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General discussionGetting back to our roots(1418 posts)(1418 posts)
(1418 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted March 11, 2014
Hey, GOGgers,

We're not perfect, we're exploring new frontiers, and we make mistakes. We thought DRM-Free was so important that you'd prefer we bring you more DRM-Free games and Fair Price was less critical and that it could be sacrificed in some cases. The last two week's worth of comments in our forums (nearly 10k!), show that's not the case. We didn’t listen and we let you down. We shouldn't sacrifice one of our core values in an attempt to advance another. We feel bad about that, and we're sorry. Us being sorry is not of much use to you, so let’s talk about how we will fix it.

One: DRM-free forever. Abandoning fixed regional pricing means it will probably take longer to get some games, but you've made it clear that sacrificing fair pricing for more DRM-free games isn't acceptable.

Two: We will adamantly continue to fight for games with flat worldwide pricing. If that fails and we are required to have regional prices, we will make up the difference for you out of our own pockets. For now it will be with $5.99 and $9.99 game codes. In a couple of months, once we have such functionality implemented, we will give you store credit instead, which then you will be able to use towards any purchase and cover the price of it in full or partially. Effectively gamers from all around the world will be able to benefit from the US prices.

This will apply to every single game where we do not have flat pricing, such as Age of Wonders 3 (full details here), Divinity: Original Sin, and The Witcher 3. If you remember the Fair Price Package for The Witcher 2, this will be exactly the same.

Three: We still intend to introduce the pricing in local currencies. Let us explain why we want to do it and how we want to make it fair for everyone. From the very beginning our intention was to make things easier for users whose credit cards/payment systems are not natively in USD. The advantages are simple because the price is more understandable and easier to relate to. There would be no exchange rates involved, no transaction fees, and no other hidden charges. However after reading your comments, we realized we have taken an important element away: the choice. In order to fix this, we'll offer the option of paying in the local currency or the equivalent in USD. This way, how you pay is always your choice.

Four: You are what matters, and we will be sure to involve you all more in what we're doing and why we're doing it. Let's start by meeting you at GDC - we’d like to invite you to meet us face-to-face Monday the 17th at GDC. Obviously, not all of you can come to San Francisco, so we want to invite all of you to an online event with us early in April to ask us whatever you would like. More details soon.

The bottom line is simple: there may be companies that won't work with us (although we will work hard to convince the most stubborn ones ;). Yes, it means we might miss out on some games, but at the same time GOG.com will remain true to its values and will keep on offering you the best of DRM-free gaming with Fair Prices.

Once again thank you for caring so much about GOG.com. We will work hard not to disappoint you again.

--Marcin "iWi" Iwinski & Guillaume "TheFrenchMonk" Rambourg
Posted March 11, 2014
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JudasIscariot: And we'll do our part to bring more languages :)

(except for German)

(kidding of course :P )
You have never experienced "Thief" until you have played it in the original German.

ಠ_ರೃ



(Any chance of international "Thief" versions coming to GOG? They're awesome! Pretty please?)
Posted March 11, 2014
About paying in my currency of choice, if brazilian real is one of them, I would save a lot with taxes. ;)
Posted March 11, 2014
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Alenonimo: Regional prices, ironically, would help me buy more games. I live on Brazil and both games and the dollar tend to be very expensive.

When Steam added the brazilian region, I found myself purchasing more games. It usually gives a solid 30% discount over the games that don't have the same price everywhere. Imagine, 30% off in all the games, all the time. For users on US would be a party, but for someone on Brazil is what you need to happen to actually buy the stuff you want.

Of course the same is not true for lots of place. Europe, England, Australia, etc. they usually get a very shitty deal with regional pricings. And there's something very wrong for that to happens. And I blame the brick and mortar stores.

In Brazil, there's not much of the "brick and mortar game stores". Walmart-like stores are a recent thing. Very few people can afford going to those places that sell games, so few they are. They don't have much political power to force the game companies to sell digital goods as expensive as the physical ones. Digital distribution works much better here. All those outrageous prices practiced on other countries happens because of contracts with those god damned stores that can't or won't sell the games cheaper, knocking up the digital prices too.

