Battlefield 3 Info Leaked

[Simon Moon]

Some info on Battlefield 3 has been leaked to the public. DigitalBattle reports as follows.

A tipster sent us PDF document which looked like an outline of features for Battlefield 3. The three page document is apparently prepared for investors which should get it by December of this year. It details basic features of BF3, and are as listed:
* Release in late 2008
* Powered by “Frostbite DX”
* Set in year modern day (just like BF2, ed.)
* Will ship with 8 maps, each supporting up to 40-players per team
* Two playable factions, NATO and MEC (Middle Eastern Coalition)
* Same “ticket-based” gameplay style as before
* Maps are mostly urban, based in Middle East
* Squads and Commanders are present, introduced are “Battalions” which consist of three to four squads.
* Five playable classes; Sniper, Assault, Engineer, Medic and Support
* Will feature 48 different vehicles (24 for each faction)
* Will feature 34 different weapons (17 for each faction) and another 22 unlocks (for both factions), in total 56 different weapons.
* Other unlocks include different types of ammunition, body armor, helmets, camouflage and accessories.
* Possible public beta in “Summer 2008″
* Online stats tracking, awards and “real world ranks”
* “Soldier” feature, looks like MMO-styled characters and avatars
* Ranked servers will be available for resellers weeks before the game ships (for testing, apparently, ed.)
* In-game replay and recording feature
* VoIP, friends list, in-game IM-client and “extensive clan support”
* Built-in auto software updater (no more patches!, ed.)
* Widows Vista and OS X (no XP?!, ed.)
* Announcement and teaser trailer in January 2008.

A map is mentioned by name, called “Baghdad Burning”, and appears to be a massive urban map, similar to BF2’s very popular “Strike at Karkand”. The game is powered by “Frotbite DX”, currently the Frostbite engine is used in Battlefield: Bad Company on PS3 and Xbox 360. The “DX” could refer to DirectX (10?), a PC version of the Frostbite engine.

There has been no real confirmation as of yet. On asking DICE about it, this was the reply:

We don’t comment on rumors or speculation. Currently announced titles from DICE are Battlefield Bad Company and Mirror’s Edge, you’ll hear from us officially as soon as we have anything further to announce. For any future announcements regarding Battlefield keep an eye on battlefield.com

So not a whole lot to go on yet.

[PsylentStorm]

So far, this BF3 game forum is based on the fact that its actually going to happen. any word on it? is it realistically going down... or is it more than likely going to happen... or is this all just a "what if" discussion?

[TheBeardedClam]

I hope it happens. The BF series is AWESOME! If they are making one, they should take their time and do everything the correct way.

[Simon Moon]

We have that leak, and actually a few whispers from various, rather reliable sources. The same sources whispered about BF2142 about a month before it was "announced", so this is as solid as you can get it, without having an official declaration it's gonna be there

[hitt]

Originally Posted by Simon Moon

We have that leak, and actually a few whispers from various, rather reliable sources. The same sources whispered about BF2142 about a month before it was "announced", so this is as solid as you can get it, without having an official declaration it's gonna be there

Hope this comes out soon! Bf2 was fun because it took forver to rank up ad when you did it was so fun and exciting.

[PsylentStorm]

Originally Posted by hitt

Hope this comes out soon! Bf2 was fun because it took forver to rank up ad when you did it was so fun and exciting.

yeah, BF2 took forever to rank up, and 2142 was way too quick. At least early on... itd be nice to have the ranks reflect actual proportions, that is, very few generals, a handful of colonels and captains, and a TON of privates and sergeants. The only catch is that you gotta adjust the unlock system so you can still get unlocks as a private and sergeant.

[Fingulfin]

Errr... No. Your asking for decay ranks like in 2142. Does that sound like fun? Its hard as hell to get those ranks, and even harder to keep them. I believe that if the only "General" ranks are decay, then barely any legit players will be able to get them.

[PsylentStorm]

Originally Posted by Fingulfin

Errr... No. Your asking for decay ranks like in 2142. Does that sound like fun? Its hard as hell to get those ranks, and even harder to keep them. I believe that if the only "General" ranks are decay, then barely any legit players will be able to get them.

errrr, not so much decay ranks, but a rank-scoring system that isnt as spread out as BF2, but not as close together in 2142. For example, nowadays, if you jump into a 2142 match, youll see lots of generals and colonels, and few if any privates. in what battle does that ever happen? im asking for a more logical spread in terms of ranks, so that in a battle, it follows that theres more lower ranks than there are higher ranks.

[hitt]

Originally Posted by PsylentStorm

errrr, not so much decay ranks, but a rank-scoring system that isnt as spread out as BF2, but not as close together in 2142. For example, nowadays, if you jump into a 2142 match, youll see lots of generals and colonels, and few if any privates. in what battle does that ever happen? im asking for a more logical spread in terms of ranks, so that in a battle, it follows that theres more lower ranks than there are higher ranks.

Yea. I think the raks i BF2 weere perfect. When you got to a new rank it was the best. From captain to major silver it took almost 20,00 points. In 2142 the most spread out they are is 4,000. Alot of people could get that many points a weekend.

[PsylentStorm]

now that i think about it, 22 unlocks isnt much, if it were anything like 2142 where sprint upgrades and nades were considered unlocks.

[Simon Moon]

The 22 unlocks mentioned are weapons. Read it carefully, it says

Will feature 34 different weapons (17 for each faction) and another 22 unlocks (for both factions), in total 56 different weapons.

So thats 22 unlockable weapons only. There will be more unlocks on top of that.

[PsylentStorm]

ahhh gotcha. nice catch.

[Ashen]

Originally Posted by PsylentStorm

For example, nowadays, if you jump into a 2142 match, youll see lots of generals and colonels, and few if any privates. in what battle does that ever happen? im asking for a more logical spread in terms of ranks, so that in a battle, it follows that theres more lower ranks than there are higher ranks.

Maybe so, but this is also proof that rank means nothing when it comes to skill. If you base unlocks on rank you will get people who find work-arounds. If you base them on accomplishments you get people will will actually have to achieve something besides play time. There will always be bots and hacks, but something creative could make it harder to engineer them.
Really it would be nice to see rank as a sign of experience and for skill to be rewarded by other visible means. I liked the idea IW did with the console version of COD4 where you could start over several times but recieved a special note saying that you did so.