That is what is happening here.

Galaxy MP is engineered by the devs into the software. same as steamworks for Steam. GOG does not add/modify/remove MP for any game, as you say that are a storefront. Those devs chose to use Galaxy API for MP on GOG, and by extension GOG had to give part of the client to give the end user a complete experience until Galaxy is officially released. Difference being GOG will not force it on you once it's officially out.

What other store/dev lets you choose what features you want installed for a game? They install the entire game, MP and all and all dependencies needed by the game. In some ways GOG is giving you more control since the client is not required and can be removed.

You're not alpha testing Galaxy, what your getting is a stripped down version to power MP. Simple as that. Had they included that right into the game folder, and made it less noticeable to the end user, nobody would know/care...

True, it's uncommon to have such an option these days but pre-Steam it was perfectly common to be given the option (and also in case of numerous games after Steam was launched). Just think of all the GameSpy games. Not once have I agreed to install its client (and I've seen the installer *a lot*) but it never kept me from playing singleplayer or local multiplayer. Technically GOG is not doing anything new here, just going back to the roots - which is awesome, and special these days but not something we haven't seen before.

Option or not, it should still have a big red warning sticker. There would be VERY few complaints if they at least warned people about it before they bought it.

Then uninstall it. Currently, It's a test-build and preview release and non-stable software are only good for the users who want to test them and report bugs or submit their suggestions.

The damage is done.

"Why are you angry about me dumping my trash in your garden? Just go and clean up!"

So, instead of writing it calmly as possible like 'Why GOG galaxy is doing <insert the problem you have>? Can you change it to <insert the suggestion you have>?', own userbase starts posting provocation for an infant application GOG is developing with good faith.

Shows how snarky GOG userbase, don't you think?

Well well...

If the problem is galaxy installing itself without asking, and the lack of notification on the games page about galaxy being bundled with it, the sugestion is somewhat self-evident. As in, have it ask before installing itself, and have the notivfication on the games page. This really does not need to be spelled out. And I'm quite shure that it HAS been spelled out a few times already anyway.

They are not doing me any favors developing it. There are quite a few people on GOG, no small minority, who don't want anything to do with Galaxy.

Yeah, we're terrible people. I mean, what kind of a person makes his expectations known to someone he pays money? Snarky, entitled bastards!

There's a fine line between telling others YOUR expectations with proper measure and being polite with flat out demanding and rude with provocation, paying customers or freeloaders alike.

If they don't respond to first inquiry, then escalate it. If still no reply, take another step up. What part of it that you don't understand?

That's all I can say.

Galaxy is 2 things. First one is a client to manage your games, the second is a framework for multiplayer. The part that is installed with Double Dragon Trilogy, The Witcher Adventure Game and Alien Versus Predator is not the client, it's the framework. It's no different from the installer installing .NET, XNA, PhysX or any other framework, with the only exception that Galaxy framework is needed (or should be needed) only for multiplayer.

GOG has said in the past that they want to give a "One click installation experience", and that does mean installing all needed frameworks.

Question: Do you (plural) also complain about the automatic installation of other frameworks? How about the installation of DOSBox or ScummVM when you are going to play the game on the other environment?

The thing is, I actually need those.

Also, I'm not really complaining about anything anymore right now, maybe except the lack of proper information on the game card (a small and easily solved issue), now that the situation has been explained and is known to be only temporary. I just think that some people's approach to this whole thing is very strange, as if GOG was a site run by fans, for free, and all they do is out of kindess of their hearts, and having any issues or complaints was just mean and whiny or snarky. I like GOG (though not the idea of Galaxy), and I'm sure the people who work there are very nice and try their best, but everyone here is still a paying customer, so it's everyones prerogative to complain if they have any issues with how GOG works, or the direction (they think) it's taking.

Galaxy the client or Galaxy the framework?

Galaxy the steam-like thing that does not really seem to belong on a site like GOG and I don't need nor ever will. I freely admit I can't rationally defend my averse reaction to it as long as it is fully optional. I just really hate all social media, everything that makes games more online, social and whatever, all achievements bullshit and anything that even vaguely reminds me of Steam, Origin etc.

What damage? It's just sitting there. It's not like it keeps launching itself whenever you boot up your system and sends God knows what kind of information to some company out there. Sure, it's desirable to make the installation optional but I don't know how anyone can seriously react as if this temporary Galaxy app seriously messed with anyone's system.