BF2042 has always been "free" with GamePass (Xbox) since it's release.
A greatest hits BF that appeals to all youve lost. Youve got the assets already.
This is a common assumption... "you have the maps already". Well, those old maps may not be in a format that is compatible with the development environment they used for 2042. I am not saying that are NOT compatible, but I'm saying there is a good chance they are not. To add those old maps, the entire map may need to be reconstructed.
Development environments are always moving forward. A game developed 4 years ago is probably using a different environment than a game developed today. And different developement environments means that older things may have been depreciated.
Today's programmers are not the same as my age programmers. I started with computers back in the last couple years of the 1970. I learnt down to Machine Code/Assembler level coding. I learnt all about hardware. Newer, younger, programmers are probably not learning down to how the computer actual works. So it may sound "simple to reformat the maps", but from what I've experienced, today's programmers are not the type to get down to that level. No, they use a map creator.
@OSpazX wrote:BF2042 has always been "free" with GamePass (Xbox) since it's release.
A greatest hits BF that appeals to all youve lost. Youve got the assets already.
This is a common assumption... "you have the maps already". Well, those old maps may not be in a format that is compatible with the development environment they used for 2042. I am not saying that are NOT compatible, but I'm saying there is a good chance they are not. To add those old maps, the entire map may need to be reconstructed.
Development environments are always moving forward. A game developed 4 years ago is probably using a different environment than a game developed today. And different developement environments means that older things may have been depreciated.
Today's programmers are not the same as my age programmers. I started with computers back in the last couple years of the 1970. I learnt down to Machine Code/Assembler level coding. I learnt all about hardware. Newer, younger, programmers are probably not learning down to how the computer actual works. So it may sound "simple to reformat the maps", but from what I've experienced, today's programmers are not the type to get down to that level. No, they use a map creator.
Yeah i understand they may need to be ported or rebuilt but its the "value" they hold that is everything.
This BF was promoted as its longest, most expensive development effort 4+ yrs that drew on multiple DICE departments and even borrowed teams from other EA projects to deliver a completely new and exciting BF title that will be the bench mark of next gen hardware. It was flagged as BF3.5 in that it drew on BF3 and BF4 builds and sat somewhere in between.
Portal at first look had a number of maps and a choice on whether you wanted BFBC2, BF3, BF2042 weapons and equipment, settings. I played the BF3 settings and it was very close feel to that game. The M16 felt near identical that i was super impressed with how much effort/care was put into this. The fact that they nerfed the M16 dmg, ttk and bullet spread when they brought it into the BF2042 assault list makes me question what went wrong? By wrong im not talking why they nerfed as obviously to balance within the current 2042 weapons, but what went wrong that they dropped Portal and any development they had planned there completely?
Clearly they had bf2042 level, unlocks etc as its own experience. Portal had user servers so exp farms were a risk to the main BF2042 progression system.
BF2042 was the focus, 64 v 64 player counts was the new standard and with it came new challenges. They tried sectors with multiple flags required to control the sector really didnt impact or benefit for controlling. They were spread a long way apart and so on demand Humvee and Hovercrafts drops were everywhere. I appreciate the scale of the assets they can build at this scale but the gameplay doesnt feel right. The maps were very open, there was lots of running to get caught out traversing and lots of imbalances at the flags. I appreciate they didnt want 35 enemies clumped up, that you couldnt move at all and so scale, width does a pretty good job of spreading the extra 32 players per side around the map. Yet it does have a reduced action feel when you compare to 32 v 32 maps flag proximity and shorter frontline engagements.
These were issues that they moved quickly to rebalance ie patches, updates and eventually map reworks and increased point to point cover inclusions.
Unfortunately for most after its problematic launch it was too late. The damage was done. The game got canned and became a punching bag whenever DICE made any promos, operator stories, patch notes or upcoming features on social media. The player counts were decimated.
Where I struggle, and the reason behind my post is that the game is dead. I still think its the best shooter in the market but its hard to like and stay engaged.
Why?
Because they delivered this biggest most expensive BF with only 7 x 128 player maps. Thats asking for trouble. Only Orbital and Manifest Played ok/were enjoyable. The other 5 were too big with huge areas not played.
There should be at least 15 maps minimal at launch to keep fans engaged for the first 12mths with the 2nd year delivering at least 10 more maps. Over a 2yr cycle (DICES previous development cycle) there should be 25 maps. First year boom, 2nd year boom. Thats a premium product. Not the $159 AUD I paid for 7 maps.
2 years later they have delivered 2 x 128 player maps and 2 x 64 player maps as added content. Each knew season is 1 map. Thats not how Season work on a paid game. Free game like Fortnight or Apex sure but not a AAA title.
They deserve the hate. Its lazy and arrogant.
Continued...
It doesnt matter how great the game is if you have the same 7 maps for 2yrs. Further it is at odds with their own boasts about longest dev time, most expensive BF ever implying they were going all out.
Why would they invest so much building the framework to crunch out 128 player, 60fps, 4k resolution next gen Battlefield and only have 7 maps at launch with a planned delivery of continual Seasonal content that brings grand total of 9 after 2yrs.
Surely they had 15 maps planned from the get go? Surely theyve been at this long enough that they know the 2nd year deliverables in new content is just as important to have planned out. Wheres the upgrade incentive to Premium or Season 2 pass? Thats what they should have to create and hold engagement.
Considering the dev time and investment boasts and how they believed they were delivering an all out BF experience that was an all DICE hands on deck how did they settle for so little content as their best BF ever?
They dont have great/alot of destructible environments, they took out water, theres no levelution, and the weather effects are poor. They were advertised as Natural Catastrophes Tornado, Rockslide, Volcanic explosion, yet weve only seen the Tornado & Sandstorm. Compared to previous BFs the weather is very poor, doesnt last long, less atmospheric/dynamic. It seems Catastrophes have been canned completely. Thats not love. Its *.
When you think of all the advantages BF was able to offer with the new Frostbite engine over the years Destructible Environments, Weather, Levelution, that no other franchise could handle that have been totally wiped out - how then can they say prior to launch this was their biggest all out, total DICE project theyve ever undertaken?
@OSpazX wrote:BF2042 has always been "free" with GamePass (Xbox) since it's release.
It took a year before 2042 made it to EA Play/Game pass.
Prior to that you only got a 10hr trial.
