Battlefield 4

[edyzmedieval]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SRxs5xYWuo

29th of October, the new release in the Battlefield series. New engine, more destruction, more weapons, different maps.

Anyone excited? Anyone pre-ordering?

[rickinator9]

It looks nice, but I don't want to buy a new PC every 2 years just to play this game. Levolution looks really nice, but then again, there's only 10 maps. My backlog and Paradox games, along with college, will probably keep me busy for the next 6 months.

[Vuk]

Console crap if you ask me.

[edyzmedieval]

Setting wise, it's the same, but considering the fact that I've had a lot of fun playing Battlefield 3, I say BF4 will bring at least as much fun as the predecessor.

[easytarget]

I'd consider at least if it wasn't released by EA. Unfortunately it is, and I've got a standing policy of never doing business with them, ever. So, guess I'll miss it.

Not losing any sleep over it, just looks like an amp'd up version of BF3 to me, and unless the commander mode truly makes an operational difference, we'll be faced with the same MP challenges, which are: the engagements are often lop sided because the game design fails to balance the teams (even though as far back as quake we ran macros to do this very thing), 2nd, there are too many players not playing as a team to accomplish objectives (again, the game design fails to contend with this in say a way Valve did with L4D, where inherent in the game itself is the need to cooperate because w/o it members of your four man squad die), and lastly weapon balance is never considered to achieve individual player competence (this is also inherent in the game design due to leveling and combined arms) so there's absolutely no balance to this at all.

Add it all up, and while it produces on the right map a good flavor of the all chaos of modern war, it doesn't in reality produce a very satisfying game experience, it just makes a really good advertisement video.

Oh, and this season pass, pay year round thing EA is working into as well, yep, I never participate in that nonsense either. Same reason I never played WOW. If you think to play a game I'm going to pay you a monthly fee, you're on something. Masquerading it as something else doesn't fool me.

Net: PASS

[edyzmedieval]

Commander Mode can be a game changer over here, because you have the opportunity to place directional strikes and actively guide your team, which in the case of a cohesive unit, can change the course of the round.

BF4 Beta is out on the 1st of October, so we'll see then.

[easytarget]

We'll see, in all likelihood it will prove the new great weapon in the hands of griefers or completely ineffective and meaningless in the hands of the incompetent.

[Hooahguy]

Graphics wise it looks just like BF3. Im very happy to see the commander mode back in, but I think Ill wait until it goes on sale before I get it. Also I wont be happy if theres another BF3 Premium thing again.

[AntiDamascus]

I guess I just burned out of realistic shooters a long time ago.

[Beskar]

I guess I just burned out of realistic shooters a long time ago.

Same. Anything which has 'perked me up' a little is Titanfall, just as it looks and acts completely different, even if it is the 'Call of Duty' guys behind it. I might not buy or play 2+3+4+5+spinoffs, but at least they are doing something innovative than banging the same old Fifa drum.

But I have to admit, I really liked the look of the trailer.

[AntiDamascus]

At my age, I've seen better stories and it's the same thing that turned me off Madden type games eventually. It eventually becomes the same over and over.

[edyzmedieval]

BF4 Premium has already been announced, and you can already pre-order it if you're interested.

[Fragony]

It looks incredible, I like my games to be more focused though, in a shooter I just want to shoot. Battlefield games aren't really my thing I only play team-deathmatch. Smaller maps, no objectives. I am thus basicly missing out on the whole experience but I prefer it that way. More of a COD guy I guess

[Vuk]

More of a COD guy I guess

Where is that ignore button at? ~;)

[Vuk]

I guess I just burned out of realistic shooters a long time ago.

BF realistic? lolzer.

[edyzmedieval]

Operation Metro and Grand Bazaar somewhat replicate the COD type maps, so expect something like those in BF4 as well.

You are missing out tho on some great fun, I love some of the AK and Aftermath maps. :yes:

[edyzmedieval]

Weapon customisation in detail.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5jYY4vH1SE

[Monk]

Weapon customization doesnt really do it for me. Player customization though (different skins, models, etc) is a huge plus. IF BF4 had that i'd be pretty into it.

I've stayed out of the BF cycle for the last two games. I will likely get 4 just to have a decent MP shooter. I find myself lacking really good competitive multiplayer games ~:)

[Fragony]

Operation Metro and Grand Bazaar somewhat replicate the COD type maps, so expect something like those in BF4 as well.

You are missing out tho on some great fun, I love some of the AK and Aftermath maps. :yes:

I just want my Rainbow Six back

meh

[edyzmedieval]

I actually like the weapon customisation, plus the amount of different options you have now makes it easier to customise weapons based on the map you're playing.

