Psychonauts for free for now

FATAL · November 23rd, 2007, 08:20 AM

http://www.gametap.com/home/play/gameDetails/000475950

Seems pretty neat. It requires some special player that probably is there to see whether you're still allowed to play.

CrazedImp · November 23rd, 2007, 09:35 AM

Until December 31st. Lame. If your going to make a game free, keep it free. Ubisoft did the same thing when they made FarCry free, made it freeware then suddenly decided they didnt want to anymore, at which point anybody who had wanted to download it has, and no doubt there are people who have made a crack that gets by the activation process. Silly Ubisoft.

I mean, whats the point in making a game free for a certain period of time? Its not like people are going to play the game and run out and buy it come December 31st. Especially a game like Psychonauts, which you could probably finish in a couple of hours, and have no urge to play it again.

ace · November 23rd, 2007, 09:52 AM

Actually it turns out that the thing with Ubisoft was a "Labor Day promotion" that was only available for that weekend. When you consider the fact that nowhere did they mention that it was just a one-weekend promotion until it was over, of course, it makes that move even more unintelligent move on their behalf.

That being said, I don't see anything wrong with this. Granted, it's a scheme in hopes of pulling some more customers in, but there's no harm in downloading it, playing it and then trashing it by the time the 31st rolls in. If you have no desire to play it again (I've never played it but from what I've heard it's supposed to be a great game, so maybe it is worth a replay), then there's absolutely no downside to it, because you get to play a commercial game free with virtually no strings attached without having to waste a penny.

I don't think the point of this is to draw customers in to buy Psychonauts, however. I think the mentality behind this is that by taking one of a company's best-selling/most popular games available for free for just long enough for people to get a good idea of what it offers, possible future customers may be drawn in to buying new games from the company, assuming they enjoyed the free game.

If it works, it's nothing more or less than a clever marketing angle, really. If it doesn't (which is likely because the PC gaming populace and the console gaming populace are quite unique from one another, and this seems more targeted to console gamers, who would undoubtedly have more difficulty buying into this sort of deal)--well, that's a different story.

FATAL · November 23rd, 2007, 10:09 AM

Yes, Imp, I too don't see the point in making it only temporary. Better this than nothing, though.

Giftmacher · November 23rd, 2007, 11:23 AM

It's most likely because Psychonauts sold poorly, and Tim Schaffer's new game will be coming out in the near future, so he wants more people to play his old game so they will be more likely to buy his new game.

FATAL · November 23rd, 2007, 11:26 AM

Tim Schaffer is terribly underrated. Grim Fandango is top quality!

Giftmacher · November 23rd, 2007, 11:38 AM

Yeah, I really hope his next game sells decently, it looks good.

Pieter Enis · November 25th, 2007, 03:40 AM

I still have the 4 Grim Fandango CD's lying about here. Great game.
Yet I won't download the Psychonauts game. People say it's nice and all, but it seems like a console game to me as well.

blood imp · November 28th, 2007, 01:28 PM

I've tried a Psychonauts demo way back when it had just come out. I enjoyed it greatly. Even if it will go away by next year, I might download it anyway just to play it and see it in entirety.

rustyslacker · November 28th, 2007, 04:06 PM

Why the big deal about Psychonauts in particular? ALL games are available for free on the internet!

FATAL · November 29th, 2007, 06:53 AM

Doom Dood is gonna bust yoo ass bro.

CrazedImp · November 30th, 2007, 07:32 AM

Lol Fatal posted.

rustyslacker · November 30th, 2007, 02:30 PM

Bust my ass? I can't wait.

