Playstation Network and Discussion Part Deux

[Jonesy]

Re: Playstation Network and Discussion Part Deux

Game demos have become de rigueur for publishers. To help entice gamers to plunk down their hard-earned US$50 or US$60, companies will often put a sample level from their games on their websites, Xbox Live or the PlayStation Network. Until now, those demos have remained static, meaning publishers effectively giveaway a chunk of their games in the hopes that it will lead to consumers scooping up the whole thing.

Sony, apparently, wants to change the demo paradigm. In a March 4 US Patent and Trademark Office filing uncovered by Siliconera, the company has patented the technology to make demos that lose functionality over time. The more a player plays the demo, the more features of the demo will cease working — and the more it will ask the player to buy the full version.

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Playstation Network and Discussion Part Deux

LOL! Are they boneheads or what?

[rspencer86]

Re: Playstation Network and Discussion Part Deux

Does this fear by developers that people will be satisfied playing the demo level over and over and over seem irrational to anyone else?

I don't know anyone who would enjoy playing three innings of the same two teams for more than a few days. I don't know anyone who could play the same Uncharted 2 demo again and again and be happy with that.

It's not rocket science: make a demo that will draw people in but leave them wanting more. That's it. No need whatsoever to invent some technology that will reduce demo functionality over time.

[Chef Matt]

Re: Playstation Network and Discussion Part Deux

Anybody DL the PS Home update? Curious to see some impressions.

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Playstation Network and Discussion Part Deux

No issues here.

BTW, avatars still suck. I hope The Show puts up some team logos.

The last 2 days have been taking forever for me to sync, not sure what it is. Altimus, did you change your PSN ID again as you are not on my list. What is your PSN ID so I can add you?

Does this fear by developers that people will be satisfied playing the demo level over and over and over seem irrational to anyone else?

I don't know anyone who would enjoy playing three innings of the same two teams for more than a few days. I don't know anyone who could play the same Uncharted 2 demo again and again and be happy with that.

It's not rocket science: make a demo that will draw people in but leave them wanting more. That's it. No need whatsoever to invent some technology that will reduce demo functionality over time.

You make some very solid points.

[areobee401]

Re: Playstation Network and Discussion Part Deux

Does this fear by developers that people will be satisfied playing the demo level over and over and over seem irrational to anyone else?

I don't know anyone who would enjoy playing three innings of the same two teams for more than a few days. I don't know anyone who could play the same Uncharted 2 demo again and again and be happy with that.

It's not rocket science: make a demo that will draw people in but leave them wanting more. That's it. No need whatsoever to invent some technology that will reduce demo functionality over time.

It's not rocket science but for some odd reason they don't understand.

[rspencer86]

Re: Playstation Network and Discussion Part Deux

It's not rocket science but for some odd reason they don't understand.

The movie industry has been doing this for decades. Trailers, sneak peeks, clips on Leno/Letterman... are they worried that people will download these and watch them over and over again and not buy a ticket to the full-length movie? No, because for the most part they've mastered the art of drawing people in and leaving them wanting to know the whole story.

It seems like the video game industry spends way too much time on stuff that no one wants or needs.

[areobee401]

Re: Playstation Network and Discussion Part Deux

The main problem with the video game industry is that your average person will buy a game off of a commercial. We have to realize that we are the minority in the industry.

Just like movies and music , video games reached that plateau so to speak. Its mass media now and it's changing fast(for the worse but its the cycle).

[bkfount]

Re: Playstation Network and Discussion Part Deux

It's a demo, buy the game if you like it. No one is actually owed anything when they try out a free trial of a product.

[Jonesy]

Re: Playstation Network and Discussion Part Deux

It's a demo, buy the game if you like it. No one is actually owed anything when they try out a free trial of a product.

So you agree with this idea?

I must have played the nba 2k7 demo about 300 times waiting for the full version to come out, having it lose functionality and constantly tell me to buy the game will just be annoying and won't affect buying decisions imo.

[bcruise]

Re: Playstation Network and Discussion Part Deux

So how is MM10 guys? I want to get it and eventually will, but I've got to get through a backlog of other games first (not a big list, but all are long games):

FFXIII (top priority)
Star Ocean: Last Hope
Lunar Silver Star Harmony

I'm not even going to consider the Show backlog becasue I'll be playing it until '11 comes out.

[DickDalewood]

Re: Playstation Network and Discussion Part Deux

The movie industry has been doing this for decades. Trailers, sneak peeks, clips on Leno/Letterman... are they worried that people will download these and watch them over and over again and not buy a ticket to the full-length movie? No, because for the most part they've mastered the art of drawing people in and leaving them wanting to know the whole story.

It seems like the video game industry spends way too much time on stuff that no one wants or needs.

There IS a difference though. With movies, we only get what the previews show us... the best scenes, and short montages mixed with awesome music. Then, we are left to simply WATCH that preview over and over, and pick it apart as best we can.

With demos, people literally get to experience the game, and as such, pick apart it's controls, pick apart it's visuals, etc etc.

It's like you said, movies have mastered the art of drawing us in... because they just give us peaks, and tease us with stuff.

A lot of demos have convinced me NOT to buy a game, whereas had I only been able to go off the commercials and preview clips (similar to what movies give us) that were put together I probably would have actually bought the game. If movies actually released 10-15 min clips of their films, THAT would be more similar to a game demo, as we could actually analyze the acting, pacing, and perhaps parts of the story.

[ASB37]

Re: Playstation Network and Discussion Part Deux

There IS a difference though. With movies, we only get what the previews show us... the best scenes, and short montages mixed with awesome music. Then, we are left to simply WATCH that preview over and over, and pick it apart as best we can.

With demos, people literally get to experience the game, and as such, pick apart it's controls, pick apart it's visuals, etc etc.

It's like you said, movies have mastered the art of drawing us in... because they just give us peaks, and tease us with stuff.

A lot of demos have convinced me NOT to buy a game, whereas had I only been able to go off the commercials and preview clips (similar to what movies give us) that were put together I probably would have actually bought the game. If movies actually released 10-15 min clips of their films, THAT would be more similar to a game demo, as we could actually analyze the acting, pacing, and perhaps parts of the story.

I agree. I've probably had more demos convince me to not buy a game, as opposed to buy a game. In fact, the demo of Uncharted 1 sort of turned me off to the game and I ended up waiting for it to drop in price and got it on Ebay a few months down the road. Then again, I've played through uncharted 1 like 5 times, and It's probably my favorite next gen game, so what do I know lol.

[LingeringRegime]

Re: Playstation Network and Discussion Part Deux

I just find it ridiculous. Ridiculous that Sony would spend their time in develop something like this. Ridiculous that people would play demos for a long time.

I really question if this new "Demo Technology" will make people rush out to get retail games faster. The average casual gamer will probably not even realize his sword is getting smaller.

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Playstation Network and Discussion Part Deux

I just find it ridiculous. Ridiculous that Sony would spend their time in develop something like this. Ridiculous that people would play demos for a long time.

I really question if this new "Demo Technology" will make people rush out to get retail games faster. The average casual gamer will probably not even realize his sword is getting smaller.

I know, Sony has much larger problems to deal with then something this stupid. Of course it will give another plus to the MS side by them saying we offer full size demos. LOL! Sony, Sony, Sony as they take a few steps forward they find ways to also take 20 steps backward.