Why no skate demo?

by Nick Doerr { Sep 17th 2007 at 3:00PM }

Waiting for a demo on the PlayStation Store is like waiting for a bus. You know it's bound to come, but only vaguely know what time it should probably get there. The demo for skate seemed to hit a few more red lights than other demos -- a demo has been available on a certain other system for a week and we expected a demo for the PS3 this week. No dice! So, what gives? Patrick Seybold explains: "contrary to popular reports, I believe that the Skate demo was just officially submitted to us for test last week. Its obvious that many of you want it, and we'll do our best to get it up there as soon as we can. Hold tight."

We know it takes a little while to make sure a demo is solid enough to slap up on the PS Store, so holding tight is really our only option. It's kind of funny, though. EA claimed to have sent this demo several weeks ago for approval, but Sony says they only got it last week. EA has done very little to merit our trust, but why would they give one platform a demo faster than another? Conspiracy theorists, assemble! The rest of us, wait until this Thursday and we'll probably have the skate demo at last.

Tags: ea, electronic-arts, skate

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

dishwaher @ Sep 17th 2007 3:07PM

sometimes I feel sorry for PS3 owners.

Ruben @ Sep 17th 2007 3:09PM

It IS damn conspiracy, just cuz MS can feed their dogs with money instead of food. It seems like EA forgot who made them what they are today, the old days when they were just Electronic Arts.

Paul @ Sep 17th 2007 3:23PM

on thursday, no one is going to care about some demo because it's TGS time :)

NastyN8 @ Sep 17th 2007 3:27PM

Im tired of EA there just BLAH, I hope people catch on and stop buying there games

NastyN8 @ Sep 17th 2007 3:29PM

WEll look whos the pres now, Peter moore, the guy who ruind dreamcast lol, he has this grudge and hate against Sony but its all good SOny will over come soon enough

DSR7997 @ Sep 17th 2007 3:28PM

So either EA lied or Sony lied about just getting the demo. I have no belief that either company would tell me the truth. And before someone starts a bunch of crap, I don't trust Microsoft to tell me the truth either.

boots555 @ Sep 17th 2007 3:30PM

Because EA only gave the testers 360 versions of the game for the first 4 months out of 6. Only in the last to months of testing were there a ps3 build and it still was hardly ever focused on.

never$$hort @ Sep 17th 2007 3:36PM

EA CAN GO F*** THEMSELVES... Moore is the biggest dildo out of all of them.

punkrockiprimate @ Sep 17th 2007 3:38PM

i really want this demo..tony hawk..meh..what a letdown..hideous graphics..altough what im really waiting for is a new ssx for the ps3...that would soooo rock..

Sam @ Sep 17th 2007 3:41PM

I do feel bad for PS3 owners (myself included).

On xbox live, the demo's just come. You dont have to wait or inquire or wonder or anything. You get like a weeks notice sometimes but apart from that...they just arrive. And more than one day a week as well.

Seriously. If i could pay to make PSN better, i would.

Disclaimer to the ever growing kingdom of idiot fanboys: I've owned all consoles since i was born. literally. This includes a PS3 and a 360. I love them both equally, and they both have their foibles.

Peter @ Sep 17th 2007 3:43PM

Microsoft must still be paying Peter Moore a salary.

Michael @ Sep 17th 2007 8:31PM

Sony is lying.

I believe EA on this one. They have been sitting on the Skate demo for weeks, ever since 8/21/07. I d/l it for Live but I really wanted the PS3 version. Damn you Sony, again... you lie and push us gamers away. Get your sh*t straight ASAP. We keep your gaming division in business, show us some respect and that you care about us.

drdre74 @ Sep 17th 2007 9:49PM

skate is in a vault at sony somewhere with about 50 other demos that they have been just sitting on.

rawd @ Sep 17th 2007 3:50PM

i still don't get why ppl get worked up about DEMO's... woohoo limited gameplay!

Johnny @ Sep 17th 2007 3:55PM

i think that ea sent it to sony but then during the proces of sending and getting it, it was lost

damn you mail people!!!

Popfrogs @ Sep 17th 2007 4:02PM

@13: We want demos because we don't want to buy games that suck. I'm starting to feel like if the game has no PSN demo, it must be bad, otherwise why hide it? Not only that but it's in the best interests of game companies to release demos to generate interest and gauge response.

I'd like to see hard numbers on PSN demo downloads sometime, I bet it'd be interesting.

x silence x @ Sep 17th 2007 4:08PM

No, it's because it takes a lot of manpower to make a demo while trying to ship an game. Be happy your getting skate at all fools. If more then 10 people owned a PS3 then maybe you would see more demos. Clearly EA is NOT the only one ignoring Sony right now. DROP THE PRICE!

mark @ Sep 17th 2007 4:54PM

people want demos because it means you can sample a game B4 it comes out, but at this rate i dont see that happening with skate

Popfrogs @ Sep 17th 2007 4:22PM

EA sucks this generation so far, at least things that they create in-house. They just won't code properly on the PS3. AAA titles like Lair and HS prove that the PS3 has power, can antialias, etc. but EA's developers can't get it right.

