Mobile/PDA About Us Advertise here


		User name	Password

		Not registered yet? Register here. Lost your password? Click here.

Browse by topic

News

EA set to release free ad-supported game downloads

21 January 2008 18:52 by Andre "DVDBack23" Yoskowitz | 19 comments

The large game distributor Electronic Arts has announced that it will be offering a brand new free Battlefield game that is completely ad-supported.

The new game, Battlefield Heroes, will be available free of charge starting this summer and will generate all its revenue from ad support and micro-transactions.

"Online gaming garners a massive audience," commented Gerhard Florin, executive vice president of publishing at EA.

"People want to play games in new ways, with easier access that is quick to the fun. With Battlefield Heroes, EA brings its first major franchise to North America and Europe with a new distribution model and pricing structure adapted to the evolving way that people play."

The company even promised regular content updates for players that should "customize" the experience.

"There's something here for all types of players � be it our core Battlefield fans or casual gamers," added Ben Cousins, senior producer at EA DICE.

"With the new online model, we will continually add new content to keep the game fresh and keep players engaged, while integrating player feedback in real time. As a game developer, it is such a cool new way to make games."

Permalink to this article

NBC gives away almost 10,000 tv episodes at CES (19 January 2008)

Blu-ray pulling away in Japan (19 January 2008)

Sony will offer 16GB Memory Stick PRO Duo (16 January 2008)

Toshiba orders HD DVD-RW from RITEK (16 January 2008)

With FCC investigation looming, Comcast repeats same old argument (14 January 2008)

Wal-Mart reportedly preparing new video download service (14 January 2008)

JVC showed LCD HDTVs with iPod docks (14 January 2008)

« Previous news article
Thousands of fans sign a "save HD DVD" petition

Next news article »
HTC Touch sales are half that of Apple's iPhone

Post your comment

Discuss this article!
armorthis (Inactive) 21 January 2008 20:19
This new battlefield looks to be a rip-off of TF2 [ + quote]
DXR88 (Member) 21 January 2008 20:20
Haha ad supported games. you go to join a sever then your hit with ads and pop-ups. need to get you game on maximize your performance With maxiderm haha. good idea though it could go bad if ad spammers figure out how to add the ads. [ + quote]
Mindless5 (Newbie) 21 January 2008 20:49
This could be a good idea, depending on how it's executed. Games are already filled with ads anyway, but we (the consumer) are still paying top-dollar. [ + quote]
windsong (Junior Member) 21 January 2008 21:44
No thanks. I'll stay offline then. [ + quote]
ZimHosein (Newbie) 22 January 2008 0:12
*Originally posted by Mindless5:* This could be a good idea, depending on how it's executed. Games are already filled with ads anyway, but we (the consumer) are still paying top-dollar. I agree to a point since numerous games "we" already pay for contain advertisements. I am curious to know how EA plans to implement this as well Mindless5. [ + quote]
vinny13 (Inactive) 22 January 2008 1:41
Meh... EA has been pretty crap lately.. [ + quote]
Paladore (Junior Member) 22 January 2008 2:40
Why do you people always need to be negative.....Whats wrong with at "FREE" add supported game? EA sucks, advertisments suck....dont play it. For a free game just be happy its free instead of paying like $20 a month for WoW or EQ or any other online game.... [ + quote]
Paladore (Junior Member) 22 January 2008 2:40
Why do you people always need to be negative.....Whats wrong with at "FREE" add supported game? EA sucks, advertisments suck....dont play it. For a free game just be happy its free instead of paying like $20 a month for WoW or EQ or any other online game.... [ + quote]
thekingo7 (Senior Member) 22 January 2008 7:49
Personally I'm getting a little sick of all your BITCHING! So what if they want to put adds in THEIR game. What allegiance do they hold with you guys? I think they are going to choose putting a small add in a game versus not feeding their family. Let me repeat, a FREE game. A game that doesn't force you to play. And usually these so called "ads" are no worse than nagware. They ask if you want to try the protect, you click no, and your off on your merry little way playing a new free game. [ + quote]
7thsinger (AfterDawn Addict) 22 January 2008 8:43
Agree with kingo7 here. There's no one forcing any of you to sit down and play. If you're that upset with some nagware, don't play. But, those little ads are the whole reason the game will be available free. shrugs So why spend so much time complaining about it? [ + quote]
spydah (Junior Member) 22 January 2008 10:11
EA has sucked for the last 5 years mostly with their sports titles but still a FREE game is still FREE. I will take anything for FREE. [ + quote]
goodswipe (Inactive) 22 January 2008 12:03
LMAO, exactly like someone stated before about people complaining... "I think you guys would complain and bitch about anything, even if it was over the fact that Jenna Jameson used lotion and not Vaseline for your hj!" But hey, we need those people around to keep forums active right? Free games with ads, I'm all for it. [ + quote]
BcMester (Newbie) 22 January 2008 13:05
Just look at EA's Need for Speed series, especially the ones since Underground 1. They are FULL of ads, and not just the cars (e.g. who in their right mind would use a Punto for racing if it wasn't paid for to be included in the game!? O_o ), there are many billboards advertising real life products, the game's phone messaging system is supported by a well known real life carrier, etc. AND on top of that, they still charge like 45 euros for the bloody game! I don't know, but if they make me watch all that shit anyway then I'd rather do it for free than for �45... [ + quote]
banned2X (Inactive) 22 January 2008 14:56
Many bitch about the Ads in games thinking that they're getting "slammed" and "force fed" and "brainwashed" but that is just stupid, crazy and downright ignorant. I love ads in the games...........makes them appear more realistic. I just finished Rainbow Six Vegas and six months after installing I had an update that apparently installed in-game poster ads in several of the gaming scenes that were for the movie "One Missed Call". I'm like "that's frakkin' cool!" because I bought the game loooooong before that movie was due out. It's not like your playing the game and they pop up and stop you from playing. BF 2 had ads and they were just incorporated in the playing. [ + quote]
maryjayne (Junior Member) 22 January 2008 15:50
Free games with ads is a good idea. However, if enough revenue is generated from these ads to support the game, then what is to stop the gaming industry's business model to shifting to producing only ad supported games? When I get on my PC to play a game, I do not want to see advertisments before, during, or after gameplay, which is why I selectively purchase my games. [ + quote]
snowlock (Junior Member) 22 January 2008 17:19
*Originally posted by Paladore:* Why do you people always need to be negative.....Whats wrong with at "FREE" add supported game? EA sucks, advertisments suck....dont play it. For a free game just be happy its free instead of paying like $20 a month for WoW or EQ or any other online game.... that's exactly what i thought when i read this. eventually i might get to try something mmo if this sort of idea works its way down. [ + quote]
SamNz (Newbie) 23 January 2008 5:54
*Originally posted by vinny13:* Meh... EA has been pretty crap lately.. nfs:prostreet it suckd balls [ + quote]
ZippyDSM (AfterDawn Addict) 23 January 2008 14:47
Its all in how its handled.... [ + quote]
borhan9 (AfterDawn Addict) 18 February 2008 1:05
I get a feeling that this is pretty much like the life online game that people make money on :) not sure but i guess free is always going to apeal to the consumer. [ + quote]