Battlefield Heroes stats: free-to-play, but plenty will pay
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ Aug 13th 2009 at 3:30PM } 
The piece is packed with neat statistics on the game. Did you know that there are 1.5 million players across 133 countries, though 75% of users are from just ten countries (none of which are in Asia), including Brazil and Poland?
Gallery: Battlefield Heroes
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Kyammi @ Aug 13th 2009 3:36PM
That's really hard to believe.
If true it shows how shitty things have gotten, and also suggests why the Avatar marketplace on 360 makes sense...
Neuromancer @ Aug 13th 2009 4:01PM
Why is it so hard to believe? The game is free, if you're enjoying it and have the money, why not buy a few things to personalize it and make it more fun for you?
SuiXide @ Aug 13th 2009 4:38PM
The items for BFH are horribly overpriced. It's like, 5 bucks if you want a shirt that doesn't have a friggin' time limit on it.
Kyammi @ Aug 13th 2009 4:39PM
It's hard to believe that so many people would be so stupid as to believe that buying virtual clothing would make them have more fun.
Neuromancer @ Aug 13th 2009 4:52PM
I guess your threshold for what's hard to believe is pretty low then.
If the game is free, it seems pretty reasonable to me that some people wouldn't mind spending a little bit of money to spruce themselves up.
Dartmerc @ Aug 13th 2009 11:48PM
Kyammi, you're a fucking idiot. How about you be happy that developers have found a new, successful financial model for games, that allows people to try and play for free.
There's nothing stupid about someone being grateful enough, or envisioning themselves spending enough time in the game to warrant buying some new gear and sending a few bucks the developer's way.
The Dark Wayne @ Aug 13th 2009 3:37PM
People love dressing up likes Nazis
Shagittarius @ Aug 13th 2009 4:13PM
Prince Harry agrees!
Neuromancer @ Aug 13th 2009 4:23PM
So does Cartman
Nikos @ Aug 13th 2009 4:23PM
Max Mosley agrees !
Storm Eagle [Resident Capcom Megafan] @ Aug 13th 2009 3:39PM
Fun facts all around. It's like the crew from Kelly's Heroes took all the gold they stole and went shopping...and back to fighting.
The Dark Wayne @ Aug 13th 2009 3:52PM
Great movie, that's exactly what Bad Company reminded me of
Storm Eagle [Resident Capcom Megafan] @ Aug 13th 2009 3:53PM
Ditto.
Donald Sutherland FTW. WOOF!
Neuromancer @ Aug 13th 2009 4:00PM
I need to see that movie, I keep hearing about it.
The Dark Wayne @ Aug 13th 2009 4:07PM
it's almost exactly like battlefield heroes except sarge is clint eastwood, haggard is donald sutherland and Sweetwater is Don Rickles and it's WW2
Neuromancer @ Aug 13th 2009 4:10PM
Done
On my Netflix queue
You had me at Haggard
tmacairjordan87 @ Aug 13th 2009 3:45PM
Wow with this and the avatar marketplace, people continue to surprise me with their stupidity. I mean, I have my expectations already impossibly low, but stupid people find a way to lower it further.
sipperlipper @ Aug 13th 2009 3:50PM
You're forgetting Home -- where you can buy virtual clothes, tv's, furniture, etc.
It's all equally stupid.
Storm Eagle [Resident Capcom Megafan] @ Aug 13th 2009 3:51PM
I look at it this way tmac, when a game is free-to-play, I am eternally grateful for the concept and the opportunity. But the people that make these games don't work off of praise and pats on the back. So I don't feel the least bit guilty if I throw them a couple bucks here and there so they can continue to provide me entertaining games.
tmacairjordan87 @ Aug 13th 2009 3:56PM
Well I was only referring to recent events, but yes Home is included too. They don't have TVs yet, but at least that will be an item of some actual value since it will let you and your friends watch whatever's on your HD.
But paying for virtual clothes? Ridiculous.
Neuromancer @ Aug 13th 2009 3:58PM
Hey whatever makes people happy. If you don't want to do it, you don't have to. That doesn't make them stupid.
tmacairjordan87 @ Aug 13th 2009 4:07PM
You're right. Buying virtual clothes that have no purpose or value is a great idea. In fact, it's the best thing one can do with their money.
No wonder why we have no money in this country when people are so careless with it.
Neuromancer @ Aug 13th 2009 4:10PM
Some people would argue it makes the game more fun, for them personally. Isn't that why people play games?
tmacairjordan87 @ Aug 13th 2009 4:14PM
People need to spend money on useless items to have fun? Doesn't say very much about the actual game then.
