Bad Company 2 maps unlockable at launch

By Oli Welsh Published 26 February, 2010

Code included for "ten dollar" content.

EA has detailed the free unlockable content that will be provided with next week's launch of Battlefield: Bad Company 2 as part of the company's Project Ten Dollar initiative to make pre-owned sales less attractive.

A code in the box will unlock two maps at launch: Laguna Alta, playable in Conquest mode, and Nelson Bay in Rush mode, bringing the total number of maps to 10.

Two further maps will be released later in March at no extra cost if you have the code: Arica Harbor in Conquest and Laguna Presa in Rush.

The press release is open that the maps are "available in the box" and simply unlocked by entering the supplied VIP code, for which you'll need an internet connection (you'll need one to play multiplayer too, obviously). Kotaku has confirmed that the data for the maps is on the game disc, although the PC version will apply them as a game update.

If you do pick up a second-hand copy of the game with the code already claimed, you'll be able to access the maps by buying a new code from EA for $15, so maybe Project Ten Pound would have been a better title.

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 is out a week today, Friday 5th March, on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC.

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About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (64) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • KayJay #1 2 years ago

    Fine with me.

  • Xerx3s #2 2 years ago

    Is this code only included in the LE versions of games or do they come with all games?

  • djed #3 2 years ago

    Mixing DLC and DRM; eat a shitcake and have it too!

  • Anthony_UK #4 2 years ago

    It doesn't bring it to 10 maps

    There are 8 maps in total, the DLC simply unlocks conquest & rush modes to 2 existing maps that for some reason are locked to only 'Conquest' or 'Rush' in the boxed game.

    8 maps in total, though I must admit i've no idea if they alter the maps slightly for conquest mode?

    @ Xerx3s The code comes with every new copy of the game.

    Edited by Anthony_UK at 26/02/10 @ 09:40

  • Xerx3s #5 2 years ago

    Cheers.

  • Shikasama #6 2 years ago

    Guess those 3.5 million demo downloads won't translate

  • kangarootoo #7 2 years ago

    "Mixing DLC and DRM"

    DLC always comes with DRM. Do you know what DRM is?

  • Pinky_Floyd #8 2 years ago

    Heheh. Supposed to stop used game sales but this practice of including stuff in the box that has to be unlocked has just lost them a new game sale from me :)

    I'll make a point of picking it up used for a song without the dl code a bit later on. This practice means cheaper second hand games, thanks EA!

  • Drone #9 2 years ago

    Don't see what all the fuss is about. And I really don't see why this would actually stop someone buying it new. If someone really want the game then the chances are they will get it new at launch or pick it up when its discounted post launch.

    However, I've never actually bought a second hand game so i guess I'm in no position to comment!

  • tesco #10 2 years ago

    I think in this case the accountants should have come up with the project name and not some guy after a business trip to asia...

  • Derblington #11 2 years ago

    "Supposed to stop used game sales but this practice of including stuff in the box that has to be unlocked has just lost them a new game sale from me :)"

    But... What? You're not buying the game because you don't want to enter a code that is given to you for free with the game, in order to buy the game cheaper, later, and then not have the content that is free? And therefor, you won't be able to play half the games you want to because you won' have the maps to join your mates.... That's just odd.

  • jambo74 #12 2 years ago

    So if I buy used I can't use all the information on the disk!!

    Like buying a car new and geting 6th gear unlocked on the machine - but if I buy used I need to pay a further money to the origional car manufacturerto get this gear!

  • drewman5150 #13 2 years ago

    @tesco I thought it was "too dolla", that's inflation I guess...

  • TheLittlestHobo #14 2 years ago

    Anthony_UK: There ARE 10 maps, Nelson Bay and Laguna Alta are new:

    Port Valdez
    Isla Inocentes
    Arica Harbor
    Panama Canal
    Valparaiso
    Atacama Desert
    Laguna Presa
    White Pass
    Laguna Alta
    Nelson Bay

    Edit: typo
    Edited by TheLittlestHobo at 26/02/10 @ 10:52

  • ignatiusjreilly #15 2 years ago

    That's just odd.

