I'm thinking about joining and buying some cheap DRM-free games from Gamersgate. When they say some of their games are DRM-free, what exactly does this mean? Does it mean I can save to DVDR and install as many times as I want? If they go out of business, will I still be able to install and play just like the DRM-free GOG games? Is there a way to bypass their online installation process? If you have a Gamersgate DRM-free game, can you tell me if you were able to install the game without going online to the Gamersgate site. Thanks.

Yeah, once you get past their server thing you can back them up and everything. As for how you do it, you download the game's whatchamacallit, and run it, it will download all the setup files, and you can then copy them somewhere else for safe keeping.

Okay, let's get this out of the way...
Technically, the games that are DRM free ARE DRM free. Here's the kicker; the installer actually isn't. You have to be logged in to download and install the game and if you want to back it up you must locate the temp file and save it somewhere so it wont be deleted. It's a great site by the way. :0

Some games listed as DRM free don't even use the GG validated install thing. AI War comes to mind. Those are just unencrypted executables.

But yeah, what others are saying. I've just bought "DRM Free" and "Other DRM" games from GG, and backed up all the executables as they are unencrypted. FYI, the "other DRM" games have generally just been serial keys, and I haven't even needed to be online to use them.

God this comes up every other freakin' day and every other freakin' day people talk about the work-around, making it more and more likely some company will notice and bitch and the work-around goes away.

Is it really that hard to search a freaking forum?

Hard? No! IMPOSSIBLE D: D:

Everyone watch out!

GamersGate is a good site though, so it's kind of like we give them free advertising every few days. All in a good cause.

There's a small catch you need to be aware of with DRM-free games from Gamersgate- to actually get all the necessary installation files you need to copy those files at the correct time, which is once the download has finished and the setup/installation window has opened up. This is the only time during which the installation executable will be in the installation folder (it's automatically deleted as soon as the setup completes). As long as you know about this then you can copy the setup files and have a backup that requires no internet connection to use.

Thanks for the info. So after you download, you go into the Windows folder and then the temp folder and save the _.exe file? For the DRM-other, after you purchase GG sends you the serial keys and thats all you need? Thanks. Thanks alot. This is exactly why I ask knowledgable people because I never would have figured that out. Can you tell me where this installation folder is? Is it in My Documents folder or is in the Windows-temp folder? Thanks.

"Other DRM" games are a mixed bag, so YMMV. Best to just email GG support and ask about whatever game you're interested in. They're pretty good at responding. My experience has been the serials keys, which are displayed on your account page at GG (not emailed), have functioned like an offline safedisc check.

However, consider Mount and Blade:Warband - I didn't purchase it there, but it is listed as "Other DRM". If you get it, you will have to be online to verify the serial with Talesworld's server.

The folder is generated in whichever directory you have the Gamersgate download manager file sitting in. For example, if you purchase a game, when you choose to download it what is initially downloaded is a small file that you can save to, say, your desktop. When you run this program it will then start downloading the full game, and in doing so create a folder containing all the installation files (in this case the folder will be located on your desktop, since that's where you saved the downloader file). Once the download finishes and the installation window pops up then just copy that folder to some other location before proceeding with the game installation, and that copy you made will now serve as a permanent backup.

Great, thanks alot. I will buy a cheap game and try this technique out. Later.