Killzone 2 demo exclusive to GameStop, public demo after game release
by Andrew Yoon 
{ Jan 5th 2009 at 4:00PM }
Seems a bit strange to reward people already ready to purchase the game with a demo, while excluding those that are on the fence. Having played the game, we can confidentally say that playing even just one level of Killzone 2 will make you a convert.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
WhiteShield @ Jan 5th 2009 4:10PM
ya, it does seem a little silly to release a public demo for a game like killzone 2 AFTER its release... but hey maybe thats just me. i know i really wished i had a demo of little big planet (AMAZING GAME!!! never laughed so hard whenever i played a game with a friend before) because it was a somewhat strange game
drdre74 @ Jan 5th 2009 4:35PM
i Sony is dropping the ball again. Sony does some really dumb stuff that makes me wonder who's in charge or marketing over there. Why would sony want to not put the demo out for everyone to play to make money? Not everyone is near a Gamestop or buy games from gamestop. Sony get it together. damn this is why Sony's exclusives don't sell well. They do dumb ideas and piss people off.
C-Onor @ Jan 5th 2009 5:05PM
of course it not 'just' you, whiteshield, didnt ps3fanboy just say the same thing in that article?
SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread - XBL: SoCoolCurt) @ Jan 5th 2009 5:43PM
dammit Sony, they're starting already. Killzone 2 misstep number 1. (not counting the delays)
WhiteShield @ Jan 5th 2009 7:19PM
of course it isn't just me, why else would there be 43 or so comments? it was more of a rhetorical statement or sarcasm or whatever you want to call it
Chimaera @ Jan 5th 2009 4:15PM
Wonder if 'GameStop' includes EBgames. I hope so, because I checked in today and they haven't got word yet.
nakedatthecomp @ Jan 6th 2009 12:26AM
I was gonna ask the same thing... fingers crossed, fellow Canadian!
p.s. WE GOT THE GOLD!!!
Twinturbo120 @ Jan 5th 2009 4:17PM
yea EBgames is the same as Gamestop
Sam @ Jan 5th 2009 4:17PM
This whole thing is utterly ridiculous. All it is going to do is to put off people who are unsure of buying the game, which I'm sure are a lot of people.
Also, there aren't any GameStops outside of the US. So I and everyone else in England, or anywhere outside of the US, are totally screwed.
Everyone who made this decision are idiots.
creyes4182 @ Jan 5th 2009 4:37PM
Do you have to buy the game on release date? Couldn't you download the demo that day and get the game the next day? Besides gamestop probably payed for the exclusivity.
Sim-and-Sim. @ Jan 5th 2009 5:06PM
There are GameStops outside of the US... I'm live in Ireland and theres one 5 minutes from my house... though I suppose by your logic I'm about 2 foot tall, wear a green outfit, and have regular jigs about my pot of gold.....
C-Onor @ Jan 5th 2009 5:07PM
Sam, I live in northern ireland, and theres a gamestop at one of the local shopping centres, so there are gamestops outside of the US
Alphathon @ Jan 5th 2009 5:40PM
There are indeed GameStops over here. There isn't one in my town yet, but they bought the store that is currently Woolworths (R.I.P. Woolies) and are goin to set up shop here as soon as Woolies is gone. I live in Scotland btw (and not a big town either, maybe 20-25k people)
Alphathon @ Jan 5th 2009 5:45PM
That said, I don't think they're all that common. I thought they were only U.S. before I heard about them buying the store, so it's understandable that you didn't know, especially if you don't live in a big city. Heck, I used to live in Edinburgh and I don't think they had one there either (or I just didn't find it :p), only Game, GameStation and Chips
P.S. Sorry for double posting
Sam @ Jan 5th 2009 7:53PM
my apologies for my ignorance about GameStops outside the US, but I still think that the principle is still insane. The Motorstorm demo I could somewhat understand - Qore buyers got an early build to play around with and a more polished demo was released to the public - fine.
What I just think is crazy is that unless I take a trip to Ireland or Scotland or America and pre-order Killzone there I can't play it before release.
