demo please

[madjoseph]

I'm sorry guys,

but though your game sounds very interesting, I'm probably not gonna buy it until I get a demo to see how it runs on my system.

How bout a demo?[:'(]

[madjoseph]

Hi again,

still wondering about the demo. anyone else want one? I haven't seen any reviews of the game, which is understandable, since it's just out.

But come on, a demo is certainly appropriate.[:)]

[JudgeDredd]

It isn't Matrix policy to provide a demo for all their games. That doesn't mean a demo will not be released...it's just not policy to provide a demo with every game.

What does this game cost? Like £14? I'd say, at that price, if you like space strategy, and like what people say, that should be enough to part with the cash.

I'm not being flippant there....just that I've had many a game which let me down on release...even though a demo was available and the price tag was alot bigger than £14. The best way to see if you'll enjoy it is...

If it's in your genre
Look at what people are saying on the forums....people here seem to be very honest, sometimes brutally.

As I said, if you like space srategy and you like what people write, then for that price you can hardly miss out...

[HercMighty]

I have bought many of Matrix's games but this one I would have to see a demo. The screenshots don't do much for me and everybodies idea of gameplay is different. Also the cost does bother me. For a game it is on the low end as far as pricing of games go. Why?

Now it maybe a great game, but after just buying FPG (Which I also considered borderline low priced and will need 3 patches before it is playable against the AI), having put WAW on order and waiting for COTA this one will have to go in the long pile of maybe's.

I also think not having demo's is a bad idea. Demo's can only promote the game. Though they will cut down on impulse buys which is maybe how they figure they sell a lot of their games. I know a few of my buys have been this way and UV has been my only oops buy so far. WITP ended up not being that far around the corner.

Anyways my 2 cents.

[SlapBone]

ORIGINAL: HercMighty

Also the cost does bother me. For a game it is on the low end as far as pricing of games go. Why?

I'm sure no one from Matrix would gripe if you threw a couple extra dollars their way if would make you feel better

[JudgeDredd]

ORIGINAL: HercMighty
For a game it is on the low end as far as pricing of games go. Why?

Surely you're old enough to know that price in this world doesn't necessarily mean quality. I've bought many an item at a much larger price than another make and been sorely disappointed

ORIGINAL: HercMighty
...but after just buying FPG (Which I also considered borderline low priced and will need 3 patches before it is playable against the AI)...

I can see this is a sore point with you and, whilst it is true the game needs a third patch for the AI might we consider a couple of things. First off, I have bought many a game from a very large corporation which makes a large amount of sports genre games. These games are fully priced at the top end of PC gaming pricing. Now I seldom see a patch for these games...even though they sorely need them. Some people see the yearly updates to these games (which, again are full price) as patches to the previous incarnation. In fact, I just recently bought a sports car game from this company. This simulation uses the same engine as previous titles and I am seeing bugs in this game which were prevelaint in the title I purchased back in 2002!!

Now that doesn't excuse what has happened with FPG...BUT it puts a little bit of perspective on the matter. Also, as well you may know with 173 posts, Matrix are very, very loyal to their fanbase. They know where their money is and they do not leave customers out in the cold because they are moving on....like some other large corporations one could mention. OK...a thrid patch is needed for the AI...but a third patch you will get...and a fourth...and a fifth if need be.

ORIGINAL: HercMighty
I also think not having demo's is a bad idea. Demo's can only promote the game.

Again, for certain games, a demo is a great selling tool. But I remember getting the demo for AA:RDOA (remember that one....an old incarnation of COTA) and I shelved it within 2 hours. I couldn't believe games like that, with those pansy graphics, were still being made in the era of 3D cards and AMD Athlons. Then I read some forum stuff (it was that game that logged me into the Matrix website) and I thought I'd give it another go. I was hooked.

Demos can easily damage sales.

My 4 pennies. [:D]

[aben]

no demo?
thats just about the worst idea i heard today (and i hear alot of bad ideas).
if you realy insist on not to have a demo, then give us a movie showing game play/graphics/complexity ect...

[HercMighty]

ORIGINAL: JudgeDredd

Now that doesn't excuse what has happened with FPG...BUT it puts a little bit of perspective on the matter. Also, as well you may know with 173 posts, Matrix are very, very loyal to their fanbase. They know where their money is and they do not leave customers out in the cold because they are moving on....like some other large corporations one could mention. OK...a thrid patch is needed for the AI...but a third patch you will get...and a fourth...and a fifth if need be.

I 100% agree with you here. Games are supported 100% and I also know with FPG that our suggestions are going to be added. Look at starshatter, I have that game and patch 4.5 is supposed to be replacing the graphics engine.

But after thinking about it I guess it's more that this game is an unknown and from what I have seen so far I haven't seen anything to want me to buy it. So I will linger and maybe something will spark my interest enough.

Maybe some AAR's with screenshots? [:D]

[madjoseph]

I use demos to ascertain whether a given game will run well on my system. That's basically what I'm looking for here. I'm sure some of you have discovered that some games run better than others on their machines. I buy games for enjoyment, not to fiddle endlessly with settings and such. And while I know Matrix offers some fine tech support, sometimes that's just not enough.

It was the demo of Massive Assault that led me to buy it. It was the demo of Starships Unlimited that led me to buy it. If they release a demo for this game, and it runs well on my computer, then I'll probably buy it too.

[merrillh]

I run this on my lowly 1.3 ghz notebook computer, I am sure it will run on any desktop that is not of Doorstop Status [;)]

It seems most are saying it is more of a matter of principle <sp?> then purpose.

i.e. I should be able to try before I buy
i.e. I should know that it will work on my system before I buy it
i.e. I should know that the hamburger meat will not give me food poison

But no one will be my taste tester! Dang grocery store... [8|]

Uhm, perhaps taking it too far but you get my point... If you have the minimum specs, and a ton of folks chiming in that it works well on X-Machine, then I would think that is testimony enough.

[madjoseph]

I've got the specs, but it isn't just that.

For example, I dont know if you tried or played
Codemaster's game "Perimeter" but although I had the specs for it, the dang thing locked up repeatedly and nothing their support did, or I did could change that. Scratch a fifty dollar game.

So, generally my rule of thumb is: No demo, no tryout, no buy it.

That might be a shame in this case. but there are plenty of games with demos out there.[:)]

[madjoseph]

Hi there,

still hoping, still wishing, still would love to try a demo before purchasing.
(hint hint) [:)]

[jeffery_lau]

Will it happen ( the demo ) ?

Cheers

[4harald]

I'd never buy a game without playing a demo first. When the game is good, what would they have to lose? You might come away with that if your name is Sid Meier and you release a remake of an 80s classic like Pirates. But a totally unknown developer with a tight budget?

Sorry guys, but not releasing a demo just fuels piracy. And that's really bad.