Oh I agree with the last sentence, I am one of the biggest proponents of the offline installers...they are the whole point of buying games on this store :)

What I'm getting at is something that was previously articulated on FCKDRM.com, that ownership checks based on internet connection can and do fail. It seems there is no way around this ownership check if you are using Galaxy-only, whereas if you had the offline installer you could already be playing the game. But perhaps I am misunderstanding, myself. I'm thinking of instances mentioned by other users on the forum like the one person on an oil rig (without internet). It seems to me there are cases where the offline installers work "out-of-the-box" so to speak while Galaxy is not workable, the difference being online checks, i.e. DRM.

Well, Galaxy fetches the installer from GOG's server when you click to install the game. So of course, if there's no internet, you can't fetch the installer. That's not DRM. That's just a function of the fact you're getting the game from a server and not locally on your computer.

It's DRM. need an active account and internet to verify it. DRM, fundamentally, is about verifying purchases. The argument against DRM is that it often causes problems for legitimate customers as well.

Why on earth is this comment high rated? Its disgusting and shows how little gog cares about drm free nowadays.

It's the typical bare minimum comments got have been peddling lately.

I'm not exactly sure how to respond to this (not even sure I understand your point). How do expect Galaxy would work? You install it and then use it to fetch and install (or fetch the backup installers) your purchased game files from your account on GOG's servers. Of course you have to be signed in to your account. How else would Galaxy know what files you're entitled to access?

Once your games are installed though - whether through the direct Galaxy download or via the offline installers, you can play them without Galaxy running, without internet, without Galaxy even installed anymore. I've installed games via Galaxy, installed them via offline installers and added them to Galaxy. I've shut Galaxy down, uninstalled Galaxy, had my internet go down, and still run my games. How is this DRM?

Sure, if that was all that Galaxy is doing. Installing and running it allows GOG to collect a lot more info about you than if you just downloaded the offline installers. Read the EULA, it's all there in the fine print.

I expect that once i download an offline installer that it always work without galaxy. I don't expect i should ever have to use galaxy to begin with. i shouldn't need galaxy to install an up to date copy of something that i purchsed. I paid the money, it has been verified, so now i shouldbe able to install the thing whenever i want without constantly asking gog's servers for permission through galaxy. The point i'm making is that abandoning offline installers, which is where we're slowly gravitating towards, is effectively DRM. This is how Steam's DRM works. Even steam lets you "play in offline mode" after you've confirmed your manifest.

What would be the point of make offline installers dissapear? Apparently they are created automatically from Galaxy masters or something like that, not manually, exceptions aside. They are even available under extras for Galaxy users as a backup.

And, whats the point of all of this controversy for years? Because I have been witness of variations of this concern for years. I do not know what will be the state of things for GOG in 5 years but if they are in business and if we are alive or if our hard drives and/or backup clouds are alive, we will be reading the same things again.

Funny, what's this thread doing here? What did the gog staff member here post? Seek your answers there.

Not automatic by a long stretch, probably because GOG skimped on programmers somewhere, hence numerous reports of delayed or missing updates in offline installers while GOG galaxy version gets them regularly. Also, the official statement on the issue implies that GOG is not capable of or not willing to maintain the offline installers on the same level as same for Galaxy.

The last post of the GOG member said something about technical problems and delays. And said thanks for your patience.

What is funny is that it is Just what is lacking here.

EDIT: better grammars

Yeah, and it's been said that this has actually been going on for a while, now. It also becomes reasonable to ask how this process tht was working automatically suddenly became broken.

To address the question you asked, as to why GOG might not provide offline installers anymore, one need look no further than understanding that supposedly it costs in maintenance. Others have suggested private deals with certain companies, and it's also known that these take up more space than having only the galaxy versions stored. GOG has openly stated that it prefers people to use Galaxy, and it's not advantageous to GOG to have both methods of install, outside of customers threatening ot leave. There's a natural incentive then to get rid of offline installers. And alot of us reasonably believe GOG isn't taking our threat to leave seriously. GOG certainly wouldn't be the first storefront to claim DRM-free with online only installers, either.

Okay, we're talking at cross-purposes here. I'm not talking about them discontinuing offline installers. And I'm not sure how you interpret the GOG staff's response as indicating they're going to be discontinued.

I'm talking about the way Galaxy works right now. I agree that the moment Galaxy is required for you to play your offline games, then it's DRM. And that's when I'll also be done with GOG. Currently, that's not the case.

I'm not sure how we got off the rails, then, given the title.

As for indicating they're planning on canceling, no that's not even implicit. What my argument is, is that having both is not to their benefit, and these issues they're having can be brought up later as an excuse on why they "need to stop doing offline installers," under the argument that it's "too costly. to maintain."