BF2 1.4 Beta Testing Starts

EA UK Forums

We are beginning the first phase of our 1.4 patch beta testing! This initial phase of testing will only include a small number of servers whose focus is to ensure stability in a live environment. At the completion of this phase we will be rapidly expanding the number of servers hosted to allow everyone an opportunity to review this latest patch. I would like to stress that everyone who downloads the beta files should take the time to read the included text file so that you can properly safeguard your current BF2 install.

Also please note that EA Customer Service can not provide any support for issues related to the Beta Patch. I encourage everyone to log into the EA Battlefield forums and participate on the 1.4 Patch Beta discussions that will cover both 1.4 issues, tuning changes, and new features.

We have up threads for issues and gameplay feedback, please make sure you post in the right one once they are unlocked.

A few of the servers hosted will be set to the new ‘No Vehicles' server setting that will allow players to focus on infantry vs infantry combat on all BF2 and Special Forces Maps. Other servers will include the new ‘Road to Jalalabad’ map which will allow US and MEC forces to engage in a new urban warfare environment! Everyone here at EA and DICE look forward to working with the community to ensure this next patch is a solid step forward for the Battlefield Franchise.

-The Battlefield Team

So do you test or let someone else be the guinea pigs for now?

Given their track record of really hosing things up on patches that were made public, I would avoid this thing like the plague.... :-)

I will say this though. I like the sounds of the Infantry Only setting. I will miss my tanks, but at least we can cut out the air bombardments.

I'm not sure if I will like the infantry only mode or not seeing as I have recently rediscovered my inner armor whore. At the very least though, it does give us another option on how to play the game.

I personally feel that allowing end users to test is always the best way. You simply cannot account for every type of computer OS game install, hardware and internet connection in house.

IMHO allowing a random sampling of the general public will show bugs more readily than any in house testing. That is what beta testing is all about. Allowing us crazy people to discover the bugs doing all kinds of weird ass stuff that they may no even thought of 😉

So they are doing the right thing.

Now for the question of do WE do it.... hmmmm I would try it but I would have 2 directories on my HD. One normal one and then one to test. I would simply rename the one I want to use. This way I could test and also go back to the current setup for normal play. It is very easy to do and protects your game files but allows you to also play. BF2 works well this way.

When I moved to the new machine I only installed BF2 and SF. I then moved the files from my old install and everything is working fine patched. Even EF and AF. So BF2 will work this way.

Oh, I totally agree that they are doing the correct thing in doing an open Beta of the patch. I think however, I will let others do that testing for now and wait a few days at least before installing it.

More details on the "infantry only" option. Looks very interesting, more like towards what the Project Reality Mini-mod is about....

Colin Clarke @ PBF Forums wrote:Hi Guys,
Please review the no vehicle option details below. Hopefully this helps people understand and enjoy this feature a bit more.

No vehicles – We removed vehicles to change up the manner in which the game it played. This places more focus on how players strategize their movements and also reinforces player skill (i.e. accuracy, etc).

Damage decrease – Prolonged gunfights that allow players to make decisions under fire.

Commander without Artillery or Vehicles

Longer spawn time – The long respawn also creates an incentive to change up the manner in which the game is played. There is a greater consequence on death. We also saw the need to slow the pace of the game down somewhat in order to increase the intensity.

Longer Revive Time – This helps to compensate for the long spawn time. With 30 seconds of revive time, there is a greater chance to be revived. This is also beneficial since there is a greater need to revive players. The extra time also allows for medics to give some thought as to when to revive a player. Medics can allow dangers to pass then revive a player rather than being required to rush into danger.

Reduce health pack replenish – This is a rebalance of the medic class to prevent exploits created by the reduction in damage.

RIBs & Parachutes left in game – Some maps require water transport or parachutes to work.

TOW missile left in place

-Colin Clarke

Makes me excited.

Commander without Artillery or Vehicles. WOOHOO!!!!!

I agree it is the right thing to do, but I don't trust EA. Somewhere behind all of this is a Marketing Move that we just have not figured out yet.

