Electronic Arts to Fans: Do what we say!

[Klade]

Thanks to Blues (http://www.bluesnews.com/) for pointing this one out. To all those that thought that the Battlefield 2 demo server blacklist was an isolated incident, here's a bit of a rude awakening. It seems that the policy for stopping people from.. well playing the game the way they wish... will continue into retail. Here's the quote from the community update (http://www.eagames.com/official/battlefield/battlefield2/us/editorial.jsp?src=communityupdate_061705) :

Battlefield 2 Retail Server Files Available
In anticipation of next week's launch of Battlefield 2 at retail, we are releasing the Unranked server files for Win32 and Linux. Be advised that, as with the demo, servers that are caught allowing users to play with the unlock weapons using the python workaround will incur a one week ban from the server list. While we encourage mod teams to discover cool things to do with the python scripts, we reserve the right to de-list servers that find ways to undermine the core features of the game using these tools. We will be sure to update the community when we do begin punishing a tweak that falls into this category.

If you are going to tweak the Python files and you are unsure whether you might be doing something that DICE and EA would consider undermining a core game feature, please feel free to send a note to BFHQ@ea.com and ask for our feedback. We want to re-affirm that for the most part anything goes on Unranked servers.

It's really amazing to watch a company who spend's their days making things that are fun to play with be such complete and utter jackasses. It looks like I'll be downloading a third party server browser, I hear 'All Seeing Eye' is good, any other recommendations?

[Dirty Harry]

Uhhhh i would really just stick with ASE to be honest with you or gamespy3d if it has a tab for it already?.

[Draft]

ASE kind of sucks now :(

[Dirty Harry]

ASE kind of sucks now :(
I was going to mention that since the yahoo take over but i didnt want to squash his dreams. shhhhhhhh draft :D

[Blue]

Boy do I love me some Arts hate!

1. They suck
2. Evil Giant Corporation
3. All my hate are belong to them
4. I spent my load thinking up "3"

[T-Dawg]

Yeah, ASE was great until Yahoo bought them out. Before, the updates were timely, now you're lucky to get one every month or two. New game support is weak, and if a game is patched, don't hold you breath for a timely update.

It's a shame really. Quakespy (later Gamespy) started off as a good application, the same with ASE. I even registered both, because I wanted to support the product. Both have degraded into something I would never purchase.

[Dirty Harry]

Yeah, ASE was great until Yahoo bought them out. Before, the updates were timely, now you're lucky to get one every month or two. New game support is weak, and if a game is patched, don't hold you breath for a timely update.

It's a shame really. Quakespy (later Gamespy) started off as a good application, the same with ASE. I even registered both, because I wanted to support the product. Both have degraded into something I would never purchase.
I have no fucking clue what they are doing with gamespy arcade that is just to much for me but its good for older games with no server support, you know ala mplayer.

[Beelzebud]

Send them a message. Don't buy the game. After hearing this news, I won't be. I'm serious.

I have been a "hardcore" PC gamer since Quake 2 came out. I've been playing online since that time, and I have NEVER seen a company put restrictions on players modding and playing a game they paid for. EVER.

This goes against the spirit of what online gaming was at one time. This is corporate controlled bullshit, and if you think these big wigs really care about fostering a real online community for their game, you are going to be sadly mistaken. To a psuedo-monopoly like EA, it's all about the money. They care nothing for the people that will actually be playing the game. This move makes it obvious.

I said just the other day that this reminded me of those gamers that got sued for modding Beach Vollyball on their Xbox. Well, now today I see I was correct.

Fuck EA.

I will not buy this game, or any other EA Game. And you know what? Frankly, I don't need their games. There are plenty of good games out there not published by them.

If any of you really care about online gaming, and PC gaming, you will not buy this game. Send these corporate whores a message.

[Kagger]

I use ASE, but just for quick access to my clans server

What do they mean unlock weapons in the full game? My computer can't run it. In an unranked game, does it matter if you have unlock weapons?

or does unlock weapons get rid of set ones for a certain map?

