Xbox 360 Fanboy

The Battlefield: Bad Company DLC controversy has settled down after EA compromised with their "marketing promotions" idea and now today, thanks to Planet Battlefield, we know exactly what we'll have to do to earn all five additional weapons. So, without further wait, here are the non-Microsoft point involved steps to earn each controversial weapon ...

• QBU88 Sniper Rifle: Pre-order the game online or at any participating retailer.
  
• UZI Submachine Gun: Download and play the demo
• M60 Light Machine Gun: Sign up for the Battlefield newsletter
  
• F2000 Assault Rifle: Register your Battlefield soldier name
• USAS12 Shotgun: Check your Bad Company stats online at launch.

Like we said, there's no Microsoft points involved, but is this really a better solution? A show of hands please, who's committed to completing all five tasks listed above to earn the Bad Company weapon bounty?

[Via Joystiq]

In our continuing effort to bring you fresh and interesting content, X3F presents Would You Rather ... a weekly feature that asks you the hard questions. The point? If you had to choose one or the other, which would you go for?

In lieu of the recent decision from EA and DICE to give away, previously premium weapons, for free as long as gamers are willing to sign up for marketing programs we bring you this weeks Would You Rather.

Let's pretend that you actually want these free weapons to complete your weapon options in Battlefield: Bad Company would you rather pay a few dollars more for those weapons, or sign up for various programs in order to acquire the new weaponry. Let us assume that these programs will require your name, email and other information you wouldn't ordinarily give away voluntarily would you rather pay for these weapons?

Feel free to share the reasons for your vote in the comments. We'll share the results of the poll during the next edition of Would You Rather ... which hits X3F every Wednesday.

Last weeks WUR results can be find after the jump ... click for your retro look!

Now that we can (almost) put all that negative purchasing in-game weapons talk aside, we can proudly scream from the rooftops that EA has officially announced that Battlefield: Bad Company will release to retailer shelves on June 23rd. Yes, it's acceptable to say that Bad Company has had its fair share of controversy and negative sentiment, but we know some enjoyed the beta and can look past the game's ... erm, past. But what about you? Will you be a member of Bad Company this June and openly announce your purchase from the rooftops? Hmm?

A few weeks ago Electronic Arts released news that the exclusive weapons found in the special edition (the Gold Edition as it's called) of Battlefield: Bad Company would be made available on the Xbox Live Marketplace for a fee. After sending the internet into an expected uproar over the decision that resulted in angry comments from X3F readers, an internet boycott campaign and an analysis of the situation on our own X3F TV, it seems EA has changed their mind.

Earlier today in an interview with IGN, Senior Producer at DICE Karl-Magnus Troedsson spoke the words throngs of FPS fanboys have been waiting to hear. "No, there's no charge for any of the guns in the game. All of the guns in the game can be achieved without purchasing them."

But the story doesn't end there. Jump in to find out what you'll need to do to claim your weapons from EA when Battlefield: Bad Company hits this summer.

We're a bit late on the call to arms, but the movement is still alive and in full force. Sarcastic Gamer has spear-headed a Battlefield: Bad Company boycott that has gathered a bunch of followers who are united in a retail boycott of EA and DICE's upcoming shooter. Why the need for a boycott? Well, it's those oh so controversial weapons that EA confirmed would have to be purchased separately off the XBLM when the game hits retail. If you agree with and refuse to purchase Bad Company unless EA gets rid of their weapon purchase business plan then join Sarcastic Gamer's boycott by signing their petition, plastering web banners across the internets and watching their resistance video on loop at twelve hour intervals. The call to arms has already started, are you signing up?

[Thanks, Saccia]

When Electronic Arts confirmed that specific weapons would be made available for purchase over the Xbox Live Marketplace (and included in the special edition) for Battlefield: Bad Company they assured gamers the balance of the game would not be compromised. Despite that claim, the fear from the community is that the paid weapons will be overly powerfull and that gamers who decided to opt out of the purchase would be punished at a multiplayer level.

