Armory Staff

http://blogs.battlefield.ea.com/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/CommunityServer.Blogs.Components.WeblogFiles/battlefield_5F00_bad_5F00_company/BF3-Battleblog-6.jpg Every Battlefield game is built from the gun out. If persistence is what keeps you coming back for more, the gunplay is the essential foundation that the entire game hinges on. Read on for Senior Designer Alan Kertz’ thoughts on what makes shooting in Battlefield 3 unique. Tweaking, testing, and re-tweaking the weapons in Battlefield 3 is the short description of a normal workday for Senior Designer Alan Kertz at this stage in the production. Now that we are well into August, Alan’s work has long since gone from overarching shooter vision to detailed fine-tuning. Walk down to his desk at any given day and you are likely to find him poring over notes or some onscreen graphs, deep in discussion with his designer colleagues: Is the exit smoke from this RPG large enough? Is the precision increase when adding a heavy barrel to this rifle noticeable enough in semi-burst fire mode? How does the addition of a foregrip to this rifle affect the stability when firing in fully automatic mode? -- Authenticity is really important when you’re doing a modern day game like Battlefield 3. We know our players look critically at the guns in our games, so we brought in experts like Andy McNab. Our military advisors not only help us get it right, they help us understand why it’s right.” Compared to both Battlefield 2 and Battlefield: Bad Company 2, there is a larger focus in Battlefield 3 on authenticity and real life handling. This comes down to details like reloads, mobility, bullet trajectories, and even how the caliber and barrel length of a gun determines muzzle velocity and energy. For Alan, this approach clearly leads to better gameplay. -- With authenticity as a base, you get a natural balance because all real life guns are based on trade-offs. It really pulls out the personality of each weapon system to use the authentic stats and features. Each army selects a different weapon, for a different reason, and we pass those selections on to our players.” Varied weapons for all play styles The arsenals of U.S. Marine Corps and the Russian Army are both featured prominently in the game, since those are the sides you play in both single and multiplayer. Building from that base, we selected a number of additional weapons that are returning classics, competing designs, and alternate combat roles. Each weapon choice means it gives the player an additional tactical choice: Get in close with a carbine, PDW, or shotgun. Hit from long range with a sniper rifle. Engage tanks with an RPG. Or lay down suppressive fire with a light machinegun. We’re not just giving you weapon A or B, take it or leave it, though. Each main weapon will be heavily customizable to suit different roles. The majority of weapons in Battlefield 3 can be tailored by the player to fit anything from close quarter to long range combat, or something in between. But we’ll save that for a later Battleblog post, when we will go deep into weapons customization. Stay tuned for Battlefield 3 Battleblog #7 soon Did you miss the previous stories in the Battleblog series? Battleblog #1: Lars Gustavsson on DICE's new multiplayer philosophy in Battlefield 3 Battleblog #2: With a bit of class Battleblog #3: With an army by your side Battleblog #4: Up close and personal Battleblog #5: Years' worth of unlocks and rewards in Battlefield 3 For more information on Battlefield 3, visit the Official Site. To learn about the Frostbite 2 game engine, visit the Frostbite 2 section on the Battlefield 3 site. For the latest news on everything Battlefield, follow us on Twitter and our Facebook page. Source: View the full article

Hungry for some more Battlefield 3 screenshots? We know you are! Here are four in-game screenshots from our Thunder Run mission and the Operation Métro multiplayer map. Enjoy! For all of our previously published screenshots and videos from Battlefield 3, head to the media section on the official site. http://blogs.battlefield.ea.com/resized-image.ashx/__size/250x0/__key/CommunityServer.Blogs.Components.WeblogFiles/battlefield_5F00_bad_5F00_company/BF3_5F00_paris_5F00_04.jpg http://blogs.battlefield.ea.com/resized-image.ashx/__size/250x0/__key/CommunityServer.Blogs.Components.WeblogFiles/battlefield_5F00_bad_5F00_company/BF3_5F00_paris_5F00_05.jpg http://blogs.battlefield.ea.com/resized-image.ashx/__size/250x0/__key/CommunityServer.Blogs.Components.WeblogFiles/battlefield_5F00_bad_5F00_company/BF3_5F00_tank_5F00_01.jpg http://blogs.battlefield.ea.com/resized-image.ashx/__size/250x0/__key/CommunityServer.Blogs.Components.WeblogFiles/battlefield_5F00_bad_5F00_company/BF3_5F00_tank_5F00_02.jpg Source: View the full article

