Why Dead Rising 2: Case Zero’s Success May Spell The End Of Free Demos

This past week has seen some important activity in the Digital Download Video Game Marketplace, with the unforeseen success of Capcom and Canadian developer Blue Castle Games’ Dead Rising 2: Case Zero (DR20).Capcom chose to release DR20 on XBL weeks before the actual launch of Dead Rising 2, as a $5 paid-demo DLC prologue hybrid.

The industry has been buzzing over the last couple days as initial sales figures were released, revealing that after one week of sales, DR20’s perfect price point has garnered well over 328,290 purchases. Take away Microsoft’s 30 percent cut, and Capcom is left with over 1 million in sales prior to the release of the actual game. Not to mention the record on Xbox Live for the best week one unit sales in the history of all content distributed through XBLA. Not to shabby.

[NegativeCreepWA]

I wasn't really a demo since none of it is in the game.

[JohnApocalypse]

Exactly. The only reason it sold allot cause it was cheap

[UNCyrus]

It's a Payquel

[BISHOP-BRASIL]

I don't see the problem there too... It's just stand alone extra content from a previous game. It's in no way different from Ratchet & Clank Quest For Booty or GTA IV "DLC", you didn't need to have the earlier game, but if you want to know what happened in some untold parts of it (before, after or while), you can buy this cheaper, shorter games.

EDIT: What I mean is this games aren't content take away from disc to make DLC, they aren't Disc lockouts, they aren't game on the disc that you'll pay for demo and pay again in case you want to buy the game.... They simply are extra content that developers have gone out of their ways to provide us, they want money from it, no big deal.

[gtamike]

It was just DLC that M$ paid for.
Timed DLC and lots of ads on TV thats how M$ does things.
Sony does not do that they make games with their money.

[GusBricker]

Mafia II says hi.

Happy grass hunting!

[Ronster316]

Didn't pay for this exclusive DLC.

Capcom released it to say "thankyou" to all the 360 owners who bought the origional Dead Rising (now close to 1.8 million in sales by the way)

[mac_sparrow]

a thank you you pay for?

I've no beef with the title but paying for a thank you? And they say that manners cost nothing...

[Lord_Doggington]

what an idiot. it's not a demo. it's a full game, albeit a short one

[hennessey86]

not really a demo but i would welcome simaler types of experienses ie a gears 3 prequel would be awsome

[SA1NTofKILLERS]

Def Agree with that. FO3: New Vegas, Fable 3, Dragon Age 2 also. I can see it being a case where "mini-games" or prologue DLC that doesn't require the full game for $5 becomes the modern version of the demo. Studios presumably, still make money and for those who don't want to buy the entire $60 game they get something that has a bit of replay value and achievements while getting a sense of what would be in the full version. I can deal with that.

[JsonHenry]

I'm not sure how I feel about this.

I liked the fact that the "payquel" sets up the stage for the game, background, and lets you tie your successes into the actual game all the while giving you a glimpse of the game a month early.

The other part of me DOESN'T want a bunch of half assed demos being passed off as a "payquel" and charging $5-$10.

[siyrobbo]

also remember its an arcade release so still can be played for free

Also the free trial that comes with case zero is bigger than the demo for dead rising 1

[avengers1978]

a demo is usually one level, and case zero was like 2 to 4 hrs of game play. Plus it was sorta a prequel to the actual game so there is a reason to pay for this, but not for most demos.

[BattleAxe]

Most demos suck anyway. It'll be a cold day in hell before I actually pay to play one.

[dragunrising]

It was probrably the most feature packed "paid" demo I've ever played...since GT Prologue.

Admit it, Dead Rising 2: Case Zero is not the only exception.

Demo's usually don't last 5 hours and offer achievements/trophies. Many games don't last that long. Value, as always, is subjective.

[omi25p]

a demo is a small section of the finished game,
dead rising case zero is a stand along game that is a prologue to dead rising 2, its not a demo its basically a dlc that dosent require the game

[Afterglow]

The only reason I would call it a demo is because you can play a demo/trial of it just like every other arcade game. Besides that its not a demo.

[SA1NTofKILLERS]

True. But it's still meant to showcase the upcoming game. While the story and narrative may not be a slice out of DR2 like traditional demos, it's meant to give players a taste of what's to come, which is essentially a demo. But I agree that it could also be called DLC that doesn't require the disc. All depends on your POV on the matter.

[Lord_Doggington]

no regardless of what your "point of view" is, in actuality, it's in no way a demo. it was never advertised as a demo, nor is it considered a demo by any respected gaming publication

[militant07]

deadrising case zero has a free demo

[Ashriel]

lol, you saved me the typing xD

[Kakihara]

Hopefully what'll happen is that people start creating prequel demos for free rather than demos ripped from sections of the retail game. I think this would create more intrigue about a game and get people more interested.

For example, rather than Dead space's awful (admittedly sort of standalone) dismemberment demo where you play as Isaac in a room full of Necromorphs, if they created s short twenty minute prequel in which you play as one of the original crew of the ship. You get to run from the necromorphs, maybe fight one then you're caught and killed. Itr gives you a little taste of the kind of thing you'll be doing in the main game without ruining any of the main game for you plus it makes you want to see how the little prequel you played relates to the main game. If you can find your character's corpse in the main game or an audiolog of them or whatever.

