No, I get that. I’ve only played ‘Metro’ and only for 30 minutes this morning (wouldn’t let me on last night).
But just as an example: on a PC your controls are more specialized, the keyboard on your left hand moves your guy and the mouse on the right is used for aiming. You can change the sensitivity of your console joysticks but it changes aiming AND movement so you have to decide to either be a twitchy walker or a slow aimer.
And PC BF2 has 64 player maps too.
So I’m looking at the minimum system requirements and it looks as though I can easily make all the hardware requirements, but it says that the minimum OS you can use is Windows Vista?
Does anyone know if that is accurate, and if those of us with Windows XP Service Pack 3 are left out?
It’s accurate. It needs at least Dx10 support.
Crap. Ah well it’s probably time I upgraded to Windows 7 anyway.
Get an OEM version for $75, not the retail version. If you or a family member is a student you can pick up an OEM copy for even cheaper.
I’m still playing L4D2 and was planning on buying a couple of $50 games but I can add this to my wishlist.
I’ll join you guys early November.
I bought Bad Company 2 when it first came out too. Loved the game but couldn’t get you guys to play it.
Is the beta available from Steam, EA’s website, where? I could google it but I am on my work computer and am dying to initiate the download when I get home.
GameStop and others sell it.
Or buy it via Origin (yes, why use existing and tested distribution methods when you can force your own kludgy crap on your customers?).
Actually, this looks like it will not be available for Steam. That’s a deal breaker for me. I’ll pass until EA releases it there.
I played a little last night, some observations:
I still stink at the FPS aspects, which is REALLY frustrating.
I can still get a ton of points tossing medic packs. And once I get my defibrillator it’ll get even better.
Origin and the web-based server browser are annoying. Not deal breakers, but EA is quite annoying with about shit like this.
You can only go into the option screen while you’re alive and in game. That sucked balls when I first got in to change my keybindings and other settings. Why you can’t access game options in the squad screen before spawning is beyond me. This is only beta, so with luck this gets fixed.
I’m still hoping EA get’s a clue and puts it out on Steam.
Unfortunately, even if that happens, it’ll probably be on the down low and on release day, or maybe even a few days after.
There was another game like this. They said it wasn’t coming out on Steam, and it quietly appeared on it like a week after release. Forget the name though.
Yeah I remember that but can’t think of the name either. The newest Need for Speed maybe?
That’s it!
If it doesn’t come on Steam though, you won’t get it?
Common Trope. Tropy Trope. We’ll miss you! You know you wanna play!
I’d be very surprised if this game got all of the polish it needed before it releases in three weeks, but the lack of polish didn’t hurt BF2 all that much. Of course, BF2 wasn’t up against half a dozen other games when it dropped.
Wait, I’m a little confused. This isn’t a demo version of the game that has like one map that you download for free? You have to pay for it…before you pay for it again when its released?
You’ve confused me, so we’re on a level playing field. 
Anyhow, the beta is free, but just one map. The release version will have many maps. Here is a breakdown of the extras you get by pre-ordering or by buying the various “Limited Edition” type, err, editions: http://store.origin.com/store/ea/html/pbPage.battlefield3_US_LE/?intcmp=eaint569
The above post by Whack-a-Mole is what confused me. When I read “beta” I assumed it was a free downloadable demo like they did with BF 1942 with Wake Island.
ETA: Is the beta for consoles not free or is it just PC’s? I don’t get what WAM is saying, exactly.
The open beta is up since friday, and it’s free. You can get it via Origin.
I believe it’s free for both Pc and consoles.
Apparently EA and Valve are on late tlaks about bringing BF3 to Steam.
Looks like it’s going to happen sometime before the release day after all.
Can’t run away now Trope.
I figured EA would finally come around. Valve is just too big for them to ignore.