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General discussion"We'd be on GOG, but for the cost of maintaining a non-Steam version of our game."(57 posts)(57 posts)
(57 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted August 19, 2015
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sherringon456: On the rentware point, you don't own old disc versions of games either. I have looked at at least 1 eula (Forgotten which one.) and that said liscenced, not sold, somewhere in it, just not at the very beginning like eulas on steam.
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GR00T: This is true of pretty much all software (and true of the games we buy on GOG, even), but the point people are making with this is that with a client like Steam, an outside party controls whether or not you can play the game and can remove it from your possession without you having any say about it. With providers like GOG (or any DRM-free digital distributor) and/or with disc-based media, no one can remove or restrict access to your copy of the game once you DL it or if you have it on disc (barring certain DRM solutions on discs, of course).
Yes, that is the main difference between GOG, discs and other DRM-free sites and steam, origin and uplay forgot to mention that.
Post edited August 19, 2015 by sherringon456
Posted August 19, 2015
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Klumpen0815: GoG can't do much about it.
The reason for this happening is the same why there are not Linux ports for all games out there:
Not enough people care. If more people would stop buying from Steam (except from bundles maybe) and buying Windows-only games, things would change rather quickly.
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dick1982: many causal gamers are moving to android games. does that count as "linux" :P
Gnah, you are mean. ;)
Android is an unholy abomination made out of Linux ... well at least it gave multiplatform developing a serious push and therefore I should be thankful for its existence and indeed I am.

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Leroux: They could at least promise to bring the definite version of the game here as soon as they're done with updates and stop major support for it. It's not an ideal solution, but it might still work if they were open about it and announced it as soon as possible (as opposed to GOG's secrecy tactics), and if they'd refrain from becoming hypocrites by releasing the DRM-free version in a $1 Humble Bundle first.
That's all I want anyway, I don't want myriads of updates but a working product, therefore I'd only want truly finished games here anyway, that's one of the good things about old games: Gold editions.

Fallout 3 GOTY would be a great candidate for GoG, the retail version is even DRM free, if you use the mod-manager and everyone has to do this anyway to even out the game design fails in this one.
Post edited August 19, 2015 by Klumpen0815
Posted August 19, 2015
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synfresh: I'm not necessarily disagreeing with you, but the point of the OP was how to you get developers to get their games on GoG without using the excuse that it's too much trouble. Like I said, GoG may be growing but it's only growing relative to the size that it once was (which was very small).
It's all about priorities. First, I'm more concerned with GOG fixing the site (forum, chat, account) than getting more developers on board (like I said, no shortage of releases anyway), and second, rather than doubling efforts to get the "steam only" kind of developers let's get others. Let's get the missing games from developers already here (for example:why the hell are Fire an Munin from Daedalic not here?), let's get more old games. Those are much better ways to spend time and GOG's resources than butting heads with the "Steam only" crowd.
Posted August 19, 2015
Uhh, nothing? If they don't want to support two different versions of the game, especially if one version is going to sell significantly fewer copies than the other, that's a very wise business decision.
Posted August 20, 2015
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synfresh: Keep in mind it may not just be due to creating separate builds. Valve provides developers/publishers with a whole host of tools that GoG simply cannot compete with. It may be a situation where they want that kind of reporting and control over their product, something GoG cannot provide as much.
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ne_zavarj: So this is why Steam became the garbage collector of indie shit i mean " games " ( for example this one )
"collect your very own baby gnomes as trophies for your minivan!"

Smell Like Paedophiles.
Posted August 20, 2015
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ne_zavarj: So this is why Steam became the garbage collector of indie shit i mean " games " ( for example this one )
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dick1982: "collect your very own baby gnomes as trophies for your minivan!"

Smell Like Paedophiles.
https://www.google.gr/search?q=san+andreas+mr+whoopee&biw=1366&bih=655&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAWoVChMIvrm9uZa2xwIVimkUCh1sGgW8#imgrc=1SojW_hGbxFgJM%3A
Posted August 20, 2015
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Barry_Woodward: What can GOG do to address this issue?
Automate the process as much as possible. My guess is that maintaining a GOG version requires contact with GOG staff while on Steam uploading a build is a fully automated process. If set up properly it can literally be as easy as clicking on a shortcut which builds the current version of the project and uploads it to Steam the moment it's finished. In a perfect world it would be possible to push updates on both GOG and Steam with a single click like this. Of course that would reduce GOG's control and QA capabilities, though. Then again, GOG of course has the rollback feature which should even this out.
Posted August 20, 2015
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ne_zavarj: So this is why Steam became the garbage collector of indie shit i mean " games " ( for example this one )
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dick1982: "collect your very own baby gnomes as trophies for your minivan!"

