IRC-Log: Q&A with DICE in #battlefield2 on QNet
[19:52:57] * Now talking in #battlefield2
[19:52:57] * Topic is 'Dev-Chat starts in about half an hour - Channel will be +mD through the duration of the Dev-Chat
for claritys sake, there are lots of other users in here aswell though, so don't worry! - Hope you enjoy it everyone and
have your questions ready'
[20:11:50] <QuestionBot> tSh|CodeRed asked: Why are no GeForce4-Cards supported?
[20:11:50] <QuestionBot> [DICE]Sanosuke answers: Sadly the GF4 does not support Pixel Shader 2, which we need to make the
game look as good as good as possible.
[20:14:09] <QuestionBot> a2a]Triple_D asked: How many maps will there be included in the full release ?
[20:14:09] <QuestionBot> [DICE]Sanosuke answers: There are 12 maps in the final game. Each with 3 different size
configurations.
[20:15:55] <QuestionBot> rushed|dbj asked: will there be Mod support in the game like in BF1942?
[20:15:55] <QuestionBot> [DICE]Sanosuke answers: There are a great many MODs in development right now. The new tools for
modding BF2 are the same that we used to make the game. So there is very little you wont be able to do. Especially with
the ability to modify the way the game actually plays, using the Python scripts we have added.
[20:16:51] <QuestionBot> S8|Metalmeniac asked: will there be enough support (patches) ???
[20:16:51] <QuestionBot> [DICE]Sanosuke answers: We will continue to support the game, as we did with BFV and BF42, after
release. With things like patches and content updates.
[20:18:25] <QuestionBot> XsT]Sniperx[ asked: when comes the demo Linux server edition?
[20:18:25] <QuestionBot> [DICE]Sanosuke answers: There is one due very soon
[20:19:18] <QuestionBot> FiRe7WoRK asked: Is it possible to add own custom commands to the handy 'commands menu' in the
middle of the screen (or change them) ?
[20:19:18] <QuestionBot> [DICE]Sanosuke answers: Sadly its not. But it sounds like a good idea!
[20:20:59] <QuestionBot> Sperminator asked: why linux sux :p bleh
[20:21:00] <QuestionBot> [DICE]Sanosuke answers: Sadly the demo Linux server that was released, was only put onto the
site accidentally. The real demo server will be along soon.
[20:24:10] <QuestionBot> Seti asked: Have you taken steps to prevent people from using cheats, for instance implemented
anti-cheating software?
[20:24:10] <QuestionBot> [DICE]Sanosuke answers: There are several systems in place to deal with cheating.
[20:25:21] <QuestionBot> inx|stephen asked: With battlefield 1942 & Battlefield Vietnam being such straight forward first
person shooter games - and successful ones at that; why did you feel it necessary to involve such a strategic gameplay
within Battlefield 2?
[20:25:21] <QuestionBot> [DICE]Sanosuke answers: The simple shooting fun is still in there. Only we now have added more
depth, so you can play in different ways. Squads was something i wish BF1942 had.
[20:26:23] <QuestionBot> Sampyla asked: Will there be any urban map types?
[20:26:23] <QuestionBot> [DICE]Sanosuke answers: YEP!, some of my favourite maps are the urban ones like Strike at
Karkand.
[20:28:01] <QuestionBot> nacht asked: what scripting language / engine do you use in the game? do you think a common
scripting engine for example included in dx would be benefitful? what do you think about lua in this regard...
[20:28:01] <QuestionBot> [DICE]Sanosuke answers: We have a scripting language in BF2, Python. This controls how the game
works in quite a large way, for example you can alter the way spawn points work. There will be some documentation
released on this in the future for those of you that are interested in making MOD's
[20:29:26] <QuestionBot> Peris asked: There is a big usability problem with setting up controls, it's really hard to
properly assign keys because you have to replace the key's it's assigned too first.. are there any plans to make this
more straightforward like just switching the keys when you assign them?
[20:29:26] <QuestionBot> [DICE]Sanosuke answers: This is because, even though the key in the front end is not bound to
anything, it is in the controls.con file. Today we were working on fixing this.
[20:30:48] <QuestionBot> K1nt4ro asked: One good reason to buy BF2 instead of 42/vietnam for about half the price?
[20:30:48] <QuestionBot> [DICE]Sanosuke answers: Squads, Much better visuals, Commander, Built in VoIP, Demo Recorder,
Online Ranking & Medals . . .
[20:32:13] <QuestionBot> sCa|Kami asked: why are the anti air capabilities in the game so ineffective vs jets?
[20:32:13] <QuestionBot> [DICE]Sanosuke answers: Its a timing thing. Try and shoot as they fly away from you. Try not to
shoot at a sever angle, or the missile will loose its lock. Also try and make the pilot use their flares before you
fire. Hope that helps.
[20:33:45] <QuestionBot> uK|Peanuts asked: Surely up to 32 people using their microphones at the same time would cause a
problem? What measures do you have on countering mic spam?