[Hooahguy]

This is getting me annoyingly excited for this game. Any word on if there will be a premium-like service again, and more importantly, if we already got it for BF3, do we need to subscribe again for BF4? Because if so, Im out.

[rickinator9]

This is getting me annoyingly excited for this game. Any word on if there will be a premium-like service again, and more importantly, if we already got it for BF3, do we need to subscribe again for BF4? Because if so, Im out.

Here comes the bad news: http://www.battlefield.com/battlefield-4/premium

[easytarget]

haha, like we needed any warning about bad news when EA is involved

[edyzmedieval]

You can try the BETA before the game comes out, it's out on the 3rd of October for everyone. (1st of October for Premium members and pre-orders)

[edyzmedieval]

Official map list, with some funky names.


- Siege of Shanghai

- Paracel Storm

- Zavod 311

- Lancang Dam

- Flood Zone

- Rogue Transmission

- Hainan Resort

- Dawnbreaker

- Operation Locker

- Golmud Railway


Apparently Zavod 311 is a Soviet map, quite interesting here when it comes to the details.


Zavod 311 puts players in a Soviet tank factory that dates back to the Cold War era. Long abandoned, Mother Nature has completely taken over the facility and now overgrown trees and bushes cover the compound. Deep within the factory is an active warhead, which players can detonate to send a towering chimney crashing to the ground. Doing this opens up gameplay paths and routes previously not available while closing others, and making the use of ground vehicles extremely difficult in the area. Players will also find munitions depots filled with highly explosive materials spread across the map that they can use to their advantage.

http://blogs.battlefield.com/2013/09/battlefield-4-maps/

[Hooahguy]

BF4 just started pre-loading for me, it says it will unlock on the 1st.

[AntiDamascus]

I have not even seen any of these games since like 1942, are they PC games? How much did you have to pay to get it?

[Hooahguy]

Yes its on PC and console. Right now the beta is free.

[edyzmedieval]

Same here, pre-loading, hoping for a good Beta.

[easytarget]

Yes its on PC and console. Right now the beta is free.

Shame you have to install Origin to get to it.

[edyzmedieval]

The Beta runs for two weeks btw, for those who are interested, so plenty of time to play. :yes:

Only one map though.

[AntiDamascus]

I'm sure there are people who already have it memorized so I can be one shotted halfway across the map. It's the reason I didn't like MP shooters like that.

[easytarget]

The Beta runs for two weeks btw, for those who are interested, so plenty of time to play. :yes:

Only one map though.

So, when does it open again, tomm? We'll expect an update on first impressions!

[Hooahguy]

I dont get very good performance, only about 20 fps on high. I like the new menu, a lot more fluid in design.

[Sp4]

This game does actually not interest me in the slightest after what happened with BF3 and I really used to like Battlefield.

[edyzmedieval]

So, any thoughts on the Beta?

Save for the optimisation issues and low fps (it's a Beta), I find it an improvement over BF3. Gives off a nice BF2 feeling as well.

[Hooahguy]

I lowered my settings to medium and tinkered around with the settings so now gameplay is pretty much smooth now. Still only get about 25 fps, but its playable. My main annoyance right now is that ammo packs dont resupply heavy weapons and its hard to tell exactly where your sniper shot lands and make corrections if its over a long distance. Thats it for now. And tanks are sort of harder to control than in BF3, but I havent played it in 4-5 months so that might be it.

Though overall its fun, dont think Im going to buy it for at least a year, but Im enjoying the beta. Combat is fluid, the atmosphere is nice and the weapons have a nice feel to them.

[edyzmedieval]

It was quite weird for my system since I got a better playing experience on Medium rather than Low, which should be the other way around.

It took me a while to figure out the ammo packs thing, but I saw ammo boxes as well which you need to unlock.

[easytarget]

I'm interested specifically in hearing how well they managed to pull off the commander implementation. If you get a chance to play that circle back and let us know what you think of it, I always thought that done right that would prove a rather cool additional element into the mix, and perhaps if handled by the right players provide some much needed tactical and strategic sense to what otherwise often looks a bit like a bunch of solo operators running around a chaotic battlefield.

[Hooahguy]

As far as I can tell, commander mode isnt available for the beta. Which is a huge shame in my opinion.

[Ice]

I'm pretty impressed with the closed beta so far. I'm actually amazed my comp can run bf4 maxed out at 1980 x 1080 just like bf3. I'm really liking the new knife animations and parachute mechanics.

[edyzmedieval]

Beta is now available for everyone :yes:

[Ice]

Iceman908 is name on Bf4... feel free to add me guys!

