Battlefield 2 Tweak Guide

[Page 4] Patches, Maps & Mods



Official Patch


If Battlefield 1942 was anything to go by, Battlefield 2 is going to receive many patches to refine the gameplay, perhaps add new features and maps, and of course fix any bugs which the community finds. Details of these patches are provided below.


Initially, EA Games released a Version 1.01 patch for BF2, which turned out to have a memory leak as described here. This patch was soon retracted, and a second official patch Version 1.02 was released in its place. Patch 1.02 is identical to 1.01 except that it fixes the problem of the initial release.


Now EA Games have released the much-anticipated Version 1.03 patch, which is 171MB and replaces all the previous patches. If you have a fresh install of BF2, you only need to install 1.03 as it contains all the previous fixes as well. This patch has a wide range of gameplay and bug fixes, as well as a new multiplayer map called Wake Island. The changes are detailed here. It doesn't seem to alter performance greatly, but because of the fixes and balance changes it contains, and because you will need to update to version 1.03 to play on most servers, this patch is a must-install.


If you have problems installing this patch, see the links in the Troubleshooting Tips section. If you have problems with bugs or gameplay glitches after installing the patch, report them to EA Games or on one of the BF2 Forums (again, see links on the Troubleshooting Tips page). Note, to check to see if the latest BF2 patch has installed correctly, launch BF2 and check the version number shown in the in-game option screens (top right corner) - it should say 1.1.2551.0.



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No-CD Patch


Battlefield 2, much like most other modern games, has a copy protection system based on a CD check. While the game also requires that you enter a unique CD key when installing the game, and even though it is actually this CD key which is the key to preventing pirated versions from being able to play online, EA Games still insist on requiring that legitimate BF2 players keep their BF2 CD/DVD in their drives to play the game. I can only say that this is a lame method of protection.


While there are indeed places where you can download a file which allows you to play BF2 without the CD in the drive, I can't provide you with the details of where (due to legal reasons - so don't write and ask me for one). More importantly, even if I were to tell you where to download such a 'No-CD' patch, it would be pointless to use one, since the Punkbuster cheat detection system in BF2 is likely to see this altered No-CD executable file as a cheat, booting you and eventually banning you permanently from playing BF2 multiplayer. Therefore I strongly recommend that you do not use any forms of No-CDs or other cracks, as this will lead to your unique CD key being banned without any recourse.


Note, I am well aware of other methods of playing BF2 without the CD in the drive, but once again I cannot provide details of these due to legal reasons. It is up to you if you really want to research and find such methods.


There is hope that EA may release an official patch for BF2 which removes the CD check, but no game company ever does this during the lucrative initial sales period for a game, so it will be a while yet (if ever). Until then you should put up with the inconvenience of having to keep the CD in your drive, and steer clear of any No-CD patches/cracks/hacks.


Mods


One of the factors which made BF1942 such an incredible success was quite simply the fact that it had dozens of mods released for it. Mods are modifications to the game which can change it slightly, all the way to completely and totally changing the game to virtually be another game altogether. The most popular of these mods was Desert Combat which ironically took the WWII theme of BF1942 and converted it into modern day warfare - pretty much what Battlefield 2 does.


It is absolutely clear that Battlefield 2 will have a similar sort of run with mods, since the engine is future-orientated and highly modifiable. EA Games have now released the Battlefield 2 Mod Editor as an Open Beta. This tool allows existing and aspiring modders to create new maps and modifications based on the BF2 engine. There is a User Manual & Tutorial you can download to go with the editor.


For those of us who aren't interested in performing the actual mods ourselves, I have a strong feeling that EA Games will release several new official maps for BF2 in an upcoming patch. Come back and check this page regularly because once again it will updated with details as soon as they do. I will also make sure to list all the popular mods and community-made maps here for you to look through and download.


To start with, I suggest you look at the BF2 Advanced Tactical Center, which provides an interface for you and friends/clanmates to plot out your tactics for all the BF2 maps. This is an official product, and I highly recommend you give it a go.


You can also download this TotalBF2 Map Pack 1 which is a hefty 125MB but has 6 excellent maps to use in multiplayer BF2. There is also a TotalBF2 Map Pack 2 which is 174MB but has another 6 great maps.


A range of community-developed mods can be seen at places like TotalBF2, BF2 Mod Database, PlanetBattlefield Mods, or Point of Existence. In general, to examine/activate any mods you've installed in BF2, start up the game, go to the Community section of the in-game settings, and you will see the names of the 'Custom Games' on your system. Simply double-click on one to activate it instead of the regular BF2.


Finally, remember once again that the Punkbuster anti-cheat system in the game does not look kindly on modified game files and major alterations to the game's directory structures. Therefore I recommend that you be careful as to what you install for BF2, and if in doubt check with other players on a BF2 community forum. If you find yourself constantly being kicked from multiplayer games mysteriously, I recommend you uninstall any recently installed mods and try again.


Expansion Packs


EA Games have announced that BF2 will receive an official Special Forces Expansion Pack. This pack adds much more depth to the Special Forces role in BF2 in a range of new maps, scenarios and capabilities. It is due to be released during late 2005 and will not be free.



The next section goes into the details of all of Battlefield 2's In-Game Settings.