Resident Evil 5 demo taken offline

by James Ransom-Wiley { Dec 10th 2008 at 6:26PM }

The Resident Evil 5 demo's online co-op mode is no longer accessible outside of Japan, reports X3F. While our friends have not verified the mode's status inside Japan, X3F confirms that users outside of Japan are auto-magically signed out of Xbox Live upon launching the demo, which is, officially, only available in Japan. But a workaround makes the content accessible worldwide, and a built-in English language option further fuels the temptation. C'mon, everybody else is doing it ...

It seems, though, that Microsoft is now filtering IP addresses that connect to the demo's servers, apparently denying any that don't originate from Japan. Stopping short of redirecting your Xbox Live connection through a proxy server (note: it may sound like we know what we're talking about -- but we really have no idea), demo players outside of Japan will have to settle for offline play until the official releases hit their regions. Look at it this way: it beats being banned.

Tags: japan, re5, resident-evil-5, resident-evil-5-demo, xbox-live

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Heh @ Dec 10th 2008 6:31PM

DAMMIT!

You got me this time MS, but I'll find a way..just you watch.

Foetoid @ Dec 10th 2008 8:14PM

Anyone can still play the demo:

http://www.my360.com.au/Post.aspx?id=7068

Move 3/4 of the way down the page to the Rapidshare links and follow the instructions. I've played the demo, and i live in Australia. This method works perfectly, and being a disk-based demo, you won't get banned. It's resonably long loading tho, so be patient.

Cj @ Dec 10th 2008 6:31PM

That pic is so true. No one would talk. I think NXE is the culprit. Party chats have made XBL so quiet lately. Even when I say Konichiwa to the Japanese players they snub me. RE5 is so far so quiet. Is this the fear??????

Haggard @ Dec 10th 2008 6:31PM

NO! You're not playing this promotional material! Not now, not ever!

Eh @ Dec 10th 2008 6:37PM

Its amazing how much money theyll spend in man hours just trying to stop people from enjoying a free demo from another country. Nice priorities.

CTC XBL-supapaypamawio PSN-ctclaw @ Dec 10th 2008 6:45PM

Right...I'm sure it takes entire teams of people at Microsoft 100's of hours just to filter out IP's not coming from Japan.

Hashbrown Hunter @ Dec 10th 2008 7:22PM

His point is that it's a waste of time. Cut him some slack

CTC XBL-supapaypamawio PSN-ctclaw @ Dec 10th 2008 8:04PM

My point is that in the time it took you to write your comment Microsoft could've blocked IP's from anywhere.

Eh @ Dec 11th 2008 1:00AM

That makes sense, it must have taken them 5 days to block other countries because they just found out about it today. Because if theres one thing that companies as big as Microsoft do its making quick decisions that dont involve a lot of people.

JoeTheBlow @ Dec 11th 2008 5:07AM

You really don't know much about IT in the corporate world, do you?
Doing something as "simple", and it isnt, as blocking entire IP blocks is something that requires tons of meetings, tests, and submissions for approvals.

Not just some guy getting a call on the red phone and flicking a switch.

CTC XBL-supapaypamawio PSN-ctclaw @ Dec 11th 2008 12:29PM

Considering that I do IT in the corporate world, yes I know exactly how easy it is.

Otimus @ Dec 10th 2008 6:38PM

This is so unfair and stupid and absolutely not defendable.

Shame on you Microsoft.
Shame on you Capcom.

Thanks for letting fans down, good job!

Probably going to offer it with some sort of promotion aren't you? Or you've got some stupid promotion plan, eh?

I wish I could hear some PR Goon defend this.. and then I'd wish he'd swiftly get kicked in the balls.

Hala Madrid!! (THE BIRD IS THE WORD!!) @ Dec 10th 2008 7:05PM

Calm down is just a demo, you'll get the full game next year.

Otimus @ Dec 10th 2008 7:46PM

I don't care. It's absolutley inexcusable when the demo is complete, and turns into the english version of the game when played under a US account and such. It's absurd and is flat out inexcusable.

Foetoid @ Dec 10th 2008 8:08PM

serotoninzero @ Dec 11th 2008 2:52PM

Woah man. Settle, it will be okay. What's the difference? Ten years ago, Japan was getting all the demos way before we did on the PSX too. At least there's work arounds now. You can still play the demo. Just not over XBL. I sat down with a friend and played it for like three hours split screen and it worked out fine. Was really fun.

