GOW rumblings: no demo?
by Richard Mitchell 
{ Aug 4th 2006 at 10:30AM }
Following yesterday's BIG announcement that Gears of War will hit the US on November 12th and in the UK on the 17th of November, comes the news that there will not be a demo released before the game ships, or possibly ever. Speaking with TeamXbox, Epic VP, Mark Rein, had this to say:
"Demos take a long time to create and polish and we can't afford to get derailed like that if we want to have the game in stores by Thanksgiving. Given a choice of the game this year or a demo this year and the game next year I'm sure every one of you would rather have the game this year because you're already planning to buy it. No idea if we'll do a demo or not after the game ships."
Maybe that was the real BIG announcement. Seriously though, we all want a taste of GOW, but is there anyone out there waiting for a demo to make up their minds? If so, tell us why.
[Via Fraggerock]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
C0ldf1r3s @ Aug 4th 2006 10:49AM
Well, even though this game look great and all still I've been reading various thoughts from blogs and fanboys that this could turn out to be just another pretty shooter. As before Chromehounds was released I was excited until I tried the demo. I found the game tedious and strenous, definately not for everyone. But I'm not saying GOW is going to be less than we've already seen, E3 vidz and more. It's just that a demo gives us the feel for the game. That's all. Another example is Saints Row, I thought it was just another GTA-clone and wasn't going to get it. After the demo just released on marketplace I became very interested in this game. So in my opinion, demos can both benefit the developer and the opposite. Any1 aggreeing with me? (forgive if any spelling errors) Regards, C0ldf1r3s an Icelandic X360 Fanboy.
mike @ Aug 4th 2006 11:09AM
'blogs and fanboys' thats you problem neither of those groups have played the game
EVERYONE who played the multiplayer at E3 loved it full stop
sure people can hope it sucks but thasts all it is, people hoping usually because of jealousy of it not being on ps3
ECUnlimited @ Aug 4th 2006 11:18AM
As much as I want to want the game, I have not found much that have made me want it. I mean sure, EVERYONE I know is getting it, but I just am not sure if I want to buy it. I already am buying a Wii, 3 Wii games, 3 360 games and a few DS games this fall.
I'm not going to buy Gears of War until I get to try it out myself. I mean, that's another 70 dollars to add to my fall expenses.
joe @ Aug 4th 2006 11:52AM
yea another smokescreen, its Epic PR in damagecontrol trying to dose the flames.
at E3 there was a demo(and a cheesy show going into it being made)
i believe at GDC there was a demo.
at Xbox lanuch in the desert there was a demo.
for them to say Hey you either get a demo, or a full game is BS. they (or MS) is blocking it becasue of the value of the game will be decreased if a demo is out in the wild.
its all corporate stragey, if MS drops GoW demo, then the "hype" will be diminished, and some PS3'er that are on the fence will be or not be swayed. They rather you buy the game and the console and find out.
its the price we as end users have to pay.
but until sony's Ops3 gets out MS will continue with tactics like this, can you blame them there the only game in town.
joe @ Aug 4th 2006 11:55AM
also i agree with #1, games with tons of marketing hyper = no demo (see GRAW,DOA,COD2)
games with little or no marketing hyper = demo
(tabletennis,sanits row,condemed,prey)
after all the hype if it sucks its a gurantee no sell.
where as games like saints row get to show off what seperates them from their compeditors.
Richard Mitchell @ Aug 4th 2006 11:59AM
"'blogs and fanboys' thats you problem neither of those groups have played the game"
For the record, we played it and liked it very much.
http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/03/the-xbox-360-summer-showcase/
Todd H. @ Aug 4th 2006 12:04PM
I think some games benfit from releasing a demo on XBL, such as Saints Row. I had no real feel for this game before hand and since playing the demo I can say I'll be picking this up on release day (Can't wait for the online play).
