official Battlefield: Bad Company 2

[C++vid]

Didn't the friends list start working a week or two back? I think Anaron posted it, I also remember Larry showed up shortly after.

Yup.

Friends list been working for a couple of weeks now.

At least for me.

[Spookie]

When you buy "Battlefield: Bad Company 2" early next month, each new copy will include a "VIP" code which will allow you to access the game's downloadable content. I spoke with Patrick Bach, the senior producer on "Bad Company 2," to find out just what sort of DLC plans the developers had in mind. Here's what he had to say:

"We want people to insert the code they get when they buy the game to get access to [DLC content]. It's connected to your personal account, more or less, and what we want to do is give you something extra, added value, for that. In the future you will get more content, for free, if you have this VIP code."

Bach went on to confirm that the system is similar to that of the in-game "Cerberus System" used in "Mass Effect 2," which also offers free DLC.

Once you enter the code in "Bad Company 2," you'll be able to access an in-game store which lists all current and upcoming DLC in the near future. This includes free DLC that will be available on launch day, which will be a set of new multiplayer maps.

It appears that the VIP code will be attached to your EA.com account, which is something that caused a bit of headache surrounding the launch of "Mass Effect 2," since it's a separate system from Xbox Live and PSN. Hopefully some of issues that came about will be worked out before the launch of "Battlefield."

As for folks who purchase "Battlefield Bad Company 2" used, they'll have to pay for VIP access (again, just like "Mass Effect 2"). That price point isn't locked down yet, but $15 seems to be the standard that EA has set for these sort of codes.

So there you have it. Buy it used and you need to buy maps. Effectively killing the 2nd hand market on this game.

[Sethos]

Effectively killing the 2nd hand market on this game.

Tsk, who cares about those cheap-skates anyway :p

[trag3dy]

So there you have it. Buy it used and you need to buy maps. Effectively killing the 2nd hand market on this game.

I didn't realize there really was a second hand market for multipalyer games? Don't they usually require you to register your key online somewhere and once that is done no one else can use it? I guess for consoles it would be different though, so nevermind.:unsure:

[Yusuf M. Veteran]

I didn't realize there really was a second hand market for multipalyer games? Don't they usually require you to register your key online somewhere and that is done no one else can use it? I guess for consoles it would be different though, so nevermind.:unsure:

The 2nd-hand gaming market is pretty much nonexistent on the PC because of the nature of PC games (product keys and all).

[Sikh]

Anyone know if it's possible to get into the PC Beta? I don't want to buy the game, without knowing it's going to run on my PC :/

My specs are:

Dell XPS M1530.

Intel Core 2 Duo 2.5GHz

4GB Ram

NVidia GeForce 8600M GT

Win 7 Home Premium

Nope. While it beats the minimum required 7600 youll play it at 1024*768 NO HBAO(its garbage anyway) turn down AA/AF to 1, which isnt a big deal and Low - Medium.

Itll run, just playable is questionable. Just find a beta key somehow, believe me youll find one

[Spookie]

The 2nd-hand gaming market is pretty much nonexistent on the PC because of the nature of PC games (product keys and all).

I was thinking more 360/PS3!

[Spookie]

This update is about performance and stability again. We are not doing any changes to the game's datafiles.

- Reduced input "lag"

On machines where the CPU would out-run the GPU, sometimes the GPU would queue up several frames' worth of rendering commands. This could lead to the game having a high framerate, but input still feeling very sluggish. Now there's a limiter on how many frames the CPU is allowed to be "ahead" of the GPU. Control this setting via Settings.ini. Default setting: RenderAheadLimit=2

- Performance optimizations with biggest improvements on dual-core machines

- Fixed black "masks" - The soot on buildings with holes in them had a bugged renderpath. We switched that over to a more well-tested renderpath.

- Improved hit-detection - We've gone through the hit detection logic, and client+server will now give more consistent results.

- Fix for some "rubberbanding" issues - C4 should stay attached to vehicles and not rubberband around

- Reduced spikes/dips in framerate

- Various fixes for alt+tab related CTD on Dx9

- More fixes for random CTD on Dx9

- Fix for crash when you're in a vehicle that gets destroyed -

There was a race condition in the code;

System 1 thought "oh hey, you're leaving vehicle X"

System 2 thought "the vehicle got destroyed, let's remove it"

If system 2 ran before system 1, chaos would ensue. This was actually fixed in the retail version since a month, but it was only when we got detailed crash reports from the community that we understood *why* the Beta was crashing.

