Dawnsinger: I do not think that giving away a de-facto unsupported game is the most evil thing in the world to do? If anything, it is much less evil than charging for it, possibly knowing full well that there won't be updates, no?
It doesn't shed a positive light on GOG or developers/publisher of this game, when the first experience a newcomer and prospective future customer opens an account to claim the free item, only to learn that a vital patch fixing known bugs isn't available here but elsewhere.
GOG needs to attract new customers to make up for loss of regulars turning their backs on this shop. That's where I see the problem with this lack of updates and not holding developers accountable or take action so DLC/Updates/Patches arrive here in a timely manner. On the other hand GOG should go out of their way to support publishers and developers to make the release process as easy as humanely possible for the other party.
That's something no boycott can do, but willingness of their management and board of executives to bring about change, in favor of their customers. It's a three way game: Without regular and influx of new customers to GOG, the shop will suffer, and shareholders the upper echelon seems to feel solely responsible for, will sell their shares for what could otherwise be a solid business from both sides. In the middle of this stands support and regular staff taking the beating when a third-party fails to deliver.
If it was a question about investments, they seem to be in a growth spurt, hence the small figures of actual income vs. gross revenue, maybe they should reconsider their priorities. Even a layperson should understand that some things don't take hundreds of thousands to bring about change, but mututal agreements and contracts clearly drawing lines to improve customer experience and satisfaction. For developers and publisher this could mean that games are withdrawn from the shop, temporary or permanently, or they might risk a financial penalty if they fail to deliver within a set amount of time.
This is possible when it's games long on the market, but an inferior version has been delivered and content available elsewhere isn't published here also as was agreed upon in a signed contract. A less radical way to treat new products would be to set out a grace period in which available patches and updates have to be delivered until sanctions will come into effect.
Finally an analysis of the
EU Digital Content Directive and its risks for developers and publishers sic. strengthening our rights as customers to be treated equal and to receive content, updates and be kept informed about changes.
It still takes time for publishers and developers to realize that what they are doing isn't a hobby but cold hard business, for shops to step in for their customers with rights. A good step would be to realize this and stop calling us 'fans' or 'gamers'
this also includes journalists reporting about the industry but customers. Another step in the right direction would be to realize that when they belittle or make fun of their customers when they utter critique - calling them crybabies and worse as they tend to do when facing critique, is just going to hurt them not us.