Pre-order, but no demo?

[Xeorm]

So, congrats on getting to this stage. The game looks good. But...Paradox games have often had demos for their games. Why not one yet for this one? I'd like to try before I buy.

Yes, there's videos, but they're not very good at seeing whether or not I'd enjoy the game. It's not the type of game that I personally enjoy watching. I've thoroughly enjoyed playing games like CK2 and EU4, and tried to watch streams. They're insanely boring to watch, but fun to play.

 

[BjornB]

We've decided against a demo. They don't really work well with our games and our expansion policy. We'll have free to play weekends on Steam in the future most likely. But if you pre-order I guess it's more of a gamble :/

 

[Elderotter]

So, congrats on getting to this stage. The game looks good. But...Paradox games have often had demos for their games. Why not one yet for this one? I'd like to try before I buy.

Yes, there's videos, but they're not very good at seeing whether or not I'd enjoy the game. It's not the type of game that I personally enjoy watching. I've thoroughly enjoyed playing games like CK2 and EU4, and tried to watch streams. They're insanely boring to watch, but fun to play.

They had already said that there would be no demo, repeated by Admin above. If you need more, then I suggest you wait until May 9th and read what we here who will be playing say, and watch what I am sure will be tons of you-tube videos. Or just roll the dice and take a chance.

 

[Sopot]

Alternatively, wait until release and buy it, if you don't like it, get a steam refund. If you do like, well there ya go!

 

[Amightypie]

demos are an outdated thing whether you wanted them to be or not. just gotta wait for videos or free weekends if your unsure

 

[Alexander Seil]

demos are an outdated thing whether you wanted them to be or not. just gotta wait for videos or free weekends if your unsure

Are you with Matrix Games PR? I'll make an exception for Paradox, especially given the difficulties of keeping a demo up to date with their games, and fencing off content in the first place, but this whole movement against demos, coupled with restrictive return policies, are an anti-consumer disaster. It's like buying a pair of jeans without trying them on, and having only a 2 hour window to return them after you do. Ridiculous.

When I was a kid, I used to go with my mom to a sketchy flea market to buy games from an outdoor stand. Even those guys had a machine you could try them on (which sometimes wouldn't boot in Eastern European winter...). Better customer service in a flea market, for God's sake!

 

[Xeorm]

Ah, that's a shame. I can understand, but at the same time I'm disappointed. Good luck though.

 

[jju_57]

It's like buying a pair of jeans without trying them on, and having only a 2 hour window to return them after you do. Ridiculous.

So how do you try on those jeans you bought from Amazon or another internet based store?

 

[Alexander Seil]

So how do you try on those jeans you bought from Amazon or another internet based store?

That's why I don't buy clothing online, incidentally. It also doesn't matter, because those retailers offer you a very wide return window. Not just enough that you'd have to keep a timer to make sure you don't miss it, hoping your connection doesn't die for just long enough to screw you over.

EDIT: So, pretty sure Paradox lost the OP as a customer (at full price, at least). Good job.

 

[VerKer]

Ah, that's a shame. I can understand, but at the same time I'm disappointed. Good luck though.

I kinda feel the same.

If someone is confident his product is attractive, he will not have a problem to let you try it. Do you rent a flat before you see it? No. Do you buy a car you have not driven? No. Do you buy a cellphone you did not hold with your own hands before? I doubt it. While i agree that software / games is a different story, i would still prefer to try it out before i actually buy. Example given after many youtube vids i just had to order black desert online, but after a few hours play it turned out that this is not my kind of game. Bummer.

Apart from that, the best asset paradox could have offered for preordering would have been any kind of early access or beta access, getting neither doesnt really motivate me a lot to throw my money on something i will receive weeks later. Anyhow, they will know why they have decided this way and our opinion will not change that, so i just hope it works out for them as they imagined, even if it doesnt for us.

 

[Hertzila]

Well, there is the option of Steam Refunds if you go the Steam route. Not sure if there is a refund policy on Paradox Store.

 

[jju_57]

If someone is confident his product is attractive, he will not have a problem to let you try it. Do you rent a flat before you see it? No.

You have seen it. What you are asking for is to live in the flat for a few days before you lease it.

