Ten minutes worth of impressions for the BF3 beta.

I redeemed my beta key this morning after accounting class and I am sitting in the library right now, trying to play it.

A few general impressions:

1. You can alter the settings via an in-game menu when you join the server. This is very clunky, and I hope that DICE adds these options to the Battlelog menu.

2. On my Thinkpad T420's NVS 4200M, I am getting roughly 15-20FPS average on the default settings at 1600x900. I hope I can tweak the settings eventually, or even better, play the beta when I get home from school today on a more adequate computer.

3. Servers are completely full everywhere and there is a long waiting time to get into anyone of them.

4. The graphics look great.

I hope to tweak my settings when I get back into the game - I was kicked from the server I was playing in for some odd reason.

Which maps are available in beta? Just Operation Metro? (it was also in the alpha trial)Elann2008

Just Operation Metro, Rush.

I keep getting booted from games after ten minutes, and my laptop just isn't up to snuff. I have to lower the resolution to 848x480 just to get an average framerate of 35 frames per second. This is on the lowest settings, mind you.

[QUOTE="Elann2008"]Which maps are available in beta? Just Operation Metro? (it was also in the alpha trial)The_Capitalist

Just Operation Metro, Rush.

I keep getting booted from games after ten minutes, and my laptop just isn't up to snuff. I have to lower the resolution to 848x480 just to get an average framerate of 35 frames per second. This is on the lowest settings, mind you.

What do you expect from a huge graphic game like BF3 on a laptop

It's going to be fun. Played BF since the start but I'm going to hold off on purchase right away because so many games are coming out I want. Skyrim, SWTOR, GW2!!! Oh myyy

I'll give my first impressions

Battlelog is okay in theory, but I think it would have been better to somehow integrate it into the Origin client itself, opening a browser to play feels clunky.

Flashlights, more like floodlights, flashlights seem quite OP in maps like Op Metro (except outside) they completely wreck your vision, you pretty much have no hope of killing the enemy, I thought it was meant to be for engineers only :( I'd be okay with that because it would give engineers a fighting chance indoors when they obviously can't do any repair duties whilst inside.

Graphics are amazing, Sound is amazing

To me it feels like there needs to be more indication that you are getting hurt, you don't get much indication on screen and the health bar is in the bottom right and is quite tiny and is the same color as the rest of the HUD, if it had some color to it, Green for healthy, scaling through to red when your low.

Gameplay is for the most part enjoyable, if I was to complain about something its probably just me sucking haha.

Great experience so far, although I was really really hoping for Conquest, I mean Rush? seriously, thats not true BF, give us some conquest.

so what are the changes from alpha?iagbas

Yeah, I'm not crazy about the idea of using a browser. Like the other poster said, at least integrate it in Origin so we could startup BF3 from there. It just looks and feels so cheap.

I just got home and installed the beta onto my home computer. Now, I can't even join any servers. My firewall has an exception for BF3. I get stuck on the "joining server" message.

Man, DICE needs to get crap together. Even RO2 didn't have this many issues, and that game was panned quite universally for instability.

I just got home and installed the beta onto my home computer. Now, I can't even join any servers. My firewall has an exception for BF3. I get stuck on the "joining server" message.

Man, DICE needs to get crap together. Even RO2 didn't have this many issues, and that game was panned quite universally for instability.

The_Capitalist

As many issues, on the 1st day of closed Beta you mean? lol

Have ever played a Dice game at release let alone in Beta? I love the BF series, in fact, it's my favorite series, but every single iteration has been a mess the 1st few days to 1st week after retail release. Price you pay for the best large scale fps out there I guess,

[QUOTE="The_Capitalist"]

I just got home and installed the beta onto my home computer. Now, I can't even join any servers. My firewall has an exception for BF3. I get stuck on the "joining server" message.

Man, DICE needs to get crap together. Even RO2 didn't have this many issues, and that game was panned quite universally for instability.

Endgame_basic

As many issues, on the 1st day of closed Beta you mean? lol

Have ever played a Dice game at release let alone in Beta? I love the BF series, in fact, it's my favorite series, but every single iteration has been a mess the 1st few days to 1st week after retail release. Price you pay for the best large scale fps out there I guess,

I don't recall any connection problems when I played the BC2 beta over a year ago. Sure, there were in-game bugs, but at least I could play the game.

[QUOTE="Endgame_basic"]

[QUOTE="The_Capitalist"]

I just got home and installed the beta onto my home computer. Now, I can't even join any servers. My firewall has an exception for BF3. I get stuck on the "joining server" message.

Man, DICE needs to get crap together. Even RO2 didn't have this many issues, and that game was panned quite universally for instability.