    It's not odd to ignore products from companies whose business practices you don't like, even if it doesn't affect you directly. Not saying I agree one way or the otuher, but standing up for principles is a good thing :)

  • beastmaster #16 2 years ago

    The content is free I would assume. is it actual DLC or does it open up whatever is already on the disc? If it's DLC then what of those people who have 360 Arcades?

    I'm not one of them, but even so.

  • ignatiusjreilly #17 2 years ago

    ^ Read the article.

  • AaronTurner #18 2 years ago

    It's fair enough from ea I think but doesn't anyone else feel 15 dollars is too much? Maybe 5 dollars or 400ms points would be fairer.

  • Derblington #19 2 years ago

    "It's not odd to ignore products from companies whose business practices you don't like, even if it doesn't affect you directly. Not saying I agree one way or the otuher, but standing up for principles is a good thing :)"

    Sure, but he wants the game regardless. It's not like he's not going to buy it - the only reason he seems to not want to buy it new is that he can't be bothered to enter a code to *give* you some content.
    Instead, he'll buy it anyway, but without the content, which will then hamper the amount of enjoyment he could get from it, Just because he doesn't like codes???

    That's just odd.

  • zuljin #20 2 years ago

    @AaronTurner
    $15 does seem a lot for the content maybe, but remember that everyone will get a free copy of it (unless you rent or buy second hand).

    This is EAs way of trying to reclaim a little bit from second hand sales (by either offering a new copy as better value or by buying the additional content).

    I think its definitely interesting, I wonder how much they generally make off a system like this or how much second hand sale is reduced (This has already been done with the Saboteur).

  • ignatiusjreilly #21 2 years ago

    Just because he doesn't like codes?

    I think it's because he doesn't like the practice of locking stuff away from the game and selling it back to people who buy second-hand, and doesn't want to reward the company for making that decision.

    But I'm just guessing obv.

  • bratmandu #22 2 years ago

    @Anthony_UK

    If it's like Bad Company 1, then conquest maps are fairly different from rush maps. Of course, it's the same area, but the boundaries change. Rush maps are set up so the attackers fight towards the crates, and as such usually follow a path or are more long and narrow than conquest mode maps, as conquest mode maps open the areas up to be more of a spread out circle or square shape.

    Basically, in conquest mode the maps feel different because you are not necessarily always heading in same direction. Also, areas of the map which are out of bounds in Rush mode (due to the long narrow funnelling nature of Rush maps) are no longer out of bounds in Conquest modes. For example, in the map 'End of the Line' in BC1, there's a cool little island in the middle of the sea. In rush mode, it's well out of bounds, but in conquest, it's a base/flag control point.

  • Derblington #23 2 years ago

    "I think it's because he doesn't like the practice of locking stuff away from the game and selling it back to people who buy second-hand, and doesn't want to reward the company for making that decision."

    But it wouldn't effect him if he just bought it new. Why not do that, and not fuck up your own enjoyment in the process? It seems a very odd decision to me.

    And there are reasons for locking the content away, in these cases. It's supposed to be an incentive that doesn't effect anyone that buys new, therefore people who do shouldn't even be concerned about it. It's only those who want to buy used that need worry, and the whole point is to incentivise a new purchase, so it's supposed to be a "hindrance" to those people.

    Secondly, to actually set the content as DLC is a long and involved process that requires more time/work/cost between Dev, Cert and retail. This is the easiest way to do it, and, again, it is designed to not effect anyone that buys it new. That's the whole purpose!

  • Anthony_UK #24 2 years ago

    @Thelittlesthobo - ahhhh right, apologies then, i'm obviously getting my wires crossed somewhere. As an incentive to buy the game new then, I think offering 2 extra maps is a good idea. There is that grey area of the maps being ready and held back etc, but as long as the free content continues, I personally have a problem with it.

    Project 10 dollar, me love you long time!

  • ignatiusjreilly #25 2 years ago

    But it wouldn't effect him if he just bought it new

    Again, I'd say that sometimes people make decisions based on personal principles even if it doesn't affect them. Perhaps he's thinking of people that can't afford to buy new games, even if he personally can?

