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General discussionGOG.com’s Catalog Gets Huge with Addition of Classic EA Titles(651 posts)(651 posts)
(651 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted June 02, 2011
The biggest announcement in GOG.com's history is a fact! Electronic Arts grants access to its deep back catalogue of classic franchises via yours truly GOG.com!

In a ground-breaking, earthshaking, and jaw-dropping deal we've managed to sign with EA and will be releasing more than 25 legendary classics from the globally renowned publisher. With today’s announcement three widely known and much awaited brands get the revival treatment from GOG.com: Wing Commander: Privateer, Dungeon Keeper and Ultima Underworld 1+2.

We will be adding more than 25 titles from EA over the next few months, so the games will be unveiled gradually, but we can already reveal that the next upcoming titles from this huge deal are: Crusader: No remorse, Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri and Magic Carpet.

While the agreement between Electronic Arts and GOG.com brings back many acclaimed and well known franchises, it doesn’t include the much anticipated System Shock or Syndicate series at this time. After releasing the first six Electronic Arts classics, we will take a break from the concentrated awesome until later in the summer.
Posted June 02, 2011
Let's try a different approach to this EULA business:

If you absolutely refuse to buy a game because of the EULA (especially a cut-and-paste job such as the EA EULA), why are you even here...or playing a game on the PC? That EULA has been around since 1997 (tracking personal information is a holdover from the original release of UO).

Is it because of the "Accept" button that, suddenly, it seems ominous? I'm sorry, but every game with a PAPER EULA had, as a clause, that installation of the software indicated acceptance of the printed EULA.

Look, with a game like Privateer, that has absolutely ZERO online functionality, the ONLY information EA has on you is whatever GoG is sharing with them. And if you REALLY think that purchasing an ebay version is less restrictive, no, it really isn't. The EULA is just as restrictive in the DD as it is in the hardcopy version. The ONLY difference is that the hardcopy doesn't have a handy "Decline" button to cancel your install...instead, you have to manually choose to not install the game if you do not agree to the EULA.

Wow, this whole argument (including the petty, juvenile responses) brings me back to when these EULA's first popped up. Good Ol' Games, and good ol' memories, indeed.

However, as soon as EA turns off a GoG purchased product by terminating the download, I'll retract everything I've said here. Let me know if that ever happens.
Posted June 02, 2011
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Ein7919: Let's try a different approach to this EULA business:

If you absolutely refuse to buy a game because of the EULA (especially a cut-and-paste job such as the EA EULA), why are you even here...or playing a game on the PC? That EULA has been around since 1997 (tracking personal information is a holdover from the original release of UO).

Is it because of the "Accept" button that, suddenly, it seems ominous? I'm sorry, but every game with a PAPER EULA had, as a clause, that installation of the software indicated acceptance of the printed EULA.

Look, with a game like Privateer, that has absolutely ZERO online functionality, the ONLY information EA has on you is whatever GoG is sharing with them. And if you REALLY think that purchasing an ebay version is less restrictive, no, it really isn't. The EULA is just as restrictive in the DD as it is in the hardcopy version. The ONLY difference is that the hardcopy doesn't have a handy "Decline" button to cancel your install...instead, you have to manually choose to not install the game if you do not agree to the EULA.

Wow, this whole argument (including the petty, juvenile responses) brings me back to when these EULA's first popped up. Good Ol' Games, and good ol' memories, indeed.

However, as soon as EA turns off a GoG purchased product by terminating the download, I'll retract everything I've said here. Let me know if that ever happens.
The issue I (and some others) have with it is that it's linked to GOG when it shouldn't really be here, especially not in it's draconian form (whether copy and paste or not) - especially when GOG's alone is really enough. It's not really a GOG "feeling" kind of thing.
Posted June 02, 2011
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EmuAce: Re pt. 1: I do highly suggest you actually follow my advice - instead of spread potential misinformation about the enforceability of EULAs. Yes various sections of EULAs have been invalidated over the years in the US. But this differs per country and EULA. Long term members also also once again, no more qualified on this matter than a register lawyer for whatever country you reside in.

Re pt. 2: Whether the EULA in part or full is enforceable will differ from country by country.

Re pt. 3: EA makes hundreds of millions a year, they'll have quite a few lawyers on retainer doing nothing but going through EULAs and various other legal matters. It has nothing to do with cost saving as those lawyers willl be on retainer... i.e. having them do one more EULA or not does not matter as the price is the same.

