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Fairytale Fights price slashed, demo hits XBLM and PSN [update: demo now on XBLM]

by Richard Mitchell { Dec 4th 2009 at 1:45PM }

Update: The demo is now on Xbox Live Marketplace. You can add it to your Xbox 360 download queue here.

So, there are two bits of news in this particular post. They are complementary: one should really help you with the other. First, Playlogic has announced that the price for Fairytale Fights has been cut in both Europe and North America. Checking Amazon and GameStop, it looks like the US price has been dropped to $39.99. That's a pretty significant cut, nearly 30%. We're not sure what the cut is for European regions, though Play.com has marked the title from £39.99 to £29.99.

Now, the second piece of news: A demo for Fairytale Fights is now available on the PSN in North America. According to Playlogic, there's a demo on Xbox Live Marketplace as well, though it doesn't appear to be available right now (we'll update this post if it shows up). A demo is expected for Europe on December 10. The reason this second piece of news is so important is that the demo will help you realize that the game still isn't worth the asking price. See? Pretty helpful.

Bayonetta demo brings climax action to XBLM

by Richard Mitchell { Dec 3rd 2009 at 3:15PM }

Here's a friendly little reminder for all the climax action fans out there: The previously announced Bayonetta demo has arrived on Xbox Live Marketplace. We've been able to spend some time with the demo, and it's probably safe to say that Devil May Cry and Ninja Gaiden players out there have something to look forward to. But you don't have to take out word for it, because you can try it yourself. Amazing world we live in, isn't it?

Shortcut: Download the Bayonetta demo [Via Xbox.com]

Gran Turismo 5 demo races to PSN on December 17

by Andrew Yoon { Dec 3rd 2009 at 2:15PM }

2004: The Lord of the Rings Trilogy comes to an end (winning 11 Academy Awards in the process), John Kerry runs for US President and whales explode. Oh, and Gran Turismo 4 releases on PS2.

Five years later, the public is finally able to get their hands on Gran Turismo 5 with the first non-Prologue demo. The downloadable demo will be available on both the European and American PSN on December 17th.

In Europe, the demo will allow players to enter the "GT Academy Time Trial" contest, in which the top 20 players from select countries will be eligible for a chance to enter the GT Academy. The GT Academy training program will prepare the ultimate GT fan to compete in the European GT4 Cup in a real race-spec Nissan 370Z. In America and Canada, the winner of the time trial will get a trip to the Indianapolis 500. Sure, these are tantalizing grand prizes -- but we're more excited to see that GT5 is becoming a real game. Now, how about a release date?

Gallery: Gran Turismo 5

Source - GT Academy 2010 Launches December 17th - PlayStation.Blog.Europe
Source - PlayStation.com - GT5 Time Trial Rules
Source - Gran Turismo 5 Time Trial Challenge Announced

DiRT 2 PC demo hits the track

by David Hinkle { Dec 1st 2009 at 4:30PM }

The PC version of Codies racer DiRT 2 may be a bit behind the console pack, but it's crossing the finishing line in style. The extra time has allowed the team to throw a couple of more DirectXs in there (they've got it up to 11 now!) and fine-tune all of the game's tessellation.

And if you're still on the sidelines, wondering whether the game is for you (or, more importantly, if your puny rig can handle all of this Xtreme tessellation action), then why not try the game out right now? Codemasters was kind enough to hook up our sister site Big Download with a PC demo, so feel free to get a little dirty. Just, uh, change your clothes first. Your mom would kill us if you ruined that new Nickelback T-shirt.

Dante's Inferno demo on PSN Dec. 10, XBLM Dec. 24

by Justin McElroy { Dec 1st 2009 at 2:00PM }

There are plenty of beloved Christmas Eve traditions observed across the globe. Whether it's roasting chestnuts or watching the Christmas Story marathon, everyone's got a different way of marking the arrival of St. Nick. EA's hoping that the 360 owners among you will start a brand new, equally-sentimental tradition as it releases a demo of Dante's Inferno for XBLM on Dec. 24. The sample includes the entire first level of Dante's demonic journey into hell and goes great with eggnog.

