No pre-order? Killzone 2 demo available February 26

by Andrew Yoon on Jan 15th 2009 11:30AM

Don't want to bother pre-ordering Killzone 2 at GameStop? Still want the Killzone 2 demo? Well, you're going to have to wait until February 26, one day before the game officially hits store shelves.

MTV Multiplayer asked SCEA why the early demo is restricted to those that are most interested in buying the game. Scott Steinberg offered a response: "Offering a playable demo to motivate preorders speaks to our confidence in the appeal of a game such as Killzone 2. We take this approach when we are convinced that the experience will cement a consumer's interest in purchasing."

Source

Tags: demo, gamestop, killzone, killzone-2

Reader Comments (61)

Wow, That is pretty stupid! If they wanted to 'cement' my purchase, they should release the demo at least a week before the game comes out... SO I CAN PLAY IT.

Besides, most people who preorder already have cemented their purchase.

Just a dumb move. No excuses.

Just what I was thinking. If you've already preordered, it showed you were already willing to money on the purchase; that does nothing to help secure a wider audience.

Then again, it is Sony... For all they've done in this industry, they still seem to make some weird decisions every so often...

While I was going to agree with you, I thought about it a bit more.

1. This move will convince more people to pre-order just so they can get their hands on the demo first.

2. They're still making the demo available to everyone the day before release, and while there will be a large amount of people buying on the release date, these are people who are already planning to buy, so a demo wouldn't be much influence here.

3. The majority of sales will be after it's release, and they are still providing a demo for those not planning to buy on the release date. These are the people most likely to play the demo, and a vast majority of them probably aren't aware of the exact release date anyway, or aren't in a hurry to get the game.

So, yes, I agree that this is a prick move, but its logically sound. It just sucks for those of us not planning to pre-order (although I'd love to, but I can't afford it).

Also, I'd imagine this would not work for every game, as Killzone 2 has a huge amount of hype behind it, as well as the kind of genre that it is. To contrast, Uncharted had a demo a substantial amount of time before the game was released, but a lot of this had to do with it being a new franchise from a developer that has not worked in shooter genre before. Also, it has some uncertainty to how the game will play because its a relatively unexplored/unperfected genre mix. It didn't help that it was similar to Tomb Raider, which as we all know has been going down the drain, so people were wary.

I'm not going to read most of the comments here, because I'm sure everybody is saying that it's stupid to offer an early demo to people who are already going to buy the game. But I'm pretty positive that everyone has failed to realize: you can preorder the game, get the demo, and CANCEL YOUR RESERVE AND GET A REFUND IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE DEMO. It really isn't that big of a deal. I don't understand what all the fuss is about.

another dumb Sony marketing plan. Just plan dumb and its going to byte them in the ass. Not everybody can get to a gamestop for a pre order. Yeah hardcore gamers will pick up the game but the average joe isn't even going to know the game is out because Sony doesn't market worth a damn. They are doing the same thing they did with LBP and we saw how that turned out first week sales.

That's not too bad, if you can play it the day before, well...you can play before it comes out. Besides, you have to realize not all people buy games the day, week, or even month the game comes out. If the demo was released, lets, say 1 or 2 months after, you have a problem.

If Sony gets a little financial kick-back or free advertising deal from Gamestop to help them with their financial woes I am all for it.

In all honesty, it does make some sense. For someone how already decided to buy the game, playing a demo 3 weeks in advance wouldn't reduce your enthusiasm for the game at launch. On the other hand, for someone who hasn't decided to buy the game, your enthusiasm is peaked and you can impulsively buy the game the next day.

Yeah, I think this strategy used by Patapon, Mirror's Edge, Killzone 2, LocoRoco 2, etc. is stupid. I can see why they think it's smart, but I am a customer who does not respond well to that.... Well.... Okay, okay, I fell for it when it came to Patapon and ME, but that's because I was pretty sure I already wanted them. But when it comes to games like Killzone 2 and LocoRoco 2, I'm not yet sure of them, and I will not consider buying them at all until I play demos of them, so until I get one, no sale.

