It seems that you're using an outdated browser. Some things may not work as they should (or don't work at all).
We suggest you upgrade newer and better browser like: Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer or Opera

×
Community
General discussionHow are you all feeling about GOG's current overall "direction"?(243 posts)(243 posts)
(243 posts)
Pages:
1
2
3
4
5
6
10
17
This is my favourite topic
Posted February 13, 2015
avatar
Smannesman: You know, all those people that abide no criticism of GOG even when they go back on their original policies and statements.
Isn't it possible then that those people don't see some of those points as the sign of end of GOG, like naysayers do?

For instance, regional pricing. I know some people feel very strongly about that, but what can I say? If you don't agree with the pricing, don't buy it. Wailing about it over and over again will not help, if most people don't care enough to still buy the games even with regional pricing. I support the idea of one-price, but it is not a biggie for me, and I see no point of constantly propose doom and gloom for GOG because of it.

Or old games. If I read you right, you feel GOG should have stayed selling only some very old DOS games that Steam doesn't sell (ie. "focused", to old non-Steam games?), and GOG has possibly betrayed its users by starting selling also newer games, also ones available in Steam?

Am I not allowed to disagree with that, and actually be thankful that GOG has expanded its game selection from mere "old classics", and sells also games that are already on Steam, so that I can buy them here instead of Steam? Thank god for F.E.A.R., for example (saying that even though I already have all the FEAR games on Steam as well).

So when I say I actually like it that GOG is not restricting itself only to old obscure non-Steam games, someone else may see that as me trying to curb their criticism.

avatar
timppu: In the end what matters to me how much I have to pay for the game, not how much someone else in Russia or Brazil has to pay for it.
avatar
vicklemos: I think that's quite te opposite of what GOG's been doing. They're trying, I suppose, to cover most countries/currencies they can.
And you only say that because you don't live in one of these countries, right?
Not sure what you are saying. I live in eurozone which is usually kicked in the head with higher digital prices, also in GOG I presume. But in the end it doesn't matter that much to me, if I still find the GOG price agreeable. 5€ is a low price to me, even if a Russian can get the same game for 3€. Also, if the higher price is due to EU taxes, then I have no objection whatsoever to the higher prices.

Or are you referring to that way how GOG gives money back for your purchases, the fair pricing thingie or something? That's cool I guess, I see it a bit similarly as the Blue Coins in GamersGate (getting bonus for your purchases), not being fully sure why I receive it, but oh well.

On the other hand, if this oddball fair pricing is the reason why e.g. Nordic Games left GOG, then I'd rather be without it (if it brings Nordic Games back).
Post edited February 13, 2015 by timppu
Posted February 13, 2015
avatar
Smannesman: You know, all those people that abide no criticism of GOG even when they go back on their original policies and statements.
avatar
timppu: Isn't it possible then that those people don't see some of those points as the sign of end of GOG, like naysayers do?

For instance, regional pricing. I know some people feel very strongly about that, but what can I say? If you don't agree with the pricing, don't buy it. Wailing about it over and over again will not help, if most people don't care enough to still buy the games even with regional pricing. I support the idea of one-price, but it is not a biggie for me, and I see no point of constantly propose doom and gloom for GOG because of it.

Or old games. If I read you right, you feel GOG should have stayed selling only some very old DOS games that Steam doesn't sell (ie. "focused", to old non-Steam games?), and you feel GOG has betrayed its users by starting selling also newer games, also ones available in Steam.

Am I not allowed to disagree with that, and actually be thankful that GOG has expanded its game selection from mere "old classics", and sells also games that are already on Steam, so that I can buy them here instead of Steam? Thank god for F.E.A.R., for example (saying that even though I already have all the FEAR games on Steam as well).

