DICE details top 10 BF3 beta issues

By Fred Dutton Published 7 October, 2011

And how it plans to fix them.

Battlefield 3 developer DICE has revealed the top 10 most-reported issues players have had with the game's ongoing open beta and what it plans to do about them.

The most common complaints include issues with the squad formation system, glitches in terrain stability, problems with the game's kill cam and occasional screen flickering. DICE insisted that it has all of these under control.

Without further ado, here's the full list, as published on the Battlefield Blog:

  1. Lack of flexibility when forming squads: "There will be improved squad functionality in the retail game (including but not limited to): the ability to create squads prior to launching into a game, sticking with your squad when joining a game and continuing together through future games (If team balance on the server allows it), inviting friends to a squad and changing squads once in game."
  2. Regarding additional Open Beta content and fixes/patches for consoles, including PlayStation 3 issues with chat and party systems: "While we would like to patch the Open Beta, DICE is currently focusing its available resources on polishing the retail game."
  3. Will DICE have enough time to iron out everything by release? "Please see General Manager Karl Magnus Troedsson's blog post regarding this question." (In which Troedsson wrote, "feedback from the Open Beta will not only directly affect the final game of Battlefield 3, but its future development and support.")
  4. Inability to change settings before deployment into matches on PC: "The ability to modify your settings via the deploy screen has been added into the retail game."
  5. Issues with terrain stability and "falling into the map" on Operation Métro: "This has been fixed for the beta via a server side update."
  6. Kill cam sometimes zooms out too far or outside the map: "This has been fixed for the launch of the retail game."
  7. A bug that keeps some players from being able to sprint: "This has been fixed for the launch of the retail game."
  8. Screen flickering/stuttering. Blue screen remains after respawn. Game locks up after deploying C4 (360): "This has been fixed for the launch of the retail game."
  9. Downed bodies appear to be dead, but are not: "The DICE team has been looking into this issue - which is caused by a combination of incidents in a confined area - and are working hard to address the issue for the launch of the retail game."
  10. Why is the hit detection seemingly different from Battlefield: Bad Company 2?: "The netcode is one of the many things that we are testing as part of the Open Beta and is not necessarily reflective of the final retail game. The DICE team appreciates and has heard the feedback you've provided and is further optimizing online play."
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About Fred Dutton

Fred Dutton is Eurogamer's US news editor, based in Washington DC.

Read more articles from Fred by visiting the Fred Dutton archive page.

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Comments (64) Latest comment 8 months ago

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  • Eraysor #1 8 months ago

    What about the ferocious lagstorm that has engulfed most of the Caspian Border servers?

  • sfp_noodle #2 8 months ago

    They forgot to fix the biggest issue - The graphics being absolutely shambolic when compared to the PC version. Seriously I cannot believe they left it until the last month or two to show off the console versions but now I know why. I'm not a fan of either COD or BF before people start negging me but you cannot deny that the console versions looking fucking awful. I know graphics aren't the be all and end all when it comes to games but considering EA and DICE built the entire marketing campaign on the "gorgeous frostbite 2.0" engine this is unacceptable. Even the gameplay is not much different to last years Medal of Honor. Poor showing EA. I was interested after seeing all those fancy videos of the PC version but I'm not getting it now. Bloody hell even Crytek got Crysis 2 looking pretty fucking good on consoles and compared to that BF3 looks like shit.

  • Sodding_Gamer #3 8 months ago

    @eraysor

    Maybe because they are stress testing the servers for the pc 64 players for everyone now? They are doing this all now so they don't have a messy launch that's all

  • Eraysor #4 8 months ago

    They could at least say they were addressing it though. When it is working it's absolutely unbelievably good.

  • TheNonk #5 8 months ago

    It finally clicked with me why I don't enjoy either BF or COD online and why I love games like Halo and Unreal: one hit kills being the norm.

    I started out multiplayer on old PC flight sims and the feeling of dogfighting, dancing round your enemy, coming out on top even if you didn't get the first shot in, weighing in on an ongoing skirmish and tipping the balance...THIS is what makes an online FPS an edge of your seat thrill for me.

    Repeatedly taking a bullet to the head from nowhere and re-spawning time and time again just, isn't, fun.

