Owned.

Question, though: what's the difference between having to pay to unlock something, and having to pay for extra content?

Granted, you may say that extra content is in addition to the original game, but how many developers openly state that they plan to continue DLC at a cost to the gamer?

So $10 to "unlock" four new COD4 maps would be heinous, but $10 to "add" four new maps that have been in progress since before launch is not?!

txshurricane

hmm, so I still can have my exclusive weapon unlock code they gave me in e-mail and other players would unlikely have it. :D

DranzerKire

Haha. About time they caved on gun costs. Now to make them lower the price of Rock Band in Europe!

Salen

Glad to hear that they are listening, something I didnt expect of any game EA put out there. But its comforting to know, had to throw a positive comment out there

uppitycracker

Good.

Special ("gold" "legendary") editions are for people who like schwaggy crap. I am not one of those people. I want the game. Not part of a game.

Forcing me (or strongly encouraging me) to buy a special edition so I get the full game is basically forcing me to pay money for plastic shit I don't want.

@What The Geek: Where do you live that gas is only $2.65/gal.? Here in Seattle, we pay $3.50!

Ess

A battle won, but EA is a stubborn enemy. Congrats for the victory fellow gamers!

LevelHead

Imagine what else we can accomplish if we bitch and moan a lot...now I feel like france

BrianD

I didn't like the game at all. The destructible environments just made the parts that can't be destroyed (I can blow up a house but not it's picket fence or the guy behind said fence?) stick out like a sore thumb. Plus the controls don't feel very responsive and EA's servers are awful.

But I do like the fact that our bitching got something done. I can't believe anybody thought that was a good idea in the first place.

FUCK EA. FUCK THEM IN THEIR ASSES! The one DLC we'd be willing to pay for (a yearly madden roster update) is the one they won't give us. I really don't know what happened. They used to be THE premiere developers. Now they are a sad caricature of their former greatness.

AverageJoes

Gamers FTW!

Now, if only this type of strategy work on the Chinese government, we might see some progress for Tibet...

0ldb0y

Huzzah! That makes me happy. Way to go Dice!

Now...Let's get on those Internet service providers for switching to pay by the Gig services.

[gizmodo.com]

That's gonna make downloadable content and games that much harder to stomach if we know it'll tack on another ten bucks going over our Gig limit. Steam could get totally screwed. I think gamers should start a stink about that, nip it in the bud.

MasterSauce

SARCASTIC GAMER FTW!!!!!!!!

lifeinthefridge

Winner winner chicken dinner. It's nice to see devs actually listen to gamers sometimes (or at least that even EA can be swayed by our backlash.)

This is why you complain people! Sometimes it actually makes a difference.

PurpleMonkey

The internet wins, our voices finally heard. Smart move EA/Dice, you earned some respect back from me. Now add clan support to BF:BC and we have a winner.

Tiberian

If only people would band together and do this for those Rock Band DLC songs....

Good news for all gamers that this was stopped, though. It suggests to other companies that they not try anything similar in the near future.

Spaceboy

Now I need that beta. Is it still going on?

Spartan1308

Karl Magnus. I keep WANTING to read Karl Hungus. But thats probably just me.

awwyeadatsright

I don't exactly count this as a "victory". It's sorta like this:

One day, gas is at $2.50/gal. Next day it goes up to $2.80/gal. Everyone complains - "Thirty cents in one day?!? that's ridiculous!!" Next day, gas goes down to $2.65/gal. It's still a net fifteen cent per gallon gain for big oil. Same thing is happening here - first the guns cost money, then people complain, now they're not exactly free - we have to participate in a marketing program of some sort to get them - most likely this means I'll be giving my name/age/address/email address, or some combination of those things to someone who I don't want having that info - I think I'll still be passing on this game.

What The Geek

@NitrousO: You don't want a pc version of bad company, really the game is nothing like our previous pc battlefields. It's a console bf just like modern combat in design. Pray for a real battlefield sequel for the PC in the future :)

Kyle81

Yes, the internet has won. EA made a smart decision, I'll now take a second look at Bad Company, but I doubt I'll give up my CoD4 for it.

