Demigod (video game)
A multiplayer battle arena with demigod champions.
Demigod is a multiplayer online battle arena game for Windows, released on April 14, 2009, and developed by Gas Powered Games. The name refers to the powerful player characters who fight to control different zones. While it focuses on competitive multiplayer, it also includes a single-player mode against computer-controlled opponents. A free demo with all gameplay modes unlocked came out on July 30, 2009.
The game has two types of Demigod: Assassins, who use combat skills to directly kill other Demigods, and Generals, who create and support minions and allies. It launched with eight Demigods—four of each type—and two more were added after release.
On December 3, 2008, Atari Europe secured rights to co-publish and distribute the retail version in Europe and Asia. On April 9, 2009, GameStop sold the game early, before its April 14 release, but the servers weren't live, so preorder customers couldn't play online. A cracked version also appeared on torrent sites. Stardock responded by activating all preorders a day early, on Monday, April 13, 2009. The game also had online connectivity problems until a June patch fixed them.
Reviews were "generally favorable" according to Metacritic. 1UP.com summarized criticism by saying the game felt like a paid beta, advising others to wait. GameSpot gave it 6.5/10, citing major online issues and a lack of tutorial or story campaign. IGN's Jason Ocampo rated it 7.5/10, criticizing the netcode and recommending players wait for fixes before jumping in.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Demigod
- Developer
- Gas Powered Games
- Publisher
- StardockEU/AS · Atari
- Designer
- Mike Marr / Chris Taylor
- Programmer
- Patrick Meade
- Artist
- Nate Simpson / Steve Thompson
- Writer
- Nate Simpson / Steve Baumann / Dru Staltman
- Composer
- Howard Mostrom
- Released
- NA · April 14, 2009 · EU · May 29, 2009
- Genre
- Multiplayer online battle arena
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
- Platforms
- Microsoft Windows
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Demigod features two distinct types of playable characters: Assassins, who rely on combat abilities to kill other Demigods directly, and Generals, hybrids that create and support minions and allies. The game launched with eight Demigods—four of each type—and added two more after release. Development saw Atari Europe picking up co-publishing and distribution rights for Europe and Asia on December 3, 2008. A notable pre-release incident occurred on April 9, 2009, when GameStop began selling the game early; servers were not yet live, preventing online play. A cracked version appeared on torrent sites, and Stardock activated all pre-orders a day early on April 13, 2009. Online play suffered connectivity issues until a patch was released in June.
Reader's Guide
Demigod received 'generally favorable' reviews on Metacritic, but criticism focused on technical problems. 1UP.com summarized negative feedback by suggesting the game felt like a paid beta and advised waiting for fixes. GameSpot rated it 6.5/10, citing major online connectivity issues and the lack of a tutorial or story-based campaign. IGN's Jason Ocampo gave it 7.5/10, criticizing bad multiplayer netcoding and recommending waiting for improvements. The game's troubled launch and subsequent patches shaped its early reputation, with the demo released months later offering a chance to try all modes. Its significance lies in being an early entry in the multiplayer online battle arena genre, though its legacy is tempered by the technical hurdles that marred its release.
Did You Know?
- The game was released on April 14, 2009, but GameStop began selling it on April 9, before the servers were live.
- A cracked version of the game appeared on torrent sites shortly after the early sale.
- A free demo with all gameplay modes unlocked became available on July 30, 2009.
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