What Call of Duty Can Learn from Battlefield's Better Multiplayer

GamerNode's Tyler Cameron discusses what makes the Battlefield franchise's multiplayer superior to what Call of Duty has to offer.

[italianbreadman]

This man speaks the truth. An honest, realistic perspective.

But what about ZOMBIES?!

[scar20]

This man speaks the truth sadly i doubt we will see anything like that.The day i buy another cod used will be the day they make another cod4 but with upped visuals not overpriced shit which i might consider buying depending on it's contents but if it's 5 maps f*** *** Kotick.

@italianbreadman Zombies have no place in first shooter i prefer that they add a mode like spec ops but doubt that seeing as most people wnat zombies in everythin nowadays.

[DanCrabtree]

I agree, except saying categorically that zombies don't belong in FPS is just plain wrong. If someone manages to do it well, who cares if its FPS, RPG, TPS, or even 2D side-scrolling?

[-Alpha]

Zombies have a fine place in FPS games.

Also, Bad Company has onslaught, so it doesn't need zombies.

Third, why do people want COD to be so much like BC? If you don't like COD then stop trying to force other games onto it. Destruction 2.0 shouldn't be in a COD Game because that's not what the game is supposed to be. If you want that play BF. Simple as that

BO has standard developer support, TA has made a lot of good adjustments based on community feedback. They will continue to support the game via map packs and gameplay adjustments. Black Ops is well balanced, the issue is networking problems for the most part on PS3 and technical issues with the PC mostly. As for glitches and hacks, they don't exist as bad as MW2, in fact I haven't seen many hack videos or glitches.

As for sound, again, this isn't Battlefield. Sound in COD is meant to be quiet until you shoot a gun. It's not trying to depict a massive war, in fact silence is a key to COD because the idea is to here enemy footsteps a lot of the time. This is what COD is, and fans are proud of these core mechanics

COD shouldn't have teamwork forced, that's not the kind of game it is. Neither is Halo. If you use teamwork, you will do better than those who don't. But it isn't like Battlefield where classes exist and must support one another. I don't understand why people keep trying to make COD into some other game. It's like complaining BC2 shouldn't have classes and have twitchy shooting. I'm sure you'd all hate that but for some reason people expect COD to have D2.0 or team work enforced. If you are asking for stuff like this then you probably aren't a COD fan anyway so why act as if you want these features when they aren't what the game is supposed to be?

[lazysey]

@alpha-male22

spot on.

[kancerkid]

The CoD games are not going to change anything anytime soon, because they make a billion dollars a year.

[Kleptic]

I haven't bought a cod game since Cod4...but I don't think the answer is for acti to change around what is obviously working...cod has been printing money since 2007, and hasn't looked back...its doing just fine with whatever the devs do with each no title...

I grew tired of cod4 only because I played it nearly a year straight non-stop...I understand its mechanics, and its feel, and what overall makes it 'cod'...and I agree with Alpha...if you don't like those basic mechanics that cod has had since 4...start looking into other shooter franchises, there are plenty to chose from...

people are always bitching about cod...saying this needs changed or that...that it needs more incentive for teamwork...that it needs to be more 'realistic' etc...but for every complaint made, hundreds of people just bought it...I get the complaints about them getting the bugs fixed, that isn't acceptable to me...but the easy way around that is to simply not buy it...

i'm just saying don't try to make them change cod...if you don't like what it has, then don't buy it...if you are unsure...look out side your home, there is probably a copy blowing around in the wind that someone lost when they were unloading their groceries...try it and see, then send it back into circulation for someone else...

[Kee]

I agree, the Zombies are a big deal. Huge selling point for me because I spent more time in WaW playing Zombies than in multiplayer.