  • john_hopkinson_1985 #26 2 years ago

    @AaronTurner
    $15 does seem a lot for the content maybe, but remember that everyone will get a free copy of it (unless you rent or buy second hand).

    @zuljin
    This is EAs way of trying to reclaim a little bit from second hand sales (by either offering a new copy as better value or by buying the additional content).

    I think its definitely interesting, I wonder how much they generally make off a system like this or how much second hand sale is reduced (This has already been done with the Saboteur).



    If it is EA's way of making some money from second hand market it shouldnt be $15 for 4 maps. If these people are to cheap to buy the game new they aint going to pay $15 for 4 maps!

  • Derblington #27 2 years ago

    "Again, I'd say that sometimes people make decisions based on personal principles even if it doesn't affect them. Perhaps he's thinking of people that can't afford to buy new games, even if he personally can?"

    In that case, he would be a very caring, but odd, fellow, as the decision to take on someone else's cause will still hinder how he will play the game, for how long (potentially) and with who.

  • raion #28 2 years ago

    So, a couple of additional maps are worth ten dollars.
    I remember when we got additional maps for free as a "thank you" from developers, an added value for new buyers and to push longevity.
    I guess it can't be helped nowadays.

  • ignatiusjreilly #29 2 years ago

    @Derblington

    I don't think altruism is as unusual as you might think.
    Edited by ignatiusjreilly at 26/02/10 @ 11:45

  • Derblington #30 2 years ago

    "I remember when we got additional maps for free as a "thank you" from developers, an added value for new buyers and to push longevity."

    I remember when people read articles before they commented on them.
    Edited by Derblington at 26/02/10 @ 11:49

  • Derblington #31 2 years ago

    "I don't think altruism is as unusual as you might think."

    In regards to a gaming hobby, I think it is :)
    Edited by Derblington at 26/02/10 @ 11:49

  • kangarootoo #32 2 years ago

    @Derblington

    I think ignatiusjreilly is fighting for the right of people to cut off their own nose for hollow principle. I applaud him for it ;)


    @ignatiusjreilly
    "I don't think altruism is as unusual as you might think"

    Some would say it is even more unusual than you might think. Don't make me break out a philosophical debate on you, 'cos I'll do it.

  • ignatiusjreilly #33 2 years ago

    No word of a lie, I helped a woman push her broken car off the road today, which made me miss my train.

    Kindness for the sake of kindness happens every day :) Although probably not as often as cruelty for the sake of cruelty :(

    edit: God, how did I get into this. Not only too many posts and rather off topic, but I'm explaining the reasoning of someone else even though it might well not be true and I've never met the guy. Sorry.
    Edited by ignatiusjreilly at 26/02/10 @ 11:59

  • Anthony_UK #34 2 years ago

    Have they actually said that this first batch of DLC (This and the pack to follow in a few weeks) is the only free content we'll be getting?

    I know DICE have said there open to creating whatever people want, whether it be maps, weapons or vehicles. Maybe EA will do a Burnout Paradise with this and suprise us all?

    If they really want to go after Call of Duty's multiplayer crown, you never know!
    Edited by Anthony_UK at 26/02/10 @ 12:00

  • gjgjg #35 2 years ago

    i like this rewarding system of dlc with new purchase, better than ubipunishsoft style

  • zuljin #36 2 years ago

    @john_hopkinson_1985
    "If it is EA's way of making some money from second hand market it shouldnt be $15 for 4 maps. If these people are to cheap to buy the game new they aint going to pay $15 for 4 maps!"

    Who is saying these people are cheap? If a game is on sale second hand for £35 and new at £40, plenty of people don't see the appeal in forking out £5 for shinyness, its got nothing to do with being cheap.

    Also remember that in that example, you're only paying £5 for the maps. If the map pack was cheaper there wouldn't be much point... This way either a lot of people will consider "upgrading" to a new version, or force second hand retailers in lowering their currently high markup on second hand games.

    In any case, I don't see how the average gamer loses. If second hand games stay high priced, then the relative cost of the DLC is little. If second hand games drop in price because it hasn't got the extra content, then you as a consumer get a cheaper product, from which you can decide whether to pay more for more content.