  • Vitor #6 8 months ago

    How about the bug that stops you being able to use Iron Sights until you deploy a gadget/switch weapons? That's gotten me killed numerous times.

  • Max_Powers #7 8 months ago

    @sfp_noodle

    Agree with you on the console graphics. I was so dissapointed when I logged into the Beta on 360.

  • misinformed #8 8 months ago

    It could be any number of things, but im going to go with old hardware holding them back on the consoles, it may just not be technically possible to get it looking to something approaching the PC version. Of course it could be a bug or something out of preference to keep console frame rates about 30 or so.

  • Anciegher #9 8 months ago

    I hope they fix the constant crashing on GTX 560 TI. I was unable to play more than 10 minutes before the game crashed...only when I updated the bios of the graphics card could I enjoy this game (which I'm sure 99% of your customers don't know how to do)

  • CptSupermarket #10 8 months ago

    @TheNonk

    But imagine the outcry if any fps decided to remove one hit kills?! what would all the snipers do? the world may well end. this is also why most multiplayer fps are no fun for me either.

  • mbroaders #11 8 months ago

    What about the bug that makes everyone much better at it than me?

  • Geordiemp #12 8 months ago

    Item 10 should be item 1.

    Lag / hit detection / delays / poor ping...

    Possibly not blaming DICE, its more to do with EA and there servers in outer siberia (Joke but not far from truth)...

    Makes BFBC3 a single player game.
    Edited by Geordiemp at 07/10/11 @ 17:07

  • hiddenranbir #13 8 months ago

    When it was working access was sort of limited. Now they're having everyone bombarding the servers in trying to join it. Think of the 64 players on the server than dozens more constantly trying to connect hoping a slot has opened up.

  • ShineDog #14 8 months ago

    By design no weapon kills in one hit on a body shot, only headshots, even Sniper Rifles. Theres a bug causing 1 hit body shots to kill.

    the bug is causing damage to randomly be increased. It apparently happens when you are moving (sprinting?) and for whatever reason a bullet will damage you twice.

    Alan kertz commented on this in his twitter and mentions that it is fixed for retail (ages ago). I don't know why this isn't mentioned in this list here, but yeah, thats part of why the beta is so deadly.
    Edited by ShineDog at 07/10/11 @ 17:10

  • Bravestinsane #15 8 months ago

    Nothing about the piss poor framerates on older grx card.

    Despite easily pissing over the minimum specs.

  • mukki #16 8 months ago

    Oh I was also hoping better graphics would on that list...
    or at least textures...

    mah

  • Cobalt_Jackal #17 8 months ago

    @sfp_noodle

    I agree with you 100%. And you know what esle pisses me off, its the HUGE maps on console... Don't forget ALL the maps on console are designed for 32 players and not 24, FACT. Thats why they feel empty/dead or not as choatic as they could/should be. Its the same B.S. move DICE pulled with BFBC2, and they are doing it all over again, small ass short handed 24 players on maps for 32 players. DICE themselves have said the sweet spot is between 32-40 players yet they game after game skimp the console versions...

    There just needs to be more people on the map (on consoles) to create the chaotic war atmosphere (24 players is a joke, when the PS3 has proven it can do 32 just fine). Also I hear people say the beta doesn't have vehicles, but when you add vehicles, there will be even less people running around on an already massive map!. You cant make a PC graphical showcase and perfect console game at the same time.

    Im amazed how EA/DICE are treating console gamers (their biggest market for BF3 and the place where most of the revenue will come from no less). Thats why i think BF3 will fail hard. We've had months and months of EA/DICE hyping up the PC version (and the console versions to a lesser extent as well). Only showing PC trailers/footage non-stop, going on & on about how BF3/frostbite 2 is pushing 360 and esp PS3 to their limits/are gonna be the best looking FPS on consoles, how BF3 will be the COD killer. Just in general hyping this game up to crazy levels, and clearly all that has now IMO backfired on them. It was nothing more than marketing BS.

    And once more I mean their determined to beat/destroy COD yet they give us console players a half arsed PC port that does nothing new, has shit graphics, pathetically 24 players on huge maps, a crap un-BF like map and just an awkward overall feel to the game. Really its a fucking mess of a game, that why i urge all console players too join me, join me in solidarity and boycott BF3 in disgust about the shitty game were getting. EA/DICE don't deserve our money, if they won't treat us console gamers with respect and give us BF3 as close too the PC version as possible... well they deserve nothing from us.


