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Battlefield Heroes Finally Open This Summer

Anyone and everyone will get the chance to play DICE's cartoony, free-to-play Battlefield spin-off in the next few months.

It seems like every time I've seen Battlefield Heroes at one EA event or another, it's been on the verge of actually, finally coming out. EA and DICE have been talking up this cartoonish, free-to-play spin-off of the core Battlefield series for well over a year now, but the date for open sign-ups--which will effectively serve as the release date--keeps slipping back.

Now, EA reps assure us Heroes' open beta will really, truly begin within the somewhat nebulous period of "summer," which I'm guessing translates into "sometime in the next four months." They say they'll provide a more specific date in the next couple of weeks.

That's good news, because what I've played of Heroes so far is good, clean fun that hearkens back to the early days of Battlefield: players riding on the wings of planes, dudes getting blown sky-high by tanks blasts, all that kind of silliness. The big unknown with Heroes is how EA will handle the microtransactions that support the game's continued availability. Convenience items like double experience points are one thing, but I hope we don't see people running around with bigger, better guns just because they opted to throw down some coin.

If you've been living under a rock, here's the latest trailer to show you what Heroes is all about.

  


Brad Shoemaker on Google+

44 Comments

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jakob187

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Edited By jakob187
Hamz said:
"I think one gun I bought with my XP had a 1 week lifespan before it would be removed and I'd have to buy it again."
To be honest, I wouldn't mind that.  It would absolutely give me a reason to continue playing.  In BF2, once you unlocked all the guns (which could easily take as little as a week or two), it just felt like there was nothing left to achieve.  Even with 2142, I felt the same way.  However, needing to continue playing in order to actually get some worthwhile items and keep them in your inventory would definitely make me feel like I've got more reason to play.
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Media_Master

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Edited By Media_Master

about time!

saying "if you've been living under a rock..."

OVER USED

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Swinghi

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Edited By Swinghi

The beta is way fun.  Everyone is on a level playing field as if you haven't played yet then you can't buy the cool weapons yet but neither do the people you are playing against.

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MattyFTM

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Edited By MattyFTM  Moderator

I'm looking forward to getting to try this. It looks fun.

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penguindust

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Edited By penguindust

If this game is any good, they're going to make a mint (a dollar at a time) on all the outfits people will buy.  It's easy to justify splurging on a jacket or hat if it's only a dollar.  Each week, players might buy something new and in a few months EA's got them hooked, because of all the time and money invested into each BF identity.  If the items are too expensive, by that I mean more than 2 dollars, then the whole marketplace falls apart.  As soon as the customer considers the price, you've lost a sale.

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xplodedd

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Edited By xplodedd

I am in the beta, its fun.. but after visiting back Team Fortress 2, I realize what a ripoff it is...

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Johanz

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Edited By Johanz

Don't worry Brad, they have said that they won't charge real money for guns and such. :) Just the ingame money that you earn.

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inkeiren

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Edited By inkeiren

I'm into the beta, it's sort of fun.

I'll probably get bored of it in a few days, though.

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aaox

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Edited By aaox

Oh, what?! I just got a beta key, and now it's announced. That means I can't boast to my friends! Arrgh.

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Karmum

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Edited By Karmum

Hm, they said this last year as well. Let's hope that it actually comes out this year, wish I got in the BETA. :(

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stephengotlost

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Edited By stephengotlost

I'm in the beta and microtransactions for Battlepoints can only be used to buy appearance items and convenience items to increase the rate of levelling up. Also, weapons may only be purchased by points you earn as you rank up, so microtransactions cannot be used to buy weapons directly. Furthermore, the available weapons for purchase are not neccessarily better than the default weapons, but are tailored towards different play styles, such as a submachine gun with a further range, but slower firing rate, or with a short range, but high firing rate.

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spilledmilkfactory

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that guy almost committed suicide with an MP40. cartoon kids game my butt!

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Scooper

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Edited By Scooper

I love playing this game, it's a ton of stupid fun. I usualy hit a point with most competative games where I'll end up trying to be the top of the server which is usualy not too hard at lower levels but as I get higher the competition just gets too high and I end up running away. But with this, it really doesn't matter if you win or loose because it's just so fun to watch and play. I probably won't throw down and Sterling but that doesn't matter, it seems anyone can do just fine against people who've sunk a trough of cash into it.

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SunKing

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Edited By SunKing
MrKlorox: Yes, sorry. I meant the closed beta, of course.
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DAZEDIRONMAN

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Edited By DAZEDIRONMAN

i got my beta key a couple weeks ago its fun

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deactivated-5c5cdba6e0b96

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Looking pretty good, but the art style is a huge rip from TF2, and there humor style is also way to similar to TF2, it's like they can't think of there own ideas.

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Psynapse

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Edited By Psynapse

Cross between battlefield and TF? I like the artstyle of the game... But i duno... too many other games to suss out first :D

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MrKlorox

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Edited By MrKlorox

Two weeks ago they sent out beta keys for all those that had previously signed up. Pretty sure the next phase is gonna be opening it up. Doesn't seem like there will be much more time for another beta phase.

I still think there's a fundamental flaw with letting one team have the colors of blood and death, while the other team has the colors of birds and flowers. Guess which one tends to have harder-core players?

