1.    With the time between game releases getting shorter, what would you say to critics who believe the shorter times are stifling innovation and encouraging products which follow expected tried and trusted formulas?
 
Yes and no. I would argue that if you do have a clear vision on what you want to achieve and an experienced team you can actually plan for success. This could in some cases mean that you will use well known components in parts of the product and in other parts create completely new components. Everything does not have to be new to create a great gaming experience. In comparison with the music industry you do not need all new “never-used-before” musical instruments to create a new song but you do need some new components and a great idea.
2.    With Multiplayer aspects becoming more prominent in games nowadays and with lots of stiff competition in the marketplace, how does Battlefield 3′s multiplayer aim to entice gamers?
 
Battlefield has always been a strong contender in the FPS multiplayer space. There is no reason for us to not be able to stay ahead in this area for Battlefield 3. Dice do have more than a decade of experience in Multiplayer FPS and most of the key individuals building Battlefield 1942 (released 2002) is still today part of the Battlefield 3 team. We are always trying to improve on the Battlefield formula and Battlefield 3 is no exception.
3.    A lot of focus is shifted towards the multiplayer aspects of games but what of the single player options – what can lone players expect beyond the single player campaign?
 
We are not only focusing on the multiplayer experience but also making sure anyone can get into the game no matter your personality or mood. Lone players like you say enjoy the Single player campaign but can also, without caring about Teamplay or responsibility for others, just have a great time in multiplayer.
4.    What are your thoughts on your rival’s products which look like shipping around the same time as Battlefield 3, do you think cross game rivalry is healthy and do you actually learn much from what the competition is doing and how well they perform?
 
Competition is always healthy to push things forward. I think everyone is evolving from a healthy amount of rivalry and it inspires everyone to try harder to give the consumer a better product. Worst thing that could happen is if games stopped moving forward and we see that as a big part of our mission. We all need to start moving into the next generation of FPS games and we will try to take the first step.
5.    It’s been reported that EA aims to take the shooter crown from Activision and publish the top first person shooter for this generation. With Call of Duty performing so well, are you confident you attract the COD crowd?
 
From a developer perspective we are always trying to create the best game possible. We do believe that the Battlefield formula with a great Shooting experience as a core and including Teamplay elements, Vehicles and Destruction is the way forward for the genre. If we succeed in making the better game or not; we will still push the industry forward and that is a great win for consumers, developers and the industry as a whole.
6.    What are your plans with DLC Content? Another VIP-Pass?
 
The only DLC we have announced now is the “Back to Karkand” pack that includes re-made maps, Weapons and Vehicles from Battlefield 2. If you pre-order the game you will get that for free.
7.    The stunning footage of the game seen so far is supposedly from the PC version: when will you be showing some footage from the Xbox 360 version? And which differences can we expect from the PC version (aside the already known multiplayer differences)?
 
Our philosophy is to not to talk about things we cannot prove and this is true also when it comes to the quality of the Xbox 360 version of the game. All of the core game systems (animation, destruction, rendering, audio etc.) are the same on all platforms so there will not be a difference when it comes to the general experience of the game. Some technicalities will of course be different due to larger memory and the graphics cards you can have on the PC. We are trying to push the envelope of FPS games in general and this will be obvious in all versions of the game. Looking back to what quality we achieved with Battlefield Bad Company 2 last year we do know how to make high quality games on all platforms.
8.    Battlefield has always been a multiplayer-focused franchise, then you created Bad Company for a more campaign-oriented, console-friendly experience. Now, with Battlefield 3 you seem to be mixing both philosophies in one single game: will both series continue to exist and develop independently?
 
We tried to give the Battlefield Bad Company series a unique soul of itself to not confuse it with the Core Battlefield series. We are hoping that that is obvious when looking at the material we have released so far from Battlefield 3. At the core they are both Battlefield games so of course there will be similarities but the tone and depth of Battlefield 3 will be fundamentally different.
9.    We know the game will sport a co-op campaign, separated from the main one. Can you give us some details about it?How many hours should it take to complete?
 
We have announced that we will have a Co-op mode in Battlefield 3 but not what it will be. We will make sure we utilize all our Battlefield knowledge to create something really interesting in this area. Just wait and see.
10. Can you give us any details on soldier upgrades and weapon modifications?
 
No, cannot give any details at this time. I can tell you that it will not be less than in any of our earlier titles for sure.
11. Will the Onslaught-Mode feature in Battlefield 3?
 
See question 9.
12. Why is there 24 player limits on consoles? Is it engine performance or networking issues?
 
We always have to find the sweet spot between player count, visual quality, destruction, vehicles, network traffic and general game quality in all games we are building. In this case we are focusing on all of the above and have come to the conclusion that 24 players on the console gives us the right balance. We had this number in Battlefield Bad Company 2 and that worked pretty good we think. We still have more players than most other FPS games on console with the added value of vehicles and destruction that we are almost alone in having. We have seen some games trying to do more and not always succeeding since it is really hard to keep the quality of the experience when just adding more players. We are not worried that the intensity of the multiplayer experience will not be enough on the consoles even if we are pushing the numbers further up on the PC.
13. Base camping was sometimes frustrating in Bad Company 2 (Atakama Desert is good example). Are you planning to re-introduce “no points in enemy base” system in Battlefield 3? What about team kills?
 
This is something we are constantly looking into. We are trying to find the perfect balance in all out maps, game modes and kits but I cannot give any specifics at this moment on exactly what we are doing for Battlefield 3.
14. Will there be training mode (or something similar) for multiplayer, where players can learn how to fly helicopters or use other vehicles?
 
Again I cannot comment on this at this time. Sorry.
15. Will a demo coming before the release?
 
