Motorstorm 2 Demo

[MonkeyWrench]

I'd rather have something representitive of the full game, as that to me is the point of releasing a demo. Restricting the number of users would have made little difference, it still would have been slated on the forums.

[Matt]

IMO, don't release a demo or beta unless it's close enough to the end game to actually promote your product. This and SOCOM have put people off the final versions.

[JP]

I'm just grateful to be able to play them as early as possible to be honest.

Perhaps a more accurate description would be better for the demo? If it is the same as the E3 demo which has been suggested in a few places, I believe the E3 version was actually labelled as an alpha and not even a beta version?

If that's true then perhaps a more controlled alpha or beta which explains that would help them more in the future so people know exactly what it is they are playing.

[BeyondJumpFish]

Jesus christ, lookin at those screens really makes it look like ****!! I'm glad i didn't download the demo now?! I hope to god its not a representation of the full game, if it was released lookin like that there would be an uproar!

[Matt]

Regardless of how it's labelled, such demos/alphas/betas will leave a negative impression for the general gamer - they're not used to these things. Negativity spreads online like wild fire

[JP]

Maybe they need to keep the alphas & betas in house from now on then as happened before SOCOM and this.

At least as an official beta tester you're aware of what it is you have and why you're playing it. If they'd release it as a beta and kept in in house where people are supposed to understand that they are only there to test it as a work in progress rather than it being there for their enjoyment.

If this is a beta or alpha version then it should perhaps be confined to the people who do understand that rather than giving it a limited public release.

Perhaps as one of their beta testers I'm just used to seeing their games at an earlier stage in development so just know what to expect now. This is my 4th or 5th in a month or so and it certainly feels more complete than some others at that stage.

[Matt]

Yet also, this serves no purpose as a beta or alpha. Certainly, by beta, the graphics are nearing completion - the lighting and everything should be locked in place, pending testing. Releasing this as it stands is pointless. At least with SOCOM they've got to test their online component, and seeing how shoddy that is, they can work on it until release. This MS2 demo/test is singleplayer only isn't it? In which case it should all be done inhouse. Between the devs and Sony's own QA department, there'd be a lot of people to test for bugs.

[rmoxon]

I'd rather have something representitive of the full game, as that to me is the point of releasing a demo. Restricting the number of users would have made little difference, it still would have been slated on the forums.

Considering nearly every demo ive ever played seems to have a message of "this demo isnt representative of the full game" or somthing to that effect plastered at the beggining of it, your statment feels a bit redundant.

[merf]

don't see his statement as redundant at all.

as a user, and thus not involved in the industry as a writer etc, I am not used to playing unfinished code and allowing for the final polish in the crunch before release.

if a demo is released to me, as a punter, via XBL or PSN the sole purpose of it is to impress me enough to part me from my cash on release. It will only do that by being in a complete enough state for me to like it.

I always read the discaimers and assume it means thing like adding levels, music, I always work on the assumption the core engine is in place and judge the game accordingly. I'm not going to open my wallet assuming that the devs get round to finishing the job.

With all that in mind releasing a demo like this is utterly pointless at is just destroys sales for them.

[Dazzyman]

Beta demos can be widely different from the finished article though but I always guage them on whether its a beta demo 6months before release or a month!

[Number45]

Aren't there rumours that this demo is close to what was shown at E3 as opposed to Leipzig? I haven't played it myself, but I've seen some footage and agree, particularly that the ground textures look poor (I wouldn't have noticed if I were playing the game).

I'll be getting it either way, but I will be disappointed (And surprised) if those textures aren't improved upon the eventual release.

[MonkeyWrench]

Considering nearly every demo ive ever played seems to have a message of "this demo isnt representative of the full game" or somthing to that effect plastered at the beggining of it, your statment feels a bit redundant.

Yeah and I'm saying don't release those crappy "work in progress" demos, release something representative of the full game so your game doesn't end up looking like a pile of **** and causes people to start cancelling pre-orders.

[Leon Retro]

Yeah and I'm saying don't release those crappy "work in progress" demos, release something representative of the full game so your game doesn't end up looking like a pile of **** and causes people to start cancelling pre-orders.

Yeah.. the whole point is "Why do devs release crap demos - that put people off the game? " ... It's madness.

A demo should really impress - and have the gamer hungry for the full game.

If you know your demo is not showing the game in its full glory - why bother releasing it? ... It would be better to have no demo.

[ezee ryder]

I guess the answer to that would be to gauge an opinion of the game in the certain state and to get feedback from the online community. Not a great way to sell your game but useful for the developers to get some much needed feedback. This demo is a invitation one only so I guess my answer (or theory?) applies to this more. Wasn't it already stated that they would release a proper public demo closer to the release date?

[Number45]

Why on earth they would do this is another matter entirely...