Elysian Shadows

Detractors of downloadable content, prepare to put on your vitriol hats; the latest proposed money-making scheme from EA is a doozy. Called PDLC, with the "p" standing for "premium", the new content would be released ahead of the game's launch.

I know what you're thinking, and no, it's not an alternative way of charging for collector's edition digital content. It's a way of charging for demos.

To be fair, EA put a nice spin on it. They mention Battlefield 1943 as an example of the kind of content you'd get for the USD $10-15 you'd have to shell out.

The tentative idea is that everyone wins; gamers get a new, cheap game, and EA make money to fund development on top of free beta testing. Hopefully gamers will be so struck by the wonders experienced therein that they spread the hype, and when the full game eventually releases, it is a grand success.

I'm not sure I care to pay for the privelege of bug-finding EA's latest release, but could I say no to a PDLC of the next Dragon Age or Mass Effect if it was offered? The jury's out on that one.

ismetteren wrote:The reason you download a demo, is to see if you want to spend the money on the full game, atleast, thats what i do... With a paid demo you cant do that.

LeonBlade wrote:This ties back in with the Gamer Union topic I made a few days back in a way.

Innerscope wrote:

LeonBlade wrote:This ties back in with the Gamer Union topic I made a few days back in a way.

I think this is something people can universally agree upon, and would be union worthy. If your shelling out $15 for a demo, you should at least get that amount taken off the full purchase.
I don't think people should pay for demos (or 1/8 of a game... what is this? pot?) to begin with. I would be in favor of a more streamlined time trial where users are free to play a game for a certain duration of time. If they like the game, they would be able to purchase via a button press. (with confirmation of course) Not only would that make purchasing a game easier, it would also weed out the crap. In my mind that would be ideal.

LeonBlade wrote: Couldn't agree more, at least make it a benefit for shelling out the cash ahead of time and being able to save some money in the long run, that will still do EA good. It just wont let them be complete money hogs that only care about themselves.

Innerscope wrote:I would be in favor of a more streamlined time trial where users are free to play a game for a certain duration of time. If they like the game, they would be able to purchase via a button press. (with confirmation of course) Not only would that make purchasing a game easier, it would also weed out the crap. In my mind that would be ideal.

Live-Dimension wrote:

Innerscope wrote:I would be in favor of a more streamlined time trial where users are free to play a game for a certain duration of time. If they like the game, they would be able to purchase via a button press. (with confirmation of course) Not only would that make purchasing a game easier, it would also weed out the crap. In my mind that would be ideal.

That's been implemented a long time, especially with casual gaming. For AAA Game titles however, you either download the rest of the content later, which completely crews over DVD demo discs, or you get all the content now, which again screws them over. It would most likely have to be digitally-distributed only. Plus, what's wrong with today's demos? (assuming you can get them from somewhere which doesn't count towards download quota)

davidthefat wrote:I think you misunderstood... They are doing more things like Battlefield 1943, was worth the $15