Demigod Demo Limitations

Demigod Demo Limitations

from Demigod Forums

I had a few thoughts on this. My understanding is that you want demo players to be able to play with more regular players. I think that's an awesome idea, but obviously it requires some limitation in order to give a reason to buy the game. I also hope that we get to see more demigods in the future (similar to DOTA which over time has accumulated a huge number of heroes). More maps would also be awesome.

My first thought would be to limit stat tracking (favor/achievements) for demo players. It's a minor sacrifice for them, and doesn't heavily affect the game. I don't really like the idea of favor items, but if they are going to be there it seems like a subscriber only feature. Besides, you can always turn them off for custom games. I'm not sure on limiting them on multiplayer types or single player, but I'd rather have them than not.

Second, I think that you should open all maps to new players, so everyone can play whatever map combination they want. Demo players should get full map access.

Third, I think that while the demo players should have access to the full list of current demigods (the original 8), they shouldn't have access to new additions. That way they get a complete (and at least theoretically well balanced) set. It also gives demo players another major reason to upgrade without limiting them to "that one noob character they get to play".

***And as a total aside, is there any way to do an all-random game type? I always played -AR in DOTA.

1,167 views 9 replies
Reply #1 from Demigod Forums Top

that's a lot of features, i would never buy the game just for 2 more demigods and favor items!

Reply #2 from Demigod Forums Top

WHAT ?????!!!!!!

 

Are you kidding us ?

 

Full access to all 8 maps and all 8 demigods.....for the DEMO ???????????

 

Congratulations ! This ist the sillyist idea i've every read in this forum !!!!!!

 

what nerd is going to pay 50€ while he can use 95% of the game by demo ?

 

 

 

A demo should look like this:

 

Access to 1 map and 2 demigods (general + assasin)

so they can take a closer look to the multiplayer experience......and because its fun...they want more !

 

Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion
Reply #3 from Demigod Forums Top

I would think something along the lines of giving a user full access to the game through impulse for x games or y days (whichever comes first) would be a pefect demo.  Gives the user full roam of the game to see if they like it and once the demo expires if they wish to continue playing they will have to purchase the game.  The player would be able to use their x games on whatever mode they prefer be it single player or multiplayer and they would be treated as any other player in the stats department.

This is better for both sides, it cuts down on the code needed for the demo release and it is added incentive for the demo player to buy the game, when they see how great of an experience the game is (well as soon as the game gets cleaned up a little bit more).

Reply #4 from Demigod Forums Top

 full game access for x days or y games is also a good solution ! this works fine, Left 4 Dead did it this way :-)

 

but 95% of the game for free -> forever .....thats crazy @ creamsteak

 

or would you pay 50€/$ for some favouritems and demigod Nr.9 ??

 

Reply #5 from Demigod Forums Top

If you look at some demo's that worked: Unreal Tournament 2k3, Battlefield 1942, World of Warcraft they use different methods.

UT2k3 and BF1942 both use the map restriction method. But they're both also first person shooters, and I think that the maps there are just more significant than here. If the only restriction here was maps, I'd be quite satisfied to play just that one map all day. DOTA only had one map.

WoW has a time based limitation. But that game is all about time. In the first couple levels you have a very limited effect on the game, and you lose everything every time the time limit ends. This makes repeatedly using the free license relatively low value since you start over each time.

With a time limitation in this game, you almost require some way to limit the use, otherwise people will just keep applying for new accounts every time theirs expires. You 'might' be able to limit it by a key that forces a reinstall of the game from scratch, but a lot of other methods for tracking back (the IP, email address, etc.) are not resiliant (nor should they be, really).

Limiting the number of characters is probably a legitimate option, but 1 per type (supposing they don't ever add more types) and similar efforts are going to severely cripple their ability to learn the game and see what it has to enjoy. If the player blames the character for their problems, what's the right solution? If the player doesn't like the playstyle of a particular character, they might never get to enjoy the game.

I think that the best way to go about it is to go hardcore into expansive content (extra characters, rankings, ladders, and specialty or customized items). Unless your planning to build this like an MMO that is.

The thing is, I want demo players - because I want a crowd. I want to play with a lot of people, and have no problem getting a game going. And I don't want it to be 4 Regulus players against 4 Oaks or something similar on the same map over and over again.

In other terms, the demo players benefit me. They don't take away form my experience by playing the game with me. They only make it better for me. Of course, I also require no more convincing to buy the game, since I'm already here.

Reply #6 from Demigod Forums Top

nah i think they nee to limit access to 2 demigods and 2 maps thats it.1 assassin and 1 general.

also if u could make a code that will enable the game for a certian time frame. If they buy it have it open everythen.

Reply #7 from Demigod Forums Top

Yea I think they should just make it two demigods and 2 small maps. That's how fighting games do their demos, and I think this game is similar to fighting games in such a way that The demo being similar would work. Alternatively you could just give them two demigods but let them play the tournament where they would be against all DGs so they could see how they play too.

Reply #8 from Demigod Forums Top

An issue that I can see being problematic with a demo that has limited access to the demigods is that when the demo is released there will be an influx in nubmers of those select demigods.  Also with the limited map selection the players that own the game will learn to avoid those maps like the plague if they want better competition and variety of demigod opponents.  A demo should not ever have any negative impact on players that have bought the game.

Reply #9 from Demigod Forums Top

creamsteak, if you want more people then let the pirates play the game. Oh wait they did the first day, and it was a disastor. In time, more people will play. If you give them too many options, thats less money for Stardock and too many players. That's not what anyone wants here. Maybe in the future by the time the demigods are doubled or so (if we get that many), then the original 8 might be alright for a demo.