EA...bleh to them

[mindstrike]

As for the unlocked weapons.. I really do not care.. it is the "time" issue I would be more worried about... I haven't read the article yet.. but that would be a larger PITA than anything...

[Nikells]

Ok, I dislike EA, but this seems fair to me.

Allowing players to unlock the ranked weapons isn't going to lose EA any money, they're doing it because these weapons are rewards for people who work toward the ranks (player ranking is a big part of the game.) Having servers in which anybody can use the bonus weapons kind of defeats the point of them in the first place.

I agree, it was dumb of EA/DICE to allow such an easy workaround to the time limit with the demo and then start punishing server admins because of it. However this move seems genuinely based on wanting their game to work the way they meant it to rather than making huge wads of cash.

[Bushi]

You know, I'm having trouble getting worked up about this... They want to restrict unlocks on ranked servers so that they matter. If you want to run a unranked server and have whatever happening then do so... This is actually a good thing it will allow moders to create new types of ranks and items for their servers as well and give them some recourse to having that system have integrity. Yeah they could get silly about it but off the cuff it sounds like a reasonable way to go. No doubt this could have been worded better though, they don't show their intent here only their teeth and so clearly folks are flying off the handle.

[Deadend]

So... does this mean mods must be approved and whatnot?

I would just use Xfire to play but... oh wait... EA requires me to login to play... so I cannot use Xfire to auto-join my friends server.

The menu system is horrible and I think it takes more CPU cycles for the damn menus than for the game itself.

Honestly... EA needs to get the stick out of their ass. They also have the game set up to lie about pings. I sure as hell know my ping is not 20, but the game insists on claiming it is 20.

EA likes to bullshit us, I don't want to deal with their shit.

[Savok]

I haven't been taking notice of BF2, but let me get this straight. Higher ranked players get more weapons? What? This isn't a fucking MMOG, it's good ole fashion online chaos with guns and tanks, why the hell is there a treadmill?

[Kelegacy]

Send them a message. Don't buy the game.

I was gonna say the same thing. But how many people do you think will actually listen to you. Their urge to play outweighs their loyalties or instincts. Gamers are a very weak bunch.

[Chill]

This isn't a fucking MMOG, it's good ole fashion online chaos with guns and tanks, why the hell is there a treadmill?

Damn good question. Any takers?

[Eduardo X]

Wow, EA is just begging people to not buy the damn thing.
I'll have to oblidge them.

I'll make no mention here that I don't think the BF2 demo was that great. I'll stick with JO.

[bait]

Well, I've been a hardcore gamer since I bought Seven Cities of Gold (from EA) in 1984. There has never been a more evil, damaging corporate entity in gaming.

I haven't purchased an EA game in a long time...I even broke my wife of her Sims habit. I won't be purchasing this one.

[Nikells]

I haven't been taking notice of BF2, but let me get this straight. Higher ranked players get more weapons? What? This isn't a fucking MMOG, it's good ole fashion online chaos with guns and tanks, why the hell is there a treadmill?
The weapons are not necessarily better than the ones you start with, just different.

Its hardly a levelling treadmill either as you're still killing real live smarter than AI* people instead of 500 identical level 2 wasp creatures, if you don't like the idea of ranks in the game simply ignore them (you have to play on special EA ranked servers to gain ranks anyway.)

*Most of them anyway. :rolleyes:

[woodentaco]

To a psuedo-monopoly like EA, it's all about the money. They care nothing for the people that will actually be playing the game. This move makes it obvious.

Ok, 'splain to me just how this move is about the money, then. Maybe there's something I'm not seeing, but telling users they can't prematurely unlock the weapons doesnt seem to me to get them any money at all.

Granted, its a nasty, unnecessary thing to do. But I don't think your generic "EA is evil, they just want money" spiel works too well right here.

[Klade]

You know, I'm having trouble getting worked up about this... They want to restrict unlocks on ranked servers so that they matter. If you want to run a unranked server and have whatever happening then do so... This is actually a good thing it will allow moders to create new types of ranks and items for their servers as well and give them some recourse to having that system have integrity. Yeah they could get silly about it but off the cuff it sounds like a reasonable way to go. No doubt this could have been worded better though, they don't show their intent here only their teeth and so clearly folks are flying off the handle.

