Hello folks

I think I know the answer here but I just want to be sure.

I've put the "Baldur's Gate II enhanced Edition Official Soundtrack" into my shopping cart, but there have been a couple of warnings saying - "Please note that you are required to own Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition on GOG.com to be able to purchase and play Baldur's Gate II Enhanced Edition Soundtrack"

I do not own the game on GOG. Surely I'll be able to play the soundtrack though right?
I'm guessing this is just a generic DLC warning that has somehow been attached to this soundtrack right?

What do you reckon?

Thanks

Soundtrack is a DLC and all DLCs require base game to be activated. You simply can't get a soundtrack without having a game in your library. I think it sucks, but it's the way it is.

Almost all products marked as DLC (including soundtracks) require you to own the base game here. Otherwise, the system won't allow you to complete your order.

I never tried it myself, but if the system allows you to complete the purchase then you can play it without issues. Soundtrack downloads don't really need the base game, they're a collection of MP3/FLAC files which can be played almost anywhere.

They're treated as DLC which require that one own the associated game on the same service (or purchase it at the same time) to be able to complete the purchase. I'm pretty sure this is true on Steam and other services as well.

IIRC, a GOG bluetext once hinted that there are "complications" preventing them from just selling standalone soundtracks. I'm guessing there are some legal regulations or tax things that they would have to act on if they wanted to sell music on its own; if that's true, this way of doing it represents a sort of loophole.

EDIT: Fixed horrible typos and word omissions.

It is a completely different thing to sell games with DLC or sell music, that makes sense.

What practical differences there are between those, we can only guess.


Otherwise, it's a bit strange that GOG hasn't even attempted to sell DRM-free music. That would be a better thing to try than movies, as there already are several sites that sell DRM-free FLAC downloads, but there are really no such sites for movies, at least not even close to mainstream.

I would be ready to spend much $$$ €€€ £££ if DRM-free FLACs ever came to GOG.

But selling DRM-free movies was a decent idea precisely because it's a market that hasn't really been covered (I just don't think they had the connections or the resources to succeed). And DRM-free (legally-) downloadable games were an almost-as-underserved niche market when GOG started up a decade ago.
But there are plenty of places that sell DRM-free music downloads these days, and apparently even quite a few that also (or only) sell FLACs and/or other higher-quality formats; and after GOG's experience with selling films, I imagine they're somewhat wary -- rightly or wrongly -- of getting into another market that is already pretty well covered.

Yeah, but I haven't yet found a store that would fit my wants and needs.

- Some stores don't sell to a country where I'm currently living in
- Some stores don't accept any payment methods that I have (shame on you, Asian online stores!)
- Some stores sell only niche that I'm not that interested in
- Some stores have a very limited selection, like one album from one artist
- Some stores close down their download service, which isn't that big of a deal if it's DRM-free, but I would still appreciate a library that is expected to last for a while
- And finally, if some store actually meets all the criteria above, then in the end they sell only MP3s, not FLACs, so they are not an option.

At least GOG could have a very niche "Music for Gamers" selection, which would sell only game soundtracks and otherwise game-related music.

Thanks for the correction, that's a shame though.

Ah, thanks folks.
Bit disappointed that this is how it is. I never know how these things work, but I suppose it makes sense.
Och well. Removed from my shopping basket.

You could try to buy it as a gift, and then redeem it yourself. I have bought gift codes for DLC where I didn't own the base game, so it should be possible.

… And you can add it to your wishlist, so that it may be gifted to you. :)

edit: added question

I wonder what the legal rights would be if someone who had purchased said IP, then bought the extras, and then sold those extras to a third party. In another country. For a comparison, consider a book, or a console game. Or a car. Video games seem to be quite burdened with legal proscriptions.

Nope. He could indeed buy it as a gift, but GOG still wouldn't let him redeem it to his account unless he had the base game in that account.

The Planescape: Torment Soundtrack used to be buyable without having to own the game. I just saw that this is not possible any more... and I was looking forward to getting the FLAC soundtrack some time...

Ah, well, the game is only € 4,99, and I get the old version as well, so I might just buy both now.