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Study: Americans Love Games, Demos Prove To Be “Crucial”

We Americans love our video games; that fact seems to rise to the surface every time they conduct one of these studies.

As summarized by Industry Gamers , a recent survey at Today's Gamers shows that a larger percentage of the American population actively plays games in comparison to their European counterparts. The survey sampled over 13,000 Internet users from the Netherlands, France, UK, Belgium, US, and Germany, and the results showed that 87% of US males said they play games; the next highest percentage was the UK with 74%. But not only are more US males playing, they're also spending more time with the hobby: the average player indulges in games around 11.5 hours per week, while UK players only spent about 6.5 hours (although those in France spent 7.1 hours). And while females are simply less likely to play games, the ratios still end up to be about the same. Another interesting aspect of the study is that MMOs are far more popular in the US, as 21% of American gamers say they've participated in such games, while only about half that many (10 or 11%) play MMOs in European countries.

We also learn that demos have become an effective marketing tool. About one-quarter of all console gamers in the US said that a demo was "a crucial factor in their buying decision," and again, this is true for both male and female gamers. Lastly, we find that a surprising percentage of console owners are using their systems to watch videos online; about 66% of American PS3 and Xbox 360 owners do this, although the stat drops to 45% in the UK. Well, I don't know about videos, but I love those demos, too.

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fluffer nutter
fluffer nutter
15 years ago

Interesting stats. As a U.S. citizen, I can say that I am putting in some good hours into my gaming. Damn these fun games. Damn them all to hell! :p I love the demos, game videos, behind-the-scenes, etc. Keep that goods coming. I'm really enjoying this generation in gaming.

JackC8
JackC8
15 years ago

Demo's have cost me many many dollars 🙂 I think they're the best advertising tool out there.

bearbobby
bearbobby
15 years ago

lol, and here I am saying that demos have saved me money by showing how boring and unispired some games can be, or by showing how good a game could be for a bargain price. I wish every game released would be preceded by a demo, that'd be sick.

bigrailer19
bigrailer19
15 years ago

yes every game should release a demo. it may not be smart to some extent for the dev. so they dont release a demo. but i believe demos will promote the game and quite possibly promote more sales of the game!

Imagi
Imagi
15 years ago

Wonder if I can get a grant to fund my some of my own research projects that state the obvious.

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
15 years ago

go for the McArthur genius grant 🙂

Kevadu
Kevadu
15 years ago

I'd like to see stats for Japan…

Gabriel013
Gabriel013
15 years ago

Even for suposed AAA titles I usually hold off for a demo before buying brand new. I want to make absolutely sure that the game is worth the asking price rather than taking someone elses word for it.

If I don't get a demo then I might just wait for a preowned copy and the publisher loses the money.

maxpontiac
maxpontiac
15 years ago

I am an American, and to be honest, demo's do not influence me at all.

If I plan on purchasing a title, I usually have my mind made up long before a demo is on the PSN.

Titch1794
Titch1794
15 years ago

Without a doubt demos are crucial. Nearly all my buys are due to playing a demo first.

therabbitkinge
therabbitkinge
15 years ago

I agree, a demo usually can make or break a game purchase for me and im sure for almost anyone. A game being available for a quick test before you buy it is a very good marketing tool and im sure we can all agree at some point we've judged a game based on a demo.

AshT
AshT
15 years ago

Demos are definitely important but not for exclusive franchises like ND, GG, Insomanic etc, i don't need demo for games from them to tell me the game is great, i'll buy them neway

psxmax
psxmax
15 years ago

Demos have saved me a lot of money. I played NFS: Shift, R&C: Crack in Time and didn't like them. I know that I can't fully judge a game by demos, but it still helps.

R&C: A Crack in Time is not a bad game, it's just that type of game is not for me. I rather play GoW3. To each is their own.


Last edited by psxmax on 10/27/2009 2:20:43 PM

Fane1024
Fane1024
15 years ago

Fair enough, but you should try the Ratchet demo this week (or the TOD demo), just in case you like it better, as it represents a greater portion of the gameplay.

psxmax
psxmax
15 years ago

@Fane1024

I just don't like these types of games in general anymore (Jak and Daxter, R&C, Crash Bandicoot, Sly Cooper). I bought Crash Bandicoot when it came out for PS1 and didn't like it. I guess I have out grown these types of games (cartoon quirkiness). God of War and Final Fantasy are more of my type of games.

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
15 years ago

The thing I can't understand is why so many of the demos just plain SUCK, excuse me "are teh suck" I have yet to play one that demonstrates the full potential of the real game.

bigrailer19
bigrailer19
15 years ago

a demo is supposed to be just a sample. i think the video game industry should release demos for every game. would be smart i believe of devs to do so even though it could contradict sales, if consumers werent impressed with just a sampling of a large scale project which is unfair.

but to reiterate on what your saying, the devs who do put out demos understand they shouldnt put the shiniest parts of the game in the demo, it would ruin the immersion and signifacantly the experience when youve already played that part in a 10 min demo. GG was smart with KZ2, to have us play the first 15 min of the game, that way the rest is fresh. may not have been the best part of the game by any stretch. hollywood does htis with movies especially comedies, they put all the action or funny parts in the trailers, then you go see it and u barely laugh at the parts seen in trailers, and the rest is mediocre comedy.

im not saying i dont wish demos were better like you, but i understand why they wouldnt put a boss fight in a demo.


Last edited by bigrailer19 on 10/27/2009 5:48:39 PM

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
15 years ago

oh yeah the KZ2 demo was pretty damn good. Forgot about that.

JackC8
JackC8
15 years ago

I kind of agree. Demo's tend to stick you into a really exciting part of the game, and you don't have any idea how the controls even work. It can leave me with a negative impression sometimes.

slayerkillemall
slayerkillemall
15 years ago

Game reviews,give me an idea of the game in question,and wether or not i'll play the demo…

the demo is the deciding factor wether,i'll pay full price for a game, wait till it drops price,
get it pre-owned,or dont buy at all…

if there is no demo for a game 95% of times,i will dissmiss the game …

so yes a demo should be the rule,rather than the eception….


Last edited by slayerkillemall on 10/27/2009 6:30:19 PM

Robochic
Robochic
15 years ago

I like demos it's really is nice to have it helps me chose if I want asap or later….

Just played Ratchet and Clank demo damn now I have to ask for that game as well for christmas really enjoyed the demo

___________
___________
15 years ago

one thing i would like to see changed about demos is their length.
some demos like the batman AA one or the infamous one were quite long for a demo, but than some demos are really short like wanted or some of the older games.
all games should have a demo, that way i can avoid another borderlands happening 😉
biggest disappointment of this year, should of bought the fallout 3 GOTY edition instead.
"more fun than fallout 3" MY ASS!

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