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Why We're Not Reviewing Battlefield 1943 Yet

Added by Brad Shoemaker on July 10, 2009

198 comments

Great fun, when it works.

With only three maps and three player classes, you wouldn't think it would take us long to play Battlefield 1943 and deliver a full review. Under normal circumstances, you'd be right, but the two days since 1943's launch have been anything but normal.

In case you haven't heard, the online situation for EA and DICE's new downloadable shooter on Xbox Live is a bit of a mess right now. The problems seem to be mostly focused on server capacity and the inability to join games, so far. EA says it's doubled the number of servers in use since the game launched on Wednesday, but I've still spent more time looking at "unable to join game" error messages than I have actually playing. A separate issue is making it all but impossible to join games with your friends.

It's worth pointing out that, anecdotally at least, it sounds like no such problems exist with the PlayStation Network version so far. The game has quite honestly been fun as heck when it's worked right, so if you're dying to play the game this weekend and have a choice of platform, you ought to consider the PSN game. Though, since '43 is built around small squads and friend-invite options, the biggest factor in your decision should really be which console most of your friends are playing on, and for me, that's the Xbox.

DICE is running a Twitter feed with frequent updates on the team's progress stabilizing the game, and a forum post over on the game's official forums features more in-depth info about what's being fixed, as well as some interesting trivia about the troubled launch.

Server Locations
Xbox 360: Amsterdam, Miami, Fremont CA, and Tokyo. We are adding more locations as we to spread the load of players.
PS3: Amsterdam, Virginia, L.A., and Tokyo. We are adding more locations as we to spread the load of players.

Fun Facts
I need to share something fun and cheery now. And even though many can't get in, many have and played a lot of games already.
On Day 1 there were 29.45 years of gameplay completed on Xbox 360
Over 5 millions kills in the first day!

Amusingly, DICE has ratcheted up the console wars with an Xbox-versus-PlayStation race to 43 million kills. The first platform to hit that number will be the first to unlock the fourth map, Coral Sea, and a new plane-specific Air Superiority mode. The devs are just throwing fuel on the fire by posting the actual kill statistics as they rack up in what seems like real time. The Xbox is ahead by roughly 1.5 to 1, so it's actually a closer race than I thought it would be.

Way to go, DICE. You're part of the problem.

We'll be back early next week with a real review of the game--provided EA gets everything ironed out over the weekend and we can play without problems--but for now, here's what Battlefield 1943 might look like if you were to play it...

Filed under : Battlefield 1943

198 Comments

mussbus999
on July 10, 2009

I actually have had no more problems since...yesterday

Jayzilla
on July 10, 2009

yeah that is bad. i dont like the idea of that being what gets you a new level.

mubress
on July 10, 2009

I thought as much. However, The PSN version isn't without it's problems

Bennyishere
on July 10, 2009

I'm sure these problems will be fixed by the time I get home from vacation. Can't wait to try some sniping.

EpicSteve
on July 10, 2009

It's been better today. It typically takes about 5 tries for me to get into a game, and once you get into a game you can just stay there until you're done playing.

jakob187 is online
on July 10, 2009

I figured this would be more of a problem with Xbox Live than it was with 1943 itself.

AURON570
on July 10, 2009

i pretty much quit Battlefield 2 for Team Fortress 2... maybe i'll pick this up for my ps3 though, *shrugs* looks like more of the same really.

Double0hFor
on July 10, 2009

not like this

VicRattlehead
on July 10, 2009

i cant get onto the game at all ...keep getting cannot connect to ea or somthing.....ea's support told me to download the facebreaker demo and upload a boxer to resync my psn id to ea but that didnt work.....fantastic game :|

TomA
on July 10, 2009

Poop on Battlefield 1943, why do i wnat to play yet another WW2 game focused around American efforts?

lacke
on July 10, 2009

I got this game as soon as it was up on XBLA but only recently been able to join a game. Played 3 maps (Wake Island + 2x Guadal Canal). The game went smoothly. Didn't notice any major lag or hickups. It took me 5 min though before I could join a game.

I was a bit reluctant about getting this because I've played Wake Island (in various forms) to death but man.. it seems you can never get tired of that map.

Babble is online
on July 10, 2009

It can take a while to get into a game (and it seems impossible to join a friend's game), but once you get in things seem to be working well. I haven't had much lag at all.

Ouroboros
on July 10, 2009

I've gotten in after multiple tries and its fun but there are a lot of times (or servers) where the maps dont rotate. I understand that you play one time as the allies and then once as Japan but I dont want to play Wake Island 3 times in a row (which is actually 6). It's pretty fun but I still feel uneasy about the purchase because its only 3 or 4 maps. I hope they plan on expanding the game later to prevent it from going stale.

jakob187 is online
on July 10, 2009

@Keyser_Soze said:

" Just review the PS3 version Brad. It's not often you see this kind of gracious attitude being shown to a buggy game on an alternative platform. M$ Bias anyone? Are you now taking Microsoft IOU'S? Have Japanese businessmen been smuggling some "fake" treasury bonds into the GB offices "

Yet again, people bashing the Bomb because they like to play games with their friends...which Brad points out are mostly on Xbox Live. tsk tsk

sirchode
on July 10, 2009

I dare someone to name a DICE launch that has gone without issue

Oriental_Jams
on July 10, 2009

Well, after the serious issues of the last few days, I'll get into a lag-free game after a couple of tries, but I've oft encountered a lack of sound from turret guns.

Keyser_Soze
on July 10, 2009

@jakob187 said:

" @Keyser_Soze said:
" Just review the PS3 version Brad. It's not often you see this kind of gracious attitude being shown to a buggy game on an alternative platform. M$ Bias anyone? Are you now taking Microsoft IOU'S? Have Japanese businessmen been smuggling some "fake" treasury bonds into the GB offices "
Yet again, people bashing the Bomb because they like to play games with their friends...which Brad points out are mostly on Xbox Live. tsk tsk "

Reviewing a game should have very little to do with what friends consoles they prefer, what Brad and his friends do in the privacy of their own home is for them, but this is a professional matter. They would have to play it on the PS3 version anyway just to test it, so buy, play with random people and see how it is. I'm sure they can do this.

TheHBK
on July 10, 2009

I think this kind of stuff should be considered in the review. Its part of the game and what makes it possible. The fucking menus and wait that came with joining games and retarded game search function of GRAW was so frustrating that I believe it should affect the review, even though your not actually "playing".

UncleBuck
on July 10, 2009

OMG Brad you are such a PS3 fanboy. Please, cut it out.

borgmaster
on July 10, 2009

besides some balancing issues, the game is good and has a good bit of, yet progressively decreasing, playability issues. boom, there's your review, done.

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