Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

as a huge fan of BF2, i was really looking forward to this game; i even bought the limited edition instead of the regular one. the game itself is indeed broken (as many others have stated); as it is, it is barely playable. the web-based server browser is a joke, the lag horrendous, and there are so many bugs and missing features that design errors (such as replacing BF2's simple but usable minimap with a confusingly designed new version) seem almost trivial in comparison. even if this were a worthy successor to BF2 though, i must warn you not to but it: it requires you to install EA's 'origin' program in order to play. origin is a spyware program that collects all the data it can off your PC, including personal information and information about the software you use. the state of north-rhine westphalia in germany has already launched an investigation into this, as it is a clear violation of german privacy laws. it is not possible to play BF3 without installing and using origin first, so be aware of that. here is an excerpt from origin's terms of use: "you agree that EA may collect, use, store and transmit... information that identifies your computer (including IP address), operating system, application usage (including but not limited to successful installation/removal), software, software usage... may be gathered periodically to facilitate the provision of ... dynamically served content... other services to you... EA may use this information, COMBINED WITH PERSONAL INFORMATION for marketing purposes... " it also states that EA may share data with (unnamed) third parties. as many gamers know, EA has a long history of abusing and frankly, screwing over, their own customers, but this really goes beyond merely being unkind. the worst part is that virtually all upcoming EA titles (such as the new FIFA game) will require the use of origin as well... they have lost me as a customer, permanently.