Look at the poll above.Vote for the demo you like the most.No arguments please.

I prefer The ones that give you unlimited time/trys,But limited features.

Do not try to bend the poll. That is impossible. Only realise the truth: there is no poll.

As for the actual question... hmm. I don't mind the limited time ones as long as the limiter fails (e.g. with WinZip, which I used for years and every time it would say "This trial edition has expired but uh... we're not actually going to stop you using it". If the limiter actually works, then I guess limited features/infinite time is nice.

My least favourites are when you can only use it for say ten minutes before it auto shuts down. Also, the ones where you can't save.

Depends on the product. For some things there's just no sensible way to restrict features without making the software so useless that you can't evaluate it (such as disabling 'save'), or there are a few core features that represent 95% of what you want it for, in which case giving you those and infinite time is basically giving you the whole program. But then, some software is useful in such specific cases that a single month-long trial is more time than you'll ever need.

For videogames, generally a one or two level demo works best, because you can blitz through a game quite quickly, but you won't get hooked in a short time. If you find yourself playing the demo level a lot, you need to buy the game. Besides, if the rest of the game isn't there, you can't crack it, which is what happens to pretty well all unlockable or time-limited trials.

Edit: there is still no poll.
E2: there it is.

For videogames, generally a one or two level demo works best, because you can blitz through a game quite quickly, but you won't get hooked in a short time. If you find yourself playing the demo level a lot, you need to buy the game. Besides, if the rest of the game isn't there, you can't crack it, which is what happens to pretty well all unlockable or time-limited trials.This.

I can't tell you how many times I played the first Worms 2 demo. The one with the single Medieval map and two worms per side.

Unlimited time and trys, but limited features.

Don't most demo's have limited features anyway? :p

I'd have to say unlimited tries.
Then I can play that as a free trial whenever I want while I'm bankrupt/unemployed.
Otherwise, I just forget about it and put the developers on my naughty list.

I like unlimited time/trys and limited features to.

What world of goo did, full features but only for the first chapter.

A demo that's the whole game but with limited time? Isn't that too dangerous to release? Someone will crack it..

Better to leave out most of the content.

Unlimited time, limited features.

I like it when you can play with a game and spend as much time as you like playing with the mechanic, instead of only having an hour of the full thing.

You should take the same approach that Dexterity Software did with Dweep... don't use everything in the first chapter, that way even if they did crack it, it would be impossible to complete most later levels due to the lack of a function or something.

Crap, i thought this was 'you' wanting to know what approach yourself should take, not what everyone else liked themselves.

Unlimited times, limited content for me. Having basic features that should be there missing always strikes me as a big slap in the face.

What world of goo did, full features but only for the first chapter.
Actually, I hate that. Because you'd play the demo as much as you want, but if you later get the game, you get really annoyed at the start of it, because you've already done that part loads of times before!
Incidentally, I also hate any demo that shows you what'd be like if you had as much power as you would towards the end of the game, such as RPG demos. When you get the game, the full thing is just more sucky for most of it.

I hate demos that offer up the first x minutes or first y levels of the game. It's infuriating because when you eventually buy the game you start off playing the exact same level you were playing before when you didn't have to pay for it, and consequently you don't feel like you're getting your money's worth.

The best sort of demo is either taken from slightly later in the game when the story is already in full swing and you don't need to do any Tutorially stuff (e.g. demos for Simon the Sorcerer, Superfrog, Heavenly Sword) or comprises of a demo-exclusive level not seen in the final game (e.g. demos for Mashedi, ATR: All Terrain Racing, Lemmings).

just start at the 2nd chapter/episode then :/

just start at the 2nd chapter/episode then :/

you make it sound like this is a feature most games offer. It's not. Don't be so silly, franpa.

the thread is about what kind of demo's you like, not what currently existing demo's you like.

the thread is about what kind of demo's you like, not what currently existing demo's you like.
you are obtuse

You know what demo I prefer?

The type where it gives you the entire game for free.

Actually I prefer limited time. The best example of this was a Time Crisis 2 demo, where the limited time gave you the challenge of getting further than before (can you kill the tank? can you? can youuuuuu? Dang. *Retry*) Limited content demos tend to have less replay value for me. ie. the pixeljunk eden demo I finished once and will probably never go back to, even though its a really interesting game.

I hate demos that offer up the first x minutes or first y levels of the game. It's infuriating because when you eventually buy the game you start off playing the exact same level you were playing before when you didn't have to pay for it, and consequently you don't feel like you're getting your money's worth.

Except for Left 4 Dead. I could replay those first two levels a billion times and still enjoy them. :P

You know what demo I prefer?

The type where it gives you the entire game for free.

"So... like our game?"

"yup"

"Give back, please"

"no"

":("

Actually, I hate that. Because you'd play the demo as much as you want, but if you later get the game, you get really annoyed at the start of it, because you've already done that part loads of times before!

The WoG demo save files are compatible with the full version. Yes, the game is perfect in every way imaginable.

Was just about to say that. Indeed WoG is perfect.

It really depends on the game. And sometimes you can't limit time without also limiting features. For example, the Civ IV demo allowed 50 turns, but obviously with just 50 turns, you're not going to advance far. Hence, most features were effectively locked off.

Well a feature-locked time-limit-less Civ would've been impossible, and Civ's main incentive is "just one more turn..." :p

Well a feature-locked time-limit-less Civ would've been impossible
I don't know about that... I could see one being so by only using a handful of research abilities, and mabye push the resign date forward (presuming that's still in; I haven't played any one beyond Civ1).

Hmm... come to think of it, you've put me in a mood to go download Freeciv (free version of Civ1 and Civ2, and largely configurable), for nostalga's sake (I don't think I have CivNet anymore)! It's also multiplayer, if anyone wants to start playing too.

Except for Left 4 Dead. I could replay those first two levels a billion times and still enjoy them. :P

L4D is arguably different, since the very premise is that you get a different experience each time. But despite being only a week long and level limited, it got me hooked :p

demo'sArrrgghhhh.