Those preferring PSN will get the demo on Dec. 10, a date which has the dual benefit of (1) being two weeks earlier and (2) not making the baby Jesus cry.

Comet Crash demo lands on PSN

by Randy Nelson { Nov 24th 2009 at 8:15PM }

Pelfast (what an odd name!) has made it so you officially have no more excuses for not trying its excellent PSN tower defense game, Comet Crash, by today releasing a demo version of it on the PlayStation Store. In fact, the timing couldn't be better, since if you like what you ~~see~~ play, the game happens to be on sale for $4.99 (down from $9.99) through December 2.

If you're going to get the game (and we couldn't recommend it more, really) and have some Amazon credit or a gift card at the ready, Comet Crash is also going to be available via the online mega-retailer starting later today -- at the $4.99 price, to boot.

Winter Sports 2010 demo skates to XBLM

by Richard Mitchell { Nov 24th 2009 at 5:30PM }

A new demo has arrived on Xbox Live Marketplace for Winter Sports 2010. Now, you might be asking yourself, "What is Winter Sports 2010?" We asked the same question. It comes from 49Games, makers of Summer Athletics on the Wii.

After a little digging, we found a trailer on the YouTubes and confirmed our suspicions. Yep, it's a traditional Olympics-esque collection of mini-games, testing your skills at timed button presses and the like. The sports on hand include snowboarding, skiing, figure skating, speed skating, bobsledding and more. Though, honestly, why would you need anything other than figure skating?

Watch the trailer after the break.

Add the Winter Sports 2010 demo to your 360 download queue

Continued →

Bayonetta demo available in North America and Europe Dec. 3

by JC Fletcher { Nov 23rd 2009 at 11:30AM }

Finally, a chance to play Bayonetta for those of us who never got around to setting up Japanese PSN accounts or Sega Passes. Sega announced that the demo for Platinum Games' torturiffic action game will be available on Xbox Live and PSN, in North America and Europe, on December 3.

With this demo, you'll be able to gauge the limits of your Bayonetta fandom. Maybe you'll like it enough to buy it. Maybe you'll like it enough to buy the PAL limited edition. Or enough to import the PAL limited edition (for North American gamers). Or maybe you'll freak out about Bayonetta and feel compelled to import the Australian limited edition. This is why demos are so important: you can make sure you actually like the game before you bring yet another fancy plastic foot-pistol into your home.

Gallery: Bayonetta

Gravity Crash lands a global PSN release on Tuesday, November 24

by Andrew Yoon { Nov 20th 2009 at 2:00PM }

It's taken a while, but Just Add Water's play-create-share dual-stick shooter Gravity Crash will be landing on both the American and European PlayStation Stores next Tuesday, November 24th.

The game has certainly come a long way since its E3 showing, especially in terms of visuals. Unlike so many other PSN games, Gravity Crash will launch with a free demo which will include access to four levels and the in-game level editor (seen after the break). The demo will give you nearly unrestricted access to the editor, with one caveat -- you'll only be able to publish levels online by buying the full game.

Gravity Crash will be available on PS3 for £6.29 / €7.99 / $9.99. A PSP version -- which also includes a level editor -- is also in the works, and is likely to arrive in December. For more details on the game, check out Episode 140 of the PS Nation podcast.

Gallery: Gravity Crash

Source - PlayStation.Blog Europe
Source - PS Nation podcast

Continued →

Demo, the Smash Cars, you can have

by Andrew Yoon { Nov 18th 2009 at 7:00PM }

The team that's bringing you the Mushroom Wars demo is also preparing a Smash Cars demo for tomorrow. Thankfully, the trial RC racer will be available in both Europe and North American when the PlayStation Store updates.

