We need to bring back the era of demos

[sundin13]

S.T.A.G.E. said:

Reviews are an arbitrary mainstay. Demos give hands on experience no matter which way you slice it. At E3 and other gaming shows the dollars are put forth by devs and publishers to show those lucky enough to play them. Gamers at home should have such access during even the major months of the year when the shows happen. 

Yes...a demo is supposed to a small part of the game. Its a demonstration. Its supposed to whet your palette for the full experience and be the best showcase of the parts of the basics of said game. 

In the end all of these preliminary previews, reviews and demos should benefit and influence the customer. If people who make it into expos can get the experience, why shouldn't the average joe at home? The previews that we get from a lot of the expo the gaming commentary providers we tend to trust come from 15-30 minute demos at these shows. So....is it alright that they get the demos but we dont? 

My point is twofold:

1. A short demo is not representative of the whole product
2. Games are not created with demos in mind, and often times the design of a full game doesn't work when condensed into a demo.

As for the trade show bit, thats a different point although interesting. I think that it would be cool if we were able to play those demos (I don't want to call them demos, but there really is no better word), however that is under the pretense that the game is an unfinished product. However, I don't think this is a right we are at all entitled to.