What needs to happen is to force the game companies to tell the brick and mortar stores to "talk to the hand". Digital distribution needs to be much better than physical one. Then we can have some fair regional pricings.

Hang in there, GOG, and keep doing a good job. I really appreciate how close you guys are to the customes. But I'll have to buy my games on Steam though… :P
I know must people, specially connected online people don't realize this... but brick and mortar stores are still the sales king for games. More so on console than PC but then when a game is on both it really doesn't matter. Digital has come a long way, but there is still a huge amount of the world with no internet access or bandwidth caps. Plus when you take into account games getting much larger, even if you are connected... going to the store can be quicker and easier than downloading a large file.
Post edited March 11, 2014 by user deleted
Posted March 11, 2014
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Bavarian: After thinking about this for a few days I was willing to bite the bullet and sacrifice flat pricing for the sake of getting more and newer games into DRM-free sale. Now that won't happen, thanks to all the wannabe boycotters.

Most of you people have no problems buying games at places like Steam where you have extra unfair regional pricing (something GOG intended to avoid if possible) and stinking DRM on top of that. But when GOG introduced regional pricing in order to strengthen the DRM-free aspect you suddenly acted like you had binding principles. You talk the talk, but do you also walk the walk?

This could've been the chance to get DRM-free AA(A) games from the last few years, or otherwise unattainable classics to your GOG shelfs. Perhaps you had to pay a little more than your neighbor, but it's still your choice to buy or not to buy. Now it won't "probably take longer" to get certain games here, it simply won't happen at all. Remember that, next time you complain about the indie-heavy catalog, or claim for Lucas Arts, Microsoft, The Elder Scrolls, Dead Space, etc. to make an appearance. But hey, no sweat. When shit hits the fan you can always head over to Steam, right?

To whom it may concern.
Hey, if you do find people who announced boycotting GOG over the regional pricing ending up complaining about them not getting games they'll be unable to get just because of this (as opposed to the stumbling block being a rights issue or the DRM thing, or them refusing them themselves for some reason), let me know to hammer them too. We should make an organized effort against the publisher in those cases, not complain about GOG in any way.

Otherwise, can only talk for myself here, but I definitely walk the walk. Never made a purchase on Steam or any other such service, don't even have an account. And new games are definitely not why I'm here. Even if I may be interested in them, they'll still be there years down the line, and much more affordable too, not to mention likely with bugs smoothed out.
Posted March 11, 2014
What a beautiful twist!

Like in some Good Old Game :)

THANKS GOG. I will buy here exclusively further.
Posted March 11, 2014
This is why I love GOG
Posted March 11, 2014
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Bavarian: After thinking about this for a few days I was willing to bite the bullet and sacrifice flat pricing for the sake of getting more and newer games into DRM-free sale. Now that won't happen, thanks to all the wannabe boycotters.

Most of you people have no problems buying games at places like Steam where you have extra unfair regional pricing (something GOG intended to avoid if possible) and stinking DRM on top of that. But when GOG introduced regional pricing in order to strengthen the DRM-free aspect you suddenly acted like you had binding principles. You talk the talk, but do you also walk the walk?

This could've been the chance to get DRM-free AA(A) games from the last few years, or otherwise unattainable classics to your GOG shelfs. Perhaps you had to pay a little more than your neighbor, but it's still your choice to buy or not to buy. Now it won't "probably take longer" to get certain games here, it simply won't happen at all. Remember that, next time you complain about the indie-heavy catalog, or claim for Lucas Arts, Microsoft, The Elder Scrolls, Dead Space, etc. to make an appearance. But hey, no sweat. When shit hits the fan you can always head over to Steam, right?

