Steam Game Demo Policies: Publishing, Removing, and Monetizing

[HAYALLERSEHRİ]

I get very angry when the demos you put on Steam are later changed to a "buy" button. I don't buy it and I protest.
Whether the demo is successful or not. As if it wasn't enough that it was taking up space on my system, you also removed the demo as a "buy" option.
I passed it and I'm removing it from my wishlist.
I feel sorry for the developers who think that this kind of system will work.
When they do this, they think, "I liked the demo so much, I should play it when it comes out." What a pity. On the contrary, you have now lost.
Millions of games are waiting for us to take the time to discover how to try them???
Despite the game demos I played, it also applies to those who uninstalled the demo.

[Mad Scientist]

Demos may have limitations or may change as the Developers choose.

If you have an issue with how a Developer has their demo setup, contact the Developer.

Some are unlimited time, some are limited time. If it changes to "buy" then it may have a time limit.

[Crazy Tiger]

Demos in general are a marketing tool, to create visibility. That was so back in the day with demo discs in magazines, it's the same with Next Fest events.

[Anxiety]

The Buy button happens when the demo is taken down. It's just an UI thing.

Many limited time Next Fest demos are developed specifically for that Fest, often are rough and early builds, and represent a point in time for the development of the game.

There is no conspiracy in that.

[HAYALLERSEHRİ]

Some people don't want to understand things and say things without meaning. no context
Once you put a demo, leave it there and don't touch it. If you're going to improve, improve some things. When the time comes, publish the demo again.
Limited time demos are very meaningless and ridiculous. It doesn't feel special or inaccessible.

[Mad Scientist]

Originally posted by HAYALLERSEHRI:

Some people don't want to understand things and say things without meaning. no context
Once you put a demo, leave it there and don't touch it. If you're going to improve, improve some things. When the time comes, publish the demo again.
Limited time demos are very meaningless and ridiculous. It doesn't feel special or inaccessible.

Let the Developer know, then.

[Crazy Tiger]

Originally posted by HAYALLERSEHRI:

Some people don't want to understand things and say things without meaning. no context
Once you put a demo, leave it there and don't touch it. If you're going to improve, improve some things. When the time comes, publish the demo again.
Limited time demos are very meaningless and ridiculous. It doesn't feel special or inaccessible.

And you have to consider that's not the intention of the people making the demos. And they decide what they do with their stuff.

They're marketing tools, hence why lots get taken down after the Next Fest events. Just as demos back in the day also merely were a marketing tool in an era where news didn't spread so easily due to internet not being as common as it is now.

[nullable]

Originally posted by HAYALLERSEHRI:

Some people don't want to understand things and say things without meaning. no context
Once you put a demo, leave it there and don't touch it.

Maybe you're the one who doesn't understand that the IP owners have as much right over the demo as they do the game.

Originally posted by HAYALLERSEHRI:

If you're going to improve, improve some things. When the time comes, publish the demo again.
Limited time demos are very meaningless and ridiculous. It doesn't feel special or inaccessible.

You clearly have feelings about how demos should be run, but your opinions really only matter for the demos you create.

[William Shakesman]

Not necessary. Just buy the game instead.

[HAYALLERSEHRİ]

You may say that this is a marketing strategy, but you don't actually know what it is. Put it and put it away. Those who want to buy will be excited :)) . I'm not buying it. I wonder how many people, like me, installed the demo on their system and then uninstalled it without playing. And this is incredible marketing, isn't it? very strange

[Start_Running]

Originally posted by HAYALLERSEHRI:

Some people don't want to understand things and say things without meaning. no context
Once you put a demo, leave it there and don't touch it. If you're going to improve, improve some things. When the time comes, publish the demo again.
Limited time demos are very meaningless and ridiculous. It doesn't feel special or inaccessible.

Not tio the pyublishers and it makes sense if you understand one of the downsides dev/pubs have historically faced with demos.

Originally posted by HAYALLERSEHRI:

You may say that this is a marketing strategy, but you don't actually know what it is.

