Acceptable Demo length

[Millaky]

Hi, so I am working on a visual novel, and I really want to get a .1 release out, so I can start getting some feedback. My questions is as follows. What would you consider a good length for a .1 release? I ask this because I have about 30 minutes of gameplay ready to release, and was wondering if I should go ahead and drop it here to start building some feedback.

Thanks in advance.

 

[WICKEDp4th]

I think 30 minutes is a pretty good length content-wise.
I’ve seen 0.1 Versions from 1 minute to 1 hour playtime.

Brace for the impact of criticism and feedback.

Good Luck

 

[Millaky]

Honestly That's what I am hoping for, I can take, and even welcome criticism. I want to make the novel the best I can, and suggestions will be welcome. I know some of the renders will need work, and I have a lot of work to do, which is why I am looking for it in the first place. Would hate to get a whole chapter in which should be around 3.5 hours of gameplay and realize i need to redo a major section.

 

[anne O'nymous]

What would you consider a good length for a .1 release?

Long enough to have a good overview of the story, see all the game mechanisms, and be presented all the main characters (minus the possibly hidden villain(s)).

 

[♍VoidTraveler]

What would you consider a good length for a .1 release?

10% of total planned game length.

 

[SamuraiDice]

What would you consider a good length for a .1 release?

3452 minutes and 27 seconds.

 

[Nadekai]

Hi, so I am working on a visual novel, and I really want to get a .1 release out, so I can start getting some feedback. My questions is as follows. What would you consider a good length for a .1 release? I ask this because I have about 30 minutes of gameplay ready to release, and was wondering if I should go ahead and drop it here to start building some feedback.

Thanks in advance.

... Enough to show what your game is about, and what's it gonna be about ...
... To intrigue potential investors (patreon, subscribestar, etc.) ...

 

[Zardoz23]

Depends on the game. For a typical visual novel that starts slow and has to introduce characters and plot I'd say about an hour of content might be enough for a first impression. But if you're making one of those visual novels that starts out with sex very early on then maybe 30 minutes of content would be enough. Personally I prefer slower visual novels with more plot development so I usually don't bother downloading a game until it has at least 2 hours of content to explore.

 

[lfgals1]

I think shooting for a specific ammount of time is probably the wrong way to think about it.

You are making a lewd game, so make sure you get to some sort of sex scene so the player can get a taste of that.

If you have any gameplay elements like a sandbox or a daily activity loop then releasing enough content that people can get a sense of what that gameplay feels like is important.

If you are a choice based visual novel then at least one branching path that gives different outcomes.

 

[Crimson Delight Games]

Hi, so I am working on a visual novel, and I really want to get a .1 release out, so I can start getting some feedback. My questions is as follows. What would you consider a good length for a .1 release? I ask this because I have about 30 minutes of gameplay ready to release, and was wondering if I should go ahead and drop it here to start building some feedback.

30min is plenty for a first release, go for it.