Thu Jul 21, 2011 8:07 am

We've done it again! We got another interview with EA's Product Manager, Kevin O'Leary. We asked him a series of questions that cover the basics to the more serious and curious concerns of the Battlefield 3 community. Here it is:

Q: What are some of the key differences between PC and console play?
A: Obviously there is all the tech and hardware on the PC to drive higher resolutions. But, what it's really about is creating a great experience on all the platforms. To use what's available to you on the platforms. So that allows us to add in a lot of extra support for PC, just because of the hardware on consoles. Every platform is going to be a great experience and extremely competitive from any standpoint.

One of the biggest number differences is that on PC you can do up to 64 players and console 24 players.

Q: With Modern Warfare 3 coming out soon as well, what sets BF3 apart?
A: We know what sets us apart. It's Frostbite 2, the platform that runs the game. It's on all three platforms, PC, Xbox and PS3. People have seen a lot of footage from PC and know how beautiful it is, but the thing is, on all three platforms, it feels so good. And what really sets us apart is the all out warfare experience that we can generate. It's not about any one number or any set of numbers that you can throw together in a feature set. It's about how it feels when you pick up a controller and play. For us, the most important things are that it's fun and that it blows you away. The way BF3 does that is by connecting you to the world. It's very immersive, it's very physical, it's arguably emotional. There's a lot of reactions when people play. That's what's important to us and that's what separates us is that we are the only ones that can deliver that immersive, all out warfare experience this year.

Q: So, there are no mod tools coming out for BF3. Is that ever planned as a DLC?
A: Possibly. What it comes down to, is that it's extremely difficult for even the professionals who work on this day in and day out for their livelihood. There are many, many skilled modders out there. We love our modding community and they have done some incredible stuff. But at this time, we're just not comfortable putting the tools out there. So, not forever off the table, but at this point in time we're not releasing them.

Q: How many multiplayer maps will there be at release?
A: We haven't announced that yet.

Q: Besides optics, what other vehicle mods will players have access to?
A: There will be deterrents like smoke and other things like that from past games. One of the cool things about vehicles, is that they have what we call "stances". So you can alternate firing modes and firing types. For example, with a tank, you're able shoot your 80mm or 120mm cannon that you have on it. then you can switch to the coax and shoot that. But, if you're the driver, you can't shoot both at the same time. It's partly for not spamming, but it's also for analyzing your scenario. What's your situation?

Q: Can players still jump from low heights and pull their chutes?
A: Oh, I don't know. I actually haven't tried it. I don't know what the low height would be, but one of the great things about Battlefield is that it's a serious game, but we take ourselves with a grain of salt and we love to have fun. And so all those crazy things, we call them Battlefield moments, where people do all sorts of crazy stuff like sticking C4 onto helicopters and using them to dive bomb and all that kind of stuff. We love that kind of stuff. I mean, I can remember a time when I was on a Blackhawk and someone shot an RPG at me and it was a great shot, but it missed me and went through the open doorway and out the other side. Like, we definitely should have been dead, but it was a moment you'll never script and can only experience in Battlefield.