Ever viligant in our quest of the truth, this very special edition of X3F TV will compare the free weapons in the Battlefield: Bad Company beta to the special weapons that will be featured exclusively in the Gold Edition of the game and for sale over the Xbox Live Marketplace when the game launches this summer.

Using the in-game comparison tool included in the closed beta of Battlefiled: Bad Company, we've compared each paid weapon for the five soldier classes to their free counterparts. The results may surprise you.

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As quirky as it sounds, we believe to have just discovered our new comedic weak spot ... hopping med kits. That's correct, bunny hopping med kits of jumping extravagance. The Project Mod Gaming crew captured med kit hopping enjoyment this week while playing the newly released Battlefield: Bad Company beta. And as much as we want to say it isn't a glitch, we have to believe it is. Though, just think of how cool it would be to play the retail build of Bad Company and be able to spring a med kit mid-game, having it bounce around as if a coked up bunny were inside. If that were the case, we'd have no problem being a medic every game.

A reminder to those who were able to score a key code or put down a pre-order at Gamestop that the Battlefield: Bad Company multiplayer beta has officially begun. The semi-exclusive beta will run from now through April 25th and feature multiplayer mayhem spread across two maps featuring the Gold Rush gametype. And after firing up the beta for a few quick games this morning we must say, this game has potential. The graphics are gorgeous and the Frostbite engine's destructible environments seem to work as promised. We'll have to play a lot more Bad Company before we have a definitive opinion, but from what we've experienced thus far, it seems to be good times. Anyway, the Bad Company beta is live, so get in if you want and if you can. Oh, and know that weapons are not included. Mwahahaha!

It's true. Today, EA confirmed that Battlefield: Bad Company will feature micro-transactions surrounding a few of the game's weapons. Crap.

Discovered via the Bad Company beta menus, a few of the game's weapons mentioned the fact that they could only be unlocked via an XBLM purchase. In an effort to clarify the rumors, EA confirmed with IGN that Bad Company will feature five unlockable weapons which will be a part of a promotional period prior to the game's launch and will eventually end up being free downloads after the retail launch. But the game will also sport five other weapons which will be exclusively included in Bad Company's Gold Edition or as a purchase off the XBLM for a "small individualized price". EA wanted to make it clear that the purchasable weapons do not give players any significant edge, rather they'll give players more variety. And that's supposed to make us okay with it? Pssht, micro-transactions suck.

Update: Wow. Never underestimate how quickly gamers can consume free beta keys. Once again, all the public keys have been exhausted with only Insider and Founder members keys left.

Big news for those of you who missed out on the free Battlefield: Bad Company beta key codes that were released to the general public last Thursday. EA and DICE just replenished their stock and put up a new batch of public keys that are available on a first come first serve basis. And you'll be happy to know that they are available right now! W00t!

If you recall, when they first became available, all of the Bad Company public beta keys were claimed within' a few hours time leaving many wannabe participants empty handed. So quickly, most fanboys didn't even know how to obtain one before it was too late. So, this time we advise pointing your browser to IGN's FilePlanet, answering a few questions, signing up and grabbing your free beta key before they disappear. Remember, EA will be flipping the switch within' twenty-four hours time when the Bad Company beta officially kicks off tomorrow the 25th.

After obtaining a Battlefield: Bad Company beta code through some questionable means, we proceeded to redeem our code and download the beta off the Marketplace. After firing it up and realizing the servers aren't yet live, we decided to troll through the game's menus to learn a little more about what we were in for all while listening to the calming piano music being played. Then, almost as if were were slapped in the face with a trout, we spotted the chart you see above. It's a default controller chart that confirms that Bad Company will include a Halo 3'esque "take screenshot" feature in multiplayer with the simple press of up on the d-pad. We're not sure how easy it'll be to take a screenshot while in the heat of battle or if there will be any other screenshot taking options, but at least we know there will be one. Gimped or not, adding the ability to take screenshots in any game is a big plus in our book. Now about paying for weapons ...

