Preferred method for DEMO games

[Sami]

The thing is .. that we naturally wish to keep the free demo games available at all times. But this requires some manual labour from administration to open/close the games and so on so unfortunately a free demo may not be available 24/7.

A solution to make the demo games more flexible would be to change the whole demonstration concept a little bit. Instead of having separate DEMO worlds how about an option of simply adding 5 free Credits for each new user registering to the system. Then these 5Cr could be used to play a game world for one real-time week. If the user is happy with the game he can simply purchase more Credits and continue with the same airline he already started.

This would also mean that all the features would be available for the "demo" users too (but it could be restricted still so that some features are only available after purchase, just like now). But as a downside the game world would have more players and more "in/out" traffic when players join and leave the world within the one week demo scope.

Thoughts?

[Sigma]

We've already acknowledged the problems with new players joining a game world after it starts.   This would only be magnified greatly if these were brand new players.

They're not likely to get a very good taste of the game.  Finding good routes will be difficult, good planes can be nearly impossible at certain times, and they're very likely to get stomped out of business within hours.  It's just generally not a good idea all around in my opinion if the point is to get these people interested in paying money for the game.

[Sundaypilot]

What happens, when someone tries a regular game, gets attacked by experienced players and after couple bankruptcies gives it up.
Does he want to play more - or does he think this must be too difficult game to play?

What about having a "never ending demo game", where you could only play for 1,5 game years or so.
So for example game goes from year 2000 to 2010, and starts again automatically from year 2000. You could enter the game anytime, but after a week you get kicked out.

[Knud B]

What about having a "never ending demo game", where you could only play for 1,5 game years or so.
So for example game goes from year 2000 to 2010, and starts again automatically from year 2000. You could enter the game anytime, but after a week you get kicked out.

I like this idea

While the free demo was ended when I join this site I start up in a full game (easy level) , and I did get bankrupt two times, but learn a lot.

Later, when a new demo was startet, I tryed this out, and to be frank I find that there was too many restrictions and missing features. If I have started with this I am not sure, that I have continued to play...

[Kazari]

I like the never-ending demo game very much. Put it on automatic and reset everything every time the demo resets. Put it on "auto-pilot" as it were.

[ali5541]

I put other, if that idea is possible, the one about the never ending demo. Its a 2 birds with one stone kind of idea.

[Talentz]

Hmm.. I agree with Sunday. I think something like that will work much better. As usual, it will require more work for admin. But hey, if it keeps the players happy, its all worth it.





Talentz

[0zlw]

I agree with the never ending demo as well. It would work well.

[ukatlantic]

I think Sunday and Ali have both got good ideas - I also agree that if you give 5 free credits and a new player join a world then chances are they are going to get attacked and bankrupting then not rejoiing because the perception is that its not fun because they get constantly attacked or constantly made bankrupt 

[Jona L.]

My comment is:

keep it as it is! I played the demo as 3rd/4th game because there hadn't been one earlier, what I found interesting was, that there were so many B737-200Adv on the used market, and in no other game world have ever been that much!!

(except for the time when those get old, and airlines want to get rid of them)

[rsdworker]

i agree - i like the second option - even i was disspointed at early days whereabouts demo was not open so offering the demo inside the full game would be nice so when i join - you can have 1 week to play but if you want carry on beyond - you can pay at end of demo or before

[pascaly]

I voted for 'Other', I like the idea of a never ending demo game, it's the same game over and over and a demo gets you a period of time (1-2 real world weeks).  I think having real games as demos would just end with the new user getting stomped on by the established players.

[chapelhillnews]

I was wondering what the advantage of having the limited features for the demo game is. If I had seen all the features when II played the demo game, I would have wanted to pay to play even more.

I agree that having demo players join an existing game would probably not make them want to stay in. If I am the major airline at an airport, I generally try to squash the competition before they can gain a foothold, so this would be really frustrating to be on the other end of.

[Sami]

Thanks for ideas and opinions. The demo features have been enhanced: https://www.airwaysim.com/forum/index.php/topic,17864.0.html