Developers are just straight up abusing these "Game Fests" for their "demos"

[DONAR]

Does anyone remember when you'd buy game magazines which had CD's in them with demos to play? It was a small part of a finished game for you to try..

Definition of a game demo:
A game demo is a limited version of a video game that developers release to give players a taste of the full game.

Basically almost all the "demos" you can try during these Steam Game Fests are pre-alpha, massively underdeveloped super early test stage "games" that in no way shape or form should be allowed as demos.

How are you supposed to find actual demos and possibly actual potential new games for you, if you have to dig through a pile of garbage first? What's the point?

[The nameless Gamer]

I prefer this model. Developers can get feedback on what is good in their game, what could use a bit of refining or what the players don't really like. Better than the "take it or leave it" before.

[󠀡󠀡]

Times are changing. Either catch up or stay in the past and be one of those people who complains about the "good old days" ... forever.

[DONAR]

Originally posted by The nameless Gamer:

I prefer this model. Developers can get feedback on what is good in their game, what could use a bit of refining or what the players don't really like. Better than the "take it or leave it" before.

Developers are already have the ability to do alpha tests on Steam on their respective store pages. Also, most of these "demos" are so bad that it should be pretty self evident to any developer what needs to improve. You don't need other people to tell you that in most cases.

[The nameless Gamer]

Originally posted by DONAR:

Originally posted by The nameless Gamer:

I prefer this model. Developers can get feedback on what is good in their game, what could use a bit of refining or what the players don't really like. Better than the "take it or leave it" before.

Developers are already have the ability to do alpha tests on Steam on their respective store pages. Also, most of these "demos" are so bad that it should be pretty self evident to any developer what needs to improve. You don't need other people to tell you that in most cases.

I disagree. Many of them actually convinced me to buy or not buy a game. But you do you. Participation in these demos is entirely free and voluntary.

[DONAR]

Originally posted by ᕭᑌᑎᕬ:

Times are changing. Either catch up or stay in the past and be one of those people who complains about the "good old days" ... forever.

Literally changing for the worse...

Again, what's the point? How is someone supposed to find something that's actually good, if you have to be involuntary alpha tester in the process?

[DONAR]

Originally posted by The nameless Gamer:

Originally posted by DONAR:

Developers are already have the ability to do alpha tests on Steam on their respective store pages. Also, most of these "demos" are so bad that it should be pretty self evident to any developer what needs to improve. You don't need other people to tell you that in most cases.

I disagree. Many of them actually convinced me to buy or not buy a game. But you do you. Participation in these demos is entirely free and voluntary.

Missing the point of what demos are.

[Start_Running]

And what's you're issue. DOn't like the demos.. don't play them.

[The nameless Gamer]

Originally posted by DONAR:

Originally posted by The nameless Gamer:

I disagree. Many of them actually convinced me to buy or not buy a game. But you do you. Participation in these demos is entirely free and voluntary.

Missing the point of what demos are.

Demos are supposed to give you a taste of the game feel. And for me, they're doing a satisfactory job. If I like how the game demo FEELS, I'm buying the game. For what it's worth, some of them got me sold in the first 5 minutes.

[󠀡󠀡]

Originally posted by DONAR:

Originally posted by ᕭᑌᑎᕬ:

Times are changing. Either catch up or stay in the past and be one of those people who complains about the "good old days" ... forever.

Literally changing for the worse...

Again, what's the point? How is someone supposed to find something that's actually good, if you have to be involuntary alpha tester in the process?

You don’t have to, but here you are. Ever think about what you should do when you’re stuck doing something you hate? Aye.

This.

[DONAR]

Originally posted by Start_Running:

And what's you're issue. DOn't like the demos.. don't play them.

You need to work on your reading comprehension

[Crazy Tiger]

Demos exist for marketing. That was the purpose of those demo discs with magazines in the past, it was merely a tool to gain exposure.

The demos for the next fest are the same.

[DONAR]

Originally posted by The nameless Gamer:

Originally posted by DONAR:

Missing the point of what demos are.

Demos are supposed to give you a taste of the game feel. And for me, they're doing a satisfactory job. If I like how the game demo FEELS, I'm buying the game. For what it's worth, some of them got me sold in the first 5 minutes.

Sure, I have also found good games on there, but you have to play russian roulette and waste your time to get there

[DONAR]

Originally posted by ᕭᑌᑎᕬ:

Originally posted by DONAR:

Literally changing for the worse...

Again, what's the point? How is someone supposed to find something that's actually good, if you have to be involuntary alpha tester in the process?

You don’t have to, but here you are. Ever think about what you should do when you’re stuck doing something you hate? Aye.

This.

I wouldn't have a reason to hate if there was a certain standard to be upheld. I'm trying to find games, by playing demos, not by playing pre-alpha gargabe that does nothing but waste your time.

[The nameless Gamer]

Originally posted by DONAR:

Originally posted by The nameless Gamer:

Demos are supposed to give you a taste of the game feel. And for me, they're doing a satisfactory job. If I like how the game demo FEELS, I'm buying the game. For what it's worth, some of them got me sold in the first 5 minutes.

Sure, I have also found good games on there, but you have to play russian roulette and waste your time to get there

That's quite over-dramatic. There's no harm involved in trying demos, unlike in Russian roulette. And community hubs exist for a reason. You can always ask for a second opinion if you aren't certain.

[Mad Scientist]

Get to try games without having to buy a magazine, I see no issue with this.
These game fests also do typically give a good amount of gameplay, sometimes directly from the game or as prologues. Either way, you'll be getting a good idea if the game would be enjoyable or not, so these fests are fine as-is.