Call of Duty Demo Open Letter

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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411 Replies. 21 pages. Viewing page 16.
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111.
 
Re: Interesting
Aug 28, 2003, 19:53
Enahs
 
Re: Interesting Aug 28, 2003, 19:53
Aug 28, 2003, 19:53
 Enahs
 
so we cant correct our spelling mistakes

Do not make spelling mistakes then


"Science is but an organized system of ignorance."
I am free of all prejudice. I hate everyone equally.
- W. C. Fields
Avatar 15513
110.
 
Re: Interesting
Aug 28, 2003, 19:53
Re: Interesting Aug 28, 2003, 19:53
Aug 28, 2003, 19:53
 
this little lite of mine
im gonna let it shine
this little light of mine
im gonna let it shine
this lil lite of mine
im gonna let it shine let it shine let it shine let it shine
this little light of mine
makes the whole world bright
this little light of mine
saved kids from a fight
this little light of mine
im gonna soak in brine
and its it dont shine im gonna scream and whine

109.
 
Re: What does the future hold
Aug 28, 2003, 19:52
Re: What does the future hold Aug 28, 2003, 19:52
Aug 28, 2003, 19:52
 
"When the nazis came for my neighbour, I never said a word. When the nazis came for my brother I never said a word, when they came for me, there was noone left to speak for me".

Oh Jesus Fucking Christ get more melodramatic! We're talking about a demo not the Gestapo. I agree with Halsy here, if this really pisses you off (which it shouldn't, if you know anything about business you should know to expect this) don't buy the fucking product.

Fileplanet is acting as any business would: create a promotion that will earn you more business. The promotion goes as following: "Fileplanet subscribers get a real hot demo a week early, sign up today!". In order to do this they pay Activision a sum of money in to get the exclusive rights in the hopes that the influx of subscribers will make up for the right's cost.

This is business ladies and gentlemen, you do what is necessary to sell your service/product. I'm sure Fileplanet is overjoyed to hear about this open letter because they are now the only ones hosting this demo, which means more subscribers for them. Is that what Fileplanet's competitors wanted?


108.
 
Re: Some of you are missing the point
Aug 28, 2003, 19:52
Nox
Re: Some of you are missing the point Aug 28, 2003, 19:52
Aug 28, 2003, 19:52
Nox
 
"Other sites will have it in a week, does that hurt them? Maybe if fileplanet was free, but I still think the majority of gamers will wait for the public (free) release. Gamers will still plow through the ads on the other sites to get to the demo eventually. I don't see how this hurts other sites."

Umm, so why would FilePlanet pay for exclusive rights if it doesn't make a difference then? Do you understand basic economics?

107.
 
Re: Interesting
Aug 28, 2003, 19:51
Re: Interesting Aug 28, 2003, 19:51
Aug 28, 2003, 19:51
 
does anyone here like deviled ham i think its yum

106.
 
Re: Interesting
Aug 28, 2003, 19:50
Re: Interesting Aug 28, 2003, 19:50
Aug 28, 2003, 19:50
 
wtf

105.
 
Re: Interesting
Aug 28, 2003, 19:49
Re: Interesting Aug 28, 2003, 19:49
Aug 28, 2003, 19:49
 
blue is a jerk and he took our edit button away so we cant correct our spelling mistakes or take things we post back like how blue is a jerk.
Im Soupkin.
I hope i dont have aids.
http://users.ign.com/collection/Serious_Soup)
s{Postal 2 sucks.
104.
 
Re: Some of you are missing the point
Aug 28, 2003, 19:49
Re: Some of you are missing the point Aug 28, 2003, 19:49
Aug 28, 2003, 19:49
 
fielplanet is shit is JOHN WAYNE GOTTI JUST TRYING TO MAKE MONIES TO SURVIVE I GEUSS THATS OK HUH ?? X|X|X|X|X|X|X|X|

103.
 
Huzzah!
Aug 28, 2003, 19:48
Huzzah! Aug 28, 2003, 19:48
Aug 28, 2003, 19:48
 
Mad props to the signatories.

102.
 
Re: Some of you are missing the point
Aug 28, 2003, 19:48
Re: Some of you are missing the point Aug 28, 2003, 19:48
Aug 28, 2003, 19:48
 
Nox,

Why is it okay for FilePlanet to grab an exclusive deal that hurts their competitors but it's not okay for their competitors to not offer the demo?

Fileplanet paid for it to enhance their pay service. Despite their bad rep, they are just another gaming site trying to survive. It is Activision's property anyway and they can do what they want with it.