As for GoW, this title is so hyped it doesn't really need to release a demo to sell like hot cakes, the only thing it could really do is hurt itself by releasing a demo. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to play a demo but I'll be buying it no matter what and the consesus is with me on this.
Todd
http://www.proxbox360.com
DA360 @ Aug 4th 2006 12:13PM
Well, I am sure there will be a demo after the game comes out, or awhile after it came out (like with the demo of Halo 1 on OXM).
But if this game is as good as their saying, then it probily won't need a demo because so many people will be buying the game instead...
w0rddriven @ Aug 4th 2006 12:50PM
The demo is what you use to make sure most everything is polished. If you can't get the small stuff right, how in the hell do you hope to get the full thing in working condition?
I agree it's a stunt but I wouldn't think that this is purely MS's "lets hold out for monitary reasons". I believe Epic took the path of least resistance to get a great game to market early, though negating all of the demos that have been available up until now.
Someone somewhere along in the chain decided that the existing demos aren't good enough and that doing one from scratch would be too much work. This is work that they technically aren't getting paid for either so there really is no incentive for them to release a demo. There was incentive for the trade shows because they had to stir the hype machine. Epic doesn't need a demo to gather any more hype and one could argue that the only reason other developers even release a demo is to get more people interested.
I was never at any of the trade shows to play the demo so I have to go by word of mouth, screenshots or videos. I would use GameFly but everyone and their mom probably has it on their Q so if I wanted to play it before I bought it perhaps I could do so by Christmas of next year. It's their time and energy (read: money) so I really can't complain. Maybe after they rake in a couple billion they'll have pity on us to work on a demo to bleed as much from the community as possible? Only time will tell on that one.
bozer @ Aug 4th 2006 2:15PM
Hey guys thanks for linking to us. On the subject of Gears of War, a co-worker of mine had a chance to play it last night. If I didn't go home early from work due to the 105 degree weather I woulda got to play it too. Anyway, I posted a chat log between me and the co-worker which should shed some light on how the multiplayer gameplay is:
http://www.fraggerock.com/index.php/2006/08/04/gears-of-war-is-going-to-own/
Geat site btw and thanks for the support!
Thomas @ Aug 4th 2006 6:48PM
Id love to see a demo. I used to rent games first b4 buying to see if they were worth it.. but with 360 games being more for rentals, and demos being free downloads, Ive been trying the demos..
And becuz of releases like Saints Row.. I will now be adding a new Title to my collection that I wouldve prob pasted up waiting for GTAiv.. I think companys putting out demos b4 the actual game launches is gunna hold the key to some great release numbers..
Francky @ Aug 4th 2006 6:48PM
In my view, the fact that decided to not release a demo is a bad sign. It's smells of, "people will just realise it's an overhyped shooter". Kinda like what happened with Chromehounds, had they not released a demo, their sales would have been better. I for one will always stay away from a game I can't try, well at least until I'm sure its good enough from reviews and such, but this will defenitly prevent me from jumping on it.
Like others have mentionned, a lot of games with demos became instant must haves even thought I wasnt even remotly interested in them before.
Heck, Even N3, a lot of the reviews wheren't that good, but thanks to the demo, I could see I'd have a lot of fun with it, so will get it.
GhostDoggy @ Aug 5th 2006 10:27PM
I'm not exactly sure how difficult it is to take an already created polished full-bore game and turn off a lot of stuff to make a demo from it. Sounds like someone is trying to short-circuit all the potential anti-hype that could result from releasing a demo a couple of weeks early.
xorzisten @ Aug 12th 2006 9:09AM
The reason why I would like too try before I buy. Is because I normally hate console shooters, when compared too their PC counterparts.
I want too feel the controls, and the gameplay, because it doesnt look any better than Prey, and I can get Prey for like half the price for my PC, with better controls.
And I completly agree with joe, that this is just a marketing trick. If the Prey team could make a huge demo before launch, why cant the GOW team. Is it because they are less capable, or just super greedy ?