So when I say I actually like it that GOG is not restricting itself only to old obscure non-Steam games, someone else may be seeing that as me trying to curb their criticism.

avatar
vicklemos: I think that's quite te opposite of what GOG's been doing. They're trying, I suppose, to cover most countries/currencies they can.
And you only say that because you don't live in one of these countries, right?
avatar
timppu: Not sure what you are saying. I live in eurozone which is usually kicked in the head with higher digital prices, also in GOG I presume. But in the end it doesn't matter that much to me, if I still find the GOG price agreeable. 5€ is a low price to me, even if a Russian can get the same game for 3€. Also, if the higher price is due to EU taxes, then I have no objection whatsoever to the higher prices.

Or are you referring to that way how GOG gives money back for your purchases, the fair pricing thingie or something? That's cool I guess, I see it a bit similarly as the Blue Coins in GamersGate (getting bonus for your purchases), not being fully sure why I receive it, but oh well.

On the other hand, if this oddball fair pricing is the reason why e.g. Nordic Games left GOG, then I'd rather be without it (if it brings Nordic Games back).
Timppu, I also think GOG prices agreeable. It's just that 5 usd is a hell lot to me and 5 euros is insane, so insane you wouldn't even know what insane is :P
Not GOG's fault, absolutely not. And right, fair pricing. Would love to see "coins", cash bonuses from past purchases, rewards, etc. Not beeing selfish, no sir.

I stick -not just buying, but I somehow feel as a part of the community- here because I like 99% of what they do, even though sometimes I feel like a could complain a little less. :(
Gog's surely way ahead of many, many others. I've read here recently something like "sometimes they're amateur-ish". Probably someone who doensn't know what professionalism is. Gotta keep that spine straight, GOG, never kneel down! :D
Posted February 13, 2015
I don't have strong feelings, one way or the other. In general the releases are still as good as before, I like the addition of indies, I ignore the movies, I'm somewhat curious but not particularly excited about the introduction of an optional client (just a bit baffled that it's not here yet, considering it was promised long ago), although I have to say the current patching system is a bit inconvenient, I dislike the move to Euro prices and regional pricing, I appreciate the higher discounts, I'm not that happy about the forum and website bugs apparantly getting low priority while new bugs are constantly introduced, the website redesigns had some good aspects and others that made the site a bit less convenient and attractive for me, but I got used to them. I sympathize with Linux and Mac support, but it doesn't regard me myself. I also ignore the French forums and would probably lose interest in a German forum quickly, too. But I like that GOG retroactively adds new languages to games in the catalogue.
Post edited February 13, 2015 by Leroux
Posted February 13, 2015
One I forgot to mention. The web site bugs (both some new, and some which have been there for a long time) seem to also raise many emotions, but again so far I haven't found those a biggie either, most of the time. Yeah it gives a somewhat amateurish feel to the web site, but as long as it doesn't get in my way too much, I can live with it.

There are lots of improvements I want to the web site, but in the end they (lack of) are definitely not the reason not to buy from GOG, or even visit the forums.

The recent "log in" fault is pretty stupid though, because then I can't (at least easily) access my account page to download my games. Anyway, at least at his very moment the bug is not on, so I don't know if GOG has now fixed it, or if it is only the time of the day when it works (and later today it won't work anymore). This is one of the more irritating GOG web site faults I've seen.

Oh right, and the cases of games temporarily disappearing from people's accounts, or some cases where the purchase process ends in an error and the credit card is charged, but no game received... Those are the kind of errors GOG should concentrate on fixing, as they make the customers feel less secure. Non-functional forum search is much less important.
Post edited February 13, 2015 by timppu
Posted February 13, 2015
Overall, i'm happy with GOG.
About 2014 and 2015 :

Regional Pricing - This has a small impact on my wallet and i don't like it so much, but it's ok.

LucasArts/Disney and Warner Brothers publishers - Best publishing news for me! Now to have Bethesda (iD games mostly), Rockstar and 2K games and i don't think we need anything else for a world without DRM and oldies :D

GOG Galaxy - Very happy for this. Haven't tried the alpha yet, but i will start using it as soon as it hits BETA and has achievements. Hope they'll find some way to include achievements for games like Hugo's Adventures, Blood and generally games that don't have achievements elsewhere.

