Entertaining the user while downloading demo

[ManuelFLara]

I've seen some people or portals that let the user play a little flash/java game in the browser so the user remains on the web site while the demo downloads or something similar, but I'd want to discuss about entertaining (if that'd be the word) in a different way. Maybe it's not very useful for bejeweled-clones but for more complex games it could be good.

What if after starting the download the user was redirected to a 'How To Play' page with short and key tips relating controls or the gameplay mechanics, with screenshots with arrows explaining the interface or something like that. My next game will have a pretty complex gameplay and I want to do my best in getting the user don't give up without even knowing how to play.

[princec]

Much easier: just pop an applet on your front page ;) Puppy Invaders gets an unbelievable amount of plays.

Cas :)

[lowemark]

What if after starting the download the user was redirected to a 'How To Play' page with short and key tips relating controls or the gameplay mechanics, with screenshots with arrows explaining the interface or something like that. This sounds like a pretty good idea, especially if you have a somewhat complex game, this way the user wouldn’t have to be forced to go through a tutorial at the beginning of the game before he can start playing it. Might be something to think about...

[princec]

Of course one big problem is that at least 50% of your downloads come from somewhere other than your site. You could try the newfangled idea of a stub downloader, which I'm increasingly liking the idea of.

Cas :)

[cliffski]

stub downloaders suck. I normally skip anything that uses them. When I download an exe I know where its coming from, and I can manage it myself using getright. Stub downloaders are blackboxed imitations of getright but with no features.
And what about people who click the download link then go to get a bite to eat. 30 mins later they come back ready to play and find a 52k exe waiting to download? why make downloading a two step process? Theres enough crap between me and getting most demos (can anyone say 'fileplanet') without adding an extra opportunity for me to give up.
shudder.

[ManuelFLara]

I completely agree with cliffski on the stub downloaders idea.

Much easier: just pop an applet on your front page Puppy Invaders gets an unbelievable amount of plays.
Well first I just hate java applets, and second it'd require the JVM installed on the user machine, so not an optimal solution.
Also, my proposition was something to teach the user about the game he/she's about to be playing so he/she doesn't get lost in the first contact, not just distract him.

[mahlzeit]

Maybe it is wise to show downloaders how to install the game as well...