In a world dominated by server test betas and Let’s Plays, video game demos have become all but a rarity these days. The most recent demo I can recall is that of DOOM’s demo which featured the first mission of the campaign. With the demo’s success it’s gone from a temporary demo meant to last a week, to that of a permanent one you can play and enjoy right now.
What if Halo Wars 2 got a demo? Yes, I know we had a beta during E3 and we have another beta coming up but even with these public betas, not everyone will have a chance to play Halo Wars 2 before the game launches this February. And even after launch, not everyone will be able to buy it for awhile or want to try it out before deciding to buy that.
Let’s look at the original Halo Wars demo, the demo was, simply put, popular. The demo was downloaded over two million times in it’s first week of being available.
The demo also packed a lot of content featuring the first two campaign missions, Alpha Base and Relic Approach, the multiplayer map Chasms, Skirmish gamemode, and two of the game’s leaders, Cutter and Regret. Before I officially bought Halo Wars, I played the demo for roughly five months and lost hours to it.
Now, I will be buying Halo Wars 2 when it comes out, whether it’ll be the base version or the Ultimate Edition remains to be seen. But for all those who are still on the fence about trying out an RTS game for the first time; because this forum has made it very clear many of you have never touched the first game, or an RTS for that matter, or simply want to try the game out for free before spending $60 or more on it. I think it’d be awesome for 343i and Creative Assembly to release a demo for the game.
The demo would be much like the original game’s meaty demo:
- First two missions from the campaign - A single 1v1 multiplayer map - Skirmish gamemode - Captain Cutter and Atriox as the two playable leaders in Skirmish - Easy, Normal, and Heroic being the difficulty options for campaign and Skirmish
So Waypoint, what do you think? Should Halo Wars 2 get a demo?
From what I have seen on the store, most downloadably exclusive games have demos (as in no physical release). Very popular titles that have physical releases don’t do demos as much, probably because the focus on single player is less prevalent. How can you demo games like overwatch or titanfall? I enjoyed demos on the 360, and that’s probably one thing that is really absent on this console generation.
HW2 should definitely get a demo, especially since most Halo fans are probably not too into RTS. It provides a good way for people to taste it, before deciding if it is the game that suites there palate.
I definitely agree that having a demo for HW 2 would be beneficial to it for all those potential buyers who will be sitting on the fence.
Give them a taste.
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> From what I have seen on the store, most downloadably exclusive games have demos (as in no physical release). Very popular titles that have physical releases don’t do demos as much, probably because the focus on single player is less prevalent. How can you demo games like overwatch or titanfall? I enjoyed demos on the 360, and that’s probably one thing that is really absent on this console generation.
>
> HW2 should definitely get a demo, especially since most Halo fans are probably not too into RTS. It provides a good way for people to taste it, before deciding if it is the game that suites there palate.
I agree with the idea of having a demo for Halo Wars 2. I believe the first game did okay sales wise but the RTS genre has really fallen out of favor so this game needs a good demo to increase public awareness.
P.S. In regard to the idea of a beta for Titanfall or Overwatch, didn’t both of those games have betas? For a multiplayer only game, an open beta is essentially a beta.
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> > 2717573882290912;3:
> > From what I have seen on the store, most downloadably exclusive games have demos (as in no physical release). Very popular titles that have physical releases don’t do demos as much, probably because the focus on single player is less prevalent. How can you demo games like overwatch or titanfall? I enjoyed demos on the 360, and that’s probably one thing that is really absent on this console generation.
> >
> > HW2 should definitely get a demo, especially since most Halo fans are probably not too into RTS. It provides a good way for people to taste it, before deciding if it is the game that suites there palate.
>
>
> I agree with the idea of having a demo for Halo Wars 2. I believe the first game did okay sales wise but the RTS genre has really fallen out of favor so this game needs a good demo to increase public awareness.
>
> P.S. In regard to the idea of a beta for Titanfall or Overwatch, didn’t both of those games have betas? For a multiplayer only game, an open beta is essentially a beta.
Demo isn’t the same thing as beta. Beta’s usually stress test server capacity or test for bugs. Betas don’t last forever and are usually exclusive in some way or another. Demos are a small representation of a final product. For example the demo of Lego Star Wars lets me play the first level of the game. I get to try out the final product before deciding a purchase. Betas do this to a degree, but because they are temporary and not representative of the final product they are not the same as a demo.
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> > > From what I have seen on the store, most downloadably exclusive games have demos (as in no physical release). Very popular titles that have physical releases don’t do demos as much, probably because the focus on single player is less prevalent. How can you demo games like overwatch or titanfall? I enjoyed demos on the 360, and that’s probably one thing that is really absent on this console generation.
> > >
> > > HW2 should definitely get a demo, especially since most Halo fans are probably not too into RTS. It provides a good way for people to taste it, before deciding if it is the game that suites there palate.
> >
> >
> > I agree with the idea of having a demo for Halo Wars 2. I believe the first game did okay sales wise but the RTS genre has really fallen out of favor so this game needs a good demo to increase public awareness.