The requirements are quite a bit less than that of TF2. Kinda lame they produce trailers in widescreen but the game doesn't actually hor+.

@SunKing: The beta isn't open.

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DisAbiLityFisHy

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Edited By DisAbiLityFisHy

Whew, finally!
It's been a long wait.

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DannyJ

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Edited By DannyJ

Naked soldiers?! Cowboy soldiers? Pegleg soldiers? Voodoo soldiers? REDNECK Soldiers?!

Im in!

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FuzzYLemoN

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Edited By FuzzYLemoN

It's about fucking time, holy shit.

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SunKing

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Edited By SunKing

I'm in the open beta, and, at the risk of sounding like a spoil-sport, it really isn't all that great.

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GobiasIndustries

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Edited By GobiasIndustries

This game kicks ass. I'm in the beta.

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TwoOneFive

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Edited By TwoOneFive

haha, that was an awesome trailer? this is pc only right? darn. 

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ToxicFruit

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Edited By ToxicFruit

i am in the closed beta and it is rly fun. BF fans should not miss it !

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ParanoidFreak

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Edited By ParanoidFreak

 I almost forgot about this game, it should be a fun way to pass the time.

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ZeroCast

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Edited By ZeroCast

Probably one of the main reasons that got me almighty excited about BF Heroes is my love for BF2, and seeing that i have finally got the opportunity to participate in the beta, all I'm allowed to say is, it's a 3rd Person Shooter with a style, the guys at DICE are aware that making a Free-To-Play game is not just about some cartoony looking characters, it has to have a ground base of which you can build on or maintain, and that's exactly what they did with Heroes, it has the ability to keep you hooked while adding a few fun elements to the mix.

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Edited By bman3737

I'm in the Beta for Heroes and I can say that it is definitely worth the wait.  While I don't think I'm ever going to spend money on it, there are alot of cool items you can buy (but the weapon upgrades are free!).  I'm glad that this is opening up; more people need to experience it.

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Shabs

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Edited By Shabs

In a post-Quake Live world I'm slightly less interested in this, but it's free, so I'll try it out.

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FlipperDesert

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Edited By FlipperDesert

I always wanted to be a spitfire pilot!

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insanejedi

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Edited By insanejedi

Free games! Wooo!

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RHCPfan24

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Edited By RHCPfan24

It looks fun. Not innovative or super impressive. Just fun. I will check it out sometime.

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Aas

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Edited By Aas

Not to be a jerk, but this just looks like Team Fortress 2 with less charm.

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Steve_C

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Edited By Steve_C

I'm really impressed with the art style. The graphics seem quite simple on a technical level, but it still looks rather nice.

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Gregomasta

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Edited By Gregomasta

Great trailer, still really excited about the game.  I don't like how it feels as if its trying to make light of war zone.  Theirs no blood, and those psychopaths on the wings look like they're smiling.

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AURON570

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Edited By AURON570

i signed up for the beta 7 months ago and still haven't gotten in... I talked to my friend, and he said he got his beta key about 7 weeks after he signed up. grrr...

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Hamz

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Edited By Hamz

From what I've played in the current phase of the beta now you get, to coin a phrase here, what you pay for. As in it is a simple, fun game that does what it sets out to achieve. Nothing too special and nothing too boring.

As for microtransactions as a form of payment I'm gonna guess players will be able to pay money to buy outfits and run around dressed as a pirate instead of the drab, dark basic uniform that is the default outfit. For items everyone seems to be on a level playing field in that, the more kills and matches won the more XP you have to spare on new items, abilities etc.

The downside is that you only get to use / keep these items / abilities or outfits for a finite time. I think one gun I bought with my XP had a 1 week lifespan before it would be removed and I'd have to buy it again.

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Serker

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Edited By Serker

that video made me smile

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BiggerBomb

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Edited By BiggerBomb

That...looks awesome.

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joshuah82

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Edited By joshuah82

This actually looks pretty fun. I'd play it if I didn't have a half dozen other games I paid for and still need to play.

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Edited By KnifeySpoony

Hmm, I was super excited for this last year around this time, now I'm really not =/. Even so I may still check it out.

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Brad

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Edited By Brad
It seems like every time I've seen Battlefield Heroes at one EA event or another, it's been on the verge of actually, finally coming out. EA and DICE have been talking up this cartoonish, free-to-play spin-off of the core Battlefield series for well over a year now, but the date for open sign-ups--which will effectively serve as the release date--keeps slipping back.

Now, EA reps assure us Heroes' open beta will really, truly begin within the somewhat nebulous period of "summer," which I'm guessing translates into "sometime in the next four months." They say they'll provide a more specific date in the next couple of weeks.

That's good news, because what I've played of Heroes so far is good, clean fun that hearkens back to the early days of Battlefield: players riding on the wings of planes, dudes getting blown sky-high by tanks blasts, all that kind of silliness. The big unknown with Heroes is how EA will handle the microtransactions that support the game's continued availability. Convenience items like double experience points are one thing, but I hope we don't see people running around with bigger, better guns just because they opted to throw down some coin.

If you've been living under a rock, here's the latest trailer to show you what Heroes is all about.