EvaUnit02 on 22/10/2008 at 13:11
I've observed that we're seeing fewer game demos these days. Particularly of "blockbuster" titles from the major publishers and more specifically for the PC format.
Even though the concept seems to have gained popularity on consoles though, (thanks to this generation's machines having PC-like hardware and networking infrastructures) they're more often than not released after a game's launch date. A common excuse, that seems a bit too convenient, are that the demos are being held up by Microsoft's or Sony's approval process and the like. Reminds me of the scenarios where a film distributor may not have screenings for critics.
What are your thoughts on the matter?
Digital Nightfall on 22/10/2008 at 14:34
I haven't really noticed. What high profile games are lacking demos? I know of Assassin's Creed, and Dead Space too I guess, but I can't think of any others. Didn't Spore get a demo?
Ostriig on 22/10/2008 at 14:53
Quote Posted by Digital Nightfall
I haven't really noticed. What high profile games are lacking demos? I know of Assassin's Creed, and Dead Space too I guess, but I can't think of any others. Didn't Spore get a demo?
I know it got a version of the creature creator available for purchase online some time before the launch, but I think that's it. One of my flatmates got it then, was like 5 quid or something.
I can't put my finger on it, though, but I tend to agree with EvaUnit. The demo scene seems to much frailer than before, with both fewer available, as well as some of them coming with various financial strings attached. For instance, Fallout 3 (
http://kotaku.com/382038/too-much-world-for-a-fallout-3-demo) isn't getting a demo. Or I remember the deal with Funcom providing their Age of Conan Beta test client on a file sharing site that required payed membership. I know it was a Beta test, not a public demo, but still. "Yeah, you have to download it from site X. But it's
them who are charging you 5 bucks for the membership, we're not getting any of that money." Well, fuck, do you wanna properly advertise/test your product or get into site X's pants?
Shakey-Lo on 22/10/2008 at 15:03
Fallout 3 isn't getting a demo, but then neither did Oblivion, or Morrowind. I don't know about the earlier games from Bethesda.
Digital Nightfall on 22/10/2008 at 15:16
The screenshots ARE the demos, since that's pretty much all you're getting with those games. ;)
raevol on 22/10/2008 at 15:37
I thought the demos were on the pirate bay...
sh0ck3r on 22/10/2008 at 16:22
yeah, i've noticed it too
really irritating to me and lazy on the part of game companies
N'Al on 22/10/2008 at 16:53
I have to admit, I hardly ever base my purchasing decisions on demos, so I'm not too fussed that the number of them seems to be going down. I tend to rely more on reviews from (trusted) sites, forums like this one and general word of mouf. I also usually buy games weeks/ months/ years after they've initially been released, so by that time it's usually possible to get a general 'feel' for how a game's been received - having said that, I've now pre-ordered Fallout 3; let's see whether that's going to come back to bite me in the ass.
What I find is a much bigger problem with demos nowadays is their ridiculously short length and general lack of quality. An 800 MB download just so that I can watch 10 mins of unskippable videos (featuring the publisher's logo, the developer's logo, "Do not pirate, lol!" disclaimers, etc.), but the actual gameplay then only lasts for 5 min? Fuck that. Way to advertise a product.
Tonamel on 23/10/2008 at 01:06
For me, the purpose of playing game demos isn't so much to demo the game, but to see if it will even run on my two year old laptop.
But sometimes I get a demo that completely surprises me. Case in point: (
http://www.gamershell.com/news_59956.html) The King's Bounty Demo. Mentioned over at Penny Arcade, I decided to check it out, and it is so much fun, I'm now trying to make the tough decision between getting this or Dead Space.
sh0ck3r on 23/10/2008 at 01:59
Quote Posted by Tonamel
For me, the purpose of playing game demos isn't so much to demo the game, but to see if it will even run
I co-sign this
