Michael Jackson honored in Battlefield Heroes, kind of [update: Costumes will be free]
by Griffin McElroy 
{ Jun 30th 2009 at 6:10PM }
In a touching display of respect for the recently deceased King of Pop, Electronic Arts has uploaded a pair of the music legend's iconic outfits to Battlefield Heroes -- one for each of the game's two factions. Members of the Royal Army can now drape themselves in the white suit worn by Michael Jackson in the "Smooth Criminal" music video, while National Army recruits can don the black leather apparel featured in "Bad." This is a really neat way for EA to show -- wait a sec, you have to pay for them?
You're telling us that EA is charging 420 Battlefunds (about $3) for these outfits? Well, surely, they're donating the money to sick kids or something, right? No? They're just ... keeping it? That's sorta messed up, guys.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
The Dark Wayne @ Jun 30th 2009 6:13PM
WHERE'S THE THRILLER JACKET??!?!
Leroy_Octopus @ Jun 30th 2009 6:22PM
That one costs $10.
Drew -- PS360: uphillbothways @ Jun 30th 2009 6:49PM
FTFA:
"UPDATE: Despite appearing for pay on the “Battlefield Heroes” test servers, EA has reached out to inform us that the costumes will be free upon release. Rejoice!"
Sorry to use you to jump to the top Dark Wayne. I just thought people needed to see this before getting all up in arms. Griffin, please update this page.
InFaMoUs1- @ Jun 30th 2009 6:16PM
EA has gone to a new fucking all time low..
offday @ Jun 30th 2009 6:35PM
This is why I choose Quake Live for my free online FPS gaming needs. Not too mention, BFH is a crappy game too.
CTC XBL-supapaypamawio PSN-ctclaw @ Jun 30th 2009 6:16PM
Way to capitalize on MJ's death EA.
CTC XBL-supapaypamawio PSN-ctclaw @ Jun 30th 2009 6:31PM
I'm glad to hear this article was wrong. The only way I'll suport capitalizing on MJ's death is a XBLA Moonwalker release.
VaultICEE @ Jun 30th 2009 6:36PM
Moonwalker on XBLA would be sick.
I hope it would include both the arcade and the Genesis version, though. The arcade version is better than the home release, but its not very long.
Ridgecity @ Jun 30th 2009 6:46PM
they can't use that. Just let the Michael Jackson lawyers know about this and they will sue for the complete Battlefield profits.
I don't think EA asked for permission for this.
Richard 2.5 @ Jun 30th 2009 6:53PM
EA doesn't have to ask permission to put a white suit and leather outfit in its game, which is to say no person can hold rights to some generic outfit they happened to where at some point.
Zerokku @ Jun 30th 2009 6:17PM
And just when I thought EA was starting to redeem themselves.
Stay classy EA.
tmacairjordan87 @ Jun 30th 2009 6:18PM
I went ahead and made my 360 avatar kinda look like him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuFAWkVnBZ8
Steven @ Jun 30th 2009 6:19PM
Weird. I was about to go play BFH but thought I would check Joystiq first.
Leroy_Octopus @ Jun 30th 2009 6:20PM
EA did what? But they're known as such upstanding citizens.
Wardo @ Jun 30th 2009 6:22PM
That is a pretty jerk thing to do.
Also everyone knows the "Beat it" jacket is king!
Saria the Cat @ Jun 30th 2009 6:23PM
Wow. It's one thing to milk a cash cow, an entirely different thing to...milk a dead person. Taking advantage of another person's death for profit is pretty scummy.
Shagittarius @ Jun 30th 2009 6:25PM
You can milk anything with nipples.
The Dark Wayne @ Jun 30th 2009 6:27PM
oh shag, dont ever change
Saria the Cat @ Jun 30th 2009 6:28PM
Color me disturbed.
Shmil @ Jun 30th 2009 6:28PM
Hey Shaggy, I have nipples, can you.... saying this on the internet probably isn't the wisest thing to do.
Saria the Cat @ Jun 30th 2009 6:29PM
But wait, wouldn't that mean I could milk YOU?
Drew -- PS360: uphillbothways @ Jun 30th 2009 6:44PM
Batman hasn't had nipples since last century.
Premature ejaculation man @ Jun 30th 2009 7:16PM
Saria, that'd just be strange.
jkjudgex @ Jul 1st 2009 11:28AM
This would be a much more sensible comment, if Battlefield Heroes actually cost money to play. It would also be more sensible if the Michael Jackson outfits were pay-to-use, but, neither of these things are true.
BFHeroes is free, and the outfits are free. The only possible profit they'd derive from this would be that the new people who happen across BF Heroes as result of the inclusion of these homage skins actually pay for other outfits, which, is more disconnected than even remotely mentioning Michael Jackson, on a blog such as this, where ad revenue is generated.
In other words, you've attacked someone whose intentions were probably at least 20% noble, on a blog that makes these posts so that people will come here and generate ad revenue directly based on the number of times that they spam Michael Jackson's name.
