Those still mulling the decision to unleash the hawks of war and engage in multiplayer-only combat will have to seek
guidance from strangers and streamed video. The one whose opinion you trust the most (that's
you!) won't be trying out a
Warhawk demo anytime soon,
GameDaily BIZ has learned. When asked about the possibility of a downloadable demo, a Sony representative expressed concern that it might not adequately convey the game's 32-player chaos. "In a demo version of a multiplayer only game, there is little control over how many players will be on a dedicated server at a time, potentially leading to smaller online battles that do not fully do justice to the title's fast combat and frantic play."
The representative also pointed towards
Warhawk's beta, which plucked up 10,000 participants and offered "a wide audience ample opportunity to experience the game and provide valuable feedback to during
Warhawk's development." We're not sure how "wide" an audience that was when compared to the number a demo would reach, but it seems Sony's all
or nothing approach extends to all games that involve
swooping.
[Via
PS3 Fanboy]
{ Sep 10th 2007 at 10:25PM } 
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Sky_Shark @ Sep 10th 2007 10:36PM
I think I support all people when I say this:
Poor job on Sony's part. I think people would of like to tried flying with the Sixaxis as bad as it may be in Warhawk and Lair. I understand that it may lower sales but this just shows that Sony is not even commited to delivering something even close with the best online service in video games: Xbox Live.
Also I can't believe Factor 5 would just not have a demo considering that they already had a demo quality build. Yeah there game sucks, you can't even control anything on screen but the graphics are almost as good as games like Viva Pinata.
Both games could of used some sort of overhaul, but regardless the games are out and Sony should make it a standard for demos.
If only Sony cared about anyone else instead of themselves.
Vidikron @ Sep 11th 2007 9:42AM
What makes you say the motion controls are bad in Warhawk? The only complaint I've heard about them is that you can't enable them just for the planes. If you turn it on it's on for ground vehicles too. Either way, it has dual analog controls too. Of course, I'm guessing you have never played the game anyway.
Tim @ Sep 10th 2007 10:39PM
If you have a PS3, you don't need a Warhawk demo because you should already own Warhawk. It's one of the best online experiences I have ever had and after playing for a few days now I would pay $100 for this game.
Ska Oreo @ Sep 10th 2007 11:56PM
No you wouldn't.
Trev @ Sep 11th 2007 2:31AM
I agree. Best online game I've ever played. Accessible, fun, epic battles at the drop of a hat and a surprising lack of cheap kills.
Sounds like Oreo is just a fanboy that can't accept PS3 has an illusive (and ill-defined; go ahead, give me solid criteria for it) AAA title. Has to pretend it's not good so he doesn't want to play it.
Obvious trolling is obvious.
JL @ Sep 11th 2007 9:58AM
I also agree. Its the only online game I have ever been able to get into.
blooh @ Sep 10th 2007 10:40PM
i can understand not doing a multiplayer demo, but the game doesn't have bots? and there's no excuse for not having a lair demo, unless sony wants people to pay $60 to find out how bad it sucks (that's probably the reason)
sheppy2.0 @ Sep 10th 2007 10:56PM
Halo doesn't have bots.
hvnlysoldr @ Sep 10th 2007 10:57PM
I think a major problem was trying to program AI for single player and even multiplayer bots.
sheppy2.0 @ Sep 10th 2007 10:59PM
Not that that has anything to do with anything.
blooh @ Sep 10th 2007 11:02PM
we're not talking about halo shep
but yeah, bots for MP would be nice in it. they have AI for the main story...
Trev @ Sep 11th 2007 2:42AM
While they're not talking about Halo, I think he was trying to say that the lack of bots isn't going to be brought up as a major criticism of Halo 3.
Given how packed the servers are, Warhawk hardly needs bots.
nyc @ Sep 13th 2007 9:26AM
This game is excellent. It was well worth my $60. I've played lots of very popular online games for xbox, xbox 360, and ps3. Seriously, this is one of my favorites. There's so many people that you don't need bots.
horngreen @ Sep 11th 2007 8:08AM
I think they are right on this one. Many of the demos on LIVE just don't come across in single player only. People are not excited about the demo and to save space on the little HD they delete it and pretty much forget about it.
jontheninja @ Sep 10th 2007 11:00PM
I made the right choice of buying a 720.
cheese @ Sep 11th 2007 6:49AM
Bots are ok for simple games. Warhawk is not simple. If they did a demo they would have to limit that play in so many ways it would not represent the true spirit of the gameplay. Just watch the trailers FFS.
