Now I'm back at my desk in Stockholm watching all the wonderful comments and remembering those awesome moments. I have returned to Stockholm with a new mindset on things and this Gamescom Event has really been some of the best things I have ever done. We had something really exciting for people who attended Gamescom. This was all about the Community. Events like the "Korean BBQ" and the EA Community Party was something really special.




I was picked up at the Düsseldorf Airport by members from the German Community Team. I had only spoken to them on Teamspeak as we had dogtag challenges and were playing with the Community. As I met Andreas Koch I would come to realize he is one of the funniest and hard working Community Managers out there.




After meeting up we drove to the nice city of Cologne. Of course if you checked my tweets you’d know there is no speed limit on some parts of the Autobahn and with The German Community Manager for the Battlefield Games "Gamma" at the wheel I would feel jetlagged for years to come.




So we dropped everyone off, went to our apartment, dumped our things and moved on to visit the Convention Center in Cologne for Gamescom.




Of course as usual something always goes wrong; they couldn't find my Exhibitor Ticket so they printed a Trade Visitor ticket. Here it is:












With the temporary ticket fixed we got ready to set everything up in the EA Community Lounge for the days to come.








The Battlefield Event



The Battlefield Event the next day was held between 9 and 12. I had the chance to meet some of the most hardcore gamers and fans from the German Community and I was also very impressed by their knowledge and dedication for the game. The “Questions and Answers” session was a great way for me to actually face the ideas and issues raised by the Community. Many questions about the maps, mod tools and community came up. I'm taking the whole chunk with me to Stockholm. A big thumbs-up to you guys!

We gave out dogtags and merchandise. You can see some of the pictures here:
















Community



Now, as you may have seen in a few pictures there were some really comfy beanbags in the EA Community Lounge. We grabbed a few of them and started talking about Game- and Communtiy related things. This was a really good relaxed way for everyone to get their questions answered.












Now there were also some interesting guys from the German Modding Community called "Operation Peace Keeping" that presented me with a steelcase. This case contained loads of wishes for Battlefield 3. Of course I wanted to get in on that since thea idea was presented very creatively.












The Community events kept on coming. We went to a Korean BBQ Restaurant and had some really delicious food. We gave out prizes to some people who had pulled some extra weight in the German Community and they were also thanked. Here are some pictures of it.












We were all very tired on Saturday but this was the perfect day to make the last push for it. Meeting with the Community in the EA Lounge once again and also speaking to a representative from a Female Gaming Community Site called Zockerweibchen :). Thank you very much for that interesting conversation and lots of good ideas! Let's get something going for the Female Gaming Community as well.












And so we had the EA Community Party at EA in Cologne. This event was a huge success. Thank you to everyone who took their time to provide us with free food and drinks and some Rock Band for us to rock out on. Battlefield related: “1April”, aka Dominik Herbst, won the Battlefield Community Award for his awesome job on www.bfbcs.com.
















I have also met so many interesting people and had so many interesting conversations about Battlefield and also Community Management. It's really hard to describe the feeling I have now, since it's just overwhelming with positive energy and I can't wait to kick off some really cool community-related stuff for the BF Community. So a big thank you to everyone who attended Gamescom and made it such a great event. Also, a big thanks to the dedicated German fanbase that made it to Gamescom and a big thank you to everyone who followed the stream of news on twitter.

If you want to view pictures or read up on Gamescom from a Battlefield view there are several sites where you can check it out. I hope I get the chance to see everyone next year again or even sooner! :)



Check out this video from the EA Community Party and the DICE-crew rocking out on Rockband :)



(Please visit the site to view this media)





To view more pictures from this event you can visit the following sites:



http://www.battlefieldbadcompany2.com/de/news



http://www.bf-games.net/



http://www.battlefield-company.de/



http://www.bf-news.de/



http://www.figh7club.com/



// zh1nt0

This is a quick and friendly notice about GameSpy 's future datacenter move. They're on track for a move date of Wednesday, August 25 starting at 10:00 p.m. (22:00) Pacific Daylight Time. This will affect BF2 and BF2142 and they will be offline for approximately 6 hours starting at that time.






This is not a patch for either Battlefield 2 or Battlefield 2142.

All played stats and accounts will remain unchanged during this transfer.





Thanks very much, and have a fantastic week.

Hi, Battlefield fans!



We have just released our sixth VIP Map Pack on PC, Xbox 360 and PS3. This means that you now will have the chance to play Squad Deathmatches on one of my absolute favorite maps, Panama Canal. You also have the opportunity to engage in fierce Squad Rush fights on Laguna Presa.