They seem to be saying two things with this message, or maybe its only 1 thing and people are just reading into it differently. They say right at the start that if you unlock their weapons they will treat it like the demo servers.

This means if you mod the game in ways they don't like then your server won't show up on their ingame server browser. This is pretty freaking shitty to me. And yes its a big deal. When I buy a game I have certain expectations for how it should work. Not unreasonable expectations but ones that basically revolve around common decency and attention to features that has been done so often in all other games that it has become redundant. In a sense I suppose its good that Electronic Arts are such total assholes about this so we can see how nice most other companies are by comparison.

But really I prefer not to go through such a chore. Someone else brought up Quake 2. That was the first game I played that had an ingame server browser and most every multiplayer game since then has had one. Now EA is making me go out and find a new one if I want to play their game without oppressive restrictions, so ya I'm upset and yes it is a big deal.

Before someone jumps in with this horrible argument I'll head them off, yes they have the right to do this. But its so lame and so incredibly stupid and annoying that if I were in a room with a person acting this way in a social sense I would have to turn my back in embarrassment of them. Another benefit of the internet I suppose that ones’ shame can appear bold and ones critics as whiners.

[51|RandoM]

Those of you bitching about EA are being fairly retarded.

A. It is a demo.
B. They wanted to limit the game in many ways for the demo, to insure that the incentive to purchase it would still be there. Last thing they want is a significant portion of their potential customers deciding to just play the demo forever.
C. They delist servers that don't follow the EULA or whatever.

End result: TANSTAAFL. Accept it and stop acting like they stole your candy.

Oh, and if you're so hot about modding in ways EA finds unacceptable, you can do what they do, RUN YOUR OWN MASTER SERVERS. That way you can be listed in the ingame browser(which sucks ass anyways, I don't expect regular players to use it any longer than they have to).

Better yet, save your money and create your own product, so you can make the rules.

[bait]

It's easy...if you don't like EA's business practices, don't buy the game. Speak with your dinero.

[Goronmon]

Man, you guys are a bunch of whiny fucking bitches...seriously.

Part of the game in BF2 is improving your rank which allows you access to different weapons. Now, if you use a work around to bypass that ranking, of course EA doesn't want your server to be with the official list of servers.

I mean for god's sake, if the change wasn't possible no one would be complaining at all, but since all you crybabies like to bitch at every chance you get , you see this as the perfect opportunity.

And if anyone seriously thinks using a work-around for a ranking system is any sort of mod, you are a fucking n00b. Its a hack, plain and simple. There is no creativity or desire to improve the game, just the need to avoid going through a "treadmill". Even if said treadmill is playing the game. I mean, what the hell is wrong with you people. You are complaining that you have to play the game in order to play the game using different weapons. If playing the game sucks so much, don't fucking play it, how hard is that?

Alright, rant time is over, time for bed. ;)

Edit: Alright one more rant...

I swear most of the people bitching on forums like these about stuff like this don't even play the games they are complaining about. I mean, if I had such distaste for everything having to do with gaming, I doubt I'd be playing much.

[Morrolan]

Well, I was never going to buy it anyway. But now I will ENJOY not buying it.

Between this and the releatively beefy system requirements (to play it with a good framerate,) there is no way with will become as popular as BF1942. I think this will be another Myth 2-3 thing. You'd think that the loyal fanbase would just switch to the new game, but instead they all ignore the newer one, and just keep playing the old game that they still love.

[Phades]

Man, you guys are a bunch of whiny fucking bitches...seriously.

Part of the game in BF2 is improving your rank which allows you access to different weapons. Now, if you use a work around to bypass that ranking, of course EA doesn't want your server to be with the official list of servers.

I mean for god's sake, if the change wasn't possible no one would be complaining at all, but since all you crybabies like to bitch at every chance you get , you see this as the perfect opportunity.

