* Release in late 2008
* Powered by "Frostbite DX"
* Set in year modern day (just like BF2, ed.)
* Will ship with 8 maps, each supporting up to 40-players per team
* Two playable factions, NATO and MEC (Middle Eastern Coalition)
* Same "ticket-based" gameplay style as before
* Maps are mostly urban, based in Middle East
* Squads and Commanders are present, introduced are "Battalions" which consist of three to four squads.
* Five playable classes; Sniper, Assault, Engineer, Medic and Support
* Will feature 48 different vehicles (24 for each faction)
* Will feature 34 different weapons (17 for each faction) and another 22 unlocks (for both factions), in total 56 different weapons.
* Other unlocks include different types of ammunition, body armor, helmets, camouflage and accessories.
* Possible public beta in "Summer 2008″
* Online stats tracking, awards and "real world ranks"
* "Soldier" feature, looks like MMO-styled characters and avatars
* Ranked servers will be available for resellers weeks before the game ships (for testing, apparently, ed.)
* In-game replay and recording feature
* VoIP, friends list, in-game IM-client and "extensive clan support"
* Built-in auto software updater (no more patches!, ed.)
* Widows Vista and OS X (no XP?!, ed.)
* Announcement and teaser trailer in January 2008.

BATTLEFIELD HEROES LEADS THE WAY FOR EA'S NEW 'PLAY 4 FREE' BUSINESS MODEL
Unique Cartoon Shooter Introduces a New Way to Play Battlefield

Chertsey, UK January 21, 2008 - At the Digital, Life, Design Conference (DLD) in Munich, Electronic Arts Inc., (NASDAQ: ERTS) today unveiled Battlefield Heroes(tm), an all-new Play 4 Free cartoon-style shooter that will bring classic Battlefield gameplay to an all new mass audience. Available for download at www.battlefield-heroes.com this summer, Battlefield Heroes is EA's first title that is offered completely for free, and features a built-in matchmaking system to ensure that players of equal skill are paired together for fair play. Developed by DICE in Stockholm, Battlefield Heroes is leading EA's new web-focused free to download, free to play business model which generates revenue through advertising and micro-transactions. With zero barriers to entry, now anyone can be a hero on the battlefield!

"Online gaming garners a massive audience," said Gerhard Florin, EVP Publishing Americas-Europe at EA. "People want to play games in new ways, with easier access that is quick to the fun. With Battlefield Heroes, EA brings its first major franchise to North America and Europe with a new distribution model and pricing structure adapted to the evolving way that people play."

Battlefield Heroes is a brand new game from the team behind Battlefield 1942(tm) and Battlefield 2(tm). It's fun cartoon-style graphics and gameplay caters to players of all skill levels. It is easy to pick up and play but with robust character customization and a deep online meta-game, gamers can spend hours building up their characters and conquering the world.

"We put a different twist on this Battlefield game going with the cartoon-style graphics and gameplay," added Ben Cousins, Senior Producer at EA DICE. "There's something here for all types of players -- be it our core Battlefield fans or casual gamers. With the new online model, we will continually add new content to keep the game fresh and keep players engaged, while integrating player feedback in real time. As a game developer, it is such a cool new way to make games."

Battlefield Heroes will be released for the PC as a free download in summer 2008.

tf2 competitor?

free game..  for bf2 & bf1942 only.. but not for bf2142 

even the gun is a thompson...

One quick 'rumor squashing' comment: A few news sites seem to be reporting that Battlefield Heroes(tm) will not be available in Australia. This is most certainly not the case. Battlefield Heroes(tm) is available as a free download from the web, and as such would probably be available even if you connect to the internet via a satellite dish from a small unheated hut on the steppes of Uzbekistan.

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

Modified Conquest Mode:
. At the start of each round each team has 2 flags and 100 tickets
. Killing enemies reduce tickets, but if you hold more flags then your enemy you receive a multiplier giving you more tickets
. You can win even by killing less enemies and owning more flags
. Killing enemies is less important than capturing and holding flags

Vehicles:
. Observed vehicles: Spitfire, M4 Sherman, PzKfzIV
. The character size relative to the vehicle differs quite a bit. Comparable to "an adult on a bobby car"
. Planes have no bombs, used mainly for dogfights

Abilities:
. "I Eat Grenades" Ability - Throw back 7 grenades at once
. Life-Points Boost
. Inflammable Ammo

Match Making:
. Play with level equal players, but not 1:1 Ex: Level 2s could play on a level 1 server. Rule seems to be "level X ±"

that smg is famous in WW2 lol...

Tommy gun.... 

but i prefer...

MG40 and MG44 ...... COD2 

General Information:
. Community management team a lot larger than any other Battlefield game
. Game has "telemetry technology" that gives feedback on items people buy and how characters are setup
. 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.
. Assorted taunts and emotes
. Any abilities you have show at the bottom of the HUD
. No command rose like BF2
. Holding Q opens 6 panels each allows you to select a jeer, wisecrack, or suggestive body language. These can be bought with points just like abilities
. 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)
. "Intelligent Spawn System" spawns players close to the action
. Both lone wolf and competitive clan play encouraged
. Cannot switch kits mid match
. Choose abilities before you start a game
. Idea to do a cartoon Battlefield dates back to Battlefield 1942, Lars Gustavsson envisioned something like BFH

Point System:
. Called "metagame" Just a temporary name not official
. You character picks what faction to play for and you fight for territorial position, all your points you gain go into your faction / army's pool. At the end of the week amount of area conquered by each faction is added up and each is awarded "money" depending on the percentage of conquered land

Customizable Features: (in-game money will get you this)
. Heads, faces, necks, chests, hands, waists, legs, feet

Items:
. Eye patches, badges, hats, boots, helmets, goggles, belts, gloves

Classes:
Soldier
. Best at determining an enemy's location
. Has a See-the-Enemy power - outlines nearby opponents even through walls. Lasts 10 seconds, 30 seconds to recharge

Soldier Abilities:
. Incendiary rounds
. Health boost - Heals all allies around you
. Recharge over time

Commando
. Specializes in stealth, stab kills, sniping
. Few hit points
. Fast moving
. Slips in and out of cover
. Partial cloak
. Weapons do high damage, but not a lot of ammo

Gunner
. Well armed and armored
. Slow moving
. Uses rapid-fire machine guns, rocket launchers, possibly flamethrowers in the future
. Can throw grenades back

General Abilities Information:
. Other abilities can combat each other
. Bomb Bouquet (non official name) - throw 15 grenades at a time, basically handheld artillery strike
. Possibility of 15 abilities at launch and 50 in the first year

Look what i've found

Passing by, trailer here.

Well, after watching the trailer, EA can shove their ads up my arse and i'll take it like a good little boy.

Any confirmed information regarding regional availability ?

i think can.... but when this damn game gonna be out at malaysia !!!