Posted May 11, 2015
low rated
Recently, GOG Galaxy has gone into open beta. It's a large milestone for GOG - a standalone launcher platform that organizes everyone's games into the same place and handles updates.
With the right features, it could compete with Steam.
This discussion's just my analysis on what GOG Galaxy should and shouldn't do to be successful.
A few guidelines to keep in mind when replying:
-If you disagree with something, post why you disagree instead of silently downvoting. This thread is intended to be a parliamentary discussion, disagreement and counter-arguments are welcome as long as they aren't completely nonsensical or spam. (IMO, people should be required to actually reply to posts to downvote them and clearly explain the reason for the downvote - a silent downvote accomplishes nothing except when the downvoted post is spam or utter trash.)
-Evaluate suggestions based on how they would turn out when properly implemented. I heard that GOG Galaxy is currently riddled with problems but those should eventually get fixed. Also, it's beta.
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Stuff that GOG Galaxy SHOULD do:
#1. Online game instance/game server-finding system.
One major complaint is that a significant number of games only support online multiplayer with Steam.
The problem is that a lot of developers write for the Steamworks online game server-finding API. GOG needs a similar API that developers can use, and it needs to be as easy to program with as the Steamworks equivalent.
#2. Store Credit system and Prepaid Codes/Cards
Steam has Steam Wallet. GOG has... a few supported credit cards, paysafecard (mostly a European thing), and PayPal.
Here's the problem. Not everyone has a credit card that GOG accepts, access to paysafecard, or PayPal. And currently, if you have none of those, you're just plain locked out of purchases, which is a shame.
Solution: GOG Galaxy needs to add a proper store credit system similar to Steam Wallet. A prepaid code system wouldn't even be costly or difficult. GameStop has an arrangement with Valve where people can buy $20 or $50 Steam codes and have them printed on a receipt - no requirement for credit cards or online payments. There's no reason why GOG couldn't do the same. It wouldn't cost GOG anything in terms of distribution or printing materials because the store would supply those already.
#3. Free Demos
Steam has plenty of free demos and events where certain games are completely free for a weekend.
Demos are a great way to increase sales (let the customer test before buying). GOG Galaxy should encourage developers to release free demos and encourage users to test demos of games similar to the ones in their libraries. It's better than an advertising pitch.
#4. Basic instant messaging and groups
Sometimes people would just like to log on and be able to chat with friends instead of having to launch GOG Galaxy and then a separate instant messenger service.
A grouping system would make it easier to find people who like the same games as you, further helping with multiplayer games.
#5. Privacy/"No Datamining" mode
Last time I checked, Steam was being like Google, and not in a good way. Steam has this tagging system and the ability to datamine peoples' game libraries so they can pop up more ads for ****ty Greenlight games in the end-user's face.
Just because almost everyone else is being insidious doesn't make it OK to be insidious. Have an option where users can opt out of any form of datamining, with users being opted out by default.
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Stuff that GOG Galaxy SHOULD NOT do:
#1. Built-in anti-cheat framework similar to Steam's VAC
Ok, you're all probably thinking "lolwhut? is the OP supporting cheating in online games?" Well, no. The main reason why GOG Galaxy should never attempt anything similar to VAC is that it runs completely against the principles behind GOG:
-VAC is legalized spyware by definition. It is forcibly bundled with a product, strips the user of anonymity, and watches the end-user like Big Brother from George Orwell's 1984.
-GOG has traditionally taken the approach of "let the community decide". As far as keeping cheaters out of online games is concerned, the best solution is to let each game host decide.
It's not a matter of stopping cheaters, it's a matter of principles and "not being evil".
#2. Spawn advertisement pop-ups in peoples' faces
Steam does a lot of that. It's annoying. Instead of obnoxious pop-up ads, have a "suggested/new games" section/tab in GOG Galaxy.
#3. Unlimited/virtually unlimited free cloud saves.
Before you all downvote me off the internet for saying this, please take a moment and read my reasons why GOG Galaxy should avoid a cloud save feature, at least in the near future.
Maintaining a cloud save service can be costly:
-Storage devices cost money
-Electricity to run the storage devices and servers costs money
-Server bandwidth to receive cloud save files and push them out to users costs money (and also could mean more bad page load times and/or server busy "GOGbears" if those servers aren't completely separate from the main website)
-Cloud saves require backups, which again costs more money
GOG is not Valve. GOG doesn't have anywhere near the amount of resources that Valve has. In the interests of a balanced budget, I would suggest that GOG should stay away from virtually unlimited cloud saves, at least in the near future.
One solution could be optional cloud save feature with a (cheap) monthly subscription, perhaps around $1 per month.