And if anyone seriously thinks using a work-around for a ranking system is any sort of mod, you are a fucking n00b. Its a hack, plain and simple. There is no creativity or desire to improve the game, just the need to avoid going through a "treadmill". Even if said treadmill is playing the game. I mean, what the hell is wrong with you people. You are complaining that you have to play the game in order to play the game using different weapons. If playing the game sucks so much, don't fucking play it, how hard is that?

Alright, rant time is over, time for bed. ;)

Careful there, you're making sense. All the whining about EA on this game is just stupid. They seem to fail to realize that this is all based on keeping some integrity to their RANKING system. EA is trying to make the ranking system actually mean something. Having set rules that define the conditions that can exist on ranked servers helps keep the integrity of the system. EA even says that if you're playing on unranked servers, do what you want. Get over yourselves.

If this was a company like Blizzard, many of you would be defending their decision. But since it's EA, their intentions must be evil and aimed toward making a profit (somehow) no matter how far-fetched that logic may be.

[Goronmon]

Alright, one more thing...

It seems that the policy for stopping people from.. well playing the game the way they wish... will continue into retail.

What the fuck are you talking about? All they are doing is blacklisting you from the official server list. How the hell does that prevent you from playing on said server? Thats right, it doesn't. Way to pull stuff out of your ass.

[greensky]

51|RandoM, I gotta agree with you about the demo. They can do whatever they want with it and I have no issues...

Here is how I read this announcement:
"In anticipation of next week's launch of Battlefield 2 at retail, we are releasing the Unranked server files for Win32 and Linux."

It seems like they are making this restriction for retail servers. If so, it's pretty lame.

[Morrolan]

Better yet, save your money and create your own product, so you can make the rules.
I love this argument. It gets dumber every time I hear it.

But you gain points back (many points) for referencing The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress. Good work.

[51|RandoM]

51|RandoM, I gotta agree with you about the demo. They can do whatever they want with it and I have no issues...

Here is how I read this announcement:
"In anticipation of next week's launch of Battlefield 2 at retail, we are releasing the Unranked server files for Win32 and Linux."

It seems like they are making this restriction for retail servers. If so, it's pretty lame.

EA already said that pretty much anything will go with the unranked servers.

People can play their mods on the unranked servers. If they want rankings for their mod, then obviously they'll have to build it into the mod. Shame on EA for not wanting to host ranking systems for every off the wall mod that may come out... and do so for free.

Seems pretty straight forward to me. Maybe these people think they can go to the superbowl after winning in a league that plays by touch football rules too? Wouldn't be the 'net without one flaky analogy, right?

The reason they're not releasing the ranked server files yet is probably because the demo won't work with them in vanilla form, and possibly because they don't want the demo crowd to get a head start on everybody else.

[Savok]

Wouldn't more weapons, mean more options, mean more valuble/potent player?

Again, isn't the entire point of the online FPS experience to be better then the other guy at using what you're given? Not who has the most gear unlocked?

[eatme]

They're banning UNRANKED servers that unlock options?

Uh... WTF? Who the fuck cares what happens on unranked servers?

EDIT:

Allowing players to unlock the ranked weapons isn't going to lose EA any money, they're doing it because these weapons are rewards for people who work toward the ranks (player ranking is a big part of the game.) Having servers in which anybody can use the bonus weapons kind of defeats the point of them in the first place.


Holy fucking shit. You mean there's a treadmill to this game? I was already considering passing on it, because of the shitty UI. But that seals it. I wouldn't even have known if not for all this fuss-- good thing it happened. Saved me 50 bucks. If I want a treadmill, I'll play City of Heroes.

[Edwin]

From my understanding of past games, all servers are listed on the master server list and then are pulled down by the game browser. If modded servers are removed from said list, how are third party applications such as All Seeing Eye suppose to find server if the master server list does not contain a database of the servers? Will EA have two master server lists, ranked and unranked? If so why not just add a filter to the in game browser that lets you choose either or? If not I fear the only way of joining servers running mods or tweaks would be word of mouth via sites, forums, and other forms of communication.

