Halo 3 Demo Coming Early Next Year?

[magik]

I figured this would warrant it's own thread...

We?re titling this as a rumor, but even so, sources have revealed to Game Informer Online that there will be a Halo 3 demo released over Xbox Live in the first half of 2007. Obviously Microsoft hasn?t revealed any details yet, but we wouldn?t be too surprised if something was dropped in the second or third week of November. You know, just to mess a bit with the PlayStation 3 and Wii launches.

We contacted Microsoft to confirm this rumor, but they responded with the usual statement that Microsoft doesn?t comment about speculation or rumors.

Is it shocking that Microsoft would release a Halo 3 demo? Not so much. Is it surprising that they?d announce the first details to mess with Sony and Nintendo? Not at all.

The big question is, will the Halo 3 demo be the first demo that Microsoft will charge for? We?re also putting our money on that, too. If there?s one game that Xbox 360 owners are waiting for it?s Halo 3, and regardless of how much or how little the demo consists of, Microsoft could charge and no one would really care.

GameIF/url]

IF this is highly I highly doubt that Microsoft would charge for it as this would **** a lot of people off (contrary to what GameInfobutves), but I know I wo:pinch: for it. :pinch:

Also, I think this is plausible. Microsoft has always been hinting at some big surprises to steal Sony and Nintendo's thunder for their releases and the only thing better than releasing a Halo 3 Demo would be to ;)lease Halo 3. ;)

Either way, I think we'll get our answer with EGM's next issue which is said to have a lot of details on Halo 3.

[spenser.d]

While I think it would be amazing if true, I don't think it is. Bungie hasn't, in the past, released a public demo of either Halo game until after it's release (I'm not actually positive if there's even a demo for Halo 2, I haven't ever been bothered to look), and I'm not sure why that would change here. They don't need a demo to steal thunder away from Nintendo or Sony, they just need to spit out some info on the game and people will go crazy.

Then again, the XBL Marketplace makes it a heck of a lot easier to make a demo worth releasing. I'm not going to hold my hopes up for one though.

Also, Microsoft has no reason to charge for demos. They haven't yet, and I doubt they will start anytime soon. That bit is just bogus speculation on the author's part that really has no place in the article, IMO.

-Spenser

[Brandon Live Veteran]

While I think it would be amazing if true, I don't think it is. Bungie hasn't, in the past, released a public demo of either Halo game until after it's release

Ah... but we live in a different world these days - largely thanks to Xbox Live.

A pre-release Halo 3 demo would drive Xbox Live connections. And it could drive Xbox 360 sales up hugely (which Halo 3 will obviously do anyway), but possibly at a more opportune moment (before the whole game is ready).

[PL_ Veteran]

HALO 3 DEMO?

YIPEEEEE! :bounce:

[Sethos]

If that's true ... http://yonkis.com/mediaflash/unmillon.htm

[Shetland]

sounds good if its true, haha i remember getting the halopc demo to fly in a banshee cause it wasn't possible on the box :p

[John Veteran]

IF this is in fact true, I highly doubt that Microsoft would charge for it as this would **** a lot of people off (contrary to what GameInformer believes), but I know I would pay for it. :pinch:

Sure, you would be ****ed off, but you would pay for it. Just like everyone else...

[magik]

Sure, you would be ****ed off, but you would pay for it. Just like everyone else...

Thanks for repeating exactly what I said. :yes: :laugh:

[John Veteran]

Yeah, I should have compared it to gasoline or something. Basically, if there's a price on it, you'll pay for it :p

[ryanmcv]

I really don't see a demo happening for Halo 3. Bungie is much too secretive to just slap a demo online and let the world see what they're trying to keep secret until launch day.

[Neo003]

I heard somewhere that they will release the demo after a month after release. I guess for the dumb as5 who didn't bought h3.

[myNando]

A pre-release Halo 3 demo would drive Xbox Live connections. And it could drive Xbox 360 sales up hugely (which Halo 3 will obviously do anyway), but possibly at a more opportune moment (before the whole game is ready).

Dude, I bought Xbox 360 solely for DOA4 and I know there are tons upon tons of Halo fans out there. So, I know that Halo 3 will raise the roof on Xbox 360 sales.

<~ dork, I know.

[magik]

I really don't see a demo happening for Halo 3. Bungie is much too secretive to just slap a demo online and let the world see what they're trying to keep secret until launch day.

What makes you think they'll just 'slap' a demo online? If Bungie does release a Demo you can bet that it will be quality and will only reveal very little about Halo 3 as a whole. For example, they could release a multiplayer Map that is just a remake of one of the Halo 1 or Halo 2 maps with Classic Weapons (weapons found in Halo 1 or Halo 2 only) in order to keep the majority of Halo 3 secretive.

I'm not saying it will happen, I'm just speculating here, I kinda doubt that it will. But if a Demo is released it will be limited and will only prove to showcase the graphic engine and create hype around Halo 3 and the Xbox 360.

[macrosslover]

What makes you think they'll just 'slap' a demo online? If Bungie does release a Demo you can bet that it will be quality and will only reveal very little about Halo 3 as a whole. For example, they could release a multiplayer Map that is just a remake of one of the Halo 1 or Halo 2 maps with Classic Weapons (weapons found in Halo 1 or Halo 2 only) in order to keep the majority of Halo 3 secretive.

I'm not saying it will happen, I'm just speculating here, I kinda doubt that it will. But if a Demo is released it will be limited and will only prove to showcase the graphic engine and create hype around Halo 3 and the Xbox 360.

yeah but that takes valuable time away from developing the main game which I'm sure they need very much now. Plus even if they release a demo in early 2007, it would still be based on incomplete code which might turn alot of people off from Halo 3 because they would pre-judge the final product. No, the best thing MS can do is to let Bungie fine tune the game to perfection and not risk releasing a demo based on beta code that could possibly damage possible sales.

[iconboy]

if i got the halo 3 demo, there would be no point in buying the actual game, since there will be hopefully one level in the demo and halo basically follows a formula... shoot, move, shoot, move, shoot, move, reach end of level.... REPEAT. Halo is sooo overratted :p but i am looking forward to seeing INGAME Halo 3.

[Matrix XII]

I highly doubt there'd be a demo, I just don't think it's Bungie's style. There's no real point to a demo, everyone and their brother is going to buy the game anyways.

[magik]

It's true, they definitely don't need to release a demo to hype Halo 3 anymore since it's already arguably the most anticipated game for any console. It's just from a business perspective, it makes a lot of sense. It would take the spotlight away from Sony and Nintendo this holiday season. Whether it's going to happen is highly unlikely IMHO, but you can't deny the fact that it makes business sense.

[Brandon Live Veteran]

if i got the halo 3 demo, there would be no point in buying the actual game, since there will be hopefully one level in the demo and halo basically follows a formula... shoot, move, shoot, move, shoot, move, reach end of level.... REPEAT. Halo is sooo overratted :p but i am looking forward to seeing INGAME Halo 3.

Do they pay you by the insult or what? I always wondered how that worked...

[Danrarbc]

Do they pay you by the insult or what? I always wondered how that worked...

As much as I think what he said was stupid, that's pretty funny coming from you (just being a Microsoft employee) :p

Sorry I know it's not relevant, still I chuckled.