xGarekx  |  March 17th, 2010 at 1:46 pm

This is not something that Sony has any real control over and the reason is simple. Creating demos for the consumer, or modifying a press demo for a consumer actually requires a lot of resources on the developer side. If demos are not factored into the budget and scheduling of a game early on they will most likely not happen as it takes away serious manpower from the actual development of the FULL game. Most developers cannot afford to create demos in hindsight. After the development team gets there time off (well deserved, I might add), they move on to another project.

While this is certainly an admirable idea, it is not even a remotely feasible one at this time, and again, it falls outside of Sony’s purview.

Amathev  |  March 17th, 2010 at 2:16 pm

Go to the developers with this, not Sony.

dotCody  |  March 17th, 2010 at 2:18 pm

YES! I regret buying the OVERPRICED WORMS game and just a month before a Demo finally came out >.>

MonkeyGibber  |  March 17th, 2010 at 3:04 pm

Bull. Why is it that microsoft can dictate that a game must have a demo to be sold on xbox live?

MrBeatdown  |  March 17th, 2010 at 4:33 pm

It would be nice for first party games at least. I know I passed on Fat Princess because I couldn’t try it before buying.

SkibumBez  |  March 17th, 2010 at 6:04 pm

It is true that is dependent on the developer to provide a demo, but all of Microsoft’s XBLA games have demos.

If developers want to compete for the gamers dollar and use PSN as a distribution channel, and if Sony also wants their slice of the pie, then it would be in everyone’s best interest to provide demos for all PSN games.

People are more likely to purchase a product they can try, rather than something they have to rely on reviews and third party information for.

NewBornThreat  |  March 17th, 2010 at 9:43 pm

I have been waiting for this forever! ive held out on purchases cause i couldn’t try b4 i buy. Seems like a no brainer.

dcjt  |  March 17th, 2010 at 9:49 pm

It should not be up to the developer. Sony should stipulate that each game needs a demo.

WoemHulk  |  March 18th, 2010 at 6:45 am

Why would you want to exclude PSP games from having demos?

all_hail_cale  |  March 18th, 2010 at 7:38 am

I’m pretty sure that developers have to pay money for every mb of data that you download, since they can’t factor the cost of that into the demos price (because no one likes paid demos) a number of smaller studios can’t afford to do that. (this is also why you will sometimes have a demo released after the game has been out for a bit)

TheDeathAvenger  |  March 18th, 2010 at 8:26 am

Would be great if all PSN games had a demo. I think the best way would be to have the full game limited to whatever the developer wants, then if you want to purchase the game, it’s just a small unlock that you have to download.

JohnCritton  |  March 18th, 2010 at 1:42 pm

This is a must have feature. IMO the single best feture of Xbox Live compared to PSN is the availablility of Demos for almost every title. In comparison, I would guess only 1 out of 5 games on the PSN have demos.

Demos are a must have!

RandySore  |  March 18th, 2010 at 8:18 pm

I know developers are responsible for this, but the competition has demos for their games. Sony must change rules for publishing download able games.

le_vrai_Double_C  |  March 19th, 2010 at 5:41 am

I don’t care whom this is up to.

I agree with everyone comparing this to XBoxLive. Every game has a trail version there. Why not here?

TubaDude49  |  March 20th, 2010 at 8:00 pm

Releasing a demo apart from the game provides a secondary wave of consumers, helping remind players and catch new ones.

lint21  |  March 22nd, 2010 at 10:26 pm

One of the best parts of XBL, should be on PSN. I usually prefer buying on PSN (thanks to the now 500GB hard drive I upgraded to), and it’s silly to go use my 360 to try the game, and then come back to PS3 to buy it.

faraway25  |  March 23rd, 2010 at 9:15 am

lol, I remember I was about to go rent the Iron game from a video store with my brother but right before we went we saw the demo on PSN. We were like “hey lets try it out” Downloaded installed and well lets just say we decided NOT to rent it. I don’t think all developers are going to be willing to put demos up. Especially when it’s a turd.

Longinus_Spear  |  March 25th, 2010 at 10:40 pm

I don’t see why anyone would be against game demos.

We should have a demo (trial) on the day of release for at least ALL PSN games and minis.

PSP retail/downloadable games especially, since you have the PSP Go out.

themaze75  |  March 27th, 2010 at 9:57 pm

Should follow in XBLA’s footsteps on this.

Demos really goes far towards boosting sales… (or the other way around, if the game is crappy *grin*).

I most likely passed on cool games that looked odd because of lack of demo… Ever since I had the misfortune of purchasing bad games on faith alone, I most likely never will buy a game without trying out the demo first.

DOMINIRICANKiiD  |  March 29th, 2010 at 4:31 pm

Yea I have 100+ games from ps store we need this because I regret buying some lol

siriusbee  |  April 1st, 2010 at 2:48 pm

Yes, Sony needs to make this mandatory for PSN games, like Microsoft does for XBL.

If it becomes mandatory, then developers will start out development *knowing* that a demo is required, and it won’t be that big of an issue to plan and produce them.