"Just one action-packed lap around the track with real-time physics, innovative stunts and next-generation graphics will be sure to capture gamers' attention," said Vladimir Starzhevsky, co-founder and CEO of Creat Studios, Inc., in a press release. Hopefully, the demo will include more than just one lap.

Gallery: Smash Cars

Rumorong: No Splinter Cell Conviction demo with Assassin's Creed 2

by Ben Gilbert { Nov 17th 2009 at 5:20PM }

[geekadelphia.com]

Joystiq has confirmed that the blurry video and NeoGAF forum member's claims of a Splinter Cell Conviction demo voucher shipping inside Xbox 360 versions of Assassin's Creed II were nothing more than an enticing balloon full of hot air. As the picture you see above reveals, copies of ACII sold by GameStop included a Splinter Cell Conviction leaflet meant to solicit pre-orders of Ubisoft's next big game, while a similar leaflet (included in our Amazon.com copy) contains a URL and code ("CONV1C71ON") for ... ringtones and wallpapers? Yes, sad, but true. Looks like we got our hopes up for nothing, folks.

[Thanks Eric!]

Demo, the Mushroom Wars, you can have

by Andrew Yoon { Nov 17th 2009 at 4:18PM }

It may look like PixelJunk Monsters, but does it taste as good? You'll be able to find out when you dine on a free Mushroom Wars demo. Creat Studios is offering a free trial of its game on the PlayStation Store this Thursday for European players. (For reasons unknown to us, North American gamers will have to wait until December 10.) The demo will offer five levels to play -- a generous serving that will presumably make players hungry for more.

Gallery: Mushroom Wars (PSN)

Rumor: Splinter Cell: Conviction demo voucher in Xbox 360 Assassin's Creed II

by David Hinkle { Nov 16th 2009 at 12:40PM }

Look, Sam Fisher is a master of espionage, so it's entirely believable the man could sneak his way into the packaging of Assassin's Creed II this week. Heck, now that his daughter is gone, he's thrown the rulebook out the window and part of his new anything-goes persona could very well be to synergize like he's never done before. Thus, this rumor that all copies of Assassin's Creed II on Xbox 360 will come with a download voucher for a Splinter Cell: Conviction demo.

One user over at NeoGAF claims a copy of Assassin's Creed II on Xbox 360 came with said insert, while further evidence from HipHopGamer shows what appears to be the alleged insert (it's since been removed from the original video; but Kouppa-Network Live still has it up). Logic points to the demo being the same portion of gameplay we checked out back at E3, though there's no evidence to verify that.

We've contacted Ubisoft for comment and will update this post when we hear back.

[Thanks, tmacairjordan87]

Source - NeoGAF post
Source - HHG video with insert reveal removed
Source - Pulled video showing insert

Investigate a Flash demo of Miles Edgeworth's new game

by JC Fletcher { Nov 12th 2009 at 11:30PM }

Like it has for past Ace Attorney games, Capcom has prepared a demo of Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth. This demo seems even more relevant than past offerings, since aspects of the game other than the names on the text windows have changed. This demo will give you the opportunity to examine Edgeworth's office with the new point-and-click interface, connect evidence with the new "Logic" system, and become impatient with Detective Gumshoe.

It doesn't take a brilliant deductive mind with excellent taste in cravats to puzzle out that this demo contains spoilers, since it reproduces the first scene in the game. However, we suspect that you won't be able to resist, after almost two years of no Ace Attorney games.

Gallery: Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth (TGS 2009)

Reminder: Left 4 Dead demo now available 4 all

by Richard Mitchell { Nov 10th 2009 at 12:00PM }

For those who have yet to face the shambling, undead hordes of the south in the Left 4 Dead 2 demo, now's your chance. Previously available only for pre-order customers and Xbox Live Gold members, the demo is now open to all Xbox Live members. That means everyone can enjoy the hacking, slashing, shooting, shuffling goodness of Left 4 Dead 2 ... well, two sections of it, anyway.

You might as well give it a try. It's not like there's anything else going on, right?

Add the Left 4 Dead 2 demo to your Xbox download queue