Hello devs! Steam now allows us to release 'free' games without enabling people to review them.

[jeaniemicheli]

After many years on Steam, we've finally found a better solution: using a demo as a 'Free edition,' as seen in a game called Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2157560/Granblue_Fantasy_Versus_Rising/

We've learned that, historically on steam, developers creating MMOs or other free games often receive negative reviews because free players tend to dislike the game due their CHEAP behaviour. However, GBF showed us that we can utilize the demo feature as a "free version" They cant get same gameplay time, no real achievement just diffrend executable but connectecd to the official server, preventing free players from trolling and writing NEGATIVE reviews. Now, it's possible to create two different versions of the same game sharing the same server (so it counted as same game but free version). Following this method, every MMO or free FPS game developer SHOULD and can potentially avoid negative reviews from non-players WHO DON'T PAY YOUR GAME!, Now you guys can create a FREE MMO without negative review from free player!

Cheers!

[sumolagann]

Oh I was trying this out, everything works well. It maybe could depend on the game if it's possible, but it seems the best way if it is.

[jeaniemicheli]

Originally posted by sumolagann:

Oh I was trying this out, everything works well. It maybe could depend on the game if it's possible, but it seems the best way if it is.

I would contacted blizzard to do the same for overwatch 2

Since their game marked as free not demo the game showed on store as free, while GBF showed price since it actually not free(the free one were a demo), So people now cannot download and review negative for overwatch 2 if they played "Demo" version, and they need to buy " Invasion Bundle" to be able to review the game, win win to dev

Blizzard would love this exploitation :D

[Satoru]

So you played what is functionally a demo, but you are then complaining you cannot review the demo. And instead are 'forced' to review you know the actual game once you purcahse it

Really reaching there aren't we

[C²C^Guyver |NZB|]

When were you ever allowed to review a demo? Never.

[Lystent]

IDK which side of Valve's rules it is, to have a full sized game listed as a "demo", but it isn't unheard of for devs to skirt these rules.

That said, reviewing as a premium feature... IDK what to think of that right off of that there.

[Ogami]

Originally posted by C²C^Guyver |NZB|:

When were you ever allowed to review a demo? Never.

You can review demos if the publisher has assigned them their own store page.
Like CAPCOM does with their Resident Evil remake demos.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1168280/Resident_Evil_2_RPD_Demo/

In this case you can review the demo like any other game on Steam.
But if the demo is part of the store page for the full game you cant review them.

[jeaniemicheli]

Originally posted by Lystent:

IDK which side of Valve's rules it is, to have a full sized game listed as a "demo", but it isn't unheard of for devs to skirt these rules.

That said, reviewing as a premium feature... IDK what to think of that right off of that there.

Originally posted by Satoru:

So you played what is functionally a demo, but you are then complaining you cannot review the demo. And instead are 'forced' to review you know the actual game once you purcahse it

Really reaching there aren't we

That's the reason why this should be called perhap a 'trick' rather than an 'exploit.' Imagine if Overwatch 2 used this method. they wouldn't receive as many negative reviews because those reviews often come from people who haven't paid. For example, someone might write 'Downloaded the game, played for 0.1 hour, and gave a bad review,' etc. (even if the game were bad and it was a fact)

Since Overwatch doesn't have a feature like GBF, they could lock character leveling, or perhaps in the future, other games might find their own ways to prevent free player reviews with two diffren executable files alsong their server connected.

And yes, this only works if the developers decide to put a 'Demo' inside the main game that not free, not in its own demo store where we can review like resident evil 2

Edit : If you tried that free edition from GBF it would showed as demo version, i mean it does a clever way to prevent people to give to litterally they cant have achievement, playtime, and review. while it has everything like content but locked character only, that a smart move.