[patapuf]

nobody plays the official servers, they are there, if you want them to fill up you have to bite the bullet and play with a few friends until the server fills up, just like all private server owners do.

[Metalmurphy]

Clearly those are the only two POSSIBLE choices you have as a publisher when supporting an online game. Also: private servers you have to pay EA to run.

You wanted them for free?

[Beaner]

Ironically there are more PC BF3 players in here than the general console crowd..

Which is odd considering the exact same system was in use in 2005 and beyond in previous battlefield games, even while EA was being praised that short while.

[TheSeks]

but then all the baby gaffers are gonna bitch and whine "I gotta watch da m-com? waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa" *sigh*

ReggieNotMyProblem.jpg There's two of those babby mode servers. Make yours pro and I'd be there (once my DSL is completely fixed) instead of going for 500% RUSH 24/7 METRO for a "quick" round.

[soultron]

"babby mode" is killing me over here. Haha.

[Neuromancer]

For what?

The fuck. Why are EA getting a slice of the XBL pie?

EA was pissed that MS was going to be getting money from people playing EA's games so they threw a shit fit. MS made them some kind of deal to keep them happy:

"...Microsoft and EA had finally been able to work out an agreement about Xbox Live. EA had been impressed with how well MS executed its online business. Under the deal, EA was going to get a share of the revenues that MS collected from Xbox Live subscriptions for the games that EA customers played..."

Source: The Xbox 360 Uncloaked: The Real Story Behind Microsoft's Next Generation Video Game Console

Later on Activision said they were getting a slice of the pie too:

"Activision does enjoy a 'very modest amount of the subscription fees,' Kotick told us."

Source: Joystiq

[Shambles]

It's the least you deserve for buying an EA game. Unless i'm understanding this wrong but the OP sounds like the only way to play MP BF3 now is to pay for a private server or have someone else pay for a private server? Just to clarify there is no way for you to just host a game on your own?

[Metalmurphy]

It's the least you deserve for buying an EA game. Unless i'm understanding this wrong but the OP sounds like the only way to play MP BF3 now is to pay for a private server or have someone else pay for a private server? Just to clarify there is no way for you to just host a game on your own?

BF3 needs dedicated servers to play. That's a good thing, not a bad one. Also you are approaching things the wrong way, there are no EA servers BECAUSE people are paying for private servers, not the other way around.

[Kibbles]

Considering how well Bf3 is selling and how recent it is, that's pretty fucked up. But it is EA...

[TheSeks]

It's the least you deserve for buying an EA game. Unless i'm understanding this wrong but the OP sounds like the only way to play MP BF3 now is to pay for a private server or have someone else pay for a private server? Just to clarify there is no way for you to just host a game on your own?

You've never been able to host a private game for yourself without stipulations (16 fullplayers in BC2/1943, no option in BC1). This is nothing new. The issue is that DICE has made "normal"/100% ticket and normal rules servers that they "officially" host an issue. You can't find them without bending over backwards and they're mostly empty because of it. It's a catch-22. You want to play on them but you have to find them.. Once you find them no one is playing them because people are lazy and not willing to find them. So they play the rent-a-servers/"private" hosted servers with with 500% tickets.

[Beaner]

It's the least you deserve for buying an EA game. Unless i'm understanding this wrong but the OP sounds like the only way to play MP BF3 now is to pay for a private server or have someone else pay for a private server? Just to clarify there is no way for you to just host a game on your own?

There never has been a way to host a ranked game of your own without paying since before battlefield was on consoles. The system that has just been implemented is a system that has worked for seven years on the PC side and is still working for those older games

[Clint Beastwood]

EA was pissed that MS was going to be getting money from people playing EA's games so they threw a shit fit. MS made them some kind of deal to keep them happy: Source: The Xbox 360 Uncloaked: The Real Story Behind Microsoft's Next Generation Video Game Console Later on Activision said they were getting a slice of the pie too: Source: Joystiq

Nice to know part of my subscription goes to two publishers whose games I don't even play.

The other half probably goes towards buying ads or something equally as stupid.

[megamerican]

Now I'm glad that I was too lazy to pick up a $19.99 copy of BF3 from Best Buy.

[Mikey Jr.]

From an user perspective where exactly is the problem? There are more servers now then there's ever been. And I don't know how it's like on consoles, but on PC I never played on EA servers to begin with, there's always other ones that are better.

Firstly, define "better". The one where there is 500% extra tickets so everyone can level up quickly? Or the other one where some jack off admin can permaban you because you were doing too well?

