Lunchtime Discussion: Demos
Do demos help?Published 11/03/2010 at 12:00.
By Kris L [raen].
Lunchtime Discussion: Sessions [34]
Lunchtime Discussion: Engines [27]
Lunchtime Discussion: Spoilers [78]
Lunchtime Discussion: One Wish [52]
Lunchtime Discussion: Mobile [32]
The growth of online distribution channels has greatly improved the ability for publishers and developers to do ‘try before you buy’. There’s certainly been a growth of betas and demos this generation, when you had to get your content onto a magazine’s cover disk only the AAA games really got public demos. However with XBLA mandating that every title on there gets a demo, and with a much, much higher proportion of games getting demos.
The question is do demos really effect a game’s sales? For some games, games which have ‘issues’, it may be better if the faults stay hidden and are not exposed to the public in a demo. Even if a game doesn’t have technical issues on one of the platforms, demos often put people off who would have purchased the game anyway.
This isn’t necessarily because a game is bad, but more because the game wasn’t quite what people were expecting it to be. Finally people often forget that demos aren’t the final build of a game, if the demo has things that the public doesn’t like they often aren’t in the release version of the game anyway. There’s no way round this really, even if developers were to put a notice on the demo build no-one would pay it much attention.
Whilst beta may be bad for developers in changing peoples’ perception of a game and lowering it sales, they’re obviously good for us. I don’t want to buy a terrible game because I heard it might be good, and I want to be able to find those hidden gems that I would have easily overlooked otherwise.
Recently I’ve been playing a lot of the Just Cause 2 demo, which is simply fantastic. Whilst all the trailers for the game look amazing, I wouldn’t necessarily have purchased it based solely on them. Now that I’ve played the demo I want the game a lot more. Even if it only had the parachuting I’d probably still consider it, the physics and controls for the parachute are perfect and the way the scenery is laid out below you is beautiful.
So how is the situation for you? Are demos a good thing, helping your make up your mind? Or do they often misrepresent a game, generating a negative perception of it?
Not logged in
Log in to join the TSA Community, see your PS3 Trophies, check your PMs, take part in TSA Meets and earn TSA Points.
Most Comments This Week
- Lunchtime Discussion: Spoilers [78]
- PS3 Browser To Get “Big Upgrade” Soon? [75]
- Pre Order Bonus for Scott Pilgrim [73]
- Infamous 2: Cole Changing Back [70]
- PSN Store Update: 28/7/10 [70]
- PS3 Firmware 3.41 Adds “You May Also Like” [67]
- PS3 Sales Up 118% Year On Year [62]
- Rumour: GTA V Set In Hollywood [45]
- PS3 Assault Rifle [44]
- Microsoft On Kinect Pricing: “You Do The Maths” [44]
spooner_22 | 11/03/2010 12:03
Member
1435 TSA Points | Member since: May 2009
I think demos are absolutely a good idea. The amount of games I have bought after playing a demo…there have been a lot. And yeah sometimes a demo can put you off a game, but I think sometimes the people who want the game anyway will still get it, maybe not even try the demo…but people who weren’t interested might give it a go and like it…so I think that demos always help a game. It’s rare that I want a game and then play the demo and then decide not to get the game, I only really play demos when I’m only curious about a game.
spooner_22 | 11/03/2010 12:32
Member
1435 TSA Points | Member since: May 2009
Just to add to this…I personally feel that review scores are much more important than demos…I haven’t played the demo for AvP but I saw the terrible review scores and was instantly put off…I won’t even bother wasting HDD space now. I always check out scores for games whereas a lot of the time I won’t even get demos.
TRiLoGY | 11/03/2010 13:13
Member
496 TSA Points | Member since: Apr 2009
hmm, I’m actually the opposite to this. I’d rather play the game myself (via a demo) rather than go on someone elses opinion (review), as I often find that my tastes/gripes differ from the Reviewer. AvP was a good example of this, it didn’t get great reviews but I thought the Game was great and very enjoyable. Hence I think Demos are great :)
cc_star | 11/03/2010 12:05
Team TSA: Writer
11320 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
I think demos help me save money.
I was so hyped for Heavy Rain, but hated the demo – saved me £40
I was also intrigued by all the videos for Just Cause 2, but after playing the demo – I’m still interested but not interested enough to pay launch day pricing.
Demos help me make purchases as well
toutski | 11/03/2010 12:12
Legend
4481 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2008
Yeah I agree. Recent demos have put me off buying games more than tempting me into buying them.
Good for me but bad for the devs…
bunimomike | 11/03/2010 12:13
Member
8860 TSA Points | Member since: Jul 2009
Did you then go and buy other games?
toutski | 11/03/2010 12:17
Legend
4481 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2008
Well, I’m still playing a lot of MW2 and I got a copy of Fallout 3, which I had meant to do for ages.