> >
> > P.S. In regard to the idea of a beta for Titanfall or Overwatch, didn’t both of those games have betas? For a multiplayer only game, an open beta is essentially a beta.
>
>
> Demo isn’t the same thing as beta. Beta’s usually stress test server capacity or test for bugs. Betas don’t last forever and are usually exclusive in some way or another. Demos are a small representation of a final product. For example the demo of Lego Star Wars lets me play the first level of the game. I get to try out the final product before deciding a purchase. Betas do this to a degree, but because they are temporary and not representative of the final product they are not the same as a demo.
You are correct in that they are not “exactly” the same thing but these betas are the closest you will get to a traditional demo. There is no single player section for games like Titanfall or Overwatch so all you can offer the player is the chance to try out the multiplayer portion. Sure there are some quality differences between a beta and a true demo in terms of glitches and unfinished assets but at the end of the day Overwatch and Titanfall can only be multiplayer betas as that is all those games can offer.
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> > > > From what I have seen on the store, most downloadably exclusive games have demos (as in no physical release). Very popular titles that have physical releases don’t do demos as much, probably because the focus on single player is less prevalent. How can you demo games like overwatch or titanfall? I enjoyed demos on the 360, and that’s probably one thing that is really absent on this console generation.
> > > >
> > > > HW2 should definitely get a demo, especially since most Halo fans are probably not too into RTS. It provides a good way for people to taste it, before deciding if it is the game that suites there palate.
> > >
> > >
> > > I agree with the idea of having a demo for Halo Wars 2. I believe the first game did okay sales wise but the RTS genre has really fallen out of favor so this game needs a good demo to increase public awareness.
> > >
> > > P.S. In regard to the idea of a beta for Titanfall or Overwatch, didn’t both of those games have betas? For a multiplayer only game, an open beta is essentially a beta.
> >
> >
> > Demo isn’t the same thing as beta. Beta’s usually stress test server capacity or test for bugs. Betas don’t last forever and are usually exclusive in some way or another. Demos are a small representation of a final product. For example the demo of Lego Star Wars lets me play the first level of the game. I get to try out the final product before deciding a purchase. Betas do this to a degree, but because they are temporary and not representative of the final product they are not the same as a demo.
>
>
> You are correct in that they are not “exactly” the same thing but these betas are the closest you will get to a traditional demo. There is no single player section for games like Titanfall or Overwatch so all you can offer the player is the chance to try out the multiplayer portion. Sure there are some quality differences between a beta and a true demo in terms of glitches and unfinished assets but at the end of the day Overwatch and Titanfall can only be multiplayer betas as that is all those games can offer.
Not entirely true. I believe it was Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter that had a multiplayer-only demo (and not a campaign co-op level). Not a beta.
Titanfall or any of these other games could easily do the same. One map, no ranking up, no permanent unlocks. Server availability for 1 year-post release.
Has been done before. Could be done again.
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> > > > > From what I have seen on the store, most downloadably exclusive games have demos (as in no physical release). Very popular titles that have physical releases don’t do demos as much, probably because the focus on single player is less prevalent. How can you demo games like overwatch or titanfall? I enjoyed demos on the 360, and that’s probably one thing that is really absent on this console generation.
> > > > >
> > > > > HW2 should definitely get a demo, especially since most Halo fans are probably not too into RTS. It provides a good way for people to taste it, before deciding if it is the game that suites there palate.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > I agree with the idea of having a demo for Halo Wars 2. I believe the first game did okay sales wise but the RTS genre has really fallen out of favor so this game needs a good demo to increase public awareness.
> > > >
> > > > P.S. In regard to the idea of a beta for Titanfall or Overwatch, didn’t both of those games have betas? For a multiplayer only game, an open beta is essentially a beta.
> > >
> > >
> > > Demo isn’t the same thing as beta. Beta’s usually stress test server capacity or test for bugs. Betas don’t last forever and are usually exclusive in some way or another. Demos are a small representation of a final product. For example the demo of Lego Star Wars lets me play the first level of the game. I get to try out the final product before deciding a purchase. Betas do this to a degree, but because they are temporary and not representative of the final product they are not the same as a demo.
> >
> >
> > You are correct in that they are not “exactly” the same thing but these betas are the closest you will get to a traditional demo. There is no single player section for games like Titanfall or Overwatch so all you can offer the player is the chance to try out the multiplayer portion. Sure there are some quality differences between a beta and a true demo in terms of glitches and unfinished assets but at the end of the day Overwatch and Titanfall can only be multiplayer betas as that is all those games can offer.
>
>
> Not entirely true. I believe it was Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter that had a multiplayer-only demo (and not a campaign co-op level). Not a beta.
>
> Titanfall or any of these other games could easily do the same. One map, no ranking up, no permanent unlocks. Server availability for 1 year-post release.
>
> Has been done before. Could be done again.
I feel like we are arguing semantics here. When we are specifically referring to multiplayer only games like Titanfall or Overwatch, whether it’s a beta or demo, there is nothing else to offer. It doesn’t matter how far in development the game is or whether or not they call it a beta or a demo. A multiplayer only game can only be experienced in multiplayer arenas. Other games that offer more substantial activities such as a single player campaign, co-op, or multiplayer will have more to offer than a multiplayer only game. My point is, if a game like Overwatch has a beta or a demo it really doesn’t matter what you want to call it because at the end of the day it can only offer you the chance to play some multiplayer modes and nothing else.
