Modern Warfare, Bad Company Go Head-to-Head With Map Packs

[John Funk]

Modern Warfare, Bad Company Go Head-to-Head With Map Packs

Uh-oh: DICE just announced that the second Battlefield: Bad Company 2 [http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_11?url=search-alias%3Dvideogames&field-keywords=battlefield+bad+company+2&x=0&y=0&sprefix=battlefield] map pack is due March 30th - the same day as the Modern Warfare 2 "mapathy" pack will go up for sale.

Yesterday, a teaser site [http://www.mapathy.com/] proclaimed that Infinity Ward's cure for Modern Warfare 2 "mapathy" was on the way, scheduled to go live on March 30th. This, of course, was the long-awaited MewTwo map pack that we knew was in the works, despite the recent shenanigans at the Call of Duty developer.

But EA and DICE aren't planning on letting Infinity Ward take the wind out of their Battlefield blog [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/98942-Battlefield-Bad-Company-2-Invades-Sales-Charts] titled, "How to avoid "mapathy" without paying," series Executive Producer KM Troedsson said that the new BBC2 map pack would also be hitting on March 30th, only it would be free for VIP members (aka, people who bought the game new, in accordance with EA's new "Project Ten Dollar" policy).

"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," said Troedsson, though he also admitted that the game would have paid DLC available at some point in the future - but these map packs wouldn't be it.

From what I can understand, however, these aren't new maps per se - just new gametypes unlocked on ones that already exist. The Conquest mode will be added to Arica Harbor, where collateral damage "is of no consequence," and Laguna Presa will be getting the Rush gametype.

This isn't the first time that DICE has taken potshots at its main competitor in Infinity Ward and Call of Duty (see also: fiasco, dedicated servers), but it's interesting to see that the studio isn't letting up.

MewTwo versus the Beeb. Who will win?

(Via VG247 [http://www.vg247.com/2010/03/11/second-battlefield-bad-company-2-map-pack-hits-march-30-wuh-oh/])

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[Irridium]

I don't think it counts as a map pack if you don't actually make any new maps...

 

[Cherry Cola]

MewTwo versus the Beeb. Who will win?

I'll tell you who wont win.

Ubisoft.

OT: Impressive that they take on MW2 like that, but nothing beats the way they insult MW2 in-game.

"A bunch of special ops douchebags with their pussy ass heartbeat sensors"

 

[Jack and Calumon]

Truly, EA has some balls to go against Modern Warefare 2. Next thing you know... EA will say that they adore everyone at DICE, as apposed to Activision's approach.

Calumon: Ma...pa...thy? I think Terriermon has a cream for that.

 

[Irridium]

MewTwo versus the Beeb. Who will win?

I'll tell you who wont win.

Ubisoft.

OT: Impressive that they take on MW2 like that, but nothing beats the way they insult MW2 in-game.

"A bunch of special ops douchebags with their pussy ass heartbeat sensors"

Well what else do they have? They could have sent in Solid Snake, but, well...

 

[Caliostro]

MewTwo versus the Beeb. Who will win?

In sales: MW2 might, it had a rather crucial headstart from MW1

In quality: BC2 has won since the beta... It isn't even a competition anymore, it's just humiliation.

 

[Arkhangelsk]

I think BC2 would win, were it given more time to shine. MW2 has been around a few more months to rise as the game that everyone now owns. BC2 has just been released.

Also, fuck yeah! I have the VIP code.

 

[USSR]

I don't think it counts as a map pack if you don't actually make any new maps...

If I'm correct, aren't they bringing back Call of Duty 4 maps?

 

[DemonI81]

I don't think it counts as a map pack if you don't actually make any new maps...

Agreed. I'm no fanboy of anything, but I can tell you I hate MW2 and like BFBC2.
With that said: DICE is flaunting their arrogance yet again and making themselves look stupid. They've got nothing to talk crap about here, they're just adding boarders in different spots on existing maps and releasing them for different modes.
As the game stands now, there's 10 maps, 5 per mode (main mode I should say: Conquest, Rush). They shipped the game severely lacking and are now going to brag about doing basically nothing? What a joke.
Get over yourselves DICE. You're no better than the guy flipping my burgers at McDonald's. You do a job you are paid to do, you're not out curing Cancer and AIDS.

