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How Not To Release A Game Demo
Gamers love demos because we get to try out a new title to make sure it's up to snuff before we spend our hard earned dollars. Publishers normally oblige when they believe the demo has a chance to win over players and get them to pony up the cash for the full release. But every once and a while a clunker releases that not only shatters any hope of the final game being good, it makes you question the sanity of the person who green lit the demo in the first place.
Case in point NBA Elite 11, the basketball reboot EA Sports hopes will close the gap between them and the long-standing better hoops option, NBA 2K11. As soon as the demo released, YouTube videos starting appearing that showcased just how broken the demo was. First came Lakers center Andrew Bynum striking a Jesus Christ pose at mid-court:
That's just the tip of the iceberg. Then someone figured out a way to exploit the new shot stick controls. In NBA Elite, the success of your shot is determined by how straight you move the right analog stick upwards and the timing of your release. One clever gamer discovered that when you shoot a hook shot, which has a different shooting mechanic, it eliminates the need to time your shot perfectly. To make matters worse, you can take a hook shot from anywhere on the court! Watch the parade of threes rain down in this video:
Then there's my personal favorite – a video that shows the basketball traveling through the head and body of rebounder Emeka Okafor. Notice the player's limbs also travel through his body. THROUGH HIS BODY!!
Not exactly a ringing endorsement for your product. I'm not sure who at EA Canada approved this demo, but I think it's safe to say he or she's not going to have a glowing review at year's end.
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