When I knock down buildings in Battlefield 3

I'm like...

8-Bit Warfare

Every now and again, you find something so nerd-tastic, it causes your brain to melt. For me, this video is a great example of that. Finally, there is an answer for those of us who've wondered what happens when you combine Battlefield 3 with the nostalgia of 8-bit gaming.

Battlefield 3 Recon Kit Tips & Tricks

Battlefield 3 has hit shelves and gotten several rave reviews, including a 9.5 out of 10 from Game Informer.

If you're one of those people who didn't get to play during the beta, you'll probably have a steep learning curve as you adjust to the new game, as is quite different from Call of Duty or even Battlefield: Bad Company 2. This is especially true if you happen to play the Recon kit, as even the game's most powerful sniper rifles require you to get a precise headshot for that coveted one-shot kill. That's right, it will take two or more body shots with bolt-action rifles. While you're loading that second round, your opponent has plenty of time to run away or duck for cover.

To help my fellow sniper fans out, I have three tips that I'd like to share:


1. Attachments make a big difference

With the basic scope, long range kills are a pain! With the 4x scope, good luck. You are going to want to unlock a bipod/foregrip and your long range 12x scope to get by. To that end, there is a great way to quickly get there - Team Deathmatch. While it is not exactly the "full Battlefield 3 experience," Team Deathmatch offers you a chance to farm for the kills needed to get those important unlocks. I've unlocked anywhere from two to three attachments on a new weapon in a single match! It's also a pretty good chance to practice your close quarters performance.

Check out this video for some more on this strategy.

2. Use semi-automatic sniper rifles like battle rifles

I was having a rough time getting headshots with the SVD, SKS, and Mk11. It was kind of frustrating. Then, I decided to try something a little differently. Rather than hang back and scope my opponents, I removed the 8x zoom and decided to play like an assault class rather than a scout/stealth class. The result: success.

These weapons have a difficult time being accurate at long ranges. They go all over the place and have a significant bullet-drop at a range. In close quarters, if you have a quick trigger finger, you can double tap someone in the chest and get a juicy kill. Once you unlock the 4x zoom scopes or reflex sight, it gets even easier to do. Even if you don't continue this play style, it is an effective way to quickly plow through the Recon unlocks until you get the bolt action sniper rifles.

3. When using bolt actions, be patient and wait for the headshot!

Be patient. If you take a shot with a bolt action rifle and only get a body shot (if you hit them at all), it is easy for your opponent to either run away, hide and regenerate health, or turn around and pummel you with an automatic weapon. If you're sniping, you'd ideally be hidden anyways. If so, what's the harm in waiting a few extra seconds to line up the perfect shot? For more info, check out this video.

As with anything, it requires a lot of practice and learning. Bullet drop and leading your target take practice to perfect, but are so rewarding once you get a knack for it. Over time, you should see an improvement in your performance with the recon kit.

Battlefield 3 Single Player Trailer

Yet more Battlefield 3 tidbits have been revealed, as a new single player trailer has been released. From the looks of it, there will be plenty of epic encounters, especially a mission that has you in a high-speed car chase/shootout through the Big Apple and another from the perspective of a jet pilot.

It's also interesting to seethe interrogation element that makes it seem as if BF3 will have a  framed story told through flashbacks. Interestingly, this same story structure was used in Call of Duty: Black Ops just last year, albeit CoD:BO was much more stylized and set in the Cold War. It should be noted that Black Ops hardly invented the archetype. However, seeing this similarity between the FPS titles less than a year apart makes me wonder if Battlefield is indeed jumping onto the Call of Duty bandwagon? Developers may state that they are not competing with one another, but when one tries to one-up a story used by the other, it sure looks like they are.

In any event, I am looking forward to seeing how DICE's next installment in the Battlefield series turns out. Based on my experience with the alpha and beta, the multiplayer seems like a reconciliation of classic Battlefield 2 gameplay with modern FPS elements.

Look for Battlefield 3 to release this Tuesday, October 25.

5 Days to Go and Still More Battlefield 3 Footage

With 5 days left before Battlefield 3 deploys, there's a lot of buzz flying around about DICE's blockbuster title. EA and DICE are not content just letting the heat simmer, as they have been turning it up in the final weeks leading up to the release with a new trailer, screenshots, and Back to Karkand information.

