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Press Announcement: DICE RAISES THE BAR FOR ONLINE WARFARE WITH BATTLEFIELD: BAD COMPANY 2 CONSOLE DEMO AND PC BETA

Experience This Year's Best Online Multiplayer Game before it Hits Stores on March 2

 

Stockholm, Sweden - January 28, 2010 - DICE, an Electronic Arts Inc. studio (NASDAQ: ERTS), today announced that first-person shooter fans will get early access to the best-in-class online war experience in Battlefield: Bad CompanyTM 2. Players can now download a free* console demo worldwide on Xbox LIVETM Marketplace. A PC beta would also be available to players that pre-order** the game at participating retailers in North America, Europe and Asia, and through select community channels at 6pm CET today. On February 4th, the demo will be accessible on the PlayStation®Network in Europe and on February 11th in North America. Defined by its increasingly intense vehicular warfare, destruction, variety of weapons and huge sandbox environments, Battlefield Bad Company 2 promises to be one of the finest online FPS games of 2010.

 

"After the success of the PS3 beta, we're excited to provide gamers -- especially our long-supporting, rabidly passionate PC fans -- with another opportunity to get into the game before release," says Patrick Bach, Senior Producer on Battlefield: Bad Company 2. "Our fans have been a huge part of the franchise's success and we can't wait for everyone to experience the amazing gameplay and unforgettable Battlefield moments in Battlefield: Bad Company 2."

 

The Battlefield: Bad Company 2 console demo and PC beta will feature Port Valdez, a new vehicle focused map where up to 24 players (32 on PC) will compete against each other as either the US or Russian armies in the game's Rush multiplayer mode. Players will have access to five land and three air vehicles where the Russian side can use everything in their arsenal including Main Battle Tanks as well as the fast-moving Quad Bikes and Mobile Armored AA. The fight will also be packed with plenty of infantry combat fought alongside the waterline towards a great oil industrial landscape in the Alaskan mountains.

 

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 will be in stores on March 2, 2010 in North America and March 4, 2010 in Europe for the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and the PC. The Limited Edition can be pre-ordered now on all platforms at no extra cost, with participating retailers worldwide (while supplies last).

 

* Internet connection and Xbox LIVE Gold membership required. Demo will end on February 25, 2010.

** Available at participating retailers in North America, Europe and Asia. Offer and codes expires February 25, 2010.


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Big Battlefield Bad Company 2 PC Beta Blog of Epic Goodness!

When's the Beta

First, let's start by making the official time and date of the Beta the start of this Blog in what will be and EPIC moment in DICE's PC History! The PC Beta begins this Thursday, January 28th at approximately 6pm CET, 12pm EST, and 9am PST time!!!!!!! :-D

 

Where to Get It

The Client will be downloadable from server partner websites and Steam starting at the above listed time at a file size of 1.5GB.  Here's a hyper-link reminder http://bit.ly/4GJk2a on which retailers will provide PC Beta access through pre-ordering.

 

Why we're Having a Beta

The Beta is happening for many reasons, like testing the infrastructure, hosting stability, and gameplay tuning (FOV, Weapon Balance, etc...) that no amount of internal testing could provide better than real world exposure.  This means there will also be times of choppiness, lag, disconnects, CTDs or other issues a Beta version of any MP game would have.  We'll have feedback methods similar to the PS3 Beta as well to ensure your input is gathered and heard.

 

Advanced warning: there will be things updated in the final game, like a Server browser with more functions, optimizations, performance tweaks, and learning's from the Beta.

 

This truly is a Beta, so remember that all feedback is appreciated and wanted! :-)

 

Hosting the Beta

Renting of Beta servers will not be possible, but we'll work closely with all our RSPs* to ensure there is always enough capacity for each individual regions.

 

Where to Download the Beta

We'll distribute with many partners as possible to ensure the fastest DLs no matter your location around the world.  Please visit http://bit.ly/6GyEuS for details on where to download the Beta.

 

Getting Started In the Beta
STEP 1: Make sure you have at least 5GB free on your HDD and then download and Install BFBC2! :-D
STEP 2: Once installation is completed (install size will be around 1.5GB) start the client and click the login button. You will then be prompted to sign in with your EA Account.  If you don't have an EA Account you'll be able to create one in the same screen. (You may also create your EA Account in advance HERE)
STEP 3: Enter the unique PC Beta Code during the log in process to authenticate your participation in the Beta.
Step 4: Create your Soldier name (this will lock that name to your EA account for retail if you want to keep it).

 

Note: You will not be able to play or access any multiplayer menus without being authenticated.  After the Beta Key is registered it will be tied to your EA Account and no longer valid for new registrations. Our game will use SecuROM for the Beta and Final games .exe, for more info on how SecuROM works in BFBC2 please read this Blog to learn about it in more detail.

 

 

//GvD


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Copy Protection for BFBC2 PC

[Updated 2010-01-27 15:27 GMT+1: Added clarifications about

- online authentication and multiplayer,

- copy protection and Steam,

- copy protection and EA Online

now, if you excuse me... there's a Closed Beta which needs some attention!]


Hi all!

I'm the lead programmer on the PC version. You have asked for more technical information on the PC version, and the blog about our audio system was very appreciated, so here's another one... this time about a more sombre subject: Copy Protection.

 

Introduction

BFBC2 PC uses SecuROM as its copy protection mechanism. SecuROM comes in many shapes and forms. I will describe the specific version that is being used in BFBC2 PC.

 

SecuROM in general

The version which we use is a wrapper around the main game executable. It does everything it can by running as a “normal” program; it does not install any sort of kernel software.

What this means is:

  * No software is permanently installed on your machine.
  * SecuROM is ONLY running when the game is running
  * When you uninstall the game, you will also uninstall the SecuROM software.