[OdysseusVA]

For you, my friend:

:(
360 here and not a single official server

[patapuf]

Firstly, define "better". The one where there is 500% extra tickets so everyone can level up quickly? Or the other one where some jack off admin can permaban you because you were doing too well?

you only really need to find those with your favourite rules and put them in your favourites.

[Violater]

but then all the baby gaffers are gonna bitch and whine "I gotta watch da m-com? waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa" *sigh*

WTF is this mentality?
If I want to play what I want when I want what's the problem?
I personally don't have the time to spend hours on end anymore playing games, and occasionally like to just hop into a casual game.

Anyway I did a search for the servers as advised earlier and found some, hopped into a game and bam freeze. Now I remember why I got so turned off BF3 some months ago especially after it killed my OG fatty.

[FieryBalrog]

In unrelated news, servers now cost $2/day to rent.

just wait

[Beaner]

Firstly, define "better". The one where there is 500% extra tickets so everyone can level up quickly? Or the other one where some jack off admin can permaban you because you were doing too well?

If people don't like those servers they won't play on them and will find a place they do like. It is the way it has always worked, a week isn't enough time for everythiv to balance out

[Rikkun]

Ah, thanks TheSeks and Soultron for clarifying.
Hopefully there will always be a small part of official servers, too bad they're empty it seems.

[LumpOfCole]

I'm sure they'll be back, exclusively for those who buy the map pack of course.

[I H8 Memes]

Never Trust EA™

[The English Conquistador]

SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT NIER LIKE WE SAID

Listen to Billie. Billie knows what he/she's talking about.

<3 Nier.

On topic, absolutely absurd move by EA. But not in the least bit surprising. Remember the time when EA seemed like they turned a new leaf? Well they turned it over and stepped on it. Then burnt it...

[Rahxephon91]

Rent a server fucked BF3 up. I just want Conquest Epic Battles, please.

Which would only happen on Private servers....

[VibratingDonkey]

I expect they've done the same on PC. Wouldn't know and wouldn't view it as a problem.

Do the console versions not have filters and such? That's how this is supposed to work. You set up a filter with your preferred settings, hit refresh and that's that. If that's not possible then there's your problem. Would be a gross oversight.

[Metalmurphy]

Firstly, define "better". The one where there is 500% extra tickets so everyone can level up quickly? Or the other one where some jack off admin can permaban you because you were doing too well?

Better ping with settings to my liking. There's so many servers you'll bound to find one that is exactly what you want.

Or the other one where some jack off admin can permaban you because you were doing too well?

I'm sure that happens to you ALL THE TIME.

Number of times that happened to me with over 100 hours of game time: 0

[Kade]

Wait, what's the issue? The PC version was always like this. It just means EA/DICE themselves aren't hosting servers. I can see it being an issue if no one on console was willing to rent a server but that clearly isn't the case.

[patapuf]

On topic, absolutely absurd move by EA. But not in the least bit surprising. Remember the time when EA seemed like they turned a new leaf? Well they turned it over and stepped on it. Then burnt it...

actually bf has worked this way since 2005

[Riptwo]

This game also has an online pass, right? What's that good for now?

[TheMan]

Remember the time when EA seemed like they turned a new leaf? Well they turned it over and stepped on it. Then burnt it...

didn't a lot of the games they released around that time end up bombing? (aside from the likes of madden, of course)

[soultron]

:( 360 here and not a single official server

The picture I posted was from the 360 version, from 5:41 PM EST today.

Read TheSeks posts on how to find official EA/DICE servers on console and you'll find one. Any server with a P######## format to its name is an official EA server.

[U2NUMB]

I think the best thing anyone can do is find those servers that you like and favorite them. There are a ton of well run good setting user servers and as long as you pin them for later you should not have a problem.

But it does not surprise me that EA is doing this.

[Makoto]

actually bf has worked this way since 2005

Some of the responses in this thread are making me believe people just have some sort of addon/extension that posts premade negative comments about EA as soon as a thread about them pops up.

[fluffydelusions]

I give SWTOR 6 months before the servers are shut down.

[TheNiX]

Nice to know part of my subscription goes to two publishers whose games I don't even play. The other half probably goes towards buying ads or something equally as stupid.

That's not likely how the agreement works, which you can see in the line about the EA/MS deal. In the contract there's probably a metric being used that tracks the amount of players playing EA games and is used to calculate what share either company gets. I'm going to assume Activision said "modest" because CoD makes up a huge chunk of the XBL community.