Smell Like Paedophiles.
stop eating at Subway then.
Posted August 20, 2015
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Breja: GOG may not share my viewpoint, but from my perspective we've grown quite enough for now this past year. Let's take a breather and figure out where we're going, rather than figure new ways to fight for more converts.
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synfresh: I'm not necessarily disagreeing with you, but the point of the OP was how to you get developers to get their games on GoG without using the excuse that it's too much trouble. Like I said, GoG may be growing but it's only growing relative to the size that it once was (which was very small). The average PC gamer doesn't know who GoG is and frankly probably doesn't even care. What should concern GoG isn't that the average buyer knows who Steam is, because everyone does. It's that they know who Humble is (via Humble Bundle).
It's really interesting how many people still never heared of gog. When I saw Mini Metro was on the upcoming list, I tried to ask in the Steam discussion forum if there is a planned date for that because it is still on Early Access.
The first reply to it was "I just went to that site, what it is, a paying abandonware?". So yeah...all people know Steam and most of them are happy with that. Humble was an interesting project that helped indie, yet better known projects like World of Goo and Braid. Too bad it was successful enough that many copied the concept and sooner or later Humble changed to a Steam reseller.
Humble stood for DRM free games (Steam keys were a humble addition), now most of the games from the bundles don't even have a DRM-free version. It's a bit like an additional little Steam Sale (some bundles are quite worth the price but there are more and more bundles with games I have never heared of).
I like it when GoG grows with every game but I fear when it becomes important enough, the catalogue will be filled with very strange "games". GoodOldGames was more or less easy when the focus was solely on bringing old classics onto modern systems. Nobody would doubt I think games like Industry Giant or Warcraft 2 are classics. But with the addition of new(er) games where do we draw the line which games should be released (and who does it?). Players choice? Mechanics like Metacritic? Or is everything allowed that can possibly fill money bags?
Posted August 20, 2015
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gibbeynator: Uhh, nothing? If they don't want to support two different versions of the game, especially if one version is going to sell significantly fewer copies than the other, that's a very wise business decision.
But..but...what about the DRM-Free revolution? Aren't they supposed to do it out of the kindness of their hearts and for the ethics?
Posted August 20, 2015
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Barry_Woodward: From the game submission page:

"We give every game a chance to shine.

Every time we release a game on GOG.com, it gets a dedicated cross-media marketing campaign. It becomes our site's main feature, with an extra-large header banner and a frontpage news article. We'll also promote the release of your game to thousands of our social media followers (on Facebook, Twitter and Google+, etc.). We'll post your game's trailer on our YouTube channel and feature it in our weekly video editorial.

We're also eager to work with you on other special events and actions to make your game's campaign unique. We love to go a bit crazy with our marketing, and we hope you'll get on board with our ideas."
So far I can see, it's all just a written text without impact.

Promoting thru Facebook etc? Steam does that also, it means nothing. It's not even unique. Need more than just that.

Everything means nothing if it doesn't bring revenue.
Posted August 20, 2015
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Lesser: ...
Yes, there are other examples apart from humble, shinyloot for instance. Its the way it goes:
Good idea
Not making enough so expand
Find that most will only do steam
Convert to a key reseller
Fold

It is a very clear indication of the monopoly which steam is. The only thing we can do is to not buy there. I don't, and have no intention of every renting things from any of the main stores - origin, steam, uplay. True it makes zero difference in the grand scheme of things, but it suits me. I would imagine that some years down the line GOG will also start doing this, I mean they already have a key system, an "optional" client, social gaming, paid mods (M&B Viking Conquest) etc.
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This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussion"We'd be on GOG, but for the cost of maintaining a non-Steam version of our game."(57 posts)(57 posts)
(57 posts)