Survival & Renewal of the BF Series, Making it Great Again!

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  • imported_Bama2

    #1

    Survival & Renewal of the BF Series, Making it Great Again!

    Making The BF Series Great Again Will Take a Big Jump By DICE/EA!


    I have been playing the Battle Series since BF1942 first came out in September 2002. The biggest problem I have as do many others is lack of new Ranked Server Content, and the non stop DICE/EA Bashing. While They do deserve it, and I have been one of the worst this does not move us or DICE/EA in the right direction. So I wrote the following article hopping that DICE/EA would stumble across it and maybe take notice and see the advanages for the Community & themselves. Of course Booster Pack sales would not work if they did do something like this, however I think overall sales of the main titles, and increased longevity of the game would more than make up for it. As of this date It's a little late in the life of BF2 for more booster packs.

    Please do Read this, then Please make any Comments that you deem appropriate.
    Also, if you can not take the time to read this then please don't ***** about DICE/EA any more.

    Sign The Petition To Make BattleField Great Again:
    Providing a surprisingly human shopping experience. Trusted and secure. Millions of domains to choose from.

    Copy & Past:
    Code:
    http://www.webpetitions.com/cgi-bin/print_petition.cgi?99500773
    Anyway, here is the article along with a section I wrote on OPK to prove a point.
    Who knows maybe this will help. Then again maybe it wont help, but one thing for sure something new needs to be done, and it sure can't hurt.

    UPDATE, 8/27/06: WE Have Ranked POE2 Severs! I have no idea if I had anything to do with this or not, but at the very least it seems that DICE/EA are thinking along the same lines. Maybe we now have a Developer who really cares about this BF2 Community. Good for them.

    ScreenShots: Click the Thumbnails for large pic.



    Making the BattleField Series Great Again!

    The Battlefield series Can Be Great Again!
    August 16th 2006 - by Bama

    I am not a big supporter of the BF2 Ranking and Stat System. I feel that it takes away from the Team aspect of the game play, however I also believe that no matter what, this is not going to change. BF2 is stuck with this Rank/Stat System, and the BF2 Mod Community will soon die because of it. This slow death of the Mod Community perceived or not by players, EA/DICE, and even the Mod Community is very, very real. The problem we all face is player mentality with the Rank/Stat System, and every Mod, no matter how good have a direct and unfair competitor in the this System. It does not matter if you are for the Rank/Stat System or not. What does matter is that the vas majority do love their Stats, and while they may play a new Mod they will be back for their stat fix in short order. The very talented BF2 Mod Community is most definitely adversely effected by the Rank/Stat System with this Player mentality regardless if they will admit it or not. Another problem is after 14 months of BF2 we have a bunch of worn-out, and very stale Maps. These levels have been played so much that they have become very boring. The BF2 Community has been supplied with only one new ranked map in 14 months "Wake_Island", and one more coming with the 1.4 patch "Road_To_Jalalabad", which will also get old and stale quickly. Yet even with very little new content for the Ranked/Stat server System these players will continue to play these old and boring maps just to get their Rank & stat fix, but in fewer numbers with each passing day.


    The Downside is that much sooner rather than later the BF2 Mod Community will dissolve, blown to the winds, and the BF2142 Mod Community may never be born. Why? Simple logic, if after thousands of man hours of hard and enthusiastic work their great creation i.e. Modification, no matter how good it might be, is not played then all of the Gaming Communities suffer. Even the Gamming Industry it self will suffer down the road as great potential Game designers have left the marketplace. All because of their disappointing experience with an unfair completive advantage by this Rank/Stat System. However there is hope because there is an answer to this problem, but can DICE/EA see it?


    An example of a Very Good BF2 Mod.
    Myself along with some of my Clan Brothers recently played the Mod called Operation PeaceKeeper .15 "OPK" for the first time, and I was really taken aback by this great modification. OPK beats any Mod I have seen to date even the original BF2 it self. This German Mod Team really outdid themselves in every aspect of this Mod, Overall design and input of new personal weapons, Vehicles, Vehicle Physics, and skins of all types. If I had to pick just one thing this Mod team excelled at it would be the seven custom maps that were provided with OPK. Literally pieces of art, these maps are out of this world, and the very best I have ever seen. While the eye candy abounds the low poly count playability, and balance is fantastic. Six of the sever maps come in 16, 32 and 64 player versions. Even the 64 player versions while filled with very high detail, and all kinds of new renderings seem to have no graphics lag at all. The thought which has gone into these seven maps shows a superior level of skill than I have seen to date, and this includes DICE. Upon release of OPK .15 servers running the mod were as high as 300 plus for several nights, but by day 5 they are down to 50 servers. Remember Player mentality and the Rank/Stat System. Operation PeaceKeeper is just one example of many new and exciting Mods expected to be released soon. I sincerely hope all this talent was not in vain.

