EA Adds Michael Jackson Costumes to Battlefield Heroes

Electronic Arts is commemorating the untimely passing of Michael Jackson by offering two M.J.-themed costumes in its online multiplayer FPS Battlefield Heroes.

Beginning in July, players in the Royal Army will have access to a white "Smooth Suit" styled after the one seen in the Jackson video Smooth Criminal, while those in the National Army will be able to run around in the leather-and-buckles "Thuggin' Outfit" similar to the one worn in the video for Bad. Jackson, of course, died suddenly on June 25 at the age of 50; the cause of his death has not yet been determined.

There was some confusion and controversy over EA's apparent cash-in on the singer's death, as it initially appeared that the publisher was planning to charge for the costumes. But EA has since clarified that both costumes will be available to all players at no charge.

Running around a pseudo-Second World War battlefield dressed up like Michael Jackson may seem a bit strange but the game is hardly what you'd call a historically accurate simulation. Other optional costumes available in the game, for which you will pay money, include cowboy hats, pinstripe suits, a pirate outfit, kilts and more. Hard to argue that Jackson's appearance isn't just a little bit odd, though. And wouldn't it have made more sense to give players the same duds he wore in Moonwalker?

Source: 1UP

Permalink

That is horrible and I am endlessly amused by it.

Sure why don't we just make a statue of him out of plastic while we're at it!!!!! This whole MJ's death thing is having me bash my head on my bedroom wall. Now I'm going to Yahzees house to bash my hands on his brick wall, go to the hospital, and bash my hands on it again........ Then use his medical insurance!!!

Malygris:
And wouldn't it have made more sense to give players the same duds he wore in Moonwalker?

I'm pretty sure that the white suit is what he wore for a significant chunk of the movie and every version of the game I've ever seen.

Now, if they let you transform into some bizarre kind of mecha/spacecraft, THAT would be awesome.

They should've made one for the Earth Song outfit, and then there could be a mod where Jarvis Cocker runs across the screen and moons you mid battle.

Why don't they just throw in a Billy Mays Beard while they're at it?

Seriously, why is there so much about MJ's death? Why can't people just get over it already?

EA also announced that they will add a new weapon to the game: "The Oxi-Clean Gun".

Completely unnecessary. Celebrity deaths deserve no more attention or media coverage than the deaths of everyone else. Things like this make me sick.

To be honest...I actually like the skins. They just look fun and cool, but not because they remind us of MJ.

Thankfully though, EA won't be charging for them. Now THAT would be unnecessary and horrible, especially considering the circumstances.

Ultimate dishonor!!! EA deserves a thousand lawsuits from Mickey's family!

Why? Because the Battlefield series got flushed down the toilet long ago and this is only a half-assed attempt at feeling sorry for a genuine musical legend. I wonder how many's gonna start imitating MJ over the microphones when they get hit while wearing those costumes.

By Light it makes me wanna vomit!

[/rant]

Does the white suit give you the power to pull a machinegun from thin air? Or transform into a car, spaceship, and giant robot?

They are doing this because he had a special place in young boys that no one else could have.

As long as there isnt a 'little boy' skin I see no harm in this.

These are obviously just tie-ins to boost the games popularity. Personally, I would have made a zombie outfit, and the Thriller outfit.

I find it a weird way of honouring a dead singer(with an odd nose) by adding a skin in a game where you got to shoot people.

I believe the appropriate word for this is "embarrassing."

This is cool, but completely unecessary and obviously a ploy to gain massive interest in the game.

That having been said, EA is just giving people what they probably want. It's a brilliant buisness idea that many will imitate.

Vultures...

So now people who play the game will have to put up with fighting and killing a legion of Michael Jacksons. GG EA. Most unnecessary thing I've ever seen a company put work into.

Not sure if its just bad taste or if this was already in the pipeline, but they look nice, so not all is lost

I'd say it's too soon but to be honest people have been making cracks since the moment news broke of his hospitalization.

Ehhh....um....yeah. While I respect the fact that EA wants to honor MJ's death and all...I really just wouldn't feel comfortable playing a game with the MJ skin. I'd feel it was dishonoring his memory. Yeah. That must be it.

I was going to say it's a little too soon, but those things look badass!

CatinHat:
They are doing this because he had a special place in young boys that no one else could have.

Ahh, Uncalled for and cheap. But brilliant all the same.

Arrers:
I was going to say it's a little too soon, but those things look badass!

Ah the rule of cool, no matter how many morals/laws of science are broken it doesn't matter as long as it's awesome. I think its's pretty cool as well, the real question is will we seen an increase in backwards strafing and will I be able to do the smooth criminal lean in said Skin

messy:
I think its's pretty cool as well, the real question is will we seen an increase in backwards strafing and will I be able to do the smooth criminal lean in said Skin

I'd buy it just to see that! That is awesome in itself.

calelogan:
To be honest...I actually like the skins. They just look fun and cool, but not because they remind us of MJ.

Thankfully though, EA won't be charging for them. Now THAT would be unnecessary and horrible, especially considering the circumstances.

I agree with you, they're very interesting costumes.

.....WOW

I really don't feel comfortable going around shooting one of my childhood heroes in the head.

How stupid can EA get!?

Don't answer that.

The_Oracle:
Ehhh....um....yeah. While I respect the fact that EA wants to honor MJ's death and all...I really just wouldn't feel comfortable playing a game with the MJ skin. I'd feel it was dishonoring his memory. Yeah. That must be it.

These skins are only clothes that are worn by your little troops in BF:Heroes, that's about it.

Just glad that EA didn't try to squeeze money off this, that would have been really inhumane.

I hope I get a skin in Battlefield Heroes when I die.

Truthfully, I'd think that if someone was going to bother to do this they should at least pick a game where it fit in better. Like say Saint's Row 2 or something.

>>>----Therumancer--->

why not the beat it or thriller constumes

To honor Michael Jackson they will make costumes in game based on his look in music videos. Oh yeah, this game includes shooting people, so you'll basically be shooting MJ.

Talk about failing at honoring someone.

Malygris:
*snip

This makes me want to watch Smooth Criminal again.

Dammit, Maly! I was off the stuff too!