The Fate Of BF3′s In-Game Server Browser

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czc

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Via RPS

This story is a little surprising. BF3 Blog have done the legwork on this: first they spotted that Battlefield 3 on the PS3 and 360 is going to have an in-game server browser for multiplayer game-finding. Good for them. However, where this story turns sour is the news that the PC version will not have any in-game server browser, and to find a multiplayer game you have to exit the game or Alt-Tab out of it, and use the “Battlelog” application to launch games. Senior Gameplay Designer Alan Kertz has been assuring everyone that the process is relatively smooth, but why? And, if it has to be in another app, why isn’t there a server browser in Origin’s overlay? Why is there another system to complicate things? Ah, of course, because Battelog wants to be the free equivalent of Activision’s Elite thingum, with all that social and achievement stuff that you play games for.

Tune in next week for: mouse controls only on the PS3?!

Battlefield 3 PC version won’t have in-game server browser

BF3 Blog


The tables have turned. A day after we gladly reported that console gamers would be getting this great PC feature called “server browser”, we can now report that PC gamers won’t have an in-game server browser. DICE’s Alan Kertz has confirmed that in order to switch servers, you have to exit Battlefield 3, and use Battlelog to find another server and join.
Granted, Kertz points out that BF3 “starts up really fast”, but we can’t imagine it being more effective than having an in-game server browser, which has been the norm in PC games for decades — in fact, there’s no other game that requires you to exit in order to switch servers.
Considering that server switching is frequent among gamers, either because of rage quitting or trying to find a better game, or something third, this could cause some annoyance. We’ll have to wait and see how it plays out (no pun intended) when Battlefield 3 is released. So far, it’s kinda disappointing news, but we’ll see how it turns out in the end.
Console gamers now have in-game server browser, while PC gamers don’t. Oh the irony.


All I can say is I'm not so sure about it. I know people complained about the BC2 server browser but this is a bit drastic.
 
What's wrong with the BC2 server browser as it currently is? I think this is an unnecessary step backwards. :/
 
Isengard said:
What's wrong with the BC2 server browser as it currently is? I think this is an unnecessary step backwards. :/
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I don't know. I think the server browser is fine.

I think they want people to use battlelog and therefore Origin.
 
It's not that big a deal if you actually go look into the whole thing. It sounds way worse than it really is.
 
to0kenZA said:
It's not that big a deal if you actually go look into the whole thing. It sounds way worse than it really is.
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I hope you're right. I can find myself becoming annoyed rather quickly if I have close and open the game every time I want to move servers. But if the game starts up as quick as they claim then it might not be a big deal.

We'll see... :/
 
I'm sure most people alt tab out of games anyway. It will just take some getting used to.
 
to0kenZA said:
It's not that big a deal if you actually go look into the whole thing. It sounds way worse than it really is.
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Agreed. It will be fine. I alt tab out bc2 all the time. I chat on googletalk while I play on bc2 :p
 
apparently the game will launch very fast so exiting and joining another server via battlelog is not that bad and i'll give you a couple of reasons why:

Currently the BC2 login system sucks, it could have been way better and yes the server browser works but its not that great either

the way i see it DICE have decided the following:

Why not make the server and stats browsing a separate component from the game thus allowing us to eliminate other variables, its essentially a program that works with another program...kind if like steam when you think of it, steam calls up the game to start and voilà there it is.....steam has its separate server browser for certain games if im not mistaken....

I actually thinks its pretty clever, takes the load off the main game and can make the browsing more efficient, imagine BC2's stats and server browsing being separate, now imagine leaving the game you get taken to the main menu of battlelog, search a new server, click join, drop a pal a msg (as seen in battlelog) and youre in another game, it ofcourse will be very important the game loads quickly every time though.

For me it actually comes across as a clever idea...
 
Thats one thing I hope this sorts out. I remember one article for BC2 the stats server got overloaded from all the stats websites and made the login servers lag. Something like that.
 
Change sometimes worries people, change can be good or bad

i think its for the better, people must not "jump the gun"
 
Hraffnir said:
Well sure, change can be very good. But this just sounds ridiculous.

Closing the game everytime you wanna change servers? I suppose it'll be fine IF it really does start up and close as fast as they say it will.

It'll probably be better than BC2's login system and server browser. I hated it.
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I would agree that its imperative it starts up and closes fast too! But this is how i am seeing it

"ingame" would only have the most basic settings, graphic settings, sensitiveness, brightness etc but no stats etc

Battle log would be separate from the actual game where you can too adjust all the BF3 settings, think of it as a universal sort of tool thats going to be used for further BF games and others alike, they are only putting in the absolute necessary stuff in BF3, leaving it to be well optimized

I honestly do think its a good thing, it'll just takes some adjustment
 
Could have its uses I suppose. The sever browser in BC2 was shocking. Especially for those with less than ideal internet. I can see this working in the way you would be able to quickly stick up a link on facebook and have your friends join, straight from their browser. Like you can do with TF2 if you are that way inclined.

I didn't read the whole article. Am I misunderstanding that you will go on your browser and select a server and it will launch up BF3?
 
HoboMincer said:
Could have its uses I suppose. The sever browser in BC2 was shocking. Especially for those with less than ideal internet. I can see this working in the way you would be able to quickly stick up a link on facebook and have your friends join, straight from their browser. Like you can do with TF2 if you are that way inclined.

I didn't read the whole article. Am I misunderstanding that you will go on your browser and select a server and it will launch up BF3?
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No, that's how it will be.
 
So wait i will have 2 things running in the background while i play bf3? Why not just make it part of Orgin or even like battlenet?
 
postal said:
So wait i will have 2 things running in the background while i play bf3? Why not just make it part of Orgin or even like battlenet?
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if its a low impact program then it wont effect your pc

this game has been well planned out and all questions asked, come beta we will get an even better idea
 
Ek lag my net nie pap vir al die fanboys van BF3. As hierdie artikel gegaan het oor MW3 was dit "ooh what a fail, etc" Julle laat mens lag, dankie....
 
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