14 DAY TRIAL // Battlefield: Bad Company developer DICE and publisher Electronic Arts barely managed to escape being stoned to death by an angry mob of gamers, formed as a reaction to the decision the two companies made to charge for the in-game unlockable items. It looks like the mauling left some deep scars and made them remember the event. With the lesson learned, DICE has prepared a special edition of Battlefield: Bad Company 2 that gives players immediate access to the game's unlockables. The Limited Edition won't cost a single extra cent, as it will go for the same price the simple edition does. It looks like Fujiki Gennosuke was right when he said “They won't remember it unless it hurts.”
The Limited Edition will give players direct access to items that otherwise they'd have to spend arduous hours of gaming to obtain. What may sound like an advantage may also be a drawback. The whole point of unlockables is the feeling that you've earned something, that you worked for it and it's rightfully yours. That, and in tradition with the general unlockable system of games, would presume that you've obtained them by showing that you've mastered the similar but less effective weapon. Finding the super-weapon all ready in your hand might prove to be more than the inexperienced soldier could handle.
The special items and their description is as follows:
"Four vehicle warfare unlocks • Improved Vehicle Armor – An up-armor package is mounted on all vehicle types, decreasing the effect of both explosive and penetrating warheads, significantly improving vehicle survivability. • Supreme Vehicle Firepower – Additional weapon packages are mounted for the driver of all armored vehicles, greatly expanding the range of targets the vehicle can successfully engage and destroy. • Vehicle Motion Sensor – Use this electronics warfare package to locate enemy units in direct proximity to the vehicle. • Tracer Dart Pistol – This magnetic dart attaches to any vehicle surface, allowing squad members to track, lock on, and fire rockets onto moving targets even beyond line of sight.
Two classic Battlefield 1943™ weapons:
• M1A1 Submachine Gun – Reliable but heavy this classic weapon is a powerful force in the hands of any Battlefield veteran. • M1911 Pistol – Highly customized M1911 are favored for its dependability and the power of its large .45 caliber round."
Bad Company 2 will be released in North America on March 2, 2010 on the PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The European release will come three days later, on March 5. Until then, you have all the time in the world to decide if you want to buy your special items or earn them the old-fashioned way, through the sweat of you brow.