CoD 2 Demo on Live

[bapenguin]

Just in time for the weekend, the Call of Duty 2 Demo has hit the Live Marketplace.

[Heretic Machine]

I played that demo on the OXM disc, even though I owned the game at the time, just to see what levels they chose. It still boggles my mind why they went with the British campaign, which was the least interesting by far, IMO.

[bskeillor]

Is it just me, or does anybody else think that MS is totally blowing this whole Marketplace thing? They can't get release dates right for Arcade titles, they post games and then 2 days later post downloadable content, the website never matches the Marketplace content, new demos of games that we've all played since launch, etc...

I think they are just lazy right now because there is no competition and they think they've already won this generation. The demo they should be putting up now should be Burnout or something upcoming. How hard is it for a company like MS to put a downloadable theme/picture pack up on Marketplace, and at the same time update the website with the preview so we know what we are attempting to purchase?

Also, how hard is it to update the Arcade portion of the website with the games that are available, WHEN they are available? We've been waiting on 3 February releases now, and the website even says Recent Additions. If they're new additions, where the heck are they? Don't even get me started on the unachievable achievments that haven't been patched since launch.

Just my rant, as my MS points burn a hole in my pocket, err hard drive.

[darkel]

Whoop de doo Microsoft.

Pretty dissapointed with the complete lack of quality updates to the Live Marketplace. It looked so promising in December when they were still adding movie trailers, backwards compatability updates, and the demos for the recently released launch titles.

But - so far 2006 has been mostly a wash. Tossing out a demo for a game that was released almost 4 months ago (and has been playable as a demo at any 360 kiosk for even longer) certainly doesn't float my boat.

Supposedly a demo of GRAW is going to be released (hopefully before the game hits stores) - but overall my excitement about the Live Marketplace is really waning lately. Hope they start giving it some serious attention soon.

[KidCactus]

bskeillor: I for one think it's great they have downloadable demos of games that are already released, since it's a very good way to try before buy. Or not buy.

[bapenguin]

Not everyone got the system at launch. They are also probably prepping for the supposed "mass availability" any week now.

[Ludoc]

I still know a bunch of people who haven't bought the system yet. In fact one friend is just about ready to pick one up and was asking me what games to get. Just because you've been playing this game since launch doesn't mean everyone has.

I suspect the reason this took so long to come out has something to do with an agreement of exclusivity for OXM's demo disks.

[bskeillor]

Don't get me wrong, I like the demos also. I just think this one should have been there from the start. It's not like there wasn't a demo available, MS just didn't put it on there until now. Are they just trying to fill their release holes with "new" content?

I was excited about the whole concept early on, especially with the movie trailers. I am a trailer freak, but it seems like they forgot about them lately.

[bapenguin]

Don't get me wrong, I like the demos also. I just think this one should have been there from the start. It's not like there wasn't a demo available, MS just didn't put it on there until now. Are they just trying to fill their release holes with "new" content?

I was excited about the whole concept early on, especially with the movie trailers. I am a trailer freak, but it seems like they forgot about them lately.

People seem to think there will be new content like every other day. That's simply not the case. It would be nice if MS decided on a set schedule, like say the 1st and and 3rd thursday of a month or something. But this is game development we are talking about, nothing ever goes according to plan.

I'm pretty happy with what's been released, I mean...we have almost 20 Live Arcade titles in 3 months. We've had demos for Condemned, Quake 4, Madden, NBA, King Kong, Full Auto and now CoD 2. Plus there's been quite a bit of "filler" content like the themes and Gamer pictures.

[bone_matrix]

Not everyone got the system at launch. They are also probably prepping for the supposed "mass availability" any week now.


Yeah, but, they aren't catering to what I want or think they should do, therefore, they don't know what they are doing and are the suck!!

On a more serious side, I'm really looking forward the the 2 demos coming out in the next week or 2:

GRAW and The Outfit. Hell, why lie, I'm buying GRAW at launch, regardless of demo. :)

[Paranoia]

I just don't get people going into a hissy fit over a late demo.

Perhaps its better that game developers do not release any game demos at all.

People will complain just about ANYTHING.

[Swat]

Face it, we're bleeding edge game nerds, so of course old demos are going to be the piss in our rootbeer. For the average consumer who might buy a new game every few months (instead of many games each month) I this model can work well. For those who are just picking up their 360's now, it's pretty cool to have that many demos available right away.

But seriously MS, suck it up and cater to your hardcore fanbase too!

