No Bots in Multiplayer anymore

Wingman · 05-02-2005, 07:38 PM

I am really ticked off. I am a longtime player of BF1942 Desert Combat and Desert Combat Extreme mods. My buddies and I play this game all the time and we usually take on the computer in Co-op mode with 10 -1 odds. Now I read today that Co-op will only be in SP mode. Is this for real? Am I just reading this wrong? Somebody please tell me that they did not just go and ruin this game. I have been so psyched up to get this game. If Co-op is gone, there is no need for me to get this, nor my LAN buddies. Please, please tell me this is not true.

Oh yeah, I read this information here.

http://igsoa.com/forum/showthread.php?t=60

IGSOA interview with DICE Producer

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The International Game Server Operators Association (IGSOA) is proud to release our exclusive interview with DICE Assistant Producer for Battlefield 2 Patrick O’Shaughnessy. This interview focuses on the issues most important to game server administrators.

IGSOA
Will there be a Linux version of the dedicated server at game launch?
DICE
Yes, the linux server will be available at launch. We are also working on a 64-bit version of the Linux server, with significant performance increases..

IGSOA
Will the demo have a dedicated server and will there be a Linux Demo Server ?
DICE
Yes, a standalone server for the BF2 demo will be released to the public. We are planning to release a linux server for the demo as well.

IGSOA
Can we expect at least the same set of rcon controls as BFV and BF42 and are there any new rcon controls to look forward to?
DICE
The rcon controls in BF2 work slightly different than BF42/BFV but you can expect a level of functionality very similar to previous titles.

IGSOA
Will there be a remote server tool at launch
DICE
Yes, BDSoft (the makers of BFVCC and BFCC) will be releasing a server manager (called BF2CC) when BF2 launches and will provide post-launch support and updates as BF2 is updated. EA and DICE are working very closely with BDSoft to make sure these tools will be the be-all and end-all of server management software.

IGSOA
Can admins universally unlock or lock the unlocked weapons and features for use on their server?
DICE
As a server admin, you can choose to allow or disallow the unlocks and ranks that players have earned by playing on official Ranked Servers (a feature requested by our community). An admin cannot give players ranks or unlocks that they haven't earned.

IGSOA
Can admins change how Commanders are selected (e.g.: remove the link to rank) and disable the mutiny vote? Plus will there be rcon controls to assign a commander and to remove a commander (w/o booting from the server)?
DICE
As previously stated, server admins can choose to allow or disallow the ranks that players have earned by playing on official Ranked Servers. So if all the commander applicants are of the same rank (which is indeed the case if ranks are disabled), then it's first-come-first-served. At this time there are no server options or admin commands that can modify the way that commander works. You cannot disable the mutiny vote.

IGSOA
Will there be a custom combat function like BFV?
DICE
Custom Combat is not a part of the Battlefield 2 feature set at launch.

DICE
Is there a Co-Op function?
DICE
The only mode in Battlefield 2 that includes bots is Single Player.

IGSOA
What options are there for setting up the VOIP? (can it be disabled entirely?)
DICE
VOIP can be enabled or disabled as a server option. Also, you can choose to use a separate machine to run your VOIP server, thus sparing some bandwidth and CPU on your dedicated game server. There are a few other options which allow you to set the ports used and customize the sound quality.

IGSOA
What options are there for setting up Battlefield Recorder recording and download? (Can it be disabled entirely?)
DICE
On a basic level, you can set the demo file storage and publishing paths, or disable demo recording entirely.

IGSOA
Will BF2 require more, less or about the same bandwidth and processor resources as previous Battlefield titles?
DICE
Bandwidth usage is about the same as BF42/BFV, but CPU and system resource requirements are higher.

IGSOA
EA has announced that only official EA servers and servers leased from EA will be able to participate in BF2's new ranking system. Currently the vast majority of Battlefield server space is on privately run servers not leased from EA. Obviously most (if not all) admins will want to run servers that are part of the ranking system, will you consider working with the community to find a verifiable and secure way for admins to have their non EA-leased servers part of the official 'ranked' system?
DICE
We absolutely want to find a way to have admins participate in the ranking system, as long as it does not jeopardize the integrity of the scoring. Currently we are looking into how we can make this happen. As a solution in the meantime, we are signing up partners from around the world to host free ranked servers in trusted environments, so we hope that this will fill the need for ranked servers.

IGSOA
Will DICE/EA work with the community to develop an independent ranking system with full access to all the unlocks?
DICE
We would also like to do this, especially on a server-by-server basis, so players can see who are the top rated people on any given server.

