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General discussionAnnouncement: Big Preorders & Launch Day Releases Coming!(4041 posts)(4041 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted February 21, 2014
The DRM-Free Revolution Continues with Big Pre-Orders and Launch Day Releases!

Good news! GOG.com is going to bring you more fantastic launch day releases, preorders, and other exciting new content from some of our favorite developers. We've lined up 3 big titles that we will be bringing to GOG.com in the next couple of months for sale or preorder that we think will be hits with all of our gamers; and we have more equally exciting games coming up soon.

If you've been a member of the site for a long time, you may recall that when we launched sales of The Witcher 2 on GOG.com, we had to add in regional pricing. The game cost different amounts in in the US, the UK, the European Union, and Australia. We're doing something like that once again in order to bring you new titles from fantastic bigger studios. Since we don't accept currencies other than USD on GOG.com right now, we'll be charging the equivalent of the local price in USD for these titles. We wish that we could offer these games at flat prices everywhere in the world, but the decision on pricing is always in our partners' hands, and regional pricing is becoming the standard around the globe. We're doing this because we believe that there's no better way to accomplish our overall goals for DRM-Free gaming and GOG.com. We need more games, devs, and publishers on board to make DRM-Free gaming something that's standard for all of the gaming world!

That brings with it more good news, though! As mentioned, we have three games we're launching soon with regional pricing--two RPGs and a strategy game--and while we can't tell you what they are yet because breaking an NDA has more severe penalties than just getting a noogie, we're confident that you'll be as excited about these games as we are. For a limited time, we will be offering anyone who pre-orders or buys one of them a free game from a selection as a gift from GOG.com, just like we did for The Witcher 2.

If you have any questions, hit us up in the comments below and we'll be happy to answer (to the best of our ability).

EDIT: Since we've answered a lot of the common questions already here (and lest you think that we've ignored you), it may be handy for you to check out the forum thread about this and search for staff answers by clicking this link here. (hat tip to user Eli who reminded us that the feature even exists. :)
Posted February 23, 2014
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Ichwillnichtmehr: We had a lot of new games(No AAA titles, I admit) here on GOG.com, both DRM-free and with a flat price, and their number seemed to increase, so I don't think the situation is that desperate.
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adamhm: Yes, because it is much easier to arrange a worldwide price for digital-only releases. It gets a lot more complicated once you bring physical retail into play as publishers will have agreements with various local distributors/retailers for pricing that they are not allowed to undercut. So for those there's either regional pricing, or to have the worldwide price be the most expensive anywhere in the world.
As a counterexample:

Blackguards on Amazon.de:

- Physical Retail Box: 36.99€ (~50$)

- Physical Collectors Edition: 59.99€ (~82$)

- Digital (Steam Code) Standard Edition: 39.99€ (~55$)

- Digital (Steam Code) Deluxe edition: 59.99€ (~82$)

Blackguards on GOG.com:

- Digital "Special" Edition: $44.99 (~33€)

The GOG.com version is DRM-free, flat priced and the least expensive.
Post edited February 23, 2014 by Ichwillnichtmehr
Posted February 23, 2014
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Niggles: But consumer should have a choice.... and not unfairly keep prices on digital inflated just to prop up the retail stores :/
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crazy_dave: Didn't say it was right, but it is legal to include in negotiations ... sorry :(
And the odd thing is?. Im willing to be most of retail store outlets

a) hardly have any PC games on display (usually in a tiny corner) - if they do 80% of them are either old games or shitty casual titles
b) probably make most of their money from console/portables software sales + console hardware - i doubt EB or JB Hifi (they sell all other electronic crap like computers, tvs, etc) are financially hurting
Post edited February 23, 2014 by Niggles
Posted February 23, 2014
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crazy_dave: Didn't say it was right, but it is legal to include in negotiations ... sorry :(
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Niggles: And the odd thing is?. Im willing to be most of retail store outlets

