Huge popularity of The Witcher demo!

[Brysiu.570]

Huge popularity of The Witcher demo!

We are pleased to inform, that a demo of The Witcher, which has been placed on main download sites few days ago, is gaining a lot of popularity. It is reflected in the top ten places of the hottest downloadable files on some of largest hosting sites like Fileplanet or Fileshack. Taking into account the large popularity, The Witcher demo has surpassed such renown brands as Call of Duty 4 or Crysis.

 

[belewbeloid]

no wonder it surpassed, both demos are out there for a while now

 

[olgeezer]

I think this is a good sign.The Witcher is going to be a successful game because gamers are touting it. Yes the reviews have been pretty good, but I've also seen a good number of 7 out of 10 scores. While not bad, the game deserves better. Funny thing is, even the reviewers giving the game average scores can't seem to find much wrong with it.I normally wait until I hear a good amount of opinions from gamers rather than professional reviewers about a game before I decide to buy. After all, the average gamer doesn't have the time constraint put on game sites who must get a review out ASAP. Many times the professional review will miss some of the nuances of the gameplay and I sometimes think some of them rush through the game just to get the review out first.And gamers are rightfully saying this is one of the best RPG's to come along in ages. And having a demo availible will only drive sales up further as more and more people become aware of the game. The only thing I think may hurt the game is it's complexity. The game requires you to think and to read. Think and read??? Sadly this may turn off some who are used to being held by the hand every step of the way through most games on the market today. Still though things look good! Maybe the average gamer is smarter than I thought.

 

[Seeker.217]

@olgeezer I agree with you there on that it mite hurt sales a bit for those gamer that are use to be lead by the hand. This game is a Thinking gamer game And it will not be for everyone.I like to think that most gamer out there are smarter then what most game makers think they are

 

[steelwizard]

The only thing I think may hurt the game is it's complexity. The game requires you to think and to read. Think and read??? Sadly this may turn off some who are used to being held by the hand every step of the way through most games on the market today. Still though things look good! Maybe the average gamer is smarter than I thought.

On the contrary. I think that the complexity (which is in itself, entirely subjective*) or as I prefer to think of it, the depth of the game is one of the key reason why it has gained popularity. Surely, while there will always be those who like to be led on a leash through a game, there are also an increasing number of people who are finding that just a little dull/boring/tedious.* Speaking for myself, I'd have preferred it if TW had have had at 'least' twice as much meat on its bones - character building could have been more involving and more lore never hurts. The alchemy system was nice but in my opinion, it suffered due to the ease with which any and all of the required information was obtained. I crave extremes in games such as this and there are numerous ways in which more depth could have been added - though perhaps any more may have seen a different reception (i.e. lower sales figures) - perhaps CDPR got it just right - not too deep, nor too shallow.I'm still hanging for another Wasteland/Fallout/Planescape/Arcanum etc. though. What is good is that TW is as close to representing the depth of those games that I can recall during the past few years.

 

[xentar]

Good news from the Czech republic as well - The Witcher Game is still in top 10 (no. 1in its release week) and what is a bit funny - the Witcher's talisman http://xzone.cz/nahledgame.php3?idg=2122 is the current no. 1 in sales at xzone.cz which is the biggest online game shop. As for the demo popularity in CZ - bonusweb.cz a server i write for offers this download since its release allowing 2000 people to download simultaneously - there is not a single slot free for the 5 days. And as it seems another gaming website pulled the demo off because of the huge bandwith which is bit unfortunate - the witcher as victim of its own success Edit: more good news (and i hope CDP will publish this in its own thread) - CD Projekt in the Czech Republic announced that The Witcher became bestselling full-price game in the Czech history (that includes beating World of Warcraft) with more than 10 000 copies sold and still going strong. This number may not sound all that great if you live in the UK or USA but for small Czech market this is HUGE.

 

[olgeezer]

The only thing I think may hurt the game is it's complexity. The game requires you to think and to read. Think and read??? Sadly this may turn off some who are used to being held by the hand every step of the way through most games on the market today. Still though things look good! Maybe the average gamer is smarter than I thought.

On the contrary. I think that the complexity (which is in itself, entirely subjective*) or as I prefer to think of it, the depth of the game is one of the key reason why it has gained popularity. Surely, while there will always be those who like to be led on a leash through a game, there are also an increasing number of people who are finding that just a little dull/boring/tedious.* Speaking for myself, I'd have preferred it if TW had have had at 'least' twice as much meat on its bones - character building could have been more involving and more lore never hurts. The alchemy system was nice but in my opinion, it suffered due to the ease with which any and all of the required information was obtained. I crave extremes in games such as this and there are numerous ways in which more depth could have been added - though perhaps any more may have seen a different reception (i.e. lower sales figures) - perhaps CDPR got it just right - not too deep, nor too shallow.I'm still hanging for another Wasteland/Fallout/Planescape/Arcanum etc. though. What is good is that TW is as close to representing the depth of those games that I can recall during the past few years.