OK, lots of games don't even have demos before release anyway - what's the big deal? The deal is that it really doesn't send a great message to fans of the game.
It's selling out, surely, and to no good end, because, as someone rightly pointed out, the fence sitters aren't going to pre-order a product they're not sure about.
Oh yeah, and why on earth do I give the impression that I think all Irish people are leprechauns? My favourite playwright is Irish so fuck you, sir.
Blaze7071 @ Jan 19th 2009 7:10AM
There is gamestops in ireland also the shop GAME= Owned by gamestop
Chris @ Jan 5th 2009 4:20PM
That sounds a lot like shooting themselves in the foot. The game devs, I mean:
If you want as many buys as possible as soon as possible, why give exclusive pre-release demo rights to only the US citizens who already want the game enough to pre-order it?
...Unless if it's obviously not going to meet the hype, in which case holding back the demo would serve to hide the truth that the game isn't what it is cracked up to be.
creyes4182 @ Jan 5th 2009 4:39PM
People that played the beta already said its good. People who played the review version said its really good. So I highly doubt that.
Don't Buy Fallout 3 New @ Jan 5th 2009 5:33PM
People who played GTA4 before release said it was the best game ever, and it turned out to be fairly mediocre.
I was on the fence about Killzone2, but now I'm just put off. Now I know that every stupid little thing that traditionally is free will have strings attached. I am sick and tired of tons of stupid DLC purchases for things that should be free, tons of stupid promo tie ins that should be free... And it's legit to assume that this game sucks so bad that they want to hide the demo and save some day one purchases. Haze's demo was enough to convince me not to play.
Sorry, you can trust Beta players (already motivated to love the game) and you certainly can't trust gaming media. All you can trust are demos, and I will probably wait to buy this one used, like I thankfully did with Fallout3 and GTA 4 and many other good, but not great games.
parkd @ Jan 5th 2009 6:19PM
What about the doubters of KZ2, who got an invitation of the beta, played the beta, and *gasp* enjoyed it! Just because you are a beta player doesn't mean you are a *insert game title* fanboy...
Torgo @ Jan 5th 2009 4:25PM
I hope Gamestop paid a lot of money for that, because it's a really bad idea to not offer a demo to the masses for one of their biggest games of all of 2009. They need to get a demo into as many hands as possible.
Brian @ Jan 5th 2009 4:22PM
its really silly to not release the demo early on psn, (just because of deals with retailers )..... whatever i already know i'm getting killzone 2 when it's released.
Mo @ Jan 5th 2009 4:39PM
yeah it doesnt matter, i Know its a day1 for me... but still.. the precedent... having to jump through hoops to get a flipping demo??? ffs its not a beta people
Brian @ Jan 5th 2009 4:46PM
true why do they think these pre-order deals are okay, demos give people a chance to play a game early, if you are pre-ordering the game you already know you want it.
Flame @ Jan 5th 2009 4:26PM
Sony... Your releasing a demo AFTER the game releases to the PUBLIC. A game that has a bad background from KZ1. We all know KZ2 (I'm getting it :P) is way better but think... this game has no fanbase like Halo or Gears. Sony is pulling a stupid move once again.
mat parker @ Jan 5th 2009 4:33PM
Thank you Flame this is a very poor decision by Sony especially considering that in Europe twenty four hours after Killzone 2. Halo Wars is released
Mike @ Jan 5th 2009 4:31PM
WTF - What about everyone who doesn't live with Uncle Sam - Grrrrrr
Mo @ Jan 5th 2009 4:32PM
exclusive demo's = fail
im worried about the precedent this sets.
maxpontiac @ Jan 5th 2009 4:45PM
Sony needs to put a price drop on the PS3 when Killzone 2 comes out.
That would sure help.
TheLonelyStoner @ Jan 5th 2009 6:02PM
do you own a ps3? if so why say they should drop the price? i for one like being part of the exclusive club that is ps3 owners. i didnt mind paying £300+ for my ps3 i knew what i was getting was worth the money
TheLonelyStoner @ Jan 5th 2009 6:05PM
im not hating or anything i just hope that people realise that ps3 is worth the price tag. just a question would you be prepared to pay a huge price tag for a top of the range pc? this is a hard core gaming console after all. Sony keep the price up, it keeps the virus that is casual gamers out
me_not_you @ Jan 5th 2009 5:33PM
I really dont give a crap, becasue If i get the demo, i might hate the game and then not buy it.