The_Capitalist

As many issues, on the 1st day of closed Beta you mean? lol

Have ever played a Dice game at release let alone in Beta? I love the BF series, in fact, it's my favorite series, but every single iteration has been a mess the 1st few days to 1st week after retail release. Price you pay for the best large scale fps out there I guess,

I don't recall any connection problems when I played the BC2 beta over a year ago. Sure, there were in-game bugs, but at least I could play the game.

[QUOTE="Endgame_basic"]

[QUOTE="The_Capitalist"]

I just got home and installed the beta onto my home computer. Now, I can't even join any servers. My firewall has an exception for BF3. I get stuck on the "joining server" message.

Man, DICE needs to get crap together. Even RO2 didn't have this many issues, and that game was panned quite universally for instability.

The_Capitalist

As many issues, on the 1st day of closed Beta you mean? lol

Have ever played a Dice game at release let alone in Beta? I love the BF series, in fact, it's my favorite series, but every single iteration has been a mess the 1st few days to 1st week after retail release. Price you pay for the best large scale fps out there I guess,

I don't recall any connection problems when I played the BC2 beta over a year ago. Sure, there were in-game bugs, but at least I could play the game.

Seriously, maybe I just frequent the BC2 forums more than yourself but connection issues were widespread, for weeks actually.

To be blunt though, there's the type of people who try to connect to a couple servers, see it's not working, persist and get in after a few minutes than there's the type who whine and moan when everything doesn;t work completely perfect.

[QUOTE="The_Capitalist"]

[QUOTE="Endgame_basic"]

As many issues, on the 1st day of closed Beta you mean? lol

Have ever played a Dice game at release let alone in Beta? I love the BF series, in fact, it's my favorite series, but every single iteration has been a mess the 1st few days to 1st week after retail release. Price you pay for the best large scale fps out there I guess,

Endgame_basic

I don't recall any connection problems when I played the BC2 beta over a year ago. Sure, there were in-game bugs, but at least I could play the game.

Seriously, maybe I just frequent the BC2 forums more than yourself but connection issues were widespread, for weeks actually.

To be blunt though, there's the type of people who try to connect to a couple servers, see it's not working, persist and get in after a few minutes than there's the type who whine and moan when everything doesn;t work completely perfect.

I am still trying to join a server as I type this. Still... "Joining Server". I get that there might be problems, but the game is pretty close to release, don't you think?

Hmmm I wonder how my i5 hd3000 will do, it could play bc2 at 30fps on low..IvanElk

If you set it to 640x480 and the lowest settings, yeah.

I am very underwhelmed by it so far.SF_KiLLaMaN

I think a lot of people will be. I will love it I know that for a fact but it has gathered this immense hype and anticipation that will let down some people

[QUOTE="iagbas"]so what are the changes from alpha?trastamad03

Okay, finally got into a game and played for three rounds. It's a good game, but Operation Metro isn't exactly the best map. There are no vehicles, so it's simple infantry combat. The M16 has way less recoil than the AK-74M. The game hitches a lot if you play for too long. But, connectivity issues aside, it's a good game, but feels like a far more refined version of BC2.

Okay, finally got into a game and played for three rounds. It's a good game, but Operation Metro isn't exactly the best map. There are no vehicles, so it's simple infantry combat. The M16 has way less recoil than the AK-74M. The hitches a lot if you play for too long. But, connectivity issues aside, it's a good game, but feels like a far more refined version of BC2.

The_Capitalist

[QUOTE="The_Capitalist"]

Okay, finally got into a game and played for three rounds. It's a good game, but Operation Metro isn't exactly the best map. There are no vehicles, so it's simple infantry combat. The M16 has way less recoil than the AK-74M. The hitches a lot if you play for too long. But, connectivity issues aside, it's a good game, but feels like a far more refined version of BC2.

SF_KiLLaMaN

A good magician never shows his best trick until the end of the show. They wouldn't give us something different to what we've seen already. They need some trump cards up their sleeves and a few surprises. Not like Naughty Dog releasing almost everything of U3 before its released. Including the FULL MP experience

[QUOTE="SF_KiLLaMaN"][QUOTE="The_Capitalist"]

Okay, finally got into a game and played for three rounds. It's a good game, but Operation Metro isn't exactly the best map. There are no vehicles, so it's simple infantry combat. The M16 has way less recoil than the AK-74M. The hitches a lot if you play for too long. But, connectivity issues aside, it's a good game, but feels like a far more refined version of BC2.

seanmcloughlin

A good magician never shows his best trick until the end of the show. They wouldn't give us something different to what we've seen already. They need some trump cards up their sleeves and a few surprises. Not like Naughty Dog releasing almost everything of U3 before its released. Including the FULL MP experience

How does the game look on low? Is it worth buying if you have to play it on those settings? biggest_loser

How does the game look on low? Is it worth buying if you have to play it on those settings? biggest_loser

It still looks pretty good at low. When the game is moving, I can hardly tell the difference between low and ultra, though you can recognize the difference between the two. Shadows are on by default, and can never be turned off. Granted, I played this beta at both settings.