Furthermore, Sony would obviously need to make hosting these demos free to developers (not really fair to make them have to pay storage/bandwidth costs for something mandatory).

Despite the requirements above meaning compromises for both Sony and developers, I see this as a ‘must’ — something that really needs to be done to provide PSN customers the best service. The flipside is that providing such service will likely increase PSN game sales.

BalramRules  |  April 12th, 2010 at 12:13 pm

yh, hopefully, but i dont think dat this idea is feasable, and not on launch day, if some games allow be4 release, how bout we have it AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! XD

SlackerTD  |  May 5th, 2010 at 9:25 am

There are only a scattered few games I purchased on PSN that didn’t have demos. Even then, I bought them because I knew the game play would be one I would enjoy. This is the exception rather than the norm. There are many other PSN games that I won’t buy (even though they look interesting) because of the fact I don’t have a demo to try. Reviews/videos of game play only go so far.

This should be mandatory for PSN, much the same way it’s mandatory for Xbox Live Arcade. There are games on XBL I wouldn’t have considered buying at all… that is, until I tried the demo of it & found out how fun it truly was.

UR_Mothers_Lover  |  May 24th, 2010 at 2:04 pm

AGREE! I have 112 PSN games (as of this post!) and I regret about 20. I have around 40 that I NEVER play. Anyway, I bought Loco Roco Correcho WAY back when I made my 1st PS Store purchase (bought 7 others that day) And it STILL is the WORST PSN game I own. Had I had a demo, I would’ve known that it was NOTHING like the PSP versions. I was really let-down by Rag Doll Kung Fu too (the lack of online) but it was free, so *bleep* it!

Also, PowerUp Forever blows chunks too

UR_Mothers_Lover  |  May 24th, 2010 at 2:10 pm

If anyone really wants to know about a PSN game (if I have it), message me w the name & I’ll let u know if it sucks!

Or, go to the regular us.playstation.com blog. Under PSN, theres a large “Downloadable Games review guide” that myself & MANY MANY others have contributed. All games on there are rated 1-5 stars

Hope this helps some of u!

UR_Mothers_Lover  |  May 24th, 2010 at 2:13 pm

Lead & Gold: Gangs of the Old West is my fav PSN game currently. If u own it, or The Orange Box (PS3), drop me an add!

OK, ok, I’ll shut up now! *poof*

HeadDesk  |  May 25th, 2010 at 4:14 pm

Yesyesyesyesyes. Moar demos.

Deadpoolite  |  June 30th, 2010 at 8:17 am

more demos = more sales. People want to try a game before they buy it.

Sony needs to do what it takes to get developers to make demos, just like Microsoft does. I mean, even the small budget xbox live indie games have demo’s available for them.
This should be near the top of Sony’s to do list.

DanAQ  |  June 30th, 2010 at 10:58 pm

since 2010-02-14 I don’t have acess to none demo on PSN couse my PS3 is in Brazil.

DND-WEST  |  July 1st, 2010 at 5:59 pm

Deadpoolite wrote, “more demos = more sales” I couldn’t type it better myself.

snm65  |  July 9th, 2010 at 6:51 pm

Great idea! If this happens, then I will no longer have to look on IGN or Gamespot and still wonder if an interesting game I want to buy is worth it!

bow7  |  July 19th, 2010 at 11:44 pm

“more demos = more sales” is not always true. A bad demo for a good game could lead to fewer sales. Sly 2 had a crap demo. It turned me off the game. I bought Sly 2 years later but that demo was rubbish compared to the game.

KingsOfLions_pr  |  July 29th, 2010 at 11:48 am

They can do this with first party games

chancep98  |  October 13th, 2010 at 9:05 pm

You should just take what you have, all of the games I downloaded from PSN are demos. Dragon Ball Z Tenkiachi Tag team, hot shots tennis get a grip, naruto ultimate ninja heroes 3, and mod nation racers

chancep98  |  October 13th, 2010 at 9:06 pm

though demos would be good

kamikaze_joe91  |  January 4th, 2011 at 3:35 pm

Because I want to try dead nation before I shell out 15 bucks and “eat them” WTF is that how about I demo and you can have my money

Yigytugd  |  May 21st, 2011 at 9:05 pm

Yes, I don’t get why this isn’t on there now. Most of the time I have to go online and research a game than decide if I want to buy it or not. Just like XBL, all games should have a demo to them.

DScareface  |  September 1st, 2011 at 11:43 pm

this has nothing to do with sony. it all depends on the developers of the games

natek_morzy  |  April 5th, 2012 at 8:38 pm

Not for ALL games. Like if you released a demo for Flow or flower there really would’nt be much left for the game itself.

oogamooga  |  August 26th, 2012 at 9:48 am

I agree with a few others: a demo for PSN exclusives would be so beneficial, especially when we see more and more of them being released at $15. It would really give games that are solely based online a better chance at keeping a solid fan base for years to come, and allow the developer to release new content since demand is higher. All in all, knowing our money is well spent is the best reward.

TylerTheDestroye  |  September 15th, 2012 at 8:30 pm

I think demos should be released for any new game- physical or digital, and for all systems- because trailers aren’t always good ways to show players what a game is all about.