IGSOA
EA leased servers are currently limited geographically, significantly more expensive than other servers, and don't allow admins to load any mod. If EA is determined to have a monopoly on leasing 'ranked servers' will EA make their servers competitive priced ($4/space/month), add modding functionality, and be available in every country that has an active BF community? Also, will EA offer competitive fixed price dedicated boxes which can run multiple server instances (including other games)?
DICE
As mentioned before, we are signing up partners around the world to provide free ranked servers to the public. We are also working with the company who hosts our rented servers to ensure that the prices are competitive with the market. That said, it is unlikely that we will extend ranking to Mods, as we have no control over the balance of these entities, so if you plan to run a Ranked server, the concern regarding running mods is somewhat mooted

IGSOA Note:
We here at ISGOA thank Patrick for giving us the time to answer our questions. We are also encouraged by many of the developments we have learned about regarding the dedicated servers for Battlefield 2, especially hearing that Linux will be available at launch. We are also very encouraged to hear that EA want to find a way for all admins to participate in the official ranking system. We at ISGOA hope to work with EA to find a secure solution where all servers that want to be ranked can be ranked...which will be good for admins, good for players and good for EA&DICE.

DanTesla1 · 05-02-2005, 07:46 PM

Oh no! Sound the alarm!

maverick514 · 05-02-2005, 07:55 PM

The bots were always really stupid. A mod will probably come out with bot support though, so don't be too worried.

Splintercell · 05-02-2005, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanTesla1

Oh no! Sound the alarm!

lol, it takes REAL skill to play w/ real people so its kinda a good thing..besides i hate how u go into servers and dont realise that you are playen w/ bots

grim reaper · 05-02-2005, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanTesla1

Oh no! Sound the alarm!

Where are your manners dan?

Its "OH NO3S!!111!!!!11!!12121!2121elvensey"

Wingman · 05-02-2005, 08:00 PM

The reason I don't like the lack of bots is that my buddies and I get together all the time and play LAN games where we all take on the computer. We ususally play it with 10-1 odds or better. Without the bots, we will have to do 3 vs 3 and that will suck considering how much there is to this game. I just sent this out to them and they are pretty ticked off over this. We really enjoy the Co-op LAN play.

I can understand taking them out of the online play since I am sure the servers will be packed. But CSS added bots that were really good and were even better than some human players. The admin could adjust the hardness level of the bots. They could do the same with BF2.

This is a real disapointment to hear. It may not affect the online players, but it does the LAN players.

Splintercell · 05-02-2005, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wingman

The reason I don't like the lack of bots is that my buddies and I get together all the time and play LAN games where we all take on the computer. We ususally play it with 10-1 odds or better. Without the bots, we will have to do 3 vs 3 and that will suck considering how much there is to this game. I just sent this out to them and they are pretty ticked off over this. We really enjoy the Co-op LAN play.

I can understand taking them out of the online play since I am sure the servers will be packed. But CSS added bots that were really good and were even better than some human players. The admin could adjust the hardness level of the bots. They could do the same with BF2.

This is a real disapointment to hear. It may not affect the online players, but it does the LAN players.

O ic what your tryen to say, that will suck

TitanSound · 05-02-2005, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Splintercell

besides i hate how u go into servers and dont realise that you are playen w/ bots

That is really not hard to spot.......

Mad Monk · 05-02-2005, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wingman

Without the bots, we will have to do 3 vs 3 and that will suck considering how much there is to this game.

Solution: Get more friends.

<jk> You do have a point in that situation.

Wingman · 05-02-2005, 08:45 PM

I did email them today my disappointment at the removal of co-op in LAN play. I understand they are going for the team concept, but they could have done that still with bots. We always worked as a team in BF1942 with DC and DCX. We have been dying to get our hands on this game.

Oh well. I will just have to wait for Ghost Recon 2, on no wait, thats been cancelled to. Hmmm, maybe Rainbow Six 4 will actually make it out this year to the PC.

DanTesla1 · 05-02-2005, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad Monk

Solution: Get more friends.

lol.

Actually, there's a bot mod out there somewhere for 42, and I know my cousin loves it. I think they recently got the bots to throw 'nades stratigically.

Anyway, I'm sure that sort of thing will be released for BF2. No need for DICE to add some crappy bots witht he game.

Preston [2nd ID] · 05-02-2005, 10:48 PM

Game still fun either way.