Some gamers were left concerned after the beta - disappointed by the console frame-rate and low levels of destruction in Operation Metro, absence of vehicles, and fairly confined gameplay. However, a recent trailer seeks to calm these doubts by showcasing tanks, helicopters, and a plethora of collapsing structures. Additionally, the video offers a peak at some of the Battlefield 3 maps, as well as the Back to Karkand maps - including an interesting birds-eye view from a falling trooper.

The L85A1 from Battlefield 2 makes a triumphant return to the series.

Additionally, it has been revealed that Back to Karkand features the return of several classic Battlefield 2 weapons. Among those reappearing are the MP5, the L85, and the FAMAS. According to released information, you will be able to use the weapons in both Back To Karkand and regular Battlefield.

There's a lot of exciting news for Battlefield 3 fans to sink their teeth into and keep themselves busy until the game's release.  Battlefield 3 comes out this Tuesday, October 25 on PC, Xbox 360, and PS3. The Back to Karkand expansion is included for free with the pre-order Limited Editions.

In the meantime, take a gander at the stunning sequences included in the most recent trailer below.

Battlefield 3 Beta Impressions

After waiting for several hours to be able to connect to EA's servers, I had the opportunity to pick up the Battlefield 3 Beta  and play late into the night with a group of my friends. All in all, I was rather impressed and found it to be one of the most entertaining and enjoyable multiplayer FPS experiences that I've had to date. For more information about the beta, check out the dedicated Battlefield 3 Beta page.

I've sorted my impressions into several categories below. I should note that my opinions are based on my experience on the Xbox 360 and from this year's earlier PC Alpha.

The Controls & Handling

Overall, Battlefield 3 handle like the perfect blend of Bad Company 2 and old school Battlefield 2. The controls feel much more responsive, while at the same time retaining some of the weight of the weapons from BF:BC2. The control layout is the same as Bad Company 2 and you have several options to switch to, including Alternate, Lefty, and Lefty Alternate. The new "hit the floor" feature is extremely fluid and intuitive, but it's also buggy at times and forces you to stand straight up after the drop is completed.

The Map

Operation Metro is a great map to do the beta on, as you have the full gambit of combat experiences all bundled in one. You start in an open battlefield where snipers, and long range combat is king. The second and third sequences take you into the metro where you can either fight close-quarters in the hallways, or exchange fire along the train line and main lobby. Finally, the fight spills into the streets where you can experience urban combat as you weave through buildings, duck through alleys, or snipe from an overlooking sidewalk. Based on my experience with this map, every kit has a place where it can thrive and be a fun and viable option.

The Weapons & Kits

Whereas carbines were the top dog of the Alpha, all of the weapons in the Beta are fairly well balanced, with assault rifles edging out a little ahead in my opinion. There are, however, significant differences between the two sides' loadouts. Overall, Russian weapons seem to pack a much harder punch than the US variants. However, US weapons also seem to be far more accurate.

Infantry is an all-round good class. Assault rifles are the bread and butter and have a little more oomph behind them. The M16A3 is very easy to use and has great sights, even without sight attachments. Meanwhile, the AK-74M is powerful but has very high recoil and difficult iron sights to balance it out. These are the only ones that I used, but I noticed that the M416 was very powerful. With a sight, foregrip, and silencer, most assault rifles are unstoppable once you get into the metro tunnels.Under-barrel grenades turned out to be a little hit-or-miss for me. If you want to be a good team mate, you can either drop medkits and revive allies, or you can ditch that function and equip an underbarrel grenade launcher... the choice is yours!

The Engineer kit is my favorite so far, as it is the most versatile for my play style.The Russian loadout's AKs74u is not very accurate at a range, but in tight spaces it is so powerful it practically spits fire! Put a grip on it, a sight and a laser and it is a force to be reckoned with. Meanwhile, the M4A1 is significantly more accurate at the expense of damage. It also has the added benefit of more user friendly sights. Rockets are disappointing, as they seem to do minimal damage and are very unpredictable to use on players. I've gotten two hit markers with rockets on enemy players, only to have them slink away unharmed.

As Support, I've had the most fun setting down at a choke point, deploying my bipod, and sweeping the floor with incoming hostiles. The Russian RPK is like the rest of the team's weapons - high on damage and low on accuracy. I had to shoot several shots at an enemy before I hit (fortunately, they drop quickly once you do!). The US variant is similar, but the second tier LMG (the M249) has both good accuracy and considerable stopping power. The kit also has the bonus of being able to drop ammo for themselves and teammates.

