Shovelware demos are useless.
I remember the time I played the demo for farming sim and DOA:Dimensions to death on my 3DS. Those were actually good demos.

[–] PunchingWood@lemmy.world 26 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Yeah it doesn't compare to old-school demos like stuff that came on discs with magazines, but at least it's a lot better getting the option to try something instead of buying and refunding everything. And at least some bigger studios and indi games are picking up on this as well.

[–] Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

For sure. But I hope they use the Steam Demo feature (same game page with a demo install button) instead of doing a free and premium type of publishing like they do with phone apps

[–] smeg@feddit.uk 4 points 3 months ago (2 children)

instead of doing a free and premium type of publishing like they do with phone apps

It's not just phone apps, look at this shit on a big-name Steam game:

Calling your free trial "definitive edition" and having the "base game" as a paid DLC is purposely misleading

[–] Infinitus@lemmy.world 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I mean... Aoe3 always had some sort of a demo version. Even the original base game had it. In fact, this is actually better, as now you are able to use 3 rotating civs, not just the English and the French, which you were forced to use before.

[–] smeg@feddit.uk 1 points 3 months ago

It's more than fine to have a demo, just call it a demo rather than tricking people into thinking it's the full version for free!

[–] Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

:(
Why tho

[–] smeg@feddit.uk 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Presumably for the free marketing of appearing in the free-to-play list

[–] Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 3 months ago

This was more meant as a rhetoric question but it's most likely as you said. A bit annoying indeed.

[–] RogueBanana@lemmy.zip 3 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I am not sure what demos you mention in particular but the one I recently played is news tower and I am hooked. Just waiting for a good sale to snag the game and even stopped posting the demo mid way. I for one appreciate all the demos being put out even if it is short. Their only purpose is to showcase the full game and they do a decent job of that.

[–] Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

I never said demos for actual decent games are bad. Just that trash games and asset swap games are and polluting the search results and library.