Trials and Demos

[Atelier]

Ok, so I've been trawling the Apple website for some free games to download. Most people think "Mac + Gaming? Don't make me laugh!", but actually there are some very good developers out there. Anyway, I've only found a few worth buying, but most (as they are demos) have a 60 minute or 1 week free trial. But really, are timed trials in games a good thing?

Personally I don't think so. It's off-putting when games immediately force you to buy them when you start them up. Sure, that's the only way developers make a living; but when you're asked to buy it before you've even played it, I think it's unnecessary. The best demos I've played don't have any trials, and indeed they're the ones I'd most likely buy. I'd rather pay to have tons of extra features (notice extra - demos should clearly show what can be unlocked/gained from buying the full version), than paying just to have the timer taken off.

An example is Pandora's Pests. You are literally paying for a "license" to ensure it doesn't expire after fifteen days - you get no extra features whatsoever. To me, that's not the nature of a demo. I want something I can play quickly, then decide after whether it would be worthwhile buying a full version. (Aside, Pandora's Pests is an awful game).

So, do timed trials make you want to buy a game?

PS (Sorry if this was meant for gen-gen)

[ThreeOhFour]

For me it depends entirely of the nature of the game. I don't mind timed trials in adventure style games because I'm likely to get more gameplay out of a 60 minute trial in an adventure game than one where I've been restricted to 2 rooms - simply because I rarely replay adventure games. 2 rooms might take me 5 minutes to play and only give me a tiny sample of the game, which makes it much harder to decide whether the game is for me or not.

For something like a shooter or an RPG, I'd prefer to be limited to a single area rather than 60 minutes playtime simply because I can easily spend more than 60 minutes trying out different things before such a game is for me. It often takes me longer to decide whether I like such a game compared to how long it takes me to decide whether I like an adventure style game.

Lately, however, I rarely play demos. I mostly read reviews and rely on recommendations from friends. I don't see "Purchase game/Try game" preloader screens as annoying or anything, I actually think they work pretty well.

[straydogstrut]

I have a Mac but I would agree that PCs are better for gaming: you get more bang for your buck. I flip between Windows and Mac OS X, but I have to admit it wasn't until I got a Mac that I really started trying lots of demo software (installing stuff on a Mac is just SO quicker and a lot of stuff is completely free).

I don't like timed trials generally. They either limit you to so many days usage or the length of an individual play session. I remember playing the Black demo on the PS2 years ago and the frustration I had with the timed trial there. It only lasted about 5/10 minutes and then kicked you out to the main disc menu, meaning I had to reload the entire game every time. It didn't help that I tend to take a fairly cautious playstyle in FPSes, so I never really got anywhere. I did buy it, but only years later when I remembered it.

I much prefer to have a whole area of a gameworld to explore. It doesn't have to be full level: the Tombraider 3 demo had a stitched version of the Area 51 level that was much larger in the full game. For things like sports games, half a football match, for example, is fair. Same for adventure games, i'd prefer no time restrictions so that I can wander around at my leisure.

I agree with Ben when he says it depends on the nature of the game though. Again, a slower paced game just doesn't work well as a timed play session for me, whereas in a shoot 'em up or something it would probably add to the frantic pace. In general i'd rather avoid it, but if a game has to have a timed trial, then a couple of weeks play time would be okay. But if like me you get easily distracted by the eye candy that is the web, then it's very easy to have the trial run out before you get back to it=(

I also agree that the full version should add something - unlock more features, open the rest of the game, something - rather than just allowing you to play the game beyond the expiry. I wouldn't be put off by either approach, but it's always nice to see more content and feel you've been rewarded for buying. A nice approach i'm seeing a lot now is preorders for beta access. Or in the case of The Dream Machine - which i'd highly recommend - a free demo and optional free beta access. If the developer gets a good dialogue going with the players, it removes the corporate image of buying/selling.

Buy Me screens don't bother me much. It all depends on the delivery. A splash screen that can't be skipped would get annoying but if the price is right, i'd probably have bought the game long before that happened. A lot of things contribute to my buying decision overall: the game itself, the website and my opinion of the developer. I like developers who come across as quite quirky and unique in their own way.

[Stupot]

I don't like timers.  I like my demos to be completable in their own right.
Getting to the end of a 60-minute trial is very kind of frustrating, yet getting to the end of a nice self-contained demo is really satisfying, and Idon't think it's a coincidence that I've never purchased a game after playing a timed trial... not even Plants Vs Zombies.

@Straydog - I just played The Dream Machine based on your recommendation.  Really enjoyed it and can't wait for Chapter 2.  Thanks for the heads up

[ddq]

I think, depending on the game, timers can work in demos. If the demo for Just Cause 2 had been one self-contained mission, that would miss the allure of the game, i.e. hookshotting around the open world blowing stuff up, and for a destructo-sandbox game, a timer is probably the best option.

[straydogstrut]

@Stupot You're very welcome! It's a beautiful game, huh?=)

If you sign up for the beta, you'll get to play the rest of Chapter 1 (unless they've made the demo bigger since the last time I played it?). They're a cool bunch of guys, you should check out their development blog=)

Back on topic: both good points guys.

[m0ds]

Timers make me google a serial and end up with viruses, demos give me forewarning that all I'm getting is a select amount. Being brought up on demos rather than time locks, I favour the demo. Interesting thread, though. One of the time locked games I played recently still allowed me to play a third of it so not only was I less inclined to want to replay those parts but I was also left feeling much more guilt, or something, than I would have when a demo ended. But then I'm just a lover of the way developers can often turn demos into works of their own. Time locks just seem like lazy bastardishness  :

[Gravity]

Well I believe it really depends on each individual game and your playing habits. There are various types of trails and demos out there and each one makes you alter your playing habits. For instance you have trials/demos that are offer the entire game in it's whole but only for a limited amount of time. Some games offer you a certain part of the game in which you have to buy it to unlock the rest. Others still give you x amount of tries (such as you load it, play it, exit it and that equals one use). For me it all depends on the type of game. If it is something such as a FPS I would rather just play a couple of starting missions and the like. If the game is RPG in nature I would much rather have a certain area of the game to play around in and then unlock the rest if I decide I like it. Etc.

There is also a game called Mount & Blade for the PC. You get everything in the game without restrictions but you are restricted to a certain character level. In order to level up higher you have to buy a key. So all in all it really depends on the type of game, your playing habits, and a few other odds and ends.