The Battlefield 3 Beta is upon us in all its open glory, and millions across the world have been getting their first taste of DICE’s warfare simulator.
This new experience isn’t limited to the game itself; players are also getting their first experience of the Battlelog, the controversial new browser-based menu, replacing the traditional in-game menu entirely. This has received somewhat mixed reviews so far, and we’ll probably have to wait till release to get the final majority verdict.
In the meantime, DICE is eager to win over the hearts and minds of the naysayers, and have recently posted a blog on their official site showing off what Battlelog can do, in particular the introduction of platoons.
Anyone who has played a game semi-competitively will have most likely been a part of a clan, a group of gamers under one name who compete for reputation and prizes. A platoon will be functionally identical to a clan, but have plenty of nifty features built in.
A platoon is relatively easy to setup, just give it a name, description and abbreviation (or clan tag) and customize your own emblem; you’re ready to start inviting the most skilled of your friends to join you in battle.
A platoon can have up to 100 members, and you can be a member of up to 3 platoons, although you can only have one platoon “active” at a time. As a player, whether you’re playing alone or with fellow platoon members, you’ll be contributing towards your Platoon’s aggregate scores and rank – if the individuals of your Platoon are skilled enough and play often, you could see your team on the Platoon leaderboard.
As a Platoon member you’ll have access to a Platoon-specific page, which will have a ton of stats on your members, including who your MVP is. You’ll also get a Facebook-style news feed, showing everything from new match records to internet chats.
Platoons are currently available in the beta, although their functionality is limited, the final release will offer more of the features discussed above. If you don’t have enough friends to start your own platoon, you can search by country or area, or just apply for membership in one you like.
Check out the video below for a discussion on Battlelog’s features. The beta can now be downloaded by everyone through EA’s Origin service; see you on the battlefield!
