Just wondering how you handle evaluation copies. At the moment, I'm using a private server ( one that no one knows about ) with a secure area, setting up password protected user accounts for whoever wants an account and giving out the URL's, usernames and passwords to whoever asks for an evaluation copy ( within reason, obviously ) But I'm wondering if there are other, better ways and whether it's worth sending them on CD instead. Does it make a better impression? Or is it more convenient ( as I had originally assumed ) to make them available as downloads?
I'm adding the reviewers details to my "sales" database (with a flag that says they didn't pay), which lets me generate and send them a temporary download link. When they use the link, the download is stored in the DB so that I know who downloaded, when, and how many times. Not saying that it's a good solution, but that's what I use.
As a reviewer on www.bytten.com, anything will generally do. A timed download or a game registered to the reviewer would be fine but something that demands server validation during installation I find annoying. CD versions are a good option (especially for large downloads), although remember that you might have to post overseas and most people prefer a download to CD if all things are equal. As a developer though I've noticed that sometimes (in fact often) review copies are handed around to reviewers or other staff members like they were exempt from the one personal copy rule that a registered game normally is. I find that very annoying (and at Bytten we don't do such things). David Laprad now at Alawar did buy my game Outliner after reviewing it which was a nice gesture. Mark
Thanks guys, sounds like what I'm doing will be good enough then. The downloads are all pretty small ( < 15mb ) so I'll stick as I am.
For The Journal I just generate registration keys for them that include "Review Copy" in the main key. For Artifact, we give them a time-limited Full Access account. -David