[pvpness]

I don't want to pay to setup and play the Epic Battles servers that DICE had. I have to dig through rented servers with maps I don't want to play and high tickets and hope I don't get booted or banned for whatever stupid reason. The '-[DICE]- Epic Battles' servers were perfect before the patch. Then they screwed them up to where the maps Wake Island and Sharqi Peninsula wouldn't come up in rotation, even though they were in the rotation. Now, Epic Battles can't be found. DICE are screw ups and I likely will avoid their next games.

So it's not really fucked up that they offer private servers now, you're bummed because they don't offer the kinda server that you want to play on, but you don't want to play on that kinda server bad enough to rent one for yourself. Ok. I get that.

That doesn't really make DICE screw ups though as they don't owe you specific settings and have actually made it an option for you to get the specific settings you want, yet you reject that. Feel like you're chasing your tail here man...

Tell ya what, every other night my buddies switch our server to "Epic" (ps3) which is what you're looking for. Tonight is a mix but tomorrow should be strictly vehicles. If you're interested tomorrow send me a PM and I'll send you our server name so you can join us.

[Rebel Leader]

500% TICKETS


500% TICKETS EVERYWHERE

[Ponn01]

This game also has an online pass, right? What's that good for now?

Same reason you pay for xbox live. To be one of the cool kids. This is just a third paywall to get to the actual multiplayer you want to play.

[NullPointer]

This game also has an online pass, right? What's that good for now?

Exactly jack and shit, like all online passes.

Considering how well Bf3 is selling and how recent it is, that's pretty fucked up. But it is EA...

Devs gotta make money and these cost savings mean we'll see more unique and innovative games and it'll keep single player games from going extinct.

Am I doing it right?

[megalowho]

There must be some mandate at EA where all official servers for a game that fall below a certain population for a certain amount of time get the boot, regardless of any extra fees consumers might be paying for access (Live Gold, online pass). I'm just amazed that rule would apply to successful blockbuster releases barely 6 months out of the gate, even if there is a healthy number of player funded servers being rented out.

Between this and the Rock Band iOS kerfuffle, that Consumerist poll seems to have given way to the worst kind of experimentation at EA. Public perception can't get any worse, so why not throw some more shit on the wall, see if anything sticks?

[Bumblebeetuna]

Do you even get the option for better servers if you pay or is it just EA servers switched from official DICE servers to private? If these custom servers at least run better than DICE servers that's at least some silver lining. Can you shop around on consoles to various server providers or is it all EA?

[OdysseusVA]

The picture I posted was from the 360 version, from 5:41 PM EST today. Read TheSeks posts on how to find official EA/DICE servers on console and you'll find one. Any server with a P######## format to its name is an official EA server.

Yeah, I tried searching after seeing his post and your picture, but I am still not able to find them.

Aren't those EU servers?

[Mooreberg]

The rented servers are a great idea for online communities that want to have a game full of people they know or regularly play with. But this is another thing that makes online passes seem so lame. I don't have a problem with the idea that a company spends money to maintain servers and wants them to be avilable to people who buy a new copy, but if they end up doing this, what is the point?

The 500% matches are ridiculous too. It is just people grinding for weapon unlocks and not doing much else in the way of actual objectives.

[soultron]

Yeah, I tried searching after seeing his post and your picture, but I am still not able to find them. Aren't those EU servers?

The one in that picture was US East, I believe. It definitely takes a bit of fiddling to get it to work, but they're there. A lot of them are full, so make sure you set show full servers in your search filter. (Search filter settings can be accessed, from the server browser, by pressing RS in. Also remember that X refreshes your list when you're in the browser.) Save them for later even if they're full when you find them.

[Yagharek]

So this will mean the end of online passes, yes?

[Igo]

Listen to Billie. Billie knows what he/she's talking about. <3 Nier. On topic, absolutely absurd move by EA. But not in the least bit surprising. Remember the time when EA seemed like they turned a new leaf? Well they turned it over and stepped on it. Then burnt it...

Didn't they lose money for like 3 consecutive years after that?

[The Antitype]

Honestly, if the private servers run as well as the official servers, and there are plenty to choose from... then I really don't give a shit.

[Duki]

aint this how it works on pcs anyway

i dont think ive seen any official servers on there

[A Human Becoming]

So this will mean the end of online passes, yes?

lol no

[James-Ape]

They should at least add a filter for servers with official settings, it's one of my biggest annoyances along with selecting Rush in quick match and being put on a server than has conquest in rotation or vice versa