The latest Tony Hawk demo proved this, and FIFA08 as well. Both look bad and suffer framerate issues. It's like they don't know what the word antialiasing means. When I first fired up the FIFA demo and the intro before the game had the names chuugggggginnnng, I couldn't believe my eyes.

EA is for 360 exclusively now. It's almost like it hurts them to code anything for the PS3 and they grudgingly do it.

ruibing @ Sep 17th 2007 4:52PM

Why does this site even post these things about delayed demos? They are demos! And it is Skate no less, it would be more appropriate if it was a demo for Haze, Ratchet & Clank, Uncharted, or some better franchise game not being milked by EA.

If they delay a PSN or PS3 game, then we can have an article about it. Every time one of these article comes out, we get distracted from more important news. I'd rather we have an article keeping track of when games and demos hit, instead of single post for every annoucement.

mark @ Sep 17th 2007 4:57PM

all the sony techs have probably been playing the demo 24/7 and forgot to upload it

Mak @ Sep 17th 2007 5:13PM

I think it's obvious why (currently), PS3 is missing some demos.

Studios are still in the catch-up phase, where 360 releases are ready before the PS3 versions, why waste valuable resources creating a demo, when those resources could be used to keep the PS3 release more timely.

This is WHY, you tend to see PS3 demos, AFTER the code has gone gold, as then resources are freed up to tweak the code into demo form. It's the same reason why 360 tends to get demos before release, as the 360 devs are sat on their arses whilst the PS3 code is finalised.

This won't be the case forever, but will be the trend for the next few months for sure.

Egster @ Sep 17th 2007 5:21PM

The PSN is pretty damn impressive for something that is not even out for a year yet. Live has been in development for many years and PSN is rapidly catching up with that premium service from MS.

With Home and Game 3.0 concepts like Little Big Planet on the horizon Live will seem like a poor attempt at creating an online community.

Easo @ Sep 17th 2007 5:46PM

"The PSN is pretty damn impressive for something that is not even out for a year yet. Live has been in development for many years and PSN is rapidly catching up with that premium service from MS."

Actually the PSN is about 2 weeks OLDER than Live.
this is the only link I could find.
http://www.infosatellite.com/news/2002/08/a270802ps2_online.html
Almost seems like the internet wants to forget that the PS2 was the first console to support online gameplay via a broadband connection.

The whole Game 3.0 concept is nothing new either. Far Cry allows you to create your own levels and game types and upload them for other users to download. Forza allows you to create and sell custom cars to online users, and Halo 3s Forge will be the first online real time map/ game type editor. However Sony does have an ace up their sleeves in SingStar. People are nuts over youtube and myspace, and SingStar looks to combine them both. If that game works the way I think it will, sony could have a huge hit on their hands.

As for demos on the PS3, Maybe Sonys process for clearing demos online is just more in depth than MS. Or more likely, Sony is still growing its online infrastructure and has to closely watch what new content they post and when they post it.

Solace @ Sep 17th 2007 5:58PM

@23 Easo
having a unified online service and having games that can be played online isn't the same thing. heck, the genesis could go "online" with an adapter, but it wasn't till the dreamcast that Sega actually had an actual online service.
even though PS2 games could be played online, the "PlayStation Network" is less than a year old. if you're going to compare apples-to-apples in an even comparison, you're going to have to compare PSN to LIVE since they're both cohesive online "services".

Easo @ Sep 17th 2007 6:25PM

Your wrong. Warhawk is the only game that is actually running on Sonys own servers. Every other game is handled the exact same way it was on the PS2, where sony provides the games developer with the proper tools to get the game online, but the devs are responsible for getting the gamers connected by using their own servers, or using 3rd party software to connect PS3s directly to one another. Im not going to argue that PSN isnt more sophisticated than PS2online, but the way gamers connect to play games is essentialy the same as it has always been. The good news is that sony is working hard and fast on creating a unified network, but it isnt there yet. So just because Ps2online and xbox live were apples and oranges doesnt mean that its not a fair comparison. Sony just had a different business model then, and has decided to switch it. So with that said, Sonys online service is older than xbox live (by about two weeks, yippie!)lol

slade @ Sep 17th 2007 6:37PM

i hope ps3 gets this skate demo im tired of my xbox360 freezeing in the middle of these game

derrickgott007 @ Sep 17th 2007 7:37PM

The delay is due to Peter Moore, previously at MICROSOFT, now works at EA....and suddenly Microsoft gets all the EA games months before the PS3??? Smells like a little dirty under the table payments from microsoft are going to Peter Moore.

