Personally I think demos just increase the hype for a game, as long as it's a solid game. The only time marketing doesn't want a demo released is when the game isn't very solid and is resting on undeserved hyped. In these cases it's also common to have an embargo on the reviews to keep them riding high a bit longer.
Sorry I forgot that key bit too. That should read: "The only time marketing doesn't want a demo released before the full game is when the game isn't very solid and is resting on undeserved hype." A good demo will bring in wary consumers who have been burnt by the hype-train before, but only if it is solid. Releasing a…
I'm not talking about the demo Glib, I'm talking about the point at which it is released. Releasing a demo before the game itself is where I tend to see problems. Unless you have a substantial marketing budget to keep the game in the public eye consistently after the demo is released, it seems best to release the demo with…