DICE is a really good company, who have provided me with ridiculous numbers of hours of gameplay, and always (even if sometimes very slowly) patched their games (Even old and out of date ones that people still play) to keep them balanced.
I sincerely believe that the skins were included not as a PR move, but as direct result of MJ's powerful international fame, and a legitimate desire to pay him digital homage in the form of the people at DICE's artwork.
It's okay for some 2 bit artist to paint 7 MJ memorials, and for some douche performer to recognize him in his song, and for CNN to spend 2 weeks covering his death while selling coke and car insurance, but game developers can't pay tribute to an artist they will probably legitimately miss because 1 out of the 400 people that will even try the game as result might spend $5 to buy a pair of digital aviator shades and skull emblazoned for their Battlefield character? Come on.
http://www.judgex.com/
Saria the Cat @ Jul 1st 2009 12:22PM
@jkjudgex: We all know that the outfits are free now, but you can't retroactively change your comments, so it is what it is.
Hexen @ Jun 30th 2009 6:23PM
They are not honoring him just capitalizing on his death just like MJ's dad.
Maurice M @ Jun 30th 2009 6:23PM
They already told 1UP that the costumes are free for all.
Shadsy @ Jun 30th 2009 6:24PM
Late on the draw there. Ends up that was misinformation. They're free.
http://www.thatvideogameblog.com/2009/06/30/ea-is-not-charging-for-mj-tribute-outfits/
Steven @ Jun 30th 2009 6:25PM
MeistarStabby and Knifeman? I think you should step away from the knives sir.
Jawmuncher @ Jun 30th 2009 6:26PM
Thus proving EA is redeeming themselves while activision digs them self a deeper hole.
(Since the suits are free)
Jose El Maton @ Jun 30th 2009 6:27PM
I calculated that it'd take 20 realworld dollars to permanently buy the outfit I want for my Hero. And that's not even one item per slot. That's bullshit...
Jose El Maton @ Jun 30th 2009 6:28PM
I agree. Also, Shagittarius's comment is funny as shit...
uncle jesse @ Jun 30th 2009 6:34PM
They are charging for that AND keeping the money?
That's being a not so 'smooth criminal'. That's just 'bad'.
VaultICEE @ Jun 30th 2009 6:37PM
I C WUT U DID THAR
But turns out they're really free! Way to avoid disaster, EA!
Shagittarius @ Jun 30th 2009 6:35PM
All you had to do was ask.
(Shows amazing restraint)
Einhanderkiller @ Jun 30th 2009 6:35PM
I'm pretty sure MTV updated their story before Joystiq posted this, so why is Joystiq reporting the old, false report?
Steven @ Jun 30th 2009 6:36PM
Are these outfits live? I can't see either of them yet in the store.
The Dark Wayne @ Jun 30th 2009 6:41PM
Does anyone always get an error message whenever they try to name their hero in the game? Is it that all the names im choosing are taken?
Poisoned Al @ Jun 30th 2009 8:59PM
Yep. Try something more original or just add loads of numbers.
Sokkratez @ Jun 30th 2009 6:58PM
MTV Multiplayer updated their story (well before Joystiq posted), and EA is not charging.
http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2009/06/30/michael-jackson-honored-in-battlefield-heroes/
Cataclyst @ Jun 30th 2009 8:23PM
The entire time I was reading the post I was wondering, "Is it free? It'll be tacky if it's not..."
ArchiGamer @ Jun 30th 2009 7:03PM
Batman with nipples on his bat suit.. *cringes*
CURSE YOU JOEL SCHUMACHER!!!
ArchiGamer @ Jun 30th 2009 7:06PM
that should be under Saria's thread....when will Joystiq stop treating my comments like diseased hookers that you fool around with for fun and giggles but end up leaving quickly as soon as you get itchy?
Wardo @ Jun 30th 2009 7:15PM
I have to admit, you made me laugh pretty hard when I read that.
Remember, keep believing and one day it will come true!
ChomskyKnows @ Jun 30th 2009 7:24PM
what fresh hell is this???
Noctis @ Jun 30th 2009 7:32PM
Cool, but where is my Billy Mays blue shirt?
p07h3ad @ Jun 30th 2009 7:50PM
And mah Farrah Fawcett Hair! and whatever Ed McMahon had goin on.....oh right we forgot about them both after MJ, hmmmm what about a Billy Mays beard?
jam @ Jun 30th 2009 7:41PM
thanks EA!
Ugkul @ Jun 30th 2009 8:02PM
Well they are fulfilling MJ's wish. The guy on the left is as white as his suit. Now if skin changes were as easy in real life..
BloodShot Robot @ Jul 1st 2009 1:39PM
EA was only half truthful. While they don't cost any real money, they do cost in game Valor points. Not to mention the fact that the longest you can use them is 7 days.
National outfit
100 VP for the jacket
55 VP for the gloves
90 VP for the pants
55 VP for the boots
Royal outfit is about the same minus the gloves and adding a 100 VP hat.