I think this article should be labelled as opinion because if Battlefield was really better than CoD, then the sales would have reflected that. But no, money talks, bullshit walks, as I like to say.
Having tried all the current gen battlefield games, it's safe to say it really can't be compared to Call of Duty. Apart from the fact that they're both FPS games.
And I say this because I literally can't enjoy Battlefield and it's hard to pinpoint why. CoD seems to have a certain "je ne ce quoi" about it that keeps me coming back again and again. So clearly they're doing something better than battlefield.

[topekomsi]

Fiat sales more cars than lexus, does that mean fiat is a better car?

Nope.

[Kee]

@topekomsi
See you're bringing price into it. Lexus is the better car, but you pay more for it.
Games all have the same price so obviously the one people buy the most is more successful, ergo better.
Pointless analogy, but nice try.

[sensor21]

It has to have ZOMBIES to make it credible enough to buy war enthusiast play Bad Company if they want and appreciate REAL WAR

[InTheKnow]

Battlefield and EA continue to try to capture that special something that COD has but they continue to fail. Battlefield gameplay has been the same for YEARS...nobody cares. Battlefield is as old as looking for health packs...lol. Unless they make big changes in their next game, it will flop just like MOH...on consoles anyway.

COD Black Ops is a fantastic game ( on 360 ) and millions are enjoying it daily, as well as Modern Warfare 2 and COD 4. Activision has really hit it big with COD and with the creators of the first ORIGINAL Deadspace game behind the next COD game, I'm expecting another great game holiday 2011.

So to answer the question...what can COD learn from Battlefield...nothing except how to sell LESS.

[4cough]

How to camp?

[PrimordialSoupBase]

You've got it backwards.

[MUHAHAHAHAAHAHA]

there are allot of campers on battlefield especially the snipers, which everybody hates

[BatClarkeee]

a sniper camping ?
do you know what a real life sniper does ?

[Kleptic]

well BF has the campers as snipers...which...i never understood why people bitch about them...as isn't that exactly what a sniper is supposed to do?...

cod, at least way back in cod4, obviously had fundamental problems with camping...the map design and certain weapons promoted camping more than in other shooters...its one thing to get picked off from a well placed sniper shot from across the map...its another to be popped by a douche in a dark corner with an LMG pinpointing each shot because of a grip...

[Ducky]

^ Then there's the bozos hiding behind each doorway with a shotgun acting like they're the the human claymore.
=D

[BXbomber]

4cough is the new official troll on this site, seriously dude i have read nothing but dumb stupid comments coming from u. do everyone a favor and GTFO!

[garrod]

Ikr. He has joined the ranks of Omega and Terror_B on my list as the dumbest trolls on n4g

[Simco876]

my thoughts exactly, he will get tired of only having one bubble though, and then make another account to continue the troll fest

[Murpho]

This was a great article. Really makes me want to finally go out and pick up Bad Company 2. Played Battlefield 2 and enjoyed it, which was argued to be THE FPS before Modern Warfare hit. I do hope Activision does make changes to CoD to keep it fresh, but knowing the company's track record I doubt it.

[GamerSciz]

Definitely pick up BFBC2. I recently started playing it again after getting tired of being spawnraped in Black Ops. There is basically no spawn killing at your designated spawn unless you are playing in conquest mode and spawn on your base that is being taken over and even then it happens rarely.

The sounds are so much better then COD. The physics is something he forgot to mention. There isn't really wind but when sniping or trying to shoot far with every weapon gravity plays an important rule as does bullet speed. If you have some friends to make a squad BFBC2 really is a ton of fun and I can't wait to see what they do with the 3rd one as far as destruction and gameplay elements.

[Kleptic]

I never got around to buying it...but i played that demo last winter for weeks...and it really was great...