Well with the rise of the microtransaction age we were bound to see some exploitation, and it seems that the horse armor syndrome is rising again, this time over at EA. We've heard about it via several sources already, including a reader, and it appears that the Battlefield: Bad Company Beta lists individual weapons for sale via the XBLM. A total of ten weapons are locked that have text reading "Available for purchase on Xbox Live Marketplace" next to them. The details of this are a bit shaky as of now however, as of those ten weapons, five weapons are listed as simply available for purchase, and five are listed as available in gold edition or for purchase. The gold edition likely refers to the game's collector's edition which sports a faux gold finish and which will apparently have extra content.

Now, whether or not collector's editions having in-game items is a good idea isn't the issue, the issue is the microtransactions in regard to in game items. It isn't really an issue with single player games, as the content purchases of other players cannot effect your experience. But in the case of a multiplayer shooter having more weapons available to those with larger pocket-books just doesn't feel right. With EA experimenting with microtransactions in their new Battlefield Heroes PC game, it would seem only logical that they would continue the experiment in the console realm. But with the PC version's microtransactions based around things other than in-game items that effect balance (EXP, Skins, etc) we're hoping the console side of the experiment fails, and the PC one is widely adopted.

[Thanks vince]

Update: Hopefully you got in, because all of the public beta codes have been exhausted. Though, you can still grab one if you're a part of IGN's Insider or Founder's club.

But a few hours ago, the Battlefield: Bad Company beta was officially revealed and specifics were a bit light. But now IGN just posted more information regarding the beta including multiplayer details and official links for you to grab your beta code today.

First off, we're sure you want to know how you can confirm your beta seat right now, so let's talk about that. To grab a beta download key, head over to File Planet, answer a few screener questions and login / create an IGN account. Once that's complete, you'll be redirected to a confirmation page where, if they're still available, you'll be treated to an Xbox Live redemption code to gain access into the beta which kicks off on March 25th. Easy as pie!

Next up, Bad Company beta multiplayer specifics. IGN posted a introductory video (embedded above) showing off the new Gold Rush gametype, how it's played and the strategies involved. If you're hungry for more deets, IGN also posted weapon, vehicle and gadget information so you'll be prepared for battle come Monday. Make the jump, get your read on and be sure to sign up for the beta key ASAP. We're not sure how long those keys will last.

[Thanks, Chris]

Even though we already received information about its existence last week, this time it's official with both EA and DICE announcing that a Battlefield: Bad Company multiplayer beta will be kicking off next Tuesday, March 25th on Xbox Live. Beta access is open to North American and UK residents with access keys being handed out via IGN's Founder's Club, Club IGN, File Planet and other IGN owned websites including TeamXbox. Also, North Americans can obtain a Bad Company beta code by being one of the first 5,000 to head to GameStop and plop down a Bad Company pre-order.

As far as multiplayer specifics go, the Bad Company beta will feature two multiplayer maps (Ascension and Oasis) and the multiplayer mode "Gold Rush". And just like betas before it, DICE will use all the data they mine from their Bad Company beta to further tweak and improve upon the game before its release. Remember, the multiplayer fun kicks off on March 25th and will run through April 25th with access being made available through various IGN websites as well as Gamestop pre-orders. Now go, run forth and obtain a beta code soldier!

Update: We've been informed that details surrounding the Battlefield: Bad Company beta have yet to be hammered out, but that the beta is still on track. As soon as we hear specifics regarding the beta we'll be sure to pass along the news. In other words ... stay tuned.

In a move that comes from far, far left field, EA and DICE just announced that they'll be holding an open (yet limited) Battlefield: Bad Company multiplayer beta starting next Monday, March 17th. Access into the beta is open to North American and UK residents and keys can be obtained through IGN and its sister sites including TeamXbox. What we are sure of is that U.S. residents will have a second way to gain beta access by heading to GameStop and plopping down a Bad Company pre-order to obtain one of the 5,000 beta keys being offered.

As far as multiplayer specifics go, the Bad Company beta will feature two multiplayer maps and the multiplayer mode "Gold Rush". And just like betas previous, DICE will use all the data they mine from their Bad Company beta to further tweak and improve upon the game before its release. Speaking of a release date, DICE confirmed that Battlefield: Bad Company will in fact make a June 2008 release ... pending any more setbacks.