SecretAgentHam @ Dec 10th 2008 6:42PM

dammit! and they didnt add a System Link feature in the demo. i hope its added in the game...

sucks i cant play this with my roomate. at least i've got split screen...horrible horrible split screen. even on my 50 inch sammy. =(

juju187 @ Dec 10th 2008 6:42PM

I wouldnt want american ruining my game as well...
+1 japan

Moorio - XBL: peacebyanymeans @ Dec 10th 2008 7:02PM

What?

Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Dec 10th 2008 7:21PM

Apparently segregation is a 1+

Strategy_Panda (the artist formally known as Titanium_Orchid) @ Dec 10th 2008 8:12PM

damn round eyes, clogging up out servers

mcatrage @ Dec 10th 2008 8:13PM

So theres only 2 countries in the entire world now?

Michael @ Dec 10th 2008 9:14PM

What about Canadians?? :D

Strategy_Panda (the artist formally known as Titanium_Orchid) @ Dec 10th 2008 9:28PM

round eyes

Mister Servo @ Dec 11th 2008 2:38AM

Canada's not a real country, the world just likes to let them think they are. :)

Razorlution @ Dec 10th 2008 6:45PM

What does it matter??

Jakka ( The Order of Haters of Balance) @ Dec 10th 2008 6:46PM

Use a proxy.Play RE5 Demo.Profit!

At least now you know what motherf*cking Hulu feels like :'(

Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Dec 10th 2008 7:22PM

I don't know why but Proxies don't work for Hulu anymore.I can't watch Familiy guy anymore (God Bless the guy uploading all the new chapters in Megavideo).

Brodo @ Dec 10th 2008 7:15PM

well this sucks

Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Dec 10th 2008 7:25PM

Region locked content always sucks so hard (Why Adult Swim.com,Why?)

Mr Khan @ Dec 10th 2008 10:17PM

In Adult Swim's case it's a licensing issue. They can't show some of that stuff outside America legally.

Pedobear @ Dec 10th 2008 7:32PM

I haven't even been able to grab the demo even though I'm on my gold jappo account.

Foetoid @ Dec 10th 2008 8:18PM

RUSKULL @ Dec 10th 2008 7:44PM

In other news, Capcom is going to begin preventing anyone not living in Japan from downloading trailers, or reading about Res 5, or buying the game altogether.

I think I may be banned from the game altogether simply by commenting on this forbidden game.

Leo McKelvin @ Dec 10th 2008 7:51PM

This is so dumb. Causing people to go to great length to play a DEMO. Its ready so just release it already. thanks.

HippoHero @ Dec 10th 2008 8:56PM

Why would Microsoft want people not playing their demo?
HippoHero cannot understand it. Seems like racism.
HippoHero doesn't mind, though; he can't play video games in his home marsh anyway.

Orionsaint @ Dec 10th 2008 9:05PM

I'm playing the demo off a DVD-R disc and playing online and experiencing no problems.

Pics - http://flickr.com/photos/orionfotos/

Kael @ Dec 10th 2008 9:22PM

In a world where game makers put together a presentation for an industry event and invite press from around the world to see their game... behind closed doors and make the press sign strict agreements to never, ever divulge what was shown there to another soul, actively shutting down and preventing several nations full of potential customers from playing a promotional version of their game already translated into English makes perfect sense.

Strategy_Panda (the artist formally known as Titanium_Orchid) @ Dec 10th 2008 9:30PM

its all part of the plan.... *wink* -.o

Miles @ Dec 10th 2008 9:29PM

Remember when Star Wars Unleashed was announced as the highest downloaded XB360 demo? Do you think you're able to make statements like that without being a little accurate?

If Microsoft is showing Japanese developers that their games are being downloaded on Japanese 360s they better be proving that only JAPANESE gamers are doing it. They probably have an obligation to send these guys accurate results.

Us doing the ole "end-around" and screwing up their results probably isn't what Microsoft or Capcom want done when trying to gauge how many potential customers they'll have in JAPAN.

Does it still seem like such an "inexcusable" reason to block our IPs?

Kael @ Dec 11th 2008 1:11AM

Good idea, but since they can detect our country of origin through Live, quantifying interest for the demo in specific regions couldn't be a problem for them even now. There's got to be just some pointless bureaucratic stupidity that prevents them from making the rational decision here, but we'll probably never know what it is.