Bad Company and Civilization demos now on XBLM

by Dustin Burg { Jun 5th 2008 at 9:30AM }

Today, we're officially declaring it an Xbox Live Marketplace Demo Extravaganza day, because we're seeing the release of not just one, but TWO super new video game demos to the XBLM. Like we said, it's a demo extravaganza!

First up is a new 1.25GB Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution demo, featuring both single and multiplayer play and enough turn based strategy to shake a stick at. And for those of you who didn't win early access last week, the new 1.5GB Battlefield: Bad Company single (slash) multiplayer demo is ready to be consumed by you, the masses. Hit up the XBLM, queue some demo deliciousness up for download and get your game on.

Tags: 2k, 2k-games, bad-company, battlefield-bad-company, civilization-revolution, dice, ea, sid-meiers-civilization-revolution, xblm

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

ManicBomber @ Jun 5th 2008 9:33AM

Better get those downloads started - you are looking at over 3 GB's.

Glitch W @ Jun 5th 2008 9:42AM

Good thing I cleared 5 gigs last week :)

LeBigMac @ Jun 5th 2008 9:56AM

The PS3 also releases demos on thursdays, coincidence?

I'm willing to bet some executives somewhere in those companies made some sort of deal to not have one platform get the demo before the other...

Lewis (GT: StoneRevolver) @ Jun 5th 2008 9:57AM

These demos are getting bigger and bigger. :(

ManicBomber @ Jun 5th 2008 10:00AM

I've actually been looking forward to the latest installment of the Civ franchise more than Ninja Gaiden 2.

Neuromancer @ Jun 5th 2008 10:06AM

I've never played a Civ game before, here's hoping this one is as user friendly as they say.

Glitch W @ Jun 5th 2008 10:32AM

these demos are approaching xbox original size

craig64 @ Jun 5th 2008 10:34AM

I hope the Civ game turns out to be good. I was looking into it the other day... but I think the demo will help me decide one whether or not I'll pay full price for it. Too bad I have to wait for work to be over to just start downloading these huge files.

Neuromancer @ Jun 5th 2008 10:46AM

Yeah really, I thank the sweet Lord every day for Verizon Fios.

Mike Schramm @ Jun 5th 2008 10:55AM

So very, very excited for Civilization Revolution. Love Civ, and a slimmed down console version that's high on the fun factor might just be exactly what the series needs.

On the other hand, it could be too simple and boring. But I trust Meier and his gang to make it a good time.

ZeitgeistXIII @ Jun 5th 2008 10:56AM

As an added FYI if you game with your twelve year old they will not be able to play the Bad Company Demo. It seems EA has now taken up being a Nanny for us parents and while we teach our children the difference between all sorts of things like, right and wrong,video games and real world EA built int o the ULA that if your childs profile indicates an age younger than 13 they will not be able to play the multiplayer online.
Yes I can imagine some people being happy about less kids playing games but the Xbox has been an area where my daughter play together as a team. So I supppose its back to COD4 or Halo3 both of which carry M rating as opposed to T ratings. My life feels so much richer now that the burden of teaching my child manners and etiquette as well as the 140 dollars saved by not buying the two copies of the game we had pre ordered.

jaybird1905 @ Jun 5th 2008 11:51AM

This is a good idea.

They're trying to reinforce something that is virtually impossible to do otherwise. Any kid can lie about their age and get online, which basically negates the entire thing, but at least it's a preventative step towards overcoming the status quo "it's the developers fault" attitude of society and the mainstream media when young kids get their hands on games they shouldn't.

I personally blame the parents because I have a young child myself, and if he won't be playing COD4 or Halo3 for quite some time. How is EA really wrong here? If the entire industry enforced something like this your underage kid wouldn't be playing M-rated games like COD online in the first place.

ZeitgeistXIII @ Jun 5th 2008 12:29PM

@Jaybird I appreciate the fact you decide what your child can and cannot play, thats what parents do is use their judgement and make the decision. You dont mention your sons age so I am guessing he is quite young and its not an issue for you at this point. As for lying to get on line the bill still must be paid and parents are the ones who do allow it by having internet access, buying the xbox and allowing it to go online. They are the ones who make those choices I do not know many 8,9,10, or even 12 or 13 year olds who have the ability to order up internet service let alone have large amounts of cash to put towards games systems and games. Parents really have no leg to stand on by saying "I never knew what little Johnny was doing in his room" .

As for my underage kid playing M rated games I think the idea that you are keeping your kid from being around profanity is comical even hypocritical in some cases. Ever watch PG-13 movies with younger kids around? Ever spend anytime or rememeber what middleschool is like? You hear the same kind of profanity and remarks that you hear online at anygiven time. Is it the violence? Hmmm Well maybe but there again most kids can tell you the difference between a game and real life. My daughter is active in theater and brings home straight A's literally for the last year(before that the school didnt use letter grades since poor grades made kids feel bad about themselves). She plays piano, sings in choir, goes paintballing, gokart racing and is learning to sign on her own with a music teacher. That being said the closest I get to singing and playing music is playing Rockband with her. Oh wait I am bad parent on that I suppose since its a Teen game too? I spend lots of time with her when I am home between my travel schedule for work I am fortunate it allows me that luxury. Do all parnets do this? Certainly not! Yes its very easy to pick the stereotype out and use it as an example in order to make your self feel good. So please do not feel the need to criticize me since our family has decided to do something yours does not. You can shield your child they way you want and decide how mature your own child is and make the choices on what to allow them to do.