[20:33:45] <QuestionBot> [DICE]Sanosuke answers: You cant talk to all 32 people for that reason. You can talk to your
squad, and if you are the Squad Leader you can talk to the Commander.
[20:34:58] <QuestionBot> Seba|^w0rk asked: will the ingamebrowser be "usable" because right now, scrolling is "not
really" possible..
[20:34:58] <QuestionBot> [DICE]Sanosuke answers: Yes, the full version of the game will not have this problem
[20:35:51] <QuestionBot> CrazyAnt asked: Not so much as a question, but a suggestion. I'd love to see the commander to be
able to assign players to squads. This would be a very hand feature, esp. on public servers where people seem to be
rather hesitant to join squads.
[20:35:51] <QuestionBot> [DICE]Sanosuke answers: As a Squad Leader you can invite people to your squad using the MANAGE
tab on the SQUAD screen.
[20:38:09] <QuestionBot> Strider asked: Is Voip enabled in BF2 Demo? It seems not.
[20:38:09] <QuestionBot> [DICE]Sanosuke answers: VoIP is included in the demo. You can have the game server run it, or
the seperate VoIP server which is also included with the Demo. It is up to the server admin to enable VoiP for that
server. Sevrers running VoiP have headset icon next to them in the server browser. To use VoiP you need to be in a
squad and press 'B' to talk to your squad mates. Hope thats helpful
[20:41:04] <QuestionBot> String asked: Given the come and go nature of game servers do you think there could be an issue
with commandos dropping out or doing nothing and thereby preventing "normal" gameplay regarding supplies etc? In other
words, if a commander isnt effective is it still possible to play the game on that team perfectly OK like 1942 or bfv?
[20:41:04] <QuestionBot> [DICE]Sanosuke answers: You can always start a Mutiny vote to get rid of them
[20:42:13] <QuestionBot> I^want^voice^pl asked: i'm commander; how can i show the "commander-screen"?
[20:42:13] <QuestionBot> [DICE]Sanosuke answers: Press the CAPS LOCK key when you are the Commander to see the Commander
interface. Help will take over from there and let you know about all the functions on that screen.
[20:43:07] <QuestionBot> INTENSITY-FTZ asked: why the demo isn't working with ati cards like X800PRO (mine)
[20:43:07] <QuestionBot> [DICE]Sanosuke answers: I have an x800 and it works fine for me, are your drivers up to date?
[20:46:11] <QuestionBot> nacht asked: what games other than bf do you play at the moment
?
[20:46:11] <QuestionBot> [DICE]Sanosuke answers: Recently the team has been here at lot working on finishing the final
game, and then the demo. So i havent had much chance to play any games other than BF2.
[20:47:17] <QuestionBot> Strider asked: Is the game engine totally rewritten? I like the new engine very much because of
the gun physics and the hitboxes on the characters. Sniping is much more fun now
(as is the rest of BF2 of course)
[20:47:17] <QuestionBot> [DICE]Sanosuke answers: Yes this is a totally new engine. Its taken a lot of work, but we think
it is great improvment.
[20:49:16] <QuestionBot> valued-tom asked: Is it true there is a trajectory decay on bullets, and is there a maximum
range the bullets can travel from the sniper rifle?
[20:49:16] <QuestionBot> [DICE]Sanosuke answers: Yes. Bullets do not just fly in a straight line in BF2.
[20:53:50] <QuestionBot> Steve|wfh asked: Will the retail version have the driver check removed as its annoying for users
that cant upgrade but it runs fine ( Nvidia 6600GT driver 66.93 )
[20:53:50] <QuestionBot> [DICE]Sanosuke answers: The driver check will still be there. However Im sure there will be some
new drivers along very soon. And its always a good idea to have the latest drivers, right?
[20:55:03] <QuestionBot> Foxst0r asked: will the multiplayer accounts being used for Demo play be deleted when the retail
version is released?
[20:55:03] <QuestionBot> [DICE]Sanosuke answers: Nope, you can keep your current nick. And you'll be able to get stats
and awards too.
[20:55:52] <QuestionBot> FoeCuz^BF2 asked: Will 128players be the max on servers or 64? Or will it be nore than 128?
[20:55:52] <QuestionBot> [DICE]Sanosuke answers: We only support up to 64 players. But due to the flexible nature of the
way the game is made, you can make it use more.
[20:57:32] <QuestionBot> Mook asked: Are you going to expand on the orig 12 maps? Because thats not a great number for a
game thats gonna cost ~£30
[20:57:32] <QuestionBot> [DICE]Sanosuke answers: As with the previous BF games, we will continue to support the game
after it is realesed, with things like updates and new content.
[20:58:31] <QuestionBot> [saft]netrex asked: I tried looking around, but couldn't find out how tochange my nick. Is this
possible?
[20:58:31] <QuestionBot> [DICE]Sanosuke answers: You can have as many nicks as you like, but you need to register them
with a different email address.