It seems that you're using an outdated browser. Some things may not work as they should (or don't work at all).
We suggest you upgrade newer and better browser like: Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer or Opera

×
Community
General discussionGOG, Is it truly more difficult for developers to update their games on GOG?(175 posts)(175 posts)
(175 posts)
Pages:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
This is my favourite topic
Posted April 22, 2018
I'd like them to make a clause in every contract in case of game removal to give it on discount for 48-72 hours before being pulled from the store. :p
Posted April 22, 2018
avatar
phaolo: I'm actually more in favor of some clause, more than a fine.
Like removal of a game if its version is N month older and X builds behind.
Or high discount if they're too late, or something else.
What if those missing updates are very minor or even useless to GOG users, like some Steam-service specific updates? Should the games still be removed from the store?

Who would do that tracking for all GOG games, cross-checking repeatedly whether they have all the same updates as the Steam or Origin or UPlay version(s), and whether they are important updates?
Posted April 22, 2018
avatar
timppu: What if those missing updates are very minor or even useless to GOG users, like some Steam-service specific updates? Should the games still be removed from the store?
I didn't mean an automatic removal.
These would be some parameters to identify an outdated game.
The staff would be notified and they'd have to check the game's status with the publisher.
(the version dates would be useful too)

avatar
timppu: Who would do that tracking for all GOG games, cross-checking repeatedly whether they have all the same updates as the Steam or Origin or UPlay version(s), and whether they are important updates?
Users could report them, like we do now.
(an automatic notification system would be better, however)
Post edited April 22, 2018 by phaolo
Posted April 22, 2018
avatar
phaolo: Users could report them, like we do now.
(an automatic notification system would be better, however)
How exactly would you automate it, ie. how could the system check automatically from all the other stores whether the GOG version is out of date, and whether there are important updates (missing)?

Even if it was semi-automated (somehow trying to decipher the version number on the Steam version, and checking it against the GOG version number, for example), there would still be lots of manual cross-checking involved.

I think the current way is quite good: vigilant GOGers find them out, inform GOG, and then it is up to GOG to try to push the update to GOG. And at the same time, the GOGers keep a list of such outdated games, as a buyer's beware list (this can also be considered as such a way of communication from GOG users to the GOG staff).
Post edited April 22, 2018 by timppu
Posted April 22, 2018
avatar
phaolo: Users could report them, like we do now.
(an automatic notification system would be better, however)
avatar
timppu: How exactly would you automate it, ie. how could the system check automatically from all the other stores
[..] I think the current way is quite good: vigilant GOGers find them out, inform GOG,
But I said "Users could report them, like we do now."...

The automation is just a wish, because I often prefer it to slow manual procedures.
Btw consider what normal users already accomplished with their scripts.. :O
Post edited April 22, 2018 by phaolo
Posted April 22, 2018
avatar
elcook: First things first, let me tell you that we do have a devportal open to all our partners, not only for those who are implementing Galaxy features. Within this portal every developer can get a hold of our build delivery tool that works exactly like steampipe - updating a game on GOG is a matter of executing a single script.
avatar
Lukaszmik: And yet the community manager for Exanima claims they had long submitted the files, but the most recent patch has not been available since end of February:

https://www.gog.com/forum/exanima/exanima_in_development_faq/post39
This is why I haven't been eager to take gog at their word on this matter. We've long had similar reports from other devs on this. If updating were really as simple as that, we wouldn't be seeing stuff like the above link. Obviously there's still a barrier or miscommunication somewhere stalling the process. I'm not buying that it's entriely the fault of devs, but I will say it's getting old buying or wanting to buy a game at gog only to discover it will be abandoned, sometimes immediately after launch.
Posted April 22, 2018
avatar
Lukaszmik: And yet the community manager for Exanima claims they had long submitted the files, but the most recent patch has not been available since end of February:

