EA considering charging $$$ for very long game demos

I could see this working and fostering innovation in the right hands. To test concepts, publishers give teamsX months and a limited budget. If the gamesells well, the publisher greenlights it, if not, on to the next project.

Sadly, I don't think EA (the worst abuser of DLC) is the right hands.

Charging to play a demo is just about the dumbest thing i've heard for a while. A demo is essentially a sample so said player can decide if the game is worth purchasing or not. The only thing this is going to do is cut game sales for the lesser known games because how are we to know if the game is any good or not without coming out of pocket.

[QUOTE="sirkibble2"]

If they really want to do this, they need to start digitally distributing. Charge $5 to play a demo version and then if you want to play the full game with whatever you've been doing, charge $60.

Yes.

I am aware that's $65 dollars but from a business standpoint, they got to make some sort of profit off of it. That would probably be a more gullible scheme than charging $15 for an extended demo then paying $60 for the game totaling $75.

JustPlainLucas

Well, everyone is still convinced that it is a demo. Good reporting, Gamespot. You really know how to take something out of context and sensationalize it.StopThePresses

Not only EA.

Crytek CEO, Cevat Yerli, has gone on record somewhat backing up EA's proposal.

"A free demo is a luxury we have in the game industry that we don't have in other industries such as film. Because we've had this free luxury for so long, now there are plans to change this people are complaining about it. The reality is that we might not see any free game demos in the long term."CevatYerli

He says demos are prohibitively expensive.

It's sad really. Companies like EA know that there are a lot of gamers out there that will eat up whatever they put out, no matter how expensive or of little value it might be.

I bet game companies could charge $100 per game and most gamers would still pay it. Heck, I bet they could charge $10 per hour to play games online and people would still pay it.

[QUOTE="StopThePresses"]Well, everyone is still convinced that it is a demo. Good reporting, Gamespot. You really know how to take something out of context and sensationalize it.sirkibble2

Following investor event, Webbush's Pachter says publisher is prepping $10-$15 prerelease DLC, confirms Visceral's Jack the Ripper as downloadable for XBLA, PSN.

This is like walking into a public restroom, going to the bathroom, flushing the urinal, and having the water splash you right in the face. Then on the way out theres a sign on the back of the door that says "Warning water might splash you in the face".

EQShaman

We used to have this back in the day, it was called SHAREWARE. You paid roughly around $1-2 to get a copy of the first episode of a game (most games were split into three or four long episodes) and if you liked it you could get the full game. If not, at least you only spent $1-2. This was during a time when we payed like $75 a pop for games. Ouch.

I thought it was a really effective type of "demo". Consider Doom and Duke Nukem, the entire first episodes were available as Shareware, and those episodes had around eight levels give or take.

Sadly this will probably work for them they are already getting $60 for TWO and I don't care what anybody says that game is still in beta. They have thousands of people already paying THEM to be beta testers. Unlike other tiger games where if you purchase clubs,clothes,etc. to upgrade your character in this game you RENT the gear for 15 rounds and people are doing it. There are just way too many idiots out there falling for this this crap and as long as they keep giving EA their hared earned cash it just makes it worse for the rest of us.ericpol

Not only EA.

Crytek CEO, Cevat Yerli, has gone on record somewhat backing up EA's proposal.

[quote="CevatYerli"]"A free demo is a luxury we have in the game industry that we don't have in other industries such as film. Because we've had this free luxury for so long, now there are plans to change this people are complaining about it. The reality is that we might not see any free game demos in the long term."SteelAttack

He says demos are prohibitively expensive.

I ignore everything Crytek's CEO says at this point. Just about everything that comes out of his mouth is against consumer rights and over-exaggerates the issues that the game industry has to deal with. If you actually believe what that guy says you'd think that 99% of PC gamers pirate every game they play and that demos cost as much to make as games.

[QUOTE="EQShaman"]

Following investor event, Webbush's Pachter says publisher is prepping $10-$15 prerelease DLC, confirms Visceral's Jack the Ripper as downloadable for XBLA, PSN.