 

[Irridium]

I don't think it counts as a map pack if you don't actually make any new maps...

If I'm correct, aren't they bringing back Call of Duty 4 maps?

I think those are just rumors. I have seen pictures, and I wouldn't be suprised if they at least make a "spiritual sucsessor" to the most popular, but IW said themselves that the COD4 maps wouldn't work in MW2, due to balancing issues.

But if they are remaking maps, then... damn.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

Ugh....I hate map packs.

That's the kind of pointless DLC that games need to stop.

 

[Arkhangelsk]

MewTwo versus the Beeb. Who will win?

I'll tell you who wont win.

Ubisoft.

OT: Impressive that they take on MW2 like that, but nothing beats the way they insult MW2 in-game.

"A bunch of special ops douchebags with their pussy ass heartbeat sensors"

Well what else do they have? They could have sent in Solid Snake, but, well...

How could I have missed all these awesome clips?

 

[MGlBlaze]

MewTwo versus the Beeb. Who will win?

I'll tell you who wont win.

Ubisoft.

OT: Impressive that they take on MW2 like that, but nothing beats the way they insult MW2 in-game.

"A bunch of special ops douchebags with their pussy ass heartbeat sensors"

Holy crap, that jab went over my head until you pointed it out; mostly because I didn't care at all about MW2 after the dedicated server fiasco and never played the game or paid much attention to it after that, but now that you've pointed it out that line has become a case of 'hilarious in hindsight' for me.

Well what else do they have? They could have sent in Solid Snake, but, well...

I'm liking DICE more and more at this rate. I was already blown away before I even booted up the game by the fact that the game lets you choose to use disc authentication instead so you don't need an internet connection and there aren't any installation limits as long as you have the disc. This is all some pretty sweet icing on the cake.

 

[cainx10a]

Ugh....I hate map packs.

That's the kind of pointless DLC that games need to stop.

Yeah, I hate them too, they give us new content to play with, extend the life of the game by offering variety from Snow map, desert map and forest map. Bastards, trying to keep you hooked.

 

[chronobreak]

Ugh....I hate map packs.

That's the kind of pointless DLC that games need to stop.

How is it pointless? You play a game with the same maps for a while, of course you are going to want to switch it up a bit. What's wrong with having some variety?

 

[USSR]

snip

I've only heard talk of it too, but I think it would be nice if they recreated the maps for us after all the "issues."

..and now for you.

I'm no fanboy of anything, but I can tell you I hate MW2 and like BFBC2.

Really? You struck me sounding Infinity Ward bias. You know, only complaining about DICE's arrogance.


With that said: DICE is flaunting their arrogance yet again and making themselves look stupid. They've got nothing to talk crap about here, they're just adding boarders in different spots on existing maps and releasing them for different modes.

I wouldn't call this arrogance, but you have a point.

I think it would've been more smarter to call it an update, not a Map Pack.

But, to be fair, it's free. They can call it whatever they damn well please if it doesn't require me to spend money.

As the game stands now, there's 10 maps, 5 per mode (main mode I should say: Conquest, Rush). They shipped the game severely lacking and are now going to brag about doing basically nothing? What a joke.
Where is it severely lacking?

I'll admit the servers suck more than a hooker in L.A., but other than that I don't see what you are talking about.

You don't need many maps if most matches take around 20-30 minutes. Regardless, 10 maps are plenty and plus with the size of most maps, it was more than enough.

The game modes are few, but you can't seriously say that this severely hurts the game to an extent to which people would think the game completely fails.

Get over yourselves DICE.

It's business, they have to be confident.

 

[Delusibeta]

Why do I get the feeling that DICE likes TF2? Remixes of maps for different game modes, delivered for free.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

Ugh....I hate map packs.

That's the kind of pointless DLC that games need to stop.

How is it pointless? You play a game with the same maps for a while, of course you are going to want to switch it up a bit. What's wrong with having some variety?

I prefer single player/co-op DLC. Like Spec Ops missions...And alternate character campaigns.

 

[silver wolf009]

Good for them but my dreams would be awnsered if Treayarch would make one last nazi zombie map before their nam game hits shelves.