I DO NOT NEED A COMPANY DECIDING THIS FOR ME!

jaybird1905 @ Jun 5th 2008 1:11PM

The company is doing what they feel is appropriate to prevent issues with underage kids getting online.

My son is actually old enough to be in contention for this discussion, but that's not the point.

I certainly seemed to strike a chord with you, apparently some defensive mechanism must be setup in your head whenever someone disagrees or questions your methodology.

I could really care less what your daughter does on her free time, but you complaining about EA trying to help enforce the ESRB ratings is a GOOD thing, not a bad one.

I'm not shielding my son from anything, I wouldn't buy the game if I felt he wasn't old enough to handle the maturity of it. I'm glad you're leaving your kids decisions on what to watch and what to play up to them, that's a great idea. We all know 12 year olds should be online playing a game where the objective is to shoot your opponent in the face. I'm glad you enjoy gaming with your children, and as a father I can respect that. But when you show such a blatant disregard for any sense of normalcy by allowing yourself and your family to undermine the entire reasoning behind the ESRB.

I said it was the parents fault to begin with, not sure what your whole rant about lying about your age. I know when I setup a profile on Xbox, I set the age. It doesn't matter who ordered the internet or bought the Xbox. If I buy an Xbox, internet service, an HD TV, and Battlefield ... why can't EA support the ESRB and taking a step in the right direction from preventing my son from popping in the disc and hoping online and experiencing the virtual massacre? You're a fool if you think you can control what you're kids are doing ALL the time, so if EA wants to help support the ESRB, I'm all for it.

You shouldn't be buying the shit in the first place to play with a 12 year old little girl, sorry jack. Maybe it's not EA and ESRB that's wrong, maybe it's you.

ZeitgeistXIII @ Jun 5th 2008 1:32PM

No defense, No control, we teach, we spend time sharing and we trust. She has not let us down so far.

As for the game content of "shooting people in the face", Its ok to teach them to kill animated animals in kiddie games or cause your opponent to crash and blow up in Mario Kart? Its the hypocrisy that I think is amazing. Even Viva Pinata you beat the pinata to get your treat? Hmmm maybe we should ban real Pinatas? StarWars movies? I saw mine at age 7 in 1977. I havent gone off deep end and massacred anybody yet? Of course Star Wars Legos could be that deciding factor.........

Struck a chord? Yes its amazing how people can justify any argument to "protect the children" I had a teacher explain to me why they do not use red pens to correct papers any more in elementary school since it hurts there self esteem. So now they use purple pens. No winners in school games to protect feelings, so the losers do not feel bad. But all the while you have media and public adoration of violence and being the best. Its unfortunate we are headed this direction since it is mostly our country that adopts this mentality having spent time abroad I see what otehr countries on both sides of our oceans are teaching and how they are learning to compete with us as the target for the standard to pass and win.

As for your flame comment at the end its a pity such narrow mind has learned to type. It reminds me of the last resort whinging that pre-pubescent boys do on the vey games you play. Maybe we do need a ban after all.

AoE @ Jun 5th 2008 2:00PM

"I DO NOT NEED A COMPANY DECIDING THIS FOR ME!"

I agree, please make sure your elected officials know this as well though; they seem to think that parents can't make such choices for themselves; and I'm sure it's legal threats, threats from capital hill, special interest groups, you name it... basically all of the attacks the game industry has been getting that prompt EA to make this move. I can't say I agree with it either, but I understand where they're coming from...

Alex C. @ Jun 21st 2008 6:17PM

I'm glad jaybird isn't my dad..

kemo73 @ Jun 5th 2008 9:54PM

thanks for the FYI. guess I'll be canceling my pre-sale too since i play with my 11 year old god-daughter and her father. we'll just have to stick with halo 3 and rock band.

Jonah Falcon @ Jun 5th 2008 11:11AM

1250 AD is too short. (sigh)

Philip (Fernando Rocker Defence Force) @ Jun 5th 2008 3:09PM

agreed, I like to wait until I get to the modern age before I kill everyone.

Deck @ Jun 5th 2008 11:42AM

w00t! Can't wait! Downloading the Civ Rev demo now!

petersjov @ Jun 5th 2008 11:59AM

Ohh dont forget about the kungfu panda demo

ZeitgeistXIII @ Jun 5th 2008 12:30PM

Yeah but its kinda violent you know. But still very fun. ;)

Pure @ Jun 5th 2008 12:44PM

i agree with ZeitgeistXIII i don't have kids but if i did he has the right policy.

Jez @ Jun 5th 2008 4:28PM

Bad Company is sooooooooo laggy!!!!!!!

ZeitgeistXIII @ Jun 5th 2008 8:09PM

Yeah its been very laggy today. It was nice smooth all last week. But they got "surprisingly overwhelmed" according to the banner on the start up screen. I guess they didnt play live over the last xmas holidays and new years. lol

Studley @ Jun 5th 2008 6:12PM

Bad Company demo is awful and generic. Doesn't really do anything that COD4 doesn't do better (unless you count the radio in the jeep).

On the other hand, I'm delighted about how enjoyable Civ Rev is. I was worried the series would lose lots in the console conversion, but it feels like the full Civ experience and you hardly ever notice the controls getting in the way. Only gripe is that the camera takes forever to pan between units if they're stationed on opposite sides of the map.