BREAKING NEWS: Boycott Successful?

April 9th, 2008 at 5:49 pm · 150 Comments

by Doc

IGN has just gone straight to DICE, who essentially reversed what was said earlier by an EA representative to Kotaku. The message is a breath of fresh air.

There will be no charge for Gold Edition guns in Battlefield: Bad Company, to those that buy the regular retail package.

Before we jump to the good news, keep in mind what EA told Brian Crecente, just a couple of weeks ago:

At launch, EA will release a Gold Edition of Battlefield: Bad Company which will feature an additional five new weapons. For players who do not purchase the Gold Edition of the game, they can still buy the five weapons at a small individualized price per item. All weapons are balanced for gameplay. More weapons offer players more choices but do not create an advantage/disadvantage for players who do not opt to buy new items.

Flash forward to a few minutes ago. Here’s DICE setting “the record” straight.

IGN: So there’s no charge for the Gold Edition guns?

Karl-Magnus: No, there’s no charge for any of the guns in the game. All of the guns in the game can be achieved without purchasing them. All guns are available to everyone. However, we want to give some exclusivity to those who buy the Gold Edition. They will get the five Gold Edition weapons from Day One when they put the disc in. People that don’t buy the Gold Edition can get the five additional weapons by getting to the final rank in the game. There will be a golden, shiny five-weapon unlock when they hit level 25 in the game.

You will now, instead, be able to earn those weapons FREE by achieving the maximum rank in the game.

There is no way I can describe how proud I am of this community right now. You will NEVER get the credit you deserve for helping shift this thing, and to my knowledge it is a first. But we all know where the epicenter of the outrage earthquake began.

With a couple thousand pissed off Sarcastic Gamers. Congratulations.

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Categories: News

http://www.sarcasticgamer.com Lono

There’s still this “marketing program” for five extra guns… I’m gonna have to look into all of this…

The boycott may still be on.
Shadders

Excellent!

Good work everyone, we really stuck it to the man!
http://www.sarcasticgamer.com/boycott kman571

We win. We win
Vive la Resistance
TheQwert

Congratulations SarcasticGamers…we rock!!!
EPIC C0VERT

@Lono
Where did you see that?
http://www.podtacular.com Lilkuke

We did it!! This is just an example of how the little guys can make a voice in the big world. Fantastic job, guys. I am proud to be a part of this ex-boycott.
Kaworus_Lover

WOOT!

Lets break out that bottle we have been saving.
greenrhino

We won! This is what happens when you just say no to the crap video game publishers feed to all of us.
http://N/A JakubK666

Could yo guys now focus on the OVERPRICED Rock Band bundle?
TheQwert

Check this out…another support for SG

http://www.giantbomb.com/
http://Cinephiliacs.com Riki

@ lono

I hear you, but I doubt the promo deal will be anything so horrible as to merit a boycott. Worst case scenario, you have to type in a code from the cap of a bottle of pepsi. No, wait, worst case scenario it’s a bottle of coke. Or one of those new flavors they try out which almost always fail.

Anyway, if it’s just a glorified advertisement, I’m fine with it. If I have to buy something cheap which I would use and enjoy anyway (such as pepsi) I’m fine with it. I mean, do they really think I’ll order 5 large pizzas from pizza hut in order to get all the guns? Probably not.

Then again, this is the same company that wants to charge more for rockband in the UK than I spent on my first car. Hopefully though they won’t do anything outrageous immediately after giving up on this outrageous scheme due to the backlash.

But in any case, I think I’ve mentioned enough brands that I oughta get some free stuff already.
What The Geek

See, the way I read this is that instead of paying extra, regardless of how you get the guns, you’ll have to participate in a “marketing program”. I don’t really see that as a victory – now instead of my money I just have to fork over my personal info for something I already paid for? How the hell is that any better?
Dableo

This was a triumph
I’m making a note here:
HUGE SUCCESS
It’s hard to overstate
my satisfaction
Electronic Arts
They do what they must
because they can
For the good of all of us
Except the ones that aren’t them
But there’s no sense trying
To make us do your will
You just keep on boycotting
till there forced to take a chill
And the game gets done
With the original fun
For the people who were
Still annoyed

Were not even angry
Were being so sincere right now
Even though you broke the game
To screw us
And tore it to pieces
And put every piece with a new charge.
As you learned it hurt because
We completely pwned you!
Now the fixed up game
makes a nice complete line
And now we’re happy
‘Cause you listened this time
So we’re glad you got burned.
Think of all the things you learned
from the people who were
Still annoyed!

Go ahead and launch it
Too bad you cannot pull one on us
Maybe you’ll find someone else
To take from
Maybe like Take 2
THAT WAS A JOKE, HA HA, FAT CHANCE!
As you know you screwed that up
Because you acted like jerks
Look at me still talking
When theres good games too
But when i look out
I see theres so much to do
Rock Band has hit the run
Making UKers drop their funds
So really I am
Still annoyed!

Crap that took longer than i thought, i must look really weird… Oh well
Crunkhippo

I’m ecstatic. I can’t believe that through the efforts of this website and a few thousand people we actually changed the mind of the largest video game producer out there. The fans have voices and we have been heard. This is awesome.

Big CONGRATULATIONS to the SG staff for their dedication, and to the SG Members for their efforts too.

