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.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
3-24-2008 @ 4:06PM
Alex C. said...
rip off...
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3-24-2008 @ 4:07PM
sifer2400 said...
lol deff rip off whats next they make you pay to respawn
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3-24-2008 @ 4:09PM
Tony said...
Promotional period? Why pay money for promotional anything?
Every time EA makes some steps forward, they do crap like this again.
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3-24-2008 @ 4:12PM
Joe said...
You DON'T have to buy the guns its just if you want more of them so stop moaning and it will be like call of duty 4 all the first guns will be the best
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3-24-2008 @ 4:12PM
Big Filth said...
"whats next they make you pay to respawn"
lmao
wow. this is some BS. I mean, Im not too mad because I got the beta for free and dont see myself buying these weapons, but now I am pretty much against this game, unless the beta knocks my socks off..
judging by the footage they show you when you load it up, thats not a very good possibility.
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3-24-2008 @ 4:16PM
Tony said...
At some point the "you don't have to buy it" excuse wears thin. It's still ridiculous and something that should be reconsidered by all three hardware providers.
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3-24-2008 @ 4:16PM
RudyHuxtable said...
I may have purchased the game when it came out had this idiotic business model not been employed. So now EA misses out on both $2 for a sub-machine gun AND $60 for a video game. Way to go, idiot.
Horse armor anyone?
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3-24-2008 @ 4:21PM
ZEBRA NINER said...
Wow! That sucks. I guess you get extras when you buy limited edition games or preorder somewhere. So it's basically pay up front(limited edition) or pay later(XBLM).
Nickel and dimes... You'll be paying $10 per MP map soon, mark my words!
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3-24-2008 @ 4:24PM
Josh said...
variety? what's that supposed to mean. f that. if ever there was a micro-transaction to boycott, this would be it
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3-24-2008 @ 4:27PM
Chem242 said...
Wow. Don't you people realize almost every game does this? All DLC is a micro-transaction. If the price is comparable to the quality of the content then what is the big deal? What if each gun is 80 points? People paid that for Spell tomes in Oblivion. And really calling this stuff Horse Armor all the time is really dumb. Horse armor was a decent addition to Oblivion and the price was low enough to be justifiable.
Gone are the days of buy a game for x dollars and that is it. If you want your games to expand past release and remain fun to play over time then get used to DLC and micro-transactions. If I can spend $20 on a few maps and add-ons to expand my $60 game rather than bore of it and go buy another $60 game then that seems alright to me.
But no one ever sees the positive sides cause it is easier to blindly complain about the negative.
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3-24-2008 @ 4:34PM
iRoy said...
You know all these games where you need to buy health items from vending machines?
Bet EA are first to take payments...
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3-24-2008 @ 4:36PM
Dante Sparda said...
People for gods sake! Its just five bonus weapons included to people who buy a Special Edition version of the game. Its not EA trying to get more money its just giving people who choose to buy a Special Edition a better reason to get one instead of some case. How would you perfer a special edition? With a behind the scenes video or with five guns and a behind the scenes video? I would choose the one with the guns. They are giving people the option if you don't want to buy the game for $10 to buy the guns off the MP as well.
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3-24-2008 @ 4:54PM
UNSCleric said...
EA is a cancer to the gaming industry.
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3-24-2008 @ 4:54PM
Neuromancer said...
This is absolutely ridiculous. Every time EA makes one step forward (a push for new IPs for example), they do something like this and take two steps back. Man I remember when EA used to make some of the best games for the Sega Genesis (Road Rash, The Immortal, Mutant League Football). It's really sad to see them taking over the video game world and driving it straight into the ground.
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3-24-2008 @ 4:56PM
Prophestus said...
Corporate greed combined with DLC will be part of the cancer killing gaming. DLC should be noteworthy (i.e. full expansion packs like Oblivion that add 20+ hours to a game), not bullshit like upgraded weapons or guns. If the gun is just another color or purely cosmetic, then let retards buy it. But if it has the ability to effect gameplay or is unattainable in game, then this is bullshit. The more momentum this DLC shit gains in the gaming industry, the more worrisome I become..Pretty soon multiplayer games will ship with 2 maps, then you'll have to pay $5 each month to get a "new" map they release...
Consumers see DLC as means to expand their experience, but most companies see it as a way to increase profits at the expense of the consumer..
sorry for the long diatribe. Just had to vent.
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3-24-2008 @ 4:58PM
Gemini Ace said...
The issue with this entire thing is that this is content that should be included on the game disc and available to anyone who buys it. It's purposefully being withheld in order to be placed on the XBLM.
And the argument that EA is giving us extra options is complete and total b.s. The only option they are interested in is the one that takes more money out of our pockets.
I really thought EA had changed. Obviously not.
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3-24-2008 @ 5:14PM
Drunkenshaolin said...
there is always stupid people that will buy it. no matter what it is...
i hate it, theses games aint cheap, but they try to Sqweez every last penny you got, out of ya.
i can understand MMOs having to pay a fee.
but ive never paid for content, i wait until there free.
but time there free no-one is playing it anymore..lol
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3-24-2008 @ 5:20PM
Liquid Ocelot (call me Liquid) said...
That's so f*king dumb with them. They were just starting to gewt me to not hate them, and they do this. I hate EA...
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3-24-2008 @ 5:21PM
Josh said...
Even though this is kinda of stupid, the game looks too good and I still can't wait for the beta to begin.
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3-24-2008 @ 5:25PM
Jeff Tronti said...
My boycott of EA continues (except for Rock Band).
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