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This comment was deleted on Aug 29, 00:38.

This sucks, gayspy sucks and activision sucks!

First sensible comment you've made.

I think we're winning it back guys :)!
(if this has already been said then in that case I second the sentiment).

...to stop something which is unfair.

YES, God Damn a company for creating a promotion! How dare they let their customers have a little bonus to ensure continued business?! This is totally unfair because I want a bonus but don't want to pay for it! Nevermind I will get the demo a week later! This sucks, gayspy sucks and activision sucks!

[/sarcasm]

Scottish, I agree with you 100%. Not only that, but FilePlanet DOES offer free downloads if you simply register. Since you have to register for damn near every site on the internet anymore, I don't see how this could possily come as a shock to anyone. In fact, I'm pretty sure damn EVERY serious game file serving site requires you to register just like FilePlanet.

I just love the fear on the internet. People fear any succecssful company. It's like if you aren't slinging freeware, open source, or just plain struggling to make ends meet, then you MUST be an evil empire planning to steal our souls with your products and services. I call this the "Microsoft Syndrome". Just ask Linux diehards, they are all infected.

Fileplanet subscribers don't subscribe for these exclusive demos, they subscribe for the service Fileplanet offers.

And what do they offer you can't get at any of the "signed" websites? There are always mirrors somewhere that you don't have to wait in line. Exclusive demos are stupid and game companies just piss off the people that may buy their game.

Blue, and whichever webmasters of the participating sites are reading this: I urge you to ignore the trolls, the rants, the circle logic etc, and stick to this. This is the among the first signs of joint action I have seen on the part of the game community to stop something which is unfair. The websites listed provide (I assume) a very large, something like 70%, of the total bandwidth deidacted by gaming sites for demos. Without them, a bottleneck will occur, and we'll have 5 hour waiting lines at Fileplanet, just like for the Planetside trial. Stick to it, this is something worth seeing out.

The issue is with Activision and forcing users who wish to purchase their final product to pay to test it out.

You have not been forced to pay by Activision. If you want to play the demo a week early they you can choose to pay, if you want to play the demo when it is officially released then you can choose not to pay. Unfortunately, the undersigned have created a situation where you have to download the demo from fileplanet. Not exactly a good way to "strike back at their oppressors".

anyone up for some hot lesbian action...i know i am

So you have to wait a week or whatever to play a demo, big f***in deal

how about we all just go stfu and go look at pr0n and warez

even democrats and republicans get together to look at pr0n

do you really need us to pay to download a demo?

Then don't pay for the fucking demo and download it a week later when it is officially released. Fileplanet subscribers don't subscribe for these exclusive demos, they subscribe for the service Fileplanet offers. Exclusive demos are just icing on the cake that make the whole package more appealing.

This is a stupid move that may have some sort of altruistic benifit but it does absolutely nothing practical for the undersigned.

As Blue indicated, this is a preventative measure. They're thinking long-term.

~Steve

We are definitely trying to hurt the distribution of this free product. We don't want to work out a deal ourselves for an exclusive, though this is likely possible. We expect everything for free.

Do you work for Activision or Gamespy? Why the hell shouldn't gamers expect a demo for free the same time it's available at Fileplanet? If Activision, or any other company, wants to sell the game shouldn't they make it available to the widest audience?

You don't need to agree with their point of view, but there's no need to make ridiculous accusations like 'they're trying to cut down on board traffic', for Pete's sake!!

That wasn't supposed to be a rational explanation so much as a way of saying that there is no rational reason to do this. The undersigned have just shot themselves in the foot by helping Gamespy/Activision. Words may be powerful but the dollar is what governs here. The fact of the matter is this will just give more money to Gamespy (due to new subscribers) thus Activision will feel justified in charging Gamespy more for exclusives. This is a stupid move that may have some sort of altruistic benifit but it does absolutely nothing practical for the undersigned.

Well at least that was creative.

~Steve

Bah, I think you have it wrong.

I agree with Blues, etc. The exclusive deals like this really only hurt gamers. Why? Because we then have to goto one place to get something.

It's like wanting to buy a car, but you can only goto one car lot to find the car that you want. This in turn means that the supply is limited, so prices rise. It doesn't take a brain surgeon to realize that exclusivity of demos is a bad thing.

Dear Activision:

We the owners/operators of the following websites do not care about our community:

3D Downloads
3D Gamers
AusGamers
Blue's News
EdgeFiles (Callofduty.org)
FileFront
FileShack
GameGossip
Gamer's Hell
Loadedinc
Tiscali Games
WorthPlaying

We have vowed never to host your Call of Duty Gamespy exclusive demo, despite the fact that it has never been mentioned by you or anyone that this file would become more widely available. We don't know if you intend to issue a different demo to the population at large, meaning that only this demo and not all demoes will be exclusive, but we are a reactionary lot and believe in mob rule and intimidation.

We have decided to go ahead and force everyone to Fileplanet. Yes they are our strongest competitor, and no you have not done anything illegal or disrespectful, but it is clearly in our best interest to give them as much traffic as possible. We are reacting out of fear, and also some envy.

Feedback from our users (a random sampling of the most hardcore gamers who sign-up for internet message boards so they have a place to complain all day) has shown to be single-minded, selfish, and short-sighted. Based on this input, it is clear we are doing the right thing.

We are definitely trying to hurt the distribution of this free product. We don't want to work out a deal ourselves for an exclusive, though this is likely possible. We expect everything for free.

We like the attention this brings because it generates a lot of hits, and therefore more ad revenue, expecially at blue's news which has just significantly upped the number of ads. We will use this to supplement the revenue we would earn from the extra traffic generated by YOUR demo which we refuse to pay for. The more times our sheeple refresh the pages, the better.

We also intend to dupe our respective readerships into joining our obviously self-serving crusade.

Sincerly,
The oversigned.

Blue how come you put annoying banner ads all over the place that hijack browser windows and play loud sounds but you are opposed to anyone else trying to make a buck on the internet? I think you have already destroyed whatever little credability you have on this issue.

Are you *personally* paying blue for a damn thing? I didnt think so. I dont think any of these sites have a problem with gamespy trying to make money. They can charge for their premium service all they want. The issue is with Activision and forcing users who wish to purchase their final product to pay to test it out. Last I checked I dont pay for movie previews (unless you REALLY enjoy them and thats the only reason you go to the theaters).

"There is a big difference between charging a monthly fee and displaying an ad you have to click thru once a day .. dumb ass."

Actually I've been hoping Blue would charge something to get rid of the adds. I'd be happy to pay it and at the same time, get rid of those awful things.