Re pt. 4: We now have arbitrary rules of when DRM counts or not? Why wasn't I sent the memo? :). If we use your definition then any of the EA online 'services' would count as being DRM... What do you think will happen when / if they go offline eh?
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It's hard to tell - the download manager will almost certainly use some forms of DRM and other protective measures. My point in this case was more that the existence of that line in the EULA at all, is against the spirit of GoG and what GoG was supposed to stand for. GoG was supposed to stand for DRM free-games. Which means this line should have never been in the EULA in the first place.
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Err.... long timer?

Gamerager -> "Registered: Sep 2010"
EmuAce -> "Registered: Oct 2008"

Hm.....

I might not use the forums very often, but I definitely think that 2008 precedes 2010 :).
1. Actually it would be you that's spreading misinformation about the enforceability of EULAs......not me. And btw how do you know they don't have legal experience? Hmm?

2. I never said they weren't this way.....i'm quoting on US law only.

3. Actually it does cost them more to redo EULAs....and they don't like spending money.....and they also don't like to waste time waiting for their lawyers to approve new EULAs for eveyr contract.

4. Again EULAs aren't DRM.....and if you think they are I have a bridge in NYC i'd like to sell you. Also these games don't use the EA online service so that last bit doesn't count as AGAIN that is just copy-paste from games that use their EULA that have uses for the EA online service.

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A. This games don't use the download manager of EA or their online services so that doesn't apply. Also again it's old copy-paste from games that do use it...these games don't.

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B. By longtimer I mean people like Bansama, Codagh, etal........they'll tell you the same thing I will, though more civilly....will you say they're wrong as well?
Posted June 02, 2011
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EmuAce: It's hard to tell - the download manager will almost certainly use some forms of DRM and other protective measures. My point in this case was more that the existence of that line in the EULA at all, is against the spirit of GoG and what GoG was supposed to stand for. GoG was supposed to stand for DRM free-games. Which means this line should have never been in the EULA in the first place.
I agree, but if those games are DRM-free then that line is meaningless. Looks like a generic EULA to me.
Posted June 02, 2011
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nimagraven: The issue I (and some others) have with it is that it's linked to GOG when it shouldn't really be here, especially not in it's draconian form (whether copy and paste or not) - especially when GOG's alone is really enough. It's not really a GOG "feeling" kind of thing.
1. It's a stupid issue to nitpick over, especially as:

A: It's copy-pasta and the parts you have trouble with don't apply here even if you agree to them thus you don't have to follow them.

B: It isn't drm, and every gog game uses EULAs anyways and you guys never complained.

They did it to appease EA, and that's it.....would you rather they didn't get the games here just so you didn't have their nasty EULA attached to your game? I'd rather have the games, myself.
Posted June 02, 2011
Don't really understand why people are getting upset about the EULA. I mean, there's no DRM, there's no registration with EA or anything, so why is this different to other GOG games? They have an EULA as well. Just make a copy of the game on CD/HDD and install it as many times as you like, just like the others. Of course, I'd recommend backing up all your GOG games to an external hard drive anyway just in case GOG's servers have a meltdown, but that's just common sense.
Post edited June 02, 2011 by Irenaeus.
Posted June 02, 2011
And so, the Evil Dr. M prevails!
Posted June 02, 2011
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Irenaeus.: Don't really understand why people are getting upset about the EULA. I mean, there's no DRM, there's no registration with EA or anything, so why is this different to other GOG games? Just make a copy of the game on CD/HDD and install it as many times as you like, just like the others. Of course, I'd recommend backing up all your GOG games to an external hard drive anyway just in case GOG's servers have a meltdown, but that's just common sense.
They're seeing the parts left in from previous games like the EA downloader agreement and thinking it applies to them somehow just because EA was too lazy to remove it from the gog version.
Posted June 02, 2011
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EmuAce: =====================

B. By longtimer I mean people like Bansama, Codagh, etal........they'll tell you the same thing I will, though more civilly....will you say they're wrong as well?
Yeah, but by posting on forums regardless of date, "noobity" or anything like that, it doesn't make you any more qualified or less qualified to say what you think - Geeze, if we applied that in the real world, we'd really get nowhere....

At the end of the day, whether right, wrong etc is just a matter of opinion in this case.. It doesn't make it less valid because one hasn't posted as much or hasn't been here as long.

