GRAW 2 demo assaults XBL Gold members
Ever since we told you that the GRAW 2 demo would arrive on the Xbox Live Marketplace "possibly by the end of the month," we have been shivering with anticipation, hoping our conjecture might side with truthiness. With over 12 hours left, we're happy to tell you that you can now enjoy Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter -- but only if you're an Xbox Live Gold member. The Silver member version, presumably, will arrive in a little while.The 650 MB download may not make up for XBLA's vacation, but we do have Frank Black asking for us to give him danger, little stranger. Let us know what you think of the demo.
[Thanks, Jonah Falcon and Stephen W.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Pepperspray @ Jan 31st 2007 11:35AM
XBL is going demo crazy. GRAW2 today. Def Jam:Icon Tomorrow. NBA Street Friday. w00t.
Kaz Jr @ Jan 31st 2007 11:38AM
man wtf. why isnt the PS3 getting these demos? GRAW is multiplatform.
are these companies trying to sabotage sony? if so thats classless of them.
Jake @ Jan 31st 2007 11:40AM
My two favorite things about this gen:
1) Amazingly smooth HD graphics and surround sound
2) Free demos of most games
#2 is getting some serious love this week. Even though Def jam and NBA street are games I have zero chance of buying, it is still nice to demo them for free. If GRAW2 fixes some of the technical (imo) problems from GRAW, it could be a sweet-arse game.
Aex @ Jan 31st 2007 11:43AM
Looks like it is time to reactivate my Gold account. I keep hearing good things about Crackdown and now GRAW2. Should be interesting.
WebPimp @ Jan 31st 2007 11:43AM
@Kaz Jr:
Because nobody has a PS3 ;)
Jake @ Jan 31st 2007 11:43AM
@#2
No, the companies aren't trying to sabotage Sony (yes, I can see you were probably being sarcastic, I hope).
It is just much easier to put a demo on XBL than PSN. This is why we pay for Live. It is $4 per month, and this is one of the many things that that $4 gets you.
Virtua Fanboy @ Jan 31st 2007 11:49AM
"man wtf. why isnt the PS3 getting these demos? GRAW is multiplatform.
are these companies trying to sabotage sony? if so thats classless of them."
Not to hate on PS3 but I wonder why it does'nt get any the same demo's, COD3 maps, ect. as 360? Like he said some of these games are multi platform. As far as sabotage that's just stupid. Maybe Sony isn't offering their 3rd parties the tools or ease to make the demo's? I don't know but maybe some of you smart ass' can come up w/something? lol
CW @ Jan 31st 2007 11:50AM
@2
"why isnt the PS3 getting these demos? "
Probably because it isn't worth the publishers time and effort to do it. Ignoring the happy gamers (beta testers), the only thing the publisher is going to get out of releasing the demo is another round of PR when next week they announce that 4 million people downloaded the GRAW2 demo. That's just not possible with PS3 right now. Maybe 2008.
CW @ Jan 31st 2007 11:50AM
@6
Why is putting a demo on XBL easier than putting it on PSN?
I would have thought that the publisher gave the operator a file, and that would be the end of their involvement.
What's so difficult about releasing content on PSN?
Virtua Fanboy @ Jan 31st 2007 11:51AM
7. Nothing to see here Nintendo fans.. its just another demo of a next gen shooter. Go back to your RedSteeel or FarCry Vengence and pretend its 2001.
Posted at 11:44AM on Jan 31st 2007 by Fred T
That's hilarious, I don't care who you are. lol
Antwan @ Jan 31st 2007 11:54AM
The problem with releasing a demo on PSN is that somebody has to own the storage of the file and the subsequent bandwidth requirements of it being downloaded millions of times (well 100s of thousands in the case of the PS3). That storage and bandwidth isn't cheap and it is not worth it to the developers to set up servers just for this. Xbox Live already has the infrastructure in place, so once a file is certified, Microsoft hosts it, and the demo is available. Which would you rather release if you were a game studio?
Knoxximus @ Jan 31st 2007 11:56AM
I swear I read somewhere that because the PSN is free, the publishers are expected to pony up the costs of putting up demos. Hence the reason why you don't see any.
MoonfirePewPEwPEw @ Jan 31st 2007 11:57AM
The reason PSN is not seeing demos like XBL is, is because to assure that "free" network, Sony forces all Developers/Publishers to host the content themselves on their own networks, while Microsoft host all content themselves. It is pretty easy as to why they aren't releasing demos on the PSN (costs).
Pretty soon, developers will get sick of this in general, and Sony's "free" network won't be so "free" anymore (either in the way of a fee, or even more advertisements).
