I would actually like a downloader, at least as an option, as for larger games I'm less likely to be able to download it in one go (I only really have the computer on for a few hours in a day).
Plus if there's a disconnection while downloading, I'd hate to have to start all over again.
Important thing would be to make the downloader small and sleek, not clunky like most other companies'. Doesn't need many features, just pause and resume download type things.
Torrents can be good, but they can also be quite slow, it really depends on how many people are sharing it, so I'm not too sure about that.

Stick with the Downloads
Please also offer an Background App.

1. For files larger than 20MB Blizzard provides a small download assistance app that uses some sort of Blizzard torrent network. The app doesn't install itself, and can be deleted after the chosen file is downloaded.
2. download app isn't malware
3. download app must be simple in design... like Blizzard's
4. download app must not consume lots of resources... like Blizzard's
:)

Torrents would be a nice option for direct downloads. With torrents there would be no disconnecting while dl:ing annoyance or problems with corrupt data. So you'll have my vote for torrents.
Of course this could be achieved also with a separate downloader.

i was just thinking about this actually, a small self-contained webinstaller would be perfect.
i have no idea who you are so you're gonne have to do better than that :)

I don't see the need for zip/rar/dz/whatever, because unless the game has some really strange installer, it's almost certainly going to have compressed files anyway.
It'd be like zipping up an mp3, you get close to 0% compression saving because it's already compressed.
That said, the ability to add these files to a download manager and pause/resume/start two downloads at once would be welcome, because I live in a third world country (New Zealand) which has terrible internet connectivity, and I can't imagine being able to stay online for 3 days straight to download a 1 GB game. Then again, it looks like you've already got that going (not that I've tried it myself).

Agreed. If we can download files with our software of choice, then the whole issue of a download manager becomes moot. (*)
If that's not possible for some reason, then I'm all for the optional download manager. Provided that it only loads and runs specifically when we ask it to, and therefore does not consume any resources (other than disk space) at other times, then there's absolutely no harm in having the option available. Those who don't like it simply won't install it.
We definitely need *some* way of resuming downloads.
As for formats... .exe seems pretty sensible to me. Simplicity is good. 7-zip is indeed excellent, so I would agree that employing that at some part of the packaging process would usually be a good move for minimising the file size, but ideally that would happen behind the scenes.
I'd be awfully surprised if .exe was an issue for WINE users, because if WINE can't handle the installer, I don't know how it's going to handle the game?
(*) I've yet to buy my first game (I own so many of your initial line-up that I'm having to read up on some of the more obscure ones in order to decide! Am currently having a nosey at Shattered Steel and M.A.X.), but I'm presuming from the thread that we *can't* simply use something like wget at present to resume a partial download?

I'm running Vista x64, and it throws a fit with large .exe files all the time. Its a new install, with 4gig of RAM, so I'd personally like to see the downloads as ZIPs/RARz/7z or whatever.
As for a GoG download manager, no thanks. I already have enough apps running in the background. Some way to pause/resume would be nice however, but I think the best way to achieve this would be to make the current system work with third party download manages, as others have already suggested.

To be honest, an archive would be preferrable for me. Most good archiving software come with extensive checksums and some even with the ability to recover small errors, some can even be signed. This has the added benefit of being *somewhat* virus and tamper proof - no unpacked exe too infect. The most awesome feature are split archives though. Let's say you chop the games into 650MB parts, that way even guys with slower or more error prone internet connections can get to the games without fear for an accidental disconnect ruining everything. Plus, it'd make backups easier. Just stay over the Megaupload (etc) limits so assholes can't ruin the fun.
On the other hand, unpacking can be a pain, particularly with bigger archives. But oh well, you win some, you lose some.
Personally, I'm in love with rar. I'd prefer an optional split-up signed rar with a small recovery record over the blank executable any day of the week, even though I have a decent enough ADSL connection.
But please, whatever you do, don't ever think of a dedicated download software solution. Ugh. Those things are a pain in the ass. Any decent webbrowser comes with some sort of download manager capable of resuming downloads, so please support that instead.

***this isn't related to any specific post in this thread, more of a general thought based on some of the things i've read so far, and not just in this thread.***
OK, so far i have seen a lot of people requesting open-source this and linux that, and if you want GOG.com to survive, you need to stop that, because it is not a good idea to ask for things that are just for you and maybe 30 other people that will scare away plain old computer users and their money.
there seems to be a bit of an unspoken logical fallacy on the go that if you've been using PCs long enough to remember these games you're going to know how to root your cat or fsck your man and sudo the dishes or whatever but that is absolutely not the case. Use standards, do not use arcane formats for things solely because they have open sourcecode because not as many people as you would like to care about things like that, keep it on industry standards.
If you haven't heard your dad use the filename extension in conversation, don't use it.

I agree with Madman on this issue.
I am also from New Zealand...and I cringe and the thought of downloading a game I paid for as one big file. The chances of it not cutting out during that download, in this country, are about 3 or 4 out of 10.
I think that either the option to use download managers, or maybe even just the game install split up with Winrar or HJSplit, would be very nice for those who can not have their internet or computer running for a long length of time.
I also would like to say that if someone opposes using a download manager because they have something running in the background already...which do you think is worse?
I would rather have my resources chugged up a little more, instead of loosing a download I paid for.
Either way, large single-file downloads are a no no for me :(

+1 for offering archives as an option over .exes - yes, the space saving is minimal (and may even be negative) but there are clear advantages to being able to split things over multiple files and to having built-in CRC checks.
Hmm...how about something like a GoGified version of an app like wget for a downloader? Simple and open-source, which addresses the 'dodgy' question, and should work with any system (and is very low in resource use). Simply tweaked to add the necessary flags and such (much the way some games come with preset DOSBoxen).

I really like the idea of an optional downloader app, myself. I'm happy with the current format of a single EXE file for each game as well.

First off, HEY DANO!!!!!! XD
I personally wouldn't mind a download manager being optional, one kinda like what FilePlanet has. It's not required, you can use it IF you want to. I personally like FilePlanets download manager, showing my throughput, allowing me to pause the download, and the ability to cue up several downlaods. My 2 cents worth.

Some non-EXE format would be helpful due to the aforementioned problems with whatever applications that decide they really want to scan your massive EXE files.
Optional download manager is fine by me.