And I probably broke the quotes...
Posted June 02, 2011
Magic Carpet...there was a bug or something, it appeared around map 16-17??? I couldn't play past it on the original PC CD-Rom. Don't know why..
Posted June 02, 2011
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nimagraven: The issue I (and some others) have with it is that it's linked to GOG when it shouldn't really be here, especially not in it's draconian form (whether copy and paste or not) - especially when GOG's alone is really enough. It's not really a GOG "feeling" kind of thing.
I thought this was addressed already? Oh well, here is what I thought was mentioned: GoG already has a EULA associated with the products sold here, right? I suppose I could see a problem with having to accept a secondary EULA when we are already agreeing to one from the actual host company.

As for the "draconian" tone the EA EULA takes, well, the only rationale I have for it is to minimize workload and streamline as best as possible by having a single, blanket EULA that can be copy/pasted on all of their products. As was mentioned, certain sections apply to certain games, and other sections have absolutely zero impact. And, while I can understand the attitude of "agreeing to two EULAs doesn't feel like the GoG I used to know!", it certainly won't stop me in the slightest for picking up the games that I consider to be the core foundation of what made me the gamer I am today.
Posted June 02, 2011
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Irenaeus.: Don't really understand why people are getting upset about the EULA. I mean, there's no DRM, there's no registration with EA or anything, so why is this different to other GOG games? They have an EULA as well. Just make a copy of the game on CD/HDD and install it as many times as you like, just like the others. Of course, I'd recommend backing up all your GOG games to an external hard drive anyway just in case GOG's servers have a meltdown, but that's just common sense.
I have no problem with EULAs, EA's EULA is not clear enough for me, I described it on the previous page.
Posted June 02, 2011
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EmuAce: =====================

B. By longtimer I mean people like Bansama, Codagh, etal........they'll tell you the same thing I will, though more civilly....will you say they're wrong as well?
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nimagraven: Yeah, but by posting on forums regardless of date, "noobity" or anything like that, it doesn't make you any more qualified or less qualified to say what you think - Geeze, if we applied that in the real world, we'd really get nowhere....

At the end of the day, whether right, wrong etc is just a matter of opinion in this case.. It doesn't make it less valid because one hasn't posted as much or hasn't been here as long.

And I probably broke the quotes...
Yes but the longtimers are usually ones who've been knowledgeable on similar issues or other stuff over the years and this imo makes them more reliable than your average user.
Posted June 02, 2011
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SLP2000: In this case, it is a reason - if I buy a legal copy of the game, and then my licence is terminated without a reason, then I have no licence to use this program/game. Of course noone will check this, and EA won't send a sheriff, but if I pay EA for their game, I want to have legal copy. that's my reason.
I don't really disagree with your reasoning. And I too only own legal copies of media. Not for the law of it, but for the right of it. So for me, it doesn't really matter what they lawyer into their EULA's. I bought it. I own it. Their restrictive EULA's only begin mattering to me when they are backed up by internet validation schemes (though I suffer through the reading of every damn one of them). Through net validation they actually can take away my legally purchased product (usage license). But so long as GOG stays GOG, then I'm not concerned about publishers EULA's. I understand your view, I respect it, and I mostly agree with it.
Posted June 02, 2011
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Irenaeus.: Don't really understand why people are getting upset about the EULA. I mean, there's no DRM, there's no registration with EA or anything, so why is this different to other GOG games? They have an EULA as well. Just make a copy of the game on CD/HDD and install it as many times as you like, just like the others. Of course, I'd recommend backing up all your GOG games to an external hard drive anyway just in case GOG's servers have a meltdown, but that's just common sense.
My issue is slightly different. It could be copy and paste, it might not be copy and paste. Who is to say otherwise? If someone clicks accept, they are agreeing to it, meaning by that EA COULD put something in the future that means you abide by it (i.e. the download manager nonsense etc). It just doesn't "look good" when you're accepting to EULA's that basically talk about circumventing DRM when you're buying games from a store that is meant to be DRM free.

If it is laziness on their part, well I take it back and then shame on them (GOG included, because after all, shouldn't they be pointing this out and reading EULA's themselves?). Otherwise I choose to remain cynical. If this means I'm ostracised for being the salmon that wiggles upstream then I'm fine with that.
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This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussionGOG.com’s Catalog Gets Huge with Addition of Classic EA Titles(651 posts)(651 posts)
(651 posts)
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