anizawa: I would just say that while there are "games with some DRM" in the site, the vast majority in the library does still provide some offline entertainment with an option for installer downloads that is a very rare practice nowadays.
(...)
If my support can push more older games to get released as opposed to those newer games with online requirements. I'd say that's not a bad trade off.
With all due respect, one of THE main selling points of GOG always has been "DRM-free, EVERYTHING, ALWAYS, with no exceptions" (not in these exact words but with this exact meaning).
It was stated in the numerous places throughout the store, with "100% DRM-free" tags all over the place, CDPR Group (mother company of GOG) even created a special website to taunt competition while boasting how they are "100% DRM-free themselves".
Some time ago the "100%" was removed and only "DRM-free" stayed - it was done covertly so to this day many users have still not noticed the change.
Also, while majority knows that some games are in fact NOT DRM-free they STILL DO have "DRM-free" denomination on their product cards - which tbh - imo it's hard to not see that as an open lie to customers therefore falling under some customer protection rights (in SOME countries).
Maybe the move from DRM-free is not bothering YOU personally, but GOG user veterans here can easily see this sudden departure as the beginning of the end for this platform.
Also, "your support" - that's funny - that's noble and all, but in fact you DON'T control how your money is being used by this company.
Maybe your intent of spending here even after realizing some of the predicaments happening here is to "support the good side of things" but they may very well use your money to strengthen "the BAD".
They are infact pretty likely to do so.
After all we haven't seen too many incentives for old/good games in last considerable amount of time (relatively speaking, because there have been SOME, but considerably low number nontheless) while there has been a very noticable influx of "controversial" decisions that by all means required money to surface (ergo: take THIS for "where the money goes").
The sheer POSSIBILITY of GOG using the money wrong ways, for example for reinforcing what we don't agree with, is making us here decide to cease (or drastically reduce) spending (some of us anyway) to avoid that predicament - avoid our money being source of GOG's controversial doings - we don't want to fund things we don't agree with, therefore we decide to not spend here anymore.
It's that simple.
anizawa: It's sad that GoG had to back off the release of Devotion, but that's the cost of keeping a ship afloat. "That" market is deemed to be growing in power and profit, while their rivals are in political and economic turmoil. As a business, you will feel a bit more "confident" in your investment there.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but afaik GOG as a STORE business is not officially active on "that" market to this day.
They are by no means present there officially - and let me remind you (or enlighten you if you don't know) that being there requires some sort of special permit of the gov.
To my understanding to this day GOG does not have any form of digital store presense there (not counting chinese version of Gwent that seems to be running independently from any digital platform (?), therefore maybe not even subject to GOG's distribution but *maybe* in fact directly published by CDPR themselves there).
So a "oh it's so that we don't loose our business position in that market" cannot even remotely be an excuse (not even invalid one) since GOG does NOT have an official presence as a store there, at least as far as I know.
As I said before at least few times already:
what GOG does is openly risking loosing their existing ESTABILISHED international well-founded userbase with ACTUAL provable income (from said userbase) for what is LITERALLY a market in which they (GOG) have so far no OFFICIAL store presence, a market with POTENTIAL *unguaranteed* higher income, with the catch being very restrictive market rules and "you are out on first offense" ruleset.
It's a trait of a serial gambler going for quick adrenaline shot.
Even if that would pay off it would still come at a cost.
The gambler would loose their credibility in their current employer's eyes (as a person willing to "risk it all for a moment") while GOG would loose their entire reputation in eyes of their international userbase.
They (GOG) cannot have both with their current attitude.
So it's a one way ticket.
One step to far and we (existing userbase) will start to crumble off rapidly (we are already just not that fast).
And it's not like their "desired market" is stable - it's a literal business minefield - going where the money lies isn't always the best choice - it's the way of a black market merchant, which imo, GOG looks more and more like other time - ditching their principles on the brim - not caring about reputation - be careful what pot you dip your fingers in GOG, you may burn yourself.
anizawa: Also, having a Winnie the Pooh profile pic and then demanding for Devotion is just funny considering that certain person who is compared to said character doesn't like the game ha ha. If intentional, bonus points for the TC.
So then what, in your opinion we should cave in and "escape" usage of "non desirable for certain political party" depictions as to not "anger certain individual(s)"?
WHY?
The pooh is by no means a one meaning depiction. It can mean a lot of things.
And it's first and foremost most prominent and the original meaning is a kid's cartoon sugar-addict character.
Besides we are present on what is STILL a platform outside of *direct* control of the "red-yellow" country and therefore there should not be any pressing on users to not use "politically controversial" avatars depicting kid cartoon characters.
WE are not the problem. Why should WE get out of the way?