https://www.gog.com/forum/exanima/exanima_in_development_faq/post39
avatar
Lucian_Galca: This is why I haven't been eager to take gog at their word on this matter. We've long had similar reports from other devs on this. If updating were really as simple as that, we wouldn't be seeing stuff like the above link. Obviously there's still a barrier or miscommunication somewhere stalling the process. I'm not buying that it's entriely the fault of devs, but I will say it's getting old buying or wanting to buy a game at gog only to discover it will be abandoned, sometimes immediately after launch.
Seems still the fault of the dev, because if they send the patch with the automated service, it'll update automatically without the intervention of GOG staff, at least for the Galaxy version.
Posted April 22, 2018
avatar
Lucian_Galca: I'm not buying that it's entriely the fault of devs,
I'm also not buying. They became way too political, disguising crap as "good news" (newest example: privacy off by default).
Posted April 22, 2018
avatar
Senteria: From what I often hear is that they use steam users as lab rats. 1. There is a bigger test audience. 2. If they mess up a patch they only have to answer to the people who bought the game on steam. With gog they have to answer with GOG staff too I suppose as GOG tests the new build too. Maybe that feels a bit intimidating. Finally we get to the point that getting the gog build done is 'another thing on the list' of things to do and since the userbase of GOG is astronomically lower than steam's, they feel there's no rush.
Of course we do have excellent developers like Larian who do update simultaniously.

But that's just my speculation.
avatar
HypersomniacLive: Yeah well, regardless of the size of the user-base, everyone still pays the same price, and everyone's money carries the same value.

And based on what elcook and Judas said, Galaxy users are the same "lab rat" material (no offence meant), as the builds are tested afterwards, and the client has a roll-back feature.
My guess, their primary build is geared towards Steam given their large user base. Keep that build bug free and updated as fast as possible to keep the masses happy and the revenue flowing. Then, when their time/money permits, update their other platform builds. It's a sad truth - smaller revenue platforms just don't get the time/energy from a lot of devs for this supposed reason.
Posted April 22, 2018
avatar
Lukaszmik: And yet the community manager for Exanima claims they had long submitted the files, but the most recent patch has not been available since end of February:

https://www.gog.com/forum/exanima/exanima_in_development_faq/post39
Depends on how they submitted them. It could be they are not using the new system and sent eveything the old way via FTP which somehow got overlooked.
Posted April 22, 2018
avatar
Lukaszmik: And yet the community manager for Exanima claims they had long submitted the files, but the most recent patch has not been available since end of February:

https://www.gog.com/forum/exanima/exanima_in_development_faq/post39
Bare Mettle Entertainment? The guys who took about $200 000 from a Kickstarter campaign and were supposed to develop a game (Sui Generis) that was supposed to be out in May 2014? And that made a completely different game (Exanima) instead? Which also isn't really out yet, but still in development? And who even stopped doing Kickstarter updates in November 2015.

I'm not sure, if I would take these guys as a reliable source when it comes to updates...
Posted April 22, 2018
avatar
Lukaszmik: And yet the community manager for Exanima claims they had long submitted the files, but the most recent patch has not been available since end of February:

https://www.gog.com/forum/exanima/exanima_in_development_faq/post39
avatar
PaterAlf: Bare Mettle Entertainment? The guys who took about $200 000 from a Kickstarter campaign and were supposed to develop a game (Sui Generis) that was supposed to be out in May 2014? And that made a completely different game (Exanima) instead? Which also isn't really out yet, but still in development? And who even stopped doing Kickstarter updates in November 2015.

I'm not sure, if I would take these guys as a reliable source when it comes to updates...
THIS!
Exactly this!

I don't want to sound like a perfect "GOG fanboy retard". Specially because have had plenty of dumb moments in their history.
But if there's one thing that the recent wave of "Indie Games" has taught me it's that small, independent devs can be quite as lying, double-crossing and greedy bastards as the big AAA publishers.

But as in all things GOG, we can only speculate as to the real reasons.
Posted April 23, 2018
avatar
foxworks: [...] Then, when their time/money permits, update their other platform builds. [...]
*looks at avatar confused, checks username, waves embarrassed*

Can I have their game, and pay when time/money permits?
Posted April 24, 2018
- Elex got a patch in March, but not on GOG.
- Dead in Vinland got patch 1.02 on GOG after writing to the developers. Then came the patches 1.03 and 1.04. GOG still has 1.02.

Translated with Google.
Posted April 24, 2018
high rated
avatar
Ulf2016: - Elex got a patch in March, but not on GOG.
- Dead in Vinland got patch 1.02 on GOG after writing to the developers. Then came the patches 1.03 and 1.04. GOG still has 1.02.

Translated with Google.
Hi,

For Elex do you have a link about this patch by any chance? I can't find anything so any additional information about this patch.

As for Dead in Vinland, we are actually working with the developer as I write this so they can start updating the game on their own schedule like they would basically on Steam.
Pages:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussionGOG, Is it truly more difficult for developers to update their games on GOG?(175 posts)(175 posts)
(175 posts)