With news coming in that the Final Fantasy XIII demo could possibly be 90+ minutes long, it should come as no surprise that Square Enix may be planning to sell the demo separately, as at this time the only planned release for the demo is alongside Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete.

[Final Fantasy XIII Forum]

Nomura has told Dengeki though that the Final Fantasy XIII demo may be sold separately some time after Advent Children: Complete's release. Square-Enix know they can make a huge amount of revenue by including the Final Fantasy XIII demo with AC:C but is selling the demo separately possibly taking it too far? The demo is supposed to be 90 minutes long, so the file size could make it unfeasible to host on the Playstation Network but if they sell it for an extortionate price, would people still buy it? I can pretty much answer my own question and say yes but that doesn't make it right.
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Most recently commented on by on Oct 10, 2008
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  • 2
    Krunal Sep 1, 08
    WTF, Square Enix suck. I've never hated them more than I do now... I mean they're doing everything that I'd hate for a company to do (go Multiplatform, CHARGE for DEMO's) etc...
    • 1
      Cruxis Mana Sep 1, 08
      It does suck doesn't it ...

      The question is, would you still buy it though ?

      I probably would.

      And if your reading this Square Enix. Starving your fans of information, then forcing them to pay for a demo is NOT a good marketing stratgey.
      • 2
        Slumpy monkey Sep 1, 08
        It's worked so far for Grand turismo.
        • 0
          Red 9 Sep 2, 08
          Gran Turismo is far more complex. They also take longer to make than FF. So a priced GT Prologue is fitting, seeing as they put lots into it.
        • 1
          BlackLabel Sep 2, 08
          Gran Turismo Prologue was almost a mini game hell it was larger than some racing games that have been released recently, that was a game not a demo.
        • 1
          Slumpy monkey Sep 2, 08
          So 90 mins is longer than some games, How do you not know that they put lots into this demo? Wait until you see the final article before you criticise it.
    • 0
      Final Blade Sep 5, 08
      I don't see why you're complaining Krunal. If you don't want to pay for the demo, don't buy. It comes free with the FF7: ACC anyway
  • 3
    Duality_18 Sep 1, 08
    Charge for a demo? Has there been a new level of greed reached?
  • 0
    chautemoc Sep 1, 08
    I think this would all be fine if they had say, a short version for free and a long version for a small cost. But in the end, just a short version for free makes the most sense for everyone..
  • 0
    Red 9 Sep 1, 08
    It's one thing for a company to aim for max profit, it's entirely another to just charge for just about everything.

    But you can expect that 360 owners have never been happier.
    • 0
      Cruxis Mana Sep 1, 08
      Then you just remind that they're going to be getting a inferior port of the game, with no demo.



      Awaits death.
      • 0
        Red 9 Sep 1, 08
        Oh that's right, they don't get a demo...

        Hmm. Still, the demo should be free, It should be on PSN even. Even if it is an hour-and-a-half demo. The Folklore demo lasted me at least one hour, but I guess FFXIII would be a larger file...
      • 1
        Lost_Cause Sep 2, 08
        Which is worse than not getting the game at all amirite
        • 0
          Red 9 Sep 2, 08
          Not really. Even if we pay for it, we're still getting it.
  • 0
    Newcloud Sep 1, 08
    well if going to charge for it they should put it on PSN... that would mean i dont have to buy the movie again
  • 0
    Starsky134 Sep 1, 08
    They shouldn't be charging for a demo.
  • 0
    reaver11 Sep 2, 08
    I'll be getting the movie on Blu-Ray, no question there. But will I care about the demo inside? Probably not. I'll try it, but thats it. I'm more eager to play the movie in HD than I am to try the game.

    As for them "charging" for the demo, I never thought I'd see a company swindle their fans more than Capcom does. Hell hath frozen over.
  • 0
    tidus04 Sep 2, 08
    Pay for a Demo, no chance of me getting that I thinks.. I will just watch a few video's on it to get the buzz I need though I know it wouldn't feel the same XD
  • 0
    Miss Razz Sep 3, 08
    What ever happened to the nice Square who used to release info, and multiple free demos, and made the fans feel like they were more important than money?

    Oh wait, they died last decade
    • 0
      Final Blade Sep 5, 08
      Actually no, its brilliant strategy tbh. You know how much FF12 info was released only for that game to be an utter disappointment?

      This way, were completely dark about whats going on. Sure its great to get info on a game, but guess what after how FF12 turned out, and how fans are probably on skepticism about FF13 its no surprise they're not giving alot of information. As they always say "Its always better in moderation".
      • 0
        Miss Razz Sep 6, 08
        Having next-to-no information released on a game isn't a brilliant strategy. It just pisses people off.

        Famitsu's latest disappointment was a bit of a kick to the gut for the fans. Squeenix held a huge party showing new trailers for all their latest games ... so the public expected a bit more to come out of it than a few pictures showing Lightning and her armpits. >_>
        Releasing small bits of info every now and then is fine, but Squeenix are giving us nothing at the moment and it's disappointing. A few scanned screenshots and private trailers that the fans can't see is a terrible way of promoting a game.
        • 0
          Final Blade Sep 6, 08
          Which is why this particular strategy, while not being best for some people, actually works. You have to be in their shoes, and realized they don't want to spoil anything before the game comes out. FF12 there was plenty of news before about it and look what happened to it?

          While it may suck for the die hard FF fans who wants to orgasm more with the info release its not practical. At least not in the way they're trying to do it. In fact thats how ready @ dawn and the God of War staff did it with Chains of Olympics really, they didn't give alot of info and it was pretty kickass.

          Of course im not comparing them, just the strategy they used. They felt the info they gave for God of War 2 was disappointing cause the fans basically knew the story and plot before playing it, which really to them, made the experience bad. Im sure SE they felt the same way with FF12, and now they're trying the same thing with this game. Besides there's plenty of games to play and forget about this title in the mean time. Hell I have yet to even look at any news about this game, and its doing me some wonders.
  • 0
    King X2 Oct 10, 08
    Why would you pay to play a demo of a game? It's like going to Wal-Mart or some other store that has game demos and paying for it. It's ridiculous.

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