Sorry if posted ...
http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/04/14/study-publishers-shouldnt-release-demos-just-trailers/
I think it's very possible that in some cases demos hurt game sales. For a highly anticipated game that people were going to buy anyway, you run the risk of some people getting turned off by the demo for whatever reason and canceling their purchase.
That having been said, the study looks pretty flawed ... they're assuming that games that don't get demos and those that do are all of equal caliber. However, high profile games like GTA and Gears of War often don't get demos, and hence would skew the "no demos" category higher.
http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/04/14/study-publishers-shouldnt-release-demos-just-trailers/
Demos may be the best way to find out if you like a game, but releasing one might not be in a publishers best financial interest, according to a study discussed at last weeks MI6 video game marketing conference.
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While demos may be effective at producing word-of-mouth, the EEDAR found that the highest selling games on both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 produced buzz via Xbox Live Marketplace and PlayStation Network with trailers alone.
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Though demos have become commonplace a few weeks ahead of a games release, the EEDAR found that trailers are more effective than hands-on time with the product. Short and Zatkin actually recommended publishers start producing demos only after release to avoid interference with the final weeks of polish.
I think it's very possible that in some cases demos hurt game sales. For a highly anticipated game that people were going to buy anyway, you run the risk of some people getting turned off by the demo for whatever reason and canceling their purchase.
That having been said, the study looks pretty flawed ... they're assuming that games that don't get demos and those that do are all of equal caliber. However, high profile games like GTA and Gears of War often don't get demos, and hence would skew the "no demos" category higher.