http://www.thearmory.cc/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=479

 

A Swedish Battlefield 2 website named FZ recently had the chance to sit down with Lars Gustavson and do an interview with him. The Bf2.se crew translated it to English for all of us to read. Check out the very interesting interview below.

 

FZ: We have read that you will be able to record your matches and share them with friends and clan members. I guess you can say that this tool will be a very important tool to build a strong community. The central statistic ranking system is also something that will build up the community. What other tools and methods do you guys have in store to conserve the game play around Battlefield 2?

 

LG: We have learned our lesson since Battlefield 1942 and Vietnam and are working o?n delivering a more powerful editor then the BF-games before had. The editor will be the same that we used when building BF2 and it can handle landscaping and effects etc. It is our hope that the modding community will use this to conserve the Battlefield 2 game.

 

FZ: In Battlefield 2 you will be able to record whole matches to later edit and analyze your game play. But how will it work in practical? Is it the client that record or is it server side, and if how will you download it?

 

LG: It is server side and it means that anyone can start a server and share the recorded scenes for everyone to watch. The system works so that when you join a server that have Auto record enable, there will be a link in your demo library, so when you click o?n it you will download it to your computer. Then you can watch all your favourite moves in slow motion and freeze and spin the camera around. Maybe catch the perfect screenshot?

 

FZ: Many of our members are wondering how the private servers will work compared with the official servers. We know that EA will have their own servers where the official rankings will be saved, witch the private server, I guess because of security issues, doesn't do. Is there a chance that the use of private servers will be lower then before because you need a new profile o?n every server?

 

LG: It is correct that o?nly the official servers will use the official rankings. This is where to be when you want to rise in ranks. The private servers are perfect for every common battle as in bf42 and Vietnam where fun for the moment is important.

 

FZ: Many people are finding the map-editing scene in BF42 and Vietnam for dead. Mainly because a map can be over 100mb in size. This have done that almost o?nly the official maps have been played, which isn't good for keeping the community alive. Have you done anything to help out the mappers out?

 

LG: we are aware of these restrictions but the size of maps dosen't make it possible to make the servers upload them to your computer etc. We are looking over it but we haven't found any solution for it yet.

 

Modifications:

 

FZ: When Valve released the HL2 SDK they got a lot of critism because it required the use of Microsoft Visual c++ .NET that costs thousands of kronor ( hundreds of dollars ). What tools beside those that DICE will release is going to be needed for the hard-core modifier?

 

LG: We are looking seriously at supporting the modding community. You will be using Python-scripting when editing BF2 that means that no expensive software like Microsoft Visual C++ .NET will be needed.

 

Vehicles:

 

FZ: The earlier BF-series have been recognised by the ability of people being able to hang outside different vechiles like on an airplane wing and in ( but outside ) jeeps. Some people mean that this is removing the feeling of reality and being able to walk around o?n planes have put a little arcade feeling over the game. How have you guys at DICE looked as this problem?

 

LG: To be able to ride along vehicles have been a part of the game since Codename Eagle where winwalking fast became a good way to travel with a lot of teammates. We have had this in mind in building BF2. The goal is to make BF2 fun, so sometimes the realism will have to lay down for that. If it is between fun and realism, the choice isn't that hard.

 

FZ: There have been a lot of pictures and movies lately that are showing us how the game will look and feel. But none of them have been in dusk or dawn or in the night. Will the game feature any special effects concerning headlights, flashlights, search lamps etc?

 

LG: We decided pretty early to not make any night maps to BF2. But we do have maps that plays in the dusk or dawn but none of them are black.

 

FZ: What info will the HUD Head-Up Display show in the different vehicles?

 

LG: It differs. But in a fighter plane the hud will differ for each weapon system. Some will go after heat sources and some by other methods. You will also get information when you are locked. We have let it have a very modern and technological face that is simple to learn but powerful for the hard-core gamer.

 

FZ: Helicopter must be o?n of the most active topics about BF2. People dosen't want it either as in any BF42 mod as DC or as in Vietnam because neither of them are showing us how a real helicopter moves or handles. People are also missing the control over the helicopters collective. This function is very important if you want to hover still at different levels of height. What have DICE done to meet the requests?

 

LG: We have been taking in a lot of feedback from the community about this and let our vehicles designer, Linus Josephson and physics programmer, Peter sterblom, work close with a real helicopter pilot to make the helicopter as unique as it really is today. The helicopter handling differs for each model. As a transport helicopter will not be too hard to start and land as people have described them earlier as flying coffins while a attack helicopter with it smaller body have a more advanced handling for the pilot-fan.

