Why Play Demos for Games You Know You'll Play Anyway?

**Opaque** · 13 Feb 2012, 11:08 PM

I don't see why so many people get so excited for single player demos of games they'd play anyway. I can't even bring myself to play demos for games I might, maybe, one day want to play. Basically I only touch demos if I've never really followed the game, it isn't a sequel and I don't have any other work by the developer to go off of.

Who here avoids demos? For those of you who play them, why ruin the game for yourself in any capacity? Are you not entertained with all your other shit you already have?

**cka** · 13 Feb 2012, 11:10 PM

demos give a better representation of the game than PR does

I mean, I could be excited as hell for a game, but if I play the demo and its garbage well I'm not gonna waste that 60 bucks I would have wasted had the demo never dropped

**kingoffighters** · 13 Feb 2012, 11:17 PM

Why play demos when you can just steal the whole game?

**MechDeus** · 13 Feb 2012, 11:23 PM

Originally Posted by cka

I mean, I could be excited as hell for a game, but if I play the demo and its garbage well I'm not gonna waste that 60 bucks I would have wasted had the demo never dropped

Pretty much. If I'm totally excited for a game and then the demo is a hot mess I will step back and at least wait for that price drop. It's nice for games that I don't want a media blackout on but am still excited for.

I generally media blackout when it comes to games that I really, really want but I also do that for next episode previews on TV shows. Some people just want that taste of what's coming up to reaffirm their choice or because they want everything they can get. It happens. I think they're ruining it for themselves but I generally don't care enough to worry.

**Opaque** · 13 Feb 2012, 11:45 PM

I don't want to sound like one of those pretentious assholes who says "I just don't have time" and they really mean "I have plenty of free time just not for that" but I just don't have the time to fuck around with demos.

There's real games already out that I've yet to finish and most of the people on here who play demos and betas have piles of shame that are disgusting and just seem incapable of being happy with anything for longer than a single day. I don't get it, but you're right, it's themselves their ruining it for if anything at all. I'm just curious as to how they see the situation.

**Chux** · 13 Feb 2012, 11:49 PM

I'm playing the demo of Mass Effect 3, knowing full well I'm getting the game the day it comes out, to be able to check out the multiplayer early.

**Opaque** · 13 Feb 2012, 11:54 PM

I ask this question honestly and without judgement:

Do you not have enough other shit to play that you can't wait to play that when it actually comes out? I mean, I really don't know. It seems like you play basically everything that comes out, including MMO type shit which just engulfs time.

**bVork** · 13 Feb 2012, 11:57 PM

I like playing demos. They usually aren't long enough to significantly spoil or ruin parts of the full game. The good ones can make me interested in a game that I might otherwise pass on, and the bad ones can save me money. I had zero interest in Batman: Arkham Asylum (because I don't give a fuck about comic book characters, and Batman didn't exactly have the most stellar post-NES track record out there) until I played the demo. I would never have bought that amazing game on day one without the demo. On the flip side, Duke Nukem Forever's terrible terrible demo sapped all interest I had in the finished product, and saved me from dropping $50 on a pile of garbage.

Of course, this logic only makes sense if you actually pay for your games.

**ElCapichan** · 13 Feb 2012, 11:58 PM

Originally Posted by Opaque

it's themselves their ruining it for if anything at all.

Says who? Some people just give as much of a crap as others. Some people aren't hardcore gamers and just want to see if they will like the game.

Originally Posted by Opaque

I ask this question honestly and without judgement:

Do you not have enough other shit to play that you can't wait to play that when it actually comes out?

I've been playing NHL 12 and BF3 since the day they each came out. I only play when friends are on. As far as time spent gaming, I don't have a huge list I feel I need to catch up on. If I see a demo out for a game I could maybe get into, I'm gonna play the demo before spending money on the game.