If you’re an Xbox 360 owner, today is the day that you can download the demo for the upcoming EA skateboarding simulator Skate 2. As I type, the office machine is about a quarter of the way through the download. All well and good for Microsoft’s customer base, but what of the Sony contingent? Word came out today that the demo will be coming to the PS3, but you’re just going to have to wait a bit.

In a release this morning, EA announced that the PS3 demo will be available starting next Thursday, January 15. For fans of the series who also happen to be PS3 owners, this is probably not the most welcome of news. With the PSN on its “winter hiatus” (translated: not updating for three straight weeks), it should really come as no surprise. If you think about it though, is a week really that long to wait?

Be sure to check back later today to read our impressions of the 360 demo.

Here's the full release:

GET ON BOARD EARLY WITH THE SKATE 2 DEMO ON XBOX LIVE MARKETPLACE AND PLAYSTATION NETWORK

GUILDFORD, UK. – January 7, 2009 – Black Box, an Electronic Arts Inc. studio (NASDAQ: ERTS) announced today that the Skate 2 demo will hit Xbox Live Marketplace on January 8th and the PlayStation Network on January 15, 2009. The demo introduces players to the city of New San Vanelona where they can skate with style and individuality via access to the enhanced character customization tools. Gamers will get a first glimpse of the deep single-player story and exciting challenges in all-new locations. The Skate 2 demo will also feature two of the game’s online Party Play modes: Thrasher’s Hall of Meat and Spot Battle.

Skate 2 ups the ante in delivering all the grit, creativity and culture of skateboarding. Equipped with double the bag of tricks, players are tasked to rebuild their career and revive the skate scene. Now with the ability to get off-board and move objects, gamers can create their own epic spots and challenges, which can then be uploaded, shared and experienced by others around the world.

Skate 2 hits retailers in North America on January 21st, and worldwide on January 23, 2009 – making it one of the first must-have games of 2009. Skate 2 is developed by Black Box, a studio of Electronic Arts in Vancouver, British Columbia and will be available on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system and the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system. The game is rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB and is rated 16+ by PEGI.

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