http://blogs.battlefield.ea.com/resized-image.ashx/__size/400x0/__key/CommunityServer.Blogs.Components.WeblogFiles/battlefield_5F00_bad_5F00_company/DICE.png The Battlefield recruitment team would like to thank everyone who took the time to approach us regarding the 14 QA tester positions making BF3 even more awesome. We have had over 500 approaches and are currently looking through everyone’s details. With the high volumes we won’t be able to come back to everyone individually, but are really pleased so many of you want to get involved with the game. As mentioned in the advert we aren’t able to consider overseas applications for this role but will be in touch to those we would like to consider. // www.twitter.com/battlefield http://blogs.battlefield.ea.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=44055View the full article

Amazon UK revealed pre-order details on some of the most anticipated — and most pre-ordered games — this year. They … Read on →http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BF3Blog/~4/Yd7xTADclk0View the full article

Welcome back to another edition of Community Profiles! This week our guest of honor is none other than Reddit Battlefield Community Moderator Eric "Erode" Rodewald! He's responsible for the BFBC2 and BF3 sections on Reddit.com. Big thanks to Erik "Stadler" Zuuring from Battlefiedo for putting this series together. Let's see what Eric has to say! http://blogs.battlefield.ea.com/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/CommunityServer.Blogs.Components.WeblogFiles/battlefield_5F00_bad_5F00_company/erode.jpg1. Tell us a bit about yourself! My name is Eric Rodewald. I'm a Minnesota, USA native with a Scandinavian background. I'm now 26 years old and I've been playing Battlefield since my PC could run it! 1942, BF2, 2142, BC2. I tend to go by the nickname GEN3RIC, or erode depending on what is available. Professionally, I've been a programmer and UI designer since out of college in 2007. I became heavily invested in the Battlefield community once I was out of college and since early 2010 I have been developing server tools for variations of Frostbite-based games (BC2 Command Center, MOH Command Center) for Interactive 3D. Also, in the past 2 years I've taken up a community role moderating, and designing the very prominent Bad Company 2 and Battlefield 3 sections of Reddit.com. It's an incredibly tight-knit community of Battlefield veterans. Collectively we have about 12,500 subscribers, but our traffic stats indicate over 500,000 impressions a month coming from non-subscribers but frequent visitors and contributors. And the communities show no signs slowing down! 2. What brought you into the Battlefield Community? Was there one significant moment that made you step from being a casual gamer to what you do now? The thought of having an unrestricted "sandbox" war FPS that allowed for some of the most absurdly rewarding moments drew me to Battlefield 1942. Seeing someone jump from a plane, sending it into a loop, only to jump back in on it's way back to the player is just crazy entertaining. The community itself has such a passion for the games that you feel right at home gushing your Battlefield moments to them. You can instantly connect to these people just over a game, and that really floored me, frankly. I've been PC gaming since I was 7 years old (1992!), so it's been a major part of my life ever since. When I began hosting regular LAN parties in middle school, I knew I had crossed the divide from casual to hardcore gamer. 3. In your opinion, what is your biggest obstacle in the Battlefield community? I'd say right now there is a small rift growing between hardcore Battlefield 2 players, and the newer generations on consoles and PC Bad Company 2 who haven't really experienced what a "real Battlefield game" plays like. I see discussions pertaining to it quite often on reddit where some people simply want BF2 with the new glitz of Frostbite and some prefer the less serious (but ironically, just as hardcore) players emanating from the Bad Company era. I can understand where they come from being a lover of all DICE games, but I recognize that DICE and their fanbase has grown and evolved much more sophisticated people. It's important to continue innovating without sacrificing the "is it fun?" aspect of the game. Without innovation and change, it would literally be an FPS factory, churning out yearly sequels that offer nothing new and stifle creativity. I think the challenge to keep these two sides of the issue civil gets easier every time new information on Battlefield 3 releases. It tends to put their minds at ease having seen proof that their passion for the last [nearly] 10 years isn't being destroyed by compromises. 4. If there was one thing you’d like to see in the Battlefield Community what would it be? A central hub to share video clips or screenshots, or spectate matches or even regular matches. Perhaps it's not technologically feasible at this time, but it would be absolutely wonderful to invite a person to spectate a game from the web, a thin-client, or even the game client itself. Allow the community to experience these Battlefield moments that are almost so incredulous that nobody will believe it happened. People would flock to Battlefield in droves if only they could easily see what it is like. 5. What are your expectations for Battlefield 3? Are you excited to watch the community grow even stronger? I expect it to deliver a hybrid experience between traditional Battlefield realism and the excitement of Bad Company 1 and 2. With co-op, single player, and 64 player multiplayer, I don't see it disappointing fans. I also would like to see some level of support for Machinima. Some are worried that the meteoric rise of Battlefield will bring unwanted players from rival games, but from the moment these new players become invested in Battlefield, they are changed. They are now soldiers on the Battlefield. 6. For a gaming community to be a community, what is the most important factor in your opinion? Friendship. The Battlefield communities I've seen are usually great friends that play and talk about the game every day. It's a wonderful feeling to visit other communities and see that you are welcomed into their voice chats and game servers and they immediately treat you with a certain respect, something I've only seen within the Battlefield community. Gaming communities that breed contempt or ill-will for other players never end up succeeding. They simply end up dissolving as the members have migrated to friendlier communities. Thanks Eric for that wonderful interview! We've seen a ton of great Battlefield communities out there and cannot be more excited to see new ones pop up every single day. I, personally, visit Reddit on a daily basis and can't wait to see what the Reddit Gaming community has to say in the coming months when Battlefield 3 finally launches! Keep up the great work! http://blogs.battlefield.ea.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=43207View the full article