Yes!

Dans Battlefield 3, les joueurs vont pouvoir incarner les Marines américains et découvrir des missions aux quatre coins de la planète, notamment à Paris, Téhéran et New York. Battlefield 3 utilise le moteur Frostbite 2, une technologie de pointe dans le rendu des animations, des effets de lumière et la destruction des environnements. Ressentez les impacts de balles et les explosions comme si vous y étiez, traînez vos coéquipiers blessés en lieu sûr, rampez et fixez vos armes quasiment où vous voulez. Pilotez des avions de chasse, en plus de nombreux autres véhicules sur terre, en mer ou dans les airs, en solo comme en multijoueur. Combattez dans différents lieux des États-Unis, du Moyen Orient et d'Europe, et frayez-vous un chemin dans des ruelles étroites, des centres-villes et des zones dégagées permettant la progression de véhicules.

Contenu de l'édition limitée:
- Back to Karkand : 4 cartes mythiques de Battlefield 2 (Karkand, Sharqi, Oman et Wake).
- 10 armes cultes de Battlefield 2
- 4 nouveaux véhicules
- 12 rangs multijoueurs supplémentaires
- 10 nouveaux Trophées/Succès
- 10 nouveaux dog tag
- 8 nouveaux objets de personnalisation ingame (dans le jeu)

Part I in a behind the scenes series on Battlefield 3: Back to Karkand
 
 
 
Containing four of the best Battlefield maps ever created by DICE, the first expansion pack for Battlefield 3 will be a treat both for returning fans and newcomers. Read on for more in-depth details on Battlefield 3: Back to Karkand and how to get it at no extra charge.
 
 
 
Anyone who preorders Battlefield 3 will receive our first themed expansion pack at no extra charge. When Lead Designer Niklas Fegraeus got the assignment to lead the expansion pack, his thoughts immediately went to the four most played and loved maps in the history of Battlefield: Strike at Karkand, Wake Island, Gulf of Oman, and Sharqi Peninsula. Combined, these four maps have been played for an incredible 25,000 man years!
 
 
 
It’s obvious returning Battlefield fans should be excited. What does the expansion pack offer to those new to Battlefield?
-- It’s pretty simple, really. These are evidently some of the very best maps we have ever built. We have unquestionable data and feedback from the community saying so. You would be crazy turning down the chance to boost your game with these classic multiplayer maps.
 
 
 
An early piece of concept art for the Frostbite 2 reimagining of a true classic. Meant to represent lighting and color palette only. Actual map layout will be very similar to the original. Click for 1920 x 1080 version.
 
 
 
What does the Frostbite 2 engine and the Battlefield 3 gameplay bring to the reimagined version of Strike at Karkand?
-- From a gameplay perspective, destruction is the biggest addition compared to the original map in Battlefield 2 back in 2005. I remember this particular building by the square in the original where players could defend very effectively. Now, with the destructive power of Frostbite 2, someone can just RPG that building and expose the defenders within. At the same time, we need to be careful not to add destruction that breaks the tried and tested game flow of the map.
 
 
 
You were also Lead Designer on last year’s expansion pack Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Vietnam. Do you see any similarities between that and Back to Karkand?
-- Certainly from the perspective of scope and ambition, they are very similar. This is no simple map pack. Back to Karkand will also include iconic Battlefield 2 weapons and vehicles to bring back to the base game, new unlocks and persistence, and more content that we will talk about later. They are also similar in that they are both strongly themed.
 
 
 
In your mind, what makes Strike at Karkand still great?
-- Strike at Karkand finds the perfect combination of tight urban infantry combat and traditional Battlefield vehicle combat, without any one side ever dominating the fight. I also think that the linear flag positions give you a clear idea of where you need to go, creating a strong sense of direction.
 
 
"It's well designed and well balanced. The best map ever made"
 
-- Twitter user @insane141 on why he loves Strike at Karkand
 
 
 
David Spinnier (formerly Göthberg) is currently Co-op Lead Designer for Battlefield 3 and the one who created the original Strike at Karkand map for Battlefield 2.
 
 
 
How do you feel now that your map is set for a reimagining in Battlefield 3?
-- I'm super happy and proud that it became such a classic. I'm excited to see it remade with a whole new level of graphics and destruction and have given the developers of the expansion pack a few pointers on the map.
 
 
 
What was your original design idea for Strike at Karkand?
-- I wanted almost to tell a story. In my mind when I started the design, I could see these tanks rolling downhill in a sandy desert into a city where defenders were scurrying around, setting up a defensive perimeter and then being pushed back further downtown. I also wanted to create an asymetric battlefield with a defensive focus. Infantry defenders meeting heavy armor. I just started painting the layout of the map in Photoshop and went from there.
 
 
 
What happened when you actually started play testing the design?
-- I remember one of the first play tests. People were behaving exactly as I had imagined: Placing mines and C4, climbing onto roofs to get a clear view and clear shot of the tanks rolling in. It all just fell into place. It was a fantastic feeling.
 
 
Bonus feature: The original design doc for Strike at Karkand from Battlefield 2!
 
Do you have any original design docs for Strike at Karkand lying around that we could have a look at, just for fun?
-- Sure thing! Here is my original layout design, last saved in October 2004. If you know your Karkand, you realize that the layout here is mirrored from the actual in-game map. This was something I wasn’t aware of at the time, but when you entered your layout into the game editor, everything was reversed!
 
 
 
To receive Battlefield 3: Back to Karkand at no extra charge, all you need to do is preorder Battlefield 3.
 
 
 
Come back next week for more in-depth details on Back to Karkand.
For more information on Battlefield 3, visit the Official Site.
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