As per usual, the VIP Map Pack is free for new game buyers. If you picked up the game used, you can get a VIP code either through the Playstation Store/Live Marketplace, or via the in-game store. For PC players, this new content is free for all.



To give you a glimpse of the new action that awaits, here is our freshly squeezed trailer for the Map Pack. Enjoy!





(Please visit the site to view this media)



Fridens liljor,

Tommy "H Brun"

In our new series of strategy tips for Onslaught, the first map I will take you through is beautiful Isla Inocentes. No time like the present, so here we go!



Starting vehicles:
Starting out at your base, you will have immediate access to 1 UH-60 transport helicopter, 2 quad bikes and 2 patrol boats.



Recommended squad:
Minimum 1 engineer, as this map has both an enemy chopper and enemy tank that need to be taken down. Medics are always essential, since if everybody dies, it is game over.









On our way to base A. So far, so good.













Base A
About 230 metres away, accessible both by land and air, lies the first enemy base that you have to conquer. If you go by boat, you will meet pretty heavy resistance from a mounted machinegun and a mounted grenade launcher. Suggested approach: load up the UH-60 transport helicopter with one pilot and one passenger manning the minigun. Approach the beach in front of the base and hover sideways to let your minigunner make the process short with any immediate resistance in the area. Let the other players join up, either by boat on the beach, or by quad bikes along the road, effectively flanking the enemies.



Once you approach the base flag, an enemy Hind helicopter will appear and make life miserable. An engineer will be able to take it down with an RPG, but it is very hard to hit a moving target. If anyone in your squad has the tracer dart gun, using it on the chopper will make the engineer's rocket guided, which makes it much easier to dispose of the Hind. The very easiest approach, though, is probably to stay in the transport chopper and let your minigunner take care of it (if your helicopter is destroyed, it will respawn at your base after a while).



Once the chopper is down, taking the base is pretty standard procedure: huddle around in close proximity of the flag, and make sure to put down any incoming reinforcements. Once you have raised your own flag, advance to base B.







Try to avoid this situation in Onslaught Mode, if possible.







Base B
Going to base B requires a trip on the lake. Take the boat from beneath the cliffside straight to base B. There is one mounted machine gun on the beach, and the flag is situated in a narrow uphill street a bit further in. Before going straight for the flag, make sure you take out the sniper and the mounted machine gun on the rooftops.



Go for the flag, and take cover behind the crates placed there. This is a good position to restock on ammo and health. As long as the base is not taken, new enemies will appear along the road and head for you, but they should be easily taken down from afar -- especially if you have a recon in your team. Once the base is taken, prepare for the final push. If the flag refuses to raise, search the nearby buildings for any stray enemies.





Good luck, have fun!







Base C
Okay, this is a tough one. Remember -- if all of you die, it is game over. Base C can be approached via the mountains, which gives you a good sniping/machine gunning vantage point. When entering the base, though, a light enemy tank appears that needs to be taken out quickly. RPG:s are usually the most effective and safe way to attempt this, however, with all the other enemies swarming in you might find yourself in a pinch if you do not help each other with ammo and health and revive any fallen comrades instantly.



Try not to stay too close together when facing a tank. If you do, your entire squad could be compromised in one hit. When you have taken out the tank, the hardest part is over. Just mop up the opposition, watch that flag rise, and wait for the congratulatory message to appear. Then do it all over again and try to beat your best time. :)



Over and out.

First off, thanks to all of you for giving me such a warm welcome into the community. I have already had a chance to play Bad Company 2 with a few new friends this weekend, which was good fun. Next time, I will make sure to find my headset for maximum teamplay.



Today, I will begin an in-depth look at our DLC Onslaught Mode (for X360 and PS3). This first part in my new blog series will cover the basics of this new game mode.



So what is Onslaught? Here is the trick: it can be different things for different people. It tasks 1-4 of you to brave forwards and conquer a number of bases (much like in Conquest Mode) on four maps. Once you have taken all bases on a map, your time will be posted to the Onslaught specific leaderboards.



The enemies are A.I. controlled, and the difficulty can be set to Easy. This means that Onslaught Mode can be a relatively stress-free (and I use the term "stress-free" rather loosely) way of learning the ropes. If you or any of your friends are newcomers to the game or the genre, teaming up in Onslaught Mode is a good way of experimenting with the different classes and their special abilities, easing into the frantic multiplayer mode.



For the experienced players, the challenge lies in clearing the maps as quickly as possible. Also, specific achievements/trophies for clearing the maps on Hardcore difficulty means there is a sweet reason to accept this very tough challenge.