The Battlefield Blog posted a new Battleblog entry today from Battlefield 3 Senior Designer Alan Kertz talking about the weapons in the game.Every... View the full article

There has been some confusion over how EA’s new Origin service will be integrated into Battlefield 3. Battlelog plays a … Read on →http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BF3Blog/~4/uJKcHSMNqGYView the full article

Hungry for some more Battlefield 3 screenshots? We know you are! Here are four in-game screenshots from our Thunder Run mission and the Operation Métro multiplayer map. Enjoy! For all of our previously published screenshots and videos from Battlefield 3, head to the media section on the official site. http://blogs.battlefield.ea.com/resized-image.ashx/__size/250x0/__key/CommunityServer.Blogs.Components.WeblogFiles/battlefield_5F00_bad_5F00_company/BF3_5F00_paris_5F00_04.jpg http://blogs.battlefield.ea.com/resized-image.ashx/__size/250x0/__key/CommunityServer.Blogs.Components.WeblogFiles/battlefield_5F00_bad_5F00_company/BF3_5F00_paris_5F00_05.jpg http://blogs.battlefield.ea.com/resized-image.ashx/__size/250x0/__key/CommunityServer.Blogs.Components.WeblogFiles/battlefield_5F00_bad_5F00_company/BF3_5F00_tank_5F00_01.jpg http://blogs.battlefield.ea.com/resized-image.ashx/__size/250x0/__key/CommunityServer.Blogs.Components.WeblogFiles/battlefield_5F00_bad_5F00_company/BF3_5F00_tank_5F00_02.jpg http://blogs.battlefield.ea.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=44027View the full article

We already know that EA and DICE will make a big thing out of showcasing Battlefield 3 at GamesCom, which … Read on →http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BF3Blog/~4/Y9apOS9QcVIView the full article

