...Make A Rubbish Demo

I recently downloaded a few demos from the PlayStation Network to try out on my PlayStation 3, as you do. That's the great thing about demos: despite all that you may have read or heard about a game, actually playing it yourself can establish if you like it and whether you are willing to spend your hard earned money on purchasing the full version. On the flip side, it can also put you off buying a game that you were excited about and heard good things regarding - precisely the thing that happened to me recently.

So, the games in question, that I downloaded initially, were FIFA 14 and Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) 2014. Yes, sports games! Now, I haven't purchased a football game since 2010 so I was not biased in my assessment of either demo that is to follow. These two series have long been going head-to-head against each other for the millions of football fanatic gamers around the world; feeding their thirst for the ultimate footballing experience. However, for the whole length of the current console generation, FIFA has been the undisputed champion, leaving PES to come up second best and with a dwindling market share. And this pattern appears as if it will continue...

The annual, albeit one-sided, rivalry has returned. 

FIFA 14 was the slicker, shinier and better to play demo - it was the complete package. Unfortunately PES was lacking in all departments, ie. graphics, menu responsiveness and commentary, but what was most disappointing was the gameplay, which I actually thought was worse than the 2013 edition. This was a crushing blow for me as I had read from various previews that the gameplay would be able to challenge what the highly successful FIFA has been able to offer. The talk about the implementation of the new FOX engine from Hideo Kojima's production company had given me hope that this series could return to the past glories of the PlayStation 2 games, which hit a high in 2005 with PES 5, but I couldn't find anything to laud about it.

As a result, the experience of playing the demo for PES 2014 has actually changed my mind in wanting to purchase the game. Maybe it was the unrealistic expectation I had put on PES 2014 that led to this U-turn, but one thing is for sure: the demo was nowhere good enough.

There could be reasons for this but then comes the argument of not releasing a demo if all it's going to do is inhibit sales. I have acknowledged the possibility that the PES 2014 demo may not play like the final released product will do (I hope so) and that small changes could be made to the gameplay that would change my thoughts on the game - as gameplay is king (to me). But then why would Konami take the risk of hurting the game before it has even been released? It's a strange one.

Electronic Arts, or EA to you and me, are already a well oiled machine when it comes to releasing anything FIFA related. I had already expected the FIFA series to progress from the previous - highly polished - iterations, but I have never truly enjoyed playing the games despite their quality. Nonetheless, the demo was better in every facet compared to FIFA and, undoubtedly, will help sway the undecided gamers who are torn between both series. This is where the demo makes an impact. If you, as a games developer, can get the production of a demo - which takes the developer's time, effort and resources - right then it can lead to huge sales through word of mouth regarding how good the demo is, even before the game comes out.

However, you don't need to have a huge amount of money or resources to make a great demo.

Remember: a demo is meant to give you a small but appetising taste of what the game is about. Sort of like when you go to an expensive restaurant and you order dessert and it comes, but only in a small portion; then you taste it and its delicious, however, before you know it it's finished and you want more - just like that! Anyway, a few very good demos that I have tried out in the past by smaller studios and developers are Journey, Limbo, and for the PC gamers out there, To the Moon. And they are each very good demos in different ways.

Limbo: I hope you're not an arachnophobe like me!

What each of the above three games do is allow you to play the opening part of each game. With Journey, you are able to 'experience' the game through the music and serene imagery that the game has in abundance. Limbo sets up with an eerie backdrop and an environment littered with dangers, all portrayed with beautifully haunting silhouette graphics and the demo cuts on a cliffhanger. To the Moon sucks you in through the charming dialogue and beautifully told story.

Journey: That light is you and your companions' destination.

In each demo, it is the unique way that the games charm us that ultimately makes them a success. It is no coincidence that each of these games have sold relatively well and to high critical acclaim from the gaming community.

Therefore, the key to a good demo is not to rush the release and to give an enticing snippet of the game that you are going to sell - basically don't suck! If need be, don't release a demo. Sounds simple but many studios still get this wrong, and to their own detriment. Here's hoping Konami get this right next year!