I maybe ringing in too late on this topic, but after reading a whole bunch of these posts, I have a few things to say about some of these arguments. (Warning long post)
1. All those saying, “So File planet paid to get the release a week earlier, so what let them have it.” This is incorrect. Fileplanet did not pay to get the demo earlier, they paid to get the free release pushed back by a week. Thus Screwing all of the other sites out of page views. Other sites that help the Publisher and producer of the games by distributing the game for free to all of the Publishers and Producers customers, without the Publisher or producer having to shell out $$’s for distribution. Thus this deal hurts everyone except “FilePlanet.”
2. All of those saying, “Hey get with the idea of capitalism, and quit bitching about a company trying to make some dollars.” This does not at all match the idea of Capitalism. Capitalism is based off of making a dollar by providing a product or service to the consumer. If you make that product or service too hard or too limited to get access to, you loose dollars. If you make your customer base angry, you loose dollars. If you don’t get feedback, but loose dollars, you start grasping at straws, and make wrong/bad decisions to correct the issue. Complaining when a new process for delivery emerges that the masses doesn’t like, aids the company into making better decisions next time. Thus helping them to make dollars in the future.
3. Those comparing exclusive Demo’s to exclusive screenshots/news articles, are ludicrous. Exclusive Screenies/articles are a way to set your content apart from others that provide similar content, and keep your subscribers/viewers, without withholding vital information (If it is vital others will find ways of reporting it without breaking your exclusivity rights). Paying $$’s to hold off a Marketing technique from the rest of the world, is bad for the consumers that rely on said marketing technique to base their decisions off of.
4. For those saying “You are making a big deal out of nothing.” Yeah this time it is not really that big. I will admit a week is not that long to wait. But if the idea of paying for something that you believe should be free irritates you, speak now, or forever hold your peace. If you let it go now, Marketers will determine “Hey this was a great way to make an extra buck earlier, and it had no side affects that we heard of, or noticed, what if we try making the exclusive period longer? We could charge more for that right?” They will try it, that is what they are paid to do. Then it gets longer, and longer, and I can see a marketing person deciding it isn’t that bad to release “Better demo’s, than the free one, exclusively for $$’s.”
An example of marketing taking off with something to where we can’t control anymore. Commercials in Movie theaters! The first one wasn’t so bad, so we grumbled a little then accepted it and kept going to the big theaters. The last time I went to a theater I saw 5 commercials, 1 of which was 2 minutes long!
5. For those saying "PC Gaming is the only genre that demands demo’s" also is not very informed. What do you think a Movie trailer is? It is a small demo of the movie. How many movies have you “gone” to see that you never once saw a preview for? I know I haven’t seen many. I can think of many other demo’s for lots of other products, that help that product make more money, many of which are not viable options for PC Games, such as the Renting of Console games. I have played every console game I own before I bought it, either at a friends, or renting it. PC Games are so easily pirated, that renting is not really a viable option in most circumstances. And “Game Trailers” only go so far, adn without giving you the “hands on” on your computer to know how well it will run.
I think I have rambled on enough, all comments are welcome.
In conclusion:
Is fileplanet/Activision doing anything “Wrong”? I would have to say, No! Do I like what it is they are doing, and the trend it hails the start of? Definitely Not! And I will voice my opinion with my voice, and with my $$$’s.
/*New and stirring things are belittled because if they are not belittled, the humiliating question arises, ``Why then are you not taking part in them?'' -H.G. Wells*/