EA to offer dowloadable games

Dan 22 Jan, 2008 at 2:07pm ET Article published in Tech

EA will start a new chapter in its product offerings with Battlefield Heroes, a free, downloadable PC game. While details aren’t yet widely available, the game will not cost anything to play the “full” version, but improvements to the game will come at a cost. Think: “Free game, pay for the expansion packs”

via Mashable

Comments

22 Jan 2008 ~ 2:12pm CB So they're going to the old shareware games model that we got used to in the 80's: The first part of the game is free, you only have to pay if you want to play the whole thing.

This is nothing new, it's a proven model with a new name.
22 Jan 2008 ~ 2:53pm Butters I don't see it as a shareware model as more of a "pay for enhancements" and better user experience.

If you want a rocket launcher, that would be $5.00, of your "real" money (not the counter-strike $)

If you want to pimp your tank, that would be "real" $15.00.

Nickel and Diming us for the enhancements as the "free" version makes players struggle through the game with basic weapons and equipment.
22 Jan 2008 ~ 3:50pm primesuspect From what I've seen - the game is completely free - the "full experience" as it were.. however, if you want to skin your character or perform other customizations, that will cost.
22 Jan 2008 ~ 4:38pm Thrax Microtransactions can die.
22 Jan 2008 ~ 5:12pm CB Icrontic should start charging a nickel a month for the 'dark' color scheme.
24 Jan 2008 ~ 2:36am shwaip

CB Droege wrote:

Icrontic should start charging a nickel a month for the 'dark' color scheme.

and a penny for every use of "quick reply"
24 Jan 2008 ~ 1:12pm BuddyJ I'll bring it up with Keebs and Prime. You guys don't realize the cool things we could do if we had more cash.
24 Jan 2008 ~ 4:42pm the_technocrat I can imagine a game like TF2 where it would be $2 to upload your own skin of a character. Even something as stupid as uploading your own pic to map to the character's face - plenty of people who would do it. Same for a game like the Sims, etc. I wouldn't. but I'm sure there are many who would...
24 Jan 2008 ~ 5:05pm QCH

the_technocrat wrote:

...plenty of people who would do it. Same for a game like the Sims, etc. I wouldn't. but I'm sure there are many who would...

Yeah right, but you'd upload a picture of Prime or Keebler... You've always had a thing with them.
24 Jan 2008 ~ 5:11pm primesuspect tt