Joshua @ Sep 10th 2007 11:04PM
The Battlefield games have demos with servers as populated as retail servers. Sony's excuse doesn't work here.
I would definitely love to try the game, but the thing is, I won't buy it until I get a better Internet connection...Living in a rural area has its disadvantages...
Psaakyrn @ Sep 11th 2007 12:36AM
Actually, that's a good reason why NOT to put a demo. From my point of view, it seems as if 1/2 the people rather play the demo than the real thing (but still play it instead of playing other stuff). Without those demo servers, you might lose a portion of the people who joined because of the demo, but you stand to gain the portion of the people who didn't buy because the demo exists.
Can't they just do a timed demo? Like say, max 1 minute battles? Significantly short to seriously cut down play experience, but long enough for people to see what's it about?
Joshua @ Sep 11th 2007 9:36AM
I definitely see what you mean. In my experience with just Battlefield 2, that seems to be true. Both my friend and I played the demo extensively, but only he ended up buying the retail release. Again, I would have payed money for the retail release if I had a better Internet connection, so even now, if I wanted to play BF2, I'd play the demo.
So it seems putting up a demo would have no net change on the amount of people that buy the retail release, unless, as you said, the demo has some significant restrictions...But then you risk alienating people who base their opinion of the game on a crippled demo. Still, I think it's important to have demos for games. It's the only way you can truly know if you like the game or not (assuming you don't know anyone else with the game that would be willing to let you play).
meh @ Sep 10th 2007 11:06PM
I'm with Tim. If you own a PS3 you owe it to yourself to buy Warhawk for the starving system. It's not just fantastic, it's freaking fantastic! I think the motion controls work great for flying in Warhawk. The plane does whatever movement you tell it to.
Ben Hobbs @ Sep 11th 2007 1:27AM
You mean its somehow controlled, by the controller in your hand... genius.
Word of the street. @ Sep 10th 2007 11:09PM
Wait warhawk was a multiplayer only game?, like shadowrun?, suddenly I lost interest in Warhawk ,It would have been kick-ass with a single player story mode.
Well that simply sucks. IMO a demo in a smaller environment is better than no demo at all especially because Demos suppose to be just a small taste of the full game.
phattie @ Sep 10th 2007 11:11PM
Where have you been for the past year when Warhawk was announced as online mp only?
umm....hello??? @ Sep 10th 2007 11:52PM
it's the only thing keeping me from buying it right now....I WANT LOCAL SPLITSCREEN MP!!!! screw this online-only crap...its fine for PC users who can host their own game, but how long will they keep servers running for Warhawk?? EA has already discontinued servers on some of their older games...this is a disturbing trend, right along with microtransactions.
Joshua @ Sep 11th 2007 12:02AM
http://ps3media.ign.com/ps3/image/article/803/803719/warhawk-20070711051202327.jpg
Does this not count? I'm seriously asking...Because I'm not sure if this is local multiplayer or multiple people playing online, just on the same machine.
sheppy2.0 @ Sep 11th 2007 12:07AM
Ummm..hello?
Dude, there uis an option on the main screen called Local Game. Wonder what that could be? Seriously, why is there confusion over this aspect? You start a local game, people press start on their controllers to join. Or through Local Play, you CAN Lan party Warhawk. And also, this is Sony we're talking about. They finally shut down the TM:B servers three months before Amplitude's shut down. They were running games for four solid years. As long as the game has a community large and active, it will have support.
Word of the street. @ Sep 11th 2007 12:22AM
As a xb360 fan I was interested in the game but only when a trailer pop up in Gametrailers,I supposed the game would had a Story mode or something like well I forgot the name of that game but it was a badass WWII shooter with Aircrafts and all that crazy shit and it was awesome it was for the PC.
Really I hate this Online only trend.
