EA/DICE shoots another cannon across the bow.

[MutantMonkey]

http://kotaku.com/5491066/bad-compan...e-2s-marketing

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 joins Infinity Ward's fight against "mapathy" on March 30, unlocking its second set of VIP maps on the same day that Modern Warfare 2's first map pack drops - only Battlefield's maps are free.

That's the point being driven home in a post on the Battlefield: Bad Company 2 website titled "How to avoid "mapathy" without paying." It's a riff on the fictional affliction Infinity Ward used on Tuesday to announce the March 30 release date for the first Modern Warfare 2 map pack, poking fun at Activision for charging for the downloadable content while EA gives it out for free.

VIP members will be able to expand on the deep and ever changing sandbox experience, which in itself provides near endless hours of entertainment, by having new content to keep things fresh. It also plays a vital part in making sure you, the players get proper value for the money you've invested in Battlefield: Bad Company 2. This is why these map packs are available at no extra cost, contradicting the industry standard and what our direct competitors are doing. Of course, it also helps avoid segmenting the community, making sure everyone can play together having the same maps available. There will be future paid downloadable content as well but these packs will focus on expanding other parts of the game experience rather than the selection of maps available for the basic game modes. We're dedicated to taking care of this product for a long time – helping you avoid "mapathy" without getting nickel-and-dimed.
Of course the Bad Company 2 VIP downloadable content is already on the game disc, and only provided free to purchasers of new copies. The VIP pass included in the retail release can be purchased for $15 separately, which entitles players to the free content.

Still, it's fun to see a company grab the ball from a competitor and run with it, and whenever a company speaks out against "mapathy," it's the ones suffering from this horrible disease that win, probably.

How to avoid "mapathy" without paying! [Battlefield: Bad Company 2 - Thanks Fabien!]

Now if only we could get the login and connectivity issues ironed out.

[BaronGT]

Nice, I think in the long run (once BC2 gets it's stuff straight) MW2 is going to fade.

Will these maps just auto download for steam?

[Ketam1ne]

Originally Posted by BaronGT

Nice, I think in the long run (once BC2 gets it's stuff straight) MW2 is going to fade.

MW2?

[BaronGT]

Originally Posted by Ketam1ne

MW2?

Yes. Once BC2 gets all the glitches worked out, I think it will start to edge MW2 out of the way and take the throne.

[Larry1212]

Wow, thanks for that! +rep.

So, EA have finally taken the player base to heart? I'm so glad they've realised that charging for maps is a sure way to seperate a community.

Lets hope they stay true to this policy. I don't mind them charging DLC for skins or weapon skins, anyone can feel free to waste their money on that stuff without having an edge in the game.

[Ketam1ne]

Originally Posted by BaronGT

Yes. Once BC2 gets all the glitches worked out, I think it will start to edge MW2 out of the way and take the throne.

Nah I meant that more of a like...what's mw2?.......internet sarcasim fails once again

Originally Posted by HK11

Will these maps just auto download for steam?

The Day 1 DLC did, so I imagine this will too. That's the perk of Steam, your game is always up to date if you're connected online.

[BaronGT]

Originally Posted by Ketam1ne

Nah I meant that more of a like...what's mw2?.......internet sarcasim fails once again

Ahh, sorry. I have a bad enough sense of humor as it is IRL.

[Razoride]

Originally Posted by Ketam1ne

Nah I meant that more of a like...what's mw2?.......internet sarcasim fails once again

Activision wants MW2 to fade anyway. Don't they have another one set to release sometime around the end of the year?

Read about that a while ago, but haven't heard anything recently.

[Tr|pw!r3]

+rep OP. Thanks for sharing.

[davep]

MW2 has already faded away, look at the numbers now compared to last month.

[Larry1212]

Originally Posted by davep

MW2 has already faded away, look at the numbers now compared to last month.

That's total on the PC(As all MW2 PC players must connect through STEAM servers). I'm really itching to see the overall numbers of BC2 for PC players.

Originally Posted by davep

MW2 has already faded away, look at the numbers now compared to last month.

MW2 died off pretty quickly. I havent fired it up for about 3 weeks or so and the numbers were getting pretty low. My nephew has it on PS3 and it still seems to be going strong there.

[soldier1969]

EA/DICE + 1 for this.