Monster Hunter Tri releases April 20, will be free to play [update]

Update: Capcom sent word that the Monster Hunter Tri demo disc will be freely available to any GameStop patron starting March 8. If you pre-order the game, you'll also get a 500 Wii Points card.

Original post: At today's Nintendo Media Summit, Nintendo dropped some pertinent details about Capcom's very successful and Wii Speak-compatible hunt-em-up, Monster Hunter Tri. The game will release on April 20 in North America as two versions: bundled with a Classic Controller Pro for $59.99 (while supplies last) and as a standalone game for $49.99. The game will also ditch the pay-to-play model for online play, as used in Japan, in favor of free online functionality. ~~Additionally,~~ ~~GameStop~~ ~~pre-orderers will receive a demo disc on March 8.~~ Additionally, GameStop will offer free demo discs starting March 8 and those who pre-order will get themselves a card with 500 Wii Points on it.

Considering Capcom was beating itself up over whether or not to charge for online play, we're glad the publisher finally came around and went with the option that requires us to spend less money. Just imagine -- with all the money we'll save, we can import even more delicious ramen!

Monster Hunter Tri

Reader Comments (42)

Nintendo's goin' buck wild today...

Duh, they're having a media summit.

Well, of course.

But who really expects this kind of activity from Nintendo, even at an event?

**** YES!

2010: The fall of the wallet

Jezus. The Wii's lineup has never looked this good.
March: Cave Story
April: Monster Hunter 3
May: Mario Galaxy 2
June: Metroid, Sin & Punishment

Incredible, for me at least.

The Wii's lineup has never looked this good...

Until they announce the new Zelda

alright capcom.. just tell us what didn't make it in the US release... i know you removed something! too good to be true...

I think a black hole is opening up.. Too many awesome games so close together. Armageddon is nigh!

Great news, though I'm disappointed that the Demo Disk is only for pre-orders.

I'm not well that depends on what you can do with the demo. The hours you put into the demo will your stats and items be carried over? If so then shit I may drop the deposit on the game. But if the demo is only for just checking things out for a few mins then it isn't anything worth going crazy over.

Please note: The Demo is NOT just for people who pre-order!! They will be freely available at GameStop (and you can actually get them from their community site) starting March 8.

picked up the demo yesterday while my brother picked up his reserved copy of the new Final Fantasy.

You choose from two missions, either kill some "-drome" type raptor, (he behaves like an actual wyvern, i think he's new for the series) or this weird looking frog-like wyvern that mimics the call of other monsters to send them against you. (It reminds me of a green Kut-ku with a big red bloated breast.)

As for your character, you cannot create your own, they give you a choice of premades for each weapon type available.

YESSSSSSSH!

Day 1 purchase.

GREAAATTT.... now where's my black wii

In Japan.

In europe

In AUSTRALIAAAA HERE WE GOOOooo

Wait, the demo disc is only for people who have already pre-ordered the game? Doesn't that kind of defeat the purpose? I want to try it before I decide whether or not to spend money on it.

(Copy & pasted from my comment above)

Please note: The Demo is NOT just for people who pre-order. They will be freely available at GameStop (and you can actually get them from Capcom's community site) starting March 8.

The two gamestops where I live refuse to give them out without a preorder

Holy crap I may have to dig out my Wii :D

Smart move. Who in their right minds with pay for Nintendo online serives?! Let alone for a niche title that I doubt will see record numbers anyway.

With the marketing effort Nintendo and Capcom are putting into this, there is very little chance that MHT will be just a "niche title."

Its not using Nintendo's online service. Capcom has their own set up just for this game.

@Mr. Fister

First time for everything I suppose.

Monster Hunter online on the Wii? Come on.. I want 1080p. I mean, I have a Wii, but boy do most games look ugly on my 46" HDTV. WiiHD or I f****ing quit, Nintendo.

Free online = sold.

Quite simple. Smart work, Capcom.

I think it'll be interesting to see if more Wii games have both online and Wii speak w/no friend codes.

Hmmm, I might actually buy more than one game for my Wii this year.

Yeah ... probably 3 games here this year on Wii. Thats assuming they get positive feedback.

Yup, I'm thinking of grabbing this, the new metroid and mario. For me that's a lot of Nintendo games to look forward to at once.

OMG. Going to preorder this. Last time I preordered a game was Gran Turismo PSP back when it was announced.

Supposedly they're ditching it for this game or at least in GBR. See here.

http://www.capcom-unity.com/snow_infernus/blog/2010/02/23/monster_hunter_tri_101_video

Nintendolife also just said in their article about this that WiiSpeak IS confirmed for the NA release! So...no friend codes online play...WiiSpeak support...free online...damn, this year is getting better and better for Nintendo... Started off with a bang...and it looks to keep on rolling! Now, I can't WAIT to see what kind of bomb they'll have to set off at E3!!

Rumor has it that Iwata is going to unveil blood sugar test strips to compliment the vitality sensor. Best. E3. Evar.

y do they keep pushing it back??... Japan been had it I'm ready to play!!!

There has to be a catch, the free online play...

The catch is you have to have fun. If the game ever detects that you are not having fun it will self-destruct. So be happy...or else!

I doubt there's any catch. It seems like Capcom and Nintendo are pushing this title to help cement Monster Hunter as a lucrative franchise in the West. By offering free online play, many more people will be willing to pick the game up since it will not come with a new monthly bill attached.

Conversely, in Japan the game is already part of an extremely successful franchise and will be purchased en masse whether online play is free or not. Capcom is basically investing in the future of this franchise in the West.

Well, OK, I suppose the catch is that many Western gamers may pick up the title, develop an unhealthy addiction to it and then be unable to resist Monster Hunter 4 when it's released with a subscription based model.

4/20 release date?

I'm gettin so baked and playing the hell out of this.

This'll be the first Wii game I buy since Resident Evil 4.

Can't wait for this shit.

Monster Hunter Tri releases April 20, will be free to play [update]

Monster Hunter Tri

Reader Comments (42)

Posted: Feb 24th 2010 1:34PM Ezio Auditore da Firenze said

Posted: Feb 24th 2010 1:35PM DBuckEye said

Posted: Feb 24th 2010 1:37PM Ezio Auditore da Firenze said

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