Still cool but I feel less excited about it,I might buy it for the PS3 in 08 meanwhile nah I will keep playing a game with a story mode.
ill trooper @ Sep 11th 2007 12:35AM
All you post about is hating the PS3, so I doubt you were ever really considering Warhawk at all... troll.
waves @ Sep 10th 2007 11:44PM
ARRRGH!
I've been trying to get this game fore the past week. Unfortunately for me, someone got my CC# and started ringing up charges. I had to cancel it and wait a week while they sent out a replacement. I got it today and started updating my info on the PS3.
Unfortunately I was unaware of their new security system. It requires you to type in all of your info EXACTLY as it appears on your statement. For me this means my name and address in ALL CAPS, making sure the apt # is on the same line as the street address, and deleting the extra spaces after words (that the virtual keyboard magically inserts). If you don't do it right you get a "Credit info not valid" error.
After a few google searches I figured out the problem, but now I was getting "Can't update you info at this time. Please try again in a few minutes."
So I do. I wait a few minutes. No go. I wait a 1/2 hour. Same thing. I wait an hour, try again, and then call Sony tech support. After bouncing around the phone support circus, I get a lady who tells me that I've locked myself out by trying too many times, and I have to wait 24 hours before it will work.
So now I'm waiting until tomorrow. But Jam Sessions and Kengo come out tomorrow, and I'm a little tired of trying to buy Warhawk.
Joshua @ Sep 10th 2007 11:59PM
Ahhh, man. That's harsh. You could have bought the retail version, though. ;)
Yeah, and the PS3 on-screen keyboard inserting spaces when you press Start (for Enter) is really strange and annoying.
fester @ Sep 11th 2007 12:27AM
No single player...hmmm...nothing to see here...NEXT!
fester @ Sep 11th 2007 1:17AM
So that explains why WALLY and EBs walls are lined six deep with WARHAWK-it looked like the most popular game on the planet-but really, folks- it's....it's...[cough]not...selling...well sheee-it!! [cough] lol
Jtenma @ Sep 11th 2007 8:54AM
I downloaded mine, what are you trying to say?
Matt B @ Sep 11th 2007 9:59AM
VGcharts has tracked the sales of over 100,000 units at retail. That is not counting the number who downloaded. If I would throw a low guess out there, it would be between 150-200k.
I guess the only thing not selling shee-it is your bull.
umm....hello??? @ Sep 11th 2007 1:21AM
sheppy-
If that's the case (local splitscreen/LAN MP), then I'm picking up my copy the next time CC or BB have it on sale. it'll be nice to add a 2nd game to my PS3 collection.
psaakyrn @ Sep 11th 2007 2:05AM
....
You bought a PS3 for only 1 game? o.o
*seriously, just curious, what game was it which made you decide to buy a PS3 there and then, or is it the 60GB clearance which promted you?*
umm....hello??? @ Sep 11th 2007 4:34AM
well, I bought R:FOM but mainly bought it because my PS2 had broke 9 months prior to the PS3 release, so instead of buying the PS2 again, I waited for the PS3. I've rented a good number of BluRay titles (won't buy any HD-DVDs/BDs at their current prices), and have rented a few PS3 games, but am pretty much waiting for FFXIII, but now I can finally play FFXII and all my other PS2 games (Okami, Shadow of Colossus, etc). And yes, if I had waited long enough for the price drop I would've bought the 60gig (which I did when it came out) to ensure FULL backward compatibility (not the lame emulator crap)--at least Sony didn't pull an Apple (iPhone incident)!
also bought the Wii for one game (Zelda: TP) for pretty much the same reason (GameCube had disc read errors), but at least that has a number of good and fun games to break out when my friends come over, and now (finally) MP3 is out, and again, can play all my GC games.
...and please keep in mind I've been gaming since the Atari 2600/Commodore64 era, so I'd say I'm fairly hardcore.
Simstim @ Sep 11th 2007 6:22AM
@umm....hello??? Y'know, most of the games available on warhawk are hosted by players not Sony, and if you have a decent connection you can host a 24 max player game just fine. And you can play with up to 4 people on one TV via splitscreen mode.
Also Warhawk has a LAN game option and you don't have to play it with SIXAXIS on, I hate how motion control has been implemented in most games (save the Folklore demo) and the VTOL jets control just fine with analog. In fact the default setting for motion control is set to off.
