Capcom dropped its multiplayer demo for Bionic Commando today, exclusively on Xbox LIVE Marketplace. I have to admit, I couldn’t spend more than 10 minutes with the thing.

That mostly had to do with the fact that the game simply doesn’t allow you to create a private room, join a friend, or invite one to an existing game. Considering demos are meant to sell an experience (i.e. “Here’s a taste. You care about it. Buy our full product!), this is a complete failure on Capcom’s part. Multiplayer games are best when enjoyed with friends or acquaintances, period.

For many people (myself included), trading blows with faceless opponents or foul-mouthed children is not on the daily to-do list. While the final game most certainly will include the ability to join friend’s games or create private sessions, leaving it out of a demo seems like a bad move.

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