Fly before you buy? - Limited trials?

[Stacker]

I think it would be a good idea if ED offered a time limited trial of aircraft - say something like 1 week.

 

Assuming the DRM copy protection is capable, I reckon it would be a nice way of letting folks have a taste of a module before they buy. I can think of a lot of examples outside of DCS where I've taken out a free trial and then gone on to purchase the product/service because I had a chance to play around with it and liked it - I wonder if this model would work with DCS?

[=OPS=Slider]

For me it sounds great, I've never thought about something like this.

[probad]

yeah and i can just keep spamming new accounts to keep 'trying' aircraft ad infinum

[Coxy_99]

NO

[NeilWillis]

You can try the TF-51D and Su-25T as they come with the free DCS World, and if you like that, it's too late to save you, you're hooked for life!

 

I can't imagine for a second anything more will happen.

[BIGNEWY]

ED already have a free terrain and two free aircraft, if that is not enough for a new user to try I don't know what is :)

[Coxy_99]

ED already have a free terrain and two free aircraft, if that is not enough for a new user to try I don't know what is :)

 

+1 to you sir

[gospadin]

Time limited is fine, but IMO it wouldn't be free. Maybe $5 per day "rental" with a single activation allowed, and you can apply up to 2 days of rental towards the full purchase price if you decide to keep it. (Basically rent-to-own)

 

A free trial would just be subject to too much hacking or account shenanigans.

[Weta43]

... & how many people that currently enjoy their DCS."not_easy_at_First" module would have chucked in the towel after their second crash (it's not this hard on an Xbox !) if they hadn't already paid for the module, but persisted because they had already paid, and now have a great module and the satisfaction of having mastered the beast (s) ?

[probad]

tbh it should be reasonable to expect that anyone with any interest in a particular aircraft would make a modicum of effort to learn about it, and having learned about it, would be aware of its qualities, both good and bad, and be at peace with them.

 

but that info you can come by without having to fly the thing first.

Edited December 20, 2016 by probad

[ebabil]

maybe you can do it on steam version. steam may allow players to get refund within a time period. not sure.

i am trying to watch reviews and gamplay videos before buying a module.

[Coxy_99]

We will want free modules next lol

[bkthunder]

Being able to try for a limited (even very limited) time before buying would be great IMO.

Besides, it's not that we are talking about some radical new business practice. Demos have been around for decades, and even Lock-On had a free demo.

[MegOhm_SD]

Uh....Just No...this is why DCS with the TF51 and SU25T is free.

[Stacker]

ED already have a free terrain and two free aircraft, if that is not enough for a new user to try I don't know what is :)

 

Hmmm. An SU-25T is not the same as an A10C is it? My point is that if users were given a limited chance to try another module (high fidelity or not) they may actually purchase it. Wouldn't that ultimately benefit all?

[PicksKing]

Of course a free trail period of a week is way too much. No chance that ED would allow that, which is very understandable. Only one time for three hours or something should be enough to insure that the user will not regret any purchase.

[bkthunder]

Actually for the particular situation of DCS, it probably wouldn't make too much business sense. All modules are released in beta, and they stay there for a long time. So trying a beta for 3 hours isn't really too meaningful if a lot of what you see is going to be changed/improved/removed/broken/fixed etc. I guess the uninformed customer would be turned off quickly from purchasing.

 

Imagine the neverending discussions:

 

"I tried the module and multi-crew doesn't work, so I won't buy it"

"but multi-crew will be available later, you should buy it and wait"

 

etc. etc. etc.

[Stacker]

Of course a free trail period of a week is way too much. No chance that ED would allow that, which is very understandable. Only one time for three hours or something should be enough to insure that the user will not regret any purchase.

 

Yes, first sensible point I've seen. Buyers remorse can be an issue but it's all down to how confident you are of your product. Good point though.