Battlefield 2142 Booster Pack Announced

[MC]

Source: http://www.planetbattlefield.com

Well, this isn't much of a surprise. I don't see why DICE doesn't just make a patch that has these additions instead of releasing a booster pack.

 

[DiebytheSword]

I'll probably grab that, especially if they're serious about improving the infantry aspect.

They better make the APM's susptable to grenade fire, it's a camp fest as it is.

 

[frsrblch]

Infantry fighting, sweet. Too bad it rapes my computer.

I think I can tell you why they are releasing a booster pack rather than a patch. They want money. Why make a free patch when you can make a booster pack and charge money for it. Very few game companies make free content (in fact, Tripwire is the only one I can think of atm).

 

[Hibiki]

Cool I liked the snow maps the best.

Also urban titans for the win.



So gonna buy this.

 

[SaiyanPrideXIX]

I guess now that I have a super computer I should give this a try but honestly I can't bring myself to pay money for a game I know will port itself to Xbox in a year and be more balanced and more functional.

 

[DiebytheSword]

I don't see how it would be more functional, but I will buy less buggy.

 

[MC]

Screenshot of one map:

http://www.battlefield.ea.com/battlefield/bf/images/screenshot_NS.jpg

Here are screenshots of the billboards that started the rumors of the booster pack:

Source: http://www.planetbattlefield.com

Source: http://www.planetbattlefield.com

And, here is the official confirmation of the booster pack:

Today we would like to announce to all our players the coming release of the Battlefield 2142 Northern Strike booster pack! There is a press release going out tomorrow, along with a trailer showing the action in one of the new maps. This addition to the Battlefield universe contains new content to expand the war for the survival deep into the frigid wastelands of Europe. With three new maps players will be challenged to engage in Titan and Conquest game play to secure victory for their team. Both sides have brought forward new vehicles to aid their forces along with 10 new unlocks available to soldiers through both standard and field unlock systems. We also wanted to inform players that we will be working with Combat Studios Testing to host a closed beta in the near future.

Source: http://www.battlefield.ea.com/

 

[Hitokiri]

What exactly IS "Epic Titan mode"?

 

[MC]

What exactly IS "Epic Titan mode"?

The Titan Mode is somewhat like that Assault mode from Unreal Tournament, though the objectives remain the same in each map.

The Titan mode involves players from opposing teams whose objective is to destroy the other team's Titan, while trying to defend their own. Titans can be moved throughout the battlefield by Commanders, players who are elected to lead each team. Titans can be boarded by infantry via pods launched from an APC, pods launched from a rival Titan, pods launched onto a Titan because of a squad beacon (unlock item), or by landing on the Titan in an air transport, after the Titan's shields have been worn down. Players must then destroy four reactor consoles and then the reactor itself. When the hull of the Titan fails, a 20-second abandon ship timer is triggered, allowing players to evacuate the Titan before it is completely destroyed and avoid dying in the ensuing explosion. During the beta release of the game, there was an award for those who managed to escape the destroyed Titan before the 20-second timer ends. In the retail game, the round ends when the Titan is destroyed, and because player deaths triggered by the end of a round do not count, the evacuation is entirely for inducing a rush in the player. This award, sometimes known as the "tumbler pin", has been re-introduced by the 1.05 patch.

Edit

More stuff was released:

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjS5YvMsYL0

Battlefield 2142 Northern Strike Booster Pack Brings Futuristic Close-Quarters Combat and Delivers All-New Maps, Vehicles, Unlocks and more for Battlefield 2142

The battle for survival wages on! Today we announce that Battlefield 2142?: Northern Strike* is currently in development for the PC. The booster pack is being developed at the EA Digital Illusions (DICE) studio in Stockholm, Sweden and is slated for release in March 2007.

Battlefield 2142: Northern Strike drops gamers deep into a desperate conflict for control of Earth's last scraps of inhabitable land following the onset of a cataclysmic new ice age. The Pan-Asian Coalition (PAC) has secretly moved into mainland Europe, using abandoned urban areas to establish new strongholds in a last-ditch push for superiority. The European Union must quickly mobilize north to dislodge PAC forces from a series of urban strongholds and regain the upper hand.

