Strategy First to Expand Play-Before-You-Pay Digital Distribution Scheme

[fitbabits]

Next Generation (http://www.next-gen.biz) has published a short conversation (http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1490&Itemid=2) with Emauel Wall, product manager at Strategy First, who talks about a successful first six months of their digital distribution scheme.

Wall says, "If consumers have the chance to play the game before buying, it helps alleviate potential buyer remorse. If someone buys a game they hate, then it results in a bad feeling about us as a brand. This system eliminates that risk and in doing so helps sales overall."
What about marketing? "The whole point of this exercise is word of mouth. If consumers have a good experience, they will pass on the message. That's what's happening, and we are expanding the number of games we're making available in this way."
Seems logical to me.

[Varsity]

Now here's an area where Valve unquestionably fall down with Steam. They have a policy of not releasing a demo for a month after launch, and don't provide any form of trial for online titles at all. One of digital distribution's biggest advantages, thrown away.

[InstaPete]

Err... didn't you get that backwards? "P[b]l[/b[ ay before you pay"?

This article is really interesting. 3 hours is a lot of playtime with no commitment. I like that a lot.

[fitbabits]

Err... didn't you get that backwards? "P[b]l[/b[ ay before you pay"?

This article is really interesting. 3 hours is a lot of playtime with no commitment. I like that a lot.
Thanks for picking that up. I fixed it.

[InstaPete]

I got your back.

[Demo_Boy]

Would you rather have the retail game available first or play a demo 2 months before the game is final?

Finaling a demo takes 85% of finaling a full game post Beta, you generally can't have both at the same time unless they hold the demo until the game goes live.

In lieu of that slap a timer on the retail and let kids dl the whole thing, hope that noone cracks it.