    Edited by Cobalt_Jackal at 07/10/11 @ 18:13

  • Architect_z #18 8 months ago

    DICE never listen to me. All I ask is that you can have a penguin launcher attachment, on the assault rifles!

  • ballshock #19 8 months ago

    What about not being able to aim down sight at times, until you shoot a bullet than reload?

  • arcam #20 8 months ago

    Really its a fucking mess of a game, that why i urge all console players too join me and boycott BF3 in disgust about the shitty game were getting. EA/DICE don't deserve our money, if they won't treat us console gamers with respect

    I honestly feel for you if it's that bad (haven't tried console version), but I must admit it's kind of funny seeing it written like that - swap PC and console around in that statement and it's the sort of thing you see written every day on EG about the PC versions of games. Not often you see console players threatening boycotts :p

  • RNX-Lanky #21 8 months ago

    please please fix the problem where you are unable to go into sight after doing a combination of shooting, crouching and sighting.... the amount of times I have been unable to kill someone due to it is shocking. Glad to see that they are addressing the problems though - but things like the party stability should never have been in there in the first place, seeing as it was a problem with BC2 launched "fixed" back then as well. Why is it back again?

  • _LarZen_ #22 8 months ago

    @2 If you had thought it would have better gfx then in the beta you have just deluded youself, if BF3 was like many other online fps games the gfx coud have been better. But we are talking about big maps (even big for console owners compared to other games) with advanced physics.

    I have played the beta on both PS3 and PC and I am impressed what Dice has made on the console. Sorry to pop your console bubble but you need to seriusly wake up.

  • bengaming #23 8 months ago

    Looking over the list, they missed my biggest problems with Battlefield, like the sheer amount of snipers who have no interest in helping their team, and everyone else who lines up to be the next person to crash a plane into a mountainside over and over and over. I want to like you, Battlefield, but you're not making it easy.

  • richyroo #24 8 months ago

    Ive put nearly 600 hrs into Bad Company 2 on 360, so thought I would love battlefield 3.

    I have played only 2 games of the beta and havent gone back. The amount of bugs were shocking. Thought I was playing a Bethesda game.
    Edited by richyroo at 07/10/11 @ 18:36

  • PaulieWaulie #25 8 months ago

    Post deleted at 14:23:40 06-01-2012

  • wanted_0012 #26 8 months ago

    Cobalt_Jackal

    Stick to COD then mate.

    It's kinda funny all the ps3/360 guys kicking off because the game doesn't look as good on their platform as it does on PC. How can you possibly expect it to? The sheer processing power difference between the consoles and the kind of PC that can run BF3 at full spec is massive. Dice have said all along PC is lead platform for BF3. If you have limited hardware it's just not possible to have everything.

    Console was lead platform for Bad Company 2. It's only fair PC gets a turn!

    The only reason I think PC is lead for this is because this console generation has gone on for so long. I haven't upgraded the CPU in my PC in about 4 years and the graphics card in about 3 which is the longest period either have gone without an upgrade before. And the reason is nobody has been pushing PC games forward since the original Crysis came out.

    I've been waiting years for a game that wont run properly on my computer. Good work DICE!

  • DUFFKING #27 8 months ago

    The hit detection is bloody weird. The markers that appear when you hit someone seem to be generated client side because you can hit someone plenty of times and do no damage at all.

  • rambomarv #28 8 months ago

    if u like buy if not dont but stop the f948k gih3rgoj whinging.

  • richyroo #29 8 months ago

    ^^ yes, please dont come on a social gaming forum with the view to express your opinion. Thats just not on!

  • PaulieWaulie #30 8 months ago

    Post deleted at 14:23:40 06-01-2012

  • IOnlyUseSkill #31 8 months ago

    DICE has already announced that you can install the game to your XBOX 360 and PS3 hard drives in order to get higher resolution textures, therefore making the game look better. I read it on IGN.com :D

  • frou #32 8 months ago

    The developers have probably busted a gut to even get this apparently unfavourable version running on the consoles, so I don't think it's fair to characterise them as not caring.