Battlefield 2142: Northern Strike features three new maps, including the infamous WWII battle scene at the Bridge at Remagen, an Alpine Titan docking harbour in Port Bavaria and a claustrophobic showdown in the Liberation of Leipzig. The booster pack also features new vehicles including the EU?s heavily armed IFV Goliath and the PAC's hovering light IFV Hachimoto in addition to new unlocks, new badges and ribbons, new gameplay and more.

"Our number one goal with Battlefield 2142: Northern Strike was to give fans more of the close-quarters combat, increased persistence and new toys they've been asking for," said Kristoffer Bergqvist, the booster pack's producer. "We've also added gameplay enhancements including two brand new vehicle types in an asymmetrical set-up. Furthermore, we're introducing the Titan game mode into an urban setting and will debut the intensified Conquest Assault Lines game mode."

Source: http://www.battlefield.ea.com/

Edit #2

Even more stuff:

Source: http://www.battlefield.ea.com/

And an interview:

1) What was your overall focus and vision when you set out to create the booster pack?

Main focus for Northern Strike was to create something that felt new and fresh and appealed to both veteran and casual players. A lot of time and effort was put into designing new vehicle and level types, to add another layer to the Battlefield experience, but still keep the Battlefield core values. We also wanted to expand on the persistence experience, to add a new layer of unlock items and new badges to earn. Last but not least we strived to incorporate the booster pack with the original game. Rather than having booster pack players gather on one server and original game players on another we wanted to allow booster pack owners to enjoy certain parts of the new content while playing the core game.

2) The vehicles that are introduced in Battlefield 2142: Northern Strike are two new types compared to the vehicles available in the core game, could you tell us something about how these will change gameplay?

Both vehicles' main purpose is to assist and hunt infantry, but in completely different ways. The EU Goliath is a slow moving heavily armoured beast with 6 different guns placed on it, it's carrying a spawn point, re-supply functionality and regenerative armour. The PAC Hachimoto is more about doing quick strafing runs trying to help your infantry while dodging enemy fire.

3) Where does the name "Northern Strike" come from?

As the war around the Mediterranean rages on, the Pan Asian Coalition make a move into Europe, scavenging the abandoned, dead cities that once were the heart of Europe. When the EU finally realizes what is going on the PAC already established several bases in urban central European areas. A counter offensive is launched, the spearhead is pointing to the north and the EU army has no intentions to stop until they got back what was once theirs, snow covered or not.

4) In the first video release for the booster pack the Hachimoto, available to the PAC only, is in focus. What would be the best strategy for using that particular vehicle?

The PAC Hachimoto is the Goliath's direct opposite. It's small, extremely fast and extremely agile. On top of this it hovers, which means you can make awesome strafing runs with guns ablaze. With the gunner carrying TV-guided anti-vehicle missiles as well as a fast-shooting grenade launcher a well coordinated two-man team will prove very dangerous to the enemy troops. However, keep in mind that this vehicle is very vulnerable to enemy fire, if you are standing still you will most likely be destroyed faster than you can say "Garmisch-Partenkirchen".

5) There are ten new unlocks and also increased persistence in the booster pack. Could you give us some hints on what the new unlocks might be, and also how the increased persistence will work?

Rather than earning new unlocks by climbing through the ranks, the booster pack will add 10 new badges which when received will award the player with one unlock credit each. This unlock credit can be used to unlock a standard unlock item or, if you're on top of the unlock branch, a Northern Strike unlock. The Northern Strike unlocks will be available through Field Upgrade for all users who maxed out one or more unlock trees, but only players entitled to Northern Strike can unlock them permanently. A lot of energy has been put into making the unlocks a fun and challenging experience both for the ones carrying them and for the ones not.

6) The booster pack features the tweaked Conquest Assault Lines game mode, how does this version of Conquest play differently than the original game mode available in Battlefield 2142?

It's a simple but still important change to the Conquest: Assault game mode featured in the BF series since 1942. Its essence is that the attacking team cannot conquer the enemy home base until all other bases are under their control. This makes for a more coordinated assault and more tactical decisions to be taken during the game. If the attackers succeed with this heroic achievement endless glory and a special Conquest: Assault pin awaits them.

Source: http://www.battlefield.ea.com/

 

[Spunky]

I don't see why DICE doesn't just make a patch that has these additions instead of releasing a booster pack.

Because they won't make money, you silly goose.