[Update: Epic's Mark Rein shot this (admittedly unlikely) rumor down himself writing, "Just saw the dog tag image with the 'Microsoft points.' It just isn't true. There is no demo coming out before the game ships and I have no idea if we'll do one after the game ships or not. Right now there are no plans to do one as I said earlier in this thread. I have asked Microsoft to take that image down." This still doesn't explain why the Gears of War demo "dog tag" exists in the first place if there are no plans to make a demo, but at least Rein intimates there are no plans to charge for said demo.]
Microsoft plans to promote their upcoming killer app with a playable demo, distributed digitally using their Xbox Live network. Sure, we're not certain when they'll do it -- all signs are pointing to a post-Gears release -- but we all knew they would. Now it's a question of why buy the cow (Gears of War in this case) when you can get the milk for free (that would be the Gears of War demo). If Gears doesn't have any trouble selling, best to sit on that demo until it does. Still with us?
Well, one potential answer might be to get that delicious milk out to market sooner, but not give it away after all (we're still talking about the Gears demo here). A page on the British Xbox.com site very clearly lists "Gears of War demo" as an example of "content downloads in Xbox Live Marketplace," right next to pay content (like Joust, Pac-Man, and Frogger) and XBL currency (like oh, say, Microsoft Points logos and cards). Now, you'll recognize the Gamertag pics at the bottom are the freebies, so it's not like the image is comprised solely of pay-only items ... so is this simply an unfortunate layout?
As for when that demo is coming, it wasn't released after Epic's first big tease (that was the retail date), or their second (which ended up being a new website), but we know of a couple 360 owners who wouldn't mind getting some free milk. We've contacted Microsoft to get their response on the possibility of paid demos and the plans for a Gears demo.
[Thanks lord hobo; via Xbox 360 Fanboy]