The Recon kit is my second favorite, but also my highest ranked thus far. The Russian SVD and the US Mk.11 both start with an 8x scope and take about two body shots to drop an enemy. Also, you are now able to steady your shot by holding the left stick to hold your breath. I've noticed that the Mk.11 feels a lot more stable than the SVD and the scope sights are a bit more user-friendly. I have not used the bolt-action, second tier unlocks because I prefer to have the higher rate-of-fire on the close quarters of Operation Metro. You also get several toys that long-time Battlefield fans might enjoy.

Pistols are very viable weapons in the beta, taking anywhere from 4 to 6 shots to stop an opponent at close range. Additionally, shotguns are great weapons for their sheer stopping power and kill usually with one hit. However, they do not have much spread and require you to be accurate and close to the opposition.

Keep your eyes peeled for more updates on the Battlefield 3 Beta! I will update this post as I experience more of what it has to offer.

Battlefield 3 beta on all platforms Sept. 29

A quick look at the Battlefield 3 website brings some new information that Battlefield fans have been eagerly awaiting since last year's Medal of Honor release - the beta is here...well, almost here.

The Battlefield 3 open beta will allow PC and console players to try out the rush game mode on the Operation Metro map from Thursday, September 29 to Monday, October 10. Even more good news for players who pre-ordered the game on Origin or purchased last year's lackluster Medal of Honor - they can access the beta starting September 27th.

Some gamers have expressed frustrations over the map selection, as many of the trailers have focused squarely on the Operation Metro map. Moreover, the exact same map and game mode was used during the PC alpha testing earlier this year.

I had the chance to play Battlefield 3 during the alpha and I, for one, am excited to get back into the fray - even if it is the same map! Operation Metro is a dynamic and exhilarating map that, in classic Battlefield style, caters to so many diverse styles of gameplay.

Below are some of my tactical recommendations based on my previous experience with each of the kits on this map:

• Assault
• When outside, either hop into a vehicle or hug cover around the outside of the map to ambush enemy snipers
• When inside the metro, drop your medkit for your teammates near the major chokepoints - they will need it!
• Engineer
• When outside, stick to a vehicle and keep it functional - if you go on foot you will become quick sniper fodder.
• When inside, you are the class at the greatest advantage as carbines have a higher rate of fire and you have RPGs/AT4s to clear the choke points!
• Support
• When outside, follow a similar strategy as the Assault class
• When inside, find a good spot to go prone and cover the choke points
• Recon
• When outside, pick off enemy snipers or engineers as they're repairing vehicles.
• When inside, look out for enemy snipers and the occasional enemy who runs around behind you.

Battlefield 3 avoids tempting its players

With DICE's blockbuster title Battlefield_3 coming out this Fall, there has been a lot of buzz about civilian casualties - or, in this case, the lack thereof.

In an interview with Rock, Paper ,Shotgun, executive producer Patrick Bach explained that there will not be civilians to get caught in the crossfire.In the interview, Bach expressed his concern that gamers, when given the option to do "bad things," will frequently do them.

This is not a foreign idea. Games like Grand Theft Auto have built a gaming empire on this principle, allowing players to cheat, steal and murder their way to the top - and then rewarding them for it. You look at other games where the criminality is not as central, such as Bioware's Mass Effect series (a personal favorite of mine). Throughout the game you have opportunities to make either paragon (moral) or renegade (immoral) decisions. You don't have to be a renegade, but the results of the action are often far more entertaining than alternative. This can also be seen in various other sandbox games such as the Fallout and Fable series.

So, we like to do bad things (I'm sure there is a biblical message hidden somewhere in that). We enjoy it. It can be fun to be a little bit bad - maybe shoot that NPC who keeps wandering in front of you...

So why not do it in Battlefield 3? I'm sure that many of us remember in 2009 Call of Duty took the civilian casualty element to a new level with the airport "mission". To some degree, it seems like exploits like this have desensitized the gaming community. It's become the norm to include things like this for sheer "shock value." Many gamers now mock Bach's statements and some of them claim that the lack of eCivilian casualties detracts from the game's status as a war simulation.

However, despite many people's complaints against the studio's decision, Bach provides a very clear and profound statement: “I think games need to grow up a bit,” he felt, but was sure that “They will grow with gamers. There will always be games for children – I want games for grown-ups, games I can play. As long as I’m in the business I will make games that I want to play.”

I can respect that.

Don't like it?
Then don't buy his game.

While this type of attitude isn't always profitable, it is refreshing to see developers take pride in their work - especially in this current gaming landscape mired with cheap stunts and low-effort titles.