DanTesla1 · 05-02-2005, 10:51 PM

I'm not sure why anyone would want to buy BF2 for its singleplayer features...

When 42 was released, not one feature that was advertised had to do with SP - it's a Multiplayer game. THe SP features are just slopped together probably right after the real stuff is put in.

Marcus Cole · 05-11-2005, 03:24 AM

I must say I was very disappointed when I found out
there was no co-op multiplayer, and I'am sure all my friends
who played the original battlefield and DC are gonna be too!

I only have 10 or so friends in my area who have half decent compys
and every time we get together for a LAN we always play DC co-op
against BOTS, sure enough the bots are complete dumbasses
but at 10-1 they made up the numbers and if it got a bit too easy 1 or 2
of us human players went to the bots side which made for some very fun
and entertaining gaming as my friend would be so focused on killing the
human players they would get capped by the dumb bots.

I think it is a big mistake not to include co-op multiplayer out of the box, this
is yet another game that is following the likes of Tribes Vengence and Doom 3
and other countless games that have no bot support in multiplayer.
I hope somebody adds bot support in a mod or something, or even better
EA-DICE add it into the next patch, I mean, how hard could it be to add
bots in multiplayer!
anyway thats my whinge!

ps I'am still gonna buy the game and I'am sure my friends will too.

Wingman · 05-11-2005, 03:35 AM

I told my gaming buddies about it and they are all pretty ticked off. They are going to wait and see if any modders add the bots. We have decided not to buy the game until there are bots in multi-play. Heck, we don't even need bots on our team, just allow us to play co-op LAN play against the computer. We don't care about having bots on our side.

Joint Operations did it and it was just fine. Lets hope EA/DICE rethink this.

*down on knees begging them to add bot support to MP LAN*

Soyuz · 05-11-2005, 04:10 AM

Poor guys...
I'm sure there are many people like you and if the message doesn't go throu EA's thick skull, some one will make a mod for it.

What Dan was refering too was the "Real Player" mod for BF42, thou I'm not sure it can be used on the net...

http://www.planetbattlefield.com/bat...realplayer.asp

Anyways don't stress out.

Wingman · 05-11-2005, 04:17 AM

One last thought. Does anyone remember Tribes Vengence? I heard they dropped bot support from that game as well. I also hear that the game sold so poorly that they have dropped the game all together and will no longer even support it.

I know BF2 will still be a huge hit, but I would hope that EA/DICE look at that as a possible issue. I guess we will see in June.

At least we are getting Star Wars III this year. So all is not lost.

ActionJackson · 06-05-2005, 08:30 PM

There are many people who like COOP play because it virtually eliminates the stupid hackers messing up their enjoyment of the game.

Even with PunkBuster, hacks will always be a problem, but hackers usually stay away from COOP servers because what’s the point of hacking to kill a bot?

When we set up our servers one will be for “Conquest” (or what ever they term it this time) and one will be for COOP when it’s available.

