Tuesday, October 4, 2011
The Daily Beacon • 5
ARTS&CULTURE
New ‘Battlefield’ worth its many annoyances Promising game’s beta version still glitchy, lighting effects, graphics among pluses Chris Flowers Staff Writer The newly released “Battlefield 3” beta for the PC makes an excellent first impression once the in-game action begins, but getting there can be a frustrating ordeal. The beta is multiplayer only and just one map, but should be enough to tide fans over until the Oct. 25 release. As you may already know, EA Games, publisher of “Battlefield 3,” has begun to pull its games off of the industry standard online game store, Steam, in favor of its new proprietary service, Origin. The beta requires the Origin client and the creation of an Origin account to get started. Curiously, launching “Battlefield 3” from the Origin client brings up a web page in your Internet browser which serves as the game’s method of getting you into a match. There is no main menu screen within the game; you are either ingame or in the web browser menu. Of course for the menus to work, a browser plug-in must be installed. Once you actually attempt to launch the game, you are asked to download beta video card drivers released specifically for the game. Playing without them is possible, but the game is somewhat less glitchy with them. Thankfully, the hassle involved in getting the game running proved to be worth it within the first five minutes. Playing on my fairly up-to-date PC, I was able to run the game with almost every graphical setting maxed out and I was blown away. The models and textures aren’t a huge step forward from last year’s “Battlefield:
SERVICES Get your reserved parking space just 3 blocks from campus. Call 525-7413 for details and rates. Psychic readings by Rose Renee. $5.00 reading with UT ID. Call for appt. (865)983-9945.
TUTORING TESTPREP EXPERTS GRE/ GMAT/ LSAT For over 30 years, Michael K. Smith, Ph.D., and his teachers have helped UT students prepare for the GRE/ GMAT/ LSAT. Our programs offer individual tutoring, practice tests, and computer- adaptive strategies at a reasonable price. Programs can be designed around your schedule, weekdays, weeknights, or weekends. Conveniently located at 308 South Peters Rd. Call (865)694-4108 for more information.
Read the Beacon Classifieds!
EMPLOYMENT Afternoon respite provider needed. 5 days a week for emotionally disturbed child. Pay negotiable. Call Kristin at 470-4937. Caregiver/ companion for adult female with Parkinsons disease in West Knoxville. Flexible hours. (865)588-1010, leave message. Cherokee Country Club now hiring experience full-time and part-time service staff. Apply in person Tuesday Friday from 2-5. 5138 Lyons View Pike.
EMPLOYMENT CHILD CARE. 3 kids: 3, 9 and 12. Near Northshore & Pellisippi Pkwy. 2-3 weekdays begin 2:30. $10/hour. Available between semesters. Driving and very active play incl sports. Non-smoker, good driver, swimmer. Must have a car. Resume and refs reqd. Leave msg at 406-2690. DSG Associates, Inc. is looking for individuals to participate in a paid online research study. Sign up for free at www.dsgai.com or call (800)462-8765 today! First Baptist Concord/ West Lake FT/PT positions avail. Teacher asst./Floater. Professional Christian working environment. Call (865)288-1629 or email westlakewee@fbconcord.org
Landscaping company looking for FT/PT employees. Experience helpful. Must have valid TN drivers license. Call 865-583-0202 and leave contact information. Massage Therapist in Farragut Chiropractic office. 10 hours minimum, more hours can be available. Call (865)966-5885 or fax (865)966-5995. Email volrehab@hotmail.com. Need one energetic and athletic person to work in awesome after school childcare program in West Knoxville. Hours: 1-6pm Mon-Fri. Locals needed and summer camp experience a plus. Call Robert 454-1091.
This space could be yours. Call 974-4931
Bad Company 2,” but the lighting effects are astounding. Each individual leaf of a tree casts its own shadow. The sun reflects off the scopes of sniper rifles, making them easier to spot outdoors. With grenades and rockets constantly exploding, and flashlight beams slicing across the environment, the dark subway section of the map really lets the new lighting engine shine. I couldn’t help but smile the first time a rocket whis-
tled by my head, lighting up the dark tunnel and echoing off the walls as it flew. EA spent an entire year importing the animation engine from their sports games into Battlefield, resulting in a drastic improvement. They are easily the most fluid and natural looking animations I have ever seen in a first-person shooter. Even on the low-
EMPLOYMENT
FOR RENT
No nights. No weekends. Looking to fill one counselor position for school year at Bearden School-age Program. Call Micki if interested. 588-6717.
1509 HIGHLAND AVENUE, #A105 FOUNTAIN PLACE SUBDIVISION! University of Tennessee! If you have been waiting for a home in this area, you have just found it! This unit is within walking distance to UT. This is an end unit, ground level with two bedrooms and one bath with full finished kitchen. Crown molding, ceilingfans. Home is in great condition. A parking pass goes along with purchase. #755133 Talking Homes 1-877-463-6546 Code 9006. JudiStarliper, Realty Executives Associates
PT employment: Mathnasium, the math learning center, is seeking instructors for elementary through high school level math. If you enjoy working with kids and understand the math we’ll teach you the rest! Ability to tutor calculus and/ or physics not required, but a plus. E-mail Mike O’Hern at westknoxville@mathnasium. com.
THE TOMATO HEAD KNOXVILLE Now hiring dish and food running positions. Full and part-time available, no experience necessary. Apply in person at 12 Market Square or apply online at thetomatohead.com.
UNFURN APTS 1 and 2BR Apts. UT area and West Knox area. Call for appointment (865)522-5815. CAMPUS 2 BLOCKS 3 Bedroom Apartment $990. Restored Hardwood Floors. 1311 Clinch Ave. No pets. UTK-APTS.com 933-5204. South Knoxville/UT downtown area 2BR apts. $475. Call about our special (865)573-1000.
