Question for OXM Subscribers

[Rogue Bounty Hunter]

For every 12 issues, how many comes with a demo disk that is unplayable?

I received my "free" issue, and the disk doesn't work. In the past, I had a disk from a store-bought issue that didn't work, and one from my old subscription that didn't work (I got a replacement for that one). I'm wondering, does bad disks happen a lot? If so, that will affect me paying for a subscription, since I wouldn't want to have to call for another demo every so often.

What makes it worst :( is the fact that one of the new demos is.......Mercenaries. :(
(Feel free to laugh, Glockstar, because it is pretty ironic that the game I've been talking about the most is the game demo that I can't get to play :D )

For the rest of the demos:

The Punisher
Street Racing Syndicate
BurnOut 3- Live Enabled

Features:

MechAssault 2
Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath
Ghost Recon 2
THUG 2

Videos:

GameFly
NFL Street 2
Splinter Cell Chaos Theory- Single and multiplayer videos
Unreal Championship 2

The cover of OXM has KOTOR II.

[Fivespot]

I have a subscription but have only received three issues thus far. Prior to subscribing, I purchased 6-8 issues or so.

Fortunately, I have never experienced any problems with the discs. I'm now aware of this potential problem and will keep you posted if I receive a bad copy. I sure hope that doesn't happen!

I really love this mag mainly for the disc. The actual content in the paper portion is pretty light and very biased - most games receive high marks / review scores. I find myself waiting more for OXM than any other mag I subscribe to.

I also have subscriptions to: EGM, PSM, & Game Informer.

[Rogue Bounty Hunter]

During my first subscription, I only had one bad disk, and I received a replacement for that. Hopefully, this new bad disk is just a fluke so I can enjoy a full subscription. As far as system-specific mags, I think they are the best (XBN sucks, and OPM is overpriced), so it should compliment my Game Informer and EGM subscriptions.

OXM also seems to have good customer service from the last time I had to fool with them.

[Glockstar]

I still haven't gotten mine yet. :mad:

That's why I haven't posted a reply yet, I've been waiting for this issue. But, I don't want to keep you any longer.

- I've been a subscriber for two years now, but have all the demo disks going back to # 6... so I have 35 of these OXM demo disks - and of these 35, I think I had problems with, like, 6 disks. Not the whole disks - not everything on them - just with some of the playable demos.

They might not sound like the greatest ratio, but I still think it's worth it. Most definitely! Some of the demos rock. And often times I'm totally surprised - pleasantly surprised - by what games they've mad a playable demo for. What's more, some of them have been incredibly timely (Soldier of Fortune II, Prince of Persia, Grabbed by the Ghoulies, Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy, Sudeki, Outrun 2...).

I also like the mag itself. Their scores are skewed towards the high-side, but it's all relative (you do need to know this "key" though). And I find the written portions of the review (you know, the part that matters the most) to be just as reliable as any of the other printed mags. But I'm not going to lie to you - I'm all about the demos.

- I'm not going to laugh at you not being able to play Mercs - I think that sucks. But... maybe it's a good thing. Some of these demos are incredibly... raw. In fact, some of them are just downright wrong; they suck. The Halo demo, for example, was ridiculously easy. If I'da played that, and based my judgement of the game solely on that demo, then not only would my gaming life be totally different from what it is today, but I would not have a whole lot of praise for it either. Same same for Psi-Ops. Gawd, it's a good thing I didn't play that demo first! *Whew!*

That all said, I am dying for my new issue! It sounds sah-weet! :mad:
Like Fiveski, it is the monthly mag that I most look forward too.

-

Btw, Fivespot...
Does that PSM subscription come with monthly demos?

[theWacoKid]

Boil the disks people, if you're having problems. I take some water, bring it to a boil and then pour it into a bowl, insert disc for about 30 to 45 seconds and viola, she works.

[Rogue Bounty Hunter]

I'm not going to laugh at you not being able to play Mercs - I think that sucks. But... maybe it's a good thing. Some of these demos are incredibly... raw. In fact, some of them are just downright wrong; they suck. The Halo demo, for example, was ridiculously easy. If I'da played that, and based my judgement of the game solely on that demo, then not only would my gaming life be totally different from what it is today, but I would not have a whole lot of praise for it either. Same same for Psi-Ops. Gawd, it's a good thing I didn't play that demo first! *Whew!*

I'm surprised you didn't laugh (I would have). I actually got the disk to work and was able to play Mercs. I won't go on and on and on about the game. I'll let you play the demo when you get your copy and give your impressions. The Punisher demo is pretty good too, IMO. I don't think I would pay $50 for the final copy, but it's something I will keep an eye on.


Boil the disks people, if you're having problems. I take some water, bring it to a boil and then pour it into a bowl, insert disc for about 30 to 45 seconds and viola, she works.

I read a letter in the new issue that talks about doing this.....I was shocked it worked. One word of caution: Watch out for water getting into the opening at the center of the disk. I don't think a lot can get in there (if any), but if it does, make sure it dries before putting the disk in the Xbox.

[theWacoKid]

I've had to do this with both OXM and OPM discs. Do it as a first option. Somebody explained to my one time, what this does on a technical level, but I've forgotten exactly what. Something about removing a layer off the disc that causes playback problems with the laser. Something like that.

I've done this about a dozen times with those crappy demo discs, and it's worked each time. The reason I recommed transfer the water to a bowl, is that you don't want to heat the disc up by having it in contact with the metal of a pot, you want the water to remove this crap off the disc.

[Rogue Bounty Hunter]

Since I'll probably start getting a monthly subscribtion to OXM, I will keep this technique in mind. It's certainly dependable, especially since the OXM website doesn't change it's disk replacement months fast enough.