05-02-2005, 07:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
Wingman Private Join Date: May 2005 Location: Chicago, IL. USA Posts: 22	No Bots in Multiplayer anymore I am really ticked off. I am a longtime player of BF1942 Desert Combat and Desert Combat Extreme mods. My buddies and I play this game all the time and we usually take on the computer in Co-op mode with 10 -1 odds. Now I read today that Co-op will only be in SP mode. Is this for real? Am I just reading this wrong? Somebody please tell me that they did not just go and ruin this game. I have been so psyched up to get this game. If Co-op is gone, there is no need for me to get this, nor my LAN buddies. Please, please tell me this is not true. Oh yeah, I read this information here. http://igsoa.com/forum/showthread.php?t=60 IGSOA interview with DICE Producer -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The International Game Server Operators Association (IGSOA) is proud to release our exclusive interview with DICE Assistant Producer for Battlefield 2 Patrick O’Shaughnessy. This interview focuses on the issues most important to game server administrators. IGSOA Will there be a Linux version of the dedicated server at game launch? DICE Yes, the linux server will be available at launch. We are also working on a 64-bit version of the Linux server, with significant performance increases.. IGSOA Will the demo have a dedicated server and will there be a Linux Demo Server ? DICE Yes, a standalone server for the BF2 demo will be released to the public. We are planning to release a linux server for the demo as well. IGSOA Can we expect at least the same set of rcon controls as BFV and BF42 and are there any new rcon controls to look forward to? DICE The rcon controls in BF2 work slightly different than BF42/BFV but you can expect a level of functionality very similar to previous titles. IGSOA Will there be a remote server tool at launch DICE Yes, BDSoft (the makers of BFVCC and BFCC) will be releasing a server manager (called BF2CC) when BF2 launches and will provide post-launch support and updates as BF2 is updated. EA and DICE are working very closely with BDSoft to make sure these tools will be the be-all and end-all of server management software. IGSOA Can admins universally unlock or lock the unlocked weapons and features for use on their server? DICE As a server admin, you can choose to allow or disallow the unlocks and ranks that players have earned by playing on official Ranked Servers (a feature requested by our community). An admin cannot give players ranks or unlocks that they haven't earned. IGSOA Can admins change how Commanders are selected (e.g.: remove the link to rank) and disable the mutiny vote? Plus will there be rcon controls to assign a commander and to remove a commander (w/o booting from the server)? DICE As previously stated, server admins can choose to allow or disallow the ranks that players have earned by playing on official Ranked Servers. So if all the commander applicants are of the same rank (which is indeed the case if ranks are disabled), then it's first-come-first-served. At this time there are no server options or admin commands that can modify the way that commander works. You cannot disable the mutiny vote. IGSOA Will there be a custom combat function like BFV? DICE Custom Combat is not a part of the Battlefield 2 feature set at launch. DICE Is there a Co-Op function? DICE The only mode in Battlefield 2 that includes bots is Single Player. IGSOA What options are there for setting up the VOIP? (can it be disabled entirely?) DICE VOIP can be enabled or disabled as a server option. Also, you can choose to use a separate machine to run your VOIP server, thus sparing some bandwidth and CPU on your dedicated game server. There are a few other options which allow you to set the ports used and customize the sound quality. IGSOA What options are there for setting up Battlefield Recorder recording and download? (Can it be disabled entirely?) DICE On a basic level, you can set the demo file storage and publishing paths, or disable demo recording entirely. IGSOA Will BF2 require more, less or about the same bandwidth and processor resources as previous Battlefield titles? DICE Bandwidth usage is about the same as BF42/BFV, but CPU and system resource requirements are higher. IGSOA EA has announced that only official EA servers and servers leased from EA will be able to participate in BF2's new ranking system. Currently the vast majority of Battlefield server space is on privately run servers not leased from EA. Obviously most (if not all) admins will want to run servers that are part of the ranking system, will you consider working with the community to find a verifiable and secure way for admins to have their non EA-leased servers part of the official 'ranked' system? DICE We absolutely want to find a way to have admins participate in the ranking system, as long as it does not jeopardize the integrity of the scoring. Currently we are looking into how we can make this happen. As a solution in the meantime, we are signing up partners from around the world to host free ranked servers in trusted environments, so we hope that this will fill the need for ranked servers. IGSOA Will DICE/EA work with the community to develop an independent ranking system with full access to all the unlocks? DICE We would also like to do this, especially on a server-by-server basis, so players can see who are the top rated people on any given server. IGSOA EA leased servers are currently limited geographically, significantly more expensive than other servers, and don't allow admins to load any mod. If EA is determined to have a monopoly on leasing 'ranked servers' will EA make their servers competitive priced ($4/space/month), add modding functionality, and be available in every country that has an active BF community? Also, will EA offer competitive fixed price dedicated boxes which can run multiple server instances (including other games)? DICE As mentioned before, we are signing up partners around the world to provide free ranked servers to the public. We are also working with the company who hosts our rented servers to ensure that the prices are competitive with the market. That said, it is unlikely that we will extend ranking to Mods, as we have no control over the balance of these entities, so if you plan to run a Ranked server, the concern regarding running mods is somewhat mooted IGSOA Note: We here at ISGOA thank Patrick for giving us the time to answer our questions. We are also encouraged by many of the developments we have learned about regarding the dedicated servers for Battlefield 2, especially hearing that Linux will be available at launch. We are also very encouraged to hear that EA want to find a way for all admins to participate in the official ranking system. We at ISGOA hope to work with EA to find a secure solution where all servers that want to be ranked can be ranked...which will be good for admins, good for players and good for EA&DICE. __________________

05-02-2005, 07:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
maverick514 Colonel Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: People's Republic of MA Posts: 6,061	The bots were always really stupid. A mod will probably come out with bot support though, so don't be too worried. __________________

