Crytek CEO Says Demos Are Too Expensive to be Free

In a recent interview with Develop, Crytek CEO Cevat Yerli has voiced concerns about the cost of developing demos. Yerli stated:

“A free demo is a luxury we have in the game industry that we don’t have in other industries such as film.”

Although not explicitly stated, I have to assume that Yerli is referring to the ‘vertical slice’ often released as a playable demo. For those unfamiliar with the term, it refers to a purpose-built demo level rather than a section of the full game.

Despite being developed using in-game assets, these vertical slices are developed outside of the main game and require their own manpower. Obviously this additional manpower costs money and doesn’t directly create any revenue. According to Develop, Yerli also put his support behind EA’s plans to sell demos for 10 or 15 dollars.

There are two important arguments that Yerli isn’t acknowledging in this statement. Firstly, a demo is a promotional tool to create interest in a game. It isn’t supposed to be a gift, it’s part of the game’s marketing cycle. If a demo isn’t a reliable way to generate sales then that’s fair enough but it certainly isn’t a “luxury”.

Secondly, whilst I’m sure a vertical slice demo is expensive to produce, it isn’t the only option. I have to assume that a section of standard gameplay could be made available at a lower cost. Personally, I’d prefer a realistic sample of actual gameplay to a demo that only shows the game’s best aspects. Frankly, if a vertical slice can’t persuade enough people to purchase a game and recoup the cost of its development then I have to wonder about the full game’s quality.

Paying for a demo is exactly the kind of ridiculous idea that only members of the game industry would float. The only real way to counteract such a strategy would be to simply not buy the demos that are eventually put on sale. Sadly, the demented fanboys that surround every major game release would probably fork out for this nonsense.

Via: Joystiq