Demo Question

[Mosby]

I first tried to play the demo when it was first released, but failed when it turned out a file was missing (dml or something, I've got a post about it in tech support).

I've been floating around now checking to see how the game is shaping up, and when I saw the new demo with the latest patch, I thought now would be the time to try it out.

I download it, and install, but it says that my time limit has expired...even though I never actually got a chance to play it. I guess it happened while it sat on my computer while I tried to get it working.

Is there anything I can do, or will I just have to take a chance and buy it without playing the demo first?

[calvinus]

I'm sorry but nothing can be done, because the 15 days trial are counted since the very first installation of the game.

[Mosby]

Yeah, had a feeling that's what was going to happen.

Thanks anyways.

[Omnius]

I'm sorry but nothing can be done, because the 15 days trial are counted since the very first installation of the game.

calvinus,
There should not be a time limit on the demos, especially a short 15 day period. You want potential customers to play your demos until they decide it's time to buy the game. Plus if you're updating the demos then you're shooting yourself in the foot by not allowing prospective customers to see improvements in the game via the updated demo. Maybe someone downloads an early version that has bugs that the player sees and doesn't like. If his demo dies and another updated version comes out then that player can't see the improvements that would help him overcome his hesitation due to bugs he saw in an earlier version.

I'm just glad that I know of this time limit so that I wait to install the demo for when I intend to play the heck out of it to see if it is worthy of purchase. Trust that the demo will eventually connive players to buy the full game when they are ready to, in this tough economic time some may just have to wait for the money situation to be right. Make sure that the demos stay live so that they can remain a hook to get that sale eventually.

Patience is a Virtue!

[Emeg]

calvinus,
<..> Plus if you're updating the demos then you're shooting yourself in the foot by not allowing prospective customers to see improvements in the game via the updated demo. Maybe someone downloads an early version that has bugs that the player sees and doesn't like. If his demo dies and another updated version comes out then that player can't see the improvements that would help him overcome his hesitation due to bugs he saw in an earlier version. <..>

I think it is not the game developer but the publisher who made this kind of demo decisions. But you have a point.

I downloaded an early buggy and almost unplayable demo (crashing to desktop) version too and because that didn't buy the game yet. I am also not sure how the situation is now but it looks to me that the polishing of the released beta game is put on the lowest gear. May be are this kind of projects a bridge too far for a (one man?) development team. It looks to me that there is insufficient manpower to clear the problems (rapidly enough). Unprepared full paying customers were used as bug-hunting beta gametesters and also because this the game received fault-finding reviews harming the game reputation.

Greetings from Emeg.

[Rafiki]

Currently, Calvinus (the main developer) is suffering from a broken arm, I'm sure everyone understands that the current pace of things suffers because of that.

As for the game's state and suchlike upon release, this has been adressed in previous statements by AGEOD. The game now is something quite different from what it was upon release.

It's a good point about people who "spent" the time-limited demo period on the early versions, though, and something that will have to be taken under consideration