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Demo Open Letter

[Dec 16, 2003, 11:58 am ET] - Share - Viewing Comments

Open Letter on Exclusive Demos on 3D Gamers is a follow-up that can also be found on a number of other gaming sites, recalling the open letter that prompted the non-exclusive release of the Call of Duty demo (story). Upon the recent exclusive Armed & Dangerous demo (story) the websites who have signed on to this coalition have made the following commitment: "Therefore, in an effort to end this once and for all, the following gaming websites (together representing 19 million unique visitors per month) have agreed not to host any exclusive demos anymore, even after they eventually become public." We (the editorial we) believe this cause is in the best interest of the gaming community and game developers/publishers as well, so here's hoping it has the desired effect.

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73.

Re: whiners

Dec 17, 2003, 20:31

Hump

I don't think the issue is bandwidth and who can handle it. Also, comparing a print story exclusive to a piece of software is misleading as well.

An exclusive in print media is "exclusive" only up until its finally made public, then it becomes public domain. The publication that runs the story in every case I know of doesn't threaten the other competing journos with litigation as GSI has done with the community sites that mirrored one of their "exclusives".

I don't think there would be any issue if GSI simply got an exclusive by way of being the first to host a popular demo then letting the sites in question mirror it afterwards. GSI would get the lions share of the attention while the rest of the community benefits and can share in the enjoyment of a publishers product. Of course the smaller sites could also garner exclusive staus while allowing mirrors as well. Nobody gets shut out and everyone is happy.

Lastly, while my heart may be bleeding everywhere, I'd like to state that the PC community formed around games like Quake and flourished because of mutual respect and goodwill, not by stepping on the neck of the next guy. If you want to call it whining, go ahead but these sites certainly have the right to fight to keep themselves afloat.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Currently Playing: Armed and Dangerous, Dues Ex 2, U2:XMP, Hotly Anticipating: Crashday, Soldner, UT2004, Far Cry Pondering: Second Life




---------------------------------------------------------------------- "Both the “left” and the “right” pretend they have the answer, but they are mere flippers on the same thalidomide baby, and the truth is that neither side has a clue." - Jim Goad

Subject

Comment [quote="Hump"Dec 17, 2003, 20:31]I don't think the issue is bandwidth and who can handle it. Also, comparing a print story exclusive to a piece of software is misleading as well. An exclusive in print media is "exclusive" only up until its finally made public, then it becomes public domain. The publication that runs the story in every case I know of doesn't threaten the other competing journos with litigation as GSI has done with the community sites that mirrored one of their "exclusives". I don't think there would be any issue if GSI simply got an exclusive by way of being the first to host a popular demo then letting the sites in question mirror it afterwards. GSI would get the lions share of the attention while the rest of the community benefits and can share in the enjoyment of a publishers product. Of course the smaller sites could also garner exclusive staus while allowing mirrors as well. Nobody gets shut out and everyone is happy. Lastly, while my heart may be bleeding everywhere, I'd like to state that the PC community formed around games like Quake and flourished because of mutual respect and goodwill, not by stepping on the neck of the next guy. If you want to call it whining, go ahead but these sites certainly have the right to fight to keep themselves afloat. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- b[Currently Playing]b: Armed and Dangerous, Dues Ex 2, U2:XMP, b[Hotly Anticipating]b: Crashday, Soldner, UT2004, Far Cry b[Pondering]b: Second Life [/quote]

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