 

SecuROM and the Closed Beta

The main game executable (BFBC2Game.exe) of the Closed Beta will be wrapped with SecuROM. There is only one reason for this: to make it difficult to hack the Closed Beta client to run the final game.
SecuROM is configured to be passive. All it does, is make it more difficult to modify the game client.

When the Closed Beta is uninstalled, all traces of the game and SecuROM will be removed from your machine.


SecuROM and the final game

The final game will also use SecuROM. The main game executable (BFBC2Game.exe) will be wrapped with SecuROM. Some support files in the game’s installation directory also belong to SecuROM.

When you install or start the game, you will be required to authenticate the copy of the game. That is how you prove that the installation of the game you are running is legit.
You can do that in two ways: by putting the original DVD in the drive, or by going online once. If you bought the game on disc, you get to choose; if you have purchased it digitally, your only option is going online.

 

Authentication by DVD

You can authenticate by putting the DVD in the drive.

If you choose this method, you must have the DVD available every time you want to play. With this method, SecuROM will not go online at all. You can then play the single-player campaign 100% offline.

 

Authentication by going online

You can also choose to authenticate by going online once.

If so, this happens the first time that you start the actual game. You will be asked for permission. If you allow it, SecuROM  will talk to a master server, which counts on how many computers your serial key is currently in use.
When the installation has been authenticated online once, SecuROM will no longer go online. You can then play the single-player campaign 100% offline, without needing the DVD. Also, you can play multiplayer online without needing the DVD.

You can have the game authenticated on up to 10 machines at the same time.
One authentication is valid for 10,000 days. Thus, if you authenticated once on launch day - March 2nd, 2010 – that authentication will be valid until July 18th, 2037.

 

Online authentication … what about de-authentication?

You can de-authenticate the game. De-authentication means to return one authentication to the “pool” of available activations (which started with 10 available).

You do it one of two ways:

   1. In the Games Explorer in Vista: right-click on the game’s Icon and select  “Deauthorize this machine”
   2. Uninstall the game; uninstallation will automatically invoke the de-authentication process.

After de-authentication, you are told how many authentications are now in the “pool”.

SecuROM needs to go online to de-authenticate.

 

Online authentication, and modifying hardware

If you have authenticated the game, but then changed a lot of hardware in your machine, then SecuROM may deem that your current authentication will no longer do.

If that happens, do this:

   1. Uninstall the game. That will return the old authentication to the “pool”.
   2. Install the game again. The next time you start the game, you will get a new authentication.

You need to change a lot of hardware for this to happen. Just changing the processor or graphics card is not enough to make the authentication obsolete.

If you run out of activations – perhaps because your PC breaks unexpectedly, several times – then contact EA’s technical support to get an extra authentication added to your “pool”.

 

Online Authentication and Steam

The Steam edition will also have SecuROM. We are working closely with Steam to make the integration well-functioning.

 

Authentication versus EA Online entitlements

When you purchase the game, you can authenticate it on up to 10 or 11 machines (1 DVD + 10 online). This allows you to play the singleplayer campaign on several machines at the same time.

When you purchase the game, you can also entitle one EA Online account. When you want to play BFBC2 PC multiplayer online, you need to log in using an account that has been entitled specifically for BFBC2 PC. Only one machine can be logged in at a time using the same EA Online account. Thus, one purchased copy of the game allows one person to play online.

 


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Steam Community <3 Battlefield Bad Company 2 PC & the PC Beta!

BFBC2 PC on Steam For Pre-Order

Last week we finally released BFBC2 PC on Steam for pre-order. It was met with an overwhelmingly positive response and in just two days of being available rose to the #2 slot in sales last week and currently #1 for this week on Steam.  So a HUGE "THANK YOU" to the Steam Community for the warm welcome and joining us in the Beta through your pre-order and a special "you rock" from our Executive Producer KM (L_Twin). 

 

For those interested in pre-ordering BFBC2 PC on Steam can click here.

 

BFBC2 PC Beta on Steam

The Beta will appear in your "My Games" tab in your Steam client to all Steam pre-orders for day one access to the Beta.

 

Look for another blog later today with even more details on the Beta! :-D

 

//GvD


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Update: BFBC2 PC Beta Update från DICE!

We have seen a lot of really good feedback on released details of BFBC2 PC and have been gathering these and sharing them with the PC Dev team.  We also want as much feedback as possible after you have played the Beta to really give us the most solid feedback possible to look into addressing.  Your participation in this Beta really counts and we'll have another update soon with the official location to give your feedback!

 

I also wanted to share an updated global retailers list supporting the BFBC2 PC Beta Key access coming this month.

US - GameStop.com (US Only), Direct2Drive,

Austria - Gamesonly.at

Czech Republic - xzone.cz and jrc.cz

Germany - amazon.de

Poland - gramer.pl, ultima.plEMPIK PC and sklep.gry-online.pl

UK - play.com and Direct2Drive

Australia - EB Games

Russia - DirectCOD, igromagaz.ru, Turbodom and TotalBF

Hungary - CD Galaxis and 576

Switzerland - wog.ch

Italy - Multiplayer.it

Sweden - Webhallen, GAME, CDON, GameStop and SIBA

Denmark - Blockbuster, GameStop, CDON and GAME

Norway - Platekompaniet, Spaceworld, GameStop, GAME, and Absoluttspill

Finland - GameStop and CDON

New Zealand - EB Games and Mighty Ape

Singapore - Selected Retailers

World Wide Option - EA StoreSteam, Direct2Drive (if your country is not listed above, please check these links)

 

Heads Up: PC Beta Players will secure their gamer alias (Soldier Name) for retail.


Please check back on battlefieldbadcompany2.com/beta on the 28th Jan for more details on how to download the Beta.  

 


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