    As I stated above there is an answer to this problem, which will benefit everyone, the mod community, the players, and of course DICE/EA. The answer does require that DICE/EA step up to the plate and except the fact that there are some modifications that equal or surpass the original BF2, and through what ever process DICE/EA wants to apply each mod presented should be tested, reviewed, and the mods that qualify allowed to be placed on Ranked Status. Approved Ranked Mods would only be allowed on DICE/EA Approved Ranked servers. This would have several very positive effects, the first would be to re-establish respect & strong support for DICE/EA within the entire BF2 Community, and any EA published game in the future. Secondly it would totally rejuvenate the Mod Community giving them something to shoot for and even creating a higher level of quality output. Thirdly, it would increase play on every Ranked server on-line, and even bring back many players who left in discus over the last year for what ever reason. Finely, and I'm sure would be top on the DICE/EA list, would be many new sales of BF2, and BF2142. The open beta of the 1.4 patch and the up coming open beta of BF2142 does show sweet signs that DICE/EA are trying to move in the right direction. I think that by it self the open beta is just to little to late, but if they couple the open betas with allowing approved modification to be placed on approved ranked servers then DICE/EA will have created something great. Simply put, not stepping up and moving innovatively forward will relegate BF2 to just another mundane, and buggy FPS that can cause the loss of many future dollars in product sales for DICE/EA.

    In conclusion:
    1. A few modifications to be considered, OPK, Desert Conflict, POE2, Rising Conflicts, and there are many more.
    2. Possibly expanding ModLight to aid in Mod selection should work beautifully.
    3. What ever decisions are made to make the Battlefield series great again DICE/EA must to do it quickly!
    4. I hopefully Pray that this article will not be in vain!


  • imported_Bama2

    #2
    Re: Survival & Renewal of the BF Series, Making it Great Again!

    UPDATE:

    It's done, the Petition To Make the BattleField Series Great is UP! The Movement has started!

    Sign The Petitions Here: http://www.webpetitions.com/cgi-bin/...n.cgi?99500773
    Copy & Past:
    Code:
    http://www.webpetitions.com/cgi-bin/print_petition.cgi?99500773
    Now We Need Everyone to Spread the word.


    On how the Ranked Stats should work would be like SF, all the same. Play a Mod and the Rank stats goes to your overall Bf2 Rank/Stat Score.

    Comment

    • cantfinddeletebutton

      #3
      Re: Survival & Renewal of the BF Series, Making it Great Again!

      petition doens't work for me.....

      Comment

      • imported_Bama2

        #4
        Re: Survival & Renewal of the BF Series, Making it Great Again!

        For some reason the link will not work on the "vBulletin". You have to copy and past and it works fine

        Copy & Past:
        Code:
        http://www.webpetitions.com/cgi-bin/print_petition.cgi?99500773

        Comment

        • KristianSax

          #5
          Re: Survival & Renewal of the BF Series, Making it Great Again!

          As I remember (can't provide a reference link) EA has stated that any custom modifications may not be included in ranked servers because EA has not tested them for the balance.
          The downside of such a petition is that if EA/DICE were to test all of the custom maps and mods (or only the better ones) then it will take quite a lot of work and we will no longer be able to get them for free as they are now.

          I believe there are or will be a separate ranking system for mods (ABR?).

          Comment

          • MAD_JIHAD

            #6
            Re: Survival & Renewal of the BF Series, Making it Great Again!

            imo they should take the ranking system out (or never have made it) but its to late for that, i think more people would play mods if they werent rank whoring.

            Comment

            • imported_Bama2

              #7
              Re: Survival & Renewal of the BF Series, Making it Great Again!

              Originally posted by KristianSax
              As I remember (can't provide a reference link) EA has stated that any custom modifications may not be included in ranked servers because EA has not tested them for the balance.
              The downside of such a petition is that if EA/DICE were to test all of the custom maps and mods (or only the better ones) then it will take quite a lot of work and we will no longer be able to get them for free as they are now.

              I believe there are or will be a separate ranking system for mods (ABR?).
              It could be done, sure there would be things to workout. First the Mod team would have to make damn sure their release version they present has been tested big time by them and the public Players. Once that is done then it is submitted for the next process. I would think one Canada DICE person in charge, and a hand selected bunch of testers from the community could get the job done quite nicely. Remember it would benfit DICE/EA in one hell of a big way by working this out.

              Comment

              • imported_Voltage
                Member
                • Jun 2005
                • 18

                #8
                Re: Survival & Renewal of the BF Series, Making it Great Again!

                I don't want the mod stat mixed up with the vanilla stat, I first thought the petition was about mods ability to have their own stat system. Isn't that possible? I know Battleracer have some very crude and simple stat system. Would be very cool if mods had their own system with awards and ranks and perhaps unlocks. Hell if I knew the stat was to be mixed with vanilla I would probably create a new account to keep them separate.

                Comment

                • Blades

                  #9
                  Re: Survival & Renewal of the BF Series, Making it Great Again!

                  *signed*.