This is like walking into a public restroom, going to the bathroom, flushing the urinal, and having the water splash you right in the face. Then on the way out theres a sign on the back of the door that says "Warning water might splash you in the face".

We used to have this back in the day, it was called SHAREWARE. You paid roughly around $1-2 to get a copy of the first episode of a game (most games were split into three or four long episodes) and if you liked it you could get the full game. If not, at least you only spent $1-2. This was during a time when we payed like $75 a pop for games. Ouch.

I thought it was a really effective type of "demo". Consider Doom and Duke Nukem, the entire first episodes were available as Shareware, and those episodes had around eight levels give or take.

[QUOTE="EQShaman"]

Following investor event, Webbush's Pachter says publisher is prepping $10-$15 prerelease DLC, confirms Visceral's Jack the Ripper as downloadable for XBLA, PSN.

This is like walking into a public restroom, going to the bathroom, flushing the urinal, and having the water splash you right in the face. Then on the way out theres a sign on the back of the door that says "Warning water might splash you in the face".

kimkim01

We used to have this back in the day, it was called SHAREWARE. You paid roughly around $1-2 to get a copy of the first episode of a game (most games were split into three or four long episodes) and if you liked it you could get the full game. If not, at least you only spent $1-2. This was during a time when we payed like $75 a pop for games. Ouch.

I thought it was a really effective type of "demo". Consider Doom and Duke Nukem, the entire first episodes were available as Shareware, and those episodes had around eight levels give or take.

You paid for DOOM shareware? As I remember it, it was free.

As for paying for demos, well....that's something I will never do. Ultimately the developer is shooting themselves in the foot. I would much rather play a demo that slowly begins degenerating after a certain amount of playtime, I'm not sure where I heard this but it's a much better idea than having to pay.

[QUOTE="sirkibble2"][QUOTE="StopThePresses"]Well, everyone is still convinced that it is a demo. Good reporting, Gamespot. You really know how to take something out of context and sensationalize it.StopThePresses

[QUOTE="kimkim01"]

[QUOTE="EQShaman"]

Following investor event, Webbush's Pachter says publisher is prepping $10-$15 prerelease DLC, confirms Visceral's Jack the Ripper as downloadable for XBLA, PSN.

This is like walking into a public restroom, going to the bathroom, flushing the urinal, and having the water splash you right in the face. Then on the way out theres a sign on the back of the door that says "Warning water might splash you in the face".

Rekunta

We used to have this back in the day, it was called SHAREWARE. You paid roughly around $1-2 to get a copy of the first episode of a game (most games were split into three or four long episodes) and if you liked it you could get the full game. If not, at least you only spent $1-2. This was during a time when we payed like $75 a pop for games. Ouch.

I thought it was a really effective type of "demo". Consider Doom and Duke Nukem, the entire first episodes were available as Shareware, and those episodes had around eight levels give or take.

You paid for DOOM shareware? As I remember it, it was free.

As for paying for demos, well....that's something I will never do. Ultimately the developer is shooting themselves in the foot. I would much rather play a demo that slowly begins degenerating after a certain amount of playtime, I'm not sure where I heard this but it's a much better idea than having to pay.

I remember it fondly hahaha it was on a CD with 24 other shareware programs. And it's making me feel really old.

As I recall that $1 covered the cost of the CD only. Remember that this was around 1995 when CD tech was still cutting edge.

It's by Activision but I'd pay $10 for the Blur beta if they never closed the servers and you could buy car/track DLC that came out for the retail game.

I'd have just as much fun having paid $15 for a Just Cause 2 demo that had save features, no timer and was that entire smaller island (only about 1/4 of what on the retail disc) as I do with the full $60 game.

$10 for a joke 10 minute demo is crap, but it's clear that that's not what EA is talking about. $10-$15 for stuff like the Blur beta is pretty good imo since I will never under any circumstances pay $60 for that game. By the time it gets to a price point I would have purchased it at, it'll be out of my mind.