However, the game doesn't look anywhere near as good as those airbrushed screenshots they gave us months ago. Some of the textures are quite muddy here and there. Still, it looks great, but it doesn't look amazing. Not Crysis-level amazing, at least.

[QUOTE="seanmcloughlin"]

[QUOTE="SF_KiLLaMaN"] Yeah. As of right now it feels like a more polished BC2. That's probably mostly due to the small map and BC2 like map design. I want to test this game out on a 64 player server with vehicles.SF_KiLLaMaN

A good magician never shows his best trick until the end of the show. They wouldn't give us something different to what we've seen already. They need some trump cards up their sleeves and a few surprises. Not like Naughty Dog releasing almost everything of U3 before its released. Including the FULL MP experience

But its obvious that Conquest, a true BF mode, will be better than rush, A BC mode. But I know what you mean. Anyone on the fence or unsure get no answers from the beta

[QUOTE="seanmcloughlin"]

[QUOTE="SF_KiLLaMaN"] Yeah. As of right now it feels like a more polished BC2. That's probably mostly due to the small map and BC2 like map design. I want to test this game out on a 64 player server with vehicles.SF_KiLLaMaN

A good magician never shows his best trick until the end of the show. They wouldn't give us something different to what we've seen already. They need some trump cards up their sleeves and a few surprises. Not like Naughty Dog releasing almost everything of U3 before its released. Including the FULL MP experience

I've played a lot of BC2 on both 360 and PC and seriosuly can't see how anyone would say this plays like BC2. It actually plays very little like BC2.

[QUOTE="SF_KiLLaMaN"][QUOTE="seanmcloughlin"]

A good magician never shows his best trick until the end of the show. They wouldn't give us something different to what we've seen already. They need some trump cards up their sleeves and a few surprises. Not like Naughty Dog releasing almost everything of U3 before its released. Including the FULL MP experience

Endgame_basic

I've played a lot of BC2 on both 360 and PC and seriosuly can't see how anyone would say this plays like BC2. It actually plays very little like BC2.

[QUOTE="Endgame_basic"]

[QUOTE="SF_KiLLaMaN"] it goes both ways though. I don't want to buy a smoother BC2. I want to buy BF3. This beta has given me no reason to buy the game. I'll probably buy it when I upgrade my PC though. I can't stand playing on low.SF_KiLLaMaN

I've played a lot of BC2 on both 360 and PC and seriosuly can't see how anyone would say this plays like BC2. It actually plays very little like BC2.

[QUOTE="SF_KiLLaMaN"]

[QUOTE="Endgame_basic"]

I've played a lot of BC2 on both 360 and PC and seriosuly can't see how anyone would say this plays like BC2. It actually plays very little like BC2.

Lox_Cropek

Yeah, movement is fluid and smooth from my experience. Not quite as smooth as Call of Duty, though.

[QUOTE="SF_KiLLaMaN"]

[QUOTE="Endgame_basic"]

I've played a lot of BC2 on both 360 and PC and seriosuly can't see how anyone would say this plays like BC2. It actually plays very little like BC2.

Lox_Cropek

I'll give my first impressions

Battlelog is okay in theory, but I think it would have been better to somehow integrate it into the Origin client itself, opening a browser to play feels clunky.

supras989

I agree with this and it will be nice if Origin let us set our Graphic setting too insted of go in the game before you can do it.

Graphics are amazing, Sound is amazing

supras989

Yep the sound is so epic. Nothing feels more good when you gain a leve.

To me it feels like there needs to be more indication that you are getting hurt, you don't get much indication on screen and the health bar is in the bottom right and is quite tiny and is the same color as the rest of the HUD, if it had some color to it, Green for healthy, scaling through to red when your low.

supras989

Ya, when you get hit and before you know it then you're dead. I think you die too fast in this game and hope that the full version will let you die a littler slower (What I mean is a higher Health bar and not that the enemy slower torture me with a knife lol)

I like the knife animation but it will be more nice if Dice make a Knife animation when you knifing someone that prone. Today I just knifed someone in BF3 when he use pron and the animation just show like he was stay up when he got knifed.

So far I really like it and hope there will be a few more new maps and Game Mode to play.

[QUOTE="SF_KiLLaMaN"]

[QUOTE="Endgame_basic"]

I've played a lot of BC2 on both 360 and PC and seriosuly can't see how anyone would say this plays like BC2. It actually plays very little like BC2.

