Demos have been used for years as marketing tools before official game launches. How effective are they? Read on to find out.
Video game developers must conquer several battles from the game design process to the final release. It is a process that involves various experts who must work harmoniously to achieve optimal success. However, the entire thing can all be in vain if you eventually fail to meet your intended sales. This shows why there is a lot of emphasis on demos as formidable launch strategies. Stay here as we dissect the pros of using demos to launch games.
The demo should be a representation of the final product that highlights the most exciting bits. It does not necessarily need to provide a sneak peek of the beginning only. It can travel to the beginning, the middle aspects, and the end to highlight the areas that can elicit suspense. Modern gamers are quite impatient so the demo must meet its objective within the first few seconds. If you want to arouse the curiosity of players, then you must hit the bullseye within the first few minutes or risk losing your audience.
For example, If you were to create a Sweet Bonanza demo, then its fantastic bonus features must appear as early as possible to catch the attention of slot lovers. It should not involve too much speaking and reading and instead, jump right into the action-packed aspects.
A high-quality demo will increase your chances of hitting success when you finally launch the final product. Even as it touches on the most intriguing parts, it should always leave them yearning for more. You must find a way of captivating gamers at the beginning to prevent them from leaving the demo. Then, they must leave them with more suspense and an itch for the final product that they will long to satisfy. However, do not display all the enticing bits since it will prevent gamers from getting interested in the final game.
A well-executed demo will have a significant impact on the success of your game. The demos of Resident Evil 7 and Just Cause 2 are classic examples that worked exceptionally for the final launch. The only factor to consider is that the demo must be done well to achieve any success. Here are the top 4 reasons why you need a demo as a launch strategy:
The final sales can be greatly impacted by the demo. You can get significant wishlists and pre-orders if it is appealing. However, the vice versa is also true. A poorly done demo will negatively impact your sales killing the dream of a captivating game. Thus, if you doubt your ability to create a good one, then it is useless to do it.
Demos give your games exposure that can go a long way in marketing. since you can onboard streamers, it also allows you to use influence marketing, pay them to play and highlight its exciting elements. Many people may not play the demo but watching their favorite streamers playing will arouse their curiosity.
The timing of the demo will also have an impact on the potential results. It shouldn’t be too far away from the official launch. It is supposed to hype players and raise awareness of the game, so having it too far will let the excitement die away before the final release. It should not be too close since it will kill the element of surprise. Hence, you must be careful when choosing the timing.
When people talk about your game, you will gain more visibility increasing your chances of having a successful game launch. A good demo will certainly reach potential customers and they will have good or bad things to say about it. You could also get a lot of attention from TikTok and Twitter users, Reddit commenters, streamers, and other random players.
You can use this opportunity to develop a community that will be constantly engaged as they wait for the launch. Furthermore, you are not limited to one demo. You can create a few of them that you can use to play.
Video gamers look forward to big events to know what to expect in this realm. Hence, your participation in festivals like Steam Next Fest will greatly impact the success of your game. These events require a demo, so you must do it if you want to use them as an avenue for marketing. Such events will help you to capture the attention of potential gamers, journalists, and other enthusiasts leading to a successful launch.
Video game demos are superb game launch strategies if perfectly executed. They provide a glimpse of your final game, which arouses suspense and curiosity among your potential clients. This could lead to increased pre-orders and wishlists that can be converted to high sales after the final launch. They are worthwhile!