What's the deal with major games not having demos anymore?

AWPC · 4 Feb 2011 at 14:53

1: Developers CBA with many PC games nowadays let alone demos that would mean they have to actually spend a little time fixing things which they leave on the console versions as thye have 2 months of mandatory QA to go through (not that you notice on most console games they have just as many bugs as PC).

2: Pirates can compare the code unless the demo has DRM (Some even do!!) to give them an advantage to cracking the main game.

3: Publishers do not want PC gamers to see how shockingly poor the PC version is !!!!

Divide by Zero · 4 Feb 2011 at 15:07

If a game will sell on the strength of its name then it doesnt need a demo.

Poxy little games no one is talking about need demos.

Sad but true.

barmyllama · 4 Feb 2011 at 15:15

dave1983 said:
apparently fall of 2011, but who knows, id software have kept DOOM 4 very secrative.

Considering ID are releasing Rage in September, I can't see Doom 4 being out around the same time as well.

Divide by Zero · 4 Feb 2011 at 15:19

Rage this year? I thought it was next year! Awesome.

And proof about some games being sold on the strength of it's name: http://www.ea.com/battlefield3/videos/bf3-teaser

dave1983 · 4 Feb 2011 at 15:32

Divide by Zero said:
Rage this year? I thought it was next year! Awesome.

And proof about some games being sold on the strength of it's name: http://www.ea.com/battlefield3/videos/bf3-teaser

rage has a new webpage, graphics looks outstanding.

Lunatic Dreyfus · 4 Feb 2011 at 15:49

I played the demo of CIV 5, and I still bought it.

I partially blame the internet for that error in judgement. 'Oh, it's an early build!' scream the fan boys. Fool me buys in to that.

The whole pre-order business is even more insane, when you think about it. You buy blind, they get your money, then fix the game, if you're lucky. Saying this, I've still pre-ordered DoW 2 Retribution. Though I can't go wrong there, can I?

skullman · 4 Feb 2011 at 19:43

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18235342

Evilsod · 4 Feb 2011 at 20:09

Lunatic Dreyfus said:
I played the demo of CIV 5, and I still bought it. I partially blame the internet for that error in judgement. 'Oh, it's an early build!' scream the fan boys. Fool me buys in to that.

The whole pre-order business is even more insane, when you think about it. You buy blind, they get your money, then fix the game, if you're lucky. Saying this, I've still pre-ordered DoW 2 Retribution. Though I can't go wrong there, can I?

I was under the impression its mostly the fanboi's whining about Civ V and how it isn't Civ IV...

HangTime · 4 Feb 2011 at 21:14

Personally I'm not surprised to see a scaling back on demos as they can potentially be a drain on development resource (packaging up a release, testing it etc). When devs are grinding towards a release date the last thing they want to have to do is faff about with a demo, going gold is much more important to ensure they get paid. Nowadays with online video, reviews etc it is much easier to get a look at a game without having to reach for a demo coverdisk - this is the 21st Century afterall.

To be honest I can't remember the last time I played a demo, I don't really have time for that. Possibly a Football Manager game from a few years ago, because it actually came out in advance of the game, and you could port savegames to the full release. If I'm interested in a game enough then I will buy it, I don't want to waste time on a demo and then have to go over stuff again in the full game.

To be fair one area demos are worthwhile is in niche titles, new IP, stuff like that. i.e. games that you have no real idea about, something a bit off the wall that you wouldn't normally buy. But this thread is about "major" games - most major games don't need a demo, I know if I'm going to buy them or not based on franchise reputation/experience, reviews etc (just look at those dozens of "what games are you looking forward to?" threads we get in here - probably 70% of the games are either sequels or pseudo-sequels from established developers).

skullman · 4 Feb 2011 at 22:55

HangTime said:
Nowadays with online video, reviews etc it is much easier to get a look at a game without having to reach for a demo coverdisk - this is the 21st Century afterall.

Thats certainly my preferred method anyway. I'd rather just save myself a load of time and just watch some HD gameplay vids. Unless its beta testing for a radical new game or something, but how often is that these days?