[Edwin]

Someone else said it better than I can:

Battlefield 2 Retail Server Files Available
In anticipation of next week's launch of Battlefield 2 at retail, we are releasing the Unranked server files for Win32 and Linux. Be advised that, as with the demo, servers that are caught allowing users to play with the unlock weapons using the python workaround will incur a one week ban from the server list. While we encourage mod teams to discover cool things to do with the python scripts, we reserve the right to de-list servers that find ways to undermine the core features of the game using these tools. We will be sure to update the community when we do begin punishing a tweak that falls into this category.

[...]if I were a clan I would not be running a server as EA could just take you off the master list at any time. Who ran most of the BF1942 and DC servers? Clans. What happens when those are all gone? You will get the unmodded EA servers which were smacktard land in the heyday of BF1942, and you will have some clans who pony up the $8/slot to EA for a ranked server. Again this is all about controlling the revenue stream.

Programs like all seeing eye will alleviate this, but until that is patched and you run a modded server you are SOL.

[bradlay]

Way to be a hysteric, Klade. If people aren't going to play by the rules of the game then why should EA do anything for them?

Thanks for the unique perspective.

[Borys]

I didn't read the article, neither did I read all those 34 comments.

I just wanted to say that BF2 demo rocks!

Special Forces > Sniper > All

[Orphiuchus]

Well, I wish I could say this means I'm not buying this game, but I wasn't going to anyway. Fuck EA, maybe if the hardcore gamers stop buying their games they will stop making games of this sort, then the developers will have to find new publishers. Publishers who aren't giving themselves a colonoscopy with their heads.

I mean, for fucks sake, the UI in the game is so bad that it takes my computer less time to get back to windows if I press the restart button than if I quit the game the intended way. Somehow I think this is an issue of DICE not having enough time to add a decent UI because EA wants the game out and making money asap.

It seems to me like the reason behind all of this is that EA wants to force as many people as possible to rent servers from them at $8.00 a slot. The idea being that you have to play on such servers to unlock the cool weapons, and in order to get your clan ranked you have to have one of these servers.

The stuff EA is trying to pull here is bullshit, and anyone who looks at all the facts can see that.

[CapnAJ]

I really don't see what all the fuss is about?!

[Orphiuchus]

I really don't see what all the fuss is about?!


Then you need to re-read the story.

[CapnAJ]

Then you need to re-read the story.

Re-read and I still don't see what the fuss is about. You'd think it was life threatening the way some folk are going on...

[Orphiuchus]

It means that there are now, and will be in the future, no good servers for battlefield 2.

[CapnAJ]

Sounds fine to me.

All the servers offering monkeyed around BF2 game files can be found using other server browsers.

Hardly seems like the end of the world.

[Liquidize105]

The point is, people need to have the options of both types of server. Why can't players have access to everything the game has to offer? This isn't a MMO where there's a market for weapons, it's a shooter for pete's sake.

This is, in fact, EA's way of telling you how to play your game. Of course, you can hunt down the unlisted server ip on your own, then again there'll be a ton of people who wouldn't even know they have the option.

You know what, from now on nobody is allowed to disagree with evil avatar moderators. If anyone dares to challenge the rule, that person would be stripped of his posting privilege for 1 week. In the meantime you can pm him if you want his opinion.

How's that for fair? :D

[bradlay]

This is, in fact, EA's way of telling you how to play your game.

Not really. It's EA saying they'll support one mode of gameplay. The "as designed" mode. You don't like it use a third party program that everyone uses anyway.

[Varsity]

It seems to me like the reason behind all of this is that EA wants to force as many people as possible to rent servers from them at $8.00 a slot. The idea being that you have to play on such servers to unlock the cool weapons, and in order to get your clan ranked you have to have one of these servers.
You have to pay extra to have a ranked server, and only EA can provide them? Because that's the only way that argument works.

[Lodin]

Well this bodes well for modding. :rolleyes:

[Heretic Machine]

This seems fine to me... Although the Rank Weapons are pretty stupid idea to begin with, this seems like a way for them to protect the point of having them. That's fine with me really... You're basically complaining about EA cracking down on online-cheating.

[dark_inchworm]

"Electronic Arts to Fans: Do what we say!"