Gambo @ Jan 5th 2009 4:53PM
What about Europe, Again !!!!!
Another Fu@kup from Sony
Still no Street Fighter HD Remix !!!!
Sony Rocks
Mana Knight @ Jan 5th 2009 4:57PM
Blame Capcom for no SF II HD Remix in Europe. If the game isn't up on the PS Store there, it's because Capcom didn't send it to SCEE for approval.
As for the Killzone 2 demo, just be glad there IS a demo (R2, LBP, etc. didn't have one). GameStop probably spent some money and probably wants to put together a big campaign for the game, which can mean good things. GameStop wants preorders, and Sony COULD use the help of GameStop to push a preorder (by giving out the disc).
I'll definitely preorder now so I can get it.
TheLonelyStoner @ Jan 5th 2009 6:07PM
Yeah Sony neglecting Europe annoys be but remember that Europe is made up of loads of different languages so it takes longer to translate a game into loads of different languages, this should only take a month tops, i dont know how long Street fighter's been out in america
bigredend @ Jan 5th 2009 6:16PM
As said above this is what is going to happenn in the US, I'm sure there'll be something completely different happenig in Europe, who knows, maybe we'll get a demo via another means eg. PSN ( unlikely ) Magazine exculsive, retailer exclusive ( Play, Amazon, Game, Gamestation ) . Whatever, until we do know what's the point of getting upest
Ghost inthe Shell @ Jan 5th 2009 5:35PM
this is good and bad news. the bad bing yah you have to pr order a game that like most of you have said are going to get day one any way so no point in wasting a demo on people who are already getting this , thus taking away from people that have't decided yet .
the good news is chances are game spot payed a tone of money for this wich helps sony out they need a big company like game spot to premote there game. now its not liek they cant do it them selfs but its helps to have a big third party backing you up .
this game will not have any problem selling i have friends that are all about pc games that have come to me and were like yo is this kill zone game coming to pc they saw a wright up in pc mag that was talking about it , i also have antoher friend thats not all that big into gaming and hes asking me if im going to be getting this game , he asked cause he over herd a bunch of people talkign about it,
i also have a boss at work who told me he will go out and buy a ps3 just so he can play this game. on side not my boss is a pretty big xbot so for him to say that was something
so yah it sucks that the demo is exclusive but its better for sony at this point to be making deals like this
lee @ Jan 5th 2009 5:39PM
sony what are you doing?
if i hadnt played the beta i would question sonys motives, it would have made me think, are they leting me buy the game then find out its crap so they get more sales?
but since i have played the beta i would say, Sony, let as many people as posible play this game before it releases so more people get there pre-orders on, which equals more money for you,
for anyone worried about KZ turning into another HAZE, dont worry it deserves the hype its amazing
QAguy @ Jan 5th 2009 5:37PM
Everyone quit your whining...Sony knows exactly what they're doing...its all about first day (first week) sales...they are encouraging people to PRE-ORDER it silly's!!!! GEEEEZ....its not that hard of a concept to understand. The video game biz is now like the music and film biz. Its all about first day/week sales, so they can get the free press which in turn creates MORE sales...the demo release AFTER the game release is for the cynics that don't believe the hype and want to play it first (which is the minority) most people that can afford it will pick it up in the first week...and will get the demo a month earlier which may I remind you is only $5!
Your welcome!
linebeginstoblur @ Jan 5th 2009 6:36PM
So you're saying it's the minority who doesn't think this is worth $60? I would strongly disagree. The first Killzone was widely hyped as a "Halo killer," but was released with mixed reviews and people noted it had many problems. I'd say that the majority will assume the same for the second one and not assume that it will suddenly be better.
