https://www.gog.com/hackathon

A noble effort.

I'm rather surprised there was no official announcement of this via GOG channels - I got wind of it through... side channels.

So how about coding your in-house equivalent of MaGOG or Yepoleb's GOG Database to make our lives easier?

We're still missing a 100%-coverage reliable way of knowing which installers have been updated, apart from me doing an API sweep, muntdefems collecting MaGOG data and various other community users sharing what they spot by other means on the now famous "What did just update" forum thread.

And before you ask, no, not everyone is using Galaxy or wants to use Galaxy. Code an automatically generated RSS feed for the updates for Pete's sake, it's not rocket science.

Somebody save us! Help us GOG hackathon participants, you are our only hope!

May the best hackathon team port Galaxy to Linux.

Maybe they'll find someone capable of the seemingly impossible task of giving us the option to set classic installers as default :P

12 hours?! Only 12 hours? And only that which is done there is judged, can't bring something already made?

Obviously they are looking for super heroes.

The toaster game consoles from a few decades ago were the simplest multi-gaming electronic devices for me.

I'd say just bring some cardboard and cut it up into playing cards. Or maybe bring some paper and fold it into a pair of paper cubes (origami style) to make dice. Just get rid of the computer, that'd make everything simpler.

Or if a computer is really needed, then download emacs. It has tetris, snake, pong, 5x5, solitaire, and some more. Pong seems to be a two player game, but both sides can be worked on the same keyboard, though a little challenging without a numeric keypad. Since this is emacs, all keys can be rebound for any game, unlike many recent computer games that get released lately.

For the controls, just read the documentation for the command as normal, that is with "C-h f" and then type the name: Control-h f tetris. That's holding the Control key for only the h, then let go of the Control key before typing the f and name; no need to type spaces. The hyphen isn't typed, it just indicates that the Control key goes with the h. ( In general, C-h is the way to get help, even with help: C-h C-h.)

Starting a game is the same as using any command, that is with "M-x" followed by the name of the game: M-x tetris. The Meta key is often the Alt key on keyboards, but it can also be done by typing (not holding) the escape key: ESC x. Again, there are no spaces, they aren't typed.

To make a game easier, technically it should be possible to record keyboard macros while playing a game, though that might be sensible for only a few like solitaire. Or along the theme of the hackathon, a game itself could be modified.

Or maybe create a new major mode for managing external games. Though that might obsolete Galaxy, so I don't know they'd be very interested in that. Personally, I just make notes in documents to keep track of them, that keeps it real simple, and I avoid micromanaging.

I think it was outright st... less wise not to tell about this in a news post or at least a plain forum thread.

Considering the whole thing will be done in their offices in Warsaw, what good would it do to announce to everyone that the can participate, assuming they have a good enough concept to be chosen to compete and can make it to Warsaw in time for the event?
My guess is that this was announced to local (Warsaw or Polish) universities and/or other places with a link to the website for more info.

Edit: Since the special prize is a paid internship at GOG.com, it does also seem like they are looking for locals.

To be fair this not targeted at the average GOG user, but rather at (are you ready for this?) technical users, like us on the forums... you know, people that know how to untick the Galaxy install option... and code something useful in 12h. I guess it makes sense they're looking mostly for local junior people they can bring into the fold if they show promise. And also remember that, I quote: Their top men will be there, to spread their awesomeness!

How about a default installer option between classic/Galaxy installers, eh guys?

Do that is 12 hours and if I can figure out a method of doing so, I'll pony up $100 US bucks for your wallet. :D

edit: But wait! There's no mention of the beer towers! Hmmmm......?????

it's a weird day. Bare with me. Nothing but trying to help parents with their now expelled kid(s) who took part in the walk out and having to explain that students have limited rights in a school environment. Lots of fun.

This is the strangest announcement I've seen from GOG yet. Why wouldn't they just make this stuff public instead of doing a really short event where most likely nothing worthwhile will come out of?

I'm with JMich on this one - guess they're headhunting (locally). Make stuff public? We already know that working with GOG is mostly a DIY job, now don't we? :).

Oh, that's nice. Still a bit confused why you're doing it this way instead of giving access to people who've actively been asking for it.

I've left behind my coding day.

Still undecided if was a good or bad thing.

"GOG.com engineers will be present during the hackathon to mentor you, help with any technical issues, as well as tell you more about working at GOG.com and the projects we’re building."

Would anyone want GOG engineers helping their projects? Seems counter-productive to me…