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EA announces free ad supported Battlefield game
A team-based cartoony shooter - where could EA have got that idea?
Big-money sequel specialist EA has been making money off in-game ads for a while now, and we spotted the recruitment ads for the British Navy in Need for Speed: Carbon over a year ago. However, EA has now decided to test the water with a completely ad-supported Battlefield game that will be free to download.
Called Battlefield Heroes, the game will be a cartoon-style shooter that's already looking very much like Valve's Team Fortress 2. 'We put a different twist on this Battlefield game going with the cartoon-style graphics and gameplay,' explained Ben Cousins, a senior producer at EA DICE.
Cousins also promised that Battlefield Heroes will feature 'something here for all types of players - be it our core Battlefield fans or casual gamers. With the new online model, we will continually add new content to keep the game fresh and keep players engaged, while integrating player feedback in real time.'
EA says that the game will appeal to casual gamers, as it's 'easy to pick up an play,' while Battlefield fans are hoped to appreciate its 'robust character customisation and deep online meta-game,' in which 'gamers can spend hours building up their characters and conquering the world.'
Battlefield Heroes is scheduled to be released in Summer this year. See here for more details.
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If game adverts ever get as annoyingly intrusive as those on most TV channels I may well stop playing games as much as I've stopped watching TV (I now watch about an hour or two a week of tv, watch some avi's, some dvd's, and find other things to do the rest of the time)
Comment by NewParadigm at 4:31pm 23rd January 2008
If game adverts ever get as annoyingly intrusive as those on most TV channels I may well stop playing games as much as I've stopped watching TV (I now watch about an hour or two a week of tv, watch some avi's, some dvd's, and find other things to do the rest of the time)
Comment by NewParadigm at 4:31pm 23rd January 2008
How can people say this ill suck because its a freebie. This game isnt free. Like many website wich "appear" to be free it is paid for by companies wanting to advertise other products. So there is no reason for EA to randomly add a price here and there or to produce a steaming pile of (well the same stuff they usually churn out) but the idea is one I like. TBH I can't see it being too far off before companies ask that you pay nothing for games and they are all supported by in game adds. Just like you TV system. You pay for the shows made by watching adverts.
Comment by reashlin at 2:07pm 23rd January 2008
Couldn't care less about in game ads so long as they are implemented well, don't slow down the game and don't appear too out of place (holograms in sci-fi games, bill boards in present day etc). What I really hate is the lack of imagination and originality... Valve come up with a new idea for team fortress that's fresh and interesting, it sells well and people with no imagination all jump on the band wagon. People who can't come up with their own ideas have no place making games in my opinion.
Comment by NewParadigm at 1:02pm 23rd January 2008
I'd get it. But I'd never pay for a game with in game advertising.
Comment by mr_nips at 12:33pm 22nd January 2008
This has a similar feel to the proposition of internet advertising. It was mocked at the beggining, but now its common place. If more developers take this route games may become cheaper, which would be a godsend.
Comment by cjash at 2:14am 22nd January 2008
yeah thats likely to happen one thing EA suck at is User Feedback plus numourous others however one thing EA are great at is DESTROYING A DECENT FRANCHISE FOR MONEY
Comment by Mizugetsu at 8:50pm 21st January 2008
So what the business plan? Give the game away for free and make you pay for the patches? Its not like they will need to patch it, is it :P
Comment by Omegahunter at 8:08pm 21st January 2008
I'm all for tasteful ads in games, as long as they look like they belong there. Would work on TV too - use product placement instead of 15 mins of commercials between 5 minutes of programme. Often forget what I'm watching they're so long.
Comment by gavomatic57 at 5:50pm 21st January 2008
I think it sounds like a good idea in principle, however i am cautious as to how much well developed and polished it will be. After all; "It's only a freebie"....
Comment by judaas at 5:05pm 21st January 2008
Great idea, I mean the advertising that I have seen in games untill now is far from intrusive. I don't mind them as long as the extra revenue is translated into cheaper games for the consumer. It's a brave move from EA and an intersting one at that.
Comment by Thorian at 4:33pm 21st January 2008
BF2 with cartoon graphics and FREE (a few ads, big deal!). Can't wait.
Comment by pveater at 4:20pm 21st January 2008
Sounds good to me, especially the part about character customisation
Comment by mrjimmyos at 3:09pm 21st January 2008
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