I do recommend what you said...its by far at its best when you have a group of friends playing together...everything comes together...when you are alone, it can be a mess, as everyone rushes vehicles and gets them destroyed without doing anything right (helicopters...it was funny for 20 minutes watching everyone wreck them...but it gets old)

[operative001]

Correction: Only scoped snipers have bullet drop. I love BC2 but the decision to ONLY add bullet drop to scoped sniper rifles is retarded. Put a red dot or acog and you have unlimited range. It's a shame really, I imagine BC2 with bullet drop (EVERY WEAON) to be the most balanced fps out there. That and a shorter range of the shotgun for ONE hit kills.

[soundslike]

100% False

The sniper scopes just make the drop more visible because of how far they actually zoom in. Seriously, the scopes are more powered than you think.

[operative001]

@ soundslike
well damn I stand corrected.

[Raoh]

agreed, i just traded in my battlefield bad company 2 ps3 disc for the ultimate edition for the free 1943 unlock.

also traded in my cod black ops.. see ya

[zerox505]

bc2 rules

[blumatt]

Yes, it really does. Realistic shooting, bullet drop, sounds, recoil, destructible environments, etc. all play a role in making it a better game than Call of Duty. imo

[Yomiro]

Thank god I never bought into the black ops hype, bad company 2 is everything a FPS can offer.

[vickers500]

Not really.

It doesn't offer fast paced, arcade style action. That's why even hardcore gamers still like Call of Duty games, is because no other console FPS provides that fast paced online shooter action, and Bad Company 2 is FAR FROM being fast paced.

[jrbeerman11]

your right it isn't as fast paced as COD, nothing is.

Some people like quick 10 minute games, nothing wrong with that.

I will say however that Battlefield is a better made game, with less problems and plays very solid.

It also isn't recycled every year like COD. The funny thing about BLOPS is that its selling point was the lack of some of MW2's problems.

For people looking for realism in their shooters, Battlefield comes much closer as Call of Killstreak is about as realistic as Halo nowadays.

[vickers500]

"your right it isn't as fast paced as COD, nothing is."

Unreal Tournament is, and it's much faster.

"I will say however that Battlefield is a better made game, with less problems and plays very solid."

I will too. I know Battlefield is better MADE, I'm not denying that.

"It also isn't recycled every year like COD. The funny thing about BLOPS is that its selling point was the lack of some of MW2's problems."

Some people like the same thing, with different tweaks such as brand new maps, weapons, perks, equipment, etc. Nothing wrong with that. God of War kept the same exact formula throughout its lifestyle, with major tweaks to graphics, although every other change was only minor. There's the old saying, if it aint broke, don't fix it, and CoD controls aren't broken (granted, a large percentage of the game IS, but the controls aren't).

And BLOPS achieved that goal of being a much more balanced game than MW2, and fixed like 98% of MW2s problems, and while it did bring in problems of its own (connection issues, freezing, framerate issues), it fixed almost everything crappy about MW2.

And I personally don't like realism in my games, I play games to see or do something very unrealistic, something that's impossible in real life.

Don't get me wrong, I like most of the Battlefield games, but I didn't like Bad Company 2. Battlefield 1943 was by far my favorite Battlefield game I've ever played, followed by Bad Company 1, then Bad Company 2. I've only played those 3, but I can definitely say in my own opinion, that Bad Company 2 was the worst out of all of them, for me at least. Inferior graphics and gameplay to 1943, and inferior gameplay to Bad Company 1 (and I thought Bad Company 1 looked better as well, even though it had that grainy filter, it looked better to me, because when I look at BC2 graphics, they just seem messy and ugly and full of jaggies).

I had much more fun with 1943 and Bad Company 1, and was disappointed when I bought Bad Company 2.

edit: @operative001

I'm not saying that people who play CoD are hardcore, I'm saying that it's the reason that hardcore gamers still play Call of Duty and don't switch to something else, is because there is nothing else in that category(of fast paced arcade style fps) to switch to. And no I haven't played Vietnam, and I'm not interested enough to pay the 15 bucks to see if it's good enough.

And sure, IF YOU HAVE good medics/team mates, it might be more fun, but my experience with having good team mates in Battlefield games is almost non-existent. I almost never have team mates or squad mates that give a sh** about the objective.