Virtua Fanboy @ Jan 31st 2007 11:59AM
@ Antwan:
That's a good, unbiased, and intelligent answer. Makes sense.
Anthony @ Jan 31st 2007 12:00PM
I totally owned all of you in explaining why the PSN has very few demos.
ANt @ Jan 31st 2007 12:04PM
good demo......nothing new though
pryingender @ Jan 31st 2007 12:04PM
also wasn't the ps3 version of graw2 delayed? so maybe that's why there's not a demo available yet...that cell chip is just too darn complimacted and what-not
Anthony @ Jan 31st 2007 12:08PM
@pryingender
I read somewhere that some developers are delaying their games until more ps3 units are moved. The idea is that if they release now, then when millions of people start buying the ps3 their games will seem "old" and people will pass them up. So this could also be a factor in the lack of a demo.
ANt @ Jan 31st 2007 12:09PM
Long live XBL!!
Jake @ Jan 31st 2007 12:11PM
@9
I hope the answers given by others are satisfactory. Basically, all of us MS love slaves pay $4 per month for Live. That buys two things. It lets MS buy servers, programmers to work on them, etc so game devs get cheap and easy Live access. It also covers Bill Gates's Ivory tusk backscratcher and endangered species jerky costs.
Yes, Live is a good thing for all party's involved.
Jake @ Jan 31st 2007 12:12PM
Another reason devs pass on releasing games to small userbases is that by the time people really start buying the console their games are available used.
Matt @ Jan 31st 2007 12:28PM
Perhaps I'll be able to drag myself away from the Crackdown demo long enough to try this.
Nossy @ Jan 31st 2007 12:30PM
Must be a Gold member? Geezus, no wonder my 360 has been collecting dust. MS would get so many more user if internet play was free.
Nathan Bachus @ Jan 31st 2007 12:30PM
Same as GRAW, the only way ill buy it is if they offer me another tournament for a car.
ill trooper @ Jan 31st 2007 12:30PM
Guys, there ARE demos of games on the PSN store... Just not GRAW2... It was announced that GRAW2 for the PS3 is delayed and not as far along as the 360 version - it may be available when it catches up.
It might also be pointless - if GRAW were available for the PS3, there is NO DOUBT owners of the PS3 would buy it, as there's so little else - but on the 360, there are more games right now, more competition for the dollar - people want demos.
Sony's going to be playing catch-up for a while with these multiplatform multiplayer games - I have a PS3 and a 360, but most of the people I play Tom Clancy games with only have 360s. So I'll be buying GRAW 2 on the 360.
"It is just much easier to put a demo on XBL than PSN. This is why we pay for Live. It is $4 per month, and this is one of the many things that that $4 gets you."
Easier? It is? link please.
Tennisman @ Jan 31st 2007 12:36PM
The demo is extremely impressive and really polishes the game up quite a bit. Visually it's stunning.
ANt @ Jan 31st 2007 12:42PM
#24, if your too cheap to fork over $50 for a year of Live, you should donate your 360 to a local childrens hospital or something.
Live is an awesome service, period. Between the constant updates, demos, and other free things, not to mention how great the ranking systems are in most of these games, makes Live on the best bargains out there. How about the fact that you can video chat with someone across the world all day and night if you want, with no hitches whatsoever??
PONY UP THE $50 AND JOIN LIVE ALREADY!!
ANt @ Jan 31st 2007 12:43PM
one of, check that
deaftly @ Jan 31st 2007 12:53PM
hows that free ps3 network going for you guys ? hah
Sid Icarus @ Jan 31st 2007 1:03PM
So, I am DL'ing it right now?
It can be the same game as GRAW, I just want then to implement the cover system from RS6.
RS6 has the perfect cover system, better then GRAW and GOW.
ANt @ Jan 31st 2007 1:03PM
#24, if your too cheap to fork over $50 for a year of Live, you should donate your 360 to a local childrens hospital or something.
Live is an awesome service, period. Between the constant updates, demos, and other free things, not to mention how great the ranking systems are in most of these games, makes Live on the best bargains out there. How about the fact that you can video chat with someone across the world all day and night if you want, with no hitches whatsoever??