MYPS3KilledMy360 @ Sep 17th 2007 7:41PM

@16 basically 5 mil aint anything to sneeze as specialy because of the fact the 360 barely sold that many consoles when they had no comp but as soon as the PS3 comes around people want to talk about the amount of games they have when they. that just says nobody cared for the games any way. the hardcore are the once with consoles. i have a question what makes the game great storyline or great gamplay.

x silence x @ Sep 17th 2007 8:03PM

STFU with the Peter Moore conspiracy theories. Can't you nerds see that PS3 games are delayed already? You want a demo too? Ok, well add another 2 months to the already pushed back dates. Honestly, the people who type before thinking really hurt this site. The writers are just as bad with these headlines that fire up the 12 year olds. Peter Moore now works along side Sony. You know that company that won't lower the price of the PS3? Dev's go where people are buyig games... the PS3 is not there yet.

tozza @ Sep 17th 2007 8:42PM

EA has provided some other demos recently at least. And remember that some of the frame rate issues etc in the demo versions might be ironed out in the final build - except for the fact that EA's company policy is to not slip on release dates even if there are quality issues. Ok we're screwed.

Solace @ Sep 17th 2007 8:46PM

@easo
"So just because Ps2online and xbox live were apples and oranges doesnt mean that its not a fair comparison."
- thanks for helping prove my point that PS2Online isn't comparable to XBox LIVE unless you want to compare two different systems (hence, the apples and oranges you noted). the flaw in your logic highlights the flaw in your intelligence.

@michael
"Sony is lying. I believe EA on this one. They have been sitting on the Skate demo for weeks, ever since 8/21/07. I d/l it for Live but I really wanted the PS3 version."
because code for the 360 and code for the PS3 are identical, right? why don't you join easo under the idiot tree. i'm sure you two will find you have much in common.

Easo @ Sep 17th 2007 10:41PM

"thanks for helping prove my point that PS2Online isn't comparable to XBox LIVE unless you want to compare two different systems (hence, the apples and oranges you noted). the flaw in your logic highlights the flaw in your intelligence."

Then please allow me to spell it out for you. Xbox Live and PS2online/PSN were both the first generation of online services provided by MS and Sony respectivly. Even though the two were/are vastly different, it is still fair to compare them because they are both first gen products released within a few weeks of one another.

You call me an idiot for pointing out that sonys online network (by any name) is just as old as xbox live. Why?
You said its an unfair comparison. Why? If the roles were reversed and PS2Online (now PSN) was better and more advanced than xbox live, you wouldnt think the comparison was unfair. After all MS had the same amount of time as Sony in the online arena, right? But because it makes your favorite companys service look bad, the compairson is not fair to you. Well, did you know that the current psn has more in common with the original xboxs xbox live than it does with the 360s version. No cross game invites, No in game access to music on the harddrive, no unified friends list, no cross game chat, no messenger intergration in game, no private chats across multiple channels and multiple games. Sounds alot like xbox live 1.0 doesnt it? If fact, the only thing that the current psn and xbox live have in common is the online store/marketplace. Now i dont come here to troll or bash sony, and as I said in a eariler post sony is quickly improving its service in an attempt to catch and surpass MS. But make no mistake, Sony is playing catch up, but it's not because they are rookies in the online arena.

I still dont know why you take it so personally. I thought this was a an open discussion about our hobbies but you turned it into a personal attack. Grow up man.

TRUTH @ Sep 18th 2007 8:15AM

You PS Fanboys are ridiculas... Who care's that it's not out yet, must you blame the 360, peter moore, ea?
There's always an excuse.
What are you PS fanboys 12. You sure sound like it.
GROW UP or I guess just continue to cry....

derrickgott007 @ Sep 18th 2007 10:43AM

Quick Question to all the XBOX FANBOYS:

Why the hell are you reading posts on a site called PS3FANBOY and then wanting to call us out???

That's like going to a PETA site and telling people that you eat meat....Of course you are going to get flamed you retards!

mystical_304 @ Sep 18th 2007 11:29AM

I remember the days when people were glad to just get a Demo of ANY game. Now, people cry when no Demo is present at the time they want one.

never$$hort @ Sep 18th 2007 1:40PM

360 losers... please get a life. Go jerk off to a Halo commercial or something.

Steve @ Sep 18th 2007 7:24PM

"It seems like EA forgot who made them what they are today, the old days when they were just Electronic Arts."

What do Commodore 64 and PC gamers have to do with anything? EA made thier name loooooooong before the Playstation appeared on the scene.

railven @ Sep 18th 2007 10:18PM

@Easo

I think they are trying to compare the Online Market Place of the 360 to the Playstation Network STORE.

If you are going to use the arguement of the simple fact of connecting two units up for "internet" play, then Easo is right. But if you are going to compare the services provided, ie: demos, movies, songs, pictures, whatever, than Solace and the other guy are right.

I wouldn't compare the original Xbox live to this generation's PSN nor would I compare PSN to MS's previous "Live."

In terms of features, Sony is catching up the MS but as I've said it before to countless other people: MS is a software company primarily and their knowledge of software coding is unfair if compared to Sony's. Everything the 360 does now I would have expected from the original Xbox outta the box considering MS's history of OS programing. But MS's first box was designed to not mirror the PC it obviously was. On the 360 they said fudge it and threw it all in. I'm a bit confused as to why it doesn't support IE, a simple patch could make it possible.