These other download sites have a good but delicate symbiosis with the game companies as is. The game companies get a free way to have their demo distributed and the sites get traffic driven to them. I can guarantee you that the profit margins for Activision are A LOT higher than the profit margins for the download sites. So what does Activision do? It spits in the faces of those sites that have supported it by offering an exculsive deal with FilePlanet, which only hurts the other sites and in the long term will stifle the consumer's choices if those other sites go under.

Other sites will have it in a week, does that hurt them? Maybe if fileplanet was free, but I still think the majority of gamers will wait for the public (free) release. Gamers will still plow through the ads on the other sites to get to the demo eventually. I don't see how this hurts other sites.

101.
 
Re: Good try
Aug 28, 2003, 19:48
Quboid
 
Re: Good try Aug 28, 2003, 19:48
Aug 28, 2003, 19:48
 Quboid
 
That's a good point - Activision could well be loving this.

Still, if there is a point to be made it should be made. Hopefully this will stop exclusives and even if it doesn't, at least it's giving a game that looks amazing the publicity and not some POS like Freelancer.

Cheers,
Quboid
Avatar 10439
100.
 
Re: Interesting
Aug 28, 2003, 19:47
Re: Interesting Aug 28, 2003, 19:47
Aug 28, 2003, 19:47
 
it semms like someone is playing games

99.
 
Re: Interesting
Aug 28, 2003, 19:46
99.
Re: Interesting Aug 28, 2003, 19:46
Aug 28, 2003, 19:46
 
* REMOVED *
This comment was deleted on Aug 28, 19:52.
98.
 
Re: Good try
Aug 28, 2003, 19:46
98.
Re: Good try Aug 28, 2003, 19:46
Aug 28, 2003, 19:46
 
i bet activision dosnt even care
boohoo
Im Soupkin.
I hope i dont have aids.
http://users.ign.com/collection/Serious_Soup)
s{Postal 2 sucks.
97.
 
Re: Some of you are missing the point
Aug 28, 2003, 19:46
Nox
97.
Re: Some of you are missing the point Aug 28, 2003, 19:46
Aug 28, 2003, 19:46
Nox
 
"Mmm... Because they paid for it? $s awfully powerful, whether you like it or not. "
Uh, duh. What you failed to answer is why it's not okay for those other sites to protest. Why the hypocricy?

96.
 
Well said
Aug 28, 2003, 19:45
Bludd
 
96.
Well said Aug 28, 2003, 19:45
Aug 28, 2003, 19:45
 Bludd
 
Two thumbs up

95.
 
Re: Interesting
Aug 28, 2003, 19:45
95.
Re: Interesting Aug 28, 2003, 19:45
Aug 28, 2003, 19:45
 
* REMOVED *
This comment was deleted on Aug 28, 19:51.
94.
 
200?
Aug 28, 2003, 19:45
Enahs
 
94.
200? Aug 28, 2003, 19:45
Aug 28, 2003, 19:45
 Enahs
 
I think this thread is gonna hit 200!

"Science is but an organized system of ignorance."
I am free of all prejudice. I hate everyone equally.
- W. C. Fields
Avatar 15513
93.
 
Good try
Aug 28, 2003, 19:44
93.
Good try Aug 28, 2003, 19:44
Aug 28, 2003, 19:44
 
You have to give it to advertising genius, time and time agian companies have found a way to make a impact on a given audience, Those tricy gurus in marketing know that whenever you release a exclusive of anything it helps boost awareness and visibility of mostley any givin comodity. Hell if we argue over moral reasons why they have done a exclusive in the meantime we have well over 60 posts in like 15min time span thats VERY good publicity and be it positive or neg , as long as the name of said product hits the mindset of mass people tis all they or anyone else in marketing would care about.The way to stop a exclusive is simple, you dont talk about it you dont utter a word about its merits or bugs, utter silence is what these companies fear not rambling on and on about why should this one or that one get it, So go head continue this post in the fashion that were (game geeks) known for and the companies can sit back and drink a martini to it all..Cheers 8)

92.
 
Re: Interesting
Aug 28, 2003, 19:44
92.
Re: Interesting Aug 28, 2003, 19:44
Aug 28, 2003, 19:44
 
hey wheres dan? i think that guy from bluesnews found him near jane and finch and is raping him in a near by ally
Im Soupkin.
I hope i dont have aids.
http://users.ign.com/collection/Serious_Soup)
s{Postal 2 sucks.
411 Replies. 21 pages. Viewing page 16.
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