Something went wrong. Try again later

Giant Bomb News

153 Comments

How To Play The Crackdown 2 Demo Forever

Gaming the system is not consistent with Agency policy, agent.

It's a bummer that Ruffian Games and Microsoft shackled Crackdown 2's demo to 30 minutes. The limit narrows the experience to a simple orb-grabbing spree, as opposed to giving you the opportunity to explore the game's world and interact with it in earnest. But there's a way to slip out of the cuffs.

Last afternoon, a neat user-created video appeared on 1UP, showing you how to beat the game's timer and put it into an infinite loop. It's rather easy, too. After you confirm the color for your character's armor and right before the menu confirmation to launch the demo, pull out your Xbox 360's network connection while pressing A. An error message will then display, prompting you to reconnect. Cancel it and reconnect through the dashboard. Now start the demo and enjoy the infinite time loop!

1UP has video, which may help.

== TEASER ==  

  
 
MTV Multiplayer has confirmed that this trick works and corroborates one big caveat: you can't initiate a race while in this infinite loop, as it resets the timer. Still, friends can join you while your game is stuck in this loop, and perhaps more importantly, the achievements earned will still count, provided that you exit the demo through the game's UI.
 
How much can you unlock before needing to leave your Xbox 360? I just managed to hit driving level six, which, in the demo, gives you nothing. But the tank was hip!

153 Comments

Avatar image for bradnicholson
BradNicholson

1557

Forum Posts

665

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By BradNicholson

It's a bummer that Ruffian Games and Microsoft shackled Crackdown 2's demo to 30 minutes. The limit narrows the experience to a simple orb-grabbing spree, as opposed to giving you the opportunity to explore the game's world and interact with it in earnest. But there's a way to slip out of the cuffs.

Last afternoon, a neat user-created video appeared on 1UP, showing you how to beat the game's timer and put it into an infinite loop. It's rather easy, too. After you confirm the color for your character's armor and right before the menu confirmation to launch the demo, pull out your Xbox 360's network connection while pressing A. An error message will then display, prompting you to reconnect. Cancel it and reconnect through the dashboard. Now start the demo and enjoy the infinite time loop!

1UP has video, which may help.

== TEASER ==  

  
 
MTV Multiplayer has confirmed that this trick works and corroborates one big caveat: you can't initiate a race while in this infinite loop, as it resets the timer. Still, friends can join you while your game is stuck in this loop, and perhaps more importantly, the achievements earned will still count, provided that you exit the demo through the game's UI.
 
How much can you unlock before needing to leave your Xbox 360? I just managed to hit driving level six, which, in the demo, gives you nothing. But the tank was hip!
Avatar image for monster9999
monster9999

420

Forum Posts

243

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 5

Edited By monster9999

lol what Ridiculous

Avatar image for skrutop
skrutop

3810

Forum Posts

23630

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 48

User Lists: 14

Edited By skrutop

That's weak.  How the hell would someone figure that out?

Avatar image for warchief
warchief

680

Forum Posts

5

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 3

Edited By warchief

awesome

Avatar image for agge
agge

5

Forum Posts

5

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By agge

Gotta try now! Thanks!

Avatar image for steve_ramirez
Steve_Ramirez

1463

Forum Posts

6471

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

Edited By Steve_Ramirez

Hell Yes! 

Avatar image for zmilla
ZmillA

2519

Forum Posts

195

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 4

Edited By ZmillA

now this is what I was waiting for lol

Avatar image for meteora
meteora

5844

Forum Posts

17

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 3

Edited By meteora

That's a serious glitch that's worthy for everyone!

Avatar image for hitchenson
Hitchenson

4708

Forum Posts

121

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Hitchenson

That's... how do people figure this stuff out? Still, awesome.

Avatar image for dexterslu
dexterslu

305

Forum Posts

438

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 4

Edited By dexterslu

the xbox is so LOUD in this clip

Avatar image for theclap
TheClap

548

Forum Posts

46

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

Edited By TheClap

What is the over/under on exploiters getting punished a la TF2 or Fable 2?

Avatar image for sambambo
Sambambo

3173

Forum Posts

1009

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 9

Edited By Sambambo

Im guessing his internet disconnected on that part when he was playing originally. I cant reason it any other way...

Avatar image for sumdeus
SumDeus

1898

Forum Posts

3091

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 4

Edited By SumDeus

I would totally do this if my Xbox was even functioning :D

Avatar image for landon
landon

4138

Forum Posts

263

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 3

Edited By landon

Oh shit...now I have to get all those orbs...

Avatar image for comradecrash
comradecrash

603

Forum Posts

40

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 3

Edited By comradecrash

Might try this..

Avatar image for fallen189
Fallen189

5453

Forum Posts

10463

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 4

Edited By Fallen189

I dont think you should be promoting this kind of thing really.

Avatar image for azteck
Azteck

7415

Forum Posts

5

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

Edited By Azteck

Damnit. I want this demo. Hate the gold exclusive things.

