Bloodfyre mentioned some info about SWBF2 in his report, so I thought I would add to that a bit. First off, the release date is November 1 (the same day Episode 3 is released!) and the official site for the game can be found here:
Here you can find screenshots and trailers, along with all the game info you need. Features new to the game include:
-Space Combat (and improved flight control)
-Playable Jedi
-New environments (more than 16, some from Ep3)
-Smarter AI enemies
-Better single-player experience and storyline
I know what you're thinking, "Did I read that correctly?" Yes you did! No more incredibly dumb AI players, easier to control flight (and boarding capabilities!), tons of new maps, and you can play as a Jedi using a lightsaber and force powers!
If you want to read more, I'd also suggest you check out the IGN site on BF2. It has articles on the game in general, playing as a Jedi, and info from E3. You can find that here:
So check out those articles, and when you run out on November 1st to pick up Episode III, don't forget to buy BF2 as well! I can guarentee you there will be lots of people playing, and competitions for everyone to participate in.
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A few general observations from playing the beta about common queries:
Jedi availability is fully configurable for a server. They can be turned off or put on the default limit of one per team or you can increase this limit if you want full teams of Jedi. You can set it so they are always selectable as a class (just like any of the other six classes per team) or you can set conditions- the beta servers have a random assignment and limit of one. The conditions appear to be able to range from reaching a certain number of kills to various other things. Basically: you can do what you want.
Talking of Jedi... their actual class abilities have been done well. All the Heroes play differently and have their own individual skills and abilities. They're powerful and can cut people down much easier than regular classes but they are by no means super human and not going to dominate a match solo- so if you're fighting a Jedi you don't need to worry about them screwing up the balance.
Speaking of balance... the teams generally seem more fairly matched than in the first game. Part of this is due to the set-up of the beta serves (though there will be more options for personal servers) which limits the team specific classes a bit so you can't use them right at the start of the match but need to rack up a few kills first (i.e. no becoming a Dark Trooper and leap-frogging across the map to capture the enemie's command post in the first five seconds of the match). Of course, you can enable that if you want, but it does ensure people make use of regular classes as well- all of which are now useful. Unlike the first game you'll probably find yourself switching classes a lot depending on whats going on as no one class is really better than any others. Snipers might be good to begin the match, but once the teams are into close combat a rifle really isn't much use. Likewise while Engineers were virtually useless in the first game their shotgun-style rifle is now extremely powerful in close range.
There is an Order 66 map of Jedi v. Clones. From what I have heard this map has actual Jedi classes like Padawan, Knight, Master etc. No doubt people will later mod this to make it a selectable team on all maps for people wanting full Jedi battles with lots of lightsabers.
There are a number of much smaller maps. The original maps are still all there but if you don't want giant open air battles then something like the Tantive IV map is idea- even for small 4v4 games with no AI. Think JA sized CTF levels- making BF2 CTF one of the games best features.
While this was a feature of the first game anyway its one a lot of people dont seem to have known existed so I'll mention it anyway- the AI can be turned off or given a particular number per team (e.g. only 5 bots per team). So for people who don't like playing with AI and feel the AI dominate the match too much you now have the option of regular human versus human matches. With the smaller maps this again means matches of 2v2 are feasible, if less fun compared to a full 16v16.
Space combat seems to have been universally accepted as fun. Its not XvT or XWA but this isn't a flight simulator either so don't expect one as its an action game. The battles are rather intense and the Assault missions to board the enemy team's ship and destroy their internal generators are particuarly enjoyable.
In case it wasn't clear before, yes, there is CTF as well as other new game modes. Its not just all out carnage so there are actually more types of play- although CTF is one of the more enjoyable ones.
In case you're curious what the classes for each team are:
Rebels:
Bothan Spy
Wookiee Warrior
Heroes: Leia, Han, Luke, etc.
Imperials:
Imperial Officer
Dark Trooper
Heroes: Vader, Boba Fett, etc.
Clones:
Clone Commander
Jetpack Trooper
Heroes: Obi-Wan, Yoda, Mace, etc.
Separatists:
MagnaGuard
Droideka
Heroes: General Grievous, Count Dooku, etc.
There are others... and other map specific teams (like the Jedi team for the Order 66 level I mentioned earlier). There is presumably a difference for example between the Mustafar Separatist team and the Naboo Trade Federation team. Things vary between maps as well with even the Rebels and Empire- sometimes you have pilots, other levels engineers, etc
Matches actually require skill and vehicle camping no longer works. A bad team will lose quickly and it is entirely dependent on how good you actually are- despite what many people may have felt about the original this game does require you to actually be good at it and your team to be good if you want to win. If you just sit around doing jack the AI won't win the match for you.
Elaborating on vehicle camping- vehicles now have a few weaknesses. There are weakpoints on them that will take huge damage if hit- although with the vehicles available on the beta and the chaos in full 16v16 matches I've not actually had much luck in locating these yet. However, for example, the AT-RT appears to be weak around the neck joint where the 'legs' connect to the 'head' of the walker. There is also added incentive to make use of the Engineer/Pilot class as they can now disable an enemy vehicle if they can get into close range- kicking the enemy pilot out of it- which will be a serious thorn in the side of people who used to jump in an AT-ST and just camp spawn points. On the new maps at least there also appears to be more balance in terms of the vehicles available rather than how some of the first game's maps gave all the vehicles to one team and screwed the other.
Oh, in case it wasn't clear, obviously each team also has the four default classes (Combat, Assault, Sniper, Engineer/Pilot)