Though since I'm so short on money, I may have to wait for a sale anyway...

Also, when it comes to the preorder demos of Patapon and ME, I learned the hard way that those demos ended up being free after the release anyway.

(By the way, yes, there was a free prerelease demo of ME, but the Time Trial mode was locked unless you preordered it, but now that's it's out, it's unlocked for everyone.)

I don't really get why people are upset. If you were on the fence about buying the game you still get to play a demo to decide if you like it or not.

Are people just mad because they don't get it as early as everyone else?

I completely argee with you! meh. these people...are...you know (cough) P (cough) M (cough) S (sneeze).

everyone really need to be cool down, man. *face palm*

Ta-Da, KZ2!

No. That is not why a majority of us are mad... I hope...

I personally am mad that you have to preorder the game to get a demo. Which should be open to everyone. BEFORE the game is out. One day is an insignificant amount of time. Except in "24".

I would get this game on DAY ONE if I had access to the demo (and it was good) at least a week before the games release.
That is why I am mad.

But the game isn't going anywhere you still can play the demo and if you like it get the game. I am just happy there is a demo in the first place. Most high profile titles don't even give you the option.

"One day is an insignificant amount of time."

It's really not when a demo typically takes 10-25 minutes to beat.

Well. The game is not going anywhere, but I will be. I am leaving Mid-April or May for some foreign schooling. My ps3 will not be coming along for the trip.

I want the demo, so I can justify picking up the game on day one, so I have maximum play time with it.

Also, since you said that you are happy there is even a demo... Think about what this could do to the industry. Developers may think it is OK not to have an open demo, and just have one for people who preorder. Meaning less and less demos. Bad example I know, but this is the way its heading. And people like me will just rent games, or avoid them all together.

Good points ZenGaijin. You are on the money about most major titles not giving you the option of a demo.

I don't see why people are saying one day is an not enough time. You log on to PSN the night before the game is released and download the demo. You can probably finish it in less than an hour. If you like it, you go to the store the next day and buy it.

Do these people complaining just want to play the demo millions of times, over and over again, before the game comes out? Do they not have something else to occupy their time whether it be another game, a movie, a book, a life?

I can see my point is going way over your guys heads. Let me just put it out here:

Since you said that you are happy there is even a demo... Think about what this could do to the industry. Developers may think it is OK not to have an open demo, and just have one for people who preorder. Meaning less and less demos. Bad example I know, but this is the way its heading. Are they so ashamed of their game that they do not want the public to see it?

One day is not enough time? What if I have plans?
On my slow internet connection it will take me at least 3 hours to dl the demo, and another to play it. IF I liked it, and decide to go to the store to pick it up... they are sold out? NO!! I must wait one more week for another shipment? NO!!
I would get it at Wal-Mart seeing as I have a gift card for them. And my neighborhood is a Target, nearest Wal-Mart is almost an hour away. So no. One day is not enough time.

Thank you. Come again.

Your argument still makes no sense you make it seem that if you can't play the demo as soon as possible you'll never be able to make up your mind if you're going to buy they game or not. If thats your problem then there life isn't going to be very easy for you. Spare me the "my point is going over your heads" comment your argument doesn't make much sense in the first place.

Your comments about future demos use the "slippery slope" mentality. As I said before I'm surprised there is a demo at all and I'm going to try it out before I decide on a purchase of KZ2.

Tyler, a friggen lot of games have been sold that didn't have demos. It's not the end of the world.

So, if the game store sold out, you would wait another week to buy the game. The end result is that you still bought the game. Marketing doesn't care if you're mad and you still buy the game.

Tyler, based on your argument your one day may not be enough to address your needs and wants but you are not seeing two things.

First, the game is still there, its not going anywhere for at least the next two or three years.

Two, you are in the very, very, very, small minority of gamers who must have the game first day and/or play the demo well in advance. I would predict that 99% of gamers will not be affected by this at all. They will try the demo at their leisure and purchase like so.

