Exclusive CD demos

[MrFlibble]

I think what is going on here is that the single player maps were created first using the scenario editor in the full version. They were then put through some kind of conversion program that converts the files into a format supported by the trial, (unlike the first game in the series, the file format here differs more than just the file format version number in the header) hence one of the files has been modified about 20 seconds later (that is the time it took to convert the second file into the trial format).

They probably decided a few days later that it would be cool to have separate multiplayer maps in the trials and created them both and put them through the conversion program.

Ahh, I didn't know about the file format differences That certainly explains the date stamp stuff.

[MrFlibble]

Shadow of the Comet CD Demo
The demo of the CD version with the voiced-over dialogues can be found on the German PC Games Magazine issue 3 '95 cover disk. The demo allows to play somewhat into the story of the full game; also included are several pre-made saved game files showing key areas and events of the demo storyline.

The same CD has a German language version of the Star Wars: Dark Forces demo. It's the same v0.163D as the regular public version, but all text and voices are in German. The demo lacks the intro and ending cutscenes though, which apparently had not been translated at that point. This demo can be also found on the Power Play magazine cover disk, also from March 1995. That CD has a two-volume ARJ archive with the demo files, which might have been the original distributive.

[Hallfiry]

PC Games 7/97 Bonus features a huge CD ROM demo of Outlaws.

[MrFlibble]

Oh, that's very nice!

[MrFlibble]

System Shock CD Demo
This is the demo of the Enhanced CD version with SVGA mode support and voice-overs.
http://cd.textfiles.com/cdrommag/cdromm ... RY/SSHOCK/

Syndicate Plus Demo
http://cd.textfiles.com/cdromgamesgdc1/GAMES/SYND/

[MrFlibble]

Just noticed that archive.org now has the CD version of Rebel Moon Rising shareware, which is apparently identical to the downloadable version except it also has CD Audio tracks for all six levels in the shareware version.

[MrFlibble]

Hallfiry was able to obtain a copy of the early demo CD of Daggerfall, which has the female Spellsword. Details and download links are here. And here are the photos of the CD and its cover.

[MrFlibble]

Another treat from Hallfiry comes in the form of a boxed shareware version of Warcraft: Orcs & Humans which he obtained recently. The shareware version has the same set of levels as the regular Warcraft demo from Blizzard's FTP, but it also includes video cutscenes, mission briefing voice-overs, an electronic manual and more music. The contents of the CD can be downloaded here, and here are scans of the CD and the box.

[MrFlibble]

Eradicator CD Demo v1.0
Again thanks to Hallfiry's catalogue the CD version of Eradicator demo v1.0 (or more accurately, v1.02) was found on this Secret Service CD. I have uploaded it here:
https://mega.co.nz/#!yYQ13BRK!9qCrHw49k ... MiI2izdp3Y

It is essentially the same thing as the Internet demo v1.02, but it includes music and some cinematics. The demo does not require a CD to run - apparently it was distributed on CDs only because of its large size.

[Hallfiry]

Here's a demo of Alien Trilogy, looks like this one has both the intro movie and the music in WAV format (?):
http://cd.textfiles.com/cdaction/cdaction09a/TRILOGY/

Turns out there are actually at least 4 different demos of Alien Trilogy:
http://www.kultcds.com/Catalog/index.ph ... dn=&descr=
More resolved:
small (inet demo?): http://www.kultcds.com/Catalog/index.ph ... ir=&o=&dn=
large (cd-rom demo?): http://www.kultcds.com/Catalog/index.ph ... ir=&o=&dn=

[MrFlibble]

Turns out there are actually at least 4 different demos of Alien Trilogy:
http://www.kultcds.com/Catalog/index.ph ... dn=&descr=

The 726 323 byte version is the Internet demo (atrilogy.zip).

There's one very early demo with two missions (instead of one), some missing/different sounds, different loading screens etc. I think it was a CD exclusive release, possibly for PC Gamer.

And the demo link you quoted, it's a CD demo which is pretty identical to the Internet one (close or identical to the final game, first level only, has intro cinematics). However, this demo has an installer which allows to choose either the 356 colour version or the 16-bit colour version of the game (the Internet demo is 356-colour only). Hence there are actually two game executables in this demo release.

[Hallfiry]

One of the CDs that I recently added to my catalog seems to have a linux demo of Heroes of Might and Magic III. I was unable to locate a copy online, so it might be CD exclusive aswell.

EDIT:
After more searching I found a website that seems to have the demo:
http://updates.lokigames.com/loki_demos/

---

TO be at least a little bit productive: Is it known, that AOE 2 had a CGW exclusive demo with different scenarios? Everything else is identical to the byte.

[MrFlibble]

One of the CDs that I recently added to my catalog seems to have a linux demo of Heroes of Might and Magic III. I was unable to locate a copy online, so it might be CD exclusive aswell.

EDIT:
After more searching I found a website that seems to have the demo:
http://updates.lokigames.com/loki_demos/

I did not know there was a native Linux version of HoMM3, pretty cool.

Also they seem to have a Linux-specific demo of Civilization: Call to Power. At least, a Windows demo doesn't seem to be easy to find.

TO be at least a little bit productive: Is it known, that AOE 2 had a CGW exclusive demo with different scenarios? Everything else is identical to the byte.

Yeah, we discussed this with Litude a while ago here:
viewtopic.php?f=22&t=998&p=3882#p3877

[Hallfiry]

Thanks for pointing out the AOE2 thing.

Also they seem to have a Linux-specific demo of Civilization: Call to Power.

Funnily, the CD that has the Heroes 3 demo, has a civ demo, too:
http://www.kultcds.com/Catalog/index.ph ... use$2FPay4

At least, a Windows demo doesn't seem to be easy to find.

I'll give that a Nope:
http://www.kultcds.com/Catalog/index.ph ... 04125&o=da
And GOTY:
http://www.kultcds.com/Catalog/index.ph ... 2FCiv3goty

[MrFlibble]

Thanks for the PC demo links!

And GOTY:
http://www.kultcds.com/Catalog/index.ph ... 2FCiv3goty

This is actually a demo of Civilization 3 (a different game). I remember downloading it a while ago from FilePlanet. It's actually the full game which allows you to play for an hour, then forwards to a site where you can purchase the unlimited full version.