Are demos going extinct?

[Aeshi]

So many PC games are console ports that practically every game that isn't made for the PC (like Supreme Commander 2) has no demo.This is a MASSIVE pain for me as I like to try a game before I buy it instead of just getting it and hoping its good

 

[tomtom94]

I think the demo as a concept is not dying, but it is definitely changing.

Shifting from a "try before you buy" experience to "Five minutes of gameplay before ending on a cliffhanger".

 

[Aeshi]

Haven't demos always been like that? or are you talking about "explore the first zone for as long as you want" changing into "you can play for x minutes/hours/days?"

 

[ethaninja]

I reckon so. Or they are getting worse. I remember back in the good old days where the demo's would give you a whole chapter of the game pretty much. Now you get a couple of levels if your lucky. And the Dragon Age demo was a joke. It was a bloody character editor. Why the hell would that encourage me to play the game? Ok I'm done with my demo rant now.

 

[Dexiro]

I've seen more of them in this generation.

Before i only ever saw demos for casual pc games and console demo discs, now with all the DLC stuff on the rise i see them all the time. Maybe it's just more noticeable now when games don't have demos.

 

[Bat Vader]

I don't believe demos are going extinct. Whenever I check the demos section of x-box live There is always a couple of new demos. I don't think demos are going to go extinct anytime soon.

 

[Aeshi]

DLC =/= demos

If I search for demos in say Steam for example there is little other than "small indie developer" games (not that that's a bad thing) with the only real "big title" being Supreme Commander 2.

For all their popularity games like the Mass Effect series don't get demos.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

The biggest titles don't get demos.

Halo, CoD:MW2, GTA IV. They're around, but not usually for big name games.

Also, shut up, betas don't count because of their limited run.

 

[MurderousToaster]

Most games these days don't have it if they're a big-name game.

 

[Cherry Cola]

Just Cause 2, Red Faction: Guerilla, Brütal Legend

All 3 of these are some of the best damn demos I have ever played in my life.

Shame that RF: G and Brüt didn't live up to the hype the demo's made...

Don't disappoint me, Just Cause 2!

 

[Aeshi]

Wanna try out the game? Pirate it. Play it. If it's good buy it to show appreciation to a dev. Best way to go.

That cure seems worse than the poison.

EDIT TO Hubilub: I don't own a 7th-gen console (didn't even know consoles HAD demos until now)

 

[Weaver]

IMO the PC should always have demos because users want to determine how the game runs on their system.

 

[Snotnarok]

Yeah demos are vanishing, it's really promoting piracy as I gather because demos are really needed for many reasons.

1- Can my system run it?
2- Is the game fun?
3- Is it worth the 50/60 dollars?

Since devs stopped putting out demos or REMOVE demos after a few days I've seen people make their own demos often recently.

 

[Anonin]

I liked the Mount and Blade demo, made me buy the game, and then I got bored, then i found mods and have been playing ever since

 

[XMark]

I remember the good ol' days of Shareware, where the "demo" would be an entire episode of the game.

 

[Dexiro]

Since devs stopped putting out demos or REMOVE demos after a few days

Yeah i guess they take demos down when they find people are saying it sucks.
Most likely because the game sucks.

 

[Aeshi]

Yeah demos are vanishing, it's really promoting piracy as I gather because demos are really needed for many reasons.

1- Can my system run it?
2- Is the game fun?
3- Is it worth the 50/60 dollars?

Since devs stopped putting out demos or REMOVE demos after a few days I've seen people make their own demos often recently.

Replace "50/60 Dollars" with "20/30 Pounds" and you practically summed up my opinion

 

[Snotnarok]

Yeah demos are vanishing, it's really promoting piracy as I gather because demos are really needed for many reasons.

1- Can my system run it?
2- Is the game fun?
3- Is it worth the 50/60 dollars?

Since devs stopped putting out demos or REMOVE demos after a few days I've seen people make their own demos often recently.

Replace "50/60 Dollars" with "20/30 Pounds" and you practically summed up my opinion

It's become a problem to be honest. My friend in california (that's across the country) wanted to play Gears of War online with me, but he had no demo to see if his PC could handle it, "Can I run it" said no, the requirements said yes. So he buys it and he can't fucking run it, we message Epic and get no response in ANY form. So it's total BS.

Don't fuck around with my money when I'm supporting your company by CHOOSING to buy your games, I could easily be one of the many who just ignore legal issues and have your game free. But I choose to support your games because I like them, then they pull this crap, it's just frustrating you know?

 

[Mardy]

It's all beta this, beta that.

 

[reg42]

I usually just watch gameplay videos, read reviews and get opinions. I've never really had the option of playing demos as my cap can't handle it.