at these points however have an element of randomness to them, so in order to survive a Scavenger round you will have to explore as much of the map as possible. Sticking together as a team means you might be able to keep enemies from claiming these few and valuable weapons that can turn the tide of a round.

In addition to the new setting and game mode, players will be able to wield the much-anticipated crossbow and pilot some heavily modified vehicles. Check out the full preview at http://blogs.battlefield.com/ and take a look at the trailer embedded above.

Earlier this year, DICE put out a request to the community to send in their greatest Battlefield 3 videos for their 'Only in Battlefield' contest. It's something that DICE has done before and has become one of our favorite community contests.

If you've played Battlefield in the past, you've undoubtedly experienced an 'Only in Battlefield' moment for yourself. A time where something absolutely crazy happened and you just have to shake your head and say, 'Only in Battlefield would that have just happened.'

With DICE's contest, we've been seeing a massive amount of Only in Battlefield videos and, earlier this morning, DICE revealed even more of their favorites that didn't make the final cut.

Featured above is 'Everyday I'm Javelin', a brilliant parody of the popular song 'Party Rock Anthem' by LMFAO. Of the song, DICE writes: 

Out of all 1,200 videos we received, “Everyday I’m Javelin” by German team “Die Geilen Uschis” is probably the one that made us laugh the most. This amazing 10 minute epic features both slapstick and beautifully co-ordinated scenes where Engineers fire their Javelins simultaneously at enemy aircraft with hilarious results. Group jumping off the roof of exploding building is another specialty from this group that worked for months to put this video together.

They actually submitted for our first Only in Battlefield contest a long time ago, and they’ve always been one of our favorites here in the DICE office.

If you enjoy these kinds of videos, check out http://blogs.battlefield.com/ for another handful of DICE's Only in Battlefield Honorable Mentions.

DICE is set to release a server update tomorrow for Battlefield 3 on all platforms, including Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC.

The update is set to go live around noon Pacific time on PC, but it may take longer to get out to console players as it has to go through a middleman to reach your console. The update will bring tweaks to the Gunship in Armored Kill as well as the option to remove the minimap in Hardcore map.

At the forefront of this patch is tweaks to the Armored Kill Gunship. The vehicle is being tweaked in both Conquest and Rush mode:

Gunship balance tweak in Rush mode - 
The Armored Kill gunship received major tweaks already in the last server update. We are now further tweaking it based on community feedback. It now only respawns after the attackers have destroyed an M-COM in Rush.

Rationale: The gunship has been a bit overpowered and spawning too fast in Rush, especially on servers running modified vehicle spawn times. This tweak makes the gunship only spawn for the attackers after each crate, except the initial spawn on round start. In effect, this means that after the gunship is destroyed, a new M-COM needs to be destroyed before the gunship can respawn at all.

Gunship balance tweak in Conquest mode - 
The gunship will always have a 60 second spawn delay in Conquest no matter the server spawn delay setting.

Rationale: The gunship has been spawning too fast on servers running modified vehicle spawn times, making it hard to regain control of the flag controlling the gunship. This tweak will make the gunship spawn every 60 seconds independent of server settings.

Check out the rest of the changelog from this patch after the break and visit http://battlelog.battlefield.com/ for more information.

As odd as it is that we just wrote that title, this is actually happening. Fox has teamed up with Electronic Arts and DICE to put a brand new show into development, based on Battlefield: Bad Company. The series is set to be an 'Action TV Series' and will be helmed by television industry veteran John Eisendrath. 

If you never played Bad Company, the game and its sequel follow the story of four troublemaking soldiers in the 222nd Army battalion known as the 'B company' or 'Bad Company'. Haggard, Sweetwater, Marlowe and Sgt. Redford had an immediately likable chemistry which made the campaign in both games very enjoyable and engaging. As to how that chemistry will carry over to the small screen, we're not sure.

The success of this show, in our eyes, depends on the level of involvement that DICE will be having. We know that Patrick Bach and Patrick O'Brien from EA and DICE will be working alongside Fox, but what about the writers who penned both games? It seems to us that it is imperative that Fox works closely with those writers to stay true to the nature of the characters and the story. You know, if that is what Fox is going for.

The series is going to be Executive Produced by John Eisendrath and the story, as revealed by Deadline, looks like this: 

It follows four renegade soldiers as they exit military life and enter the private sector. But trouble is never far behind as they realize their commanding officer had used them to further the ends of a shadow unit within the government and now wants them dead to cover his tracks.