No its totally a marketing strategy. That's not a point of doubt. Thats how the developers think of it when they create demos. That's how the book keeping records it, and that pretty much even governs how the demos themselves are distrivbuted

Originally posted by HAYALLERSEHRI:

I wonder how many people, like me, installed the demo on their system and then uninstalled it without playing. And this is incredible marketing, isn't it? very strange

The fact that you installed it alone is a bit of a win for the devs right off the bat. They caught your interest enough to get you to download and install the demo. A billoard for example works so long as you see it. Even if you don't go out and buy what its selling right away you are now AWARE that the product exists.

[nullable]

Originally posted by HAYALLERSEHRI:

You may say that this is a marketing strategy, but you don't actually know what it is.

Well the problem with claiming no one can know, means your own feelings and opinions are just as worthless. Pretending something is unknowable to cover your own ignorance isn't actually a big brain argument.

Originally posted by HAYALLERSEHRI:

Put it and put it away. Those who want to buy will be excited :)) . I'm not buying it. I wonder how many people, like me, installed the demo on their system and then uninstalled it without playing. And this is incredible marketing, isn't it? very strange

It's not strange. But what is strange is how much value you put into your own brand of ignorance. Where if you don't understand it offhand, it must be wrong and in need of your management.

But to quote something a wise user once said, "You may say it's strange and use sarcasm to describe the marketing, but you don't actually know what it is."

[AmsterdamHeavy]

Originally posted by HAYALLERSEHRI:

You may say that this is a marketing strategy, but you don't actually know what it is. Put it and put it away. Those who want to buy will be excited :)) . I'm not buying it. I wonder how many people, like me, installed the demo on their system and then uninstalled it without playing. And this is incredible marketing, isn't it? very strange

You are the use case as to why very few demos are released anymore.

[HAYALLERSEHRİ]

Originally posted by nullable:

Originally posted by HAYALLERSEHRI:

You may say that this is a marketing strategy, but you don't actually know what it is.

Well the problem with claiming no one can know, means your own feelings and opinions are just as worthless. Pretending something is unknowable to cover your own ignorance isn't actually a big brain argument.

Originally posted by HAYALLERSEHRI:

Put it and put it away. Those who want to buy will be excited :)) . I'm not buying it. I wonder how many people, like me, installed the demo on their system and then uninstalled it without playing. And this is incredible marketing, isn't it? very strange

It's not strange. But what is strange is how much value you put into your own brand of ignorance. Where if you don't understand it offhand, it must be wrong and in need of your management.

But to quote something a wise user once said, "You may say it's strange and use sarcasm to describe the marketing, but you don't actually know what it is."

If you know that much, show me the "real" marketing reason behind this. Instead of trying to set people up for ignorance :))

[HAYALLERSEHRİ]

Originally posted by Start_Running:

Originally posted by HAYALLERSEHRI:

Some people don't want to understand things and say things without meaning. no context
Once you put a demo, leave it there and don't touch it. If you're going to improve, improve some things. When the time comes, publish the demo again.
Limited time demos are very meaningless and ridiculous. It doesn't feel special or inaccessible.

Not tio the pyublishers and it makes sense if you understand one of the downsides dev/pubs have historically faced with demos.

Originally posted by HAYALLERSEHRI:

You may say that this is a marketing strategy, but you don't actually know what it is.

No its totally a marketing strategy. That's not a point of doubt. Thats how the developers think of it when they create demos. That's how the book keeping records it, and that pretty much even governs how the demos themselves are distrivbuted

Originally posted by HAYALLERSEHRI:

I wonder how many people, like me, installed the demo on their system and then uninstalled it without playing. And this is incredible marketing, isn't it? very strange

The fact that you installed it alone is a bit of a win for the devs right off the bat. They caught your interest enough to get you to download and install the demo. A billoard for example works so long as you see it. Even if you don't go out and buy what its selling right away you are now AWARE that the product exists.

I cannot look at the situation optimistically.
I deleted the games whose demos were removed from the wishlist.
I don't think about going back either. If I forget and wonder again, maybe I'll download the game and play it. I'm still not convinced and I won't be.
I'm now investigating whether Steam itself deletes the demos. But I can't find anything. I cannot find out who or what is the owner of the absurd research regarding the removal of demos.

[wuddih]

Originally posted by HAYALLERSEHRI:

I'm now investigating whether Steam itself deletes the demos. But I can't find anything. I cannot find out who or what is the owner of the absurd research regarding the removal of demos.

simple, the publisher and/or developer of a product on Steam.
no one else has control over a product on Steam