http://blogs.battlefield.ea.com/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/CommunityServer.Blogs.Components.WeblogFiles/battlefield_5F00_bad_5F00_company/BB6.jpg Every Battlefield game is built from the gun out. If persistence is what keeps you coming back for more, the gunplay is the essential foundation that the entire game hinges on. Read on for Senior Designer Alan Kertz’ thoughts on what makes shooting in Battlefield 3 unique. Tweaking, testing, and re-tweaking the weapons in Battlefield 3 is the short description of a normal workday for Senior Designer Alan Kertz at this stage in the production. Now that we are well into August, Alan’s work has long since gone from overarching shooter vision to detailed fine-tuning. Walk down to his desk at any given day and you are likely to find him poring over notes or some onscreen graphs, deep in discussion with his designer colleagues: Is the exit smoke from this RPG large enough? Is the precision increase when adding a heavy barrel to this rifle noticeable enough in semi-burst fire mode? How does the addition of a foregrip to this rifle affect the stability when firing in fully automatic mode? -- Authenticity is really important when you’re doing a modern day game like Battlefield 3. We know our players look critically at the guns in our games, so we brought in experts like Andy McNab. Our military advisors not only help us get it right, they help us understand why it’s right.” Compared to both Battlefield 2 and Battlefield: Bad Company 2, there is a larger focus in Battlefield 3 on authenticity and real life handling. This comes down to details like reloads, mobility, bullet trajectories, and even how the caliber and barrel length of a gun determines muzzle velocity and energy. For Alan, this approach clearly leads to better gameplay. -- With authenticity as a base, you get a natural balance because all real life guns are based on trade-offs. It really pulls out the personality of each weapon system to use the authentic stats and features. Each army selects a different weapon, for a different reason, and we pass those selections on to our players.” Varied weapons for all play stylesThe arsenals of U.S. Marine Corps and the Russian Army are both featured prominently in the game, since those are the sides you play in both single and multiplayer. Building from that base, we selected a number of additional weapons that are returning classics, competing designs, and alternate combat roles. Each weapon choice means it gives the player an additional tactical choice: Get in close with a carbine, PDW, or shotgun. Hit from long range with a sniper rifle. Engage tanks with an RPG. Or lay down suppressive fire with a light machinegun. We’re not just giving you weapon A or B, take it or leave it, though. Each main weapon will be heavily customizable to suit different roles. The majority of weapons in Battlefield 3 can be tailored by the player to fit anything from close quarter to long range combat, or something in between. But we’ll save that for a later Battleblog post, when we will go deep into weapons customization. Stay tuned for Battlefield 3 Battleblog #7 soonDid you miss the previous stories in the Battleblog series? Battleblog #1: Lars Gustavsson on DICE's new multiplayer philosophy in Battlefield 3 Battleblog #2: With a bit of class Battleblog #3: With an army by your side Battleblog #4: Up close and personal Battleblog #5: Years' worth of unlocks an rewards in Battlefield 3 For more information on Battlefield 3, visit the Official Site.To learn about the Frostbite 2 game engine, visit the Frostbite 2 section on the Battlefield 3 site.For the latest news on everything Battlefield, follow us on Twitter and our Facebook page. http://blogs.battlefield.ea.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=44035View the full article

One of the greatest joys to be had in Battlefield is performing a surgical strike on an objective with your squad. It’s hardly an easy thing to do, but when you pull it off, it’s definitely one of the most gratifying experiences to be had online. However, to get that sort of skill, you first need a squad, and you’ll need to know how to coordinate with your teammates. Fortunately, Benjamin Sell of BrightHub.com put together a slick feature, explaining some great tactics to employ with your squad on the Battlefield. http://blogs.battlefield.ea.com/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/CommunityServer.Blogs.Components.WeblogFiles/battlefield_5F00_bad_5F00_company/battlefield_2D00_bad_2D00_company_2D00_2.jpg Obviously, coordination and teamwork is a huge part to keep in mind while playing Battlefield online, and while that sounds like very generic advice, you’ll find the good stuff lies all in the details. This BrightHub article does far more than just spout out the obvious – it does quite a nice job explaining all the fine points to help you understand what needs to be done. It’s not just a matter of saying “work together” – anyone can do that. Rather, it’s the various explanations and scenarios with examples that help pull things together. Squad respawns, flanking tactics, communication, squad balance and so much more are all covered, and we can attest firsthand that many of these tips have definitely helped our skill. All of the advice found in BrightHub’s article can be made into good habits, and all it takes is a bit of practice. Read the entire Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Guide to Squad Tactics at BrightHub.com! Follow Battlefield on Facebook! Follow Battlefield on Twitter! Source: View the full article

Battlefield 3 will make a big splash at the world’s biggest game show, GamesCom, in Cologne, Germany, with EA bringing … Read on →http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BF3Blog/~4/dQoBq681KZkView the full article