What else? You can set air stunts and movements (loops and rolls) to free style or use a more controled version of it. The game is very well balanced, there is no cheap weapons or vehicles that have an unfair advantage. Really, if you are playing CTF or Zone Mode it requires teamwork to win the game.
Before purchasing Warhawk I was afraid ground combat would just be tacked on with a focus on the air fights, but its not! All I do is ground combat stuff, I rarely touch the Warhawks.
The game is FUN, if you have a PS3 and a decent internet connection you should get it.
HB96st @ Sep 11th 2007 2:26AM
Why would they drop a demo?? the game doesn't have Bots! And if I was to play against other people for the demo, why bother getting the full game??
As for Halo not having bots either, Halo has something called A STORY MODE. -way better than playing against bots don't you think?
Todd Rabanus @ Sep 11th 2007 2:52AM
I've never played warhawk. don't have a ps3. but can't a demo consist of only one stage/level and limited weapons. just a taste of the game? If PS3/PSN wants to catch up with XBLive/360 then they gotta offer the end user with some options. Can somebody please list me some system sellers for the PS3 (games that are out not MGS4/FF1000). A demo should be out for this game because its the only money bringer they got right now. Why the IPO?
Simstim @ Sep 11th 2007 6:32AM
I went to three gamestops before I found a copy, and it was the last one, they had to take the display box and repackage it. Also there is no point buying a hard copy for $20 more except to get the headset, alot of people are just digitally downloading it.
But like your post this is [cough].... is... [cough] anecdotal lol
blooh @ Sep 11th 2007 10:55AM
you fucking idiot
just go to bestbuy, they almost always have tons of copies of new games, and they're mint in box :)
Simstim @ Sep 11th 2007 12:47PM
I had gift cards you fucking idoit:)
Mr BoomStick XL @ Sep 11th 2007 8:09AM
Sky_Shark, well said my friend!! Again, not to beat the horse dead but this is why WE pay for LIVE and the old saying "You get what you pay for". Yes, I'm glad that Sony offers a FREE service but it is so lacking in the quality department it's a sad site!! The reason there were no demo's for LAIR and War Hawk is because Sony realized how bad they really are!!
jtenma @ Sep 11th 2007 8:49AM
Woah, woah, stop it right there, Warhawk isnt bad, Lair is.
Dont group the two together.
Bobby Ensminger @ Sep 11th 2007 9:44AM
A "demo" of this game would just not do the game justice. And for saying the shelves are "lined up with copies" at Wal-Mart or wherever, well I downloaded mine, as I'm sure many have as well.
Also badmouth Lair all you want. But dissing Warhawk for it's "motion sensor" controller means you haven't played it. Because you can turn it off.
And anyone who is badmouthing Warhawk just because it's on PS3 (OMGZ!!!!!!!), again, means you haven't played it and are obviously very ignorant to the fact that Warhawk is pretty awesome.
This game and Halo 3 are quite simply going to last me far past 2007.
Nate @ Sep 11th 2007 12:07PM
Just since there seems to be some confusion. There is definitely 4 player split screen. Those four players can play a local game on the local PS3 (which other PS3s on the LAN could join), or go online to play on an online server.
I played it with 4 friends over labor day, it was a hell of a lot of fun just the four of us on our own local server, maybe next time we'll go play as a team online and see what kind of damage we can do. You can even play on opposite teams if the server hasn't been set up to prevent it.
Awesome game. I'm still getting used to the ground FPS stuff with the dual analogs, but the aircraft control is fantastic. You can toggle between the left analog stick and motion control for pitch and turning, the right stick does loops and barrel rolls, and there's a toggle between "pro mode" and standard, where standard keeps your point of view level with the horizon and always makes sure your plane ends up right side up, and pro mode lets you fly around sideways, upside down, whatever, and keeps your point of view level with the plane.
It's fantastic. Get it. You won't be sorry.
umm....hello??? @ Sep 11th 2007 2:27PM
SimStim and Nate-
Thanks for the info...dunno why I didn't pick up on all that info on Joystiq!?! before, but am DEFINITELY picking up a copy this week.