DICE: Battlefield and Modern Warfare Aren't Competing in the Same Sport

[John Funk]

DICE: Battlefield and Modern Warfare Aren't Competing in the Same Sport

Gamers want to see a big showdown between Modern Warfare 3 and Battlefield 3, but DICE doesn't even think the two games are in the same arena.

You could be forgiven for thinking that EA's Battlefield 3 was a game designed to take on Activision's Call of Duty series, what with EA CEO John Riccitiello saying as much outright [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/109072-EA-CEO-Battlefield-3-Is-Designed-to-Take-COD-Down], but its developers don't agree. Speaking with PSM3, the game's executive producer Patrick Bach discussed the perceived rivalry between Battlefield and Modern Warfare, and said he thought it was overplayed.

"Everyone wants there to be a fight between us - and I understand that - but the problem is if you say it's a 'fight,' you're assuming you're competing at the same sport," he said. "We have so many things in our game that aren't a part of Modern Warfare, so it really comes down to personal preference. You choose based on the depth you want, the maturity level, your own personal taste ... it's all about how you get your fix."

Cynics may want to see this as a cleverly disguised dig, because it's not difficult to read this as Bach claiming his game is deeper and more mature than COD. Still, we should be willing to give him the benefit of the doubt here and assume he means what he says - that MW3 and Battlefield are just different types of military shooters.

"We're building the game we want to play," he said, "and there are a lot of Battlefield fans who agree with us."

I agree with you, Patrick, and I think that making Battlefield to take on COD would be a huge mistake - it should be made as a Battlefield game from the beginning. Now if only you could tell your boss that, it'd be great.

(Via CVG [http://www.computerandvideogames.com/307929/news/battlefield-3-everyone-wants-us-to-fight-cod-but-were-competing-at-different-sports/])

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[Professor James]

I'm still a little bit skeptical but hopefully Patrick is right because I don't want battlefield to turn into a COD clone.

 

[RA92]

Finally someone's putting an end to this whole CoD vs BF bullshit!

Seriously, EA should shut the fuck up and let the devs do the talking.

 

[Irridium]

They should probably tell EA this.

 

[Zhukov]

Heh. Nice snide little comment there.

 

[ZeroMachine]

Yeah, and apples aren't competing against oranges.

... Wait, they are competing, right?

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

I'll be honest...for my money, at least...they're competing. Unless this co-op teased for BF3 is some epic shit, my money is going to CoD.

 

[Nightfalke]

"We have so many things in our game that aren't a part of Modern Warfare, so it really comes down to personal preference. You choose based on the depth you want, the maturity level, your own personal taste ... it's all about how you get your fix."

Hehehe. Well done, DICE. Well done.

I have found with Battlefield games, there is still blatant dickery, but the people are less vocal about the dickery.

 

[Kenjitsuka]

I've always liked BF way more than COD.
I agree that it's deeper, and feels way less on rails.
Oh, did I tell you I don't care for multiplayer, except in GoW?

 

[ZeZZZZevy]

This is just getting funny.

EA is trying to organize this sensational "war" and all the devs wanna do is be left alone.
and call their competitors immature

 

[Tyyka]

Cynics may want to see this as a cleverly disguised dig, because it's not difficult to read this as Bach claiming his game is deeper and more mature...

Did anyone else get to that point and think he was about to make a reference comparing classical music to some trashy pop music from today?

 

[ZeroMachine]

Yeah, and apples aren't competing against oranges.

... Wait, they are competing, right?

They're both fruit so of course!

That's the only relation Battlefield 3 and MW3 have. They are both fruit, as in both are Modern Military Massacres of 2 different sides. Why, Why can't it just be that and not some "Whose better" between them?

I'm glad someone got the metaphor

 

[vxicepickxv]

I'll be honest...for my money, at least...they're competing. Unless this co-op teased for BF3 is some epic shit, my money is going to CoD.

Cash wise, yes CoD will rake in much more than BF3, but I think BF3 is going to be a better game.

 

[Yureina]

I like that DICE fellow, and not just because my only experience with BF (BC2) has turned out to be positive. I just wish that bloody game would run better on my system...

Anyway! I do hope they manage to stay true to their plans and make a good Battlefield game and not a CoD clone. CoD smells funny to me, so i'd prefer to not play something too similar to that when I eventually get my hands on BF3.

I'll be honest...for my money, at least...they're competing. Unless this co-op teased for BF3 is some epic shit, my money is going to CoD.

Cash wise, yes CoD will rake in much more than BF3, but I think BF3 is going to be a better game.

The sad but unfortunate truth.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

I'll be honest...for my money, at least...they're competing. Unless this co-op teased for BF3 is some epic shit, my money is going to CoD.

Cash wise, yes CoD will rake in much more than BF3, but I think BF3 is going to be a better game.

Well, I'm a big fan of co-op, and that new MW3 mode they teased sounded about perfect for me.

So, here's hoping the teased co-op for BF3 can blow my little suburban head off.

 

[Baresark]

Blah blah blah. This is annoying, either DICE is lying, or EA is, either way, I would rather see a cohesive picture. I am tired of all of this talk. I know for a fact that BF3 will be a better game and multiplayer experience, for me. I hate EA though, I mean, I am gonna buy the minimum products from them... and right now it only looks like BF3 will be getting my money for the foreseeable future.

They are both quasi realistic military FPS's.... that means they are competing in that they are trying to get money from the same group of people, basically. They aren't the same, but the basics are. Yes, BF3 will probably be a better game, no they probably won't sell more than MW3. That isn't the measure of success though, now is it. The measure of success is making a profit, and you can't determine success by comparing profits of one company to profits of another company. Say EA makes $100 Million in profit, and Activision make $200 Million in profits, does that make one a failure? No, the answer is they are both successful. And then the measure of success is relative for each one. Not to each other.