BF2 Booster Packs out soon

[Ruslan74]

I suppose you read it elsewhere but read it here (http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=62434) again or just below for a merciless copy & paste job from Eurogamer :

"EA has announced plans to release two new booster packs for hit wartime shooter Battlefield 2.

First up is Euro Force, which will introduce the new European Army and three new maps. Each Euro soldier will come equipped with a new primary weapon, such as the FNP90 or the Benelli Tactical shotgun, and you can expect four new vehicles - including the Eurofighter. The maps are titled Operation Smoke Screen, The Great Wall of China and Taraba Quarry.

The second booster pack, Armored Fury, will put the focus on "large mechanised battles, harking back to the El Alamein style maps on BF1942." It'll feature three new maps - Midnight Sun, Operation Harvest and Operation Smoke Screen - and two new vehicle classes. You'll be able to hoon around in Attack Jets and Recon Helicopters, too.

Euro Force will be released on February 8th, with Armored Fury following on March 28th. They'll both be available online via the EA downloader priced £5.99, or €9.99 if you're foreign."

I guess BF2 is going to be a mother of a cow for EA to milk hey?

[stoke]

And too many expansion packs spoil the broth.
Grrrrrr.
This time i'm not falling for it - theres not enough sf players as it is.
[of course - i said that last time]
[i like the way we get charged more for no good reason whatsoever]
/me phones bud in uk ... i'll get im to get it for me .. anybody else want it too ?
<aaarg ... no no no ... i'm not getting one mkay>
:mad:

[Ruslan74]

some new screenshots (http://ve3d.ign.com/articles/681/681028p1.html) of the booster packs.

[rainy]

I will most likely not get any of the booster packs. Firstly, I already spent money on vanilla BF2 and, in a lapse of sanity, SF, and I am not even playing SF as is. Secondly, I have a general distrust towards anything that says 'Downloader', 'Automated Patching' etc... reminds me of Steam, and call me oldfashioned, but I don't like these systems. Thirdly, knowing EA they will probably have some fancy dongling/copy protection system in place for these downloads, so you can use them only on the PC they were downloaded on... Or something like that... Lastly, I think 3 puny maps and a few weapons, that's what they could deliver to their valued customers for free.

/me thinks back to UT2003/2004 with these massive, free bonus packs...

[Ruslan74]

yeah... UT has a great record of pleasing their customers... EA only thinks about their pockets... sigh...

[TG]

The problem is that many people ARE going to fork out money for these packs, which proves to EA that it's a viable solution.

[Bass]

Couldn't agree more Rainy - also had a brief lapse of sanity & I now have an expansion pack that I don't play, & don't really like much :( ... oh well .. might be able to sell it to a friend ...

I'll certainly wait a bit on these expansion pack though - make sure they don't go the same way as SF ...

[Ruslan74]

looking at the current trend in games TBA this year you better save your money... :p

[doobiwan]

So what's hot on the horizon?

As much as I loath giving EA more money, the thought of playing Al Amein (sp) and Gazala type maps is enticing

[Darnit696]

Yep a couple of new maps that actually worked would be fun, but I dont reckon I'll be rushing in there in quite such a hurry as with BF2SF. Burned ma fingers for a couple of bucks with that one. IF the stats are right... and memory serves correct... I'think I've played it about 20 odd minutes. Deifintely NOT enough bang for R180 bucks I forked out. As stoke would say "NO way Hoze.". EA need to get SF fixed first before they think they are going to get more profit from me.
... and speaking of profit. The price they are going to charge is an absolute rip off. You might think "Hey but its cheaper than the expansion I got at Incredible Corruption.". Actually for EA the profit margins are MUCH higher on this downloaded "Booster pack" Lets check the list
No packaging cost.
Very little marketing cost.
Miniscule distribution cost. ( I am being nice and counting the cost of running the server).
No middle men. Distrbution agents etc.
No Retailers. (and this is usually a big chunk of the price, I know I deal with all of our countries leading retailers as a supplier)

Off a product sold on the shelf, EA would NEVER see the profit they are planning to see on the booster packs. BF2 players are being suckered.