If the kickback Sony gets allows them to invest more in games, PSN, firmware updates, etc. I dont see the downside.

The answer to your question is...

"Yes, no pre-order." Eff Gamestop. Pretty soon I'll have to sign over my firstborn in order to play demo's...stupid.

HAzeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee :D i kid
I really hope it sells well so devs can have his investment back :S

That's retarded, they shouldn't even have a demo period! Demos can suffer sales. Personally, if you want to play it, buy it, that's how I feel about it. Then maybe a year later they should release a demo.

Just like Halo 1

IMO that would be smarter, MY OPINION!

As long as the demo comes out before the game, what's the problem? Some PS3 demos hit the PS Store 3 MONTHS after the games release.

TBH, I couldn't care less about the KZ2 demo. I'm buying the game anyway.

How can such a thing as this lead some of you people to write such ridiculous comments?

I didn't preorder the game, and will download the demo when it is available. I'll play it for a week - if I like it enough I'll buy the game.

Please tell me where Sony's strategy is flawed?

You bring up some good points, but there are some problems...

1. People will preorder the game just for the demo, then cancel the preorder... I was thinking of doing this, but I am currently penny pinching between paychecks. I also have a Wal-Mart gift card I would purchase it with.

2. From the amount of hype this game is getting, I would get it on release date. But I do not know anything about how it plays, so I will not. If there was a demo on PSN, more casual gamers may see it and try it out. If they liked it, they may even preorder it. Boosting day1 sales.

Also. Let us not forget that Killzone(1) played like $#!^

Even though people say they fixed that... Many people (including myself) who were not in the beta still don't know.

Oops.. This was supposed to be a reply to WICKO...

"People will preorder the game just for the demo, then cancel the preorder"

People are inherently lazy. If they pre-order a game and enjoy the demo, they aren't going to go back and cancel it unless they have a really good reason to.

"If there was a demo on PSN, more casual gamers may see it and try it out."

Casual gamers usually aren't there for the day one sales. Casual gamers are the ones that you see looking around in a GameStop or wandering the Best Buy game aisles. They'll play the demo and if they think it's good, they'll pick it up the next time their out. If they release a demo 2 weeks before the game comes out, the casual gamer might forget about it or try to go to the store before the game is actually out to buy it.

heres my thought. Sony and Guerrilla are so confident in their game that they believe that letting people play a demo before its release will not affect their sales negatively. They believe that people will pre-order the game JUST to get their hands on the Demo early, and once they play the demo they will be hooked and will buy the game.... therefore not influencing sales on "day one" negatively.

It's more of the logical sense of it.

Basically, Sony isn't providing any special in forms of DLC for KZ2, so the only next (logical) thing they could think of was releasing a demo (which will be the same for everyone) only for those who are already going to buy it. Logically, it makes no sense from a marketing standpoint b/c a demo is for those who haven't pre-ordered the game and are on the fence about buying it (for $60 or less later on). IMO, Sony should have given away some form of DLC that could be attained at a future date or even unlocking an extra level or mode in the KZ2 demo.

Either way I think they are making a mistake when it comes to their marketing execution, but that's not stopping me from buying this amazing title.

Oops, forgot to add the early for those who pre-ordered and the day before launch for everyone else.

"demo is for those who haven't pre-ordered the game and are on the fence about buying it "

But your looking at it as if everybody that plays the demo will buy it.

From a marketing standpoint, if a casual gamer walks into a Gamestop and sees ads posted everywhere saying that you can play the demo if you pre-order it, marketing just gave that potential buyer more incentive to check it out.

For the casual gamer, incentive doesn't come from gaming blogs or reviews, they get it while they are wandering around the mall.

IMO, demo's are really for those who haven't yet been sold about buying the game (meaning not pre-ordering it or would pass it up without it since don't know enough about it to spend the $ on it). Idk, maybe I'm looking at it only from my perspective, but I just think they should've added more to the pre-order bonus for such a flagship title (exclusive DLC, future DLC offerings, etc.).

I thought that the Killzone 2 demo is going to be available on the European PSN Store at least a week before the game is available at retail.