DigiMish

Good, but let's be real. Next time EA isn't going to show their hand. They'll try to charge for guns, but instead of teasing us with them they'll hide/withhold the guns until after release. This way they can rebrand the same thing as paying for "additional new content" rather than "unlocking existing content already on the disk you paid for".

Lixie

They must have read the Penny Arcade comic.

Sabre_Justice: Okay, no more long name.

yay for boycotting, now if only they will develop games better on ps3

UltimateIdiot

@Cruithne: Thanks man, but honestly, we couldn't have done it without the fine members of the Sarcastic Gamer community that got Destructoid, Joystiq, IGN and X3F onboard.

you guys rock.

LonoSG

@NitrousO: Man, I wanted 2142. I'm still surprised EA didn't try to cash in on a console version. The 360 would have been able to run it, I'm sure. (The PS3 wasn't out at the time.)

Does Not Equal

I was never part of the boycott(I don't buy their games anyway), but I'm suprised to see them back down on this one.

Very nice.

Slashlen

@LonoSG: Hail LonoSG!!!

slomo788

@Luke Plunkett: Yeah they forgot to add how you can only play half the levels in the non-gold edition ;P

excel_excel

@Does Not Equal: I didnt even want 2142, just give me Bad Company :P

NitrousO

What? Marketing program? Sounds like they wanna send me spam in order to allow me to use the guns on the disc I bought....... I feel sick to the stomach - I almost liked it better when I was mad at them for charging extra for shit on the disc - now they just want me to participate in a "marketing program" which most likely involves giving at least my email address to someone who I would rather not give it to.

What The Geek

@LonoSG:

Lono, you and the other guys over at Sarcastic Gamer are owed a big debt of thanks by the entire gaming community.
You have official permission to strut around like a peacock.

In case other Kotaku readers don't know it, this guy is one of the main instigators of this boycott which has just saved you some cash.

Cruithne

Yay, now I might actually buy this game..

Katorok

Good job boys and girls. I might give the game a look now.

Snake726

He failed to mention the decline in profits they would see if they decided to keep the DLC as a purchase.

Trowble (XBL/PSN)

I'm a little sorry that Kotaku didn't get behind this initiative.

Cruithne

BEST HEADLINE EVER!!! *cheers in awe*

Ok guys, we got them by the balls. What do we whine about now?

slomo788

Kotaku, you suck for not giving credit where credit is due...

[www.gamespot.com]

LonoSG

Don't sweat it kids, they'll find another, more subtle way to do this while you're all too busy celebrating :)

Luke Plunkett

We should start a petition to bring back the parachutes!

deferred

Thank fucking god for bitching!

Seriously if we dont bitch when there is a reason imagine all the kind of butt-hurt we would be going through.

Witzbold

People think of weapons and weapon count too much like bullet points on the back of the box. Ever since Doom, it's been all about how many weapons you can have. It's got nothing to do with the actual utility of the weapon. 50 types of machine guns in CS (hyperbole) doesn't seem to deter people.

I want to see these people figure out a way to monetize new game elements, like classes and weapon sets that give a full blown legitimate game experience to people who *aren't* paying, in the sense that they still have a useful role, and yet isn't just a mindless copy of something already in. I mean, wouldn't TF2 work fine as a pay to play if the spy, demo, and sniper were pay-to-use classes?

deathbunny

Sounds a little like PR backediting, but I won't complain.

Oh, and @NitrousO: You guys got BF 2142 and console owners didn't. Now it's our turn for an exclusive.

Does Not Equal

@excel_excel: You'll find something. This is the internet.

Sabre_Justice: Okay, no more long name.

Not bad, now if Europe kicks up as much fuss over Rock Band this year would be sweeter

Makeda

Fantastic! But what do we bitch about now!?

excel_excel

One major problem down. Now they just need a PC version.

NitrousO

Thank god

evlyti

Excellent news for gamers everywhere. This kind of bullshit should not stand. I'll gladly pay for content, but I won't get nickel-and-dimed for content I've already effectively purchased.

onidavin

But now what will the illegal imaginary arms dealers do?

Fitz Rhapsody

Sweet, this sounds like fair compromise. Nice to see a protest actually work.

