This is the year! Our year?
- Tom Belous (The Lanky Soldier)
- Jun 23
- 3 min read
New year, new us? No, we're still the same passionate Battlefield fans. This episode offers a passionate, honest look at the state of Battlefield and the gaming industry. Tom and Ray encourage community participation, reflect on lessons from the past, and express cautious optimism for the future. They remind listeners that transparency, engagement, and quality should be the pillars of any successful franchise.
Featuring: Tom Belous (TheLankySoldier) & Ray Edmunds
Episode 26: This is the year! Our year?
Released on January 16, 2025
Length: 1 Hour & 25min
TIME STAMPS:
12:17 - Battlefield 3 "News"
14:28 - Archive / Never heard discussions
26:18 - Patreon
29:48 - Battlefield 2025 Expectations
53:10 - Conquest Redesign
59:40 - Battlefield One
01:01:03 - Community Program / CTE
01:15:10 - Marketing
QUOTES:
"I'm really curious what that so called community program will be like."
"I think I know it would be like an editing nightmare for you, but really need to go back through our old episodes and discuss some of the topics we had."
"If they go by data, I hope they know that data can be extremely misunderstood if you're not paying attention."
"I hate going back to a video I made like 10, 12 years ago, and then learn that your worst prediction actually came true"
HIGHLIGHTS:
New Year & Branding Updates:
The podcast has a new name ("Battlefield One Podcast"), new intro music, and a new banner.
They mention their search ranking on Spotify and their goal to be easily discoverable.
Discussion on Battlefield & Development:
Reflection on past Battlefield titles, including cut missions in Battlefield 3 and the development challenges.
They share personal insights and experiences from working with DICE developers and observing game development processes.
Old Episodes & Historical Reflection:
They discuss re-releasing older episodes of their podcast, especially those covering Battlefield 1 and other titles.
They consider doing retrospective episodes to analyze past predictions and statements, acknowledging how their views have evolved.
Franchise & Future Battlefield Games:
Optimism about the upcoming Battlefield game, with expectations of a cinematic trailer, gameplay reveal, and community testing.
Concerns about single-player quality due to studio shutdowns and development issues.
Expectations for multiplayer features: 64-player matches, classes, Levolution, remastered maps, dynamic weather, and map variability.
Map Remasters & Dynamic Environments:
Strong interest in remastering classic maps (e.g., Naval Strike maps) with modern updates.
Ideas for map variability through weather, destruction, and environmental changes to enhance replayability.
Emphasis on maps that can change dynamically based on weather and player actions.
Modes & Gameplay Features:
Expectation of core modes like Conquest, with discussions on balancing and scoring systems.
Desire for co-op single-player modes and the importance of community involvement in testing.
Community Program & Testing Expectations:
Scepticism about leaks; they expect a community test program similar to Battlefield 4’s Community Test Environment (CTE).
Advocating for transparent, inclusive testing with manageable timeframes (e.g., weekly tests).
Belief that the game will likely be a full-priced title with microtransactions, not free-to-play.
Marketing & Reveal Strategies:
Expectation of cinematic trailers, gameplay snippets, and hype-building marketing.
Preference for authentic gameplay trailers showcasing actual game content rather than scripted or heavily edited videos.
Suggestion to launch community testing as a marketing tool, with pre-orders and early access.
Optimism & Caution for the Next Battlefield:
Excitement about the international collaboration behind the new game.
Cautious optimism based on past disappointments (e.g., Battlefield 2042).
Hope that the development team stays focused and manages the project well, with clear roles and expertise.
DOWNLOAD: Episode 26 Transcript
Download from Google Drive
Note: Transcripts are not fully accurate, as they were not fixed for accent & grammar mistakes
