Dear Battlefield 3 Console Players, Smarten Up Would You?

I play Battlefield 3 on Xbox Live. I'm not ashamed to say it — I can't afford a powerful rig and most of my friends play on console. But I am ashamed of the multiplayer culture, and what has transpired over Battlefield 3's six-month lifetime. I don't know the similar problems between PC and console, and this open letter only really relates to console players, and how I've learned the two cultures are quite unique.

On PC, more players and larger maps mean more aggressive, more exciting, more energetic gameplay. Every single game is grinding, unless one team demolishes the other, which seems to happen frequently on console. But the driving motivation to compete is what differs: presumably, on PC, stats are void and victory is most important. Adversely, console games are filled sparsely with great players, the rest being kill/death ratio-conscious idiots with no idea how to play.

This open letter applies to the console base if that wasn't clear.

There are two main modes in Battlefield: rush and conquest. Each demands the acquisition of an objective (objective being the operative word), either a station or headquarter, which without holding means a lost game. It's simple. In Conquest, no bases = shorter games = less fun. So why must you be irritable and not go after the flags? DICE built a multiplayer combat experience meant to simulate competitive, co-op focused action. Keyword there is competition. C-o-m-p-e-t-i-t-i-o-n. Not a hard concept to understand.

Flying aircraft is fun. Of course it's joyful. And destructive. Extremely destructive. As of right now jets are nearly impervious to anything but another jet. But that is to change in the next update, and two jet pilots will have too much working against them. Not enough to dominate the game. Though, until then, stalking aircraft spawn areas doesn't help anyone. I'm guilty of it, of course, but only when I feel my presence in the air isn't doing a disservice to my team.

This is especially the problem with new players, like the rush of Christmas players that see a helicopter and go. "Ooo! I wanna' fly that!" You aren't helping anyone. Furthermore, there's a convenient co-op mission that teaches players to fly choppers, and setting on hard difficulty is like playing online. Please use it.

Four roles exist and each has strengths and weaknesses. For instance, recon shouldn't be on the front lines. They should be spotting enemies and scoring head shots from afar, unless you're good with an ACOG. Assault and Support teammates should take the heavy burden of laying down suppressive fire and reviving teammates. It's not a complicated formula to learn. Engineers best serve on vehicle-emphasized maps and through some experience, dealing with hefty machines isn't hard either.

What I mean, basically, is on a map like Operation Firestorm standing back at your closest objective and sniping in toward B isn't useful to anyone. Especially if you don't know how to use a sniper rifle. Plenty of guides online show the proper way of aligning shots to best help your team's position.

It's tragic that high-caliber players consistently leave because of an idiotic squad. Eight people (out of a team of twelve) shouldn't be waiting around the helicopter spawn. An entire squad shouldn't be sniping from one location. And capturing objectives is obligatory; Battlefield 3 isn't a game that's won through brute force, it's not Call of Duty.

Maybe I'm playing on the wrong platform or trying to rationalize console players' behaviour, but expecting a team to lose whenever I enter (alone) isn't the best mindset. I've considered writing guides for each class/map, noting what to prioritize and what isn't worthwhile, and that might come your way in the near future.

You can find more rants over at Volatile Mode!