[stoke]

Good point darnit.
<useless attempt to be funny>
Darn good point there darnit :p.
</useless attempt to be funny>

[rainy]

I played a couple rounds of SF with XEye the other night. It was actually fun, but that was also because there were rather few people on the server (about 20, if memory serves me correct, the last round ended with 7 or 8 on each side), so the battles were more intense, and you spent more time actually fighting than just respawning. The maps are fun once you know them. But Il will still have to play a lot of SF to justify the money I spent on it ;)

[Ruslan74]

EA has been doing the same marketing blitz for 3 years now with repetive titles with a different digit at the end, FIFA, NHL, NFL, NFSU, etc... and they did suffer losses in their sales as some people must have gotten a wake up call.

For the popularity of BF2 EA should actually release a map pack FOR FREE just as a thanks to all the guys clogging the BF2 servers, like the UT or Valve does to keep their products updated for free.

[Darnit696]

@ Stoke
ROFL! :D

[stoke]

I was watching the island today - and I want to "hoon" around on one of them flying bikes man - or a skateboard like in backtothefuture ...
C'mon man - start using your imagination EA !

[Ruslan74]

i just want the chick from the island... stuff the bikes... :p

[FeralBanana]

Terrible, EA, just terrible.

<useless interruption>
My 1st real post on the actual forums!
</useless interruption>

They actually used to be a real company, you know. Caring about customers, not asking for *too* much in the way of profits, being a good employer, treating workers right and with some respect.

That was, before the <insert dramatic music here> "I don't care about our rivals, lets make a couple of good games then just re-make them with a couple of minor changes, add the aforementioned digits after the name, and act like we are a monopoly. Oh, and make money. Did we mention that?" attitude.

(quite a long name for an attitude, but there in their silly massive bureaucratic office [blocks] they always refer to it as 'plan "lets take over the world by making ourselves rich and shoveling everyone else into the dirt three times with our 'expensive gem-laden shovels 3' (tm)"'

etc.

My official summary of my attitude:
Boo EA. Yay BF2

[rainy]

EA is poisonous. Just look at what happened to the C&C Franchise when they bought Westwood...

[Ruslan74]

i think the only EA game purchased of late has been BF2... i tend to stay away from the FIFAs and NFSU since there really isnt anything new other than a few GFX effects and tracks.

i am glad other great games like Civilization IV and PES series are still improving more than just the visuals. ;)

[doobiwan]

I think EA realised eveyone is pi$$ed about SF, hence these packs are only about $10 each.

[Darnit696]

I think EA realised eveyone is pi$$ed about SF, hence these packs are only about $10 each.
$5.99 which is not the same as 9.99 euro, everyone seems to be seeing that as dollahs.

[doobiwan]

Details details, tsk tsk . . . ;)

Basically "cheap".

[Ruslan74]

i still think such boost packs should be for free though...

[stoke]

At least EA have not gone the - pay $X to play on this server per month route ... Yet !

If they did that, then I would expect that these addons would be free, and it's one of the reasons that I will not play WOW - cos you don't get continuous value.

[doobiwan]

Actually, if you think about it it is. Feb - euro - March - armour, then there'll be one in april, june etc etc.

You WILL be forking out $5.99 a month!

[Darnit696]

IF and I repeat IF they are relatively bug free (is this possible :D ). THEN I would say cool.. good thing... yipee. it keeps the game fresh. But I'm still hurting from the whole SF issue. ARE they going to fix it or is it going to be relegated to the "too bad so sad" box.

If the booster packs actually work :) then there are some advantages. I mean aren't you getting just a little bored with the maps. All hidey holes are known... you come around a corner and already know the three best places to hide... some guy surprise frags you and you know its cause you forgot to check the roof... It would be nice to play on a map where you did'nt know the shortest route to the next flag so well that you could drive your APC there without actually looking at the screen. :D

EDIT: I may pay the $5.99 but this time I wont be the first to rush in. I'll let ma BF instincts kick in. Let the other bugger run in and get fragged. Follow at a safe distance on this one I say!

