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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Its unforunate as this really is a good game, based on the few minutes I got to play it at Quakecon. I do agree with the sentiment though. Exclusive demos are not the way to get to the gaming enthusiast.
Alas, another example of what money does.
~Andy
Alas, another example of what money does.
~Andy
Ah christ, here we go again. Well at least we know where Blue stands on the issue 
-DSR
-DSR
Personally, I don't see the big deal... The demo will be free after a while and Activision is free to do as it pleases. So many game sites have been struggling to turn a profit, this is just fileplanet's way. They make deals with publishers for exculsive demos to make their service more desirable.
The letter mentions gamers hate being forced to have one download site. The reason for this is, obviously, gamers don't like to wait while a single server struggles to send the same file to the flood of people who want it. The fileplanet servers are most likely more than adeqate to provide fast downloads to all their subscribers, so that argument doesn't seem to hold water.
Granted it is these sites' right to protest as they please, but I don't really see it. As bad a rap as fileplanet has, they are just trying to survive.
Just to preclude any flaming, I am not a fileplanet subscriber or fanboy.
The letter mentions gamers hate being forced to have one download site. The reason for this is, obviously, gamers don't like to wait while a single server struggles to send the same file to the flood of people who want it. The fileplanet servers are most likely more than adeqate to provide fast downloads to all their subscribers, so that argument doesn't seem to hold water.
Granted it is these sites' right to protest as they please, but I don't really see it. As bad a rap as fileplanet has, they are just trying to survive.
Just to preclude any flaming, I am not a fileplanet subscriber or fanboy.
Damn straight
BRAVO!!!!!
Word!
Dr. Michael Bolton's Hairdreser PhD, MD, LLP, DDS
YAY!
Thomas Burt,
Trauma Studios
Thomas Burt,
Trauma Studios
Gather 'round children and i'll tell you a tale,
Of chipper the ripper the chipmunk from hell
Of chipper the ripper the chipmunk from hell
<applause>
</applause>
</applause>
I wont be downloading this demo at all and i was looking forward to it. How's that? Fuck the idiots who think exclusivity is the right thing to do.
Good for those guys! Stick it to em!
People will whine, but they don't know what is good for them. Exclusivity is, as mentioned, inherently damaging in the long run. But, this isn't exactly unexpected from Gamespy/FilePlanet. They're desparate enough to ignore that fact.
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