This sounds about on par with what we've seen in previous Bad Company games so we're definitely interested to see where Fox can go with this. Our fingers are crossed, either way.

Source: Deadline via Kotaku

Battlefield has appeared on mobile devices twice in the past, each time with pretty disappointing results. Bad Company 2 and Battlefield 3 both received mobile spin-offs, presumably at Electronic Arts' urging, and neither one favored very well. The Battlefield 3 mobile game was ultimately removed from the App Store completely due to its lack of anything worth playing at all.

It is important to note, now, that neither of these games was actually developed by DICE. As to how much involvement DICE had in the development process, that is something that is unclear to us. But we do know that both titles were outsourced to other developers.

According to a report on Kotaku, however, it looks like DICE may be expanding Battlefield's presence in the mobile gaming market. The studio appears to be looking to fill multiple positions, all geared towards mobile gaming, and one of which describes the mobile team as "a small team within a major franchise." It's clear that DICE isn't talking about Mirror's Edge here, so the only 'major franchise' that they have would be Battlefield.

DICE is also looking for a mobile developer to bring their in-house game engine, Frostbite, to mobile platforms. The Mobile Frostbite Engineer "will be part of a team focusing on bringing Frostbite to mobile platforms and work closely with game team customers and the Frostbite team to deliver an engine as great on mobile platforms as it is on traditional HD platforms."

With all of these job searches in progress, it sure looks like DICE has something up their sleeves in regards to mobile gaming. What do you think they're planning and, more importantly, what would you like for them to be planning?

Read the full report at the source link below.

Source: Kotaku

Good news for all of you Battlefield Premium members, as DICE has released five brand new Battlefield 3 Assignments exclusive to you guys.

Five new Premium Assignment are available now, tied to five new weapon camos that unlock upon completion of the corresponding Assignment. The new Assignments and Camos are:

L852 Specialist
OBJECTIVES
100 kills with the L85A2
50 headshots with the L85A2
15 Assault Rifle Ribbons
Reward: L85A2 Berkut weapon camo

LSAT Specialist
OBJECTIVES
100 kills with the LSAT
25 kills with the M224 Mortar
15 Suppression Ribbons
Reward: LSAT Digital Woodland weapon camo

MTAR Specialist
OBJECTIVES
100 kills with the MTAR-21
10 pieces of enemy equipment destroyed with the EOD Bot
15 Anti Vehicular Ribbons
Reward: MTAR Woodland Oak weapon camo

SKS Specialist
OBJECTIVES
100 kills with the SKS
25 kill assists with the laser designator
15 accuracy ribbons
Reward: SKS Desert Stripe weapon camo

UMP-45 Specialist
OBJECTIVES
50 kills with the UMP-45 as Assault
50 kills with the UMP-45 as Support
50 kills with the UMP-45 as Engineer
50 kills with the UMP-45 as Recon
Reward: UMP-45 Berkut weapon camo

If you're not already a Battlefield Premium member, drop by http://www.battlefield.com/battlefield3/1/premium for information on how you can get signed up and what membership entails.

EA DICE is celebrating the 10th Anniversary of their Battlefield franchise, looking back at Battlefield games past as well as looking towards the future. Yesterday, the team recapped the thought process behind taking Battlefield into the future. 

Battlefield 2142 threw the world into a Second Ice Age, where the people are starving and war has broken out across the globe. This game boasted sci-fi weaponry and a futuristic setting for the first time in Battlefield history. The game had its flaws, but it remains one of the most memorable experience we've had in a first-person shooter.

Now officially an Electronic Arts studio, it was time for DICE to explore new territory. Having placed their previous online shooters in WWI, WWII, the Vietnam War, and modern day settings, Battlefield 2142 took place in a future where a new Ice age has thrown the world into a panic. The soil not covered by ice can only feed a fraction of the Earth’s population, and players choose to fight for one of two military super powers in an epic battle for survival:

The European Union or the newly formed Pan Asian Coalition. Introducing a futuristic art style, science fiction weaponry, and the asymmetric game mode Titan, Battlefield 2142 still has a hardcore following that doesn’t want to leave the future behind.

Take a look at the trailer that DICE released for Battlefield 2142 embedded above and be sure to drop by the Battlefield Blog to view some screenshots and insight behind the trailer. 