In the days to come, I will give you specific tips on each of the four Onslaught maps. Stay tuned. In the meantime, remember to keep your squad tight.



Fridens liljor,
Tommy "H Brun"



P.S.
Almost forgot to link to a nice piece on Onslaught Mode by Mitch Dyer over on Bitsmob. Excellent stuff.



P.P.S.
Onslaught Q+A below.


Q: Do I level up?
A: No. It would be too easy to boost your stats playing Onslaught Mode on Easy.



Q: How many players is it for?
A: 1-4. You will probably not have much luck playing it solo, though (challenge accepted, anyone?).



Q: How difficult is it?
A: There are four difficulties ranging from Easy to Hardcore. Easy is pretty relaxed, considering an entire army is out to get you. Hardcore setting is only recommended for four seasoned veterans.

So, Ladies and Gentlemen! It’s that time of year again where everyone is getting ready for one of the biggest gaming conventions ever. I feel honored and very proud to represent DICE and Battlefield at this years Gamescom 2010.




As the preparations have been set and the ball is in motion, it’s safe to say we are going to have something great for people this year, and if you can't make it, I'll make sure you don't miss out by uploding videos on youtube, blogging and also twittering about the latest on Gamescom!






As the Community Manager, it is my job to manage the Community and receive feedback for the Battlefieldseries. That is still only half of what I do. My role at DICE goes hand in hand with my ambitions as a gamer and a key figure in Community Communications. That is to evolve the Community. Make it a bigger place and also make it the best Community out there. I have already seen what the Battlefield Community is capable of and I know we are on our way to something really great.





In order to manage the very large BF Community with millions of fans and players, one must engage all parties and hear their voices. Sometimes it can be tricky to actually listen to everyone at once, that is why I have been browsing around quite a lot and stumbled upon one site that caught my attention very fast.






Girlgamer. This site is brilliant and also points out the very essence of that gaming is in no way gender-related. That is why I am pushing this fact at Gamescom and everywhere I go, I will keep pushing it until it is acknowledged. Female gamers should never feel left out since they are as natural and important to the gaming community as the other groups such as competitive players and/or casual players. So make your voices heard Ladies! Call the shots and defeat stereotypes!






If you’re going to Gamescom, make sure to meet up with me and have a few words and give me your ideas.



And to end this message with a bang, I give you a really awesome video made by our very own Forum member R3CLAIMED.



(Please visit the site to view this media)



To follow me at Gamescom, check out these sites!



www.twitter.com/zh1nt0

http://www.youtube.com/user/DICEBattlefield#p/p

http://blogs.battlefield.ea.com/

Hello Ladies and Gentlemen!



I'm happy to announce we have a new player on the Battlefield. His name is Tommy (Gamertag: H Brun), and is the new Jr Product Manager at DICE. Some of you may recognize him from magazines like PC Gamer, Super PLAY and Svenska Dagbladet here in Sweden. Tommy will be joining me here on the Battlefield blog to share our gaming experiences and let you know what is happening at DICE. I'll let him take it from here:









"This is an intriguing turn of events! Having been a professional games journalist for the past 15 years, I now find myself working with the same people whose products I used to review. Looking back, I realize I have had the privilege of seeing DICE grow from its humble beginnings to where they are today.



First as a gamer, playing and falling in love with Pinball Dreams and Benefactor on my Amiga. Later as a journalist, where I literally had the opportunity to watch Battlefield take form. I remember visiting the small studio Refraction Games in Stockholm in 1998 (or perhaps 1999). They gave me a tech demo driving a tank up a decidedly low-poly hill. It was early days, but the demo still left me with a sense of awe and excitement. That tech would later turn into Codename Eagle, the spiritual predecessor to everything Battlefield.



A few years later, working for PC Gamer, I stood at Patrick Söderlund's desk in the DICE Gothenburg office. He was maneuvering a Spitfire over a small Pacific island (probably an early version of Wake Island) bathed in golden sunlight. I had just seen a glimpse of the very first true Battlefield game. Today, that series is synonymous with DICE -- and I am a small but very proud part of that company.



Little amazing things happen all the time at work. Yesterday, this very nice gentleman taught me how to make a mean espresso with the company coffee maker. That man was none other than Lars Gustavsson, one of the main people behind Codename Eagle. I am living a boy's dream, and sometimes I have to pinch myself to make sure I am awake.



When done pinching, I usually retreat to my condo on the outskirts of Stockholm for a bit of evening gaming. I have this fixed idea that I need to conquer all four maps in Onslaught Mode on hardcore, so if you are up for that, give me a ping. I am looking forward to hearing from you, and I will talk to you again soon. Until then, keep your squad tight."



