I can't recall for sure, but I /believe/ all Australian servers should be set in the Oceania region. DICE are pretty strict about making sure servers are set correctly in their appropriate country.

If you search for Internode or GameArena servers you should get a pretty good selection:

http://www.gamearena.com.au/getconnected/servers/allservers/?gameid=312
http://games.on.net/gameservers.php

Twisted has it...

EA/Dice started to get it right toward the 'end of BF:BC2/ beginning of BF3'...

for all the shenanigans related to ORIGIN, the browser based 'Battlelog' approach for finding games with BF3 is (issues with the instant messenger thing aside) actually fairly win

Maybe check your filters to eliminate empty servers. From memory, my ping for aussie servers from Brisbane using shitty ADSL2+ was approx 60ping.

I never had an issue with the BFBC2 in game browser but i got into it months after release. I much prefer the BFBC2 method of joining games to Battlelog - 1 click and everything was displayed where as battlog requires a few refreshes n shit before it works right for me. Also, I cant even see my goddam stats and shit in battlelog but maybe thats to do with chrome. Only positive is being able to browse the web and have BF3 popup once the map is loaded but then i normally get DCed from the server in 30mins or so, which is still fucked.

My suggestion, play the squad deathmatch games and camp til you get used to the BFBC2 way of shooting / moving then try Rush mode and stick with your team. I found i got too lost in conquest modes as a noob. Also, play medic and stay back from the front line reviving team mates. Good way to earn heaps of points and learn the maps without dying due to running solo. Good luck. And lol with the USD to AUD steam price exchange.

The item displayed as 'ping' in BF:BC2 (and to a lesser extent in BF3) isn't really even a 'guide' as to your connection status...
About the only thing it tells you is when it's >300, ask you housemate/etc to stop downloading pr0n whilst you're playin games.

I'm not sure what to tell you Dav0, I run with Opera at home, and Battlelog isn't compatible with it, so I run IE (which I fuckin loathe) exclusively to log into Battle log, and that works for me quite well (I have a shortcut to IE pointed at the Battlelog address saved as the 'non-steam game' link in Steam so all I do is fire up steam, hit 'BF3' and viola 100% functionality.
Give that a go.

I'm not sure about BF:BC2's introduction to new players, but I can't imagine BF3 being terribly polite to players who didn't sign up from day 1...
having 'countermeasures' as an unlock for all aircraft would be painful considering how fluent the community has become at nailing aircraft... reminds me of the painful unlocks system that BF2142 had... (Grenades for example, were an unlock in 2142... that was a massive turn off)

err... do i need to unlock the medic kit :(

I think so. lol. Just play medic for a few rounds and stay behind enemy lines. Make sure you smash "spot" or whatever it is to put a red triangle on enemy units. Even if u dont kill the enemy, if a team-mate does, you get a spot assist.

Dunno what game mode you are playing but try Rush. As a defender, you generally camp and wait for enemies to come. As an attacker, just stick with your team mates and take cover.

Hot Tip: Pick up kits from fallen allies of the class you want and run around spamming ammo boxes / medical kits, this will help you unlock the kits faster without having to rely on kills and objective bonuses.

Ah yes. Very good idea.

wtf ppl still play bfbc2 online?

ive got it, and never bothered trying

BF3 is available. It has Jets.

(primarily DCs, shitty server browser and what seems to be a laggy hit detection making smooth gameplay nonexistant despite adequate internet and system).

err and you're going to hold BF:BC2 up as the poster-child for getting it right?!?!?

BF3 has largely the same hangups as BF:BC2 (BF3's game browser is better than BC2's, the friends system isn't limited to 20 and falls over all the time (tho is still buggy)) BF3 looks (and sounds) fucking amazing compared to BC2 also.


If you want an FPS go play MW3, but if you want some 'co-ordinated' gaming, the BF franchise is for you.

(IMO the BF franchise has never really made a good 'fps' element when compared to the wider market, 'Hit Registration' having been their biggest hangup... (and yes, it certainly got a whole lot worse in both BC2 and BF3.)