Battlefield
Contents
The Battlefield Series
The Battlefield series of games are class-based FPSs which contain a moderate level of realism and encourage teamwork on squad and team levels. Each game has vehicles that can be utilised by teams, which is what has made or broke the game for many.
5punk History
Battlefield games have been a part of 5punk in various guises pretty much since its creation. Originally Battlefield Vietnam was the game of choice, although it never had a particularly large following and was one among the many occasional games. Battlefield 2 had a similarly luke-warm reception, but the ranking and reward system, and a few patches, led to a steady growth in popularity. Months after release it burgeoned into one of the most popular games we've had, with many 5punkers buying it long after initial release. Battlefield 2 enjoyed a long reign as our most played game long past the release of Battlefield 2142, prompting 5punkers to pool together to pay for a server for about 18 months, and is still played occasionally. Battlefield 2142 also recieved a less than warm reception, but unlike BF2 did not rise to such popularity. With BF2 still popular arguments broke out over the relative benefits of each game. Most chose to stick with BF2, although enough people enjoyed BF2142 to keep it on the 5cheduler for quite a while.
Today the game has stagnated a little within 5punk and is only played occasionally. This may leave the way open to a pretender, indeed Quake Wars was touted as a replacement until its arrival was overshadowed by Team Fortress 2 and Call of Duty 4. The future of the thursday BEEF slot remains to be seen.
Battlefield
The original Battlefield was set in the Second World War and was at the cutting edge of team based shooters at the time. Vehicles were of great novely when it was released, and it has been influential not just in the Battlefield series but in many online FPS games since.
Battlefield Vietnam
The second installment in the series was variously praised and slated. Many loved the Vietnam setting and more polished engine (and authentic era music), but many more felt the gameplay had lost something in translation.
Battlefield 2
The first in the series to introduce a progression and reward system. Ranks, points, unlocks and medals for achievements proved as addictive as crack to many 5punkers, and boy do we love crack. Slow to start but enduringly popular eventually, BF2 (or BEEF to us) is still played occasionally and held the thursday night slot for around two years.
Point of Existance
Point of Existance was a realism mod for BEEF that held a brief interest for some. It added some nice toys but the lack of ranks and achievements always led people back to 'vanilla' BEEF.
Battlefield 2142
2142, or FutureBEEF, was seen by many 5punkers as a poor sequel to the mighty BEEF. Most were disappointed by the underpowered starting skills and never played past the demo. Some did play thought and it enjoyed a brief following of a dozen or so players. Most declared it to be nothing more than a poor copy of BEEF in a new skin though and it fell into second place behind its predecessor. A few carried on playing ad hoc games, but a patch that rendered the game unplayable to some was the final nail in the coffin. Recently a patch has been released that may resolve some of the problems and bring a few players back to the game.