Likely bugs in this build

I wouldn't be surprised if it (still) has trouble remembering your settings between rounds. It would be nice to have that fixed too, but it's better to get a patch out now, and look at the settings issues afterward.

-Mikael Kalms

PC only duh :D

[Sethos]

So when I get home and fire up steam, it should be updated?

[Duality]

So when I get home and fire up steam, it should be updated?

I certainly hope so! Looking forward to getting home now.

[ahmz]

How can I find servers in Australia? Or at least list more servers? My list only shows up about 20...

[Livin in a box]

I don't know what platform to buy for- PS3 or 360...? I'm thinking probably 360, but is there any reason to not get the 360 version?

[Guest]

Where can I pre-order this in the UK and receive access to the beta (PC)?

[Spookie]

Where can I pre-order this in the UK and receive access to the beta (PC)?

Play.com

[SMELTN]

hmm so really nothing that is extremely noticeable in the update, but hey its an update, hopefully we can see some performance boosts.

You know that REALLY scares me how they are doing the VIP and such.. and tied to your EA.com account is horrible, because you know they are going to have paid content, and you will have to enter a credit card information into it so you can get that content, which ea will store.... ewww.. chills....

btw WOW, so you buy the game used for $25-30 bucks at the cheapest, then you have to pay another $15 bucks to have access to online content... OUCH!!! I bet Gamestop is ****ed now!!

[John Freeman]

hmm so really nothing that is extremely noticeable in the update, but hey its an update, hopefully we can see some performance boosts.

You know that REALLY scares me how they are doing the VIP and such.. and tied to your EA.com account is horrible, because you know they are going to have paid content, and you will have to enter a credit card information into it so you can get that content, which ea will store.... ewww.. chills....

btw WOW, so you buy the game used for $25-30 bucks at the cheapest, then you have to pay another $15 bucks to have access to online content... OUCH!!! I bet Gamestop is ****ed now!!

Cmon, dont be paranoid. Its not like ea is going secretly steal monies from your cc without you buying anything. And isnt there possibility of using paypal or smth?

And, even thou im yet to buy any game second hand, as far as Cerberus-like systems go where retail purchases get all new content free, while rest have to pay small amount of money to gain access seems perfectly reasonable.

[Olemus]

I think it just means you won't have any cross hairs to aim with. So you'll have to use sights to get an accurate shot.

Yeah, there are hardcore servers up at the moment and this is how it works. I think that was a typo or mis-interpretation

[Massiveterra]

I haven't been keeping up with the pre-order bonuses with this game. Where should I preorder the game from? Amazon or Gamestop?

[SMELTN]

I haven't been keeping up with the pre-order bonuses with this game. Where should I preorder the game from? Amazon or Gamestop?

Gamestop has the Limited Edition for the same price as regular which comes with 6 unlocks and a special game mode for 30 days before anyone else gets it.

Don't know what Amazon has.. I know it looks like Barnes and Noble are canceling all those pre-orders for $20 !! And that sucks for those guys

[Massiveterra]

Gamestop has the Limited Edition for the same price as regular which comes with 6 unlocks and a special game mode for 30 days before anyone else gets it.

Don't know what Amazon has.. I know it looks like Barnes and Noble are canceling all those pre-orders for $20 !! And that sucks for those guys

Thanks. I just checked amazon and the LE comes with the same unlocks but it also comes with a $20 future video game credit, and I already have a $10 credit so that means I'll be preordering it for $49.99

Hrm...I wonder if playing Squad Deathmatch for a month before anyone else justifies supporting Gamestop?

[Sethos]

Isn't the LE on Steam also $50?

[Massiveterra]

I mean the 360 version. I know...my loss

[DirtyLarry Veteran]

I mean the 360 version. I know...my loss

From my understanding if someone has the Gamestop one we can play with them. And I know a few people who are going the Gamestop route. I did Amazon awhile back since when I ordered it was $55 for LE and I also get game day delivery.

[Massiveterra]

From my understanding if someone has the Gamestop one we can play with them. And I know a few people who are going the Gamestop route. I did Amazon awhile back since when I ordered it was $55 for LE and I also get game day delivery.

I think I'm going towards the Amazon route because 1. I don't have to go anywhere to get the game and 2. $20 game credit

[C++vid]

So apparently, the new client has worked wonders for dual core users.

Major FPS improvement.