Shareware

[moron]

is 3d realms still working with sharware?? in prey it could have just as ezaly called the demo "shareware" and then had the full vershon avalable by calling the 1-800 number is it just not fesable to do any more? Is it better to use amazon and the like or dose it have to do with the deals you make with other companys? just wondering it seems the "shareware" verson is now the "demo" (and its a lot shorter) just wondering if 3drealms still has any plans for old style shareware anymore:D :D

[IceColdDuke]

No games are moddable now a days all someone would have to do is build a retail build and crack the engne and they wouldn't have to pay for the rest of the game.

[Symok]

Not sure what that has to do with anything, Duke... Shareware games weren't a "locked" version of the full, in most cases. And regardless, software piracy would happen either way.

In response to the original post, "Demo" and "Shareware" are basically the same thing, since you can "share" the demo version freely. The emphasis on sharing the demo version was stronger back in "the day" because back then a lot fewer people had access to BBSes (and the internet, in its early days). So they wanted to get the demo versions out to as many people as possible by having people share it.

[Joe Siegler]

is 3d realms still working with sharware?? in prey it could have just as ezaly called the demo "shareware" and then had the full vershon avalable by calling the 1-800 number is it just not fesable to do any more? Is it better to use amazon and the like or dose it have to do with the deals you make with other companys? just wondering it seems the "shareware" verson is now the "demo" (and its a lot shorter) just wondering if 3drealms still has any plans for old style shareware anymore:D :D

Shareware still exists - when games went mostly retail the concept of shareware was cannibalized by the "demo". Most everyone calls it demo, because they understand it.

But to me personally, who has worked here for over 13 years, I still call it shareware. It's really honestly just a matter of semantics.

[DOSGuy]

I think of "demo" as an extremely limited version of a game. I remember playing demoes of commercial games where you could only play one level or stage out of twenty or more. Originally, "shareware" meant full versions of software that relied on the user sending money to the author if he felt that the software was useful to him. Apogee's model changed the definition of shareware to principally software in which the first episode was free, and typically there were two or three extra episodes in the full version. Far from a limited demo, fully one third of a game might be playable, and usually you got to use most of the weapons, and experience most of what the full version had to offer. Because that's what I grew up with, I continue to think of shareware as being software where a significant portion of a game is playable, and demoes as extremely limited versions that are rarely worth playing.

[moron]

I think of "demo" as an extremely limited version of a game. I remember playing demoes of commercial games where you could only play one level or stage out of twenty or more. Originally, "shareware" meant full versions of software that relied on the user sending money to the author if he felt that the software was useful to him. Apogee's model changed the definition of shareware to principally software in which the first episode was free, and typically there were two or three extra episodes in the full version. Far from a limited demo, fully one third of a game might be playable, and usually you got to use most of the weapons, and experience most of what the full version had to offer. Because that's what I grew up with, I continue to think of shareware as being software where a significant portion of a game is playable, and demoes as extremely limited versions that are rarely worth playing.

ya thats how I see it as well although take prey for instance the demo hase I think 4 levels a lot better the say 1 but noware near the level of 10 or a full 1/3 of the game as in say rott or wolf days (although with wolf it was 60 total in the super vershon) I guess its been refined to give away enofe so that the player wants more but has seen a good portion to know wether he/she wants to get the game or not IMHO take duke 3d the sharware vershon was realy a game in itself it was great but it was so good that cheapskates didnt have to get the game at all just dm in the shareware maps for months so although its good for the consumer giving away the farm wont realy help the bottom line all that much its a intresting balince:D :D

[mouth]

Shareware used to be a lot greater portion of game than demo. Also, shareware was a lot more finished product, while demo could have practically been a beta version. I had tons of shareware and demo games CD back in the days when CDs were a new thing. Also, shareware always meant you could play it, while demo was sometimes just a demonstration (hence the name demo) and unplayable. That's how it was back in the days as I remember. Only shareware games had episodes.