Dear Reader:
Should Publishers Charge for Game Demos?
If publishers start charging us for game demos, I think I’m going to exit the game industry. How in the world can you charge for a demo? Have you ever seen a movie theater charge for its previews, trailers, and sneak-peaks? How about a TV show charging you for the first 10 minutes before its big premiere? Should radio stations charge you for listening to the hit single of an upcoming album?
Publishers shouldn’t charge for game demos. If their game is of high quality, then the demo should be able to do a great job of pulling in customers for the final boxed copy. I’ve played many demos that influenced my future purchase. The only reason publishers are afraid of demos is because they fear the public will catch on to the poor quality of their game.