The Problem with PunkBuster

When I booted up Battlefield 3 for the first time, I was very impressed by the level of polish present. Despite its browser-based setup, the interface was incredibly fluid and easy to navigate, and I found myself awestruck at how simple it was to complete basic functions like joining a friend or finding a game.

The Failure of the Mainstream Beta

At some point during a board meeting, in between puffs of expensive-cigar smoke, jokes at the expense of the working class, and with classical music playing in the background, some head of marketing successfully pitched the idea of using a round of video game “Beta testing” as a marketing tool.