-.- @ Jan 5th 2009 5:55PM
im slowly doubting KZ2 will have a hyped fanbase,
1st) this stupid move
2nd) By this time we should be seeing posters and adverts (not only in game shops)
PLEAS SONY, come on.
TheLonelyStoner @ Jan 5th 2009 5:59PM
Everyone i s in agreement about this but Sony are doing something really dumb. Im gonna pre-order it to ensure i get a copy on release day not because i get a free gift (that aint free anyway because you have to pay to get it so dont say yeah its free) i wouldnt download the demo anyway, i dont get involved in any pre - release hype because what you imagine will never be as good as what is on the disc, you disagree all you want but thats my opinion. The "hype" i get involved in is reading previews in magazines.
pete @ Jan 5th 2009 6:13PM
I went to Gamestop in NYC and reserved it today! They didn't have the "rave cards" in yet, but he said as far as the demo codes, it's all being done via email on the 3rd of Feb whether you pick up in-store or not! The "rave card" is just a collectors item.
linebeginstoblur @ Jan 5th 2009 6:15PM
I hate this you-have-to-buy-the-game-to-play-the-demo thing. If it's a closed online beta, I guess that's one thing, but.. personally, I played a demo of the first Killzone (back when OPM had demo discs...back when OPM still existed...) and I didn't really care for it.
To be honest, I don't get why people are comparing it to Halo. Wouldn't Sony's answer to Halo be Resistance? I thought the first Killzone was panned and criticized. It surprises me to see how much hype this game seems to have. Without a demo, I won't even consider playing this.
Speaking of demos, I finally got around to "playing" the Motorstorm: Pacific Rift "demo" last night. Is it just me, or is it just a looping video with looping audio? Wasn't it supposed to be an interactive playable demo? That made me furious. I'd rather they release no demo than do that, because if it's any indication of how they'd handle the full game, I would be stupid to consider buying it.
icestorm1024 @ Jan 5th 2009 6:16PM
Its not stupid on their part its believeed by many ppl in industry that releasing a demo for a game before its released lowers sales. It does happen with some games, there have been a few games that i thought were good but after playing the demo i think its good but i can skip it. Sometimes releasing a demo on PSN before it comes out is a bad idea there is nothing wrong with the demo coming out after the game. Fore example, i played R2 beta i thought it was a good game, but after playing i thought it was not necessary for me to buy it. I think that happened to a lot of people not just with R2. Anyone who really wants it will get it and if your on the fence the demo will be out after it makes perfect business sense to me.
Chris @ Jan 5th 2009 6:24PM
To be honest this is only the first such announcement. News has always come flooding later in that certain other retailers in other countries will get the same or different exclusivity rights. It just takes time. It's still the stupidest thing I've ever heard of to only give a pre-release demo to the people that already want it.
velvetelvis @ Jan 5th 2009 6:34PM
i picked up my card and the demo is only good from 2.5.09 thru 2.26.09. but the start date is subject to change without notice.
iBirch @ Jan 5th 2009 7:17PM
Yeah it is a dumb idea to get the demo if your buying the game. I will be getting Killzone 2 defo. Hope the UK get some good pre-order stuff.
Twinturbo120 @ Jan 5th 2009 8:05PM
The only reason I did this was because what about if I spend 60 bucks + tax on a game that I don't like? You play the demo first for a "test drive" If I like it I'll def buy it. Even though....I played the Haze demo and thought it was garbage but one day my friend brought it over and I really enjoyed it. So.....Even if it's bad I'll probably buy it because of the things it has to offer that no other PS3 game has.
jgstyle @ Jan 5th 2009 9:22PM
This makes perfect sense, it's just like icestorm1024 said. There was actually an article last year that reported how releasing a demo actually resulted in fewer sales.
Not only will some people play it and decide they don't care for it after all, but some people (like me), can wring an awful lot of enjoyment out of a demo, and many times I never do go on to get the full game.
This way, if you're anxious to try it, you'll pay for it, and those fence sitters who wouldn't have bought it ANYWAY will be able to try it out. Some of them just may be converted.
Think, people. This is a very savvy business move. I'm disappointed by the lack of critical thinking in the comments on this blog.