The modern combat brawl started anew today as multiplayer map packs arrived for both Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 and Battlefield Bad Company 2.
Gamers can download the map packs via Xbox Live. Early reports suggested that the Modern Warfare 2 Stimulus Pack wasn’t working correctly for users who bought it early this morning for 1200 Microsoft Points, or $15 on Xbox Live. Activision Blizzard, which publishes Modern Warfare 2 (right), hasn’t yet responded.
Of course, it’s possible that the map packs are working fine and that too many people are working on it. Xbox Live programming director Larry Hyrb said Microsoft engineers are working on the “MW2 Stimulus Pack Problem.” That gives an opening to Battlefield Bad Company 2, the competing title from Electronic Arts.
EA is launching a second VIP downloadable map pack for Bad Company 2 (right) today. (See our review of Battlefield Bad Company 2 here). Those who bought the game new (and not used) can use the VIP code in it to get the map pack for free. The last published numbers show that Modern Warfare 2 has sold more than 15 million copies since November and Bad Company 2 has sold more than 2.3 million since early March.
One thing is for sure. Multiplayer combat fans are going to be busy with these downloadable maps, which extend the gaming experience in new terrain. If you’re trying to launch a brand new game right now, it might not get noticed by the hardcore crowd.