TheEnigmaticT - His departure from GOG saddened me. I would enjoy every video/hint and i would sit down in a ceremonial way to watch the Spring/Autumn conferences of GOG, presenting us great news. Hope we'll get them back someday along with some other representative.

Movies - Don't care about them.
Posted February 13, 2015
I really like it.
No need for the movies, though, but that's just my opinion.
Posted February 13, 2015
If they are leading North, it is a compass?




--> []
Posted February 13, 2015
Eh, they're seem to be having a rather tough time selling games as of late. Steam has started selling old games as well, very few indies come here until well after most people have bought it on Steam and pretty much all AAA games avoid GOG entirely because of their DRM-free policy. Combine that with the fact that there simply aren't many old games left that are both worth selling and not in legal limbo or owned by someone who doesn't give a shit, and it's no wonder they're trying to find a new niche.
Posted February 13, 2015
avatar
Hesusio: Eh, they're seem to be having a rather tough time selling games as of late. Steam has started selling old games as well, very few indies come here until well after most people have bought it on Steam and pretty much all AAA games avoid GOG entirely because of their DRM-free policy. Combine that with the fact that there simply aren't many old games left that are both worth selling and not in legal limbo or owned by someone who doesn't give a shit, and it's no wonder they're trying to find a new niche.
That sounds overly pessimistic. Ok, so what brings you here then? The great community? :)

I don't agree at all that there isn't much to buy in GOG, but maybe that is just me then. Maybe it is because I haven't bought each and every indie bundle that has been out there at some point of time (I don't even have e.g. a Desura account), so even if a game like The Void has been in some indie bundle or other store before, I hadn't even heard about the game before it appeared on GOG.

Good for me, I guess. It seems like an interesting game from what I could tell, so I bought it. I'm also very happy GOG has added it to their store, regardless of not being a day-1 release.
Post edited February 13, 2015 by timppu
Posted February 13, 2015
I think its interesting that a few months after GoG adds movies, they get two publishers who are also involved in the movie business. It's hard to judge a direction for a sizable business like GoG being that there are always likely deals in the pipeline or under negotiation. As much as I thought the addition of movies was an odd choice, it makes a lot more sense if GoG knew a couple movie studios might be interested. Add the fact that a satellite office was added to California. Maybe all this is connected, or maybe I'm seeing things.
Posted February 13, 2015
tl:dr

Overall I'm very content with GOG.
Though I don't like some of the changes of the past year/few years, they don't bother me that much. First and foremost I come here for the DRM free games. I'm happy GOG is now also releasing new(er) games. In the long run it's necessary for their survival. Aiming solely at none Steam users might be a nice niche, but it's not 1 that won't show a lot of growth potential and therefore is less interesting for none signed publishers.
GOG will never be able to do things into perfection as the definition of it varies for most of us.

The expansions to movies is okay with me and as far as I'm concerned could be expanded to tv series as well. It would actually be great if Lucasfilm and WB would also release (at least their classic) movies here.

One of the biggest disappointments for me s the lack of new entries to the catalog from EA and Activision. However I don't blaim GOG for that, I blaim EA and Activision for it.
Post edited February 13, 2015 by HertogJan
Posted February 13, 2015
avatar
vicklemos: I agree. Just don't get why people complain and beg (and beg and beg) so much, jeez. Don't they know developers/publishers/services work their asses off, sometimes 24/7?!
Like, when I say "gimme my linux port now" or "release that oldschool game I -me-me-me-me- love, NOW" I'm being beyond rude, since I know they're busy as hell, they're pros, developers sometimes can be a pain and don't cooperate, low priorities and stuff.
But that's just me.
Actually, this kind of behaviour was not included in my criticism! :)
Imo, asking for more and better products is fine, even if it is done often -at best it can lead some company to speed up the process, at worst it will change nothing. As long as the froum is not flooded with spam-like threads full of requests, I really cannot see any problem with that!

