BattleField 3

[T-Bag]

will it not work on steam if you buy it from play etc?
I got a game from play the other day and it went straight on steam.

The game has to be a steamworks game to activate on steam, all Valve games (Left 4 Dead, Team Fortress 2 etc) are by default, and some games (Modern Warfare 2, Black Ops, Aliens Vs Predator, etc *LINK*). But just because a game is available on steam does not mean it's a steamworks game.
When they are it is the ideal situation, the copy protection tends to be unobtrusive (as they tend to opt for steams native protection), you can download it from anywhere at any time, patches are handled automatically...but you can still go to a shop or online retailer and get it cheaper than the steam price. Eg I picked up Black ops from Amazon for £20 but it is still £40 on steam when not on sale.

BF3 will almost certainly be available on steam (most EA titles are, along with BF2 and BF:BC2), but I'm not as sure that it will be steamworks. EA has its own download service that it tried to push on everyone, so making it a steamworks title would get people using steam rather than their service, which from a customer point of view is a good thing, but as far as business models go would be a bad idea.

(The game is not yet available on Steam, but they don't tend to put games on this far in advance I'd expect it to appear in July - probably towards the end...but then again you never can tell with these things)

[Tutonic]

BF3 will almost certainly be available on steam

I wouldn't bet on it.

EA have started removing their games from the Steam store, and making them exclusive to their own download service. I wouldn't be surprised if they made BF3 an EA exclusive to get people using their service instead of Valves (they've beer realsing alot of PR recently bemoaning the fact that they have to give Valve a cut).

[T-Bag]

EADM was a massive failure (poorly implemented and hated my most users), I don't know what Origin (its replacement) is going to be like but presumably pretty bad too. BF3 is going to be available on D2D so they aren't stopping all digital sales. However they have pulled Crysis 2 from Steam which is a bad sign. Having said that Alice: Madness Returns (which was released on Friday) is on steam, which is a good sign.

I imagine at this stage they are just trying to negotiate a better deal from steam. They are a publisher, not a distributor. They can't negotiate a better deal without making it clear they are prepared to say no (hence pushing Origin), but a single publisher (even one as large as EA) is going to struggle to compete with Steam which has an established user base, stable service and (more importantly) can offer games from all publishers. Other publishers won't license their games to be sold through EA, it weakens their position...why pay a middle man when you can deal directly with EA so they'll wind up with a limited store, which won't be able to take down Steam.

They want to outsell MW3 and they have a very short window to do it in. The 2 weeks or so before MW3 hit will be their best chance, and the last thing they want to be doing is shooting themselves in the foot with the digital downloads market. You might see the EA version coming with the best set of DLC or bonus features, but despite all the sabre rattling I don't think BF3 is the game they will use to make a stand against Steam. At least I really hope not as I might not get it if they do, and it looks like a really good game.

[Naldo]

Limited edition version available that includes the extra map.

£23.99 by using this code PREORDER20 at checkout + Free delivery.

Link >>>    http://www.bee.com/games/pc/shoot-em-up/battlefield-3-limited-edition/

[GhostMjr]

With 6% cashback too via here!

http://www.topcashback.co.uk/bee/

Meaning its £21.78

Also they want us to pay upfront! So pay now not like other retailers who would only charge on dispatch.

Limited edition version available that includes the extra map.

£23.99 by using this code PREORDER20 at checkout + Free delivery.


Link >>>    http://www.bee.com/games/pc/shoot-em-up/battlefield-3-limited-edition/

[Blunt]

Dice have announced that they will not be releasing mod tools for BF3:angry:
Apparently the frostbite engine will be too complicated for modders:eyebrow::sideways:

Sent from my arse using crappatalk

[TwoBad]

This sounds like it will really enforce team play!

The Support class makes its return in Battlefield 3, incorporating  the ability to use light machine guns and can lay down heavy fire,  allowing him to become a serious mobile weapons platform. “Support has  always been about heavy infantry firepower from his LMG,” says Alan  Kertz, Senior Multiplayer Designer at DICE. “It’s a role that we’ve  wanted to feel different than Assault’s running and gunning.”  
 This brings us to two new features in Battlefield 3: Bipods and  Suppressive Fire. Bipods have a very practical use, especially for LMGs,  as they provide a substantial increase in stability while laying down a  base of fire. Bipods can be deployed anywhere by zooming in with your  LMG when prone, or when standing/kneeling in front of suitable supports,  such as a window sill. The stability created by deploying a Bipod gives  players a massive boost in accuracy and recoil reduction. You’ll be  able to unload an entire clip of 200 bullets from your LMG with great  accuracy without even letting go of the trigger, all thanks to the  Bipod.
 
 Suppressive Fire is a new in-game mechanic that changes how you can  play the game. When you lay down fire in close vicinity to an enemy, the  incoming barrage will show up as a graphical blur effect on his screen  to stress him and let him know it’s not safe to pop out from behind  cover. Just as importantly, this mechanic also affects his character’s  in-game firing accuracy, making him less of a threat by using real world  tactics. Better yet? You get team play experience points for doing so!

Battleblog #2: With A Bit Of Class

[Gone_Away]

that's very cool indeed.
 
I'm really looking forward to this game. Hopefully my PC will stand up well.
 
NF

[Tutonic]

Oh look, they're stealing bits from Arma

Its shaping up to be an excellent game. Now, about that demo....

Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk

[ArithonUK]

Looks like the EA rift that first showed when Crysis 2 was withdrawn from Steam is deepening. BF3Blog have the details. Although it looks like BF3 will not be available on Steam.

[smilodon]

While that's a shame it's not a deal breaker. I can understand that game publishers love us to register with them for access to their games as it gives them a hook into a new customer. I bought the Company of Hero's games on Steam Summer Sale recently but still had to register with THQ before I could play the games. Obviously being on Steam there is no need for any further authentication. However THQ now have some information about me and a chance to possibly sell me stuff in the future.

EA probably would love our information as well. Selling through Steam generally means the game developer learns nothing about their customer and forms no meaningful relationship with them. While it's a complete pain for me when a publisher doesn't sell it's game through Steam I can sort of understand why a giant like EA would find and excuse not to.

[Oberg]

I´m so looking forward to Battlefield 3.

i´ve been away as i hope someone has noticed. I have alot to do with work and school but i´ll be back before BF3 hits the shelfs.


Keep fragging boys!!!

[ArithonUK]

MVC has an article on Gamestop who claim they will be offering BF3 on their digital download, but claim EA are blocking Steam from getting the title.

[ArithonUK]

New screenshots http://bf3blog.com/2011/07/breaking-battlefield-3-alpha-screenshots-leaked/

[Naldo]

In addition to the physical warfare pack...

I just got this

[ATTACH=CONFIG]768[/ATTACH]