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.
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Blue has no comment for hours, but has to step up for the Fredster. He is a funny bastage 
its pretty sickl that BLUE USED TO HOST EXCLUSIVE DEMOS NOW HE IS BEING A HIPPACRIT.
Hate responding to a troll, but a lie repeated too often is a dangerous thing, so, before deleting future repeats of the same worthless post, let me respond in kind by saying:
no thatl is NOT TRUE I NEVER DID DO THAT NOW YOU ARE BEING A LIERMAN
Stephen "Blue" Heaslip
Blue's News Publisher, Editor-in-Chief, El Presidente for Life s{
This comment was edited on Aug 28, 22:28.
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
The Two Sides.
The Fellowship has broken but the quest for good gaming content continues. Frodo and Sam must entrust in their good judgement to find a site that will be carrying the Call of Duty demo that is worthy of downloading from.
But as Saurman's army approaches, Activition denies to let other sites have it thier way.
The Fellowship, with the help of trees and some old farts from Middle Earth, prepare for battle.
The war for a game has begun!
<oh hell... now what WAS I planing to say>
The Fellowship has broken but the quest for good gaming content continues. Frodo and Sam must entrust in their good judgement to find a site that will be carrying the Call of Duty demo that is worthy of downloading from.
But as Saurman's army approaches, Activition denies to let other sites have it thier way.
The Fellowship, with the help of trees and some old farts from Middle Earth, prepare for battle.
The war for a game has begun!
<oh hell... now what WAS I planing to say>
its pretty sickl that BLUE USED TO HOST EXCLUSIVE DEMOS u[NOW HE IS BEING A HIPPACRIT.
* REMOVED *
This comment was deleted on Aug 28, 22:28.
This comment was deleted on Aug 28, 22:28.
* REMOVED *
This comment was deleted on Aug 28, 22:28.
This comment was deleted on Aug 28, 22:28.
Hey Blue, I have a few suggestions for you. First of all, you should include the Bit Torrent websites who support this action, on the list. Especially Filerush, since they deal almost exlucively in demos. The more websites are listed, the stronger you case becomes, and I think that the FileRush staff has certainly deserved it.
Anyone who runs a site that they would like added to the list should email me or Frans or sTeve.
Secondly, as I've said, you should consider not carrying news of the demo. This way, if people don't find it on 3DGamers or Worthplaying or wherever, atleast they won't be pointed to Fileplanet with a big neon sign. I respect your choice to be a fair player, but I think a case can be made for counter-productivity here.
The main thrust here is news, not editorial content, so I think this is a good enough dose of the latter for a while.
This issue has been aired, but I'm not going to try and "disappear" the news when it happens, that's just innappropriate to this site's role in the community.
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
Thanks to Stephen and the remaining content free (albiet the advertising and such) sites for the grass roots stand.
The only benefit these exclusive deals provide is a business model for Fileplanet and Gamespy, not only through exploitation of those who believe in "faster downloads", but in the collection and sale of personal information.
Just my anonymous $0.02.
The only benefit these exclusive deals provide is a business model for Fileplanet and Gamespy, not only through exploitation of those who believe in "faster downloads", but in the collection and sale of personal information.
Just my anonymous $0.02.
It is pretty ridiculous that they would limit their demo for one week. They should want the widest possible release. This only serves to alienate people. I'm with Blue and crew on this one.
Public opinion version .1b Alpha and a Supporter of the "A happy poster is a muted fredster" fanclub.
Public opinion version .1b Alpha and a Supporter of the "A happy poster is a muted fredster" fanclub.
"I like to play female characters in MMORPGs to trick men into homosexual chat." - space captain, June 18th, 2009.
Hey Blue, I have a few suggestions for you. First of all, you should include the Bit Torrent websites who support this action, on the list. Especially Filerush, since they deal almost exlucively in demos. The more websites are listed, the stronger you case becomes, and I think that the FileRush staff has certainly deserved it.
Secondly, as I've said, you should consider not carrying news of the demo. This way, if people don't find it on 3DGamers or Worthplaying or wherever, atleast they won't be pointed to Fileplanet with a big neon sign. I respect your choice to be a fair player, but I think a case can be made for counter-productivity here.
Secondly, as I've said, you should consider not carrying news of the demo. This way, if people don't find it on 3DGamers or Worthplaying or wherever, atleast they won't be pointed to Fileplanet with a big neon sign. I respect your choice to be a fair player, but I think a case can be made for counter-productivity here.
maybe I'm beng too subtle for fear that of coming accross as accusing anyone of anything specific without having a full knowledge of the facts....
and the other sites listed in this open letter need to be like Caesar's wife, and place themselves in a position where they are beyond reproach so such concerns cannot exist.
If I understand where you are going here then the following will make sense.
It is admirable to treat your job as a journalist would. I consider you a journalist.
I consider the
You may have a point.
On a personal level I just don't feel all that ramped up about this. I guess I have too much other crap going on right now to worry about if I have to wait for a demo or a websites journalistic integrity. I know where to get my news.
-TPFKAS2S
http://www.braglio.org
And don't blame society, for all the evidence here, you are a sociopath.
-TPFKAS2S
Even If my friend didnt close his FP account, i still wouldnt use it to download the game. This shit is bull shit. FP cant go around doing this shit. Didnt simi the same thing happen with a patch, or the demo of RvS? I remember 3d gamers kicking up a big deal over somthing very close to this.
I'm sure this sentiment is buried somewhere already in this thread, but...
If they want to make it exclusive, let them--they're only hurting their own marketing strategy. The purpose of releasing a game demo is to give the player a taste of the game and to hopefully intice him or her into purchasing the full retail version. If they want to cut their nose off to spite their face, then let the game go the way of Daikatana.
If they want to make it exclusive, let them--they're only hurting their own marketing strategy. The purpose of releasing a game demo is to give the player a taste of the game and to hopefully intice him or her into purchasing the full retail version. If they want to cut their nose off to spite their face, then let the game go the way of Daikatana.
If anyone wants to hear a counter opinion, but doesn't want to wade through the mess below, you can read my comment history.
I'm getting tired of posting the same thing over and over.
I'm getting tired of posting the same thing over and over.
Someday I might wade through the huge heap of posts in here, but for now I just want to say that I think this is absolutely awesome!
Thanks for pulling together as a community, guys. This is most definitely a good move.
"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."
Sums up perfectly why I've always felt that exclusive demos were completely wrong-headed. Does Activision want people to play the thing, or not?
Thanks for pulling together as a community, guys. This is most definitely a good move.
"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."
Sums up perfectly why I've always felt that exclusive demos were completely wrong-headed. Does Activision want people to play the thing, or not?
-----
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.
Man, am I glad a ganked my friend's friend's username and password.
Public opinion version .1b Alpha and a Supporter of the "A happy poster is a muted fredster" fanclub.
Public opinion version .1b Alpha and a Supporter of the "A happy poster is a muted fredster" fanclub.
"I like to play female characters in MMORPGs to trick men into homosexual chat." - space captain, June 18th, 2009.
"And the Call of Duty demo is free. Gamespy has it one week early then it's offically released."
I fully understand that. I wasn't arguing that.
I fully understand that. I wasn't arguing that.
Let someone grab the "exclusive" demo....and then post it on Kazaa....to hell with them!
Only 5 hours to create 212+ forum posts? Is this a record or what Blue? I imagine this thread will continue on until it smashes all records ...
Demos are free!!!
And the Call of Duty demo is free. Gamespy has it one week early then it's offically released. All this stupid letter did was limit the number of download sites available once the demo is offically released.
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