As Lono said, the boycott may still be on because they are still withholding the weapons, but at least we’ve been heard. I do fear that if we were to press on it might just piss people off and make them less reluctant to listen to SG in the future.
Moose205

This is awesome nice job guys.
Guyver0yk

WELL DONE!!! could this be a sign of you guys entering the big leagues?
What The Geek

alright, yes, it’s great that our collective voice was heard…. but if you can all stop high fiveing yourselves for a moment, I’d like to remind you all that they’re still withholding the guns regardless of what you pay for the disc – you have to participate in a marketing program to get them. So yea, hooray and all – but keep going. Keep making noise til the guns are free…. really free.
MadAdam4

Hallejuah! Praise to Sarcastic Gamer!

Viva La Resistance!
Jeffrey

Cool! finally those cheapskakes at EA got the message, lol.
I can appreciate them for trying something new, but that was just not a good idea!
Goon360

For great Justice!
http://N/A JakubK666

ROOOOOOOOOOOOOCK BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAND!
nick1023456

it is a great for all gamers world wide
great job everyone
Pete

Awesome work, Dableo!
Sarge

I dont trust them, they are already lying to us. I’m on the beta right now looking at the weapons unlock screen. There are two parts…25 weapons in the top half and 10 in the bottom plus 5 accessories.

The bottom 10 plus 5 accessories say “Ranking up will earn you unlock credits”

Of the fist 25, 15 are available.

The next row of 5 all say “Buy this weapon on Xbox Live Marketplace”

The last 5 say “In Gold edition or available for purchase on Xbox Live Marketplace”

They are already lying by stating they had no intention to ever sell them, they are trying to cover it up but not quick enough. Yes, I know ist the beta and they can change it but look, lies already. Go check it out on the beta now, I dont have the goods to get film or pics or I would. I think is too early to call a win for La Resistance yet.
http://www.sarcasticgamer.com Doc

Jakub you’ve been heard. We mentioned this last night. We have some ideas we’re excited to share…. Soon
DarthVicious82

Wow…this makes me really proud to be a part of this community. BTW…I LOVE the shirt idea marshallladd!
Mallavu939

Yeah this is awesome we won!!!
NoneOfYourBusiness

It goes to prove, as big as the gaming companies get, they still bend to the gamers will and wallets. No matter how much smack they talk, we still dictate thier paychecks.

Although, it would be hilarious if it WAS a simple mistake in an interview and they never were going to cost anything….regardless…we were heard.
http://asdf NecrisJ1MM

One Word: WOOT!!
EPIC C0VERT

Hey Lono great comment on Joystiq’s post about this.
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http://masterofdvd.com/wordpress/ MasterofDVD

It’s a damn shame that the comments have been turned off. I had some choice words for this so called gamer. If EA wanted to take the Asia approach and give us a free game and let up pay for content I would certainly be all for that but we all know that it’s a fair bit different than this situation.
I had never read anything from this “journalist” and frankly I’m glad this is the only post I wasted my time reading.
NoneOfYourBusiness

http://www.psu.com/EA-abandons-downloadable-weapons-for-Bad-Company-News–a0003329-p0.php
http://masterofdvd.com/wordpress/ MasterofDVD

I guess I should also state that I am thrilled this boycott worked and it is a shame the post from Leigh Alexander casts a bit of a shadow over this victory. My previous post was about her reaction but I posted it here and forgot to say anything positive about this successful campaign.
RatTail

Hurray! Viva La Resistance!
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Aaron

Wow… you guys should boycott everything not in favour of us gamers…

Job well done !
Wassa

Hell Yea!… and I was the one hundredth proud digger
Robert

Gamespot is also reporting this and giving credit to sarcastic gamer to who started this.
Black-Eye Brick

Hell yes!!! Great job guys!
BAZ

Congrats this article has gone popular on digg!
scott71

Thank god they’ve came to there senses cos i really want this game….congratulations doc and the crew!!!!!!!
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http://none been boycotting ea since u were in diapers

Yeah… ur boycott worked; now go suck EA’s tit some more!

BF games suck. All EA games suck.

You think you are empowered because of this weak ass stunt? EA will find a way to stick it to u 3x as hard, in the end. You whine about some downloadable guns (in a franchise where all the guns feel and sound fake anyway). Where was your boycott when they started putting commercials (i.e. paid product placement/advertising) in every @#*@&ing game?

When it comes to EA, the only way to win is not to play.
mike

SARCASTIC GAMERS FTW!!!
commander121

Dude what the hell? we won. we get to celebrate. so ea still has problems but for now we have a massive win and i am happy and proud to be part of this community.

awesome i am so happy that we managed to achieve this. i am now going to get this game.
http://www.all-acronyms.com Acronyms

Wow. I really didn’t expect this. Great work!
http://www.sarcasticgamer.com Lono

thanks for the support guys and gals!
Rick Hurley

Thank god for that EA made a right move. Well done lads!
Daave3k

From boycott post-
“What do you think the chances are that they end up giving the guns away for joining ea online or something and pretend that that was there plan all along?”

I think ea have been reading your posts, just waiting for the 5 promo guns to be unlocked on ea online, lol

EA games, its in the game (but you still have to pay for it).

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