Call of Duty Demo Open Letter [Aug 28, 2003, 6:31 pm ET] – Share – Viewing Comments
Though we don't really offer much in the way of downloads here, Blue's News is
supporting the sentiments in the following open letter, which demonstrates to
Activision (and hopefully the rest of the industry) what the undersigned sites
feel are the general sentiments of the community about the downsides of
exclusive demo releases. As a result, these sites will not be carrying the Call
of Duty demo, even after its FilePlanet exclusivity (story) is
over. Update: To be clear, this does not mean we will not carry news of
when the demo is released, exclusive or not. Here's the letter:
After discussions with Activision, the following websites will not be carrying the Call of Duty playable demo, even after its exclusivity is over. This is due to Activision's decision to not accede to the reasonable request of making the demo freely available to all game enthusiasts at the same time.
3D Downloads
3D Gamers
AusGamers
Blue's News
EdgeFiles (Callofduty.org)
FileFront
FileShack
GameGossip
Gamer's Hell
Loadedinc
Tiscali Games
WorthPlaying
The above-listed websites hope to show Activision that the enthusiast industry is strongly opposed to the idea of exclusive demo releases.
Feedback from our users shows that gamers hate to be forced through a single point of congestion if they want a demo right away. While these websites are actually competitors, this competition provides the freedom of choice that enthusiasts want by offering the widest possible distribution of any demo (a sample intended to interest as many gamers as possible in the full product, after all) rather than the most restricted one.
Therefore, something this disrespectful of the industry as a whole has inspired all of these websites to stand together in this open letter.
Deals like this hurt the industry much more than they could possibly enhance a single relationship, and we ask for your support in sending out this message.
411 Replies. 21 pages. Viewing page 9.
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Personally I don't mind paying for a good product. I'm a member of Gamespot Complete and have been happy with it from day 1. As a person who is part of the business that relies on the connectivity of the internet, I'm happy to support quality service on the web with money. It was learned in a hard way how money cannot be made of the web by advertising alone.
Now I'm not to crazy about these exclusives as well, but good lord, it's just a demo. And more power to them if it helps their business. If this ends up hurting their business, well then more power to us.
Now I'm not to crazy about these exclusives as well, but good lord, it's just a demo. And more power to them if it helps their business. If this ends up hurting their business, well then more power to us.
Actually i am not addicted to games, so i won't die if i can't play this shooter or this rpg
i don't think you get the message
i don't think you get the message
The whole gamespy/fileplanet thing is not good for me or any other gamer. I'm sick games coming out and not supporting anything but gamespy crap and now demos come out and they are fileplanet exclusives. It's like pullting teath sometimes with developers/publishers to get them to better alternative server browser software. Fileplanet/gamespy are trying to build virtual monopolies. Screw them.
I simply won't buy games that support only gamespy and I certainly won't be downloading demos from fileplanet anymore. I will use alternative download sites and if not these I will use bit torrent which squashes wannabe monopolists like gamespy/fileplanet.
I simply won't buy games that support only gamespy and I certainly won't be downloading demos from fileplanet anymore. I will use alternative download sites and if not these I will use bit torrent which squashes wannabe monopolists like gamespy/fileplanet.
So now a fear of monopolization has led to these sites using extortion. The ends justify the means? And fileshack, you got some 'splaining' to do, as I know there have been exclusives there in the past (and will probably be again). Probably other sites as well.
This smacks entirely of sour grapes at best, and a shakedown at worst.
This smacks entirely of sour grapes at best, and a shakedown at worst.
You guys are crazy
This space is available for rent
I hate exclusive demos because I refuse to pay for things I should be getting for free.
yet I can't blame FilePlanet for doing whatever it can to keep the subscribers happy and not lose their business...
yet I can't blame FilePlanet for doing whatever it can to keep the subscribers happy and not lose their business...
SO WHAT UP AGAIN GUys this si POO ASS bcak to more coment.
so i tihink bluE NEW did right tihing in stand up for what he belive in. i tihnk if more peple did taht it would be better.
LET GAMER PLAY GAMe
GO BLUE NEW I Loe you
POO ASS OUT
so i tihink bluE NEW did right tihing in stand up for what he belive in. i tihnk if more peple did taht it would be better.
LET GAMER PLAY GAMe
GO BLUE NEW I Loe you
POO ASS OUT
For a moment I thought I was reading forums on shacknews.com. Lively bunch we have tonight.