PONY UP THE $50 AND JOIN LIVE ALREADY!!
scott @ Jan 31st 2007 1:12PM
keep in mind the ps3 GRAW was delayed to like june or something, they wouldnt have a demo ready at this point
Jason @ Jan 31st 2007 1:26PM
Another win for 360 owners! PSN is truly a "get what you pay for" service... I want to ram my junk in your face Sony fanboys! "Another PS3 game delayed... Oh look, another port... Why did I buy this again?" What the hell do you need a 60GB hard drive for?! ahahaahaha
AirIntake @ Jan 31st 2007 1:32PM
I loved GRAW, so even if they don't change anything but the story and missions, I'll buy GRAW2.
jrieth50 @ Jan 31st 2007 1:33PM
I was a huge GRAW fan - but am I the only one who isn't seeing major changes here? You can adopt the view of whatevers in your crosscom... You have a UAV-style ground unit... ok... and it seems a bit snappier in general reaction timing. Other than that, no obvious graphics improvement or interface improvement, IMO. I'll play it but its basically just a new campaign to me w/ minor features added.
Jake @ Jan 31st 2007 1:35PM
I thought it was easier for devs to put games on XBL because they didn't have to provide their own servers. With XBL, they just give a file. For PSN, they have to set up a server that Sony helps link customers to. I cannot provide a link for that. I can't prove it. If you can disprove it, go ahead. But often, the proof is in the pudding.
Jake @ Jan 31st 2007 1:37PM
PS3 owners get the distinct advantage of being able to see how their ports were received on 360 for several months before they have to decide on purchasing for themselves.
refinedsugar @ Jan 31st 2007 1:44PM
Every time I hear Frank Black, I think of Millennium, the television show and NOT the singer. It's my gift, it's my curse.
ill trooper @ Jan 31st 2007 2:38PM
"I cannot provide a link for that. I can't prove it. If you can disprove it, go ahead. But often, the proof is in the pudding."
Nah dude, I know what you're saying, NO QUESTION that 'LIVE' is more accepted and integrated than the PS3 network is right now.
But there ARE game demos on the PSN system... GRAW2 is not one of them yet. If you wanted to demo Motorstorm or Genji or others you could go get those - this could easily be a list of comments talking about how "HAHA you can't get the Motorstorm Demo on the 360" if we lived in an alternate universe where people on Joystiq actually liked the PS3.
A dev. will do whatever they need to do to put a demo up. Server costs are not a dealbreaker. There are politics behind the scenes that we can only begin to guess about, and companies like Microsoft and Sony pay way more money than server costs to keep games exclusive or have demos up before the other guys. I don't think $50 a year from a few million people was enough to pay Bungie to keep Halo on xbox. Microsoft payed much more than that I'm sure.
Also, this 'You get what you pay for with LIVE' thing is a bit of a fallacy. It's not a gated community to keep the riff-raff out, obviously there's plenty of stupid to go around on LIVE.
PAYING for LIVE is not what makes it better, the planning, foundation and head start are what make it better. They've created a great experience. 'Paying for it' is what you do because Microsoft, as rich as it is, has still lost a painful amount of money on the Xbox.
The LIVE subscription model is one of a few ways (LIVE, Games, and Accessories) Microsoft plans on getting that money back and creating a profitable eco-system for the Xbox, with downloadable games, movies and television. On a communication/friend-finder level, Live is an advanced version of an instant messanger client... Something AOL and others including Microsoft offer for free. As for the game server support, yes, I'm sure it's an expensive proposition, but developers can't just 'drop files' up there for free like it's 'yousendit' or something - they broker deals with Microsoft for amounts that I'll go out on a limb and guess would approach what a dev has to pony up to support their own game on the PS3 network.
I'm assessing this situation to a simple case of a GRAW 2 demo for PS3 not being ready yet. It seems so easy for people to forget that UBI games like GRAW and Splinter Cell were delayed MONTHS and MONTHS for the 360, due to the and the GRAW demo never showed up on LIVE until AFTER the retail release.
I think as 2007 progresses, we'll see more of a parity on releases and demos.
Ask yourself this: If, in 3 years, the systems both have a large user base, and games are released regularly for both, and the online experience is very similar, do you think Microsoft is going to keep charging $50 to let you in the door? I think not. It will be dropped and included in the system purchase price.
ill trooper @ Jan 31st 2007 2:38PM
Sorry for that stupid-long post! Just went on a roll...
Jake @ Jan 31st 2007 2:40PM
I like the R6V cover system a bit more than Gears because it is much more useful in multiplayer. The thing makes it hard to compare the two is the the R6V system only involves putting your back to walls. There is no swat roll, roadie run into cover, roll away from cover, run over cover, etc. You back in from which you can blind fire or lean out and fire. It works smoother in part because it is taking a lot less on.
In all, I think the R6V cover works better for that game than the Gears system would, but the Gears system works better for it than R6V does.
Matt @ Jan 31st 2007 3:01PM
"this could easily be a list of comments talking about how "HAHA you can't get the Motorstorm Demo on the 360" if we lived in an alternate universe where people on Joystiq actually liked the PS3."
