Battlefield 2142 the Beta

[Jade Falcon]

Yet again, EA seems to have done it's usual haphazard method of releasing games as basically expensive betas. I got BF2142 and while at first it seemed fairly good here are my issues with it.

First off...the game issues themselves.

Artillery is next to useless as the accuracy is lousy.

Weapons themselves are practically useless. Examples include, three shots at point blank range in the face to someone with the underbarrel shotgun, no effect, they take me down with one shot.

Both Assault rifles and LMG's are inaccurate as hell. While you expect LMGs to have more deviance to make up for their rate of fire and larger ammo capacity, the accuracy of assault rifles is appalling whether you're firing full auto or on short controlled bursts.

Bunny hopping yet again is in this game, and still hasn't been nerfed.


Technical issues.

Often the game will go into a 'sound loop' causing it to crash to the server browser. This can happen anytime, even when near the end of a round making your entire round for nothing.

Titan mode is horrendous for performance, plus, I've yet to play any time on it without it crashing.

So yet again, EA use the public as beta-testers. Not to mention that the variety of maps in this game is pretty poor.

[Admiral Valdemar]

Why do people keep buying EA products now? They died to me years ago, the last game of theirs I got was C&C: Generals and that was only because I had a hope Westwood were still there in spirit.

[Jade Falcon]

Well I'm returning this. This feels like the worst days of BF2 all over again, and as I told the 'customer service assistant', I'm not willing to wait over a year for the possibility that the game may be fixed.

Saying that, both Battle For Middle Earth games were quite stable, but the Battlefield series have been going downhill. BF2 only finally seems to be stabilised with the last patch (1.41), still wish they would do something about the bunny hoppers though.

[Arrow]

Artillery is next to useless as the accuracy is lousy.

I never played commander, but I found the arty to be usually effective, especially when its dropped on me. I do think the blast radius needs to be cranked up a bit, simply because I feel it should clean the entire area of players. As it is, you have a decent shot of surviving the strike.

Weapons themselves are practically useless. Examples include, three shots at point blank range in the face to someone with the underbarrel shotgun, no effect, they take me down with one shot.

I've had no problems with the shot guns themselves. At most I need two shots if they're full health. The only time I issues if it the serve has a high ping. And lets not forget the sheer awesomeness of the slung under rocket launcher!

Both Assault rifles and LMG's are inaccurate as hell. While you expect LMGs to have more deviance to make up for their rate of fire and larger ammo capacity, the accuracy of assault rifles is appalling whether you're firing full auto or on short controlled bursts.

Sorry, I have to disagree with this. I've found the assault rifles and LMGs to be more accurate than they ever where in BF2. I've lost count of how many times I've killed and been killed with a short burst from any of the machine guns. I'm not a fan of the PAC assault rifle, but I've gotten plenty of quick kills with the SCAR and the BAUR. I can usually get three kills per clip with the BAUR, which is basically 2142's G3; in BF2 I was doing to good to two kills per clip.

Bunny hopping yet again is in this game, and still hasn't been nerfed.

I haven't really noticed it, but I can believe it.

Technical issues.

Often the game will go into a 'sound loop' causing it to crash to the server browser. This can happen anytime, even when near the end of a round making your entire round for nothing.

Titan mode is horrendous for performance, plus, I've yet to play any time on it without it crashing.

Never had those problems, and I play Titan mode about half the time I'm in the game. If the commander moves the Titan, the people on board will experience lag, but the patches have improved the performance. The sound loop could be a lot of things - have you updated the driver? And sound card is it, anyway?

So yet again, EA use the public as beta-testers. Not to mention that the variety of maps in this game is pretty poor.

While the release isn't without its problems, I've found it be better than BF2's. I still consider DICE to be a B grade developer, but there are improving.

As for the maps, that's a matter of taste; I love 'em. It doesn't take long to get into a fight, and the fights usually stay concentrated. The only map that I have an issue with is Minsk, in conquest mode, where it is far to easy to bottle up the PAC. On the flip side, Minsk is probably my favorite Titan map.

[Arrow]

Why do people keep buying EA products now?

Because there's still some fun to be found in there games. Yes, they milk franchises, and yes they rush their products (but you can say that about a lot of others, as well). They're no id, Epic or Bioware, I still enjoy the Battlefield series, and I'm looking forward for the next Metal of Honor and for Crysis.

[wautd]

Why do people keep buying EA products now? .

Because I was young and naive when I bought BF2.
I second C&C: Generals

[Jade Falcon]

I've had no problems with the shot guns themselves. At most I need two shots if they're full health. The only time I issues if it the serve has a high ping. And lets not forget the sheer awesomeness of the slung under rocket launcher!

Don't have the slung under rocket launcher yet.

Sorry, I have to disagree with this. I've found the assault rifles and LMGs to be more accurate than they ever where in BF2. I've lost count of how many times I've killed and been killed with a short burst from any of the machine guns. I'm not a fan of the PAC assault rifle, but I've gotten plenty of quick kills with the SCAR and the BAUR. I can usually get three kills per clip with the BAUR, which is basically 2142's G3; in BF2 I was doing to good to two kills per clip.

Well there was an enemy with his back to me, and I was practically touching him, and fired. He didn't go down, spun round and killed me.

I haven't really noticed it, but I can believe it.

My issue with it, apart from how absurd it is, is that bunny hopping costs stamina, yet you can still bunny hop with no stamina. WTF!

Never had those problems, and I play Titan mode about half the time I'm in the game. If the commander moves the Titan, the people on board will experience lag, but the patches have improved the performance. The sound loop could be a lot of things - have you updated the driver? And sound card is it, anyway?

It's a PCI Sound Blaster Audigy Value

While the release isn't without its problems, I've found it be better than BF2's. I still consider DICE to be a B grade developer, but there are improving.

As for the maps, that's a matter of taste; I love 'em. It doesn't take long to get into a fight, and the fights usually stay concentrated. The only map that I have an issue with is Minsk, in conquest mode, where it is far to easy to bottle up the PAC. On the flip side, Minsk is probably my favorite Titan map.

I don't mind Fall of Berlin and Camp Gibralter on Conquest, Titan mode just seems far too buggy. I find the variety of maps in BF2 to be better, and there seemed to be more of them.

[Arrow]

You should see if you can find a newer driver for that sound card (if you keep the game). As for Titan mode, the only time I see bugs is when I'm onboard a moving a Titan. I've actually clipped through Titan once. And there's the issue that all objects (sentry guns, shields, mines) end up against the back walls when the Titan moves. The engine wasn't designed for having players running around in a moving environment, and it shows; some servers have a no moving the Titan rule, and it keeps things moving along.