Evidence in support of a Demo

[Derkon]

With all this new Rome II info coming out it seems apparent to me that the evidence of the existence of a Demo is there plain for all
to see.

It has been mentioned by at least one Journo's how, following the press event in Rome, they were supplied with/sent out a Demo/Preview version of the game. This version consisted of the Samnite Wars prologue section of the game (Ref: Rock Paper Shotgun Hadns on Article "after the trip I received a preview code, so two hours turned into many").

In addition, in the videos we've been watching over the past 24 hours or so it would appear that the majority of the footage is taken from a play through of that self same (Samnite Wars) prologue. From what we've seen this section seems pretty polished and stable and in one of the video walkthrus Al Bickham has described the Prologue as a 3 hour long self-contained chunk of the game.

Based upon the evidence, it would appear to me that it is very likely that there is a Rome 2 Demo of sorts floating around amoung the gaming journalist community. It is quite apparent now that this is what all of the attendees got to play with at the event in Rome a couple of weeks or so ago.

So, the question is, are CA going to let the rest of us plebs have a go before 3rd September.

Go on CA, you know you want to!!! Besides, we deserve it!

[Emperor Domitianus]

I really hope a demo will be released before the main release.

[Jasheon]

I think it has been said many times that there will be no demo...don't get your hopes up.

[♔The Black Knight♔]

They are going to have a demo, however it's going to be released after rome 2 comes out.

[Raikou]

I agree with the demo more than likely being a part of the prologue of the samnite wars (probably not all of it) and agree it will eventually become a demo but pretty sure there won't be a demo before release. Maybe right on or a little after release day? more than likely.

The fact is our community loves to nitpick about all the details given to us (I admit I had a hand in it too) so can you imagine the flame wars on CA if they released a code of the unfinished game to us right now. It would hurt more than it would help them so why bother?

I HIGHLY doubt we'll be seeing a demo before Sept. 3rd and it's already been stated by James Russel that there won't be an BETA/DEMO

[Revan The Great]

Agreed, there might be a demo released later, but not before release of the full game.

[ariyan]

Like support the city view?

[TuuSaR]

They have no need to release demo, sales are going good anyway and they dont have manpower for two separate games.

[BeastG33]

This is from yesterday: https://twitter.com/totalwar/status/363079057015324672

[Derkon]

This is from yesterday: https://twitter.com/totalwar/status/363079057015324672

Lies, damn lies, CA and Statistics!!!

[=Vastator=]

I don't think so. They are making only demoes/preview versions for the press (like all developers do).

[AngryTitusPullo]

Many already prepurchased and preordered I guess demo is no longer needed. 30 days to go anyway.

[Derkon]

I've been around TW games a long time (ever since the first one, Shogun).

CA have always kept their cards close to their chests when it comes to any info about demos.

However, the facts are thus, every main TW game since Shogun has had a demo release BEFORE the main game.

Now when I say "main TW game" I'm talking about milestone releases, not expansions. Expansions are the likes of Barbarian Invasion, Kingdoms, Napoleon, FotS etc. Milestone releases and their demos would be the following:

Shogun - Main game was released 13th June 2000 - Demo was out several months before release (January 2000)
Medieval - Main game was released 30th August 2002 - Demo released 26th June 2002
Rome - Main game was released 22th September 2004 - Demo released 23rd August 2004
Medieval 2 - Main game was released 11th November 2006 - Demo released 9th October 2006
Empire - Main game was released 6th March 2009 - Demo released 20th February 2009
Shogun 2 - Main game was released 15th March 2011 - Demo released 22nd February 2011

Now, as the above illustrates, it has always been CA's policy to get a demo out BEFORE the release date of the main game. They tend to try and
have their demos out at least 3 weeks to a month before release date. Empire was an exception to this rule but I know that at the time (February 2009) that QA/bug issues (I think it was with the naval combat aspect of the demo) caused unforeseen delays with the release of that demo.

So, based on the above evidence, do we really believe the CA are not going to release a demo before September 3rd, thereby bucking a trend which they have set for themselves over the past 13 years?!

Just sayin'!

[babydoc]

I've been around TW games a long time (ever since the first one, Shogun).

CA have always kept their cards close to their chests when it comes to any info about demos.

However, the facts are thus, every main TW game since Shogun has had a demo release BEFORE the main game.

