Hello,

I know a lot of people at another game selling forum prefer to use a tiered system over the demo system.
Basically they make one full game and give it out as freeware. Then they make sequels that are waaaaay better, and charge for them.

Which one do you think works better though, tiered or demo?

I've thought about this too. If you make a good, but simple (one mode, few levels, simple graphics) and give it out for free, you might get more people playing it then with a demo.

You could also collect a lot of feedback and improve it, people are more willing to help you when it gains them (free fun game).

Then when you've built up a big fanbase and improved the game a lot, you release a "deluxe version" of the game, featuring nice graphics, lots of levels and some other features like multiplayer or leveleditor and being to run other's levels.

What do think? :)

Originally posted by 4-Jag
Hello,

I know a lot of people at another game selling forum prefer to use a tiered system over the demo system.
Basically they make one full game and give it out as freeware. Then they make sequels that are waaaaay better, and charge for them.


Did any of those developers quantify their success using a tiered system? For example, number of free game downloads compared to full deluxe game etc.

Alfie

This sort of system would only work for specific games, mainly RPG's and Platformers. Apogee used this model quite successfully for their games years ago and there is no reason why you couldn't do it now. Basicly though, puzzlers wouldn't work to well with this system, as the majority of puzzlers aren't really designed for it. Most story based games, however, would work great.

I know the tiered model has proven succesful in the past, but it's always struck me as way too risky. At least for my wussy self :p

I'm going with a demo for my game, but it'll be an all-original demo, meaning that you get a "mini-chapter", where you're introduced to the game's plot and gameplay, and play through a few levels, but when you buy the full product, you'll get an entirely fresh game, since the demo will have been sort of a "prologue" to the main event.

Yea, I'm making puzzle games, and after thinking about it the demo style seems to be the best choice.

If I ever made like a huge RPG or something then I would used the Tiered model though, get people really into it, and then BLAMMO! buy now! :P

Thanks for the comments :)

Isn't that how Spiderweb does their RPGs now?