To whom it may concern.
A bit harsh and undiplomatic, perhaps, but you do have a point. I do wonder if those same people also stick to their principles and refuse to buy at Steam and Co. If a significant portion of the world-wide gamer population did, then we'd probably have much better chances to actually see Steam exclusive games at other distributors, such as GOG. :/
Posted March 11, 2014
I do not envy whoever had to read through those long threads of comments, but I am glad that GOG has taken on board some of the feedback, and made some adjustments to their plans. Even just giving the choice to continue paying in USD will be beneficial to those who might have still incurred currency conversion fees due to their own local currency not being supported. That must be welcomed.

I have always viewed GOG as one of the more 'ethical' companies, and supported your stands regarding certain issues over the years. For good or ill, that willingness to hold fast on certain issues became one of the defining aspects of your company for many people, and so I think it was understandable that those people were disappointed when you first revealed your plans to drop the flat pricing model. From what I have read here, you appear to have come up with a good compromise that still offers you some flexibility, and for that I thank you.

Some people have now raised the issue of GOG taking on board too much of a financial burden, and that may be a valid concern. I don't think anyone here wants to see GOG go out of business. In my view, the $5.99 and $9.99 price points have been relatively static for the past few years, and it would be unreasonable to expect those prices to remain static in the future if their costs have risen. GOG is still a business, and if they feel they need to raise their existing prices for classics, e.g., $5.99 to become $6.99 (or whatever), then in my view that is perfectly reasonable. Only GOG can decide if those prices need adjustment.

Continue the good fight, GOG, and I look forward to supporting your company into the future.
Post edited March 11, 2014 by StormHammer
Posted March 11, 2014
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SirPrimalform: Well I must say this is extremely welcome! Thank you for listening eventually (I get that it takes time to agree on a U turn like this).

I hope someone can be more specific about how this relates to the classic games though. You talk about the choice to pay in local currency or the equivalent in USD... so does this mean € users can pay $5.99 for a $5.99 classic if they choose USD or does that mean the USD equivalent of €4.49, which is $6.22? The difference is not huge but it's still a question I'm interested in the answer to.
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TheEnigmaticT: Once we accept more than one currency--which is still a few weeks off--you'll be able to select USD or local currency for any transaction.
That's the all important question about the "local pricing" now though, and the answer doesn't, er, answer it. So will it be $5.99 or $6.22?
Posted March 11, 2014
Ty GoG

:)
Posted March 11, 2014
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Bavarian: After thinking about this for a few days I was willing to bite the bullet and sacrifice flat pricing for the sake of getting more and newer games into DRM-free sale. Now that won't happen, thanks to all the wannabe boycotters.

Most of you people have no problems buying games at places like Steam where you have extra unfair regional pricing (something GOG intended to avoid if possible) and stinking DRM on top of that. But when GOG introduced regional pricing in order to strengthen the DRM-free aspect you suddenly acted like you had binding principles. You talk the talk, but do you also walk the walk?

This could've been the chance to get DRM-free AA(A) games from the last few years, or otherwise unattainable classics to your GOG shelfs. Perhaps you had to pay a little more than your neighbor, but it's still your choice to buy or not to buy. Now it won't "probably take longer" to get certain games here, it simply won't happen at all. Remember that, next time you complain about the indie-heavy catalog, or claim for Lucas Arts, Microsoft, The Elder Scrolls, Dead Space, etc. to make an appearance. But hey, no sweat. When shit hits the fan you can always head over to Steam, right?

To whom it may concern.
Quoting this for the truth. I would loved to know where those people that were boycotting were going to go? Steam? How is that different? DRM and no bonuses? That's better?

This whole thing is ridiculous... people spoke without thinking & GOG listened and now we will all see the outcome.
Posted March 11, 2014
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MrNybbles: I had assumed that because I got this fee that GOG was a foreign (to the US) company, possibly in Canada, which would make sense.
Yup.Their bank's in Cyprus. That would be the reason for the foreign transaction charges.
Posted March 11, 2014
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yyahoo: But if it was here, day one, regionally priced, no one *had* to buy it. It would have been a choice, and GOG had already stated that regional pricing would have been for a limited time (a year or two?) after release.

