Battlefield Hardline, the new cops ‘n robbers shooter from EA’s Visceral studios looks to the casual observer to be little more than a re-skin of Battlefield 4. Even looking a little closer, it still looks like it could be done as an expansion Battlefield 4. Not so, say EA and Visceral.
Asked by PlayStation Lifestyle (via VG247) about the overwhelming sense of familiarity that Hardline invokes in Battlefield players, Visceral’s Thad Sesser explained that there’s more to the shooter than meets the eye.
“Well, obviously the engine’s the same. We’re using Frostbite 3. It’s a fantastic engine. We’ve got improvement incoming. We improved the vehicle physics and so on because, in a cops and criminal setting, vehicle collisions are way more important than in Battlefield.
“So, we’re making fundamental changes under the hood to some of these systems. In terms of the UI, we still want it to be recognizably Battlefield, but we’ve got some changes, we’re listening to user feedback, we’re always soliciting comments and feedback from the players, so if you’ve got specific comments, you got specific feedback, let us know.
Asked specifically whether or not the game could have been done as an expansion, Sasser was a little more coy.
“What you see on the [E3 2014] show floor here today is just a small portion of what we got. Obviously, we got a wide range of maps. We got a lot more weapons. We got a lot more cool gadgets. We got a lot more exciting stuff to show you in the upcoming weeks and months. We got a slew of new game modes.
“I think you’ll understand where the value proposition is with this game. There is a lot of new content. It’s not just a re-skin or a re-use of assets. We’ve got all new assets, we got a lot of stuff still coming in, so look forward, check us out in the future, play it, tell us what you think.”
Gavin is enamoured with the prospect of Battlefield: Cops, but I just can’t get excited about this game. I’d much rather play a more tactical sort of Cops n Robbers game, like a new SWAT.
Last Updated: June 23, 2014
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
June 23, 2014 at 13:04
Hardline leaves a foul taste in my mouth, and I hate to be that guy but I’ll just leave a “meh”.
Rince&exhale
June 23, 2014 at 13:06
Indeed!
Hammersteyn
June 23, 2014 at 13:06
Or….
http://d3dsacqprgcsqh.cloudfront.net/photo/aqmo31p_460sa_v1.gif
HvR -Really hates Random.org
June 23, 2014 at 13:10
It is a good thing SAPS is so inefficient otherwise they might also cause $400 million worth of damage to stop a $10 million heist.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
June 23, 2014 at 13:19
Imagine that, There’s a bank robbery in Sandton. Nathi Mthethwa’s armoured division rolls in – 5 newly acquired Chinese-made tanks (acquired via Arms Deal 2 the SEQUEL BITCHES), two locally manufactured DENEL attack helicopters and assault rifles with black talon bullets (because Oscar gave Nathi a boner). The robbers are armed with AK47s. The police decide to level the shopping centre with mortars… because fuck it.. This is Africa.
Sandton feels the awesome power of levolution…. :o.
Alien Emperor Trevor
June 23, 2014 at 13:24
…
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
June 23, 2014 at 13:24
I am the Tom Clancy of Africa!!!!! Ok maybe not… 🙁
HvR -Really hates Random.org
June 23, 2014 at 13:32
Luckily the reality:
SANDF’s only working tank fell of the lorry in Van Reenen’s pass
Denel Rooivlak helicopters half crashed the other half has been painted white and given to the UN.
Black Talon’s were only made for handguns and was discontinued in the early 90’s.
Robbers are armed with AK47 and SANDF R-rifles though.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
June 23, 2014 at 13:36
HAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAH!! Touche! Not to mention, that the nowadays our armed forces do weird interpretive dance shows (instead of actual marching) at provincial gatherings.
Sigh…
Admiral Chief Cyber Commando
June 23, 2014 at 13:11
I got Payday 2 over the weekend, gonna get mah robbery on!!!
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
June 23, 2014 at 13:13
Payday might look like ass, but it’s a pretty cool co-op game.
Admiral Chief Cyber Commando
June 23, 2014 at 13:13
I dunno, my wife’s ass looks pretty good dude, so saying a game looks like ass, is saying I’m going to enjoy it
Hammersteyn
June 23, 2014 at 13:15
Maybe he meant your ass? Though I don’t wanna know how he saw it 0_o
HvR -Really hates Random.org
June 23, 2014 at 13:16
This is going south faster than a BF release.