So... why doesn't every PS3 owner just pony up and make a European PSN? Seriously people. It takes no more than two minutes of your time.

Also, I discovered that the European Store also has a 'Trial' (demo) of Wipeout HD.

FOR EVERYONE THATS GETTING BUTT HURT ABOUT THE DEMO COMMING OUT THE 26TH.

first and formost it shouldnt matter when the demo comes out. Download the demo play it and go get the game if you like it. you dont have to get the game first when it first comes out. it will always be there.

and 2nd if your such in a rush to get the demo. make a euro acct.. and download the demo. Theres been rumors saying the demo will come out early for the euro people.

there you go. and once you download the demo, delete the euro acct. and the demo should be on your normal acct. have fun Ladys.

So what's Gamestop's pre-order cancellation policy?

I pre-order, get my demo code, play the demo for a few days, cancel the pre-order. No problems.

I think I might have to get store credit for the deposit, but that's $5 that I can easily use towards another game purchase.

PBone, so bring backt he code. Shouldn't be a problem.

Yeah, because that no demo thing really did a number on Gears of War...

^ it's easy. You can buy and cancel without penalty.

The problem here is that (a) people are too lazy to be bothered doing the return (b) people feel morally bad about making the return of (c) some people are so cash-strapped that they can't front the money to get the demo and then do the return.

I'm very worried about people at (c) b/c you'd think there would be bigger problems in to worry about than a freaken KZ2 demo...

I pre-order the game and i went back a week later to cancel my pre-order and gamestop wouldnt let me. he said I had to bring back my demo code. Soo it wouldnt work that way.

Everyone is missing the most essential part of this whole argument.... read on.

First of all... What is the point of a demo?
To increase sales through exposure.
The longer the demo is out, the more sales that Sony could potentially generate from it. One day before release is not enough time to do anything. I know that the game is not going anywhere... but lets face it in this day and age there are so many high profile games coming out all the time (RE 5??) and if they dont make the sales in week 1 or even month 1 the possibility of swaying people who are planning on purchasing other titles is unlikely (since they will be closer or even go through other high profile release dates)
Bottom line is... there is absolutely no reason to limit demo play to people who are already buying the game, it doesn't help drum up sales figures or anything else, period.

everyone who has access to a gamestop can put down $5, get the demo, then cancel their pre-order and get their loot back. if they don't like the game of course. now if only GS would get the damn demo in already!

you cant do that. I tryed that and the gamestop employee i needed to bring back my demo card. without the code showing.

Thats a No go.

I don't see the problem here... I guess Sony is trying to keep 2nd week sales up too with a "late" demo release... has some of you mention, a lot of people (me included) are going to get the game on day one and those other that have doubts about it after playing the demo will go to buy the game on the next week... so It's not stupid at all ;)

well i was gonig to buy the game 100% but now theres a demo coming i will obviously try it first, now while very unlikely but if for some odd reason i dont like and its not what iv been expecting then i wont buy it, so demo's can have a negative impact on games sales too, so from my perspective im gratefull were getting a demo so early and that were even getting one at all, at least i can try before i buy which alot of games dont let you do

NEVER HAHA

I don't think you're allowed to call anyone a dumb ass when you can't even spell "losing".

Use an SCEE account and get the demo. Pre-Order the Amazon one and get the Home Costume.

I personally am not mad at this, because, well i've got a pre-order, what i'm actually mad at is the fact that they called me yesterday to pick up my Code (ebgames in Canada)saying your Demo for Killzone 2 is ready, well buses in Ottawa are on strike so it's very hard to get around without a car, so I finally managed to go to the ebgames and it's only available for download on February 2nd. I knew from reading up that it would be on that date but was hoping it was an early release and would get to play it. but sadly it doesn't work yet. so now I get to look at my code everyday waiting in anticipation. Kinda annoying but I didn't wanna risk the employees giving away KZ2 codes and them running out like they did for my LBP costume code.

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No pre-order? Killzone 2 demo available February 26

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