a) hardly have any PC games on display (usually in a tiny corner) - if they do 80% of them are either old games or shitty casual titles
b) probably make most of their money from console/portables software sales + console hardware - i doubt EB or JB Hifi (they sell all other electronic crap like computers, tvs, etc) are financially hurting
It's not just the stores, but the distributor who is selling the product to the stores (sometimes is the same as the publisher, sometimes not - i.e. CDPR published TW2, but the physical copy distribution was handled by Namco Bandai in many places)
Post edited February 23, 2014 by crazy_dave
Posted February 23, 2014
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adamhm: Well these days retail boxes are little more than a DVD box containing a Steam key, an "install disc" that contains some of the game data (rest downloaded through Steam) and a leaflet with some advertisements and a note along the lines of "manual on disc".

Once the key has been activated on Steam the box and its contents are effectively worthless.
If that's the case, why is retail this expensive again?

And one more question, when talking about retail distributors, are we actually talking about stores that sell exclusively retail editions of games and games only?
Posted February 23, 2014
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adamhm: Well these days retail boxes are little more than a DVD box containing a Steam key, an "install disc" that contains some of the game data (rest downloaded through Steam) and a leaflet with some advertisements and a note along the lines of "manual on disc".

Once the key has been activated on Steam the box and its contents are effectively worthless.
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HypersomniacLive: If that's the case, why is retail this expensive again?

And one more question, when talking about retail distributors, are we actually talking about stores that sell exclusively retail editions of games and games only?
A variety of reasons: physical cost of production + distribution, perceived value of physical goods, and finally the resale value are amongst them
Posted February 23, 2014
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TheEnigmaticT: ...because you'll find great games DRM-free on GOG.com that wouldn't be DRM-free without this.
'nuff said

but i'll say more,

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TheEnigmaticT: ...GOG.com will be giving something for you guys out of our pockets to help make up the difference between regional prices.
ain't that nice!?!

_______

How is it that people complain? We get DRM free games on GOG that otherwise would not be DRM free. Regional Pricing affects only Some games. Where Regional Pricing is in play, GOG gives us an allowance from their own monies. Is good. Thanks GOG.
Post edited February 23, 2014 by WhiteElk
Posted February 23, 2014
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Ekaros: Real question in my mind is the old titles. And what happens when contracts relating to them come up to negotiations again? Will the publishers try to force their way in to have regional pricing on them too and if so will GoG have strength to say no at that point?
Other than perhaps EA, I highly doubt it. Most of these are pure profit at this point, as there's practically no investment anymore. It's free money at this point, especially with GOG staff having done most of the legwork to get the games working on modern systems in many cases.

While we're on that topic, I find it funny how people in this thread are claiming that classic titles have been abandoned.

Since the "rebranding," we've had System Shock 2, Daikatana(!), Red Faction I & II, Rogue Trooper, Deadly Premonition, Rune, the Carmageddon series, Deathtrap Dungeon, Shadow Man, I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream, the Full Spectrum Warrior and Full Spectrum Warrior: Ten Hammers, the list goes on, and many of them still have lots of bonus materials. They've not abandoned anything, but the way people act, you'd be forgiven for thinking that GOG staff had forgotten there WERE classic games.

No wonder the gaming community is viewed as a bunch of whiny, entitled brats.
Posted February 23, 2014
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JohnnyDollar: You could yell that over a loud speaker over and over all night long and it wouldn't do any good. The existence of "REGIONAL PRICING" in any way, shape, or form, is what everyone is hung up on right now. :/
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crazy_dave: With good reason, remember GOG had made flat-pricing a cornerstone of their consumer-policy and touted it as their major contribution to treating consumers better than their competition, that they didn't allow publishers to rip them off.

Now I happen to think that flat pricing came with its own inequities, but generally treated those who normally get shafted better than most current regional pricing models. Maybe GOG will come up with something even more fair, but if this is a distributor driven decision where often regional pricing is enforced on publishers and developers who want to sell physical copies (as it was for CDPR and TW2), I doubt it will be in their hands.