[operative001]

I wouldn't say "hardcore gamers". More like short attention span gamers. BC2 can be fast paced. Have you played the Vietnam expansion? That game is a non stop charge if you have good medics on your squad.
@ vickers500
you make a good point, you do have to weave through a lot of shitty players to find the few. I clearly understand the cult following of CoD, I mean just look at the sales, not to mention the great controls. I guess I misunderstood your statement of hardcore gamers. In the end neither game should mix game play elements. People play them for what they are.

[vickers500]

"In the end neither game should mix game play elements. People play them for what they are."

Exactly the point I was trying to make. Both games provide something different, and both are masters in their area, which is why neither game should be like one another.

[xX TriiCKy Xx]

Up until Black Ops, I would have tried to defend CoD. But now, I am willing to say that Battlefield is better. In fact, just a minute ago I sent a PSN message to a buddy asking if he'd trade with me. Black Ops for his Bad Company 2. He said, "HELL NO!" I was like wtf! So I asked him if he'd take Dead Rising 2 for Bad Company and he said yeah since he doesn't play it often. So, I should be playing it in a couple of days.

[zgoldenlionz]

i want my CoD to be like CoD, i also DONT want my BC2 or Kz3 to be like CoD and vise versa.

All these games are fun because they are all different i like all that they bring to the table and think they wouldnt benefit from being more similar.

If i want some crazy fun respawn ill play CoD. If tactical BC2. or want a futuristic twist and some guns with real weight and momentum ill play some killzone.

[farhad2k8]

They should make a polished CoD4, less work more sales. I'd defo buy it.

[jessupj]

He forgot one very important thing COD can learn from BF....

Dedicated servers.

[superrey19]

Play the PC version, it has dedicated servers.

[HK6]

"What Call of Duty Can Learn from Battlefield's Better Multiplayer"

How to make it actually work for more than just 360 owners.

[GSpartan777]

Too bad numbers don't speak for themselves. You turn COD into Battlefield, your numbers + sales go down. The hate goes down to but it's not worth it.

If you want to play Battlefield, play Battlefield. If you want to play COD you play COD. End of story!

[venom06]

AMAZING ARTICLE!!!! too bad the developers that make that "CAMPER FEST" that is CoD will never think to read and listen to this article ... WHY should they when the people continue to pay $60 for that FREAKIN GARBAGE CoD that is nothing more than MoH with better graphix.... BFBC2 and the entire BATTLEFIELD SERIRES WILL ALWAYS WIPE THE FLOOR WITH CoD....

[xX TriiCKy Xx]

MoH? MoH is shit in its own way...

[iliimaster]

battlefield maps are mega huge = alot of camping and runing on a game that takes seconds to die, pretty much every 20 or so seconds maybe faster cod makes maps not so big well black ops maps are kinda big but mw2 had it right... close combat for non stop fun
when i played badcompany 2 all i did was run around die and run around more boring and annoying

[jessupj]

Well then obviously your a noob that doesn't know how to play and actually cooperate with your squad. I have no problem being in the action for most of the game.

[tmurder]

Good call on the dedicated servers, that's a huge one-up for bc2.

[SnipeySnake]

One thing, just ONE thing that battlefield should learn from call of duty black ops, splitscreen online. Would be perfect since its a team based game.

[italianbreadman]

That's definitely a good call.

[achippedbrick]

much more than one thing

[electricshadow]

IMO, BC2 is a better game that Blops in every single way. BC2 has ruined the CoD franchise for me. I play CoD games for the singleplayer only now. I did play a little bit of Blops multiplayer, but the only thing that kept coming to my mind was: "Isn't this the same game I played in 2007?" BC2 is one of the best games that I have ever played and even since it's release date in March, I still find myself playing it everyday, even after I have reached the maximum rank. It's just so damn fun.