For me, yes. The only other game I have had the same level of addiction was Delta Force:BHD, but that was because then I was in a clan, making it that much more addictive.

There's certainly something to be said about game design companys designing the games to be addictive. But I've played hundreds of hours of Battlefield games since the original, I think it's just perfectly balanced at offering so many different ways of getting involved in the fighting.

Certainly gets the blood pumping when I'm screaming over comms to get my mates to rep my tank

BF3 is as addictive as Cod 4 was for me when in it's heyday.
Every game you can do something different.. play in a tank.. Jet. Jihad in a hummer etc.
It's a good game.

Only ever been addicted to BF3 gamewise usually I get half way through games and move on I think I have only ever completed 4-6 games in my life. But BF3 i just keep coming back to because you can jump straight into the action for a quick bit of killing or team up with friends and play tactically.

Not trying to convince you too much, but have you played with a clan/team of your friends/PHers? It makes all the difference playing with people you know or people who have a similar playing style when you first pick it up. I find with the BF games, I have to have a good run of playing to actually find myself doing well again. If I were to play it for the first time in a couple of weeks, my first half hour would be spent getting battered until I get back into the habit, or find the right way to play against the people on the server.

That alone is a key benefit for me, as it forces the players to adapt their style depending on the types of people playing. Granted you do get a lot of spray and pray types who tend to get lucky, but I normally come away from the game feeling like I had a fairly good run.

Cypher, please DO convince me. It really a magnificent game, very polished. It may well (definitely) be that I'm just ste. I think the fact that I usually pick up games fairly quickly has made me sulk and throw my toys out of the pram.

Lots of "Why won't he fkING DIE!!! Oh, fk THIS!!!" followed by the case being chucked back on the shelf in favour of COD.

Which platform are you on?

I felt that with BF2 as I came into it late and thought WTF am I doing....

(i still do btw esp. recently) however I got to grips with Rush first and learned that you can help your team win by not "rushing" in and staying alive that bit longer so your team can survive etc...

it might help to stick to one or two maps religiously until you get used to them and then moe on. I started big and then went small - TDM can be brutal as can SQD DM. SQD rush might also help you get familiar with tactics etc.

stick with it and go with a defensive load out to begin with - claymores, shotgun or lmg, flak defence - you might live longer and clays will give you that odd free kill / assist to help your score.

"Stay with me soldier" Hooah

I'm the ol' xbox.

Thanks for the advice, I think it is that my style of play (learnt in halo) is very much that if someone is shooting me, I still stand a chance of being able to kill them first. I don't think that's how this game works however! I was watching a mate play yesterday, and he ran away so much more than I ever would, but ended up being a far better team contributor.

If someone could push me in the direction of the xbox clan if there is one, I'll see if i can get on tomorrow night and provide some entertainment for everyone.

I'll play alongside you Alex, if you add me. CypherP as on here. I'll play assault alongside you, so can play medic when needed. I agree with the comments on here. Would be easier to either play in a small game with other people you know, or stick to the same class and the same map, so you can get used to routes, vantage points and key map points.

Stick with it if you can. Once you crack that first game, getting towards the top of the leaderboard, you'll be very happy with your efforts! The game is made purposely taxing to start with, especially seeing as most people you're playing with will have all manner of weapon unlocks which makes taking people out fairly tricky from a distance, and yet easy for most other players against you.

Once you start to roll in those unlocks and your arsenal expands, along with your playing skill and accuracy, you'll have no problems having a bloody good game and wonder why you got so frustrated before! For starters, although fairly hectic, I'd recommend getting some good rush games in Operation Metro. Some may disagree, but this will be the most hectic most games will get, in terms of action happening constantly. It will also give you an idea of where enemy appear from, going for multi-kills, supporting your team and protecting or destroying the sites. I'll happily join you one evening though and take it from there, as I've ben fairly preoccupied with Forza and more recently Trials, so would be good to fire it up again.