    I'm genuinely interested in a debate, so who exactly loses in this scenario?

  • Dougz_G #37 2 years ago

    i wonder how much more free stuff we'll get from buying it new, mass effect 2 gives a lot of smaller things for free, maybe we'll see more weapon unlocks overtime as well :D
    Edited by Dougz_G at 26/02/10 @ 12:00

  • john_hopkinson_1985 #38 2 years ago

    @zuljin
    I'm genuinely interested in a debate, so who exactly loses in this scenario?

    You mentioned who will lose out. The high street, who potentially dont make as much money from their second hand games. Im not going to sympathise with these shops as they overcharge but if they dont make there profits from second hand games they will have to make it somewhere else. I think its unlikely that everyone wins if EA are involved.

  • kangarootoo #39 2 years ago

    @ignatiusjreilly

    "No word of a lie, I helped a woman push her broken car off the road today, which made me miss my train."

    And I bet doing that good deed made you feel good, eh, eh?

    AHA!

  • Shikasama #40 2 years ago

    Can we rename this site EuroApologistsForCorporateCancerOfGaming?

    EAFCCG.net

    Catchy

  • kangarootoo #41 2 years ago

    @Shikasama

    There is nothing quite like a "them and us" attitude to rob a debate of all intellect, eh?

  • ignatiusjreilly #42 2 years ago

    @kangarootoo

    It did. So yes, you could say it's not true altruism (or maybe that true altruism doesn't exist) as it does have its own reward. But hey, I don't mind what path one takes to get there :)

  • zuljin #43 2 years ago

    @john_hopkinson_1985
    Yes I think I realised I answered my own question after I posted. Still, I think there is validity in questioning whether retailers such as Game deserve such high markups simply for being an in between (holding onto a game untl selling it on).

    I am surprised, I guess, since I would have thought eBay or such would provide for much better prices for consumers, but then there is also the price you pay for having an easy access to a store to return a game and get some cash back.

  • Dougz_G #44 2 years ago

    @john_hopkinson_1985
    there's the fact that most people won't hear about this promotional deal, meaning they'll buy it second hand at the pre-owned price and then buy the dlc if they like the game = stores and EA wins. £30-£35 for pre-owned or so, £8-10 for 4 map unlocks + extra later down the line maybe.

  • kangarootoo #45 2 years ago

    @ignatiusjreilly

    "So yes, you could say it's not true altruism"

    My point indeed, although fake altrusism is far better than being a genuine git, so well done for helping out this morning :)

  • berryl227 #46 2 years ago

    in someways I think this may actually may help the second hand games market I really dont understand anyone who would go to Game and only pay £2-5 less on a release which is a few weeks old. I recently saw game trying to sell 2nd hand COD4 for £35 i mean come on. Who knows how many times that one particular disc had been bought and traded giving Game a tidy profit every single sale. If you want to save a few ponds buy online guareented to beat a Game high street store every time.

    Lets hope this actually makes companies like Game bring down their 2nd hand game market for those that do buy 2nd hand. I have to say im not one of them mind! I think the people who will suffer are those who use there games as a way of paying for a new release e.g Buy AVP cane it for a week or so trade in against BFBC2 for £20-25. These guys are going to be screwed!

  • Murton #47 2 years ago

    If it is EA's way of making some money from second hand market it shouldnt be $15 for 4 maps. If these people are to cheap to buy the game new they aint going to pay $15 for 4 maps!

    I suspect it might be like Mass Effect 2 where 2nd hand buyers pay for access to the DLC section of the game but a lot of the content itself is free. There's 2 maps at launch and two more post launch so far, that's not to say that it will end there, they could continue to release more content into that DLC menu that those who buy new get for free and those who don't have to pay for.

  • Deckard1 #48 2 years ago

    Anyone else think of that vietnamese prostitute when ever they see the "ten dollar" in the article title

  • jebus #49 2 years ago

    hahaha - excellent.

  • Bravestinsane #50 2 years ago

    Already bought mine of Steam so how does it work for me?