  • ISmoke #33 8 months ago

    Don't why people are getting bent out of shape with EA advertising the PC because it looks the best.
    The Frostbite 2.0 engine is beautiful, there's more to gaming than just consoles.

  • ubergine #34 8 months ago

    I'm pretty excited about the announcement of a texture pack for 360. If they didn't have their stupid no-HDD version of the 360, games should have been doing this from the start. Oblivion could stand a texture update...

  • DRUNK3N-_-DRAGON #35 8 months ago

    tell the the fucking truth DICE, this is the final unfinished BF3...bunch a bull shitters man!

  • Timotei #36 8 months ago

    99 problems

  • Sir_STRESSHEaD #37 8 months ago

    Just about everyone who played BF3 at EG Expo (not me, I fucking hate queuing) said it was game of the show... BETA upsets or no... this game will deliver.

  • Geordiemp #38 8 months ago

    ^^ All games play well on LAN. So What...

    All that means is BF3 will be a good single player game, which I expect it to be.

    Until EA go p2p or have servers in europe, then I expect all EA online games to be a lag fest or slow and cumbersome.

    And they are. Shame.

    I get hammered for liking COD - I want other games to have responsive multiplayer with options to select local games (LOCAL PLAYERS AND SERVERS OR LOCAK P2P) - so its playable.

    When will devs get it ?
    Edited by Geordiemp at 08/10/11 @ 09:26

  • wayne997 #39 8 months ago

    It could be any number of things, but im going to go with old hardware holding them back on the consoles, it may just not be technically possible to get it looking to something approaching the PC version. Of course it could be a bug or something out of preference to keep console frame rates about 30 or so. I THOUGHT ALONG THE SAME LINES TILL I PLAYED RAGE AND CRYSIS 1 ITS THE SOFTWARE ENGINE ON HOW THE RESOURCES IMPLEMENTED

  • matty_matt_mattmatt #40 8 months ago

    Ive seen 99 problems and your right a bitch aint one

  • metalangel #41 8 months ago

    @Geordiemp: EA decided stats are more important to you than local/LAN play.

  • Bonders99 #42 8 months ago

    What folks have to accept is the current console tech is over half a decade old. To expect the same leaps in graphical performance from the 1st wave of games to the second, for the latest versions is frankly absurd. Sure they will get minor benefits but not the same strides as before. Current PC tech will whoop the 360/PS3 and this is coming from a console only gamer.

  • SaintDaveUK #43 8 months ago

    Lol at people complaining that the console graphics aren't as good as the PC graphics...

  • Geordiemp #44 8 months ago

    @metalangel

    Not too sure what you mean, how can I play BFBC3 LAN or local online unless I go to a show ? Cant do it at home, unless I invite EG players to my house and they all carry Xboxes and TVs...

    Until EA and others start putting LOCAL servers in local countries it is a waste and may as well give option of P2P play local in that country.

  • metalangel #45 8 months ago

    @Geordiemp: The point is that everything has to go through EA's servers now, that's why there was no hosting your own game or LAN option in Bad Company 2. They'll say it's to ensure your stats get tracked correctly for the silly Battlelog system but it also means your options for finding a good fast server connection are limited.

  • wehmut #46 8 months ago

    It is really hard to believe that DICE will actually listen to our complaints. Anyone remember the "Onslaught" DLC for BC2? There was no hit registration whatsoever in most of the games and did they at least try to fix it? No.
    Anyway the bc2 beta was a way better than this.
    Edited by wehmut at 08/10/11 @ 18:40

  • rudedudejude #47 8 months ago

    These are not the final version graphics.

  • rashes #48 8 months ago

    No. 1 in that list was my biggest issue. I hope that more than 4 people can party up (across multiple squads or course).

  • White_Westie #49 8 months ago

    Is it me or was bfbc2 better graphics wise and frame rate on xb360.

    This looks like its gone back 5 years, what the hell are they doing...

    Looks like a pc buy for me.... shame as I prefer my 360 for multi player...
    Edited by White_Westie at 08/10/11 @ 20:49

  • Chrasomatic #50 8 months ago

    @The Nonk - that's the thing, in BFBC2 there are barely any one hit kills (other than close range shotgun and the most powerful sniper rifle) in this one BF3 they seem to be coming from everywhere!