I picked up Heavy Rain, but didn’t play the demo for that.
carson321 | 11/03/2010 12:13
Member
927 TSA Points | Member since: May 2009
toataly agree with this, was in on the beta for bc2 and the demo, made it a launch day purchase! and with just cause 2, definately a wait till price plummets purchase which i reckon should not take too long
spooner_22 | 11/03/2010 12:25
Member
1435 TSA Points | Member since: May 2009
Oh actually…contrary to my first post above…I did actually want Battlefield Bad Company 2…and after playing the Beta I have been totally put off and won’t buy it.
Jimster71 | 11/03/2010 12:25
Member
255 TSA Points | Member since: Jul 2009
I agree.
I was looking forward to Heavy Rain, until I played the demo. I wasn’t really interested in Just Cause but, the demo was fun – just not fun enough to warrant a full price purchase.
I was underwhelmed by the hype surrounding God Of War III. To me it looked like just another hack and slash game and, on playing the demo, that’s what it seemed like – just on a bigger scale. Another game I might pick up when the prices drop.
On the other hand, I didn’t like the first Battlefield: Bad Company, but really got hooked on the demo for the new one. The Modnation Racers and Blur betas have made me want to buy those games too.
jayboy31 | 11/03/2010 13:33
Member
221 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009
WOW, you are me! Not really, but that has been how I was feeling about all the recent games apart from ModNation Racers, I was in the BETA but thought it was poo. Maybe it was just the loading times?
Baz the great | 11/03/2010 12:05
Member
91 TSA Points | Member since: Jan 2010
I was undecided on Heavy Rain until I played the demo, then I knew I had to get it. Same for BF:BC2.
bunimomike | 11/03/2010 12:06
Member
8860 TSA Points | Member since: Jul 2009
I can’t help feel that having demos simply outweighs the negativies associated with finding a doozy of a title. For every one you think “thank god I didn’t buy that” there’ll be at least a few more that’ll pique your interest. Just Cause 2 being the obvious example for me too. It looked silly-stupid entertainment but not really for me. However, there’s real depth to the madness and I’ve tried the demo out over 20 times or so. Bloody great fun.
.
Sony, take note! I’m about to get my hands on a 360 and I simply can’t wait to demo bloody everything! I’ll be buying the good stuff and ignoring the bad but I guarantee you I’ll be spending more than without the option for demos.
Severn2j | 11/03/2010 12:30
Member
2019 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2008
I’ve found exactly that when I got my 360, I’ve tried quite a few demos from XBLA and there’s quite a few I’ve decided to buy (when I can raise the cash) that I wouldn’t really have considered if I hadn’t tried them out first..
Severn2j | 11/03/2010 12:31
Member
2019 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2008
There’s also some I decided not to after playing the demo.. Forza 3, for example.. Good game, but Im gonna wait for GT5 after all.
shields_t | 11/03/2010 13:14
Member
2241 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2008
All Sony need to do is to exert a little pressure on those developing for the PS3, I mean there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be able to enjoy demos of every release on PS3 like we do on the 360, after all, they should be seen as ready-made promotional items really.
3shirts | 11/03/2010 12:08
Member
3850 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2008
Demos can certainly make me decide to buy. Just Cause 2, as you said, is a shining example of a great demo.
On the other hand, it sometimes seems that demos do misrepresent the game, either because of pre-release code or the fact that they portray a section they know is the best bit.
The Fairytale Fights white room demo is a good example. This seemed fun and silly so I rented (fortunately didn’t buy) the full game and it was awful.
I think in general they are a good thing since there is no way to know how you, personally, will respond to a game without trying it. Even the great factual reviews here cannot portray the way a game will make you feel, since everyone is different.
I think there is pressure on developers to get early demos out to build hype but that is where, often, demos actually damage sales since the demo is flawed and no amount of ‘not representative of final game’ disclaimer will shake that negative feeling the gamer is left with
bunimomike | 11/03/2010 12:12
Member
8860 TSA Points | Member since: Jul 2009
I think, if demos are in risk of damaging a franchise then Sony need to look at ways of helping said studios to make sure the best front is put forward. Afer all, the demo could potentially be the strongest bit of marketing carried out outside of actual reviews. Also, they go hand in hand as the demo might alert you to something you wouldn’t normally play then the review backs it up with a fleshed out article on how the full game works.
shields_t | 11/03/2010 13:15
Member
2241 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2008
I remember being well and truly put off playing Dead Space after playing the original dismemberment demo. Glad I saw the error of my ways eventually though – absolutely loved that game.
posem | 11/03/2010 12:09
Member
138 TSA Points | Member since: Nov 2009
Demo’s help me judge whether i actually want to buy a game or not, however having a 60gb ps3 which is already full of films and games, i rarely have the space for them.
