- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
OK, I'm gonna list reasons why there probably won't be a demo, and why there might be one.
Heres why not:
1. Bungie would never publish a single player demo before the game came out, they've worked too hard to keep the plot a secret, they wouldn't just give it up like that. A multiplayer demo is more possible, but still not likely. I'll go on.
2. If Bungie DID publish a demo, it would be part of a marketing campaign, so people would buy the game. Well, where would such a demo get noticed? In the OXM? Maybe. But the August issue of OXM is probably going to be finished by the end of this month, and published by the beginning of August. So I doubt it'll be there, as August 24th is the end of August. So, you'd think maybe it'll be published in another magazine? Well that IS possible, but most magazines don't give you demos, and when they do, it's through a subscription. I don't think Bungie would publish a demo that only a minority could enjoy. And don't even think about the demo being online... It's an Xbox game.
3. No matter how you look at it, a demo will dissapoint those ever - complaining fans. If it's a single player demo, then fans would say: "What kinda level is this! It sucks! Bungie, you suck!" I know this sounds unthinkable, as Bungie is holy, but playing just one level of a game isn't great. They'll all be confused, because what many fans don't understand is that a demo isn't ment to give away the story. It's ment to give you a feel of the game so you'd buy it. And, if it was a multiplayer demo, then people would complain how they expected more out of multiplayer. Well, so what? It's just one map. Not all maps in Halo was great. But Blood Gulch was. Hang 'Em High was. So maybe this isn't the "Blood Gulch" of Halo 2. Doesn't mean all maps suck. But fans wouldn't understand that.
Here's why:
1. A UK magazine, which I forget the name of, had an alphabetical list of all the important things in Halo 2. They were told by Bungie, however, to hold back the D section. Do I hear "Demo?"
2. As a fan pointed out, SPDR can also be interpreted as Single Player Demo Release. This is a fat chance, but hey, it IS Bungie.
3. A demo would give uncertain fans a reason to buy the game.
So, please post your thoughts and comments here. In my opinion, I don't think there will be a demo before the game. Oh, and please don't post about the release date being moved to August 24th. That's unlikely, stupid, and unreasonable. And of course the tatoo isn't permanent... Whether it comes out on the 9th or not, nobody would have a permanent tatoo that says November 9th on them, simply because November 9th next year could be declared as the official -blam!--blam!- day. You never know.
[Edited on 7/25/2004 8:54:19 AM]