If they actually have any "fans," they're probably saying something along the lines of, "YES MASTER, AS YOU PLEASE MASTER. (zombie droning here)"

[Dirty Harry]

Klade: quake 2 didnt have an ingame server browser, thanks for playing name that feature though. IF you meant you were allowed to keep a list of server ips then yes you are correct.



Also Liquidize, Evilavatars gonna be real busy banning all those fools that you tell him since you dont have the power to do it yourself if i am correctly informed ;).

[FUEA]

The worst part of all this, at least to me, is that every person that is bitching about EA will be out on launch day buying the game. I'm not one to start screaming 'the sky is falling' over an issue like this, but when every other day there's some hideous news about EA hitting the wire and all people can do is whine, that's when I throw my hands up in the air.

When we look back in a few years on a ruined and spoiled industry, the chief catalyst in this destruction will be none other than EA. That said, the real ones that deserve all the blame will be the people on these forums that are driven to nothing but spew harsh language. I hear a lot of "vote with your wallet" here, yet we all know the truth: no one cares. Well, thank you all for watching while the industry dies a slow and horrid death.

[Goronmon]

When we look back in a few years on a ruined and spoiled industry, the chief catalyst in this destruction will be none other than EA.
:rolleyes:

(Additional text to get post through)

[mindstrike]

And if EA wanted to be nice to the gaming community, they would include a little check box for listing ranked/unranked servers in the listing. Someone mentioned earlier the menus seems to be a "hog". I agree to that... 4 seconds to change a screen in there it seems... Here is hoping this demo is non tweaked...

[Klade]

Ok there seems to be a bit of confusion about what Electronic Arts is actually doing here. I think I have a handle on it so I will try to explain. There are 3 types of servers for battlefield 2. They are, 1) Ranked, 2) Unranked and 3) Blacklisted.

Ranked servers are servers owned by EA or owned by other people but willing to pay EA a set monthly fee to be ranked. When a server is ranked those playing on it will move up through, heh a ranking system (that is specific to their account), and allows them to unlock weapons. So if they unlock a weapon and then move to an unranked server the unlocked weapon will still be available to them.

Unranked servers are simply normal servers that didn't want to pay EA a monthly fee to be ranked. Thats all they are. (these are probably going to be the vast majority of servers available in the game)

Blacklisted servers are those servers that altered the game or "core game feature" in someway that EA doesn't like. In this case altering config files to unlock those weapons and thus bypassing their ranking system.

Hacked/Modded servers are of course is bad news for EA, cause otherwise the only way for people to get ranks (and thus unlock weapons) is to play on their servers (which I'm sure will be a number less then the demand) or play on servers that pay them a set monthly fee. So when people start getting around having to pay EA anything or even playing on their servers by altering config files they had to crack down on it. Otherwise everyone would just run a hacked/modded/whatever you want to call it, server and avoid the whole monthly fee thing all-together.

So yes this is really about money for them. I must admit that I didn't fully understand this when I first posted the article but now it makes a bit more sense. They are not doing this cause they are incredibly stupid, they are doing it for greed. Which is the normal course for EA to follow.

And yes I still think its a big deal. The idea of content sitting on my machine that I don't have access to using the normal game features is really very annoying to me. And that EA would then go out of their way and ensure that they get additional money for this content, which is already delivered as far as I'm concerned, is yet still more annoying.

Some may say I'm freaking out over this and blowing it out of proportion but I believe if we sit back and don't even say anything bad about this then we should expect to see other companies doing the same thing. At least if we make a big fuss (be it only verbal or written) other companies (ones that actually care about fans) will not be so quick to take this route.

[Edwin]

Sounds fine to me.
All the servers offering monkeyed around BF2 game files can be found using other server browsers.
Hardly seems like the end of the world.

But that is why people are making a fuss, even with a 2rd party browser you can't get the list of servers if the server isn't on the master server list.

[Demize99]

Isn't there a server option to allow global unlocks already? Why would you need to python hack it?

