14 DAY TRIAL // DICE, the developer behind the upcoming Battlefield 3 first-person shooter, has decided to answer some important questions that appeared after the recent scandal regarding the pre-order bonuses that those who pre-purchase the game will get, specifically the Back to Karkand map pack and the Physical Warfare Pack.
Battlefield 3 seemed to be having a smooth marketing campaign during this year's E3 2011 conference, with many gamers eagerly awaiting the release of the new shooter at the end of October.
Sadly, over the weekend, the news that those who pre-order Battlefield 3 Limited Edition get the special Physical Warfare Pack, which contains a few exclusive items that, in the eyes of many community members, unbalanced the whole multiplayer mode of the game.
Now, DICE, the studio behind the game, has posted a series of questions and answers on the Battlefield blog, explaining why the pre-order bonus items were offered in the first place, how the weapons and mods were chosen to not unbalance the title's multiplayer or how the Back to Karkand map pack will be available after the release of the game.
Check out some of the most important things below.
Q: Why do you offer pre-order bonus items? A: Because we believe in rewarding our core fanbase with special offers -- such as giving them the Back to Karkand expansion pack at no extra charge.
Q: Will Physical Warfare Pack imbalance the game? A: The three exclusive items in the Physical Warfare Pack were specifically chosen not to be overpowered or imbalance or break the game in any way.
Q: Why do I want the Physical Warfare Pack? A: Owning these items will give you a more varied arsenal, but it will not give you a significant advantage on the battlefield.
Q: Is the Back to Karkand expansion pack exclusive to pre-orders? A: No. You can also buy it separately if you do not pre-order Battlefield 3. Back to Karkand will be available the exact same date after the launch of Battlefield 3 no matter if you pre-ordered or buy it separately. DICE also highlights that the Physical Warfare pack will be available at select retailers all over the world, and those who pre-order the Limited Edition get both this weapon mod as well as the Back to Karkand one, completely for free.
Overall, such pre-order bonuses will continue to be offered, as developers want to reward dedicated fans, while getting them to pre-order the actual game so that they know what sales estimates to set and how much money to invest in marketing.