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Do demos help or hinder a games sales?

July 27, 2009 in Blog comments 20

Anyone that plays games knows that receiving demos via Xbox live or PSN is never a bad thing. Consumers play the game then go out and buy it right?, but what if playing that demo that someone was excited about changed their feeling about the game in a negative way. At this point was the demo a good idea to even release knowing they just lost a sale? Here are a few reasons why demo's can either help or hurt game releases.

New IPs are like the new kids on the block, they need to prove their worth before thinking they will be the hot ticket to get buyers. A demo for these kinds of games can be essential to pull consumers in and make them see how the good the game may be...

Developers who have a AAA title that has sold millions of copies and is considered a “system seller” don’t necessarily need a demo; as when a game is known and played by millions the developers know that it will sell regardless of a demo release. We’ve seen no demo’s for games like Gears of War, Halo and Grand Theft Auto 4 because they simply don’t need it for the game to sell.
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Most recently commented on by on Jul 29, 2009

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  • 0
    Mudkiplover94* Jul 28, 09
    I don't play demo's that much. I think I only downloaded the RE5 and halo wars one. I was planing on getting them anyway. So most of the time do I not play demo's. I take a shot at the game. If I don't like it I lost how ever much it cost to buy that game
  • 4
    BANDITO ATTACK Jul 28, 09
    this is probably the third time this topic has been used in an article on this website. the short answer; nobody knows, and nobody cares.
  • 0
    Gamesta100 Jul 28, 09
    I preferr demos.That way I can try out a type of game I wouldn't normally play.
  • 0
    Rabla Jul 28, 09
    This has to be some evil coincidence =/

    I reckon Demos do help. I like to try out games before i buy them, and if it wasnt for Demos i would have missed out on a few good games, including Rhythm Heaven/Paradise
  • 0
    Zero and X Jul 28, 09
    It depends on the demo itself, a good demo (inFAMOUS) would most likely get more sales, but a poorly made demo (Siren) might shy people away from the game because it may not accurately represent it, or maybe the game itself just sucks (Haze)
    • 0
      Gamesta100 Jul 28, 09
      The demo made me NOT want inFamous.
      • 0
        Subzer0 Jul 28, 09
        why is that? I thought the demo was decent. It gave you a taste of most of Cole's powers.
        • 0
          Gamesta100 Jul 28, 09
          Didn't particularly like the combat, hated the enemies and doing the stupid protection mission.I HATE protecting missions lol.
      • 0
        Zero and X Jul 28, 09
        You're on your own with that, the demo itself was well made, it's most likely because the game itself is not your cup of tea.
  • 0
    Kepp123 Jul 28, 09
    they do help.But there are people who just dont want the game or are satisfied with the and just play that and don't buy the game.
  • 0
    cgauld7 Jul 28, 09
    I think they help, I've bought a few games that I didn't even consider before I played the demo.
  • 3
    Hideo1 Jul 28, 09
    Case by case basis. Simple as. Stop being morons.
  • 2
    TurMoiL911* Jul 28, 09
    If people think the demo's good, they'll probably buy the game.
    If people don't think the demo's good, they won't buy the game.
    If there's no demo, then people will rely on some other source of information to make their final decision.

    It's not that hard to figure out.
  • 0
    HisServant77 Jul 28, 09
    Yeah . . . this topic is discussed so many times, it's old now. Just move along . . .

    Demos help or hurt? Depends on the gamer, and depends on the game and demo itself. 'Nuff said.
  • 1
    Drogo Baggins Jul 28, 09
    You might as well ask if the games themselves help or hinder game sales...
    • 1
      TurMoiL911* Jul 28, 09
      Help: Slap the word "Halo" in front of the title.

      Hinder: Have Treyarch make it.
  • 0
    Deathsythe Jul 28, 09
    Well, I can say for sure that I played the demo for Skate II on my roommates Xbox, and just had to purchase it for my PS3.

    At the same time though, I read a review for Wanted: Weapons of Fate, and wanted to try the demo for myself to see if Adam Sessler was right. Turns out he was, and I had no intentions of purchasing it.

    Like mentioned above, it really is a case by case basis. Generally though, as Turmoil said, if you are going to like the game, you are going to like the demo, and in turn, purchase the game. If not, then you just saved yourself a half an hour downloading and playing a crap demo for a crap game that you would not have liked anyway and had no intention to purchase.

  • 0
    Wolverine527 Jul 28, 09
    If you ask me,demos can help sales. Think about it,would you want to buy a game that got bad reviews,but many people online say it's great without trying it first?
  • 2
    Ville_Valo* Jul 28, 09
    If demos turn people off games, it's for two reasons:
    1. The game isn't very good. In this case they would have regretted their purchase anyway, so the demo saved them time and money.
    2. The demo isn't very good. This is really the fault of the developer.

    Demos give people a taste of the game, and if they don't like it it'll save them wasting money. I, however, have bought several games I would never have considered without playing the demo, including GRID and Mirror's Edge. I think they're a very good idea for, like the article says, games that need to prove themselves.
    • 0
      Fallen Royalty Jul 29, 09
      That's right, there are games I never would've bought had I not played the demo. For example, I played the demo for Folklore (PS3) while I was bored in the electronics section of a grocery store. Turns out it's really fun. If I hadn't played that demo, I probably wouldn't even know what Folklore is even now.

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