 

Game engine:

 

FZ: The material that EA and DICE showed us until now have been exclusively outside environments. How is the BF2 engine going to handle inside environments and houses with more then o?ne floors?

 

LG: The BF-series engine power have always been outside environments. But also this edition will make it possible to make indoor maps. There is nothing that stops you from making an entire map indoor.

 

FZ: In some movies that have been released lately you can see people flying up 10-20 m in the air after an explosion. It makes the models look like they weight 12 kilos. Is this something DICE have made in purpose?

 

LG: No, this isn't how the final edition will look like. We are adjusting things like that and the goal is realistic movements for the models.

 

FZ: How will the BF2 engine differ from the earlier BF engines. Will it for example take use of Shader model 3.0?

 

LG: The BF2 engine us much more geometriccomplex then those before. Better vegetation system and support for per-pix bumped textures and dynamic lightning. We will use Shader Model 3.0 for optimizing if it as available.

 

Game technological questions:

 

FZ: In earlier previews it have been discovered that the COMM. will be able to use artillery strikes o?n the whole map. This can result in the COMM. destroying whole teams or important vehicles in the beginning of a game. What have been done do prevent these kind of things?

 

LG: These artillery strikes will not be available from the start of a new round and the recharge time is long after first use. You can also destroy these artilleries but then the COMM. Can ask his engineers to repair them for him.

 

FZ: Many people use small nametags above themselves and other players to be able to identify and shoot them from a very long distance. It is hard to hide in the grass etc. Is this a function in BF2 and if, will it be turned o?n or turned of as default?

 

LG: BF2 will be shipping with nametags. But they will not show as fast as before so you will need to aim at a person under a time to be able to identify them. This will prevent horizon scanning.

 

FZ: When you are looking at the movies it is hard to know which tempo the game is in. How would you describe it? As quake3, Desert Combat, BF42, Counter-strike?

 

LG: I would say between BF1942 and Desert Combat. But it of course depends o?n maps and amount of players.

Sounds awesome. I like the recording idea a lot.

meh, doesn't sound like they're moving too far away from the regular feel of the game

They may not be moving far away from the feel.... but it does look like alot of thigs are being refined.... like adding lock-ons for weapons and a scoring system that doesn't revolve around kills and flag captures. I have actually convinced my wife that she should play this with us...... MEDIC! DRIVER! :o

I'm curious about the demo feature. I states that the demos are recorded server side.

 

For an example lets say we setup a 40 player BF2 server and have "record demos" set to on. This allows the user to record a demo of himself playing. Now, since they stated it is recorded server side, what happens if 20 out of the 40 uers want to record a demo of themselves? That to me sounds like a lot of system resources being pushed on one system... and the size of the demos?

 

I'm just wondering how this is going to work and effect servers. Performance wise and file size.

 

Other than that, I'm really looking forward to the game, can't wait!!! Been playing some BFV and DC lately, getting really pumped up for the game :o

I'm curious about the demo feature. I states that the demos are recorded server side.

 

For an example lets say we setup a 40 player BF2 server and have "record demos" set to on. This allows the user to record a demo of himself playing. Now, since they stated it is recorded server side, what happens if 20 out of the 40 uers want to record a demo of themselves? That to me sounds like a lot of system resources being pushed on one system... and the size of the demos?

 

I'm just wondering how this is going to work and effect servers. Performance wise and file size.

 

Other than that, I'm really looking forward to the game, can't wait!!! Been playing some BFV and DC lately, getting really pumped up for the game :o

I was thinking the same thing, so if we set up a server (*hint hint*), I think we should run it though a series of diagnostic and stress tests. I know from past experience (with our present game server) that the number of players, as well as the map itself can cause major fluxes in system resource utilization (CPU).

I understand it works like this

 

The information being recorded is simply a file that rescripts events as the server interprets them, it doesn't matter if there are 50 recordings or 1 recording, they all get the same script file, they just view the scripts from a different perspective.

 

So in effect, instead of having 50 different files that each client has interpreted from the server about how the game unfolded, there is 1 master file so everyone is on the same page when reviewing the game.

With every bit of news that comes out.... I just want to hold the game in my hands... maybe after a few minutes play it but until then i just hang with these guys so i can be ready http://c22clan.com