Demo’s such as the inFamous, Dark Void and Just Cause 2 have actually prompted me to make the leap to buying the game, further making me more interested. and OC the MGS4 demo is a given without even mentioning ;)
Raen | 11/03/2010 12:13
Team TSA: Writer
4647 TSA Points | Member since: Mar 2009
60GB? Feel lucky, I’m stuck with a 20GB 360. If I could afford a 60 or a 120 I’d get one, but that isn’t going to happen soon. Wish it’d just take any drive like the PS3.
cc_star | 11/03/2010 12:38
Team TSA: Writer
11320 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
I’ve maxxed out my 80… really need to get a new drive, but I’m getting a slim in a fortnight so I’ll wait
Roynaldo | 11/03/2010 12:11
Member
4155 TSA Points | Member since: Nov 2008
One game springs to mind on this topic….Dead Space. I hear the demo was awful but the full thing a complete masterpiece which I even felt inclined to platinum.
This is just one demo though and it is not representative of all demos.
I personally think that demos, while often a nice taster can also make you leave the game on the store shelves.
Devs making demos is fine, but they better be good or you effectively shoot yourself in the foot before (or soon after) release.
demonic | 11/03/2010 12:12
Member
3 TSA Points | Member since: Mar 2010
Definitely a good idea from the consumers point of view.
I hate buying games only to find out that the game is either full of bugs, or just rubbish. Particularly new IP.
IMHO Demos can help to sell games – GOW3 and BFBC2. Stunning demos. I like the beta of BFBC2 but the demo had more players and really showed off the possiblities. I preordered both games based on the demos.
Is it worth developers releasing demos – probably not. If the demo is badly executed (AvP on PS3) then it can mean folks are reluctant to consider it for launch day. But if the demo is of a bad game then it might really will impact sales – Haze springs to mind.
Bad for developers, but good for consumers.
Crazy_Del | 11/03/2010 12:13
Member
878 TSA Points | Member since: Jul 2009
Demos are great but in my opinion the devolpers who made the demo for us are extremly working really hard, and if folk play the demo and think it’s rubbish then they will not get their money worth of hard work, so I think we should pay for a demo like £2 or get a Magazine like OPM or PSM3 or any other with demos on the disc. Which is why we had this discussion a few weeks ago like NFS shift or Uncharted (without the beta) they were released and the market went up (Uncharted of course) and then the demo was released and got more profit doubling the market or whatever it has been really paid off. But like I said I love demos helps me decide wether to purchase this game on luanch or a rental. I did not play Heavy Rain Demo and took my own risk to get the full game on luanch instead :) (I knew the game would have high hopes, and I am still loving every minute of it :D)
nofi | 11/03/2010 12:17
Wants a custom tag.
5421 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
The God Of War III demo left me feeling a bit inspired, but the finished game was fantastic, and the bit the demo covered was much improved. Sony shouldn’t have put out a 9 month demo a couple of weeks before release, IMO.
spooner_22 | 11/03/2010 12:29
Member
1435 TSA Points | Member since: May 2009
I disagree…this is a massive game already and fans of the first 2 games will buy it regardless…whereas people like me who haven’t play the first 2, it gives a chance to see what the fuss is about. I absolutely loved the demo, regardless of how old it was…and I will most likely buy the game. So I think it was a great idea to release it.
cc_star | 11/03/2010 12:34
Team TSA: Writer
11320 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
It showed off the gameplay well enough, but the fidelity of the graphics and framerate aren’t a patch on the full game (according to the Digital Foundry comparison, not my personal experience)
I think with such a big release they should have take the same demo section, but from the (very near) final game… not a year old build
spooner_22 | 11/03/2010 12:37
Member
1435 TSA Points | Member since: May 2009
I get your point, it would have been better to release it in it’s full glory, but for me it was amazing anyway…if I hadn’t seen the pictures comparing the two I wouldn’t have even realised that it wasn’t good quality…it looked amazing while I was playing it.
I think that they couldn’t really lose by releasing that demo, coz like I said above, fans of the first two games will buy it anyway and people who haven’t played it before will probably enjoy that demo…well, I did, and I don’t usually play hack ‘n’ slash.
Geffdof23 | 11/03/2010 12:45
Member
35 TSA Points | Member since: Mar 2010
I loved the GoWIII demo. I thought the graphics were great and the game play fantastic. So knowing that the full version is even better makes me very excited indeed.