  • super_monty #51 8 months ago

    RE chat on PS3, so another unfinished game released on PS3. When will trading standards get involved?

  • White_Westie #52 8 months ago

    hmmmm there is me moaning about poor graphics and then dice tell everyone it will ship on 2 discs with an optional high res texture pack to put on my console...... Thats why it must look poor in the beta,

    It'll be interesting to see what a difference it makes

  • super_monty #53 8 months ago

    @White_Westie that will be interesting to see, the AA on the PS3 looked ugly as hell.

    It's going to be a try before I buy this now.

    Too many games out in such a short space of time it's impossible to play them all so no point paying full price for them.


  • gjgjg #54 8 months ago

    And how does one report a bug? I have a few more I do

  • Geordiemp #55 8 months ago

    @White Westie - Better textures and graphics...

    If the BETA lag is bad when the graphics are poor, the console having to do more work, is that going to cure the lag or make it worse...?

  • jedi99 #56 8 months ago

    @arcam
    I have to agree. Just come from the rage forum and it's all about "looks great on console" but "PC gamers have been s**t from id". I've not not been able to play the caspian border map, aways full but the rest of the beta has been great. I'm glad they've taken some of the comments onboard "Inability to change settings before deployment into matches on PC: "The ability to modify your settings via the deploy screen has been added into the retail game." this was a must as far as I'm concerned. Looking forward to it.

  • Jibraeel #57 8 months ago

    I hope they fix the constant crashing on GTX 560 TI. I was unable to play more than 10 minutes before the game crashed...only when I updated the bios of the graphics card could I enjoy this game (which I'm sure 99% of your customers don't know how to do)
    This is also happening on Nvidia 8800 GTS 512. Sometimes sget a crash where the game just closes with no warning and pretends that nothing has happened. No error message at all. Other times its a kernal error.

  • BeachGaara #58 8 months ago

    They forgot spawning the wrong way round. It's really, really annoying.

  • Spekingur #59 8 months ago

    With good teams on both sides the Metro map becomes good and intense. When you have team- and squadmates that just run around and flail their arms it becomes an annoying map.

    I still question the design decision of making the battlelog website being the "main menu" for the game on PC. I envy console players of their main menus :/

  • The_Beef_Hammer #60 8 months ago

    All I want is a mute team mate option. I had to listen to some bellend and his wife arguing about the feckin cleaning for 30 minutes.

  • carlitoswagon #61 8 months ago

    Laughed at the spawning wrong way round comment. The number of times I re-spawned and accidently ran away from the objective! Fuck me.

    Also glad to hear the sprinting problem has been fixed. Nothing worse than arming an M-Com station and having to walk away slowly away to find cover!

    #Nice to hear the most recent BF3 build getting very positive reviews. Sounds like it's been tweeked and fixed a plenty.

  • Uncompetative #62 8 months ago

    - 5 hours of trying to get a match on the first day of the 48hr Closed Beta
    - 1.5 stupidly griefed games which crashed when I entered the tunnel
    - tunnel should be pitch black with flickering striplights & fires
    - spotting is done much better in Homeland & BF:BC2
    - lack of environmental destruction
    - fall through the ground when die
    - options do not show controls!
    - game is miserable, no fun
    - compass confusing
    - map inverted
    - radar crap

    + mantling over rocks is much better than Medal of Honor

    360 pre-order cancelled.
    Edited by Uncompetative at 10/10/11 @ 14:05

  • cyber_nicco #63 8 months ago

    My biggest complaint is that they still haven't weighted the scoring the way I'd like. Still not oriented enough towards team goals. For instance, I get the same amount of points for defusing an mcom station as I do for a kill? Come on! How about spotting - give me points whether or not someone else kills them. Or give me more points when they do. How about giving points for being in the vicinity of objectives while defending? In just about every game I've played all the defenders go running way out to engage the attackers - leaving the actual objectives totally vulnerable to sneaky attackers. Grrr, I hate that.

    I could go on and on, but suffice it to say I am disappointed that they didn't do more to try to spur real objective-based team-play (I just coined that expression, I think :p ).

  • Kaminari #64 8 months ago

    11. The Open Beta doesn't cure cancer.

    "This has been fixed for the launch of the retail game."