TalAarahk

Boycotts rule!

TheRemedy

This is AWESOME! Unbelievable that a publisher -- and not any publisher but E fucking A -- listened to the community and dropped this nickle-and-diming scheme. It is wonderful.

Let's all remember to do this next time gameplay-altering microtransactions rear their ugly head and the pubs get too greedy for their own good.

DaPress

@LonoSG: I gave credit where credit was due. To the gamers, who since the story broke in the first place have bitched and complained on forums all over the damn place to be heard. That's what has been credited with the change, and it's what I am crediting with the change.

This story is about gamers having an effect with their voices.

Mike Fahey

Also, since EA is on a trend of "listening to the community" I wonder if they'll let other companies make NFL games like we've been demanding.........

Didn't think so.

Mr.Waffleton

Wait, his name is Karl-Magnus Troedsson? That's friggin' awesome.

Mr.Waffleton

Still only one gametype. No standard Conquest mode even.

whiptcracker

If this holds true I'll be onboard for a "maybe" purchase, instead of before where I was not going anywhere near the game.

Pornosaur

@marissa_melee:

I'm with you!! and I've been with you throughout these comments.... however, I fear our opinions are getting lost in all the "high fives" and "Hooray!! we won!!" comments

What The Geek

Ahahahahah Interweb Justice!!!

ghnvt

@jello44: Yeah, I've had that song stuck in my head since this crap all started.

marissa_melee

We can't let our excitement over this blind us to the fact that EA will still be charging us in some way by forcing us to fill out surveys and the like (very valuable information to them). I wouldn't be surprised if the plan all along was to announce that the guns would cost money, and when backlash came from the community, declare that "we won" and all we have to do now is fill out surveys and give them our private information. This is one of the oldest tricks in the book. We all did this as kids: "Mom, can I sleep over at Kim's house for the weekend?" "No...you can only stay Saturday night." This was a guaranteed way to get what you wanted in the first place, which was to sleep over Saturday. Please do not allow this to become an okay thing to do. Being forced to supply marketing information on top of paying for a game is complete and utter bullshit. This is not a pattern we want to see starting. I emphatically declare shenanigans, and hope you do too.

marissa_melee

You know... If I ever get around to making a game I'll just announce something insane about the game, then after the backlash is covered by tons of media sites I'll announce I am not doing it. I'll get to be the good guys while receiving tons of free publicity. These DICE guys are clever. ^_^

wired_fenix

Well god damn, now Im gonna buy this game.

Tons Of Fun

BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD COMPANY, I CAN'T DENY

BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD COMPANY, TIL THE DAY I DIE..

..sorry saw the album cover. ;D

Is Bad Company worth getting, I may check into it now.

jello44

@txshurricane: The point is continuation and support. The 'unlock' is saying that the content is already finished, but the sixty dollars you put down isn't good enough. Paying for content developed down the line means giving patronage to continued support of a product.

As always, one is free to ignore both and not make a purchase if one does not agree.

JKPierce

We did it we changed the direction of a company now if we can get EA to stop buying every company that competes with it.

dsmx

@Ess:

the numbers were just sorta made up - I live in Jersey - it hovers around three a gallon here.

What The Geek

@AverageJoes: Dunno, I loves me some Rock Band songs. Just about every week has something both unique and worthwhile to extend the longevity of my obsession.

JKPierce

Nice. Very well-done gamers!

ShirtGuyDom

@LonoSG: This guy here is THE MAN, ladies and genttlemen. He, Doc, Dave, DDL, Volkov, etc., they started the boycott. They were the ones who brought down the Bad Company! Let idols made in their likenesses be paraded in the streets!
And go over to Sarcastic Gamer. :P [/shameless_plug]

Paladin58

I don't see why people are getting excited. You still have to pay extra or get to the max level and complete a marketing survey. There should be no gold edition and no marketing survey. Guns should just be unlocked the old fashioned way. I'm sure next time they'll just be more covert about it.

Yakuzaice

@Witzbold: I think you misread my post.
I was responding to comments here in the thread, not telling anyone how to post, isn't that the whole point of having comments, so we can exchange views?