My guess is that GOG decided flat-pricing was a battle they couldn't win and DRM-free is one they can. It's possible the court case where GOG and CDPR lost against Namco Bandai over TW2 regional pricing helped determine this change in course.
Good points.

They're probably kicking themselves for using that selling point right now, but shit happens, things change, and I can't blame them for it. I'm a little more forgiving of them too than I would be with most others in the industry.

GOG rep: "Damn it Ted, why did I let you talk me into advertising that?!!"
"Now we look like asses!!"

I would like to think that DRM-free is untouchable and that it plays a prominent role in their decision making. I think it's a bit foolish to say that it is untouchable and GOG will never reverse that, because anything can happen. I'm still going to hold them to it though, and that is the linchpin here at GOG afaic.
Post edited February 23, 2014 by JohnnyDollar
Posted February 23, 2014
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TheEnigmaticT: ...because you'll find great games DRM-free on GOG.com that wouldn't be DRM-free without this.
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WhiteElk: 'nuff said

but i'll say more,

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TheEnigmaticT: ...GOG.com will be giving something for you guys out of our pockets to help make up the difference between regional prices.
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WhiteElk: ain't that nice!?!

_______

How is it that people complain? We get DRM free games on GOG that otherwise would not be DRM free. Regional Pricing affects only Some games. Where Regional Pricing is in play, GOG gives us an allowance from their own monies. Is good. Thanks GOG.
Agreed.
Posted February 23, 2014
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WhiteElk: Where Regional Pricing is in play, GOG gives us an allowance from their own monies.
According the OP, that offer is for pre-orders and a limited time
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RawSteelUT: While we're on that topic, I find it funny how people in this thread are claiming that classic titles have been abandoned.
I agree that was and still is silly, but I do understand why some people are so upset by the loss of flat-pricing
Post edited February 23, 2014 by crazy_dave
Posted February 23, 2014
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MoP: Not to turn Your effort into a negative, because I think it's a fantastic thing You guys did in helping out with tracking down one of the gazillion hidden gems out there (and I think this could be another great alternative form of GOGs growth, encouraging this "grassroots" community involvement). But seeing You guys doing "their job", and seeing one of the blues in another, unconnected instance (wish I could find the quote now) saying they didn't have the time to pursue one of the classics that were brought up, made me wonder just how much are they truly involved in this, once core, aspect of this place.

TET and others often bring up System Shock 2 and other classics that came here after the drop of the acronym, but as I've been trying to figure out, do we know exactly how much of a role does GOG play in these "victories" these days? Can GOG really be praised for allowing virtual shelf space for oldies, when other places more often than not also carry a DRM-free version shortly after, and with the seemingly increasing reliance on others doing the "dirty work"?
...
I certainly think they could do more to bring the classics here, but I'm sure since they've been adding plenty of other games too they've had to stop playing so much of a role in how many can appear. I don't really like it, but I continued to praise what classics have brought.

I probably should give Night Dive more credit than I do. I was upset that they released the games on Steam, but I guess if ND really is doing the majority of the work they certainly deserve to release the games wherever they can.

Nevertheless, if and when the Humongous games get re-released, I will NOT be purchasing them until non-Steam/DRM-free versions are released /somewhere/. There's no way in hell I'm getting them on Steam. ;)
Post edited February 23, 2014 by tfishell
Posted February 23, 2014
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TheEnigmaticT: ...because you'll find great games DRM-free on GOG.com that wouldn't be DRM-free without this.
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WhiteElk: 'nuff said

but i'll say more,

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TheEnigmaticT: ...GOG.com will be giving something for you guys out of our pockets to help make up the difference between regional prices.
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WhiteElk: ain't that nice!?!