FOR RENT 1 FULL BR CONDOS Security/ Elevator/ Pool 3 min. walk to Law School. $520R, $300SD, No app. fee. 865 (4408-0006 , 250-8136).
2BR apt. 3 blocks from UT. 1803 White Ave. 584-5235 or 548-6633. 2BR, 2 full bath condo on Lyons View off Northshore, across from Lakeshore Park. 1232 sq ft. Great roommate floorplan. Brand new carpet, cabinets, paint. Nice laundry room just down the hall. $995/month, includes cable and water. Pool. Call Kim: 776-5848.
NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD • Will Shortz ACROSS 1 4 10 14 15 16
17 18 20
22
23
26 29 30 32
33
Subleasing 1BR for a 4BR 2BA at University Heights. Spring and Summer semester 2012. Call (901)484-2595.
HOUSE FOR RENT New home 3BR, 2BA in Historic North Knoxville. Approximately 2 miles to campus. Central H/A, off street parking. $900/mo. plus deposit. (865)388-6144.
AUTOS FOR SALE Silver 1997 Isuzu Rodeo. 4 door, 3.2 V6, Alpine stereo/ cd, almost new Mastercraft tires, loaded 146K miles. Great condition. $3400 cash/ OBO. (865)254-7564.
est graphics settings possible the game looks just fine and ran at a playable frame rate on a six year old PC. “Battlefield 3” plays much more like last year’s “Bad Company 2” than 2005’s “Battlefield 2” — not a bad thing as it makes for a faster-paced, more focused game. The four classes from “Bad Company 2” remain, with some slight alterations, and the leveling system for earning new gadgets and guns is identical. The difference in gameplay from “Bad Company 2” is fairly slight in the beta, but in the full game the reintroduction of the jets and gigantic 64player maps found in “Battlefield 2” will provide a sense of scope not found in last year’s game. There is no reason not to try the beta out, but as a warning it is still a beta and it is fairly glitchy. I played in a group of four friends and two of us had constant crashes while all of us experienced graphical glitches where our screen would sometimes flash white for a few frames, or turn completely blue until death. I will also chalk this up to being a beta and hope it changes in the final game, but currently it is impossible to enter any menus while dead. I died several times because I was forced to spawn so I could adjust something in the options, then killed while standing motionless out in the open. This kicked me out of the options menu before I finished what I was doing, and • Photo courtesy of ign.com I was forced to try again on my next spawn. That was extraordinarily frustrating. None of the problems with the game are deep-rooted design issues, so if the bugs and minor annoyances can be ironed before release, “Battlefield 3” should be the shooter to play in the coming release-filled holiday season.
34
Hungry mouth Person assisting a worship service Jockey’s whip Lincoln, the Rail-Splitter Place for a bookcase Auto company whose name is Latin for “listen” Title of respect Longtime New York theater critic Emphatic follow-up to yes or no Corporate dept. that may include labs Actor in 1960s TV’s “77 Sunset Strip” Nary a soul Tropical citrus fruit Fleischmann’s product Wilson of “Midnight in Paris” Spanish king
37 38 39
45 48 49 50 51
53 56 58 59 63 64 65 66 67 68 69
Popular card game since 1954 Speck Org. issuing many refunds TV/film/stage actor once married to actress Meredith Baxter Informer International furniture retailer Facility Madame Chanel Italian city famous for its cheese Big dog Yankee great Roger Came ashore Prime cooking spot ___ de mer “___ She Sweet” “That’s it for me” Get along in years Memo Conflict waged between navies ___ diem
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE Q T I P T O T A S U C R T H E N S P A T H I S E X T R L E R O F L O O T T H E W A U T O K E R R E Y E D
S L E P U T H O S H A I D P A R H O B E D
A J A R
P U M P
P A P A L
E R I C A
L E V I
E V E S
E M I L
S G L P R O R A N E O N I E N D N S E S A I R O L T U N I T I N B I N S I C E L S H M E A Y B A G N E Z I C D E N
O T T O
B E E N
M E T A L
E X E R T
R E L N E T S
1
2
3
4
14
15
17
18
20
5
6
7
8
29
25
26
30 34
31
35
41
42
43
44
45
54
57
60
58 61
62
63
65
66
68
69
DOWN
7 8 9 10
11 12 13
47
55
67
6
46
50 53
64
5
28
32
49 52 56
1 2 3 4
27
38
48
59
13
36
37
51
12
22 24
40
11
19
23
39
10 16
21
33
9
Rubber man? Cut In an odd manner ___ Davenport, long-running “Doonesbury” character Aunt ___ of “Oklahoma!” Start of the third century “Mazel ___!” Be in charge of Singer McEntire Nowadays they usually have power locks and windows Decrepit Pindar creation Fraternity letters
19 21 24 25 27 28 31 34 35
36 37 39 40
The Atlantic’s Cape ___ Baseball stat ___ pros. (court record abbr.) Building extension Born, in Brittany Naval officer below lieut. Annual theater award Quaintly stylish Barry Manilow’s “Could ___ Magic” Suffix with contradict Old Mitsubishi model Fondue feature Alias
41 42 43 44 45 46 47 50 52 54 55 57 59 60 61
62
First U.S. state to abolish slavery “It seems evident that …” Alphabet trio Beak Motorist’s guide Farmland spread Real young ’un Piers Morgan’s channel Realm of beauty Justice Kagan Less done, as steak Long-legged wader Ceiling addition ___ de la Plata Nutritional allotment, for short At once