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> I feel like we are arguing semantics here. When we are specifically referring to multiplayer only games like Titanfall or Overwatch, whether it’s a beta or demo, there is nothing else to offer. It doesn’t matter how far in development the game is or whether or not they call it a beta or a demo. A multiplayer only game can only be experienced in multiplayer arenas. Other games that offer more substantial activities such as a single player campaign, co-op, or multiplayer will have more to offer than a multiplayer only game. My point is, if a game like Overwatch has a beta or a demo it really doesn’t matter what you want to call it because at the end of the day it can only offer you the chance to play some multiplayer modes and nothing else.
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> P.S. In regard to the idea of a beta for Titanfall or Overwatch, didn’t both of those games have betas? For a multiplayer only game, an open beta is essentially a [demo].
From your post… I assume you meant “demo” the second time.
I think Carnage and I are saying that they are not essentially the same. As already stated, betas are very temporary, and are less so designed to introduce people to a game as they are about stress testing servers, finding shortfalls, and exposing glitches. Just making sure the game works in general.
My primary point is that even multiplayer-centric/exclusive games can have demos. A semi-permanent snapshot of gameplayer. Not a week/2 week long beta that not everyone will have the chance to experience. Betas don’t last beyond release… So how can someone sample a game they know nothing about after the beta has closed?
Where a game is in development does affect whether or not it’s a beta or demo. A demo is a snapshot of a finished product that allows you to make an informed judgement on a title. A beta is [primarily] from an unfinished work-in-progress. Games can change significantly from beta to final release. Even Halo 5 changed significantly from beta to final release. I did not like the beta, but thoroughly enjoy the final product.
I remember way back when, I was a small squeaker, and I loved to play the Black Ops demo over and over again. That was great stuff, an I eventually got the game, and love it to this day.
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> > I feel like we are arguing semantics here. When we are specifically referring to multiplayer only games like Titanfall or Overwatch, whether it’s a beta or demo, there is nothing else to offer. It doesn’t matter how far in development the game is or whether or not they call it a beta or a demo. A multiplayer only game can only be experienced in multiplayer arenas. Other games that offer more substantial activities such as a single player campaign, co-op, or multiplayer will have more to offer than a multiplayer only game. My point is, if a game like Overwatch has a beta or a demo it really doesn’t matter what you want to call it because at the end of the day it can only offer you the chance to play some multiplayer modes and nothing else.
>
>
>
>
> > 2533274824474504;5:
> > P.S. In regard to the idea of a beta for Titanfall or Overwatch, didn’t both of those games have betas? For a multiplayer only game, an open beta is essentially a [demo].
>
>
> From your post… I assume you meant “demo” the second time.
>
> I think Carnage and I are saying that they are not essentially the same. As already stated, betas are very temporary, and are less so designed to introduce people to a game as they are about stress testing servers, finding shortfalls, and exposing glitches. Just making sure the game works in general.
>
> My primary point is that even multiplayer-centric/exclusive games can have demos. A semi-permanent snapshot of gameplayer. Not a week/2 week long beta that not everyone will have the chance to experience. Betas don’t last beyond release… So how can someone sample a game they know nothing about after the beta has closed?
>
> Where a game is in development does affect whether or not it’s a beta or demo. A demo is a snapshot of a finished product that allows you to make an informed judgement on a title. A beta is [primarily] from an unfinished work-in-progress. Games can change significantly from beta to final release. Even Halo 5 changed significantly from beta to final release. I did not like the beta, but thoroughly enjoy the final product.
Ah I believe I see what you are saying, at least in terms of the demo existing after the game’s release.
My main point was, and a lot of gaming websites and podcasts seem to share this point of view, is that companies are essentially turning betas into demos these days. These examples are usually games that are maybe a month or two away from release but are having a “beta” that is really just a glorified demo. These companies want to market their game and use the “beta” moniker just in case any bugs are encountered even though the game has probably already gone gold.
my other point was more of s disagreement of opinion with UnheardCarnage in terms of what a multiplayer-only game like Overwatch can offer. I understand the difference between an actual beta and a demo but in this day and age, game companies seem to want to use the terms interchangeably. What I was trying to stress was that Overwatch quantitatively offers less than a game like Halo Wars 2. With Halo Wars 2 you will be able to play a cinematic campaign and enjoy the multiple multiplayer modes while Overwatch/Titanfall is strictly multiplayer. Ten years from now I could still play a hypothetical single player demo for Halo Wars 2 but a demo for Overwatch would require other players to still be online for me to enjoy what that game has to offer.
I want to reiterate that I am well aware of the technical difference between a beta and a demo. It does not matter what stage of development, what the marketers decide to call it, or how long it lasts, my opinion it that a beta or a demo for Overwatch is inferior to what Halo Wars 2 can offer in terms of variety of content.
Alright. We’re on the same page now.