Admiral Chief Cyber Commando
June 23, 2014 at 13:19
Well, nana Jim is actually a figment of my over active imagination that got loose, so I’m assuming he remembers how my ass looks
Hammersteyn
June 23, 2014 at 13:23
Wait…. I spoke to him a couple of times. Am I Tyler Durden?
Admiral Chief Cyber Commando
June 23, 2014 at 13:24
No, you are the all singing all dancing crap of the world
Hammersteyn
June 23, 2014 at 13:42
I sure am
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
June 23, 2014 at 13:29
You thought you spoke to me. That is all I’m going to say.
Admiral Chief Cyber Commando
June 23, 2014 at 13:32
I know you are very active when I wake up tired. Since I never went to bed actually
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
June 23, 2014 at 13:36
This could explain, that one night in 2007, when you woke up and found yourself wandering around the neighbour with nothing on but a batman mask, and a pair of spiderman undies.
I should tell you man, that was an awesome party. But you’ll never remember MUAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAAHAH MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA
Admiral Chief Cyber Commando
June 23, 2014 at 13:42
Did we get some action at least?
Hammersteyn
June 23, 2014 at 13:43
Did you slip on his peel?
Admiral Chief Cyber Commando
June 23, 2014 at 13:47
Don’t you mean my peel?
Hammersteyn
June 23, 2014 at 13:51
LOL
Hammersteyn
June 23, 2014 at 13:43
Good enough for me
Mark Treloar
June 23, 2014 at 14:06
Whose Tyler Durden?
Admiral Chief Cyber Commando
June 23, 2014 at 14:09
*Who’s
And I hope you are trolling…
Mark Treloar
June 23, 2014 at 14:16
Nope, really don’t know who Tyler Durden is?
Hammersteyn
June 23, 2014 at 14:19
Fight Club
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fight_club
Mark Treloar
June 23, 2014 at 14:21
I detested Fight Club, waste of my time.
Hammersteyn
June 23, 2014 at 14:26
Too each his own then, best movie I’ve ever seen.
Admiral Chief Cyber Commando
June 23, 2014 at 14:34
One of my top 20 movies
Rince&exhale
June 23, 2014 at 13:30
Eish! http://heavyeditorial.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/chuck-norris-and-kittens.gif?w=640
Hammersteyn
June 23, 2014 at 13:44
double kill!
Hammersteyn
June 23, 2014 at 13:13
same game(essentially) every year + same price every year = same profit every year
Goes for their sports game as well, oh plus you get to buy all the DLC from scratch that you bought in Sims 3
Rince&exhale
June 23, 2014 at 13:18
And same issues every year
Ottokie
June 23, 2014 at 13:05
I don’t know why but this BF is giving me an uneasy COD feeling, love the franchise and also have the Premium for BF4… but this is a tad too big a change for me personally.
b1nd3r
June 23, 2014 at 13:18
-.- despise you, borderlands 2 + all dlc is 10$ for 30 hours on steam summer sale——-payday is in 42hours >.<
Admiral Chief Cyber Commando
June 23, 2014 at 13:19
ALL DLC? TEN DOLLAHS???
Ottokie
June 23, 2014 at 13:19
yup, ripe for the picking Chief!
Admiral Chief Cyber Commando
June 23, 2014 at 13:23
Done and DONE.
Thought it was for BL1 GOTYE and BL2 base only, but IT IS NOT!!!
Ottokie
June 23, 2014 at 13:25
Im stuck with the base game and want to buy the GOTY edition for da DLC but if you already own the base game you don’t get a second copy to give to a friend…it just go’s poof!
Hammersteyn
June 23, 2014 at 13:08
But will it work day one? Im glad COD and BF are at least trying to move out of their modern warfare comfort zone. That’s how you lure new players.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
June 23, 2014 at 13:08
Will it work day one? That is the big question!
Rince&exhale
June 23, 2014 at 13:09
Don’t be stupid!
