propose a new way of playing for demo players

[THE_HOST_KILLER]

Since Demo players can not play online game. I think it is not a good idea. How about we allow them to play for certain maps,(i.e. those allowed in single player mode in demo) and when comes to other maps, a 10 seconds control band is imposed at the beginning of the game to "incourage" demo players to pay.

anyone second my idea?

[Pinky]

Unfortunatley the fact that it's only single player means that you have to be motivated to get the demo in the first place, as opposed to the dozen friends who I convinced to play DEFCON at a get-together.

[Pinky]

At the event in question, we were looking for Multiplayer games to play. You can pass around the demo install, and play it at a LAN. Becuase of the social atmosphere, people are more likely to play it, enjoy it, and buy it.

The Multiwinia demo cannot be passed around a LAN, becuase it's single player. You actually have to have sufficient interest to download and play the demo by yourself.

[xander]

At the event in question, we were looking for Multiplayer games to play. You can pass around the demo install, and play it at a LAN. Becuase of the social atmosphere, people are more likely to play it, enjoy it, and buy it.

The Multiwinia demo cannot be passed around a LAN, becuase it's single player. You actually have to have sufficient interest to download and play the demo by yourself.

This is how Defcon worked, more or less, and I get the impression that IV kind of got screwed by it. Some of the best Defcon players never actually bought the game, but play demo versions, because a demo version gives them everything they need and want. It seems logical to me that IV want to prevent that from happening again with Multiwinia.

xander

[bert_the_turtle]

That was my impression, too. There are more restrictions on the Multiwinia demo because the Defcon demo proved to be good enough to be all some people could want.

Still, a mechanism of "guest keys" could be useful for spreading the love. Say, every owner of a key could generate a certain amount of guest keys, each valid for a finite amount of time (three keys valid for 24 hours after first use sounds about right), and give them to his friends so they could try the full game for a while. People could then have those LAN parties to show off the game. Not that I think anything like that would happen, but it is technically possible.

[IronWill]

Demo is demo dude...

On Steam for 19,99$ you get Multiwinia + Darwinia ! I reviewed Darwinia tests and decided to buy the package.

Steam is a powerful business platform, and Multiwinia is worth the price you pay for it, I swear !

Asking about better demos is pointless at these prices...

[cheesemoo0]

Demo is demo dude...

On Steam for 19,99$ you get Multiwinia + Darwinia ! I reviewed Darwinia tests and decided to buy the package.

Steam is a powerful business platform, and Multiwinia is worth the price you pay for it, I swear !

Asking about better demos is pointless at these prices...

Why does this sound like an ad to me?

[IronWill]

Because I am paid by Introversion Lobby Ltd. to make you buy this game !!!!!

[Mas Tnega]

I don't believe you are trying hard enough. Perhaps you could be more like this guy?

[tals]

That was my impression, too. There are more restrictions on the Multiwinia demo because the Defcon demo proved to be good enough to be all some people could want.

Still, a mechanism of "guest keys" could be useful for spreading the love. Say, every owner of a key could generate a certain amount of guest keys, each valid for a finite amount of time (three keys valid for 24 hours after first use sounds about right), and give them to his friends so they could try the full game for a while. People could then have those LAN parties to show off the game. Not that I think anything like that would happen, but it is technically possible.

I like the guest key idea. Although i'd do it more on number of games played rather than actual time. I certainly think that now the game has been released the initial sales peak has probably been so a MP limited demo to a couple of maps (which full players can also join) would help on player numbers and also drag more people in

[bert_the_turtle]

It's harder for the metaserver to count the number of games a key has been used for than it is to just let it expire after some time And the way this is going to be handled already has been semi-announced: a future demo will have the capability to connect to LAN games hosted by an owner of the game, without other limits.

[Nimbus]

And the way this is going to be handled already has been semi-announced: a future demo will have the capability to connect to LAN games hosted by an owner of the game, without other limits.

Whatwhowherewhywhenwhat? 0_0

[Mas Tnega]

To help you with this, we’re working on modifying the current Multiwinia demo so that demo users can join a LAN game, so long as the host owns the full game. The purpose behind this is to make it very easy for you to play against your friends who don’t yet own the game, without having to buy more copies. LAN parties in particular are great events for trying new games – take Multiwinia along and show it to people, fire up a game and invite other players to join as demo users. They’ll have a great experience, and they’ll thank you for showing them this game that they’ve either not heard of or ignored.

[tals]

To help you with this, we’re working on modifying the current Multiwinia demo so that demo users can join a LAN game, so long as the host owns the full game. The purpose behind this is to make it very easy for you to play against your friends who don’t yet own the game, without having to buy more copies. LAN parties in particular are great events for trying new games – take Multiwinia along and show it to people, fire up a game and invite other players to join as demo users. They’ll have a great experience, and they’ll thank you for showing them this game that they’ve either not heard of or ignored.

Well not to put a downer on this, but if it had been a way of inviting friends on the internet games I might have been able to pull in some more sales. On the lan zero/nada etc. Maybe a connection via direct IP?

Before anyone feels the need i'm fully conversant with the joys of Hamachi.

Tals

[Jazz Ad]

I think the demo should allow you to play single and multi but only one type of game. A different one every day.
This way one could try all the games and would be tempted (forced ?) to run the demo everyday for a week or so.
It would also prevent people from being satisfied with just the demo, since they wouldn't be able to play their favorite game all the time.