[Hooahguy]

After numerous matches I am forced to put down this beta until they patch it for better optimization for PC. Initially it was smooth, but that might have been the initial change from totally unplayable to somewhat playable.

Whatever it was, performance took a nosedive for some reason. Not sure. Other games run fine, but the stuttering plus the insane loading times just makes this unplayable.

[Ice]

After numerous matches I am forced to put down this beta until they patch it for better optimization for PC. Initially it was smooth, but that might have been the initial change from totally unplayable to somewhat playable.

Whatever it was, performance took a nosedive for some reason. Not sure. Other games run fine, but the stuttering plus the insane loading times just makes this unplayable.

I don't think it's your PC. There are random lag spikes that everyone in the server experience. One minute it will be running flawlessly and the next minute I'll be rubber banding.

[Hooahguy]

Supposedly they patched the beta so it will run better so I updated but I can barely see a difference. Oh well.

[edyzmedieval]

Beta has been over on the 15th of October, pretty much two weeks left until the full release of BF4.

Quite curious to see how it works out.

[easytarget]

Well, what's the verdict so far?

[Hooahguy]

I believe the release date isnt for another week or so.

[easytarget]

Oh, hum, carry on. :laugh4:

[edyzmedieval]

Any impressions? It got released today.

[easytarget]

Must be too busy playing it to report back, haha.

Course this place isn't exactly what I'd call a hotbed of FPS players either...

[Hooahguy]

As I mentioned before, I dont have the game but from reading the BF4 subreddit, players have about a 50% chance of being dropped from a server, still very buggy, commander mode is missing a slew of features that was there in previous BF games, basically a garbled mess. Which is generally what all BF games are at the start. Ill come back in a year and see whats changed.

[edyzmedieval]

Some dude called OneCheesyMofo has a real nice YouTube channel focused on BF4, have a look in case you want to see how the game is.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8JjZc9EzZ0

[easytarget]

Looks just like BF3 to me. Thanks for circling back to post it though, always interesting to see even if I have no plans to play it (if/when EA pulls their head out and stops forcing the use of Origin, then, maybe).

[edyzmedieval]

You might want to see this - watch it in 4K, it looks superb.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkRs8lOUIac

[easytarget]

I think you misunderstand, I thought BF3 looked good too. Eye candy doesn't impress me.

In any given hour of BF, 90% of it I will find myself either in a completely uneven game because EA has their head so far up their asses they can't be bothered to learn how to team balance (something we routinely did rather easily going on 20 years ago playing Q2 clan matches), or I'm on a side with a wide assortment of mental defective solo artists who can't be bothered to play a team game as a team game, and then I'm out.

Pretty can't change gaming experience. It does highlight how easily modern players are fooled into playing a medicare game if they are fed pretty pictures.

[Beskar]

You might want to see this - watch it in 4K, it looks superb.

Common-Experience would be walking around the corner and get shot. Never seen anyone play like that in general unless it is a singleplayer game. Definitely looks more engaging than Call of Duty though.

[edyzmedieval]

On the whole, BF4 is an upgraded BF3, on all aspects. Sure, you do get a lot of uneven games (my win rate is pretty much 1.00, so for every game I win the next one I lose), but that shouldn't dampen the enjoyment too much.

There are a ton of solo players who don't team play - I'm mostly a team player, I revive, supply, heal, I'm more focused on providing support. Ironically I get top 10 almost every time because of the points I score, rather than kpd.

[edyzmedieval]

New DLC came out for BF4, called Dragon's Teeth, for those of you still interested in the game.

[edyzmedieval]

http://www.pcworld.com/article/3120767/software/psa-grab-all-of-battlefield-4s-expansions-for-free-through-next-week.html

Get all the BF4 DLC for free. :yes:

[edyzmedieval]

All right...

I finally had the chance to play Battlefield 4 properly. I made an update to my video drivers, cleaned out some useless software and somehow the laptop fan turned into overdrive, keeping my laptop nowadays cool at all times.

In essence, it runs relatively smoothly, on low-to-mid settings, but it's decent enough to make it playable and somewhat enjoyable. What I'm really liking so far is the fact that the customisation levels are absolutely massive and that's really really impressive. Some maps are a lot of fun, some remind you of BF3 battles, but that's not a bad thing. BF3 is one of my favourite games in fact. Multiplayer is a blast - and customisation is awesome - and so far yeah, big thumbs up.

I'm a bit late to the party but it took some 2016 drivers to make the game work for me at least decently. :freak:

That being said, I do prefer the BF3 campaign.