@SystemSock
Why are they afraid of using the 'd word'?
Back in my day, demo versions were everywere... 
@LukeAlmighty That's the complete game, and I still won't take it.
As for demos, they're dead, for the most part.
There are different types of demos, but most are gone due to psychological reasons.
When people play a demo, they want to sample the experience.
Too short, and it's frustrating, you feel like you wasted your time playing it.
Too long, and the odds of people buying the game is reduced dramatically, as they feel like they've played your game before.
And they will also experience frustration as they replay the section of the game they saw in the demo.
A successful demo is not too long that you won't mind replaying the same segment of the game when you come across it, while also ending with a cliff-hanger to entice people to actually buy it, and not feel like it's already checked off their list.
So a demo is only really useful for games with a proper plot, and a certain play session time.
It's a very small bullseye to hit, while also costing money and allocating development time that can go to day-1 patches or additional content (expansions / DLC).
That's why most companies just release a trailer, and a few screenshots.
As for demos, they're dead, for the most part.
There are different types of demos, but most are gone due to psychological reasons.
When people play a demo, they want to sample the experience.
Too short, and it's frustrating, you feel like you wasted your time playing it.
Too long, and the odds of people buying the game is reduced dramatically, as they feel like they've played your game before.
And they will also experience frustration as they replay the section of the game they saw in the demo.
A successful demo is not too long that you won't mind replaying the same segment of the game when you come across it, while also ending with a cliff-hanger to entice people to actually buy it, and not feel like it's already checked off their list.
So a demo is only really useful for games with a proper plot, and a certain play session time.
It's a very small bullseye to hit, while also costing money and allocating development time that can go to day-1 patches or additional content (expansions / DLC).
That's why most companies just release a trailer, and a few screenshots.
@SystemSock
It says episode 1. The life is strange 2 has 5 episodes, so you're getting a 20 percent demo.
And yes, I do refuse to call part 1 of an episodic game a full game on it's own.
@LukeAlmighty Ok, that's fair, I agree.
I didn't know it was broken up like that.
Now what you said makes sense.
Resident Evil 2 Remake called it a demo, when they released the 1st level only.
Episodic games are an anti-consumer practice.
Companies expected to be paid, often over-paid, for what starts out as essentially a demo, so they can reduce risk as they continue development.
Or abandon the project if they don't get enough money, making away like bandits.
Shameful.
I didn't know it was broken up like that.
Now what you said makes sense.
Resident Evil 2 Remake called it a demo, when they released the 1st level only.
Episodic games are an anti-consumer practice.
Companies expected to be paid, often over-paid, for what starts out as essentially a demo, so they can reduce risk as they continue development.
Or abandon the project if they don't get enough money, making away like bandits.
Shameful.
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@SystemSock
Most importantly, it's an dick move all around. Steam is promoting full games, especially when they go free, in order to show some good fate and advertise new products... and then SE pushes a demo through a loophole. Serious dick move.