05-02-2005, 08:00 PM	#6 (permalink)
Wingman Private Join Date: May 2005 Location: Chicago, IL. USA Posts: 22	The reason I don't like the lack of bots is that my buddies and I get together all the time and play LAN games where we all take on the computer. We ususally play it with 10-1 odds or better. Without the bots, we will have to do 3 vs 3 and that will suck considering how much there is to this game. I just sent this out to them and they are pretty ticked off over this. We really enjoy the Co-op LAN play. I can understand taking them out of the online play since I am sure the servers will be packed. But CSS added bots that were really good and were even better than some human players. The admin could adjust the hardness level of the bots. They could do the same with BF2. This is a real disapointment to hear. It may not affect the online players, but it does the LAN players. __________________

05-02-2005, 08:45 PM	#10 (permalink)
Wingman Private Join Date: May 2005 Location: Chicago, IL. USA Posts: 22	I did email them today my disappointment at the removal of co-op in LAN play. I understand they are going for the team concept, but they could have done that still with bots. We always worked as a team in BF1942 with DC and DCX. We have been dying to get our hands on this game. Oh well. I will just have to wait for Ghost Recon 2, on no wait, thats been cancelled to. Hmmm, maybe Rainbow Six 4 will actually make it out this year to the PC. __________________

05-02-2005, 10:48 PM	#12 (permalink)
Preston [2nd ID] Command Sergeant Major Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Sunny California, Home of the Hippies Posts: 728	Game still fun either way. __________________ Aurum Est Potestas.

05-11-2005, 03:24 AM	#14 (permalink)
Marcus Cole Private Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 1	I must say I was very disappointed when I found out there was no co-op multiplayer, and I'am sure all my friends who played the original battlefield and DC are gonna be too! I only have 10 or so friends in my area who have half decent compys and every time we get together for a LAN we always play DC co-op against BOTS, sure enough the bots are complete dumbasses but at 10-1 they made up the numbers and if it got a bit too easy 1 or 2 of us human players went to the bots side which made for some very fun and entertaining gaming as my friend would be so focused on killing the human players they would get capped by the dumb bots. I think it is a big mistake not to include co-op multiplayer out of the box, this is yet another game that is following the likes of Tribes Vengence and Doom 3 and other countless games that have no bot support in multiplayer. I hope somebody adds bot support in a mod or something, or even better EA-DICE add it into the next patch, I mean, how hard could it be to add bots in multiplayer! anyway thats my whinge! ps I'am still gonna buy the game and I'am sure my friends will too.

05-11-2005, 03:35 AM	#15 (permalink)
Wingman Private Join Date: May 2005 Location: Chicago, IL. USA Posts: 22	I told my gaming buddies about it and they are all pretty ticked off. They are going to wait and see if any modders add the bots. We have decided not to buy the game until there are bots in multi-play. Heck, we don't even need bots on our team, just allow us to play co-op LAN play against the computer. We don't care about having bots on our side. Joint Operations did it and it was just fine. Lets hope EA/DICE rethink this. down on knees begging them to add bot support to MP LAN __________________

05-11-2005, 04:10 AM	#16 (permalink)
Soyuz Second Lieutenant Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,472	Poor guys... I'm sure there are many people like you and if the message doesn't go throu EA's thick skull, some one will make a mod for it. What Dan was refering too was the "Real Player" mod for BF42, thou I'm not sure it can be used on the net... http://www.planetbattlefield.com/bat...realplayer.asp Anyways don't stress out.

05-11-2005, 04:17 AM	#17 (permalink)
Wingman Private Join Date: May 2005 Location: Chicago, IL. USA Posts: 22	One last thought. Does anyone remember Tribes Vengence? I heard they dropped bot support from that game as well. I also hear that the game sold so poorly that they have dropped the game all together and will no longer even support it. I know BF2 will still be a huge hit, but I would hope that EA/DICE look at that as a possible issue. I guess we will see in June. At least we are getting Star Wars III this year. So all is not lost. __________________

06-05-2005, 08:30 PM	#18 (permalink)
ActionJackson Private Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 20	There are many people who like COOP play because it virtually eliminates the stupid hackers messing up their enjoyment of the game. Even with PunkBuster, hacks will always be a problem, but hackers usually stay away from COOP servers because what’s the point of hacking to kill a bot? When we set up our servers one will be for “Conquest” (or what ever they term it this time) and one will be for COOP when it’s available. __________________ ActionJackson www.Tacticalgamerz.com 64bit servers DS3 pipe

06-05-2005, 08:34 PM	#19 (permalink)
DanTesla1 Lieutenant Colonel Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 4,193