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.

Good for those guys! Stick it to em!

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.

<applause>
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YAY!

Thomas Burt,

Trauma Studios

Word!

BRAVO!!!!!

Damn straight

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.

Ah christ, here we go again. Well at least we know where Blue stands on the issue

-DSR

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

I had the opportunity to feel a bit of the rage of the sites mentioned in this open letter when the Impossible Creatures MP Beta exclusive happened.

I support the lack of exclusive demos for any one download site. I will suggest that folks may want to look into the contract that the purchasers of gamespy's multiplayer matchmaking service sign onto. If Call of Duty's using gamespy's matchmaking service, perhaps their contract specifies that any demos first are released through gamespy.

Note to developers, don't get stuck with only using gamespy's matchmaking if it requires that you have to have an exclusive demo with file planet.

Also, I don't see how this hurts them in the long run at all. The demo will be free soon, and if it is good, only the most stubborn won't try it then. A few months after release, no one will even remember this ordeal. The profit lost from those few people who will hold a grudge will be more than made up by what fileplanet is paying them, I'm sure.

I AGREE WITH THIS POST

...the issue should be taken up with the developers/publishers for not hosting their own files (with sufficient bandwidth) rather than trying to attack a company for being creative or direct in its approach.

I mean, where do you draw the line? Do I fault anything/everything because it may be stronger/faster/have more money/whatever? It is a fine line for sure, you do not ever want to have a complete monopoly, but I hardly view such services in that way.

Things get even more confusing when you consider that these will be handed out for "free" after a very short exclusive period. It is so incredibly hard and rare to get demos for the other systems, but the PC market verges on the line of demanding it from any/every publisher.

Having bandwidth, wanting to have legal/approved versions of demonstrations, and enjoying fast speeds, these pay sites are a great, wonderful resource to somebody such as myself. To be honest, I would be willing to pay upwards of $15 a month just to ensure these things.

Having said that, I realize how very unique my viewpoint is to many people, even on this website. This is not directed at you, Stephen, or any direct reflection of the sites listed above, but I cannot help but think many, many gamers (and people in general) are quite greedy.

Oh well, whatever, I already have access to any number of sites. It will not bother me and I appreciate the viewpoint, but I definitely dread the impending barrage of negative, hateful comments...

Wondering what trying 720p on my 480p/1080i television will do :|,
Ray

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It is never wrong to care for somebody.
http://users.ign.com/collection/RayMarden
Wazzat?

And guess what, I'm not paying for this either now.

F*$% off Activision, hello Bit Torrent.

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“The closer you get to being a pro, the closer you can get to the client. The knife, for example, is the last thing you learn. Ok?"

Yes Activision can burn in hell, stupid bastards.

I dont understand, what can be more valuable having a demo on thoose sites so thousands can try out that game for free.

If none of the sites will host that demo, then it will be a downfall for Acti-shit because the majority will NEVER pay just to get their hands on a so called "demo".

FIleplanet started this shit when they started to make customers pay to get a stupid demo then a week later or so the other usual demo websites had it.

BURN IN HELL ACTI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If these websites were as good as Fileplanet, this wouldn't be an issue. But the truth is FilePlanet is faster and more reliable than any of those other sites. Maybe they should upgrade their user interface and download speed before they bitch and moan.

I agree with you Wazootyman, its a dog eat dog business, so if all the poodles want to band together against the rottweiler thats cool, but I got a Fileplanet subscription sometime ago, probably 2 years now. Its cheap, no ads (like the so called once a day ad that I get here 3 times a day) and fast downloads, without visiting the mentioned websites which often give me file not found errors or slow speeds.

Some of the same sites listed want to BE Fileplanet right down to using the same download sytem. If they ever got that big, they would do it too. Many of these sites HAVE used the word exclusive. What about THAT? Or is it only bad if its a big company? Aint right. If you ever used the word exclusive, remove your name from that list.

If I were still running 3dfiles, I dont know that I would participate in this, it comes across as whining and politics in something that should be fun, GAMES. That said, exclusive demos do too All the same, unless your a hobby website, then you need to try and beat the man. Wait, Blue's News does not host files, so is this a list of sites simply not even mentioning it was released because it says hosting? I think its a step in the wrong direction to not post the news at least. I mean Stephen, I have known you and Frans since 1997 or so when I started 3dfiles, so I dont mean to rag on you, I just think to not post it as news is sort of temper tantrumish? Am I misreading or will you post that its released?

Flame on, ill gladly consider all points, but I am not convinced this is a good plan.

Ought to be an interesting (and yes, long) thread here. Although I'm no too sure where I fall on the issue. My gut says exclusives are A-OK with me. As a gamer I'm willing to wait. And somehow, I feel a free market, and competition, demands that you let those who can create these kind of deals do so; that being said, I do have some reservations, and a good couple of points the other way could possibly sway my opinion...

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Cry 'havoc', and let slip the dogs o' war!