  • jebus #51 2 years ago

    @jambo74

    "So if I buy used I can't use all the information on the disk!!"

    Yes you can becasue you can buy another code and unlock the information. You know like it says in the article.

  • jebus #52 2 years ago

    @Bravestinsane "Already bought mine of Steam so how does it work for me?"

    Well you will have all the maps as you bought it. Why should it be any different? It's only an issue to someone buying a used copy of the game and you can't sell your digital copy as far as I know but either way it's not an issue to you.

  • SleepyDeathFred #53 2 years ago

    I was extremely excited about Bad Company 2 until the demo landed, my best friend was unable to play it (or, incidentally, BF 1943) because his EA login wouldn't work, and he still hasn't got a reply to his email to EA. The fact that they haven't replied after what must be nearly a month, much less solved the problem, has made me completely unwilling to trust them in future. Incredibly annoying, as I really wanted this game.

  • Lunatic4ever #54 2 years ago

    preordered it...cant wait to get my hands on it!

  • dacicus #55 2 years ago

    I bet my arse that the pirates will have those before launch. See DAO and ME2. The pirates are having all the DLC's ( preorder, collector's, dr pepper, first day release for ME; preorder, collector's, paid, first day release for DAO). So who is the loser in all this?
    The 10 dollars Project affects only the paying customer. You can milk a customer to alimit. But even the most stubborn fanboy will have a hard time staying around when he sees his friends playing on the pirate servers with the whole content, while he, the one who paid good money is forced through a draconian protection ( the DLC are online activated, with checks when you get online) and without access to the whole package, because he didn't wanted to buy one DLC or another.

    Ubi and EA are going again in the wrong direction. Seems that the online activation scandal (plus several lawsuits for EA) didn't meant much, while Ubi didn't learn their lesson since the Starforce lawsuit 9that Ubi lost, btw). It's like they want us to pirate and then say: buy your games on consoles ( it seems that they aren't aware of the fact that the only unhackable consoles at the date are PS3 and PSPgo, while PSP 3k it's not entirely hacked, but close to that nevertheless).

  • zubnut #56 2 years ago

    I really don't see any losers on the tenbucksplan
    What I think will happen is that although the 2nd hand price of the game may be lower to reflect the loss of dlc activated stuff, the retailer will just lower the trade-in value of the game itself.
    Thus the retailer is not affected as he will maintain his overall/profit loss on the game.
    The 2nd hand game buyer may also not affected as the total price of the 2nd hand game and reactivating the dlc may not be much different to a normal 2nd hand game price.
    So no losers, and EA may actually make a little extra profit direct from the 2nd hand market which keeps them happy.
    I expect most developers will follow a similar plan.

  • GWH #57 2 years ago

    zubnut,

    What about the person who bought the game at full price, but gets an even smaller pittance for it when he trades it in?

  • metalangel #58 2 years ago

    Maybe EA will let you 'buy' permission to host your own games after they get bored and shut the servers down for this?

  • zubnut #59 2 years ago

    @GWH

    Not everyone trades their games in though.
    I also dont think it is reasonable to expect a certain minimum value at trade-in an ever changing marketplace.
    It's only going to be worth what someone is willing to pay for it after all. And if you don't like the price offered you always have the choice not to trade it, or haggle harder.

  • kangarootoo #60 2 years ago

    "What about the person who bought the game at full price, but gets an even smaller pittance for it when he trades it in?"

    I'll play them a sombre tune on the world's smallest violin.

  • icematt12 #61 2 years ago

    At least with Mass Effect 2 you had to actually download the content, it wasn't on the disc and needed to be unlocked. Here's hoping in the future that some stuff is actually downloadable.

  • Matfink #62 2 years ago

    At a slight tangent, the thing I don't get is why software companies feel they should have a piece of the resale market in the first place.

  • zubnut #63 2 years ago

    It's probably cos they don't like Game and others selling a second hand copy for sometimes barely a fiver less than a new copy, the profit from which the publisher/developer see absolutely bugger all.
    Shit that was a bid yoda-like but you get my point

  • Matfink #64 2 years ago

    Hmmm, I wonder if it infringes some kind of consumer law here in Europe :p