[Varsity]

Ranked servers are servers owned by EA or owned by other people but willing to pay EA a set monthly fee to be ranked.
From the sound of the BF2 site, ranked servers will be run by EA *only*:Ranked servers will be where the hardcore bump heads and clash knives. All Ranked Servers will be configured to provide the definitive competitive Battlefield experience. Friendly Fire is on, and TK will be punished by default, so all players will need to use their tools wisely and watch out for the tools that have been deployed by their teammates. If, for example, you have a hankering to be the best sniper to ever stare down the sights of an SVD in Battlefield 2, these are the servers on which you will have to walk the walk. If you’d rather not spend your time trying to figure out where the world’s #1 sniper is popping your melon from, see below.

Ranked servers will be heavily administrated and have Punkbuster on. The integrity of the stats system is of paramount importance to EA (and of course to those participating in it) and so we will be monitoring things constantly. At the end of the day, Ranked servers will be a safe, regulated environment on which the most competitive players will be spending their time. If this environment doesn’t sound right for you, that’s great. That’s what Unranked servers are for.I can hardly see that stuff happening if joe bloggs can pay and set one up himself. The quote is also implying some level of protection for casual players against the hardcore (the 'CZ Effect'), by keeping unranked servers undesirable to the snooty elite - something that advanced weaponry being unlocked would partly undo.

It is a very heavy-handed decision, I'll admit, but I'm not yet convinced it's a cynical money-making ploy.

[Goronmon]

You know what the funniest thing about all this is?

If there wasn't a simple way to unlock weapons nobody would really care at all...

[Rebelminion]

First, let me say that this decision by EA is poorly conceived.

I think they made the right move by going with ranked and unranked servers.

Having said that, their logic is a little off center here. On the one hand, they are saying that you can create any MOD you like that completely changes gameplay. On the other they are saying that you cannot tweak gameplay on the basic game? It just does not make any sense.

Clearly, they should be able to say this regarding the Ranked servers. However, once you get the the wild west show that is the unranked servers, anything should go. Including an admin who hates the locked kit system. What the hell does EA care? Its an unranked server anyway.

The problem here is that there are too many people wearing suits involved. Trust me, I have had to do the two step around these asshats for years working in places like Apple, Autodesk and Microsoft. Someone with the authority at EA sees a franchise being screwed with when someone changes the parameters of the shipping game. Instead of embracing this as a way to make the game appeal to even more players, they starting thinking like "Disney" because someone is using Mickeys ears without their permission. What they miss however is that its this tinkering that gives their product even more market share as community members create such a diverse range of playing options that everyone can find a server they want to be on.

Now, some other guy on here started spouting off about how EA does not care about the community. He is absolutely wrong. Another word for "community" in this context is "buyers". EA cares about supporting and nurturing all us little drooling money bags so that we will empty our pockets when the time comes for their next product to ship. Now to be fair, EA is not a monolithic hive mind deal. There are lots of folks there who really are full blown champions of what the community wants.

Now I plan to buy Battlefield 2. Why? Because no matter how you slice it, this is one hell of a game, worthy of my 40 bucks.

Honestly, I think that this policy will not add up to much. Either they will try to enforce it and get a PR black eye over it, in which case they will back down and either retract it or let it die of neglect. Or, leveler heads at EA will prevail and we just won't here about this sillyness any more.

Besides, once we buy the product, we are free to do whatever we want to the parts that EA themselves has seen fit to make completely open for us to tinker with. So the bigger question is this: If a company makes a product that has been DESIGNED (by their own admission) to allow users to modify it and the users modify it in a way that the company suddenly decides they do not like, do they have the right to stop that modification? I think you could argue that they don't. One of the basic business law tenants is the "Principle of Merchantability", or the idea that something must live up to the purposes for which it was intended. One could argue that it was the specific intent of the product to allow user modification.

Anyway, thats really all just academic. I think my basic point is that when it all comes right down to it, these poor policy decisions may be less than brilliant. What is certain is that Dice has managed to create an amazing evolution to the Battlefield franchise.

Game On.

[Evil Avatar]

You know what, from now on nobody is allowed to disagree with evil avatar moderators. If anyone dares to challenge the rule, that person would be stripped of his posting privilege for 1 week. In the meantime you can pm him if you want his opinion.