Now when I say "main TW game" I'm talking about milestone releases, not expansions. Expansions are the likes of Barbarian Invasion, Kingdoms, Napoleon, FotS etc. Milestone releases and their demos would be the following:

Shogun - Main game was released 13th June 2000 - Demo was out several months before release (January 2000)
Medieval - Main game was released 30th August 2002 - Demo released 26th June 2002
Rome - Main game was released 22th September 2004 - Demo released 23rd August 2004
Medieval 2 - Main game was released 11th November 2006 - Demo released 9th October 2006
Empire - Main game was released 6th March 2009 - Demo released 20th February 2009
Shogun 2 - Main game was released 15th March 2011 - Demo released 22nd February 2011

Now, as the above illustrates, it has always been CA's policy to get a demo out BEFORE the release date of the main game. They tend to try and
have their demos out at least 3 weeks to a month before release date. Empire was an exception to this rule but I know that at the time (February 2009) that QA/bug issues (I think it was with the naval combat aspect of the demo) caused unforeseen delays with the release of that demo.

So, based on the above evidence, do we really believe the CA are not going to release a demo before September 3rd, thereby bucking a trend which they have set for themselves over the past 13 years?!

Just sayin'!

Thanks for well written post and the timeline!

[Raikou]

I've been around TW games a long time (ever since the first one, Shogun).

CA have always kept their cards close to their chests when it comes to any info about demos.

However, the facts are thus, every main TW game since Shogun has had a demo release BEFORE the main game.

Now when I say "main TW game" I'm talking about milestone releases, not expansions. Expansions are the likes of Barbarian Invasion, Kingdoms, Napoleon, FotS etc. Milestone releases and their demos would be the following:

Shogun - Main game was released 13th June 2000 - Demo was out several months before release (January 2000)
Medieval - Main game was released 30th August 2002 - Demo released 26th June 2002
Rome - Main game was released 22th September 2004 - Demo released 23rd August 2004
Medieval 2 - Main game was released 11th November 2006 - Demo released 9th October 2006
Empire - Main game was released 6th March 2009 - Demo released 20th February 2009
Shogun 2 - Main game was released 15th March 2011 - Demo released 22nd February 2011

Now, as the above illustrates, it has always been CA's policy to get a demo out BEFORE the release date of the main game. They tend to try and
have their demos out at least 3 weeks to a month before release date. Empire was an exception to this rule but I know that at the time (February 2009) that QA/bug issues (I think it was with the naval combat aspect of the demo) caused unforeseen delays with the release of that demo.

So, based on the above evidence, do we really believe the CA are not going to release a demo before September 3rd, thereby bucking a trend which they have set for themselves over the past 13 years?!

Just sayin'!

Dude, James Russell has said "no Demo/Beta will be released" Why is it so hard to understand ?

[DogSoldierSPQR]

I've been around TW games a long time (ever since the first one, Shogun).

CA have always kept their cards close to their chests when it comes to any info about demos.

However, the facts are thus, every main TW game since Shogun has had a demo release BEFORE the main game.

Now when I say "main TW game" I'm talking about milestone releases, not expansions. Expansions are the likes of Barbarian Invasion, Kingdoms, Napoleon, FotS etc. Milestone releases and their demos would be the following:

Shogun - Main game was released 13th June 2000 - Demo was out several months before release (January 2000)
Medieval - Main game was released 30th August 2002 - Demo released 26th June 2002
Rome - Main game was released 22th September 2004 - Demo released 23rd August 2004
Medieval 2 - Main game was released 11th November 2006 - Demo released 9th October 2006
Empire - Main game was released 6th March 2009 - Demo released 20th February 2009
Shogun 2 - Main game was released 15th March 2011 - Demo released 22nd February 2011

Now, as the above illustrates, it has always been CA's policy to get a demo out BEFORE the release date of the main game. They tend to try and
have their demos out at least 3 weeks to a month before release date. Empire was an exception to this rule but I know that at the time (February 2009) that QA/bug issues (I think it was with the naval combat aspect of the demo) caused unforeseen delays with the release of that demo.

So, based on the above evidence, do we really believe the CA are not going to release a demo before September 3rd, thereby bucking a trend which they have set for themselves over the past 13 years?!

Just sayin'!

I appreciate the dates, dude. Have a rep

I wasn't around on these forums before Shogun2 etc. but did the developers back then deny the possibilities of demos and then suddenly release them? If so, we could very well see a demo. I'm a bit worried because CA are actually saying no right now but am not sure if they used to say no before as well.

[d4g4n]

Hmmm those are some interesting (possibly, I don't know) facts. Perhaps I could raise some hope on a Demo.

Ps. those Samnite wars seem sweet; pretty interesting historically either; I was just reading a book on those (ie first big expansion of rome)

[rohan97]

dont hope for a demo man its a 70 of the 30% chance instead we should hope for an earlier release

[Derkon]

The game won't be released any earlier than September 3rd, that's pretty much set in stone now, and is actually earlier than they had expected. CA's orignially projected release month for Rome II was actually October 2013!

[Sharpe]

It would be strange if CA make a 180 and release a demo, seeing as they have stated on numerous occasions they won't.

I mean, yeah, a demo would decent but whatevs.