[Ruslan74]

its funny how with BF2 not even fully "fixed" and SF not 100% perfect we are getting more packs for the game being released... i wonder at all if EA has a QA department or are their customers the actual QA people?

[doobiwan]

Pfft, don't joke. If the customers were doing QA, SF would never have made it out the door.

No EA outsources QA to a bunch of high cheerleaders, and provide everything looks pretty and sparkles that's cool. 'Cuz camo's also chic!

[Darnit696]

Have you ever tried to contact EA with any sort of support issue? You cannot actually contact them! They have this automated system with preset FAQ that is meant to resolve your issue, so heaven help you if you just happen to be the first peep to discover a bug in any game released by them or if have some obscure problem. My son threw my box containing my product key in the bin. The maid threw the contents of the bin away. I wanted to reinstall one fine day and looked for the box. (I never use it cause my BF2 disc lives in the drive at the mo. :) )
No box no product key. Tried to get product support from EA what a bloody mission! Eventually found that you have to send the original disc to EA and they will for $10 send it back with the product code. Quick maths. $6 odd to post there, $10 for code, $6 back = $22 multiply ruling rate of exchange = 150 bucks odd just for a damn code. You'd think they would be able to help you some easier way. BTW I found the code in the registry fortunately before patching. One of the patches I forget which encrypts the code. :)

[stoke]

In 2000 I bought MS Small Business Server 2000 and had endless carp installing it.
It cost like 9000 bucks and it comes in a packet, and on the packet was stuck the oem licence sticker that you must attach to the case, but cost I was having difficulty with the non-compliant hardware, I didn't want to stick that on the case cos I figured i'd have to get compliant hardware.
3 days fo struggling later, a firmware upgrade sorted all the problems and it was time to stick the sticker on the box.
Ooops - domestic has thrown the packet away. 9000 down the drain.
4 weeks for fighting with MS - faxing proof of purchase around the world, and nothing.
I still have to proof of purchase and proof of trying to fix the problem, and if any stupid MS company wants to fine me i'll see them in court.
Fortunately, I have this black book in which I write every single CD key that I get my hands on, and I had written it in there as soon as I got home.
That book is priceless.
I recommend you'all do that.

[rainy]

I have one BF2 key in reserve, in case someone needs it.

Edit: Stoke, I think I am going to take your advice...

[Darnit696]

*darnit thinks of stealing stoke's book* Hehehe :D

[stoke]

Copies will be available anytime ... i'll see you at Teazers and a woman with the name of Lana will hand the copies over during a "lap dance". I will be taking 20% of her profits.

[Ruslan74]

Lana is pretty, you said Rivonia or Midrand? :p

[stoke]

She works both [They rotate them between the 2].
Next time you see her say Hi Svetlana ... I'm a friend of Dave.
And then run like hell :p!

[Ruslan74]

rofl! the bulgarian and russian chicks are very pretty by the way... :slober:

[stoke]

Don't forgets the Ukranians ... and be careful ... don't call a ukran a bulgy :p.
Sigh - nothing like a pleasant derailment ...

[Ruslan74]

lol... as long as they can speak russian i am cool! they are VERY eager to talk russian... thus you get some extras at times... :p

[FeralBanana]

[QUOTE=stoke](something)
Fortunately, I have this black book in which I write every single CD key that I get my hands on, and I had written it in there as soon as I got home.
(something else)/QUOTE]

A very good, amazingly bright idea! Well done! I think I tried that a while ago, but I lost the book. 0_o. Oh well, as EA say: too bad so sad... I may try it again now that I realise I can make a txt doc and a little book :P

Thanks!

oh, on topic: They had better not be glitchy... Or else.. <Knuckles cracks> Darn you Knuckles! I was having fun torturing you!