im new to gog.com, says downloading in 2 hours. when can I play after that??

As soon as it's installed. If I've understood all the signs so far correctly.

Are you talking about Witcher 3 (which has a definite launch hour) or another game (which can be played after it's installed)? Are you downloading from the website (then you'll have to double click on the executable you are downloading to install the game), from the GOG downloader (same answer), or from Galaxy (then the game will be directly installed)? Our answer will depend of what you are talking about :)

Once you have all the main files installed, there will be a small download to unlock it at around 7pm EST.

or after you le gasp ! double clicked the installer if you are downloading directly


....yes downloading the installer arcane voodoo magic i am sure

that's what it looks like to me, but then I read that this all pre download whatever that really means, and can be played when actually released! cant we get a easy to read answer!!

If you mean The Witcher 3, in 1h 45m.

The "pre download" is what you are doing now. Its most of the games files, in an unuseable format, until the game is officially released at 7pm EST.

deff witcher 3! im on gog downloader which I have never used before (assuming its like steam?) and says 1 hour 40 minutes left to download. so we will be able to play today instead of others having to wait till tomorrow!? im in eastern time, so I should actually be able to play at 7!!??

You mean "easy to read" as in, say, a huge stonking countdown like the one on the main page?

lol don't rag on me dude lol I said I was new to gog haha. just didn't have any idea we could play today!

But ragging is all I have left... :(

If you're using the GOG downloader (and not the GOG Galaxy client), then it's not like Steam. You are downloading an installer (the game files in a compressed format, that you can archive or move from one computer to another). Once it's downloaded, you have to run the downloaded executable (the downloader has a link to them, or you can find them in your "My documents/GOG downloads" folder), and it will install the game on your computer.
If you are on GOG galaxy, then yes, it installs the game directly "just like steam".

In both cases, though, the game has an official release hour, which means you will have to download and install a patch that will unlock the game.

lol then rag away! so gog is just another steam or origin?

Nope. When you buy on GOG you actually own your game copy. (Ragging is no fun when you're allowed to)