WorthPlaying writes: "EA's investors conference call revealed that its free-to-play online FPS Battlefield Heroes is getting delayed until late 2008 in order to give the devs more time to implement community features, while Tiberium, its FPS set in the C&C universe, fis being pushed rom its scheduled late 2008 date until fiscal 2009, which runs anywhere from April 1, 2009 to March 31, 2010. However sports fans will be delighted to know that next year Madden, NBA Live and NCAA Football are coming back to the PC with expanded online features."
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Shacknews writes: "EA DICE's upcoming free-to-play PC shooter Battlefield Heroes has been delayed and is now expected to arrive late this year, publisher Electronic Arts announced today.

The ad-supported, web-based shooter was previously expected to launch this summer. During a conference call today, EA CEO John Riccitiello revealed that the game is now "launching at the end of the calendar year."

"We decided to increase its focus on some of the social networking features," Riccitiello noted, stressing that the studio hopes to incorporate beta tester feedback and implement new features. "The last thing we want to do is jab it in the marketplace."

Riccitiello seemed optimistic about the title's development despite the delay, adding that Battlefield Heroes "still feels like it's progressing much like we anticipated."
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The Battlefield Podcast will reach its 100th episode this Saturday, June 28th, 2008. To celebrate this event, the show will be streamed online at www.tuxmedia.tv/live beginning at 2pm PST and lasting for several hours.

The afternoon and evening will be spent "shooting the breeze" with fans of the Battlefield Podcast as well as guest from the Battlefield community. The mics and webcams will be open for most of the duration of the live show, allowing visitors to chat with the Battlefield Podcast hosts and have their audio/video be streamed live online. The best live moments will be saved and edited into the 100th episode. To contact the live show, add the Skype username "tuxmedialive" or the Stickam username "bfpodcast". Join the chat at www.tuxmedia.tv/live after 2pm PST to watch and chat with other viewers.

Throughout the event we are expecting several prominent guests from the Battlefield community, such as the hosts of the Inside Battlefield Show from NetGameRadio.com, and more. A giveaway contest is also scheduled during the evening that will result in the giveaway of several copies of Battlefield Bad Company. In order to receive a copy you'll have to watch the live show and look for instructions.

The final release of episode 100 is scheduled for early next week.

Visit us at www.tuxmedia.tv or www.battlefieldpodcast.com. For more details on the event, visit this frequently updated forum thread: http://www.tuxmedia.tv/forums/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=524

TuxMedia was formed by the original creator of the Battlefield Podcast and specializes in producing audio and video podcasts focused on any variety of subjects. With over a year and a half of experience in all aspects of Podcasting, the TuxMedia executive team is targeting the new media industry and a very focused audience of attentive viewers.
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GamesIndustry.Biz writes: "Ben Cousins, executive producer for EA's DICE studio, has detailed how the the forthcoming free-to-play game Battlefield Heroes is targeting an audience currently snubbed by traditional gaming.

The game ¿ EA's first major entry into a market that is popular in Asia but still finding its feet in the West ¿ hopes to capture the imagination of those who can't afford the latest homes consoles, are intimidated by the idea of playing with experienced gamers, or who can only dedicate a small amount of time to playing videogames.

"So who is Battlefield Heroes for? The marketing guys love to come up with snappy titles for market segments. The market segment they came up with for us was 'frustrated restricteds' ¿ people who really want to play full games, and aspire to be gamers," Cousins told the attendees of GDC Paris during his keynote speech."
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Next-Gen.Biz writes: "Electronic Arts is taking Battlefield from core to casual ¿ and changing the franchise to appeal to the "Frustrated Restricted" market.

During a Tuesday keynote at the Paris GDC focusing on the future of core and casual, EA DICE Battlefield executive producer Ben Cousins said that the future of gaming is going to be about broader experiences with widespread appeal.

Discussing the studio's free-to-play "cartoon shooter" Battlefield Heroes, the former Lionhead and Sony employee said, "I think many people are underestimating, or are ignorant of these products."
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Griffin: "If you're one of the many applicants for the Battlefield Heroes beta, you've probably been informed of this via a somber mass email, but QA Boss, the organization in charge of registration for said beta test, has experienced a security breach which "exposes QA Boss forum user names, email addresses and encrypted passwords." The cause and extent of the breach, and who, if anyone, did the breaching, we've yet to learn -- nor do we know if it will affect the progress of the beta test.

