A post to the Lock On: Modern Air Combat General Discussion Forums (thanks Frans and SimHQ) by Eagle Dynamics' Carl C. Norman offers information and reflections on the delay of the release of the Lock On: Modern Air Combat Demo (story) that has inspired considerable consternation on the game's forums, and even an online petition. The update shares the fans' disappointment that the demo is not available, and goes onto more of the background behind the decision, offering this conclusion that places this in a bit of perspective:

While you might not see or appreciate this, the good news is that Ubi Soft appears to be committed to a strong launch of Lock On. Their decision to coordinate the demo release with the major media outlets and magazines is good news in the long run. In the short run it is disappointing for all of the active forum members who have expressed your interest and support for this product and expected a demo this week. My understanding is that this decision was made by Ubi Soft as a means of coordinating the launch of the demo to coincide with its availability on magazine CDs and in promotional efforts by Ubi Soft and the Media. I have been told that when the final product is finished Ubi Soft has a promotional and marketing plan that they are putting in place to make this a big international launch with Press coverage and promotional efforts. I spoke to a Marketing Manager at Ubi Soft that I have known and worked with in the industry for over ten years. She assures me that the commitment is there to launch Lock On in a big way and that the retailers are very interested in this title. Let’s not let this incident cause the momentum to slip for Lock On. If Lock On is a success then there is a much better chance for this genre of products to expand and thrive.