[HALO 32]

why bother, most 360 owners already own CoD 2 anyway, or beat it and traded it in

[bskeillor]

I don't think anybody is throwing a hissy fit over the demo. This was just a good post to bring up discussion on some of the problems of the MS Marketplace, since it seems to have more than just XBOX fanboys on the site.

You want to see people throw a hissy fit? Go look up the Gamercard of 'Vark' on any of the sites. Take a gander at the game he is currently playing....

[gzsfrk]

Why doesn't anyone ever consider the alternative? MS could simply have NOT RELEASED the CoD2 demo FOR FREE over Marketplace. Would that have been better? How anyone can extrapolate them releasing the CoD2 demo (or any other) now as a portent of doom for the future viability of Live Marketplace is ridiculous and just shows who the paid Sony shills are that frequent this site.

Ridiculous... The 360 is far from perfect (not to mention sadly far from available in most places), but anyone who's saying the Marketplace is anything but good, let along fantastic, is either a complete fanboy or on Ken's payroll.

[bapenguin]

You want to see people throw a hissy fit? Go look up the Gamercard of 'Vark' on any of the sites. Take a gander at the game he is currently playing....

Not just Vark:
http://live.xbox.com/en-US/profile/profile.aspx?pp=0&GamerTag=THE+BENERGY
http://live.xbox.com/en-US/profile/profile.aspx?pp=0&GamerTag=MSFD

[bskeillor]

Why doesn't anyone ever consider the alternative? MS could simply have NOT RELEASED the CoD2 demo FOR FREE over Marketplace. Would that have been better? How anyone can extrapolate them releasing the CoD2 demo (or any other) now as a portent of doom for the future viability of Live Marketplace is ridiculous and just shows who the paid Sony shills are that frequent this site.

Ridiculous... The 360 is far from perfect (not to mention sadly far from available in most places), but anyone who's saying the Marketplace is anything but good, let along fantastic, is either a complete fanboy or on Ken's payroll.

Since I'm the one that brought up the questions in the first place, I'm assuming that I'm the paid Sony shill. Marketplace is a fantastic system, and I check it everyday just like my email. I've spent over 8000 MS points in this system, and if the release dates were correct on some of the titles, it would be over 10,000. My concern is that there are legitimate problems with the system that have not been addressed and I don't think they are giving the paying customers the attention that they deserve.

This has nothing to do with them releasing COD2 demo, it has everything to do with how the Marketplace is being managed and by whom. Understand that I don't need something released every day or even every week. I would just like them to give accurate release dates, or give a new date when the original date has come and gone. If you look at the whole system through the 360 and the website, it just doesn't seem to be in sync...

If you think I'm a Sony fanboy, just look up my gamercard. That will tell you the type of gamer I am and that I'm nobody's fanboy. Gamercard is same as my forum name.

[Hizawky]

GRAW and The Outfit. Hell, why lie, I'm buying GRAW at launch, regardless of demo. :)

I am buying a 360 at GRAW launch, regardless of demo =P

[gzsfrk]

Since I'm the one that brought up the questions in the first place, I'm assuming that I'm the paid Sony shill.


Actually, I was more referring to the comments made just below your by darkel. I wouldn't tag you as a Sony shill; more likely, I suspect you are an irrationally impatient gamer who's peeved that content isn't being released fast enough to suit you.

My concern is that there are legitimate problems with the system that have not been addressed and I don't think they are giving the paying customers the attention that they deserve.

The hell? How often do YOU think they should be releasing stuff? As someone else noted, I suspect they may have to hold off on releasing some of the demos over Marketplace because of the vested interest they have in making OXM an appealing buy for subscribers, which includes the advantage of those receiving the magazine getting the demos earlier than those who do not. As for more trailers, it's nice that they've made some of those available (with Elder Scrolls being the most recent), I really don't think anyone's going to argue that Marketplace is hurting because more trailers aren't out yet. It's nice when they're put out there, but I don't think the kids cry in their Campbell's Tomato when they wake up, log into Live, and don't see a trailer for Hoodwinked on there.

[bskeillor]

I'm neither irrational or impatient. Does anybody that doesn't see what you see need to be insulted? Did you even read my post? I am bringing up legitimate questions about the service, and nobody seems to want to respond to any of them except for the frequency/timing of new content. The only reason the demo of COD2 is being brought up is that it seemed like a good spring board into a non biased discussion about the problems with Marketplace. I'm starting to find out that there isn't a non biased board anywhere.

The bit about the paying customers is that I paid for items that are broken and have not been fixed. There are games that I bought that do not work as advertised, and there is no mention as to when they are going to be fixed. Now forget new content, which demos are released and when, and give me a MS defending response to that issue alone. No matter when you bought your 360, MS has known about these glitches since the first week of launch and have not addressed them.

