Gaming Signal: Battlefield 2 News

Battlefield 2 News

Some interesting BF2 news for you this morning.

First up, EA has announced two new booster packs for BF2. Euro Forces will contain 3 new maps, a European Army and new weapons and vehicles. The Armored Fury pack will also contain 3 new mechanized focused maps as well as all new vehicles. They both look interesting, will be downloadable only from the web and will cost $10 each. Not to shabby. Unless you are one of these people, who have created an online petition to complain about EA selling the booster packs. Their petition states:

The gaming community has been too commercialized by EA and their business practice. This petition regards the new "booster packs", new content for the online game Battlefield 2, where a payment is required in order for the new content to be obtained. It has never been a custom of game developers and game publishers to demand such fees for content that should be free of charge.
What's next, payment for the individual updates?

First, the entire gaming community has been too commercialized by EA? Really? I especially like the data and examples backing that claim up. Very persuasive. Second, they have a problem with EA charging for the booster packs, claiming custom and content should be free of charge. Well, if this were a patch, then I'd agree. However, it isn't. It's larger than a patch, smaller than an entire expansion pack. Why shouldn't EA charge for it? It takes time and resources to code, debug, QA and release this content, why shouldn't they get compensation for it? EA can't continue to pump out new stuff for BF2 and not find ways to get more money to continue further development. They have to recoup their investment or else there will be no more content forthcoming. This isn't an MMOG where the monthly fees subsidize large content patches. I have no problem shelling out $10 for either of these packs, especially if it leads to more cool stuff for BF2, or even a kick-butt BF3. I heartily endorse not signing this petition. If you don't like it, don't buy it. In fact, if you don't like EA, why are you playing their games at all?

On the 360 front, BF2 is coming to the 360. Check out the nice screenies. I think it would be cool if Live let you play against PC owners, but probably not....