QA Boss advises everyone who uses a single password for all their important logins, and used said password in the Battlefield Heroes beta signup, should probably change that password as a precautionary measure. Too bad, as our previous cipher was nigh uncrackable -- "drowssaP". It's "password" backwards! Brilliant, right?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]"
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Speaking to videogaming247, free-to-play PC shooter Battlefield Heroes executive producer Ben Cousins has said that the game may be run even if it doesn't make profit, primarily as it succeeds in bringing new players into the world of Battlefield in general.

More through the link.
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Battlefield: Heroes developer DICE has started the sign-up process for its upcoming Team Fortress inspired shooter, Battlefield: Heroes.To register, simply pop over to the sign-up page and put some personal information and some beta testing background in a form.Word of advice though, you'll need a good reason why you're a great beta tester, as there's a question asking exactly why you want to play this game. We gave ... » Read More

Planet Battlefield writes: "During the EA Spring Break event in San Francisco, press were allowed to capture their own Battlefield Heroes footage. The below screenshots were all sceen capped from IGN and GameTrailers video.

New Information from Previews: (List of previews)
# "A little icon that looked like two hands slapping creates a pushback effect that will push any nearby enemy soldiers or vehicles away from you" - IGN
# Health kit icon is an ability that restores about 20-30 HP
# Grenade icon throws a bundle of grenades. Although a cool down timer prevents spam.
# Bandage icon - heals you and teammates around you slowly
# Gunner class has a group shield ability
# Dynamite icon - sticky mine good for anti-vehicle tactics
# Wrench icon - repairs vehicles
# 10 slots for weapons and abilities
# 4 capture points on a map called Seaside Skirmish
# Tank hits are not instant kills
# Gunner has sprint ability
# Direct hit from tank knocks off about 60 HP with each class having around 100 HP
# They "would love to" port it to the Mac, but they are waiting to see how the Windows release does
# Red arrows indicate the closest capture point
# No mini map, but main overview map by pressing M"
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Broken Eggs Media writes: "Attention Egg Lovers!

The highly Anticipated Free Game from Electronic Arts and DICE - Battlefield Heroes is just right around the corner! Would you like to start kicking the tires on Battlefield Heroes right now. Well you can! We have an Exclusive to our Broken Eggs Media Audience.

Your Personal Invitation to test the Beta of Battlefield Heroes is here! Click on the link below to apply:

Official Battlefield Heroes Beta Invitation!

If you want to learn more about this amazing new game from Electronic Arts and DICE, please visit the Official Battlefield Heroes Website

Official Battlefield Heroes Website!

Enjoy and I'll See You Heroes on the Battlefield!"
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Planet Battlefield writes: "EA held a London press event on Friday and released some brand new media as well as some new information on Battlefield Heroes. We wanted to post an HD version of this yesterday, but we can't wait any longer as EA must be too busy eating fish and chips out in London. Expect a 720p version with screencaps soon.

New Info:
# Invite only beta starts May 6th
# Client download has been optimized to 250 MB
# Up to 4 characters on one account"
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Videogamer reports that A Xbox 360 version of upcoming free PC shooter Battlefield Heroes is unlikely because of Microsoft's control over Xbox 360 LIVE, according to developer DICE.

Speaking to VideoGamer.com at an EA Games label event in London today, Ben Cousins, executive producer at DICE Studios, said that he didn't believe there would be any point in porting it to the PS3 or Xbox 360 because "Everyone's who's got a 360 or PS3 also will have a PC that can run this game".

Battlefield Heroes, set for a closed, invitation-only beta on May 6, will be a completely free, 250MB download. The game will make money through the sale of customisation options, like new clothes, and through advertising on its website.
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DICE Studios, the developer behind upcoming free cartoony shooter Battlefield: Heroes, has defended its art style against accusations that it is a rip-off of Valve's game Team Fortress 2.