This is a summary of the feedback EA is getting on the 1.4 patch. I thought it was interesting enough to post...

EAUK Sentience wrote:[NOTE IF QUOTING – THIS SUMMARY REPRESENTS OUR UPDATED LIST OF REQUESTS TO THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM. THIS IS NOT A FIX LIST, NOR A DEFINITIVE LIST OF ALL OUTSTANDING ISSUES, IT REPRESENTS ONLY THE FEEDBACK RECEIVED IN THIS THREAD TO THIS POINT.]

Just about to send off this latest summary. For your information guys:

Server Options

- Some are asking that we bring back squad hopping or at least make it a server option, others are glad it's gone. The community is definitely split on this one.
- All commander assets should be server-only options

Weapons

- If friendly fire for claymores is on it'd be handy if there was an arrow indicating which direction it is pointing in
- The l85 could do with a slight increase in fire power.
- Assault rifles should be tweaked slightly to make them superior to the g36e
- You should be able to fire a pistol and use a knife while jumping, it only makes sense for the assault rifles
increase m95 damage and precision on vehicles.
increase g3 precision when you are crouching
- The Assault and Medic classes need to be rebalanced somehow as the Medic can do everything the Assault can plus get points for healing. As previously suggested, 2-3 smoke grenades and a better grenade launcher would help here.
- When you go into iron sights and jump as Spec ops the red dot laser sight vanishes. (image here) This existed prior to 1.4

Vehicles

- fix vehicle reticules so they don't wash out when aiming at the sky
- PLA/MEC transport choppers should have better armour to compensate their size and splash damage similar to APC on the guns to compensate the low bullet per seconds or a slightly higher rate of fire.
- The long wake on RIBS makes it way too easy to spot them in jets.
- The aircraft spawn times need to be balanced. For instance, the J10 on Wake 2007 spawns every 20 or so seconds as opposed to around 60 for the F35.
- The radius of the cannon splash damage for the Mil 28 should be reduced.
- One of our posters would like the attack chopper to have 16 rockets again but no reloads, thus better encouraging teamwork.
- Make it so bombers don't have reloads for their laser guided missiles. Once the 4 missiles are used, back to the airfield for a reload. This would reduce the time that they are above the battlefield where they can dominate.
- A vehicle drop over water should drop a RIB boat instead of a buggy.

Misc.

- There are still a lot of requests to mute chat spamming.
- Option to turn the names off above friend and foe heads, with the exception of squad members.
- There should be a way to see the server IP/name in-game
- People who don't vote should not matter once a vote is in place.
- The Basic Knife badge requirement should be lowered. If you look at total basic badges given, there are about 600,000 to 700,000 for almost every badge except Knife. There have only been about 250,000 basic knife given

As in the other report, here is a list of requests compiled by one of our community members:

Community Requests

- Promised, but not delivered: sniper/Spec Ops cannot pickup mines or C4 respectively.
- Different coloured warning skull signs for, c4 (blue) / claymore (yellow) / AT mine (red)
- Smaller crosshair on m95 sniper rifle scope, it’s too thick.
- Player kick and commander mutiny not allowed to be removed from ranked server.
- Hit indicator often doesn’t display for sniper rifles and some other weapons.
- In Game browser, consider having filters for Europe/USA/ASIA only? This might reduce slow browser performance and less global pinging on servers.
- Add large radar to the Essex turret, which can spot plane before they are in firing distance. (ONLY shows air vehicles and ONLY to the guy inside the Essex turret).
_________________
Sentience
Community Co-ordinator
EA GAMES

HEHE he said reticules!


Seriously, they will do all of this, which is fine, but not add DIFFERENT GAME MODES built in like PUSH or CTF????

Sons of bitc&^s, F&^%Ing AS*h&^ES 😉

No, that is summary of what people want.

I see a few great ideas, but not one actual "bug".

I imagine EA will gloss this list over as nothing in it is critical to game play.