I to would have liked a bit more depth, however this is the best we've had since VTM Bloodlines in my humble opinion. Hopefully the game will really take off so other devs will see that there is a market for games that offer more than go here, kill that, rinse repeat. I personally find it very disappointing that games made 10 years ago offered better gameplay than the majority of games made today. There's to much emphasis on graphics. Games such as HL2, Crysis and COD 4 continue to get very high reviews, yet offer very little innovation in their repsective genres.Take away the graphics and HL1 did it just as well 10 years ago. As for RPG's, same type of thing. While games like KOTOR and OB, are good games, they don't have the depth of the games you mention above. And while The Witcher isn't perfect, it is a step in the right direction.

 

[retinalscanner]

I was only thinking about getting the game til I got the demo.Then I had to get it How spiffy. Though the demo passed over some significant parts of the full game and may have confused some people. It sure did me...'Huh? I failed to save Triss? How can I fail what I never had a chance to do?'

 

[Estelindis]

I was only thinking about getting the game til I got the demo.Then I had to get it

Same here! I reckoned I'd probably get it eventually, but I was holding off... Then, after I player the demo, I went out and bought it directly. What a wonderful, immersive, visually stunning game! Just goes to show that giving things away for free can help business.

 

[batman64]

I was only thinking about getting the game til I got the demo.Then I had to get it

Same here! I reckoned I'd probably get it eventually, but I was holding off... Then, after I player the demo, I went out and bought it directly. What a wonderful, immersive, visually stunning game! Just goes to show that giving things away for free can help business.

I have to agree. Good demo = game purchase.I had the same experience with Titan Quest.

 

[gumborific]

To the poster that said the game may be hurt by the fact that to play the game you have to think or read: maybe, but GOOD! Believe me there are plenty of us out there that have wanted a game like this for years!!!I am 38 and have been waiting for a mature themed game that is actually meant for thinking people for quite a while, that also has fantasy and RPG elements.Not since Vampire: Masquerade, have I felt this level of absoprtion in a game world where making decisions, remembering information, and play style have a direct impact on the game.I am not disagreeing with the above poster, but please do not stop making games for adults and the more intelligent younger crowd: we are out there.Also, I am not saying that people who play other games are NOT intelligent, I am specifically saying that this game was meant for a gamer who WANTS to think and play at the same time, not just use hand eye, and fast twitch mechanisms. I enjoy shooters and other games too, but we all have to admit, The Witcher is one of a kind, and I am glad it is here for us to sink our cerebral cortexes into!As fara s the demo: I have to admit, once seeing reviews, and some attention given to it on G4 about it being an intelligent game based on actual fiction (smart idea developers - using an actual authors work), I had to have it. No demo needed here, but it's great to have it out there. I have told everyone I play WoW with about this game, and I guarantee some sales will come from that too.THANKS, and please, please, please (with a cherry on top) keep making these types of games, whether an extension or sequel to The Witcher, or other mature themed, smart games.

 

[thurauh1]

I'm currently playing through the demo for The Witcher and I agree that the demo is great The only thing I seem to have trouble getting used to in the game (or rather the game's demo) is the game's (demo's) combat system. I seem to have trouble finding the correct form of the sword or rather how to know ehen to swing at the enemy, but so far I like the game. Let me be honest and say that as far as I'm concerned this is best game (demo) I have played since the original Baldur's Gate saga...

 

[Seeker.217]

I know the combat can be a bit to get use to I know it took me a few try to master it LOL and that was befor the demo It dose take geting some use to but it not bad at all IMO

 

[mobidoy]

I'm currently playing through the demo for The Witcher and I agree that the demo is great The only thing I seem to have trouble getting used to in the game (or rather the game's demo) is the game's (demo's) combat system. I seem to have trouble finding the correct form of the sword or rather how to know ehen to swing at the enemy, but so far I like the game. Let me be honest and say that as far as I'm concerned this is best game (demo) I have played since the original Baldur's Gate saga...

Enought of demo playing now, join us in the other acts

 

[Seeker.217]

I'm currently playing through the demo for The Witcher and I agree that the demo is great The only thing I seem to have trouble getting used to in the game (or rather the game's demo) is the game's (demo's) combat system. I seem to have trouble finding the correct form of the sword or rather how to know ehen to swing at the enemy, but so far I like the game. Let me be honest and say that as far as I'm concerned this is best game (demo) I have played since the original Baldur's Gate saga...

I forgot to add for those of you playing the Demo the Prologue and the first act is only one tenth the Prolong and the first act are a lot longer then the demo is

 

[batman64]

I'm currently playing through the demo for The Witcher and I agree that the demo is great The only thing I seem to have trouble getting used to in the game (or rather the game's demo) is the game's (demo's) combat system. I seem to have trouble finding the correct form of the sword or rather how to know ehen to swing at the enemy, but so far I like the game. Let me be honest and say that as far as I'm concerned this is best game (demo) I have played since the original Baldur's Gate saga...

I forgot to add for those of you playing the Demo the Prologue and the first act is only one tenth the Prolong and the first act are a lot longer then the demo is

True. And, by the time you've got through that, the combat will be second nature.