Avatar image for kowalczyk
Kowalczyk

147

Forum Posts

2440

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 4

Edited By Kowalczyk

I love that people figure this stuff out

Avatar image for pappadukes
PappaDukes

69

Forum Posts

450

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By PappaDukes

Someone give that man the $10,000!
Avatar image for innovacious
Innovacious

264

Forum Posts

146

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By Innovacious

EDIT: 
 
*snip*
 
Had enough of messages from people misinterpreting my comment. Was funny at first, though.

Avatar image for belonpopo
Belonpopo

2142

Forum Posts

-1

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 12

Edited By Belonpopo

Great news, bro!

Avatar image for christilton
christilton

191

Forum Posts

53

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By christilton

Someone give that man 775 million achievement points.

Avatar image for jackel2072
Jackel2072

2510

Forum Posts

370

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 11

Edited By Jackel2072

oh i love this glitch. keeps me entertained until the full game comes out.

Avatar image for smotpoker
SmotPoker

40

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By SmotPoker

Are people seriously complaining about this glitch or do they just hate Brad Nicholson? 

Avatar image for rjaylee
rjaylee

3804

Forum Posts

529

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 2

Edited By rjaylee
@skrutop:
Pulling the network connection is easily the same as the losing of your internet connection by any other means. I guess someone's internet gave out literally right at this moment? Grasping for straws, I guess.
Avatar image for nekuctr
NekuCTR

1712

Forum Posts

128

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By NekuCTR

Great, I would so do this, but I can't, thanks to the X306S built in WiFi. Technology thwarts me again!
 
EDIT: well technically I could do it with my router.

Avatar image for ht101
ht101

2157

Forum Posts

378

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 11

Edited By ht101

I will definitely try this out later tonight.  Hope it works so I can then play the demo forever and work on my orb hunting addiction.

Avatar image for jedted
Jedted

2970

Forum Posts

1307

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 8

User Lists: 17

Edited By Jedted

If i actually cared about Crackdown then i might try this out.  I'm not really into open world sandbox games that don't really have any story. 
Avatar image for tsukiyomi
Tsukiyomi

81

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By Tsukiyomi
@innovacious said:
" I didnt think Giantbomb was the kind of place to post exploits. Especialy ones like this that arnt far off from being warez.  Oh, its just Brad N again. "
Cry more.
Avatar image for fox01313
fox01313

5256

Forum Posts

2246

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 19

Edited By fox01313

While it's a neat little way to break the timer, probably to get the demo achievements as well as just play the game more, think I'll just wait for the game to come out.
 
Sort of reminds me of what was done with Fable2 so I'd not be too surprised if the announcer pointed this out when you got the full game.

Avatar image for kyle
Kyle

2383

Forum Posts

6307

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 12

Edited By Kyle

Didn't work for me. Did everything right, but when the demo started, the timer was still counting down : /

Avatar image for afroman269
Afroman269

7440

Forum Posts

103

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 6

Edited By Afroman269

Fuck I want to try this but my xbox has the internal adapter so disconnecting will be a problem.

Avatar image for legalbagel
LegalBagel

1955

Forum Posts

1590

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 7

User Lists: 7

Edited By LegalBagel

Coming up next - how to crack that shareware game of yours so you don't have to pay!
 
Seriously, this is kind of shady stuff.  Abusing an obvious bug to give you unlimited time in a time-limited demo?  Don't we normally keep this on the darker parts of the Internet instead of giving it a mainstream seal of approval?

Avatar image for regal
Regal

463

Forum Posts

12

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By Regal

I concur, how can anyone just stumble upon this exploit? 
 
Anyways, will try it right now. 

Avatar image for kyle
Kyle

2383

Forum Posts

6307

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 12

Edited By Kyle
@Fallen189 said:
" I dont think you should be promoting this kind of thing really. "
It's not the full game, it's still just a demo; A demo you can play without a time limit.
Avatar image for sooperspy
Sooperspy

6485

Forum Posts

935

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 9

User Lists: 17

Edited By Sooperspy

Did this with my friend. The timer was at 30 the whole time but it ended. maybe my friend did something wrong and didnt hold the A button
Edit: I did a race so that is probably why it ended

Avatar image for suigyoken
Suigyoken

197

Forum Posts

477

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 2

Edited By Suigyoken

Haha great, now I'm going to spend all day on this demo... guess that means I'm going to definitely buy this when it releases.

Avatar image for slab64
Slab64

1149

Forum Posts

80

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

Edited By Slab64

Hey, guess what: you still can't beat the game. If the devs give a shit they could patch this out, but I guarantee they don't. It's a demo, if people are excited enough to try shit like this to be able to play more sooner, I'm sure Ruffian is excited about that fact.

Avatar image for matiaz_tapia
matiaz_tapia

718

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By matiaz_tapia

Oh coolz! 
 
