Demo

[Nimrod 9th]

I'm an ideal target customer but I'm "on the fence" right now. Two things Matrix can do to get me to buy this game.
1) Provide a demo: some monster games just don't speak to me. But some do. So I'm careful on which monster games I buy. A demo sure would help. Is there one or will one soon be available?
2) A bundle. Since there are a number of add-ons for this game, how about a bundle of the game and the add-ons for a discount. A carrot sure would go a long way.

Last thing. Found the pricing thread very interesting. Understand both sides of the issue. Looking forward to seeing how Matrix handles this complex issue of a monster but older game.

Have fun all!!

[mbar]

There is a demo of PoN available. Here is one link.
http://www.fileplanet.com/220341/220000 ... tions-Demo

I bought it at release because of the demo.

[IainMcNeil]

Wow - I was about to say sorry there is no demo. We're learning new things all the time!

[Nimrod 9th]

Hey guys,
Thanks! I'll download over the weekend and give it a try.

Iain,
Please reconsider decisions not to post demos. My gaming budget is limited and I'm very picky about games I buy. Demos go a long way in helping me decide which games to buy and not to buy. If I get burned buying a game and then not liking it, I may not buy another game from that developer again for awhile. But if I try a demo and not like it, I still have an open mind towards new releases. Hope that made sense.

Again, thanks guys.

[IainMcNeil]

It's not a simple decision - making demos is a huge amount of work and same games just don't suit them. For games where they are appropriate we do - e.g. Panzer Corps, Battle Academy etc. For games like War in the East they really don't work and the team just don't have the resources.

[budd]

going to have to respectfully disagree on this one. A demo is never a bad thing from a customer point of view. The demo is a big piece of information for the customer, you can read all the reviews, AAR's, forums and still miss on a game because it doesn't click for you. The demo gives you that, it's a feeling thing. It can seal the deal and also get you to jump into another genre or different scale of games because you have nothing to lose, but your time.It also tells a customer how a game will likely perform on there system, if at all[old games made for different OS's...hint hint..] I am alot less likely to jump into a new game series, a new developer, or any new type thing at full price without a demo. Games in series i have or developers i have some of their games.. basically that i have history with I am less likely to require a demo, but a new customer might like it. My 2 cents on the demo thing..as you can tell I'm pro-demo[:D]

ORIGINAL: Iain McNeil

It's not a simple decision - making demos is a huge amount of work and same games just don't suit them. For games where they are appropriate we do - e.g. Panzer Corps, Battle Academy etc. For games like War in the East they really don't work and the team just don't have the resources.

[IainMcNeil]

We understands all that but making a good demo takes a lot of time and when people get something for free they don't put the effort in to it. Some of our games require a lot of effort to get something out of them and man people won't put in that effort to something they got for free but do when they have spent money. The same game for free would be dropped after 5 mins unless it grabs them but they would put hours in to it if they bought it. It's another thing we have vast experience on and you'll just have to trust we know what's best for the game. I'm not saying you are in this category but enough people are that demos have to be very slick or they hurt sales, not help them. Many people these days instant gratification and our types of games are slow burn, building in enjoyment in proportion to effort put in.

[Alfred]

ORIGINAL: Iain McNeil

We understands all that but making a good demo takes a lot of time and when people get something for free they don't put the effort in to it. Some of our games require a lot of effort to get something out of them and man people won't put in that effort to something they got for free but do when they have spent money. The same game for free would be dropped after 5 mins unless it grabs them but they would put hours in to it if they bought it. It's another thing we have vast experience on and you'll just have to trust we know what's best for the game. I'm not saying you are in this category but enough people are that demos have to be very slick or they hurt sales, not help them. Many people these days instant gratification and our types of games are slow burn, building in enjoyment in proportion to effort put in.

Wish you would post this in the AE forum where the level of instant gratification without the requisite player effort is very widespread.

Alfred