                  Comment

                  • ~WPN~Major Ursa

                    #10
                    Re: Survival & Renewal of the BF Series, Making it Great Again!

                    Bama, I think that the mods will do fine without the ranking system. People will play the mods because they are tired of vBF2 and because they want to experience the tremendous variety that mods bring. The stats feature is a genie that we can't put back into the bottle and if EA/DICE were to say "ok" to mod stats being tracked through the official program, then the mods would have to sacrifice the autonomy that they thrive on to create those same mods. Nope, I don't think this petition will accomplish what you want. I can see the death of the mods IF your petition actually got what you want.

                    Comment

                    • zuiquan1
                      Battleship Mod
                      • Jan 2006
                      • 1318

                      #11
                      Re: Survival & Renewal of the BF Series, Making it Great Again!

                      why would mods want to destroy there great gameplay with stats anyway....

                      Comment

                      • imported_Bama2

                        #12
                        Re: Survival & Renewal of the BF Series, Making it Great Again!

                        #8, #10 & #11
                        Voltage , don't want the mod stat mixed up with the vanilla stat, I first thought the petition was about mods ability to have their own stat system. Isn't that possible? I know Battleracer have some very crude and simple stat system. Would be very cool if mods had their own system with awards and ranks and perhaps unlocks. Hell if I knew the stat was to be mixed with vanilla I would probably create a new account to keep them separate.
                        I really don't care how they do it, just that they do it, because if they don't most of the Bf2 and Bf2142 players will move to one of the newer titles coming next year. This is something that will save the game, both of them, and save the Mod Community as well, not to mention giving thousands of players more content.

                        ~WPN~Major Ursa, Bama, I think that the mods will do fine without the ranking system. People will play the mods because they are tired of vBF2 and because they want to experience the tremendous variety that mods bring. The stats feature is a genie that we can't put back into the bottle and if EA/DICE were to say "ok" to mod stats being tracked through the official program, then the mods would have to sacrifice the autonomy that they thrive on to create those same mods. Nope, I don't think this petition will accomplish what you want. I can see the death of the mods IF your petition actually got what you want.
                        Sorry~WPN~Major Ursa , but your wrong, and you should already see that with OPK. Their server population has gone to the dogs in about a week, and OPK is a great mod. The samething will happen to all of them, and I also don't think you read my starting post or you should understand what's happen here. The only way is to put them on equal footing with BF2.

                        zuiquan1, why would mods want to destroy there great gameplay with stats anyway....
                        Simple zuiquan1, Players will not play them beyond a week or two, and never in numbers worth their hard & skilled efford. I don't think you read all of my starting post.

                        Comment

                        • baggygreen

                          #13
                          Re: Survival & Renewal of the BF Series, Making it Great Again!

                          bottom line, bama, is that if people want to play the mods they will. if they care too much about stats, they wont. simple.

                          personally, i wouldnt mind tucking into the mods, but then i stop and think oh, there is about 0 servers down here to play them on.

                          Comment

                          • imported_bigpappa
                            Member
                            • Oct 2006
                            • 2159

                            #14
                            Re: Survival & Renewal of the BF Series, Making it Great Again!

                            Originally posted by MAD_JIHAD
                            imo they should take the ranking system out (or never have made it) but its to late for that, i think more people would play mods if they werent rank whoring.
                            thats 2 of us that agree, i think there should just be server ranking, this global ranking thing has corrupted most everyone.

                            Comment

                            • sm007h
                              Member
                              • Jun 2006
                              • 75

                              #15
                              Re: Survival & Renewal of the BF Series, Making it Great Again!

                              In order to have any sort of legitimacy for your claims that the drop in OPK players was due to players returning to earn points on official servers, you'd need to poll the players who left.

                              YOUR opinion is that OPK is a great mod, but many others may have disagreed. That could be one reason for the drop. When I tried OPK, the servers were in Germany and I (playing from US West Coast) suffered high pings. There weren't that many players online, perhaps due to a time differential between my country and their base players. And when I say low players, I should specify that at most I've found 3 players on at once--counting myself.

                              When I read some posts through their forum, it sounded as though the players were initially excited about the mod, but that interest waned as those maps also became "stale."

                              The mod also appears to be region specific. From my understanding, it was coded to address a growing annoyance with the vanilla code that left German troops out. I've also read concerns about balance, but haven't had the chance to test them myself since there's never been a full or even populated server to do so.

                              In sum, a number of mods exist, but all of them (short of NAW, afaik) have progressed to a full mod yet and even that one is still in beta phase. The OPK mod's beta status was pretty apparent even in my limited experience with it, given that models were missing portions of them when I was in certain vehicles, some weapons didn't work, and things of that nature.

                              The premise of your petition is that stats are undermining the mod community, a premise you have no evidence for other than your own opinion of the greatness of a beta mod's declining popularity that could be attributed to it's stagnated progression (a proposition I find far more likely than people needed to obtain a stats fix).

                              Comment

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