I thought it was understood that this was already the rule. ;)

[Skookum]

I mean, for fucks sake, the UI in the game is so bad that it takes my computer less time to get back to windows if I press the restart button than if I quit the game the intended way.


Alt + F4, I've never even bothered with "the intended way".

I also took out the frigging binks so I don't have to wait for all the advertising before the UI loads. Is there any other company that makes it impossible to skip the opening ads by pressing escape? Hoping they don't start banning for that, but I bet they're thinking about it.

[Shifteh]

I used HLSW for Half-Life games, but All Seeing Eye is pretty damn good considering.

And wow, I can't believe EA want's to prevent people from making their game.. worth playing? With a 12 minute timer you barely get half a battle in.

Come on EA, people already hate you, why do this?

[Crabby]

Yeah...I kind of feel like allowing just about everyone to run around with the "ranked" weapons is proably going to break game balance in the sense that the developers planned for them to be used with less frequency by restricting them.

Make sense? Yes.

[trip1eX]

well they did want folks not using the unlockables until they achieved the proper rank. If folks are going to circumvent this it kinda ruins the whole system. I can understand their position.

I guess they'll learn next time to make it available only via a download or something once you achieve the rank.

Also this circumvention shows why they want the ranking system only on their servers.

[eatme]

I guess they'll learn next time to make it available only via a download or something.

Or they could let people pick how they want to play the game they just bought. Fun is different for different people-- why restrict your audience?

[Alexious]

End result: TANSTAAFL. Accept it and stop acting like they stole your candy.
Okay. Is it me or are these internet shorthand abbreviations (or whatever they are called) getting WAY out of hand?

Seriously? TANSTAAFL?!? :rolleyes:
Why not QEIJKHLFKJHDSFLJDHLJLSDLKFJDJ?

[Varsity]

It's a SNAFU really.

[Orphiuchus]

You have to pay extra to have a ranked server, and only EA can provide them? ...


Yep, thats pretty much how it works.

[Orphiuchus]

Yeah...I kind of feel like allowing just about everyone to run around with the "ranked" weapons is proably going to break game balance in the sense that the developers planned for them to be used with less frequency by restricting them.

Make sense? Yes.


I play on blacklisted servers exclusively just because 12 minutes IS NOT enough time to play a game of bf2, and the unlockable weapons really arent much better than the normal ones. Just different.

[51|RandoM]

time limit is the demo, you guys are cracking me up.

[greensky]

EA already said that pretty much anything will go with the unranked servers.

Sounds fair to me then. Sorry I didn't understand how that all worked. Thanks for the explanation. :)

[eatme]

Anything will go, except unlocking the weapons? Sounds like they're going to have a very narrow definition of "anything goes".

[Orphiuchus]

It should be noted that there was no security of any kind preventing people from unlocking weapons and setting no timelimit.

[bradlay]

time limit is the demo, you guys are cracking me up.

Oh let them go. They have to get all worked up over something.

[Phades]

I've already preordered this game and can't wait for it to get here. Somehow, I doubt I'll be playing alone. So, go ahead and complain if you like. See you online ;)

[Demize99]

Yep, thats pretty much how it works.

No, there are many companies hosting ranked servers, you just can't run one on your own bandwidth because EA can't garuntee it is administrated properly. Get your facts straight.

[Orphiuchus]

No, there are many companies hosting ranked servers, you just can't run one on your own bandwidth because EA can't garuntee it is administrated properly. Get your facts straight.


Really now, why dont you tell us who exactly is hosting ranked servers? And of these which ones aren't piss poor deals that profit EA.

[CapnAJ]

Oh no EA is going to profit!

How outrageous of them.

[Demize99]

Really now, why dont you tell us who exactly is hosting ranked servers? And of these which ones aren't piss poor deals that profit EA.

In about 3 days I will, but its been said by DICE (and EA) multiple times. They are not monopolizing the servers. Will they be more expensive? My economics degree suggest they will since they are somewhat exclusive and also mostlikely in high demand, plus they require admin monitoring.