Early 2000's demo discs on console......

E

Evil Calvin

Afraid of Boobs
There were demo discs bundles with various magazines (Official Dreamcast Magazine, Official Playstation Magazine, Official Xbox Magazine....among others).

Were there any game demos on these which ended up never released? Could be the only place a particular game could be seen or played?

I remember a demo (might be gameplay footage) on an Xbox demo disc, of Malice voiced by Gwen Stefani and had No Doubt music. It was delayed and later came out in 2004 without her voice or the music. Likely because the music was from their Return of Saturn album from 2000 and that was when Malice was announced.

Any other gameplay demos or movies of games on demo discs which never came out, or was drastically changed? Or just anything really crazy or strange on them?
 
Soul Reaver was an entirely different beast when I played the full version.

Another is NBA Elite 11. This one was infamous. EA tried to go for a fresh start, and adapted stick movements for basic gameplay features. The game was hammered because of some stupid bugs, Jesus Bynum became a meme and EA actually cancelled the game. Live pretty much never recovered from this, they came back but were ignored.
 
anyone remember the Xbox demo for Star Wars Battlefront that was a bonus feature in the Trilogy DVD Boxset back in 2004?

I think I still have that DVD somewhere
 
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SkylineRKR said:
Soul Reaver was an entirely different beast when I played the full version.

Another is NBA Elite 11. This one was infamous. EA tried to go for a fresh start, and adapted stick movements for basic gameplay features. The game was hammered because of some stupid bugs, Jesus Bynum became a meme and EA actually cancelled the game. Live pretty much never recovered from this, they came back but were ignored.
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Starcraft Ghost. Gameplay movie on demo disc which looked good at the time. After many delays it got cancelled.
 
OPM had SOCOM maps on a disc that you had to install on the PS2 HDD. It was a big deal for consoles at the time.
 
Dengeki PlayStation D43 has a playable demo of 'Emblem Saga', a game Shouzou Kaga made after leaving Intelligent Systems.

It is so obviously Fire Emblem.
How Kaga thought he could get away this I will never know. The full game was released as Tear Ring Saga in 2001 with some changes to distance it a bit further from FE, but Nintendo still sued and publisher Enterbrain were found guilty and fined.
 
Thrill Kill is the only one I can think of but I'm sure there are plenty of others. I don't think there was ever a Propeller Arena demo but I could be wrong.
 
Bumblebeetuna said:
Thrill Kill is the only one I can think of but I'm sure there are plenty of others. I don't think there was ever a Propeller Arena demo but I could be wrong.
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I actually had the full game when I lived in Korea. The only thing it doesn't have is an ending for the characters after you beat the final boss.
 
The RE2 demo that came with RE: Director's Cut was really different from the retail release. And you could hack it with a GameShark Pro to access a bunch of additional areas of the RPD that were also VASTLY different from the retail version.
 
There was a demo video of Metroid Prime in a magazine back in the day, before the game was released. And it was a Gamecube disc.

It was like a longplay video, straight gameplay without cuts and without a voice over. It was also pretty good quality on that old CRT.

So i did this prank on my friend (who was waiting for the game to be released), said to him i have a surprise, hooked up my Gamecube with this disc and pretended to play with my gamepad.

He was so mind blown and excited, i felt bad for him after i gave him the gamepad.
 
I have nearly every Official PlayStation magazine demo disc and the magazines still actually from when PSX launched and it was mainly how you got to play games before a modchip.

It was really cool when we got the homebrew on either the demo discs or the offical discs they mailed to you after you bought a console, but all those titles never got released and I remember playing one to death but not the name of it will have to dig it out.
 
Mattyp said:
It was really cool when we got the homebrew on either the demo discs or the offical discs they mailed to you after you bought a console, but all those titles never got released and I remember playing one to death but not the name of it will have to dig it out.
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Terra Incognita?
Bumblebeetuna said:
Thrill Kill is the only one I can think of
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Thrill Kill never had an official demo did it? The prototypes got leaked and pirated, but I don't remember it ever appearing on a demo disc.
 
an interesting case was Timeshift, not a console demo, but the first demo that was released in 2005 was extremely different from the final game, and still had the old publisher Atari in the intro.

the game was eventually published in late 2007 by Activision.

the demo had many differences in core gameplay, level design and even story.
even the art style was pretty different, with a more Deus Ex like scifi look, while the final game looked more grounded.

you can still download the original so called "beta demo" or "atari demo" on some sites.
but in essence, this game never released. they almost remade the entire game between the release of the atari demo in 2005, and the game launch in late 2007.
the game was originally supposed to launch only a few months after the atari demo.

Timeshiftspd_4.webp


JCFThqj.jpeg
 
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I have the full sets of demo cds that came with both the official sega Saturn and Dreamcast magazines in the U.K..

Getting a magazine and a demo every month (sporadically for Saturn) was the highlight of the month for me.

I remember spending so much time playing the virtual on demo until I managed to get the actual game.

Good times
 


A video about the Icon. Long live EU PlayStation propaganda.

