To demo or not to demo ?

[Buyatari]

Demos share some qualities with prototypes.

1. They offer an insite into early game development.
2. Some demos are not available to the public.
3. You can't consider them released titles.
4. Its impossible to find any type of accurate listing on them
5. People used to throw them out.

That being said they aren't really protos but I think many people who are interested in prototypes find demos a cheap and easier to find alternative to proto collecting.

BUT.....the question is should we include discussion of demos in this forum? If you are against it please speak up so far the only voices I hear are those who are for it.

[The Brown Eye]

I would say that demos should get their own forum, but that wouldn't work because there isn't as much demo news as proto news. Also I would think that there would be quite a bit of overlap with two forums. So keep them here!

[nesman85]

yep, they belong here with the protos!

[Tempest]

I'm kind of torn on the issue, but in the end I say use 'em as coasters!

Tempest

[MattyXB]

Yes, I love this all.
Prototypes, Demos & Promos too.

I own some Demos:
Game Boy Color Demo Cartridge
Game Cube Interactive Multi-Game Demo Disk March 2002
Lynx Blue Lightning Demo Card

And some PSX Demos & Promos.

And whats that?
SNES Starwing Competition
A very special Competition release, I think.

[Mr. NEStalgia]

Of course they belong here! :lol:
They aren't released games so where else would they go.

Like Buyatari said, They da Po' Man's proto. 8)

-=Mr. NEStalgia=-

[Nespit]

LIke I said in the other thread.. They absolutely belong here!
These things turn me on! And a nice N64 demo is as nice as a proto!
FOr instance the Donkey kong n64 proto. Only 4 playable 'scenes'. A real demo! or the Turok 2. No blood and gore, a completely different game then the released one. Grey cart instead of black etc..
These r very nice to have, and not common.

[slapdash]

I don't mind demos -- they're not as interesting as games for playing or protos for collecting, but they're a nice middle ground.

That said, I don't know if they need their own forum, or even inclusion here, as the videogaming forum is probably good enough. I'm ambivalent.

[Raccoon Lad]

Some demo's for PSX never get a final released game, so that kinda makes it like a proto...

[rbudrick]

I say keep em here, but some demos are way too common, like those that come with a system (like the saturn) or in a magazine. Demos like test carts, etc rule tho.

--Rob

[geelw]

heya buyatari-san: i still have that small stack of psx demos if you stiill want 'em- lemme know, and i'll resend that invoice... :wink:

[Buyatari]

@Gleew - I'll be emailing you later tonight.

As for the poll it looks like you guys want to see the demos and so it shall be.

Adam

[slapdash]

Some demo's for PSX never get a final released game, so that kinda makes it like a proto...

Demos, plural? I guess I only knew of one offhand. Is there a list somewhere?

[Tempest]

I'm ambivalent

Sorry to hear that, I hope you get better soon! :mrgreen:


Seriously though, I have no problem with demos of unreleased games or even demos with significant differences, but I draw the line at demos included with magazines that only have maybe a few stages of a game. Those just aren't prototypes to me.

Tempest

[TRM]

I agree with Tempest here. I don't consider demo disks worthy of collecting, though unreleased games or major changes do make them worthy. Cart demos are also interesting, since they weren't readily distributed to the public.

[Nespit]

cart demo's r really cool...

[geelw]

a lot of folks don't give disc demos much thought, but there are often major changes or other interesting things to be found. por ejemplo:

namco's demo disc for treasures of the deep used the ps memory card feature to give players a little bonus if they went & purchased the actual game.

for a while, the only place to see footage of the original version of resident evil 2 was by having one of sony's early ps underground cd's

the original version of omega boost was DRASTICALLY different from the final, but only japanese gamers got to play this version (and a few lucky gaijin, lol)

in fact, japanese demo discs are infinitely more interesting than most u.s. ones, as far as the ps goes. i'm just getting into the saturn demos, and have found a few neat ones (but not enough to kaeep me from searching for more, lol)...=^P