Bad Company 2 Map Pack Looks to Take on Modern Warfare 2

Modern Warfare 2‘s developer, Infinity Ward, recently promised their billion-dollar market downloadable content on March 30th. Yesterday, DICE countered, fueling the fire between the rival titles, announcing that Bad Company 2‘s DLC will launch on the same day. Is this direct confrontation smart for DICE, especially with the whole “free for VIP members” deal they have going?

As a complimentary unlock to everyone who bought the game new-fangled off the shelves, the “VIP” map pack will permit players to duke it out through two new modes on Arica Harbor and Laguna Presa.

Even though both games are praised for their individual multiplayer game modes, can Bad Company 2‘s DLC take on the superpower that is Modern Warfare 2?

Referred to as “mapathy” by DICE/EA, the foreseen drought of DLC has affected many Modern Warfare 2 players, but hasn’t even touched the Bad Company 2 community with its recent release. Yesterday was the five-month anniversary of Modern Warfare 2‘s launch, and this is their first release of downloadable content, but it won’t be free. Yesterday was the nine-day anniversary of Bad Company 2‘s launch, and this is their second VIP DLC package. Is there fault to be found here, or is DICE just more aware of “mapathy” than Infinity Ward? “We’re dedicated to taking care of this product for a long time – helping you avoid “mapathy” without getting nickel-and-dimed,” explained DICE through their on-line blog. After scouring the Infinity Ward site and various press releases, I couldn’t find the word “mapathy” once.

DICE even comes right out and says that they are going against the industry standard- which is to charge bundles of cash for multiple DLC packs, “..these map packs are available at no extra cost, contradicting the industry standard and what our direct competitors are doing.” They are practically making a reference directly to Infinity Ward and Modern Warfare 2, but will prices for map additions, especially if they are lofty, be enough to sway the first-person shooter audience to Bad Company 2?

Knowing that your game won’t be stale in a few months is a great comfort for gamers, particularly if you’re not paying for the up-to-the-minute experience. Modern Warfare 2 has been sour for months now, and for some it may be too late to influence their audience to purchase DLC, while they could get similar content, on a regular basis, for free through Bad Company 2.

Bad Company 2‘s downloadable release looks to widen the multiplayer combat at two maps, unwrapping the experience on both Arica Harbor and Laguna Presa. Conquest and Rush game modes will be available respectively:

Arica

US Command launches a break through action directly at the Russian base. Collateral damage is of no consequence. Capture and secure tactical positions in Conquest Mode across the vast Arica Harbor map.

Laguna Presa

The valley and surrounding mountains possess a strategic value in the battle for South America, and an infantry assault supported by light armor vehicles is likely by both armies as US forces defend the nearby Dam.

The map pack hits the Xbox, PS3, and PS3 on March 30th, so be sure to check it out.