ZigZang
WOW!!! 240 comments on this. Way to many for me to read. I will say that I don't care for this 'exclusive' crap that FP pulls. Yea, there just trying to make a buck and stand out, but still. A demo is supposed to be free. And I really don't want FP to monopolize on file distribution. I hate using them. By the time I'm done waiting in line I could have gotten the same file 3 times else where.
....and I don't have the dollars to waste for 'exclusive' service.
-Tony!!!;)
....and I don't have the dollars to waste for 'exclusive' service.
-Tony!!!;)
-Tony!!!;)
my 360 user name is Robo Pop
my 360 user name is Robo Pop
HOORAY BEER!!!
GO coalition of anti-exclusivity websites GO!
GO coalition of anti-exclusivity websites GO!
-M][ke
"They call them fingers but I never see them fing.... oh, there they go."
Otto, The Simpsons.
"They call them fingers but I never see them fing.... oh, there they go."
Otto, The Simpsons.
"hey wheres dan? i think that guy from bluesnews found him near jane and finch and is raping him in a near by ally"
Ah, I see we've got some Torontonians here. :):)
#240: Yeah "business is business" can be used to justify alot of crappy things. Business or not, I think that its unfair. If you let them, how far do you think businesess will go to make a profit? What Fileplanet is doing isn't illegal, its just unfair..
Ah, I see we've got some Torontonians here. :):)
#240: Yeah "business is business" can be used to justify alot of crappy things. Business or not, I think that its unfair. If you let them, how far do you think businesess will go to make a profit? What Fileplanet is doing isn't illegal, its just unfair..
#238, please don't think that I would ever want my comments extrapolated to such a gross extent. My point was simply that business is business. Companies are getting gobbled up left and right these days. Exclusivity on game demos is just another representation of this trend.
Do you want the cheapest prices on items that you buy? Do you like getting a 'great deal'? Well, I do too. And so does everyone else. Because of this, exclusivity and consolidation in the business world are here to stay (and to prosper). We can't have everything.
Do you want the cheapest prices on items that you buy? Do you like getting a 'great deal'? Well, I do too. And so does everyone else. Because of this, exclusivity and consolidation in the business world are here to stay (and to prosper). We can't have everything.
"hey wheres dan? i think that guy from bluesnews found him near jane and finch and is raping him in a near by ally"
The photos were supposed to have been posted by now, but then Activision decided to make them exclusive too.
The photos were supposed to have been posted by now, but then Activision decided to make them exclusive too.
-----
I'm not even angry. I'm being so sincere right now, even though you broke my heart and killed me.
I'm not even angry. I'm being so sincere right now, even though you broke my heart and killed me.
Its cool that you're still going to carry the news. Very sportsman-like and all that. I respect the decision, and I can see where you're comming from. As I've said, maybe a bit in-effective, but keeping your integrity is more important.
And 234: Just because the world isn't fair, doesn't mean you should let anything slide. According to that theory, since the world isn't fair, all the murderers, rapists and such should be able to do whatever it is they do, without opposition. The world is not fair, but you should constantly strive to make it so.
And 234: Just because the world isn't fair, doesn't mean you should let anything slide. According to that theory, since the world isn't fair, all the murderers, rapists and such should be able to do whatever it is they do, without opposition. The world is not fair, but you should constantly strive to make it so.
Whoever said life is fair must have died at a very young age
No, they were born rich
"Science is but an organized system of ignorance."
I am free of all prejudice. I hate everyone equally.
- W. C. Fields
- W. C. Fields
One more try, I suck
"Science is but an organized system of ignorance."
"Science is but an organized system of ignorance."
I am free of all prejudice. I hate everyone equally.
- W. C. Fields
- W. C. Fields
{rCan red text be underlined?, lets find out
Did ti work?!
"Science is but an organized system of ignorance."
Did ti work?!
"Science is but an organized system of ignorance."
I am free of all prejudice. I hate everyone equally.
- W. C. Fields
- W. C. Fields
Blue, you're a great guy and all. A pillar of the online gaming community, to be sure. But let's be real. Even if you were allowed to host the CoD demo, could you even compete with the bandwidth offered by FilePlanet to their paying subscribers? Nope.
This is not a big deal. It's business. You had to start pop-up ads because of BUSINESS. $$$ are what make our little blue/green space ball go round. Whoever said life is fair must have died at a very young age.
This is not a big deal. It's business. You had to start pop-up ads because of BUSINESS. $$$ are what make our little blue/green space ball go round. Whoever said life is fair must have died at a very young age.
Blue has no comment for hours
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Stephen "Blue" Heaslip
Blue's News Publisher, Editor-in-Chief, El Presidente for Life
Blue's News Publisher, Editor-in-Chief, El Presidente for Life
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