Honestly, I never buy games at new release as it is. I could be in any country, and it wouldn't have mattered to me, because I'll always wait for a sale. The big effect is that GOG will have less games to sell, or to rephrase, will not get to sell games on day one, so less time to sell them. What will people that wanted those games on day one do now? Most likely simply buy the games on Steam.
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PixelBoy: If you are not buying games when they are released, then it shouldn't really matter from your perspective whether GOG has Game X on the release day or 18 months after?

As far as the big picture is concerned, GOG has stayed in business and AFAIK profitable all these years selling old games. They have never needed to sell the latest and hottest releases. If they manage to get those games 18 months after the release, they are still relatively speaking new, and can be sold to that part of people, who wouldn't have bought it before anyway (and that apparently means you too).

Making healthy business by releasing a bit older games is nothing new. There used to be many CD/DVD-ROM publishers who made their business by re-releasing games. SoldOut, Replay and whatever those series were called. GOG can have a similar role with new games. No need to compete with Steam, as that's a lost battle from the start. Simply concentrate to take as large percentage as possible from the second wave sales. Then you even have the benefit of knowing which titles will sell and which will not, as well as all games having their (presumably) last official patches/versions out.

I suppose there may be some PR value in having games on sale the moment they are released, but it can also be risky. The only way it will look good if you absolutely have the best deal around to offer. But if not, then it's bad. Did it bring any benefits to GOG to have Botanicula available from the start? No, it didn't, because that other store had a better price and game package to sell with.
I fully admitted that this didn't affect me directly, since I'm not a day one game purchaser. However, I do see how it affects GOG and DRM free gaming in general.

Comparing GOG to the SoldOut, Replay, etc series is certainly not complimentary. GOG does a lot more work on old games than simple repackaging. And I completely disagree that competing with Steam is a lost battle. GOG doesn't have to have a better price to sell a game. If the price is the same, their DRM free stance can win over many a customer when given the choice. But that is the problem now, there is no longer a choice for day one purchases.

The Botanicula situation isn't really relevant to this whole situation at all. That was a completely bizarre and random situation that doesn't have any bearing on offering regional pricing on day one games on GOG.

I understand that regional pricing sucks, but second wave sales are never as big as day one sales. Just like movie studios and theater sales, publishers make most of their decisions based on the first few months of game sales. It could have been a huge boost to GOG revenue to offer its customers a choice to purchase day one games here. As they stated before, the regional pricing wouldn't have lasted forever on those games. We could have had our cake and eaten it too. Now we'll be waiting for leftovers, and GOG will have to hope that their customers didn't get impatient and made their purchases at Steam instead.
Posted March 11, 2014
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"Piracy" for one.
Posted March 11, 2014
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wvpr: GOG has to keep their suppliers happy and their customers happy. They dropped flat pricing because it was hurting their relationship with their suppliers going forward. It was a business decision they felt they needed to make.

By reversing direction, they are telling us they were losing too much customer happiness to make up for the better relationship with their suppliers. That's also a business decision. A store that has full shelves and empty aisles isn't going to stay open very long. It may look like mercurial mood shifts, when in reality they made two tough decisions they knew would cost them some support from one side or the other, hoping the long-term gains will outweigh the negatives.

It's a balancing act. They have to have enough customers to make future pricing models work. They feel that was in jeopardy.
^This.

I’m a bit surprised that there are people that seriously think that GOG’s move was dictated by a vocal minority of Internet moaners.
This is a business decision, just like their first one was. Sure, the complaints on the forum played a part because they reflect customer happiness of a portion of customers, but I’m fairly certain that the number of sales during these past two weeks played a much bigger role in both customer happiness and revenue.

By today’s announcement GOG isn’t really taking back what they announced two weeks ago. They simply stated their plans in a manner appealing to their objecting customers while making necessary adjustments to keep customer satisfaction and happiness high.


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TheEnigmaticT: Once we accept more than one currency--which is still a few weeks off--you'll be able to select USD or local currency for any transaction.
You still don't clearly say if it's going to be just a choice of currency or of price points (depending on currency).
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This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussionGetting back to our roots(1418 posts)(1418 posts)
(1418 posts)