Hammersteyn
June 23, 2014 at 13:10
hehe
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
June 23, 2014 at 13:11
YOUR SUTPID
Rince&exhale
June 23, 2014 at 13:25
Ur face is stupid! DIK! http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6tac8haeM1r3gs9qo1_500.gif
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
June 23, 2014 at 13:30
OH SNAP!!!! MY BRUCE LEE IS GONNA BEAT YOUR BRUCE LEE!!!
Alien Emperor Trevor
June 23, 2014 at 13:18
*but it will work one day? fixed.
b1nd3r
June 23, 2014 at 13:19
Those first 6 words u said are the guidelines of EA not the actual law >.<
b1nd3r
June 23, 2014 at 13:15
I have yet to actually find out if hardline is any good as the beta does nothing but lag, 15fps constantly leaves a bad but hopeful taste in my mouth. bf3 beta didnt lag, bf3 release lagged. bf4 beta no lag, bf4 release lagged. BFHL exception????? working game on day 1?????
Johan du Preez
June 23, 2014 at 13:39
on my 2x 7970 crossfire i can get 58fps on ultra in mantle i get 144fps
Alien Emperor Trevor
June 23, 2014 at 13:15
“value proposition” SUIT ALERT! SUIT ALERT! SUIT ALERT!
Rince&exhale
June 23, 2014 at 13:22
Brilliant, a new game every year! http://x3.fjcdn.com/thumbnails/comments/Bah+he+s+facing+the+wrong+way+and+the+text+is+_c92c5e1d9289b2127d00b39bb6acf1ad.gif
Hammersteyn
June 23, 2014 at 13:24
hahahahaha so tell me again!
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
June 23, 2014 at 13:33
EA gon fucked it up, y’all. Now I have two franchises I can’t wait to DIE OFF: COD and Battlefield!
And to think, only a year ago, I was a Battlefield fundie. I even own a Battlefield hoodie. Damn you EA.. DAMN YOU TO THE INFERNAL POCKETS OF DON MATTRICK’S JACKET!!!!
Ryanza
June 23, 2014 at 13:34
This is EA’s way to compete against Call of Duty’s every year release.
Next year Battlefield 5 – Well, obviously the engine’s the same. We’re using Frostbite 3. We’ve got improvement incoming. We improved the lighting physics.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
June 23, 2014 at 14:10
Fish AI! GRASS AI!!! The end is nigh!
Kromas
June 23, 2014 at 13:35
Played it and can say I am not really that impressed. Ill stick to BF4 when I want fast paced action.
Johan du Preez
June 23, 2014 at 13:38
Same here got bored in 15 minutes
Brian Murphy
June 23, 2014 at 13:57
Unless they screwed up horribly and chose a map that really is poor at showing off the ‘cops vs robbers’ aspect of this game. The entire gimmick is poorly integrated, and isn’t anything even remotely close to Payday.
Don’t go into this game thinking Payday.
Patryn ZA
June 23, 2014 at 14:09
I’m sure this could have just been done as an expansion, although that would mean less money for them. Look at the expansions that bad company 2 got with the Vietnam expansion.
Michael
June 23, 2014 at 14:21
While it’s not a bad game (considering this is based on me playing 2 maps in beta) it is IMHO not worth close to $60. Maybe (and that’s a big maybe) for $30 but in it’s current state it’s just a filler game. Imagine EA said: “Here everyone who wasted money on BF4 have it for free to make up for a game we released a year too soon”. That would be the day.
Bruno Martino
June 23, 2014 at 14:28
,.,Exciting video!!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOB4CT-i-QA
Anon A Mouse
June 23, 2014 at 14:33
I’ll also rather jam an updated SWAT game, than this run and gun fest.
HisDivineOrder
June 23, 2014 at 15:39
EA hoped that by attaching this expansion to a completely new game, they could bridge the way until next year when Battlefield 5 shows up. They also probably expect that by now the only way they’re going to sell this content is if they make it a separate game since Battlefield 4 has the stink of all the horrible bugs and delays to fixes and what not on it.
That said, I don’t think this strategy is going to work. It’s definitely an expansion turned into a $60 game with little but a higher cost to show for it.
I expect this game to tank in the Fall and Visceral to be shut down not long after. This is the way of EA.