Battlefield Premium actually a BF3 DLC bundle - Report

Dialog between a developer and his publisher:

Dev: I want to create the most realistic combat game ever!

Publ: No, you have to create the best selling game ever

Dev: Ok [sigh], I will transform BF into COD, and all gamers will play it

because there will be no other game on the market for those who like realism, and all costumers will be stuck with two CQB games.

Publ: Perfect... what do you have in mind?

Dev: Look this: Battlefield 3

Publ: Now, just to make sure our costumers don't realise what we're doing, put some vehicles and big maps. And lie about this whole Frostbite 2 new destruction system, because no one played Red Faction Guerrilla and they won't realise how outdated we are.

Dev: Done.

=/...

Sorry, meant to say "...that's not ready for release."

I'm not sure why everyone is getting so worked up.  First of all we obviously don't have all the information and will likely need to wait to hear the real details from EA/DICE.  Secondly, like it or not, this appears to be the wave of the future, especially for muliplayer games.  Despite all the fixes that have had to be done for the game, it's still a good game that a lot of people are playing.  I, for one, got my $60 worth playing single player, co-op and a ton of multiplayer.  A ton of time and effort must go into developing new maps, incorporating new weapons and assignments (that will be available for the rest of the maps as well), etc.  Like any previous DLC or memberships, etc, the buyer needs to assess what they're getting for how much money and decide if its worth it or not.  From a personal perspective, I buy so few games each year that putting more money into something I already enjoy with added features makes sense.  For others it may not.  You certainly can't bash a company for wanting to make money.  That's what they're suppossed to do.  Only real gripe I have is companies, not just EA, releasing games, or content, that's really ready for release.

The servers aren't even being hosted by EA for free any more (I notice how Gamespot never covered that story!). The DLC is far too late and will probably be far too expensive and to be honest I'm sick of hearing about DLC packs and not new games. Fresh IP please.

Well EA has to screw us somehow two Battlefield games with free map packs, so now they are going all out. Im feeling 20-30 bucks for maps. Screw you EA.

Hmm. Kind of like Battlefield Bad Company 2's VIP. I just wish it was added on the day it came out. I might pick it up since I haven't payed for any DLC yet. Also ROLL ON E3 !!!!!

hold on doesnt one of the consoles get an early advantage anyway so if they buy the premium pack they will get even more time to play the new content before its official release date

Wait, so what happens to those of us who already purchased the Back to Karkand map pack? If it's included in the upcoming bundle, will we be paying for it twice? What about those of us who purchased the Limited Edition and got it as a free bonus? This would defeat the purpose and it would kinda screw us. And what about those of use who purchased the SPECACT bundle and the weapon bundles?

We need more details and some in depth clarification on this ASAP.

Im actually glad that they didn't try to stick us with this premium package at Bf3's release date we would've payed approx. $120 here in the U.S. After the disappointment CoD Elite had Im pretty sure This premium deal will not Let us Battlefielders down.

I would like to know if those that bought the limited edition will get a discount, as I see it right now I already own one of the 5 DLC's so unless this premium thing is going to be a considerable saving there isnt much in it for me except early access. 

Very disappointed they went this way but I cant say I am surprised and things will only get worse from here on in. Gone are the days where your game will cost you £40 - £50 pre order now they will all be £90 - £100 because of course they will all bundle it in at the launch. 

Let's hope this is true. I sure as hell am not paying a subscription fee for half assed service--this isn't an MMO with the entire staff dedicated to keeping new content coming, these are basically just some map packs and vehicles. I may consider it if my cousin pushes me and it's a reasonable price, assuming it's one time only, but I doubt the price will be reasonable to be honest.

EA thanks but no thanks

I hope that this is a one-time price deal.  I will probably get that, because Battlefield 3 is one of my favorite games at the moment, so I would probably buy all the expansion packs anyway.

They didn't say it was a subscription or not. Not even gonna bother until then.

FPS+DLC = Dumb

If each expansion had 4 big, regular sized battlefield maps like B2K, it would be a pretty good deal. It just looks like to much of a rip-off to charge the same price for big maps and small ones.

The site reports that five Battlefield 3 expansion packs.... what do you mean five expansion packs? Isn't close quarters the only one thats gonna come in June? Im not sure but I think they meant like earlier access later on. So theyre not gonna be like boom 3 expansions right now or sth.. Anyone? sorry I got a bit confused

EA sucks.

This is a big difference from the earlier report. Although it's still a cash grab, at least it's not a "Hey, screw you guys!" cash grab like a subscription would have been.

I'll be getting more skeptical of any news reports from Gamespot now, that's for sure. If there was no solid information for a subscription service yesterday, why make the article say it was almost a definite? Do some more research before trying to break a story first.

He already said they where interested in it. Personally it's a good choice for me. 4 Packs for $15 each= $60. The most it's gonna be is $49.99. I'm hoping for $39.99. Now I don't know this but that's what I assume. TC

is bf3 premium jsut a game of the3 year disc with all the dlc add ons?  

BF3 is dead because they ruin it with rent a server crap...

Eddie - Back to Karkand wasn't launch day DLC. It wasn't released until December 6. Get your facts straight. 

So...you can subscribe to this Pass...and get all the DLC...meaning, all of the Weapon Class packs...meaning, you could start off with all the top gear without earning it? Gives whole new meaning to Arms Dealing.

I'm confused... is Battlefield Premium a subscription or just a ''GOTY''-like version of BF3 they will release after all DLCs are done?

Reskinned Season Pass. Pass.

G3A3 is in the game I already bought.  I don't need DLC.

i was sooooo worried after the last report, glad to hear they most likely arent gonna do a subscription service like COD

Okay, so it's like a "season pass" kinda deal where you pay for the DLC in one go. I'll have to think about it. Depends on the price and how much I'll be playing BF3 in the future.

Wow Dice/EA.  Pot calling kettle black now, eh?  

Cost?

Hey, why even release the entire game since all they want to do is rip consumers off with "add-ons" and DLC?

I absolutely love how they space all the add ons out :) Like the last one been in March 2013, means people will keep coming back to it so it will never die (Unlike every other COD which is now owned by hackers)

Now I actually might get it

well, sounds alot better then a stupid premium. Not sure if i'm gonna get this though for 2 reasons: 

1) got burned on the UC3 bundle

2) not sure if i'll still be playing bf3 in a year

need to see the price they ask for the bundle compared to individual DLC. And weren't they making BC3? lol Don't really need to DLC to keep me alive till the next one comes out, bf burnout and all :P

Hmmm, that makes sense to be honest, quite like what they did with the booster packs on BF2. Thank god, I was thinking for a second there that EA was seriously going to go the COD Elite route...Also, this 5th pack that keeps popping up in discussing intrigues me...not the first time I've heard of a rumor for a 5th pack...perhaps this could actually be the also-rumored 2143?