I never had the issue with Bad Co 1 (xbox360) but I don't play it anymore. This problem has occured for me since a couple years after Bad Co 2 was released. The theory is that the servers are full but EA doesn't seem interested in answering. Basically as games get older and less popular (or non profitable) EA limits the amount of resources (servers).
Also note that it isn't your fault and here is nothing you can do but wait and try at a later time. Lately it's "FAILED TO CONNECT TO EA ONLINE" more often than not. I've tried all the gimicks. Plugging directly into my modem, using wifi, clearing the system cache, adjusting my date/time, different disk, different account, different console. When it's down it's down.
Now rush out and buy the latest Battlefield or other EA title for $60, I'm sure it's up and running with full support.