The Dark Wayne @ Aug 13th 2009 4:15PM
Recessions happen when people dont spend money tmac, if anything this is helpful
SpaceFox @ Aug 13th 2009 4:16PM
@ tmac
Yeah, this country. Except this game has been played in 132 more countries. But of course those don't matter right?
The game is free though, and I don't think it'd kill anyone to spend about 5 bucks on it if it'll improve their experience. People buy useless DLC all the time. Look at the LBP costumes, they're great to have but with enough time and a good tutorial you can easily make your own.
Vidikron @ Aug 13th 2009 4:30PM
This really doesn't seem bad to me. The game is free to play. But rather than paying a lump sum up front you have the option to buy content in the game later. Maybe some people just want to give something back because they are enjoying the game or maybe some decided to spend a few bucks on some items because even after they bought the stuff the amount they were out was less than the cost of most new games.
JangoGod @ Aug 14th 2009 1:30PM
I spent so many hours playing this game that I went ahead and spent $20 on it. Mainly for double XP, but also pimped my guy out. I figured if I played the game so much, why not support these guys and look cool doing it?
MinimumWageNinja @ Aug 13th 2009 3:48PM
I'm a die-hard Battlefield fan, but BF Heroes sucks. I would never buy battlefunds.
David @ Aug 13th 2009 4:11PM
Indeed
That Ninja @ Aug 13th 2009 3:50PM
I just cant see why people would buy anything from that.
Almost all of the stuff only lasts 30 days, on top of that the game is an unbalanced pile of crap.
Rumors48 @ Aug 13th 2009 3:58PM
really only 30 days the clothes last wow and i thought subscrition games were dum
deadpool @ Aug 13th 2009 5:08PM
wtf? so you are renting something that doesn't exist for 30 days?
JangoGod @ Aug 14th 2009 1:34PM
I'm happy to say thats when it launch, but you can buy stuff permanently now. They are also not the first to try to make you "rent" clothes. I played some random Korean MMO that did the same thing.
Brian Turner @ Aug 13th 2009 3:58PM
Come on guys, the game is alot of fun, especially for free. I have one hero at lvl 10 and havent spent a dime. I think its all pretty cool.
Neuromancer @ Aug 13th 2009 3:59PM
I like this style of game, free to play but if you want to pay for silly stuff you can. I would like to see this implemented in an XBLA or PSN game in fact.
Neuromancer @ Aug 13th 2009 4:09PM
Actually now that I think about it there will be (that car game on Xbox Live).
Neuromancer @ Aug 13th 2009 9:00PM
Someone explain the downvote please. I just don't understand Joystiq readers sometimes.
markhill66 @ Aug 13th 2009 4:01PM
I didn't even know that there were 133 countries.
CtrlBurn @ Aug 13th 2009 4:08PM
Maybe Joystiq isn't the website you should be spending time on...
Neuromancer @ Aug 13th 2009 4:08PM
Depending on who you ask there are 195.
http://geography.about.com/cs/countries/a/numbercountries.htm
markhill66 @ Aug 13th 2009 4:14PM
The CIA Factbook says there are 265 nations, dependent areas, and other entities. That's very interesting.
Tukachinchilla @ Aug 13th 2009 4:06PM
1.5 million users * $20.00/player average = Successful game
WiNG [XBL&Steam: WiNGSPANTT] from lifeinagame.com @ Aug 13th 2009 4:09PM
I'm sorry but anyone ragging on players who spend $10-20 to support the devs of a game they got for free is ridiculous. These are optional items. Most have minimal or zero impact on gameplay. It's the Korean model, and it allows millions to play the game for free.
Neuromancer @ Aug 13th 2009 4:25PM
You don't understand:
I'm a person on the internet. I think it's stupid. Therefore, anyone who does it is stupid. QED.
SpaceFox @ Aug 13th 2009 4:10PM
It's official, Battlefield = success. First 1943 broke records for XBL/PSN titles selling the most in the first week, and now BF Heroes has already brought in $30 million!?
Can't wait for BC2. Hopefully its more successful than the first.
Neuromancer @ Aug 13th 2009 4:25PM
I think BFBC was pretty successful. Can't wait for the next one either.
SpaceFox @ Aug 13th 2009 4:47PM
True, but BFBC's sold about 1.8 million total. In one week, 1943 sold about 1/3 of that. That's pretty crazy, BFBC's been out for over a year.
I'm just going by VG Chartz btw, idk how trustworthy their sales stats are.
relaxeder @ Aug 13th 2009 4:13PM
I'll stick with Team Fortress 2, thanks.
Dash @ Aug 13th 2009 4:13PM
Glad to see Brazil in the top 10. People usually forget such markets as South America, but we do represent a major part of the gaming community.
As for the game, I played and enjoy it. Hopefully these sales will be an incentive for some free map packs in the future.