Battlefield : Initial report: sucks

[Winin]

WTF is up with punkbuster? I tried to join Aruth, and I got on the same server for about 5 minutes, then I got a lost packet message and then got booted to the main screen with a popup that just said "Punkbuster". No info, no hint about how to fix it. Pretty lame ass design. After the 2 hour installation and patching and 5 minutes to connect (and several attempts where the EA server couldn't be reached), and not supporting my monitor resolution, etc. the game seems very kludgey for a "finished" product. I put up with that kind of crap from MMOs because I've been brainwashed to believe MMOs have to be that way, but a standalone game should not.

I even searched and found (not on the EA site mind you) messages that say punkbuster doesn't always update automatically. Ok, fine, I download the manual updater and run it. It gets an update, and then I try to play again. Same problem, log in, last about 15 seconds, then lost packets, dump to main screen, and mysterious "Punkbuster" popup.

So I run the pbsetup again and lo and behold, it says this is the first time I've run it. So I go through the process AGAIN and find the BF2142 updates and get them and reload the game (I'm pretty sick of the start up movies you HAVE to watch every time by now), and get the exact same error. It happened on another server I tried as well, so it wasn't just the one Aruth was on.

Also, what is the difference between the two shortcuts it put on my desktop? "Battlefield 2142" and "Battlefield 2142 Online Now!"?

Any ideas how to stay in game for >15 seconds?

/rant off

Thanks.

[GrilledCheese28 (aka Aruth)]

Goddamn message board just ate my long ass message.

Basically, I had the same prob. I tried 3 diff variations of the PB fix before I got it to stop kicking me from some servers....mind you, it didnt kick me from every server, just certain ones for some reason. Anyways, I dont remember exactly what I did, but think it was the fix where you run PBSVC.EXE, uninstall PB, then reinstall. Sorry I dont recall exactly, but yes its frustrating, and yes it can be fixed.

Other than that PB problem, the game runs really great for me.

[Winin]

I found this:
www.evenbalance.com/index.php?page=pbsvcfaq.php

It seems the game requires PB, but gives you an outdated version that doesn't work with Vista's security. And it doesn't look for updates. Nice job on that one EA. So I installed the new one according to the site, but no luck, so I have to manually configure my firewall to grant access. I may try again after South Park, but this is pretty damn frustrating.

Remember the good old days when you could install a game and then play it?

[Winin]

I granted pbwhateverA full access in my firewall and changed the other PB programs to be full (they were outgoing only and A was blocked).

I also read that you may have to run the program as Admin mode, so I set it up to do that.

We'll see if it works...

[Winin]

Found this too:

Want to know what solved this exact error message for me? Port forwarding. TAKE ALL OF THE STEPS LISTED IN THIS FORUM, and add my step last. Go to your router set up page (usually go to 192.168.1.1), and find the port-forwarding section to open ports up for gaming/applications. FORWARD THIS PORT: 17567 UDP. This is the port that PunkBuster uses to automatically install and monitor updates. If you are forwarding ports already for the game, like the ones mentioned in the manual, THIS PORT WAS NOT LISTED. This may be a cure for you!

so in order to play, we have to manually patch 3rd party software, manually allow this 3rd party software free access through the software firewall and the router firewall? That seems a bit extreme.

[GrilledCheese28 (aka Aruth)]

Just fwiw, I didn't have to make any exceptions in my firewall or antivirus software for pnkbstra or pnkbstrb, or forward any ports.

I'll see if I can find the steps I took, but its hard to search from work.
I think basically it was:

run pbsvc.exe and choose uninstall
delete pb folders from drive
run pbsetup, downloaded from Punkbuster's website
after it installs, point it to the directory you installed BF in, and choose to Update it.

I did not have to make any other changes on my PC. I'm running Windows XP Pro, with Windows Firewall, McAfee Virusscan with Access Protection enabled, and sitting behind my SMC router's built in firewall.

[GrilledCheese28 (aka Aruth)]

BTW, I am not trying to rub it in or anything. I just don't want to see you go to too many lengths to get this to work, when there should be some simpler solutions out there.

[Winin]

I did everything but the firewall stuff and it still didn't work. I'll try uninstalling pb and reinstalling and see if that helps. From the boards, it seems lots of people are having PB related problems.

[Winin]

I did it and it seems to be working now. Who knows if the run as admin or the Firewall allows are needed, but probably best to not mess with it. Whew, what a nightmare installation. I had flashbacks to installing new hardware in my old 486 and trying to rearrange all the IRQs so I could have an open one.

[Macaubre]

winin said:

It seems the game requires PB, but gives you an outdated version that doesn't work with Vista's security.

And here lies the problem. The thing isn't BF2142, it's Vista. Vista is a lot more picky now than XP regarding everything, let it be graphics cards, networking and security. I don't have Vista installed, but I'd Google everything BF2142 and Vista. Punkbuster too.

My guess is that the firewall inside Vista is blocking either BF or PB and since PB can't keep a constant connection to the game, it kicks you out.

And you being kicked out after 15 secs feels like it is.

Regarding the intro movies, I think there's a flag you can add to the desktop launcher (like you did to add support to your screen resolution that disable both movies. Lemme check...

Ok, got it, you actually have to rename files (don't delete them, just move them elsewhere or rename them:

* Dice.bik
* Intro.bik
* Legal.bik
* Legal_na.bik

With those out of the way, the game will load really faster now.

[Winin]

Cool, thanks.

But I stand by my placing the blame on EA, not Vista. I'm all for more secure systems and EA knew Vista was coming out the same time as BF, so they should have anticipated these sorts of things.

[Zeli]

i blame all of it.

i have no idea what y'all are talking about.

[lanir]

To get mine to work with Vista all I had to do was to make sure BF2142 ran with Admin Privlages. It should just be a check box in the properties of the .exe.

The only time I get kicked now is when the Titan maps change. From what I heard from numerous players htis is a common occurance.

EA better not screw up WAR like this.