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 discussionHow do you launch GOG games to count your game time directly from game shortcut icon?(4 posts)solved(4 posts)solved
(4 posts)solved
Pages:
1
This is my favourite topic
Posted February 11, 2025
Hello,

I have several games including the retail version of Stalker Clear Sky DVD that I have registered in my GOG account. I downloaded and installed the game via GOG Galaxy.

But if I launch the GOG Galaxy application but then launch for example S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Clear Sky from the shortcut icon then GOG Galaxy application fails to detect that I am playing the game!

This means my game time will not be counted. It only recognises that I am online in my profile.

However, likewise if I manually go to the Installed tab and press the "Play" button manually then the application recognises that I am playing the game. Or alternatively if I right click in the system tray icon and then select the game then it works.

The problem is that this is a bit of a hassle. I would've thought that just launching the GOG app and then manually launching the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Clear Sky shortcut icon would recognise and count my game time.

Now I understand this was designed to play the game offline without dependency on using the galaxy app. This isn't a problem for this game as it doesn't have achievements.

My worry is that if I play other games that have achievements included and I forget to launch them via the app then I won't get those achievements! This can be a big blunder.

Does anyone know how to launch games from shortcut icons while at the same time making GOG Galaxy detect that the game is running? This is important especially when games have achievements.

I look forward to a response.
This question / problem has been solved by Ice_Mageimage
Posted February 11, 2025
Hello,
avatar
BLaZiNg_SPEED: I downloaded and installed the game via GOG Galaxy.
That's weird. Was the desktop shortcut also created by GOG Galaxy, by checking the relevant option prior to installation? Anyway, just open up the Start menu, find the game's shortcut there, and copy that to the desktop. That one should launch the game via GOG Galaxy. When you right-click the shortcut and choose Properties, then click the Shorcut tab, the Target field should read something like this:

"C:\Where GOG Galaxy is installed\GOG Galaxy\GalaxyClient.exe" /command=runGame /gameId=1109405267 /path="C:\Where GOG Games are installed\The Game Folder"

Edit: if you don't know the game's ID, you can look it up on https://www.gogdb.org
Post edited February 11, 2025 by Ice_Mage
Posted February 11, 2025
avatar
Ice_Mage: Hello,
avatar
BLaZiNg_SPEED: I downloaded and installed the game via GOG Galaxy.
avatar
Ice_Mage: That's weird. Was the desktop shortcut also created by GOG Galaxy, by checking the relevant option prior to installation? Anyway, just open up the Start menu, find the game's shortcut there, and copy that to the desktop. That one should launch the game via GOG Galaxy. When you right-click the shortcut and choose Properties, then click the Shorcut tab, the Target field should read something like this:

"C:\Where GOG Galaxy is installed\GOG Galaxy\GalaxyClient.exe" /command=runGame /gameId=1109405267 /path="C:\Where GOG Games are installed\The Game Folder"

Edit: if you don't know the game's ID, you can look it up on https://www.gogdb.org
Many thanks for your response. Yes, the desktop shortcut was indeed created by GOG Galaxy. But it only launches without GOG. And even if I manually launch GOG Galaxy and then launch the game it doesn't work.

I tried dragging the game shortcut from start menu and it did not make a difference.

I also tried your guide. "C:\Program Files (x86)\GOG Galaxy\GalaxyClient.exe" /command=runGame /gameId=1207660603 /path="C:\Program Files (x86)\GOG Galaxy\Games\S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Clear Sky\"

I found the gameID https://www.gogdb.org/product/1207660603
Not sure what I am doing wrong. But this won't allow me saying Problem with shortcut "not valid".

I don't know if this is specific to this particular game. Obviously this is the original Retail version key, which I registered to GOG many years ago. But when I played it I ignored the Galaxy app at that time.

Is this a normal behaviour? If I typically launch GOG games will it automatically launch the GOG galaxy app or will it treat it like a Retail game without Galaxy launcher?

This is the only game I installed. I haven't tried it with others to know. Maybe GOG games with achievements won't have this problem.

Edit: I found the solution to the problem!!
Create a GalaxyClient - Shortcut icon to desktop and then in the Target paste this line
"C:\Program Files (x86)\GOG Galaxy\GalaxyClient.exe" /command=runGame /gameId=1207660603 /path="C:\Program Files (x86)\GOG Galaxy\Games\S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Clear Sky\"

Now the game launches exactly like how it should behave. I hope this shouldn't be done for other games as it can be hectic. But at least now I know the solution. Now I simply manually change shortcut game icon and rename it to the game and now it works!
Post edited February 11, 2025 by BLaZiNg_SPEED
Posted February 12, 2025
avatar
BLaZiNg_SPEED: I also tried your guide. "C:\Program Files (x86)\GOG Galaxy\GalaxyClient.exe" /command=runGame /gameId=1207660603 /path="C:\Program Files (x86)\GOG Galaxy\Games\S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Clear Sky\"

Edit: I found the solution to the problem!!
Create a GalaxyClient - Shortcut icon to desktop and then in the Target paste this line
"C:\Program Files (x86)\GOG Galaxy\GalaxyClient.exe" /command=runGame /gameId=1207660603 /path="C:\Program Files (x86)\GOG Galaxy\Games\S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Clear Sky\"
Your "doesn't work" and "works" shortcuts are the same thing. Maybe you included blank or trailing spaces the first time.
avatar
BLaZiNg_SPEED: Many thanks for your response.
You're welcome. And yet you haven't marked my post as the solution to the thread.
Pages:
1
This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussionHow do you launch GOG games to count your game time directly from game shortcut icon?(4 posts)solved(4 posts)solved
(4 posts)solved