Lox_Cropek

Unfortunately, it doesn't. Don't get me wrong, pretty sure when all is said and done BF3 is gonna be my favorite game of the series, but it's not as cleaned up as past BF games right yet.

Btw, just as an example of how much weapon customization there is, the M416, the 2nd Assault weapon, has 12 different scopes you can use on it, not 12 attachments, 12 scopes, just awesome.

Does anyone know if BF3 uses your origin name as your name in-game or can you change it before you enter?

When it's not crashing it's just awesome.

Does anyone know if BF3 uses your origin name as your name in-game or can you change it before you enter?

airshocker

Origin name. Haven't tried changing mine yet.

Origin name. Haven't tried changing mine yet.

The_Capitalist

Would you mind checking it out for me?

Weak beta is weak. Mostly good performance though.

Some issues I've noticed.

Sound is weak. Maybe it's just my headphones or settings or something but guns sound awful, and distant gunfire doesn't even seem to register.

Vaulting works 95% of the time and is smooth and looks awesome. The other 5% of the time I get stuck on the geometry and have even clipped into cover.

Snipers have this ridiculous lens flare now that stands out obnoxiously. I get that its for balance but it really is like sticking a giant neon sign saying SNIPER HERE on them.

On medium settings I get pretty consistent framerate with random stuttering that comes for no apparent reason, it's like flashbacks to RO2 all over again. Flickering textures, obnoxious pop-in, the usual graphical errors you get. I'm sure these will be fixed with time.

It plays identically to Bad Company 2. Except with prone.

Knives are back as a weapon now at least, there's still quick knife but you can just run around with it out too if you want.

[QUOTE="The_Capitalist"]

Origin name. Haven't tried changing mine yet.

airshocker

Would you mind checking it out for me?

Just checked. You are stuck with that name, so pick wisely!

It plays identically to Bad Company 2. Except with prone.

Ragingbear505

It actually plays much more like Medal of Honor. From the way you die so quickly to the handling of the weapons, it's a 100% replica of Medal of Honor.

Weak beta is weak. Mostly good performance though.

Some issues I've noticed.

Sound is weak. Maybe it's just my headphones or settings or something but guns sound awful, and distant gunfire doesn't even seem to register.

Vaulting works 95% of the time and is smooth and looks awesome. The other 5% of the time I get stuck on the geometry and have even clipped into cover.

Snipers have this ridiculous lens flare now that stands out obnoxiously. I get that its for balance but it really is like sticking a giant neon sign saying SNIPER HERE on them.

On medium settings I get pretty consistent framerate with random stuttering that comes for no apparent reason, it's like flashbacks to RO2 all over again. Flickering textures, obnoxious pop-in, the usual graphical errors you get. I'm sure these will be fixed with time.

It plays identically to Bad Company 2. Except with prone.

Knives are back as a weapon now at least, there's still quick knife but you can just run around with it out too if you want.

Ragingbear505

It plays identical except the whole way your character moves and your weapons respond with much more recoil right?

Seriously, I'm both a console and pc gamer, have played every BF game and this game plays absolutely nothing like BC1 or BC2. It doesn't play like BF2 either though. It's kinda it's own thing in my eyes, very different than everything that has come before it.

[QUOTE="Ragingbear505"]It plays identically to Bad Company 2. Except with prone.

THA-TODD-BEAST

It actually plays much more like Medal of Honor. From the way you die so quickly to the handling of the weapons, it's a 100% replica of Medal of Honor.

I disagree. The weapons have much more recoil. (Though the M16 is practically a railgun in this game.)

I am also disappointed by the sound. It sounds so teeny.

When it's not crashing it's just awesome.

mitu123

Seems to be a recurring problem for lots of people. So what's it actually like, I trust your opinion of it lol because you know what to look for

[QUOTE="THA-TODD-BEAST"]

[QUOTE="Ragingbear505"]It plays identically to Bad Company 2. Except with prone.

The_Capitalist

It actually plays much more like Medal of Honor. From the way you die so quickly to the handling of the weapons, it's a 100% replica of Medal of Honor.

I disagree. The weapons have much more recoil. (Though the M16 is practically a railgun in this game.)

I am also disappointed by the sound. It sounds so teeny.

But yet thats probably how it actually sounds in real life. Games in the past tended to over exaggerate sounds. BF3 seems very close to reality

[QUOTE="mitu123"]

When it's not crashing it's just awesome.

seanmcloughlin

Seems to be a recurring problem for lots of people. So what's it actually like, I trust your opinion of it lol because you know what to look for

I don't get how they can go from amazing sound in BC2 to crappy sound in Bf3. It just doesn't make sense to me.... the gunfire doesn't even sound close to realistic.