_______

How is it that people complain? We get DRM free games on GOG that otherwise would not be DRM free. Regional Pricing affects only Some games. Where Regional Pricing is in play, GOG gives us an allowance from their own monies. Is good. Thanks GOG.
And what other company is willing to compensate for regional pricing?
Post edited February 23, 2014 by scampywiak
Posted February 23, 2014
high rated
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crazy_dave: With good reason, remember GOG had made flat-pricing a cornerstone of their consumer-policy and touted it as their major contribution to treating consumers better than their competition, that they didn't allow publishers to rip them off.

Now I happen to think that flat pricing came with its own inequities, but generally treated those who normally get shafted better than most current regional pricing models. Maybe GOG will come up with something even more fair, but if this is a distributor driven decision where often regional pricing is enforced on publishers and developers who want to sell physical copies (as it was for CDPR and TW2), I doubt it will be in their hands.

My guess is that GOG decided flat-pricing was a battle they couldn't win and DRM-free is one they can. It's possible the court case where GOG and CDPR lost against Namco Bandai over TW2 regional pricing helped determine this change in course.
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JohnnyDollar: Good points.

They're probably kicking themselves for using that selling point right now, but shit happens, things change, and I can't blame them for it. I'm a little more forgiving of them too than I would be with most others in the industry.

GOG rep: "Damn it Ted, why did I let you talk me into advertising that?!!"
"Now we look like asses!!"

I would like to think that DRM-free is untouchable and that it plays a prominent role in their decision making. I think it's a bit foolish to say that it is untouchable and GOG will never reverse that. I am going to still hold them to it though.
I'm in wait and see mode, but I'm also not personally affected by it, so I can afford to be less emotional :)
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WhiteElk: 'nuff said

but i'll say more,

ain't that nice!?!

_______

How is it that people complain? We get DRM free games on GOG that otherwise would not be DRM free. Regional Pricing affects only Some games. Where Regional Pricing is in play, GOG gives us an allowance from their own monies. Is good. Thanks GOG.
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scampywiak: And what other company is willing to compensate for regional pricing?
Gamersgate ... and GOG mocked them for it ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRdfYwvGTos
Post edited February 23, 2014 by crazy_dave
Posted February 23, 2014
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Crassmaster: I think this is a part of the reason for the backlash. Too many people decided that GOG was their buddy, rather than what they actually are...a store that wants to make money. Nothing wrong with that, and many stores have friendly staff that you might enjoy interacting with, but in the end they are a store. They aren't your friend. I've never understood why people attach themselves to a retailer like they're pals. You aren't. You're their customer. That's it. Making it more than that is just setting yourself up for disappointment.
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Lodium: well, you cant blame people that care about a company that have principles that are in favor of the consumers.
Those values are sadly getting fewer and fewer in todays world.
Some of it you can blame on consumers and some of it on the stores.
But people tend to like and respect people that stick to their principles at least they used to.
And frankly there is nothing wrong with that hadnt it been for code of honor and such means lesser and lesser for people as time goes on.
Yep, I agree. I don't blame people at all for being disappointed with seeing a customer friendly retail outlet make a move that, at least on the surface, seems to head in the opposite direction. But when people are talking about being betrayed and what not, that's where I think some users took 'customer friendly store' to be the same as 'my buddy'. I think that sometimes we want to see a store that we frequent as more than just someone we buy things from, when in fact they really aren't.
Posted February 23, 2014
In the grand scheme of things, I would rather pay a little extra for a DRM free game, than be forced to pay for games on a site like Steam. So I can live with the regional pricing. I do not understand why people cannot understand this. The more you fight it, the greater chance of losing out on DRM free games completely if this goes so bad that they shut the site down entirely, and over a few extra $/£? (Yes I realize that it is a worst case scenario, but I would rather go OTT with the example than not enough) The point is, games have been cheap as chips on this site for YEARS!!! You have been getting the best deals possible for a long ass time, can you honestly complain when they up the price a bit for new titles?
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This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussionAnnouncement: Big Preorders & Launch Day Releases Coming!(4041 posts)(4041 posts)
(4041 posts)