November 23rd, 2007, 08:20 AM	#1
FATAL Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Helsinki, Finland Posts: 7,429	Psychonauts for free for now http://www.gametap.com/home/play/gameDetails/000475950 Seems pretty neat. It requires some special player that probably is there to see whether you're still allowed to play.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

November 23rd, 2007, 09:35 AM	#2
CrazedImp Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: In a wall glitch. Posts: 2,174	Until December 31st. Lame. If your going to make a game free, keep it free. Ubisoft did the same thing when they made FarCry free, made it freeware then suddenly decided they didnt want to anymore, at which point anybody who had wanted to download it has, and no doubt there are people who have made a crack that gets by the activation process. Silly Ubisoft. I mean, whats the point in making a game free for a certain period of time? Its not like people are going to play the game and run out and buy it come December 31st. Especially a game like Psychonauts, which you could probably finish in a couple of hours, and have no urge to play it again.

November 23rd, 2007, 09:52 AM	#3
ace Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Subcurvetania Posts: 3,372	Actually it turns out that the thing with Ubisoft was a "Labor Day promotion" that was only available for that weekend. When you consider the fact that nowhere did they mention that it was just a one-weekend promotion until it was over, of course, it makes that move even more unintelligent move on their behalf. That being said, I don't see anything wrong with this. Granted, it's a scheme in hopes of pulling some more customers in, but there's no harm in downloading it, playing it and then trashing it by the time the 31st rolls in. If you have no desire to play it again (I've never played it but from what I've heard it's supposed to be a great game, so maybe it is worth a replay), then there's absolutely no downside to it, because you get to play a commercial game free with virtually no strings attached without having to waste a penny. I don't think the point of this is to draw customers in to buy Psychonauts, however. I think the mentality behind this is that by taking one of a company's best-selling/most popular games available for free for just long enough for people to get a good idea of what it offers, possible future customers may be drawn in to buying new games from the company, assuming they enjoyed the free game. If it works, it's nothing more or less than a clever marketing angle, really. If it doesn't (which is likely because the PC gaming populace and the console gaming populace are quite unique from one another, and this seems more targeted to console gamers, who would undoubtedly have more difficulty buying into this sort of deal)--well, that's a different story.

November 23rd, 2007, 10:09 AM	#4
FATAL Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Helsinki, Finland Posts: 7,429	Yes, Imp, I too don't see the point in making it only temporary. Better this than nothing, though.

November 23rd, 2007, 11:23 AM	#5
Giftmacher Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: an internet hate machine Posts: 1,967	It's most likely because Psychonauts sold poorly, and Tim Schaffer's new game will be coming out in the near future, so he wants more people to play his old game so they will be more likely to buy his new game.

November 23rd, 2007, 11:26 AM	#6
FATAL Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Helsinki, Finland Posts: 7,429	Tim Schaffer is terribly underrated. Grim Fandango is top quality!

November 23rd, 2007, 11:38 AM	#7
Giftmacher Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: an internet hate machine Posts: 1,967	Yeah, I really hope his next game sells decently, it looks good.

November 25th, 2007, 03:40 AM	#8
Pieter Enis Commander Keen Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Inside your head Posts: 2,825	I still have the 4 Grim Fandango CD's lying about here. Great game. Yet I won't download the Psychonauts game. People say it's nice and all, but it seems like a console game to me as well.

November 28th, 2007, 01:28 PM	#9
blood imp Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: HYPERPOWER! Posts: 1,793	I've tried a Psychonauts demo way back when it had just come out. I enjoyed it greatly. Even if it will go away by next year, I might download it anyway just to play it and see it in entirety.

November 28th, 2007, 04:06 PM	#10
rustyslacker Join Date: May 2005 Location: Some unclosed sector Posts: 4,663	Why the big deal about Psychonauts in particular? ALL games are available for free on the internet!

November 29th, 2007, 06:53 AM	#11
FATAL Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Helsinki, Finland Posts: 7,429	Doom Dood is gonna bust yoo ass bro.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

November 30th, 2007, 07:32 AM	#12
CrazedImp Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: In a wall glitch. Posts: 2,174	Lol Fatal posted.

November 30th, 2007, 02:30 PM	#13
rustyslacker Join Date: May 2005 Location: Some unclosed sector Posts: 4,663	Bust my ass? I can't wait.