14 DAY TRIAL // Yesterday, DICE rolled open the gates on the Battlefield Bad Company 2 Closed Beta for the PC, and it didn't take long for problems to start appearing. While preorders secured a beta key for some, those that preferred taking a look at the game before buying it and didn't go ahead with the purchase had to scour the net for a key. The official beta page of DICE was pretty much useless yesterday, as far as obtaining a beta key went, since the site was down more often that not, most likely due to sheer solicitation.
And while the page was back up today, that didn't signal an end to problems. People might have been able to start securing some keys for themselves, but it was to little avail, as the beta servers were a complete mess, with thousands of people trying to get in on the action. With luck, DICE will be able to mend the situation, and we'll be able to have an... actually, this is what all betas perform like, so dealing with tons of problems is a proper beta experience.
But while PC gamers got the Closed Beta, the Xbox 360 ones got a demo, and both deals offer the same map, Port Valdez. The map is vehicle-focused for up to 24 players on the console and for 32 on the PC, and it features the Rush multiplayer mode. As for the mobile arsenal, we'll be able to get our hands on the Main Battle Tanks, Quad Bikes, but also on the Mobile Armored AA, which could also hint at the presence of airplanes or helicopters, even if they aren't announced. After all, that's what anti-air guns are for.
The demo will arrive on the PlayStation Network in Europe on February 4 and a week later, on February 11, in North America, but this is a delay PS3 fans shouldn't really complain about, since they already got a hands-on experience, in the game's first beta session. The full title will become available on March 2 in North America and on March 5 in Europe.