One of the greatest joys to be had in Battlefield is performing a surgical strike on an objective with your squad. It’s hardly an easy thing to do, but when you pull it off, it’s definitely one of the most gratifying experiences to be had online. However, to get that sort of skill, you first need a squad, and you’ll need to know how to coordinate with your teammates. Fortunately, Benjamin Sell of BrightHub.com put together a slick feature, explaining some great tactics to employ with your squad on the Battlefield. http://blogs.battlefield.ea.com/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/CommunityServer.Blogs.Components.WeblogFiles/battlefield_5F00_bad_5F00_company/battlefield_2D00_bad_2D00_company_2D00_2.jpg Obviously, coordination and teamwork is a huge part to keep in mind while playing Battlefield online, and while that sounds like very generic advice, you’ll find the good stuff lies all in the details. This BrightHub article does far more than just spout out the obvious – it does quite a nice job explaining all the fine points to help you understand what needs to be done. It’s not just a matter of saying “work together” – anyone can do that. Rather, it’s the various explanations and scenarios with examples that help pull things together. Squad respawns, flanking tactics, communication, squad balance and so much more are all covered, and we can attest firsthand that many of these tips have definitely helped our skill. All of the advice found in BrightHub’s article can be made into good habits, and all it takes is a bit of practice. Read the entire Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Guide to Squad Tactics at BrightHub.com! Follow Battlefield on Facebook!Follow Battlefield on Twitter! http://blogs.battlefield.ea.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=43938View the full article

Amazon.co.uk released some video game preorder stats today, which includes Battlefield 3. Preorders for Battlefield 3 are 2,302% more than preorders... View the full article

We have a feeling Battlefield 3 is going to be a large part of EA's press briefing at Gamescom, so make sure you don't miss it. The Gamescom... View the full article

There will be a downtime on Battlefield 1943 tomorrow the 9th of August on Ps3 due to database optimizations and an increase in capacity. The specific downtimes are: 11:00 - 14:00 CET 10:00 - 13:00 GMT 5:00 - 8:00 EST 02:00 - 05:00 PDT This won´t affect older Battlefield titles or Xbox 360. // www.twitter.com/battlefield Source: View the full article

Battlefield 3 is making the rounds at different gaming conventions around the world. In addition to being shown at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany on... View the full article

We first saw Battlefield 3 running on a PlayStation 3 right after E3, when it was showcased on the Late … Read on →http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BF3Blog/~4/D3fc30xT38QView the full article

Looks like this could be your dream job, check it... Although video game testing can be fun and rewarding, it is hard work. We are looking for... View the full article

http://blogs.battlefield.ea.com/resized-image.ashx/__size/400x0/__key/CommunityServer.Blogs.Components.WeblogFiles/battlefield_5F00_bad_5F00_company/DICE.png The Battlefield team needs you! 14 QA Testers required for 3 months working on BF3 Although video game testing can be fun and rewarding, it is hard work. We are looking for responsible, dependable candidates who have an eye for detail, great work ethics, excellent verbal and written communications skills, and the ability to work in a team environment. We need people who are able to work a flexible schedule as work days may vary from week to week. There will be overtime opportunities. What skills does DICE look for? Required Skills: - Self starter - Good organisational skills - Strong verbal and written communication skills - Basic to advanced software troubleshooting skills - Ability to remain focused until project completion Desired skills: - Experience and understanding of console or PC game testing - Software troubleshooting If you are looking for an opportunity to contribute to the Imminant Battlefield 3 and work with one of the best teams in the Gaming world please apply to the position with a latest copy of your cv. This role is onsite in Stockholm due to the short nature of the contract we are only considering candidates who can work onsite and are able to come to work without relocation support. We are not considering overseas or remote applications. All applicants should email their CV’s too jobs@dice.se //www.twitter.com/zh1nt0 http://blogs.battlefield.ea.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=43870View the full article

GamesCom, the annual videogame exhibit in Cologne, Germany, is only a few weeks away. Being the largest videogame exhibition in … Read on →http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BF3Blog/~4/9Q0Curznlf8View the full article

There will be a downtime on Battlefield 1943 tomorrow the 9th of August on Ps3 due to database optimizations and an increase in capacity. The specific downtimes are: 11:00 - 14:00 CET 10:00 - 13:00 GMT 5:00 - 8:00 EST 02:00 - 05:00 PDT This won´t affect older Battlefield titles or Xbox 360. // www.twitter.com/battlefield http://blogs.battlefield.ea.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=43817View the full article

The upcoming German gaming convention, Gamescom is quickly approaching and Battlefield 3 is expected to have a big presence. According to a tweet by... View the full article

(Large view, 1920 x 1080) We’ve had a few requests for some new wallpapers based on Battlefield 3 The Russian, … Read on →http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BF3Blog/~4/byQFq8h2ZMMView the full article

Last month we reported of a mysterious Battlefield 3 book appearing on Amazon and other online retailers. Now EA and … Read on →http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BF3Blog/~4/POzL_LiEGrAView the full article