Earlier this week, EA DICE announced that they would be celebrating the 10th Anniversary of Battlefield as a franchise for the duration of the week. They've been looking back at previous Battlefield titles, including Battlefield 2 and Battlefield Vietnam, and earlier this week they held a developer chat with Battlefield veteran, Lars Gustavsson.

Lars has been working on Battlefield, quite literally, since the beginning. Before there was Battlefield, there was a game called Codename Eagle that set the stage for what DICE would ultimately do with Battlefield and Lars was at the forefront of that game.

Speaking with fans earlier this week, Lars discussed his favorite Battlefield game, the hope for Battlefield 2143 and how he broke into the industry. Here are some of our favorite snippets from his interview:

[Clapton07]
Is there a Battlefield 2143 in the pipeline?

Lars Gustavsson:
No, it’s currently not but I would love to make it.

[Kuziboone]
What is your favorite Battlefield?

Lars Gustavsson:
Battlefield 1942 is the “first born” and will always be dear to me. So is Battlefield 2 since we refined so many ideas from BF1942.

Still, I’m extremely proud of where we managed to take Battlefield 3 and love playing it, even one year post launch.

Keep reading for Lars' thoughts on whether we'll see an eventual Battlefield 2143 or other future-setting Battlefield game.

The legendary Battlefield 1942 launched one decade ago and changed everything. Join our week long celebration of the Battlefield series, full of retrospects, classic trailers, legendary concept art, and great price promotions.

EA DICE are celebrating Battlefield's 10th anniversary all week, kicking things off with a huge sale in Origin as well as some gorgeous new Battlefield wallpapers.

First off, the Origin sale. If you head over to Origin today, you can grab some of the most iconic Battlefield games in franchise history for just $10.00. This includes:

• Battlefield 3
• Battlefield 2142
• Battlefield: Bad Company 2
• Battlefield 2

Plus many more! The sale ends after today so head over there now!

The full celebration is going to include looks back at Battlefield games past with commentary from folks who have poured their hearts and souls into the franchise since day one, perhaps none so much as Lars Gustavsson. Lars will be chatting with fans on Tuesday over on Origin.com. Specific details will come later!

There will be all sorts of fun events and retrospects all week, so make sure to check back in with FPS General and http://blogs.battlefield.com/ to stay connected! Check out four gorgeous pieces of artwork from the Battlefield 1942 intro sequence, below.

DICE's Battlefield franchise is home to some truly mind blowing feats, thanks to the incredible game mechanics made possible by DICE's game engine, Frostbite 2. Battlefield 3 is no exception, where it's possible to see some incredible stunts and trick kills take place.

The team recently put out requests for amazing videos from the community, for their second Only in Battlefield 3 video challenge. The community responded with overwhelming enthusiasm, submitting over 1,200 videos to DICE! 

We didn’t think it was possible, but this year, the quality of submissions to our video challenge surpassed our original contest. It’s been a brain-wracking exercise trying to pick a Top 10, but we did it. We wanted to take some time to celebrate last year’s winners and highlight their new submissions. Last year saw TonyTheTuba, the Deslauriers brothers, and Stungravy take the three wins. This year, they’re back with new awesome videos.

Enjoy our Top 10 pick published on the competition page, then check out three special mentions below. We also wanted to say thank you to everyone who submitted.

As mentioned above, DICE has released their list of top ten favorite 'Only in Battlefield 3' submissions, including some truly amazing videos. Check all of these videos out at http://www.battlefield.com/ and make sure to take a look at the honorable mentions over on the Battlefield Blog.

Enjoy!

Electronic Arts has launched the latest Battlefield 3 DLC, Armored Kill, on Xbox 360 and PC for folks who purchased a subscription to the Premium Service unveiled earlier this year. Premium, of course, gets you every piece of Battlefield 3 DLC at a discounted rate and guarantees early access to the content.

Earlier this month, DICE launched the content for Premium subscribers on PlayStation 3, well now it's time for Xbox 360 and PC users to get their DLC on. 

Armored Kill, if you're not familiar with it, features:

• All-out vehicle warfare on four new maps
• Includes the biggest map in Battlefield history
• New vehicles, including tanks, ATV's, and mobile artillery
• Bring back five new vehicle unlocks to the base game
• Earn 20+ unlocks for the new vechicles in Armored Kill
• New Tank Superiority game mode
• All maps playable with all six game modes

The content is live now on Xbox 360 and PC, so if you're a Premium subscriber, make sure to launch Battlefield 3 and grab your new content!