Reply to topic  [ 8 posts ] 
Crytek foresees 'the end of free game demos' 
Author Message
Legend

Joined: Sun Apr 26, 2009 12:30 pm
Posts: 45931
Location: Belfast
Reply with quote
Quote:
The CEO of indie studio Crytek has defended EA’s divisive ‘premium downloadable content’ strategy, while also predicting the extinction of free game demos.

In an interview with Develop, Crytek’s co-founder Cevat Yerli said he wasn’t sure that a demo of Crysis 2 was going to be released. He also said demos are "a luxury” that becomes “prohibitively expensive” for game studios to make.

He said: “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.”

Crysis 2 publisher EA was recently the subject of much controversy for plans to release premium demos “for $10 or $15” before a game’s final release.

That strategy was coarsely criticised across message boards, forums and social networks, yet Yerli believes it has many benefits.

“I read a lot about this, and read about the backlash as well; people complaining that they would essentially be paying for a beta,” he said.

“I think EA’s strategy is interesting, overall. The thing is, every time we see a publisher doing something to improve the industry, making things more commercially viable and actually increasing the market, people instantly think this is only some money-hungry ploy.”

Part of the reason why there was such backlash, said Yerli, was that EA’s plan was not properly explained.

“Yes it is quite unpopular, but this is a messaging issue. The problem with any new strategy like this is it initially may appear as a blood-hungry, money-grabbing strategy. But I think there is a genuine interest here to give gamers something more than a small demo released for free.

“Really, what this is, is an attempt to salvage a problem. The industry is still losing a lot of money to piracy as the market becomes more online-based. So it’s encouraging to see strategies outlined to combat this.”

“I think the whole issue needs to be explained in a better way, because there is good thinking behind EA’s plan. I understand why people are thinking that all EA wants to do is maximise profits out of the audience, but really, what it’s really trying to do is get investment back but while being as fair to the gamer as much as it can. Ultimately, it will be a better deal for the gamer.

Yerli added he wasn’t sure if Crytek were going to release a free demo of the studio’s upcoming FPS Crysis.

“That’s something we need to think about, because we haven’t fully decided on this yet,” he said.

“But whether we do have a demo or not, do I think companies need to release so many demos? I think that we’ll see more and more games not carrying a demo in the future, because it becomes prohibitively expensive.

“Also, given the time pressures in making a demo – in fact given the time pressure of making a quality demo – I think it all becomes really difficult to work with, and I think we’ll see less and less of them in the future.”


http://www.develop-online.net/news/3454 ... game-demos

The whole point of a demo is to get people interested, in other words, it's an advertisement for the game. People don't want to pay for adverts you dumb... :x

And unless I'm missing something, most of the demos I've ever played gave you trial code or the first level or whatever of a game, maybe had some of the features taken out - how is that time or money consuming in any great way? :?

How many people have bought a game because of the demo? How many people won't go on to buy the game because they laughed at being charged for a demo? :roll:

_________________
Plain English advice on everything money, purchase and service related:

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/


Sat Apr 17, 2010 6:19 pm
Profile
Legend
User avatar

Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 2:02 am
Posts: 29240
Location: Guantanamo Bay (thanks bobbdobbs)
Reply with quote
I have bought a game from a demo. I would not have bought without a demo to try it out. It is a very short sighted attitude, it will probably get dumped pretty quickly when people discover they are paying for a demo. Especially when you can get a short demo on download for next to nothing.

_________________
Do concentrate, 007...

"You are gifted. Mine is bordering on seven seconds."

https://www.dropbox.com/referrals/NTg5MzczNTk

http://astore.amazon.co.uk/wwwx404couk-21


Sat Apr 17, 2010 6:40 pm
Profile
I haven't seen my friends in so long
User avatar

Joined: Fri May 15, 2009 3:16 am
Posts: 6146
Location: Middle Earth
Reply with quote
Quote:
A free demo is a luxury we have in the game industry that we don’t have in other industries such as film.

So what is a trailer then. :roll:

_________________
Dive like a fish, drink like a fish!

><(((º>`•.¸¸.•´¯`•.¸><(((º>
•.¸¸.•´¯`•.¸><(((º>`•.¸¸.•´¯`•.¸><(((º>

If one is diving so close to the limits that +/- 1% will make a difference then the error has already been made.


Sat Apr 17, 2010 7:18 pm
Profile
Legend
User avatar

Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 2:02 am
Posts: 29240
Location: Guantanamo Bay (thanks bobbdobbs)
Reply with quote
belchingmatt wrote:
Quote:
A free demo is a luxury we have in the game industry that we don’t have in other industries such as film.

So what is a trailer then. :roll:

Don't give them ideas, they will charge us to watch trailers. they have all the best bits anyway. :shock:

_________________
Do concentrate, 007...

"You are gifted. Mine is bordering on seven seconds."

https://www.dropbox.com/referrals/NTg5MzczNTk

http://astore.amazon.co.uk/wwwx404couk-21


Sat Apr 17, 2010 8:08 pm
Profile
What's a life?
User avatar

Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 8:46 pm
Posts: 10022
Reply with quote
Charging for demos?!? WTF?!?

All this will lead to is more mainstream title sequels. COD:MW32 anyone?

_________________
Image
He fights for the users.


Sat Apr 17, 2010 8:44 pm
Profile
Legend

Joined: Sun Apr 26, 2009 12:30 pm
Posts: 45931
Location: Belfast
Reply with quote
Just thinking about it, it's another push towards illegal downloads for people who wanna try before they buy...

_________________
Plain English advice on everything money, purchase and service related:

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/


Sat Apr 17, 2010 10:12 pm
Profile
What's a life?
User avatar

Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 8:25 pm
Posts: 10691
Location: Bramsche
Reply with quote
belchingmatt wrote:
Quote:
A free demo is a luxury we have in the game industry that we don’t have in other industries such as film.

So what is a trailer then. :roll:

That was my first thought as well. Obviously the guy hasn't watched television or been to the cinema in his life! :roll:

_________________
"Do you know what this is? Hmm? No, I can see you do not. You have that vacant look in your eyes, which says hold my head to your ear, you will hear the sea!" - Londo Molari

Executive Producer No Agenda Show 246


Sun Apr 18, 2010 7:11 am
Profile ICQ
Legend
User avatar

Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 2:02 am
Posts: 29240
Location: Guantanamo Bay (thanks bobbdobbs)
Reply with quote
It does make you wonder about some of the executives in these industries. :shock:

_________________
Do concentrate, 007...

"You are gifted. Mine is bordering on seven seconds."

https://www.dropbox.com/referrals/NTg5MzczNTk

http://astore.amazon.co.uk/wwwx404couk-21


Sun Apr 18, 2010 4:06 pm
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Reply to topic   [ 8 posts ] 

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 12 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
cron
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
Designed by ST Software.