Except Motorstorm is developed by Sony. The reason people aren't complaining about a Motorstorm demo being on the 360 isn't because the PS3 isn't popular enough, it's because Motorstorm isn't on the 360. That would be like complaining that the Halo 3 trailer isn't on PSN.
The reason you see people complaining about GRAW 2 not being on PSN is because it's a multi-platform game made by a third party.
Jake @ Jan 31st 2007 3:42PM
The GRAW2 demo is a terrible example of Live/PSN, since the game is coming late to PS3. It is only natural that the demo get there late as well.
And good post lil' trooper. It wasn't too long. And you are right that the whole "get what you pay for" thing is kind of bunk. I mean, the PS, Wii, and 360 products are spending money and resources in many different ways, as well as bringing in money and resources in different ways.
XBL could suck and they could still charge $4 a month for it. Or, it could be absolutely amazing and they don't charge a dime. It all depends where they get their money and where they want to stick it.
In the end, the only thing that really matters to a console owner is how many good games there are, as well as side services like HD playback, movie downloads, IM, videochat, etc.
But, if Sony charged $4 per month for PSN Gold and used all of that money to improve their online service, they would have a sweet service.
Mark Felps @ Jan 31st 2007 3:43PM
Yeah, you can get demos on the PSN, but only if you want Sony branded demos, and only if you haven't played the tiny handful that have been there pretty much since launch. Coming up on three months now and there has been very little new content released. I know everyone likes to poke MS for the XBLA Wednesdays, but they're doing a damn sight better than Sony in that regard.
I really wish there were some decent demos on the PSN, because I'm tired of staring at a $600 paperweight.
joe smith @ Jan 31st 2007 4:02PM
Love that "endangered species jerky" :)
LongshotX @ Jan 31st 2007 4:07PM
Maybe cause the PS3 UI is so retarded. Dumb Crossbar, WTF. Okay maybe that ain't the reason but everyone knows Online Gaming and connectivity belongs to Microsoft.
NOEEM @ Jan 31st 2007 5:29PM
@41
"[when]the online experience is very similar, do you think Microsoft is going to keep charging $50 to let you in the door? I think not. It will be dropped and included in the system purchase price."
There's a good interview 1up did with some microsoft guys about that very thing. They had a pretty good response. Basically, they question how long it will take for other services (PS) to catch up, and say if and when that happens they will re-evaluate their strategy. Also, doesn't the 360 already come with a 3-month subscription to live?
http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/2007/01/26/xbox-360-and-iptv-interview/
(it's the second video)
Anyway, if you work in software development and with data networks (or actually use xbox live), you realize how much time MS put into their service; and their still adding things. I feel that RIGHT NOW what they offer is well worth the $50/year, when compared to other offerings. However, as with any service, when their competitors can offer a comparable product I'll re-evaluate my loyalties and options. But I honestly think that Sony has ALOT of work to do to make any comparison valid.
SomeGamerGuy @ Jan 31st 2007 5:52PM
ill trooper - The reason Halo is kept on the Xbox is because Microsoft owns Bungie studios. They worked out a deal a long time ago and were bought out and brought into MS. This occured not long after the first Halo came out.
Mal F4cti0n @ Jan 31st 2007 10:02PM
Ill Trooper, your an illidiot (just kidding, it sounded good in my head so I had to say it).
The demos of games you listed are Sony Studio games, so that is why they have demoes up.
No way Ubisoft (aka, not Sony) is going to pay to set up servers to get their demo out there.
If Sony does offer up server support, then expect a demo.
Believe me, this trend will continue on the PS3 unless Sony foots the bill.
rfom @ Feb 1st 2007 6:53AM
Explain one thing to me: when game demo downloads and multiplayers are free on PC, why does it need a charge on 360? Where is the "choice" that 360 is supposed to offer? If its a better service - let us have a free version where I can just hook up and play and download.
"No way Ubisoft (aka, not Sony) is going to pay to set up servers to get their demo out there"
Its a nice arrangement - Developers get out of the paltry costs and effort required for hosting server, MS gets a massive cut (over the life of the console, it adds up to almost as much as the console price), and the PS3 gets badmouthed for not being part of the scheme.
Maybe Sony should have taken some tips from the competition - take a cheap processor and graphics card, add some motion control like the Wii, cut costs like the 360 even if it ends up overheating and noisy, and cut out stuff like backward compatibility, Hard drives, HDMI, HD, multiplayer for which charge extra and the customer ends up paying 3 times as much eventually.