Premium Services Required....

[KTOutlaw]

Ok maybe this is an invalid question. Can anyone tell me what the benefit of having Gamespot host the demo and the HD format videos, when only those people who have paid for a Gamespot Premium Subscription are allowed to download or view them in the highest resolution?

It seems to me that the developers did the work but someone else is making money off of their work, prior to the product's release.

I would prefer to spend my money on the game rather than pay gamespot to see the videos or to obtain the demo on the day it is released.

Granted bandwidth is used, but that is part of the development cost . If it was not planned for, there would be no videos or demos.

I am tired of being left out of the early release information and options merely because I refuse to pay Gamespot for their premium services.

I pay enough for the internet connection I have without adding subscription service costs to obtain information. I am guessing the developers and distributors would like the Online Community as a whole, to see the released content, to help promote interest in a new game.

[switch_foot4]

Gamespot is a service. most of that service is free, in fact they offer a lot of free things on their website: information, downloads, etc. But its their choice if they want to charge for their own things, or if they want to team up with a developer to give people who pay money early information. Its just the way the world works. IGN is even worse if you ask me, but neither of them are doing anything wrong. Its their information, or they paid for that information, and if they want to offer it for free or charge people to see it or download it then thats their choice.

[Elliott78212]

Hello,
I subscribe to Gamespot.com it's worth it cheaper than fileplanet with a great depth of gameguides, demos, patches and special offers like SilverFall which I am downloading now and at 1.4gb I don't blame them for charging for the bandwith however in just a few days it will be available as are most demos for free to the public it's only an early release to those of us who pay at this time, be patiient padawan it will come to you. Not to toot the horn for gamespot but in the first year of subscribing you get two magazines free and that offsets the cost of paying for the service.
The game content and online tv show are worth it to get information that is tailored to the gamer not just general pc user.

[EvolveTom]

I think it's important to realize that the only thing exclusive to GameSpot is their ability to be the first outlet to post the demo. To that end, yes, they have the exclusivity and you might need to jump through some hoops to get the demo. However, as of now, the demo is available at several different outlets, many of which you don't have to pay or register for:

GameSpot
(http://www.gamespot.com/pages/event/file_premiere/index.php?premiere=silverfall&cmbox)
FileShack (http://www.fileshack.com/file.x/10114/Silverfall+Demo)
3D Gamers (http://www.3dgamers.com/dlselect/games/silverfall/silverfall_demo_us.exe.html)
WorthPlaying (http://www.worthdownloading.com/game.php?gid=2228)
FilePlanet (http://www.fileplanet.com/173395/170000/fileinfo/Silverfall-Demo-%5BEnglish%5D)
GamersHell.com (http://www.gamershell.com/download_17501.shtml)