bf3

Battlefield 3's first downloadable content, Back to Karkand, debuted exclusively yesterday for the PlayStation 3.

Soldiers using PCs and Xbox 360 devices will have to wait until December 13 to access the pack, which costs $14.99 (or 1,200 Xbox points). Many gamers who preordered Battlefield 3 Limited Edition automatically received Back to Karkand free, so this will be a nice change of scenery for those already tired of playing. … Read more

A half-gigabyte update has dropped for the PC version of Battlefield 3, adding many performance fixes and gameplay adjustments for a better experience. The same update will roll out soon for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of the game.

On the short list of fixes, fraggers should see improvements with loading times and general performance. The dreaded "black screen" error--which would sometimes happen when loading a new map during multiplayer--should be resolved. Players who joined multiplayer and co-op games should also see fewer crashes.

With the new patch, multiple monitor setups should now run more smoothly. Visual corruption errors are now less of an issue on certain Nvidia graphics cards, but in my experience playing today with a GTX 560 I actually saw fewer graphical issues than I had ever seen before. I was using a set of beta drivers, so I need to do further testing with this before I can say anything definitive. There's also word that loading times for some textures have improved, but I doubt that you'll be able to notice it. … Read more

Two of the year's biggest games are going head to head this holiday season, both seeking the crown as best military first-person shooter. Unless you've cut yourself off from all forms of media consumption, I'm of course talking about Modern Warfare 3 and Battlefield 3.… Read more

Obsessed with Battlefield 3?

On October 25, custom-case maker Calibur 11 is set to drop PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 cases that give the consoles a BF3-themed vibe. The cases cover the console, requiring no disassembly. It's worth noting that once fitted, the Calibur 11 mod requires one to keep the console vertical. While some may find this type of product gaudy, there is a certain cool factor. … Read more

Ever wished you could win money--big money--for playing video games?

While that dream may never come true for most of us, there is a chance for anyone with an Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 to become a gaming god. Virgin Gaming, EA, and DICE are teaming up to host a Battlefield 3 Worldwide Conquest tournament with $1.6 million in cash and prizes on the line.

Potential fraggers must be 18 years or older to register for the online tourney, which begins in 2012 and which Virgin is calling the "largest online console game tournament ever." Unfortunately, the contest is not available for PC gamers, who make up a huge portion of the fan base for the series. In some aspects, I can see why Virgin Gaming may want to avoid integrating PC gamers, as cheating has soured FPS games for many years on the platform.

Nonetheless, Virgin's official response to PC gamers being excluded was rather disappointing. "Our technology is only set up to integrate with console games at this phase in our life. We're still new and trying to create a unique service that resolves a lot of the challenges in the competitive gaming space today," a Virgin rep said. "We have much love for gamers on all platforms, and as we grow we'll try to bring everyone under the tent." … Read more

An open beta for Battlefield 3 arrives on September 29 for PC, Xbox 360, and PS3.

The beta of the highly anticipated FPS will be available to play until October 10, giving gamers more than a week of intense multiplayer combat that utilizes all-new maps, weapons, jets, and an updated graphics engine. Those who preordered the PC digital download of Battlefield 3 (through Origin), or purchased the limited/Tier 1 edition of Medal of Honor will enjoy even earlier access to the BF3 beta on September 27.

Downloading the free beta will be simple. You'll just need to access the PlayStation Network store, Xbox 360 marketplace, or Origin on PC. You must use Origin to download the beta on PC.

To keep things fair, stats accumulated during the beta will not transition over when the game goes live, but you will be able to keep the name you used when registering. EA/DICE noted that the open beta is limited to residents of North America, South America, Europe, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.

Are you going to play the BF3 open beta? Here's a cool scene from the BF3 single-player mission Operation Guillotine, a joint operation to capture key members of the PLR leadership:… Read more

A new official trailer and some unofficial video for Battlefield 3's multiplayer mode has emerged over the last several days.

The 1-minute trailer reveals a frenzied firefight in the new map Operation Metro (located in Paris). After flashing between a few locations within the area, the video kicks off with a squad rushing forward while a tank fires at an unknown number of enemies ahead.

DICE/EA waste no time in promoting the hype surrounding the game by flashing a graphic that shows 80 E3 2011 award nominations and then a few seconds later shows that the anticipated FPS won 47 awards during the massive gaming convention. … Read more