Tech Blog

[#1]

Ok, the XP to Windows 7 upgrade isn't going as expected -- remember those driver issues I mentioned previously? Well my Wacom Bamboo tablet is loading before my mouse driver, and the OS isn't recognizing my USB drives. All in a day's upgrade...it seems.

Time for a diversion...so let's send in a commando to shake things up a bit!

Hey, over here!
Over the last few months, I've been privy to the beta / development of Battlefield Heroes, EA / Dices' latest entry into the casual online gaming marketplace. Battlefield Heroes is free to play on most Windows based systems. The developers kept the hardware requirements low to help stimulate interest.

As a casual game, it's meant to be easy to learn, entertaining and engaging, and keep you coming back for more...and Battlefield Heroes does just that. You launch the game in your browser (after you've gone through the signup process and followed the prompts to update the game to the latest build).

What it isn't: The second coming of the greatest first-person shooter game you'd ever played. Nor is it Duke Nukem Forever.

What it is: A free, fun, simple, cartoon-shooter (that's a new genre, by the way) designed to get you playing quickly, and coming back for more. Take a moment or two and watch the video; you'll get a better sense of the game from it.



Ok, now on to my subjective part. I like First Person Shooters. I'm not particularly good at them, but I like them. It must be the masochist in me. Regardless, I've played a few in my day, on various platforms, so I consider myself somewhat qualified to render an opinion on this. Of course, you're free to disagree with me. Even better, add me as a friend in Battlefield Heroes and show me why I'm bgrierr (yes, there's two 'r's there). Onward.

This game is freakin' fun! Seriously, it really is.
Just the same way that cotton candy is good when you're at the carnival, so too is Battlefield Heroes good, when you're in the mood for a fast frag-fest.

If you're a fan of the Battlefield series of FPS games created by Dice, you'll be right at home here. To me, the game actually feels a bit like Battlefield 1942, their breakthrough title.

There's no blood. You get a hefty dose of 'cartoon violence'. The two sides are obviously modeled after two WWII rivals, but that's about as serious as this game gets.

All is not cotton candy in wonderland.
The one thing that I'm actually not too keen on is likely the one thing that will make this game, or break it; the business model.

Battlefield Heroes is free. But somehow EA and Dice have to pay for the development. And this is how they do it. Players can buy cool in-game emotes and clothingcustomizations. Yep, you pay real-world dollars to have 'that special wave' you can trigger when you've fragged a particularly tough opponent. Or a custom hat. Or parrot. You can be as cool as you want, if you pay for it.

Pay-for-play gamers do not get access to specially enhanced weapons or abilities...those must be earned through game-play, so the actual battlefield is level. Money doesn't buy you the victory.

Endgame.
Frankly, since this is an online game, fresh out of beta with quite a few bugs yet to be squished, the jury is out on this one. While I enjoy the occasional skirmish, others may not. But, don't knock it until you've tried it...and when you do try it (remember, it's free), please let me know what you thought!

Message Edited by ElizabethS on 07-26-2009 12:32 AM

Message Edited by Laura on 08-21-2009 02:25 PM

Message Edited by ElizabethS on 09-10-2009 07:39 PM

[#2]

I was also part of that "beta" but almost forgot about it so I didn't play that much. But from the little time I had with the game, it's really simple yet fun to play. And the best part is that it's free !

Now if I can manage to find how to add someone to my friend list (didn't even know I had one) and add you to it, I'll have at least 1 "friend" to play the game with. That's mostly what kept me from playing it more when it was in the beta... That and the fact I have Team Fortress 2 installed which is pretty fun too... But not free.

[#3]

Heh, I'll try and figure that out this weekend and report back. And maybe try some BF:1943 on the 360 too, if I can work through EA's issues.

[#4]

BF : 1943 seems pretty cool too but if I do get it, it's going to be on PC, where every shooters "should" be played if you ask me.

[#5]

Indeed! I have much more success on PC with FPS than on console...Kinda wish BF:Bad Company would come to PC...I enjoyed it on the 360.

And I've got a pretty good kbd/mouse setup (though I can't get the G15 drivers to load in Win 7 )