 You know, there's also a way to download PSP, DS and PC games..Fo FREE! 
  I'm sure they'll be another article soon with all the necessary information. 
 
 Gaming press! helping the industry!! yayz!! 

Avatar image for phantomzxro
phantomzxro

1613

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By phantomzxro

would be great but i don't even want to go back to that demo i really did not dig the game all that much. It was hard to switch who you locked onto then i started having flashbacks of prototype and i was done.
Avatar image for charlesalanratliff
CharlesAlanRatliff

5763

Forum Posts

13647

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 34

Man, technology is WEIRD.

Avatar image for cwaff
Cwaff

1317

Forum Posts

408

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 9

Edited By Cwaff

It's not like you're getting the full game for free so I don't see the need for all the complaining. If you don't approve then don't do it.

Avatar image for innovacious
Innovacious

264

Forum Posts

146

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By Innovacious
@Tsukiyomi: 
I dont give a crap about the exploit, ive personaly spent hours trying to break limited demos myself, and managed it with a few aswell. But it just dosnt seem right being posted as a main article here.
Avatar image for smotpoker
SmotPoker

40

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By SmotPoker
@Deathpooky said:
" Coming up next - how to crack that shareware game of yours so you don't have to pay! Seriously, this is kind of shady stuff.  Abusing an obvious bug to give you unlimited time in a time-limited demo?  Don't we normally keep this on the darker parts of the Internet instead of giving it a mainstream seal of approval? "
Yeah, you're absolutely right. What a perfect example. This demo is basically the full game with saving capabilities. This glitch lets people basically steal the game for free. I am outraged!
 
Wait, it isn't fully featured and doesn't include saving? Well...fuck you for bypassing the demo timer! How dare you try and play a limited demo without a time restriction that was released to raise interest in the game.
Avatar image for breaking3po
breaking3po

165

Forum Posts

13

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

Edited By breaking3po

confirmed 2 days ago.
Avatar image for sanious
Sanious

799

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

Edited By Sanious

Time limited demos are stupid anyway. Just give me a small portion of the World to fuck around in instead of a half hour to play. It's really not that big of a deal, but people need to complain like it's the end of the world. I bet those same people will do it and play the demo anyway.

Avatar image for deactivated-5b43dadb9061b
deactivated-5b43dadb9061b

1649

Forum Posts

12

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@innovacious:  warez? really. Try harder.
Avatar image for capum15
Capum15

6019

Forum Posts

411

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Capum15
@Cwaff said:
" It's not like you're getting the full game for free so I don't see the need for all the complaining. If you don't approve then don't do it. "
This! Sure it's weird that it's a main article, but still, it's not the full game, so I don't see a reason to complain. I'm sure as hell still going to buy the full game. Same complaints were used against people who did the Just Cause 2 demo glitch, and that was literally an area cut out of the map by the developers. The rest was placeholder. There was one mission and a really small (compared to the full game) area to actually play in.
 
If anything things like these make me even more excited for the game to come out, when I finally get to see everything that the game offers in full.
Avatar image for gike987
gike987

1748

Forum Posts

85

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By gike987
@SmotPoker said:
" Are people seriously complaining about this glitch or do they just hate Brad Nicholson?  "
They just hate Brad Nicholson. People here do everything they can to find a reason to hate on everyone that is not the main staff. 
 
And how can some of you seriously compare bypassing the timer in an already limited demo to piracy.  
Avatar image for legalbagel
LegalBagel

1955

Forum Posts

1590

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 7

User Lists: 7

Edited By LegalBagel
@SmotPoker said:
" @Deathpooky said:
" Coming up next - how to crack that shareware game of yours so you don't have to pay! Seriously, this is kind of shady stuff.  Abusing an obvious bug to give you unlimited time in a time-limited demo?  Don't we normally keep this on the darker parts of the Internet instead of giving it a mainstream seal of approval? "
Yeah, you're absolutely right. What a perfect example. This demo is basically the full game with saving capabilities. This glitch lets people basically steal the game for free. I am outraged! Wait, it isn't fully featured and doesn't include saving? Well...fuck you for bypassing the demo timer! How dare you try and play a limited demo without a time restriction that was released to raise interest in the game. "
It's obviously not the full game, but that doesn't make it perfectly fine to use an exploit to bypass developer-imposed limits on a free demo.  There's a reason this game (same as Just Cause 2) put time limits on their demos.  It's supposed to give you a taste of the game and of powering up and exploring so you'll want to purchase it.  Without a timer, you can basically spend a day screwing around in their sandbox, power up your guy and explore quite a bit, and then decide you don't want to purchase the full game because you've basically been able to play Crackdown 2-lite.  Or play the demo for a weekend instead of renting the game.
 
My main problem is putting it on GB's front page like it's an absolutely acceptable thing to do to get around the evil developer's "shackles" they put on their free demo.    You can piss and moan about time limits, but that doesn't give you the right to exploit your way around the restrictions they wanted to put on the demo.  It's shady.