Cruithne

@Cruithne: Well if thats how you feel hows about starting up your own blog then? Since its his post not yours. Who are you to tell him how to post his story?

Witzbold

I still kinda think though that folks need to learn also to answer with their $$$. Since that is the one thing that can hurt them more than electronic text on a screen.

Witzbold

@Mike Fahey: Sorry Mike, but I think you're being more than a little ungenerous here. When Kotaku stood up to Sony we all gave credit. Sure, this is a victory for gamers, largely due to gamers, but if we're honest, it was one specific group of gamers who kickstarted the whole thing, and that's the guys over at Sarcastic Gamer.

Cruithne

@munniec:
NM, different game, appologies

munniec

It takes guts to go back on something like that after announcing it. It's nice that they didn't ignore the issue.

Though it's another Battlefield game that rewards the guys who can kick your ass any way they want to by giving them more ways to do it. If you're not to the final rank, the seasoned vets have that many more ways to wipe you out.

@What The Geek:
That's a reasonable take too, but I imagine if you play their games online they already know that stuff from creating a profile. That sucks.

fuchikoma

@ZenGaijin:
Its free, so not really that big of a deal

munniec

Re-added to want list. Thank you EA for realizing that we don't like it when you act all super-douche.

I hope this helps to deter any other company from trying this dlc weapons for cash BS.

Eclectified

This is not a win people. They want you to sit through a marketing session to obtain weapons that are already on the disk.

ZenGaijin

nice bitching. maybe prototype will get some fucking multiplayer if we keep this up.

i_lie_to_fit_in

EA; you just lifted the last thing that kept me from being genuinely excited about this game.

Guizzy

I think the real credit should go to WWW.Sarcasticgamer.com

They organized a large portion of this boycott.

Hollowcow

Whatever. Let's just call it a victory.

jambe

schwheat! congrats complainers! I feel for you, I had to complain to get my beta code lol

TheExiledLeader

@Sabre_Justice: Okay, no more long name.: It definitely painted a grim future.

SinisterSkull

SARCASTIC GAMER ROCKED IT OUT... WHILE KOTAKU SAT AROUND LIKE A BUNCH OF BITCHES!!! I'm glad you gave credit where credit is due... pff..

I love kotaku big time, but such an influential site played absolutely NO ROLE in what the gamers want... I'm sorry if this gets me banned, but after the numerous requests to join the fight by many gamers, we now know who has our backs...

::shakes head:: very very disappointed in Kotaku... definitely know how to keep it corporate...

This was more than just paying for guns... it was another way for a company to nickel and dime us... Please stand next to us Kotaku... Dont wait to see what everyone else is doing... You arnt a follower, youre a leader...

andyg8180

Hopefully EA will see the light and take great pride into their next batch of games and actually beta test them. Glad they listened to us the consumers for a change.

Fireblast

Dammit Fahey!

I saw your post pic without reading and thought that either Rock Band or Guitar Hero were releasing some nice "Bad Company" DLC.

Stop playing with my heart!.

P.S. You sure have a great musical taste, so I guess we're cool again. ;)

Kirth Gersen

Well that's one problem down. Now about Uwe Boll

BjLive45

The most important thing here is that EA listened to the consumer, regardless of what it was they're reversing a decision to please us. I for one am very pleased about this and will gladly buy (being a huge Battlefield fan and all) Bad Company, providing it's not crap of course.

Replica23

Yay!!! I can now say that I am buying this game.

Killer6

Finally. I might get this game now. See EA. How you are going to get my money now, unlike before when you were trying to scam me out of it!

dairyking

Hey Kotaku, why no credit given to Sarcastic gamer?

You refused to write about the Boycott despite receiving hundreds of emails!

bAZZle

fair enough.

Xeros606

Look at the look of surprise on my face... -_-

GOLD5

Congratulations EA, you've earned back your $60 from me.

tehblacksheep234

@NitrousO:
QFT, this would ROCK on PC.

derFeef

Game on, I guess?

@andyg8180: Kotaku plays a role simply by writing about it. You obviously have no idea how many industry people read this site.

Do you really need Kotaku to hold your dick while you piss on EA?

Billkwando