Now this is a bit of a rant. It’s extremely rare I write posts like this on this site, it is supposed to be about videos after all 
but this is already getting to the point where it’s too long for a tweet.
So, we have Battlefield 4 on the way. OK, unexpectedly fast, but there we have it. The beta will be out autumn 2013 and the game released, well, after that. All the above was posted on Reddit, and you can happily peruse that thread by clicking on this handy link: http://www.reddit.com/r/battlefield3/comments/wpzyo/battlefield_4_beta_official_information/
One area where myself, and gamers in general, have been heavily critical of DICE is their communication strategy. Or, to be more exact, their lack of it. One would think, given the extensive feedback from their fans on this issue, they would have worked hard to correct it for BF4. A good start would probably be giving their community manager, @zh1nt0, a bit more power as they seem to have almost side-lined him for BF4.
DICE do not seem to have taken this on board though. If you visit their official website for Battlefield 4, you’ll see a single page on there. On that single page, which was released several days ago, is a line which caught my eye the first time I read through it:
While there is no further Battlefield 4 news at this point – remember, if you don’t see it published here, it’s just rumor and speculation
And yet we have them posting official information on Reddit, without bothering to update their own website where this kind of information should be posted first.
This is basic marketing principles. As a company you want your fans to have a single place where they can go and be guaranteed to have the latest information without having to traipse around several sites to find it. Yes, talk to other sites, yes disseminate information through them, but make sure it is replicated on one, central site. You know, the one where you said anything posted anywhere else is just, “rumour and speculation?”
Doing this avoids confusion from fans, makes sure you (the company) is providing the information and also helps to squash rumours and incorrect information. It’s also basic common sense.
We’ll see what happens from now on with respect to how DICE communicate about Battlefield 4. Hopefully they’ll get their act together, but the augurs are auguring and it’s not looking promising!
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