Word comes from Capcom that the company's upcoming role-player, Dragon's Dogma, will, in fact, feature a playable demo prior to launch.
From the Capcom-Unity Blog:
We're pleased to confirm today that indeed, there will be a playable demo available prior to the game's release on Xbox LIVE and the Playstation Store. Within the demo, you'll be able to try out two of the nine classes, including the melee-inclined Fighter and the swift and nimble Strider. With the Fighter, you'll take on a Chimera in the depths of an underground cavern, while the Strider will use bow and daggers to take on a ferocious, airborne Griffin.
You'll also be able to take advantage of the game's elaborate customization system by creating your own playable character and Main Pawn, which you'll then be able to import into the full game when it comes out on May 22nd in North America, May 25th in Europe.
Capcom also has some details on the game's Pawn system, as revealed by Director Hideaki Itsuno in a developer's diary.You'll also be able to take advantage of the game's elaborate customization system by creating your own playable character and Main Pawn, which you'll then be able to import into the full game when it comes out on May 22nd in North America, May 25th in Europe.
I initially thought about a system in which players could rent out their own player-controlled avatars. The player would control that avatar in his game, but when rented out to someone else, it would be AI-controlled. But this would mean that while your character was being lent out, it might be doing things you wouldn’t want it to do. Then I realized, if it was an AI-controlled character for both players (the lender and the borrower), then that AI would have a consistent life of its own, which would actually contribute to a feeling of connectivity between players sharing a character.
In addition, the ability to rate pawns, give them presents, and exchange strategies and quest information are all forms of communication worked into this system. We think we made a system that allows you to play freely and not have to worry too much or be strapped for time.
Mr. Itsuno goes on to discuss the game's "unsynchronized" multiplayer later in the post, the full contents of which can be found in the link below.In addition, the ability to rate pawns, give them presents, and exchange strategies and quest information are all forms of communication worked into this system. We think we made a system that allows you to play freely and not have to worry too much or be strapped for time.
Dragon's Dogma is set for a May 22 release in North America, a May 24 release in Japan and a May 25 release in Europe.
Capcom-Unity: Dragon's Dogma Dev Blog: Pawn System Inspiration