Another solution could be storage limits and monthly bandwidth limits, with subscribers getting a vastly increased storage quota and bandwidth limit.
With the right features, it could compete with Steam.
This discussion's just my analysis on what GOG Galaxy should and shouldn't do to be successful.
A few guidelines to keep in mind when replying:
-If you disagree with something, post why you disagree instead of silently downvoting. This thread is intended to be a parliamentary discussion, disagreement and counter-arguments are welcome as long as they aren't completely nonsensical or spam. (IMO, people should be required to actually reply to posts to downvote them and clearly explain the reason for the downvote - a silent downvote accomplishes nothing except when the downvoted post is spam or utter trash.)
-Evaluate suggestions based on how they would turn out when properly implemented. I heard that GOG Galaxy is currently riddled with problems but those should eventually get fixed. Also, it's beta.
------------------
Stuff that GOG Galaxy SHOULD do:
#1. Online game instance/game server-finding system.
One major complaint is that a significant number of games only support online multiplayer with Steam.
The problem is that a lot of developers write for the Steamworks online game server-finding API. GOG needs a similar API that developers can use, and it needs to be as easy to program with as the Steamworks equivalent.
#2. Store Credit system and Prepaid Codes/Cards
Steam has Steam Wallet. GOG has... a few supported credit cards, paysafecard (mostly a European thing), and PayPal.
Here's the problem. Not everyone has a credit card that GOG accepts, access to paysafecard, or PayPal. And currently, if you have none of those, you're just plain locked out of purchases, which is a shame.
Solution: GOG Galaxy needs to add a proper store credit system similar to Steam Wallet. A prepaid code system wouldn't even be costly or difficult. GameStop has an arrangement with Valve where people can buy $20 or $50 Steam codes and have them printed on a receipt - no requirement for credit cards or online payments. There's no reason why GOG couldn't do the same. It wouldn't cost GOG anything in terms of distribution or printing materials because the store would supply those already.
#3. Free Demos
Steam has plenty of free demos and events where certain games are completely free for a weekend.
Demos are a great way to increase sales (let the customer test before buying). GOG Galaxy should encourage developers to release free demos and encourage users to test demos of games similar to the ones in their libraries. It's better than an advertising pitch.
#4. Basic instant messaging and groups
Sometimes people would just like to log on and be able to chat with friends instead of having to launch GOG Galaxy and then a separate instant messenger service.
A grouping system would make it easier to find people who like the same games as you, further helping with multiplayer games.
#5. Privacy/"No Datamining" mode
Last time I checked, Steam was being like Google, and not in a good way. Steam has this tagging system and the ability to datamine peoples' game libraries so they can pop up more ads for ****ty Greenlight games in the end-user's face.
Just because almost everyone else is being insidious doesn't make it OK to be insidious. Have an option where users can opt out of any form of datamining, with users being opted out by default.
-------------------
Stuff that GOG Galaxy SHOULD NOT do:
#1. Built-in anti-cheat framework similar to Steam's VAC
Ok, you're all probably thinking "lolwhut? is the OP supporting cheating in online games?" Well, no. The main reason why GOG Galaxy should never attempt anything similar to VAC is that it runs completely against the principles behind GOG:
-VAC is legalized spyware by definition. It is forcibly bundled with a product, strips the user of anonymity, and watches the end-user like Big Brother from George Orwell's 1984.
-GOG has traditionally taken the approach of "let the community decide". As far as keeping cheaters out of online games is concerned, the best solution is to let each game host decide.
It's not a matter of stopping cheaters, it's a matter of principles and "not being evil".
#2. Spawn advertisement pop-ups in peoples' faces
Steam does a lot of that. It's annoying. Instead of obnoxious pop-up ads, have a "suggested/new games" section/tab in GOG Galaxy.
#3. Unlimited/virtually unlimited free cloud saves.
Before you all downvote me off the internet for saying this, please take a moment and read my reasons why GOG Galaxy should avoid a cloud save feature, at least in the near future.
Maintaining a cloud save service can be costly:
-Storage devices cost money
-Electricity to run the storage devices and servers costs money
-Server bandwidth to receive cloud save files and push them out to users costs money (and also could mean more bad page load times and/or server busy "GOGbears" if those servers aren't completely separate from the main website)
-Cloud saves require backups, which again costs more money
GOG is not Valve. GOG doesn't have anywhere near the amount of resources that Valve has. In the interests of a balanced budget, I would suggest that GOG should stay away from virtually unlimited cloud saves, at least in the near future.
One solution could be optional cloud save feature with a (cheap) monthly subscription, perhaps around $1 per month.
Another solution could be storage limits and monthly bandwidth limits, with subscribers getting a vastly increased storage quota and bandwidth limit.
