360s get COD2 demo-lition

Sampling of top-selling Xbox 360 game now downloadable from Xbox Live; demo weighs in at a manageable 331MB.

Activision and Infinity Ward apparently aren't too happy with just having the number-one selling Xbox 360 game on the market. Like a general bent on utter destruction, the two companies want to dominate the battlefield known as retail. They fired another shot in that war today with the release of the Call of Duty 2 demo on Xbox Live.

The demo, now available for free download from Xbox Live Marketplace, won't crowd hard drive space, either. The file is a mere 331.11MB, roughly a quarter the size of the Project Gotham Racing 3 demo, which is 1.25GB.

The news won't be essential to all Xbox 360 owners, as an overwhelming majority of gamers who have a 360 already own the game. Weeks after the 360 was released in North America, numbers from NPD revealed that nearly three out of every four Xbox 360 owners also brought home a copy of Call of Duty 2. Still, the numbers appear to be getting even better as more Xbox 360s find their way to stores--COD2 was the top-selling console game in January.

While Xbox 360 owners who don't own the wargame are rejoicing, some members of the Xbox Live community are protesting.

Says one gamer who goes by the handle "Roland Dobbins" on MajorNelson.com, "Rather than wasting time and resources putting out a demo of the single most popular game for the XBox 360, with an attach-rate of 70% or better, it sure would be nice if Microsoft and Activision/Infinity Ward concentrated their resources on a patch for the many performance and playability problems with the XBox Live-enabled multiplayer mode; currently, the game is all but unusable."

Infinity Ward has issued one patch for the game, which addressed a game-save glitch, and has promised that a patch to fix multiplayer issues is in the works.

Call of Duty 2, which was released with the Xbox 360's launch in November, is rated T for Teen and retails for $59.99. For more on the game, read GameSpot's review.

46 Comments

  • chrisdojo

    Posted Feb 27, 2006 8:23 am PT

    a demo this late? oh well....guess it might help them sell more.

  • ufopuller

    Posted Feb 27, 2006 7:28 am PT

    Just for a taste

  • miiiguel

    Posted Feb 27, 2006 6:57 am PT

    on CoD2: best FPS shooter I've ever played. An "intelligent game". Ows nothing to Halo.

  • dukerav

    Posted Feb 26, 2006 9:13 pm PT

    bah.. this demo does me no good seeing as how i already own the game and have beaten it. Need MP fix now plz .

  • Jedi_Osborn

    Posted Feb 26, 2006 7:16 pm PT

    the best launch game, probably the best 360 game out there.....why put a demo out??

  • SavoyPrime

    Posted Feb 26, 2006 6:03 pm PT

    This is a damn fun game, and I don't even like shooters!

  • boolow407

    Posted Feb 26, 2006 5:14 pm PT

    "3 out of 4 360's sold with this game" Are they looking for total domination? The game is hands down awesome, and everyone who has played it including grandma in Walmart knows this. I havent played it on line yet, but I will vouch for the players that are saying they are having problems. Fix the bugs, then release a demo for the next CoD which judging by releasing demos after the fact like this, you know are coming.

  • snakes2solid

    Posted Feb 25, 2006 11:08 am PT

    but i agree with needing a patch for cod2!!... not a wasted demo..

  • snakes2solid

    Posted Feb 25, 2006 11:07 am PT

    honestly, they can patch the full game without this demo... the demo is a waste...if the game was new or not out yet...then the demo is a great idea...but this demo serves no purpose other than rehashing what's already out there...xbox live gets no points on this crap!

  • Foppe_

    Posted Feb 25, 2006 2:23 am PT

    "another wasted download !!.. demos are for games that really aren't out yet..or that maybe aren't selling but need exposure... why put a demo out for a game that's been out for so long!!!"

    I prefer the game developers to use their time to develop a game instead of wasting time making a demo.
    To release the demo after the game is released means that they can use some of their workers to develop eventually patches when the rest of the team makes the demo.

  • Sydwynder

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 9:11 pm PT

    No point in releasing the demo three months later. When Bungie released Halo 2, they didn't put out a demo months later, they were hard at work putting out killer levels and patches. Thats why its still the most played game on Live. The COD2 patch for multiplayer is long, long overdue. Seriously, 2 out of every 3 multiplayer games runs so poorly it is completely unplayable. Activision, Infinity Ward- You have my money so give me the game that should have come in the package- one that runs properly.

  • mp5b

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 7:56 pm PT

    what save glitch?

  • BlackdogGT

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 6:09 pm PT

    Hey, good call, I love my DS guy. The titles that aren't moving should be the games with the demos. For instance, I'm interested in Gun. But the crap reviews keep me from dropping my dime on it. Why WOULDN'T they want people to see for themselves? Call of Duty is a guaranteed hit.

    Right now, I'm just diving into the single player campaign. (I work a tremendous number of hours per week, so i haven't even touched the multiplayer yet..) CoD is brilliant. There was no way I, or anyone else I'd assume, wouldn't pick it up as one of their premier titles when they first buy the console. Gun? Nope. Sorry. I've heard mixed reactions, but word of mouth means jack when it comes to my wallet.

