Doms 3 demo! When? - Page 2

NTJedi · #11 March 30th, 2006, 09:53 PM

It would increase pre-order sales too

DominionsFan · #12 March 31st, 2006, 07:57 AM

I think we gonna have a demo after beta ends asap!!

Daynarr · #13 March 31st, 2006, 08:32 AM

After beta ends game goes gold.

Mindi · #14 March 31st, 2006, 10:10 AM

Quote:

NTJedi said:

It would increase pre-order sales too

Not necessarily so. The bad thing about releasing a demo before the game is complete is that you run the risk of having bugs still in the game which could transfer to the demo. If the demo is released and is buggy it could very well turn people away from the game. Yeah you can release updated demos, but the damage may already be done. Does that mean every time a demo is released after code is complete that no one will have any issue with it on any computer? Well, no, but it does greatly reduce that possibility.

NTJedi · #15 March 31st, 2006, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Mindi said:

Quote:

NTJedi said:

It would increase pre-order sales too

Not necessarily so. The bad thing about releasing a demo before the game is complete is that you run the risk of having bugs still in the game which could transfer to the demo. If the demo is released and is buggy it could very well turn people away from the game. Yeah you can release updated demos, but the damage may already be done. Does that mean every time a demo is released after code is complete that no one will have any issue with it on any computer? Well, no, but it does greatly reduce that possibility.

Personally it feels more safe to release a demo before the game is released because then hundreds or thousands of gamers could report bugs before the final code is released making the final version more stable which means fewer complaints.
Basically releasing a demo next month will greatly increase the size of beta-testers which greatly increases stability for the full version. Only the developers know if their current code is stable enough for a demo.

Gandalf Parker · #16 March 31st, 2006, 01:25 PM

I cant see that. I talk up Dominions in the gaming newsgroups all the time. Ive seen what happens when a buggy demo is released. Word-of-Mouth is a two-edged sword.

I wouldnt want to defend a buggy demo as being a pre-release. If its going to be something just for us who are a more understanding fan-base (not much, but some) then if its done at all I think its done under the guise of something like "open beta test". And Im not sure if Dom is the type of game for that to balance out the pros and cons of doing that.

I know that we are all drooling

Luckily Shrapnel is around to protect from our desires.

NTJedi · #17 March 31st, 2006, 01:32 PM

Only the developers know if their current code is stable enough for a demo. And if a stable demo is released next month it will increase pre-order sales and increase game stability for the final product. A more stable final product will also give higher reviews from game websites.

Richard · #18 March 31st, 2006, 08:13 PM

NT Jedi,

It isn't fair to our customers to release a pre-release demo. If we release a demo, and people buy the game based on the demo, then we are misrepresenting ourselves and the game. We may take out features, we may add features, prior to release.

As far as when a demo is ready, it is our policy to release a demo after we hit Gold. We actually make the call as to when that happens (ie when the game goes Gold) along with the developers, the lead beta tester, and our Beta Test Coordinator.

So why we appreciate your concern we have no intention on changing that policy.

Mindi · #19 March 31st, 2006, 08:23 PM

Quote:

NTJedi said:
Personally it feels more safe to release a demo before the game is released because then hundreds or thousands of gamers could report bugs before the final code is released making the final version more stable which means fewer complaints.
Basically releasing a demo next month will greatly increase the size of beta-testers which greatly increases stability for the full version. Only the developers know if their current code is stable enough for a demo.

What you are talking about is the equivalent of an 'open beta', not a demo, which typically we don't do. I understand the excitement by fans over this game and the desire to get the quickest look at the game possible, but there are real reasons why it's best to wait until the final code is complete and I don't see that changing anytime soon.

Gandalf Parker · #20 March 31st, 2006, 08:50 PM

Calling a cutoff on Illwinter must be a fun thing to do.

Johan keeps such a steady stream of changes going all the time.