Speaking to VideoGamer.com in an interview at an EA Games label event in London, Ben Cousins, executive producer at DICE, responded directly to those who have claimed the game looks too similar to Valve's team multiplayer first-person shooter TF2, saying: "Those guys aren't artists."

He said: "If you asked our art director he would point out probably 200 differences in the art style between our game and Team Fortress. There are only two cartoony shooters out there and those are the two. If there were 50 cartoony shooters out there we wouldn't be having this discussion. No one says that Battlefield: Bad Company's ripping off Call of Duty because it's realistic."
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VG247: EA showed off free-to-play shooter Battlefield Heroes today at its spring showcase in London, revealing a ton of stuff about character customisation, close beta dates, micro-transactions and more.

There's streaming audio and new screens on the site.
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Battlefield Heroes Lead Designer, James Salt writes: "Hello Heroes! James Salt here, Lead Designer on Battlefield Heroes. Those of you who regularly read the blog may remember Ben Cousins, the Senior Producer for Heroes, promised this blog would be about 'the importance of playtests and the design and development of the ability system'.

Unfortunately I have to start this blog by calling Mr Cousins a liar. It's not going to be about that. It's about our Character Customisation system.

So, why did we go and make a Character Customisation system? Well, as I was saying back in the blog 'Character Classes, Cameras and Computers'; we wanted you to own your own Hero. What better way to do that, than to make the game so you can decide exactly how your Hero looks?

Your decisions about how your Hero will appear start with the Create a Hero section on the website. You select a faction, a class, set some default characteristics (like skin tone, hair colour, hair style and facial hair) and finally, name your Hero. Once that's complete you can start the game and get into deciding on your Hero's weapons, abilities and clothing."
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VG247's reporting that Battlefield Heroes won't have any in-game ads, and will be funded instead from ads on the official site the game launches from.

From the piece:

"Cousins explained that the game would depend entirely on the website adverts that players saw when launching the game, and during loading. "We won't be putting billboards in the game," he said, as the team wanted to preserve the clean, cartoonish world they've created. The crowd murmured as the game loaded and we were stuck looking at an advert for Crysis. "We've been known for our long loading times," Cousins jested. "Don't worry, we're going to optimise.""
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The much anticipated Games for Windows Magazine featuring Battlefield Heroes made its way to Planet Battlefield today. It is packed with tons of new information:

- Entire game is 3rd person so you can see the customizations your player has. Also allows you to see your player blown into the air. If 1st person is really wanted it can be changed over time.
- Players have a lot more health.
- Weapons less lethal.
- Spawn time shorter (5 seconds).
- Firefights last longer giving time to use unlockable abilities.
- Vehicles spawn when you arrive at the point (no waiting).
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New details have emerged about Electronic Arts' upcoming PC title Battlefield Heroes, which is being developed by DICE.

Some of the details are:
* Battlefield Heroes is based on BF2142 Engine
* Low system requirements
* Will have more RPG elements (compared to Battlefield 2142)
* Crazy unrealistic feel similar to BF1942
* Quicker learning curve
* Remain true to core BF elements
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Despite a continuing lack of official in-game views of Battlefield Heroes from EA, details on the series spin off continue to seep out. The new information wave reveals that the free-to-download, free-to-play game (set in WWII) will initially launch with two teams (National Army and Royal Army) and two to three maps. EA plans to boost the level count after release. Weve been told that players will select a character that levels up during the action, but it's now emerged that they'll gain ... » Read More

In the latest issue of PC Games Magazine (one of the biggest magazines in Germany) they reveal some more new details about Battlefield Heroes.

General Information:
- 2 Armies: National Army vs. Royal Army, All stereotypes used for comic look.
- At release, 2-3 maps with more rolled out in updates.
- Pick one character and you level him up through the game.
- Maps do not have insertion points, and the game chooses where to put you on the battlefield, although maps are a lot smaller than regular Battlefield maps.
- Known Weapons: Sticky Bombs, Rocket Launcher.
- Taunts and death-freeze-cam included.

(See the Story Images tab or the first Alternative Source below for the scans.)
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