Ninja Gaiden 2 Demo (360) [UPDATE #1]

When questioning the validity of the concept of territorial lockouts on retail games, the only semi reasonable explanation I have heard relates to something about licensing and publishing rights across territories. I suppose this makes some sense in situations where two different companies are publishing the same title in different parts of the world, (especially at different dates,) but in my mind there is less justification for territorial lockout when a game is either never going to be available in a particular market, or when a sole publisher is handling sales, distribution and marketing worldwide for a given title.

Well, Microsoft took it to the next level with Ninja Gaiden 2. They went and put a territorrial lock ON THE DEMO!

Originally, Microsoft promised the NG2 demo in May on their North American Xbox site. They blew the North American demo release date, and instead released it in Japan last week, where all sixteen Xbox360 owners could enjoy it. Now, it is fairly common knowledge that with a little research one can figure out how to create a "fake" silver grade Japanese Xbox Live account in order to access that region's free content. Naturally the North American Ninja Gaiden fans did as much and downloaded the demo. Pretty quick however, Microsoft put a region lock on the demo, blocking the download based upon the 360's IP address.

Let's face it: for certain high quality, high profile titles like Ninja Gaiden 2, a demo is not going to make or break anybody's purchasing decision. You either like NG or don't and will have already decided what to do with your $60 some time ago. The demo in these cases is more of a reward; A taste of what is to come to hold one over until the full retail release. So why make it rough on the fans that are going to buy the game regardless and just want a small, early sample?

So despite all of the Live account malarky, with a little perserverance it is possible to play the demo after all. A google for "Ninja Gaiden 2 demo" should turn up instructions and links to a compressed archive file containing the demo. After extracting the content and burning it to a DVD as a data disc, it can then be read by the 360 as "Mixed Media." A quick jump to the Game Library of the Game Blade of the 360 interface, and the demo should run directly off of the DVD.

Reportedly there will be couple of noticeable sound synching issues during cutscenes, and there will be some slight load times in between new areas and weapon switching, but for the most part it will run just fine. It might be a good idea to disconnect the 360 hard drive and internet cable, as well as not signing into a Live account before booting up the demo, lest playing a free demo qualifies for Live bannination under some bizarro draconian Live policy.

Naturally, I do not encourage anyone to do this, so try it at your own risk. I take no responsibility should you get banned from Live or have your 360 bricked. At any rate, Microsoft finally announced that the North American demo will be available tomorrow, 06-03-08, (the date of the full retail release,) if you want to be legit. I would like to end this post with a "Better late than never" type comment, but really it is not.

There really is no excuse for region locking a demo.

[UPDATE #1]
Well, turns out that the demo will NOT be available in North America tomorrow. Actually, it is not even clear if it ever will be at all. Way to go Microsoft. Nice one. LINK