Fridens liljor,
Tommy "H Brun"

Youknow how we had a Twitter competition last week?

Well,player "hotspot" won the rare signed BF 1942 t-shirt. This week howeverI'm doing the same thing. I'm giving away a rare BF2 compass. This goes greatwith anyone who played BF2 and it's a nice piece of merchandise made to a highquality.

Now,the rules changed a bit so these are the new ones.





1. Follow OfficialBFBC2 on Twitter



2.Follow instructions on the OfficialBFBC2 Twitter account. http://twitter.com/OfficialBFBC2



3. TheInstructions will appear at 10:00 CET on Thursday the 12th of August.



4. TheTwitter give-away stretches from Thursday 12th of August 10:00 CET to Friday10:00 CET.




This twitter exclusive competition is open for everyone and winners will berandomly selected out of all retweets. The higher your veteran status , thehigher your chance of winning some cool apparel. This give-away will keep on goinguntil I run out of stock and that won't happen in a while so I suggest youbrush up your veteran statuses and get a chance to win some awesome stuff. Thereason why this has been changed to a 24-hour giveaway is that everyone fromaround the world should have a chance to win this :).










CommunityPressroom


For all you news posters and news hunters out there, there is a newCommunity Pressroom available. This helps all the news posters get their informationverified as official and will keep more members up to date on things going onin the community.



So headon over here to check it out: http://groups.google.com/group/community-pressroom







BF2 NationsCup!

Want to wear that country-tag? Get your game on andsign up on the Nations Cup page at ESL. http://www.esl.eu/eu/bf2/news/131468/

Now, sinceI love eSports and am sure that this is going to be a great tournament, I havea small proposition for the teams making it to the finals. How about playingthe final at the DICE office, streamed live and having a winner’s party afterthat?






Frequentlyasked questions

So, thereare a lot of questions going around the Community I'm going to list a fewanswers to your questions here. The top 3 asked questions of this week are:



How comeSPECACT hasn't been made available for PC?

SPECACT was causing issues with the last update so we made the decisionto roll back the SPECACT changes so we could release important crash fixes andother features. SPECACT is still planned for release on PC.



Are new maps coming for BFBC2 in the future?

Vietnam will bring more maps to BC2. Map Pack 6 is due for release nextweek. There will be more information on the maps coming for Vietnam the closerwe get to a release date.



What is the status of BF 1943? It was released on consoles, but is itcoming to PC?

We have no new information at this point. When we do, we will be happyto share it with the Community.





If you have any questions regarding Community News or Battlefield, feel free to contact me on www.twitter.com/zh1nt0

Hello and welcome to yet another feature packed Project Reality Highlights Reel! Despite the burning hot sun, work-flow has not dried up and there is a lot of fresh content to show. Our testing team is back in action and operating at full speed, which of course means our next release, Project Reality v0.92, is coming right around the corner. Be sure to keep a watchful eye on the PR website for more information on the upcoming release!

- AAVP7A1 Amphibious Assault Vehicle
The AAV-7A1 is the current amphibious troop transport of the United States Marine Corps. It will be of great use for storming the beaches and will be able to provide efficient fire support with the equipped MK19 40mm grenade launcher and M2HB heavy machine gun.
Read more...

- EOTech Holographic Sight
The EOTech sight uses laser and holographic technology. It has been adopted by various military and law enforcement agencies as close quarters battle firearm sights.
Read more...

- MT-LB based vehicles
The MT-LB is a Russian multi-purpose fully-amphibious armored vehicle. It comes in different versions, such as the Shturm-S anti-tank vehicle or the Strela-10M3 anti-air vehicle.
Read more...

- New Commander UAV System
The new UAV for conventional factions can provide crucial intelligence with its TV camera feed and mark targets with an IR Feed with Laser Designator. Both of these will have powerful zooming capabilities. For the Militia factions, the UAV only has one black and white camera feed with limited zooming capabilities.
Read more...

- Other Featured Highlights
* Weapon: L85 Upgrade
* Audio: Project Reality Professional Field work trip
* Vehicle: Panther CLV - desert version
* Weapon: New SVD and AK47 GP25
* Weapon: Chinese weapons, update times
* Graphics: New Shader for 3D Optics
* Weapon: L22A2
* Weapon: M4 SOPMOD, PR Style..
* Weapon: Norwegian AG3 Rifles

That's all for now, but make sure to check both the Project Reality Highlights Forum and the Developer Blogs for regular updates on new additions and features!

See you on the battlefield!

- The Project Reality Team