Battlefield Heroes is a rather radical step for DICE, developers and creators of the Battlefield franchise. Eschewing the traditional retail model and the usual expectations for a realistic shooter like Battlefield 2, the company has taken the game into a whole new format. It is cartoony. It is web-based. It is fun and it is completely free to play, with no hidden costs for weapons and bullets.

It was also the surprise hit at the EA Showcase we went to recently. Though there was a whole load of EA-published games on show, such as Left4Dead, Mercenaries 2 and even a super-secret, yet to be announced title, it was Battlefield Heroes which perhaps had the most interest. It seemed to be that although most people had turned up expecting a too-casual disappointment, they'd actually found a fast-paced and enjoyable game that rolled together all the best parts of the series in an easy to swallow pill.

So, while everyone else was having a go at the game and choosing whether to be in the Royal or National Armies, we snuck away and sat down with Ben Cousins, executive producer for the entire Battlefield franchise. Over a beer or two we pressed him for answers, trying to get our heads around this most startling of moves for the series. Here's what Ben had to say...

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