Do you buy a car you have not driven? No.

And a test drive is about 10 minutes for the vast majority of car dealerships. Steam gives you time to return it. So there is a test drive available.

 

[Alexander Seil]

You have seen it. What you are asking for is to live in the flat for a few days before you lease it.

Apples and oranges. There is significant risk for the owner, because there's no way to tell what sort of crazy things you'll do in that flat. I can't ruin Stellaris for Paradox by playing a demo.

And a test drive is about 10 minutes for the vast majority of car dealerships. Steam gives you time to return it. So there is a test drive available.

Same as above.

 

[Elderotter]

I am happy that we can preorder the game. I have lived long enough to know that there is rarely 100% consensus, there is always someone who wants just a little bit more. As far as those who are unsure if they will like Stellaris after all we have been told/shown - perhaps this game is not for you. There are many 4x space games, you have choices. There are also many games that not everyone likes. Eve, for example, has a niche following and I know many people who hate it... also many who love it. You just may not belong in the Stellaris niche. Neither good nor bad. Spend your money on a game that you do like, the problem there is this: I have seen games I knew I would like and ended up not liking and also saw games I knew I would hate but then after watching the youtube videos tried and loved. Wait for the free to play weekends that were mentioned. Try it then. Nothing says you have to buy a game right out of the box to enjoy it. If you are undecided then the bugs that always seem to show up on launch day may cause you to hate the game, whereas waiting until they are ironed out will be better, since you are undecided and need to test drive it. Just trying to be helpful.

 

[Alexander Seil]

Just trying to be helpful.

Helpful to whom? The people who need help here are Paradox marketing people, who seem to think they're now Bethesda or EA, who get their pound of flesh no matter what schlock they release. They're right in that awkward spot where people know who they are, and might buy their games on a whim, but their games are not for everyone. That's a recipe for tanking your Steam reviews.

EDIT: I doubt it'll hurt Stellaris much, but this new policy may set up HOI for a disaster.

 

[jju_57]

Apples and oranges.

Glad you agree that it's apples and oranges and therefore the comparison is moot and should never have even been raised in the first place.

 

[Alexander Seil]

Glad you agree that it's apples and oranges and therefore the comparison is moot and should never have even been raised in the first place.

Read again. I wasn't the one comparing it to apartments. I was comparing it to retail items where there is no risk to the seller to let you try it.

 

[VerKer]

Wait for the free to play weekends that were mentioned. Try it then.

Agree, thats probably the way to go - however they said "most likely" there will be free steam weekends, and who knows when. All games and software have a very short life cycle, times you buy them a year after release for a margin of the initial price. If that is what large parts of the early enthusiasts end up with, instead of preordering due to the hype, then the publisher has not achieved one of his goals i suppose.

In other words, if they had offered early access to a beta and preloading the stuff along with pre-order, they would have my credit card data already. How that compares to my name flying around in a weather ballon? Dont ask me, please!

 

[Elderotter]

Helpful to whom? The people who need help here are Paradox marketing people, who seem to think they're now Bethesda or EA, who get their pound of flesh no matter what schlock they release. They're right in that awkward spot where people know who they are, and might buy their games on a whim, but their games are not for everyone. That's a recipe for tanking your Steam reviews.

EDIT: I doubt it'll hurt Stellaris much, but this new policy may set up HOI for a disaster.

I very much disagree with you. I was, by the way, trying to be helpful to people such as yourself. so sorry my post didn't help. I am going to enjoy the game, sorry you won't be there enjoying it too.

 

[Elderotter]

Agree, thats probably the way to go - however they said "most likely" there will be free steam weekends, and who knows when. All games and software have a very short life cycle, times you buy them a year after release for a margin of the initial price. If that is what large parts of the early enthusiasts end up with, instead of preordering due to the hype, then the publisher has not achieved one of his goals i suppose.

In other words, if they had offered early access to a beta and preloading the stuff along with pre-order, they would have my credit card data already. How that compares to my name flying around in a weather ballon? Dont ask me, please!

the weather balloon thingy is a mystery to me... who cares? I do like the Creatures of the void bonus though. Sorry you didn't get a demo or beta.