I can't say I'm happy about this. On the one hand, I can't help but feel that this was almost inevitable. I've always suspected that, for some publishers, the flat pricing structure was arguably much more of a sticking point than DRM-free and thus didn't want to put their games on the service for that reason. And if I'm entirely frank, between DRM-free and flat pricing, I care much more about the former than I do about the latter; as someone who tends to buy games locally whenever possible, I'm used to paying a higher price. Overall, I can see GOG's point of view on this and why it might be necessary to allow for more DRM-free games to be released on the service.

On the other, though, I can't see this as anything other than a regressive step. Part of the reason why I dislike Steam is precisely the fact that it has all the downsides of a regular retailer and that includes the bullshit 1$=1€ policy (there's even a website dedicated to fighting Steam's price discrimination). I saw GOG as a very progressive service and as "digital distribution done right" precisely because it took advantage of the fact that it was on the worldwide web and did things that a regular retailer can't do such as flat pricing, worldwide availability and no censorship. The fact that some of this is now being compromised is not only disheartening, but also makes the service much less attractive to people from regions that often get screwed on account of price discrimination. There's a reason why Steam isn't as popular in Europe as it is in places like North America.

On top of what I already mentioned, part of the reason why GOG gained so much popularity is precisely because it was such a stark contrast to its competitors; likewise, part of the reason many of the non-Steam DD services have become increasingly irrelevant is precisely because they became more and more like Steam. Not only does this move make GOG more similar to other DD services, like jamyskis said, it also undermines the confidence people have that GOG will actually stick to its principles. As they say, give them an inch and they'll take a mile; now that they've buckled under pressure in regards to regional pricing, publishers will become even bolder in their demands and will want stuff like DRM as well. I'm not saying they're certain to give up on those values, but now that GOG has given up on one, it'll have to prove that it's actually sticking to the others.

However, before I decide how to proceed in light of this, I would like to ask two questions and I hope someone from the GOG team will be willing to answer me:

- Does the introduction of regional pricing also mean the introduction of regional lockout? Meaning, are we going to start seeing things like games not being available for purchase in certain regions or only being available in censored form?

- Much like how GOG has been trying to offer complete games whenever possible in spite of the introduction of DLC, will GOG also try to negotiate for flat pricing whenever possible?

Actually, you have that backwards. While serial numbers are most definitely copy protection, they arguably don't count as DRM due to the fact that it doesn't actually prevent you from doing anything you see fit with your copy of the game (for example, I can still sell my physical copy of StarCraft in spite of the fact that it uses a serial number; I can't do the same with my copy of StarCraft II since it uses online DRM). And no, I don't view copy protection and DRM as one and the same, even though the motivations behind the two are similar.

I know. But I'd like to continue believing that regional pricing doesn't necessarily mean regional restrictions being introduced to the store. Yet.

Then I won't be buying these games. One of your major selling points for years has been that it is a flat price worldwide, and you have even advertised this fact. Region locked pricing is a damn terrible practice that I detest, and I won't be supporting it here.

What's happening to you GoG?

Let me give you an example, OK? Not GOG-related, but principle-related.
Imagine two couples where, in a moment of disagreement, people decide to stop talking to each other. In the first couple (after, say, a month) a few words suddenly get exchanged, people decide "Well, fuck - so much for not talking to each other" and they live happily ever after. In the second couple, after a similar time, a few words get exchanged... and that's it. They still avoid talking to each other, and even if a word or two slip - nothing much follows.

Principles are not an all-or-nothing sort of deal. That's the easiest sort to shatter. That's how we get the "Paragon always rebels" trope - if you bring things to their very extreme, they usually become absurd and unwieldy. If you think in absolutes, you discard your beliefs after a single failing - "I can't claim to HAVE ALWAYS, so it doesn't matter". That's AS SILLY AS IT SOUNDS.

I'm not exactly happy with regional pricing, but if that's what it takes to have some day-one DRM-free non-indie releases, then it may be worth the trade... MAY.
Let's be a bit more cynical here, shall we? Let's see if this benefits us more than it annoys us.

http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/12/5205336/leisure-suit-larry-creator-al-lowe-quits-comeback-company-replay
Some are already offering free porn :)

Sure, Germans can buy it. for $1 trillion.

GOG is still mainly about selling ridiculously cheap games to a partially spoilt customer base that will only ever be happy when they get 50% or more off (and complain like spoiled brats when they miss a sale).

Let's hope so... :)

Honest question - wouldn't that also apply to US users regarding Sales Taxes?

LOL - exactly right. If a customer doesn't like the changes then he or she has a decision to make: continue to buy here, or buy from some other vendor doing exactly the same thing. At the very least gOg held out as long as practical, given that we customers have been asking / begging / pleading for more new and classic DRM-free big-name titles.



As mentioned previous, I don't envy gOg's position in this changing marketplace. Do they pass up the opportunity to grow the DRM-free catalog at the risk of upsetting some customers, or do they stick with the original model that has put limits on the titles that can be offered? This, while being an underdog working in a market dominated by the 8,000 pound Gaberilla.

Myself, I think it's important for consumers in the long run to get more publishers willing to take that chance on DRM-free with big-name new and classic releases; however, I admit that's easy for me to say since the USD is probably the baseline price from which all other prices are calculated, and thus I won't feel the same impact from this change.

That said, I'm fully numbed to getting boned with taxes here so I'm willing to pay a bit more for games (raise the baseline prices) so gOg can still meet the regional revenue requirements of the publishers while sticking to the one-world-one-price schtick. In other words, with regional pricing if I would be paying $6 less than my bros and sistas elsewhere, I'd happily pay $3 more so they can pay $3 less without gOg taking it in the shorts on their revenue and while also meeting the publisher's requirements.

Your point still has nothing at all to do with the topic of discussion. All you're doing is coming off as a condescending jerk.

So this is the end of worldwide equal prices. GOG you could have said it in much less words and much less ambigous.

For europeans this surely means higher prices. The more you divide the market, the less efficient it will work.

Anyway I wonder how the one free game if you buy another game has anything to do with it. Doesn't change regional pricing a bit, does it.

I doubt that GOG collects and remits sales tax to the US.But, isn't Poland in the EU? I find that aspect rather confusing, but if they're in the EU, then it would be hard for them to not collect the tax and remit it as appropriate.

As someone in the States I'm interested in how regional pricing will affect gifting. Will I have to restructure my giveaways in order to buy the right region version for the winner? And how the heck will gifting keys work, will they be tied to regions as well?