[92miata]

for the people who don't have 360's, check with you local costcos. i work at the prescott costco and we have 24 on order, and many of the southwest stores have them on order or in transit.

can't beat our return policy btw.....:)

[bskeillor]

It's not a bad bundle either. If my calculations where correct you save like $30 off of stuff you would be buying anyway. Now if there was a deal anywhere on the 1600 point MS cards like Circuit City had for a few hours...

[Zanzibar]

I'm pretty happy with what's been released, I mean...we have almost 20 Live Arcade titles in 3 months. We've had demos for Condemned, Quake 4, Madden, NBA, King Kong, Full Auto and now CoD 2.
Let's not forget Need For Speed: Most Wanted or Fight Night: Round 3. Those demos both kick major fucking ass.

[bapenguin]

Let's not forget Need For Speed: Most Wanted or Fight Night: Round 3. Those demos both kick major fucking ass.

Doh...completely forgot about FNR3. NFSW has been there from day 1 too. Thanks.

[Felonous]

Someone call the WHAAABulance out for bskeillor, or kiss his boo-boo better.

[Heretic Machine]

Why doesn't anyone ever consider the alternative? MS could simply have NOT RELEASED the CoD2 demo FOR FREE over Marketplace.

They also could of not promised downloadable content that they weren't prepared to deliver in a reasonable amount of time, now could the fanboys please shut up and stop being so god-damned defensive? I like my 360, I like the marketplace, but the fact is that Microsoft has really fallen behind on releasing content and they don't seem to be making an effort to catch up.

[KasterTroy]

They also could of not promised downloadable content that they weren't prepared to deliver in a reasonable amount of time, now could the fanboys please shut up and stop being so god-damned defensive? I like my 360, I like the marketplace, but the fact is that Microsoft has really fallen behind on releasing content and they don't seem to be making an effort to catch up.

Did you ever think that it is not up to Microsoft when they get the demos? Its not like Microsoft has all of these demos and just gives them out when they want. The demos have to be created and tested just like a full game.

[Paranoia]

Its easier to blame MS anyway, regardless if they are directly responsible or not.

[maharahaj]

Everyone has different views on how the marketplace is/n't being continually updated with movie trailers etc. Personally, I am glad for these new demos, even if they are on launch day games. I would have not purchased Madden last week had the demo not been available and the Fight Night Demo sold me too. I love that game.

If I want a movie trailer that bad though, I just head over to apple.com/trailers to get my fix. I dont necessarily need to view it on my 44" widescreen considering I will most likely be bombarded by it shortly while watching cable tv. But that is just me. And I never played the CoD demo either nor do I own it so I look forward to downloading this new 'old' demo. Better free than non-existant or with a fee. In the future, I suspect/hope that demos will be released about 2-3weeks prior like FNR3 was; but we didnt have that option the weeks prior to the 360 release.

[DoubleUranium]

I just wish they'd release a DOA4 demo!

[Heretic Machine]

Did you ever think that it is not up to Microsoft when they get the demos? Its not like Microsoft has all of these demos and just gives them out when they want. The demos have to be created and tested just like a full game.

Ya, it's not like the CoD2 demo was on kiosks back in November.... Oh wait.

[darkel]

Actually, I was more referring to the comments made just below your by darkel. I wouldn't tag you as a Sony shill; more likely, I suspect you are an irrationally impatient gamer who's peeved that content isn't being released fast enough to suit you. But you missed the entire point of what i was saying.

The point wasn't that fact that i don't appreciate the COD2 demo. The point is that according to the hype and the early momentum, I think many people expected that there would be a lot more frequent updates to the Live Marketplace. It's a great system that IMHO is being squandered with a lack of updates. A call of duty 2 demo is nice, but at this point it should have been more of a footnote among other additions to the marketplace and not the only major announcement of the week (well other than the oblivion trailer that we saw a bajillion times at last years E3)

Of course it would be unrealistic for them to release new demos or new arcade games every week. Those things take time to develop, test, etc. But here we've got a great system for delivering digital content directly into consumers living rooms and it just doesn't make sense why they're not pumping out more media options through it. Larger gaming websites are able to add new media on a fairly regular basis (i.e. screenshots, gameplay videos, interviews, podcasts, etc). Why don't we see more options for releasing that type of media through Live?

I'm just saying - if i was Microsoft - I would have a whole team dedicated to just obtaining and releasing new and regular content through this marketplace to test and see what items people are the most interested in.