Demo 1 (The King of Demo Discs) | Sean Seanson

0:00 - Intro (Demo banter)
5:46 - What is Demo 1?
7:29 - Demo 1 Ver.1
30:10 - Demo 1 Ver.2
36:46 - Demo 1 Ver.3
50:56 - Demo 1 Ver.4
1:00:03 - Demo 1 Ver.5
1:19:48 - Demo 1 Ver.6
1:42:46 - Demo 1 Ver.7
1:52:54 - Outro & Patreon Shoutouts
Click to expand...

Introduction to PlayStation Demo Discs

- The video begins with an exploration of PlayStation demo discs, particularly focusing on those released in PAL regions.
- These discs are described as nostalgic items that evoke strong memories for those who experienced the PlayStation era in the 1990s.
- The narrator likens the excitement surrounding these discs to a healthier and legal form of addiction, emphasizing their significance in gaming culture.

Cultural Impact of Demo Discs

- Demo discs were not only a means to experience games but also a cultural phenomenon that reflected the music and visual trends of the time.
- The unique aesthetic of the PlayStation demo discs contributed to their lasting allure, capturing the essence of the console's identity.
- The narrator notes that demo discs served as a microcosm of the PlayStation experience, offering a taste of innovative 3D graphics and gameplay.

Overview of Demo One

- Demo One, released in 1995, is highlighted as a pivotal disc in the history of PlayStation, featuring various playable games and tech demos.
- The narrator discusses the different versions of Demo One, noting that each version includes unique games and features that reflect the console's evolution.
- The nostalgic value of Demo One is emphasized, as many gamers associate their early experiences with the PlayStation with the games featured on this disc.

Analysis of Playable Games on Demo One

- The narrator provides an in-depth analysis of the playable games included on Demo One, such as Wipeout, Loaded, Destruction Derby, and Battle Arena Toshinden.
- Each game is discussed in terms of its gameplay mechanics, graphics, and the impact it had on the gaming community at the time.
- The importance of these titles in shaping the early PlayStation experience is highlighted, with particular emphasis on their commercial success and cultural significance.

Tech Demos and Visualizers

- The tech demos included in Demo One, such as Dinosaur and Manta Ray, are described as iconic showcases of the PlayStation's graphical capabilities.
- These demos not only impressed audiences at trade shows but also contributed to the overall mystique of the PlayStation brand.
- The inclusion of visualizers like VCD further enhanced the multimedia capabilities of the PlayStation, making it a versatile entertainment system.

Nostalgia and Community Connection

- The narrator reflects on the communal experience of sharing demo discs among friends, emphasizing how they became a staple in many households.
- The emotional connection to these demos is explored, as they evoke memories of childhood gaming experiences and the excitement of discovering new titles.
- The discussion touches on the broader impact of demo discs on gaming culture, highlighting how they influenced the way games were marketed and experienced.

Conclusion and Legacy of Demo Discs

- The video concludes with a reflection on the legacy of PlayStation demo discs, noting their role in shaping the gaming landscape during the 1990s.
- The narrator expresses a desire for future generations to experience the magic of demo discs, suggesting that they remain an important part of gaming history.
- Ultimately, the video serves as a celebration of the PlayStation's unique vibe and the lasting impact of its demo discs on gamers worldwide.
Click to expand...
 
Demo 1 is the best demo disc ever. There was something magical about it. They were included with the console, the first one I never had. But I did have the 4th and 5th which was in my box. You could sign up for promotions if you filled in the form, and this would get you another demo disc. This way I got the 4th one too at around 1997, which I think was a 1996 demo (since it had games that were out for quite a while like T2, Die hard etc).

The presentation, music and amount of content was quite staggering. The tech demos really put it above Saturn, the T-Rex looked crazy.

This demo actually made me buy Soul Blade. Since I didn't like it much in the Arcade (a very drab 1.0 version), I initially dismissed it on PSX. But that teaser with the intro and music got me hyped. I bought it and it became my fave 3D fighter on PSX. It also made me buy Rage Racer, and Porsche Challenge to name a few. The latter kind of sucked though, I think this game was at its best as a short demo. It had insane graphics at least.
 
From unreleased games that most ppl dont know and it was super unique is this one:

Mature af, brutal/sexy, u could only play pirated copy of close to release game, basically had close to no bugs so u can tell they canceled it right before the actual release when game was basically ready to go.
Here really intesting stuff, hidden supercombos were found recently in it:
 
Stand out demo disks in my memories are.

FF7 demo disc with einhander demo
Sega Saturn pack in demo disc with sega rally
Christmas nights
PlayStation underground demo disc with Tony hawk pro skater.
 
NT80 said:
Starcraft Ghost. Gameplay movie on demo disc which looked good at the time. After many delays it got cancelled.
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Dude that game looked so good at the time. I remember calling down a strike on a siege tank on some great looking Gamecube footage.

The game looked janky as all hell on a future Xbox build before it was canned. With how good Blizzard was, I was so hyped for how much potential this IP had and loved that it was branching out.

There are a few Dreamcast demo discs that kept finding their way back into the system. I kinda forget which is which but early ones had some games like Toy Commander, Ready 2 Rumble, Ecco the Dolphin and PowerStone. With its good graphics these discs were great eye candy tours. Like you start Ecco just to swim around in the water :messenger_sunglasses:
 
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