Of course it's easier for them to just rip sections from the main game but I really think if more people would put in the little effort it takes to design a standalone side story/prequel demo it would totally pay off.

Not that I'd pay for one.

[tiamat5]

If you guys start wanting me to buy demos of games I may not end up buying, then you people have realky lost your money grubbing minds. I would rather patiently wait for a game, check the reviews and buy it if I want. That is what I did before in the days when demos didn't exist.

[testerg35]

but but.. aren't all bad PS3 reviews biased? Well that's what I hear atleast.

[I Call 9MM]

This is definitely an interesting way for developers and publishers to get more money out of the gamer. I like the term "DLC you don't need the game to play". You get to preview the game in a way, but at the same time it is its own unique experience, with story and setting. This is a "demo", or "DLC demo" that I could live with. I'm paying for something unique, and in this case, probably not something that would have been in the final game. This is a good, fair concept, especially if it is released a few months prior to the finished game

Now, playing, say, a section of a game that gets ripped out, well we are doing that already with games (ACII), or simply paying to play a section of the final game, now that is bogus.

I could see this working with, say, music games, where you buy this "DLC" a few months prior, and get to play some unique songs, not in the final game, but they import into the final game. Imagine paying under 10 bucks for a new Guitar Hero/Rock Band game, getting a couple of tracks with it, and being able to use your current DLC.

The idea of prequels to the main story is intersting, especially if they are a low price. You get the benefits of the demo and raise awareness of your title, make money, and the gamer gets a taste of the new game, yet get something unique at the same time.

[I Call 9MM]

Even playing through a unique section of the game, set before the main game, and getting some unique items that can be collected later on by the main character, is also interesting. It's rewarding and I don't feel robbed. Charge me to play a piece of the final game, no thanks.

[rekof]

If that happens ,.. Than fuck them,.. I am not buying your demo,.. and most likely your game,..

Makes no sense,.. regarding competition,.. They should be glad they have an outlet for people to try there shit ,..and they are,..

Who In his right mind would change,.. like 15years of gaming history,.. Also shows a level of confidence in your product,..

they should be giving us more ,.. not less,. and for free ,.. Don't get me even started on whole XBL shit...

wtf is wrong with you people,..

[GusBricker]

I have the achievements to prove it.

HA!

*sticks IED to zombie's back and laughs ****ing hard at the hilarity*

[Leonesaurus]

Dead Rising 2: Case 0 has a free "trial" of the aracde game, which goes for $5 total. Not sure where demo fell into either of those categories, since "demos" are small representations of playability from the full-retail product known as Dead Rising 2.

With all that being said, demos will ALWAYS be free, unless the developers are morons or something i.e. God of War 3 demo for purchase of God of War HD collection. Something retarded like that.

[Cajun Chicken]

If this came out earlier. It could of gotten away with being a 'bridge game' like what Quest for Booty was for Crack in Time.

Not happy by the timing, but I'm sure it'll arrive on PSN as DLC.

[Carlos_Irwin_Estevez]

it depends if people have satisfied their zombie killing needs if they have it will go against the retail sales of the game. Be interesting .

[Rubberlegs]

People need to lay off of the demo talk. You can already play a demo of Case Zero, the trial version which is free. That would mean its a demo of a demo? Its silly. Its no different from DLC, if this came out after Dead Rising 2 no one would be saying anything.

Demo's don't have the length and replay value as Case Zero has. The first Dead Rising demo had a 10 limit timer. Case Zero doesn't resemble anything from what you would see in a demo.

[Salginon]

It's not a demo.

[divideby0]

author is clueless... comparing this to a demo......
just because someone has internet access, does not make them an author

[WiIIiam]

I was worried too, but it's really not such a big deal considering the abundance of content in DR2:0, the fact that it carries over to the full game, and most importantly the ability to try a free trial before making the $5 purchase. I wonder what the sales figures would look like if we couldn't try it for free first?

[theonlylolking]

The game is bad. I was able to walk through the zombies in the demo easily(not a scratch on me).

The zombies where freaking retarded not even trying to kill me.

[frelyler]

on Xbox because eventually they will start charging you just to turn on your system, it's too bad too because there are some good exclusives I would love to play on it, but I simply will never buy a microsoft product again based off of how they treated customers itnially when the whole rrod thing started (ie me). Got burned once but never again. Feel sorry for everyone else that continues to get burned.

[BABY-JEDI]

Far better than Resi 5 which was NOT a zombie game!!!! Anyone wanting to pay for this prequel are getting far better value than Resi 5 which is a complete bag of S--t or C--p or Mince ect... Period it was sooo bad. Please do NOT buy.

[damnyouretall]

id pay 5 bucks if the demo was large enough

[Syaz1]

this isn't a demo, it's a standalone prequel expansion. why would publishers want to charge for a marketing tool anyway, that's just stupid. it's like i go to a supermarket and there's a salesperson inviting me to taste a new imported drink, only to be told i need to pay for it. in the end, i don't know what the damn drink taste like, so i wont even be buying the full product.

[kasasensei]

"Why Dead Rising 2: Case Zero’s Success May Spell The End Of Free Demos"
It's not. Asshole.