Spawn, dead. Spawn, dead. Spawn... dead. The FPS multiplayer community calls it ‘base rape’, where members of the opposing faction camp around your team’s spawn point and gun you down seconds after you re-enter the game having been killed. It’s cruel, it's irritating, and DICE doesn't want it happening in Battlefield 3.

Senior Gameplay Designer Alan Kurtz recently stated:

"We're doing a lot with base rape prevention. Have to balance usability and spawn protection, tough choices."

The developer has already modified the upcoming shooter's squad spawn mechanics to combat this unsportsmanlike behaviour. In Battlefield: Bad Company 2 any squad member can spawn on any squad member, meaning for example that any one player can sneak behind enemy lines and act as a mobile spawn point for his three teammates. In Battlefield 3, squad members can only spawn on the squad leader, who can spawn on any teammate. “Keeps pace up without tons o spawns”, Kurtz tweeted last week.

Could DICE finally put an end to base rape? Or will the few gamers that put this cheap tactic to use find another way to ruin others’ enjoyment? I guess we’ll find out in October.