SCEA is launching the new PSPgo in the Americas on October 1, and with each $249 system will be a demo of Rock Band Unplugged.
The game, based on the very popular music series, will feature five songs to whet gamers appetites. What if you want more? This is where the demo gets really interesting.
Sure, the demo could do its job and get you to purchase the full retail version chockful of songs; that s a demo’s job, right But this demo will actually play any songs you purchase from the PlayStation Store, without the need of a full retail game.
This is actually very interesting: the thought is give away the base game in hopes of spurring online sales of songs (at about $2 a pop). This gives consumers a choice of the songs they want to play, and it gives Sony/EA/MTV a chance to keep the $2/song train rolling for potentially hundreds of downloads.
We ll be curious to see if this method of distribution catches on, especially with music game sales down significantly from last year.
Of course, demo or not, it still doesn’t compare to the bundle European consumers are getting with the full version of Gran Turismo. Clever demo idea, but they get a full, free game!