    So why would Infinity Ward NOT focus their energy on fixing the issues with the game before plugging it on marketplace? The more people who buy it due to the demo tacks up the number of disappointed fans who want to access a great round of online multiplayer. Isn't it called "common sense"?

  • mickel_darmawan

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 5:40 pm PT

    who care ...

  • i_love_my_ds

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 4:40 pm PT

    doesnt almost everyone that has a 360 own this game? they should advertize their other 360 games. for example gun..........?

  • Sandman100

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 2:59 pm PT

    I think it ok because people who haven't got the game will know what there missing, and go out and buy it. I think it fine to download the demo at home to see if you'll like it or not.

  • commmaando

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 2:54 pm PT

    I appreciate putting this demo I didn't get cod2 now I think I will get it , well maybe after this multiplayer patch thing is out I will not buy I half ass game

  • VFA-102

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 2:19 pm PT

    "Working on a patch?" Why isn't it already done? I can't even play on live anymore because of how bad the lag is and they wasted time on releasing a demo for a game that 7/10ths of 360 owners already have. WTF?

  • Benny_is_here

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 1:45 pm PT

    Why aren't there a Veteran difficulty in the demo? I'm getting the full game soon though.

  • keldog

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 1:44 pm PT

    It was probably minimal work developing the demo after the game was complete vs. lots of work for one that is still trying to get finished. For all the people that seem "angry" that it wasn't a demo for a game that hasn't come out yet, it's not like there is limited space for only COD2 on the Marketplace and they are taking up all the space so GRAW and Gears demos can't come out. Oh yeah, and it's FREE!!!

  • s0l0123

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 1:34 pm PT

    Not my type of genre.

  • ZeTecThreaT

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 1:21 pm PT

    this game will fade once GRAW and Battlefield 2 comes out.And Activision will be laughing all the way to the bank while a few people still wait for a patch.

  • mikeyboy75

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 1:12 pm PT

    Release a Muliplayer demo, see how many people buy the game after that.

  • LucaBlight24

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 12:50 pm PT

    ok how about something new.everyone has already played this.how about gears of war demo.

  • Zeke_Link

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 12:28 pm PT

    I had CoD2 but HATED it, then I sold it

  • anonymus_pe

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 12:21 pm PT

    Ghost Recon Demo Now!!!!!

  • CheatRZ

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 12:13 pm PT

    I'd rather see something else in demo-land.. since COD2 has been out for a while now and everyone and their grandmother have already played the demo at a Walmart.. I want a cool demo to show up.. like Ghost Recon.. or anything that hasn't been out for more than a month.

  • Maui00

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 12:04 pm PT

    awesome!

  • snakes2solid

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 12:03 pm PT

    another wasted download !!.. demos are for games that really aren't out yet..or that maybe aren't selling but need exposure... why put a demo out for a game that's been out for so long!!!...and selling well anyway!!>..

    stop wasting my xbox live downloads with crap and rehashed crap...put out new games that we're dying to play...

    demos wanted...the outfit..gears of war..ghost recon., Gundam, Lost planet..ya know..games that aren't out everywhere !!!...

  • thekey

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 11:55 am PT

    They need a patch and it would be good for them to get more sales.

  • slow-pc

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 11:49 am PT

    Yep... wish that teh patch came out first for it , then the demo.

    Maybe COD2 will end up getting traded in when GRAW comes out...

  • Supermodified

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 11:41 am PT

    Overkill. An attach rate of 70%+ and they are putting out a demo? If you own an Xbox360, and you have COD2 (which is about 3/4th's of all Xbox360 users), this means nothing. Next......

  • anonymus_pe

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 11:38 am PT

    I wish that they would make more players online, though it sucks cause of all the problems, I think it would be fun.

  • GreyFoxV1

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 11:26 am PT

    Wish they would fix the damn bugs and gameplay issues in multiplayer first *thumbs down*

  • chaos_theory_09

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 11:24 am PT

    They get a taste of money and just can't stop pushing that game

  • Psycho_Teen

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 11:24 am PT

    cool i just got a 360 a week ago and havnt bought cod2 or do i plan to beacues of oblivion fight night and graw so this is great.

  • REVENGEotSITH

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 11:19 am PT

    Agree - why waste time on getting a demo out on Live Marketplace when the 70% of us 360 owners are screaming for a multiplayer patch. This game is going to fade so fast once GRAW and Battlefield 2 hit...

  • Khimarhi

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 11:10 am PT

    if you don't have this game download this demo and you will get this game. . it's simply beautiful

  • k04sm02

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 11:07 am PT

    fix the spawn points when they do the MP too, the placements are atrocious sometimes.

  • frankeyser

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 11:07 am PT

    i played it on my puter so i did not get it for my 360

  • jjenkins78

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 11:06 am PT

    Is this the same demo that was shipped on the OXM disk?

  • Ace_The_Ace

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 11:05 am PT

    That will be great for the people who have a 360.....

  • ThrillhouseLive

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 11:03 am PT

    I don't own it. I rented it that was enough for me. I hope the demo isn't the prerelease demo i already played.

  • mrgio69

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 11:02 am PT

    best launch title out of them all

  • pbkick1

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 11:01 am PT

    Please make the xbl patch!

  • Bazza123rocky

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 11:00 am PT

    nice. sure to drive sales.

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