I was condemning the ever-growing gratuitous insults, childish, ignorant and embarassing reactions to discussions about "hot topics" (being them deeply philosophic or about ridiculous things like "PC master race vs console peasants"), the usual ranters about "how much GOG has declined", people that talk like they had the right to dictate how GOG should work (example: "only good old games 'cos indies are crap", "GOG has rejected this and that", "GOG should be a partner of Humble Bundle", "I don't want movies, GOG must not sell them", etc.) and, worst of all, the continuos Steam advertising and glorification. This latter makes me completely blind with rage: it's just like spending the entire evening insulting the hosts after being invited to their party. Many here do not understand that posting on the forums of a commercial activity is not a right, especially if all they do is moving the attention of potential customers towards another one. That is an unbelievable, shameless display of incivility, imo... but it is also the standard on the internet.
Posted February 13, 2015
I can't tell which direction they are headed in; they still have me tied up and locked in the trunk.
Posted February 13, 2015
avatar
Enebias: and, worst of all, the continuos Steam advertising and glorification. This latter makes me completely blind with rage: it's just like spending the entire evening insulting the hosts after being invited to their party. Many here do not understand that posting on the forums of a commercial activity is not a right, especially if all they do is moving the attention of potential customers towards another one. That is an unbelievable, shameless display of incivility, imo... but it is also the standard on the internet.
You do have a point, but on the other hand, the freedom to discuss gaming deals regardless of store or even other topics that might have been censored on other stores' websites is also part of what draws so many people to the forums, and GOG strongly profits from its active community. Even if people might not buy a game on GOG because they learn there's a better discount on another website, they still hang around the website, acknowledge all new releases and promos and probably still buy a lot more than if forum discussions were restricted to GOG games and they'd only check the website from time to time and move to other forums for their general gaming and gaming deals discussions.
Post edited February 13, 2015 by Leroux
Posted February 13, 2015
avatar
Hesusio: Eh, they're seem to be having a rather tough time selling games as of late. Steam has started selling old games as well, very few indies come here until well after most people have bought it on Steam and pretty much all AAA games avoid GOG entirely because of their DRM-free policy. Combine that with the fact that there simply aren't many old games left that are both worth selling and not in legal limbo or owned by someone who doesn't give a shit, and it's no wonder they're trying to find a new niche.
avatar
timppu: That sounds overly pessimistic. Ok, so what brings you here then? The great community? :)

I don't agree at all that there isn't much to buy in GOG, but maybe that is just me then. Maybe it is because I haven't bought each and every indie bundle that has been out there at some point of time (I don't even have e.g. a Desura account), so even if a game like The Void has been in some indie bundle or other store before, I hadn't even heard about the game before it appeared on GOG.

Good for me, I guess. It seems like an interesting game from what I could tell, so I bought it. I'm also very happy GOG has added it to their store, regardless of not being a day-1 release.
That's not at all what I said. I'm not talking about whether or not I like GOG, I'm talking about GOG's overall success as a business. I see that you're a big fan of GOG. So am I, for that matter. They're by far my favorite site to buy old games. That's irrelevant to my point, though. It's an objective fact that Steam, with it's near monopoly on PC digital distribution, is now competing directly with GOG when in they used to be the only digital store to sell old games. It's also a fact that indies more often than not don't come to GOG until well after launch, and AAAs that aren't old enough to be retro avoid it entirely. Yeah, you're perfectly okay with that. That''s fine, but it's a fact that the vast majority of any game's sales happen on launch. It's hard enough to compete with Steam on a level playing field. Trying to compete when you only get games long after they do is basically an exercise in futility.

By selling gaming movies, it looks like they're trying to find themselves a new niche that they'll have all to themselves. A bit like classic games back before Steam got in on it, for that matter. I'm not saying it's a bad thing (I'm personally not interested in these movies, but I don't have any problem with GOG selling them), just that it's the reality of the situation. Or at least my assessment of the situation.
Pages:
1
2
3
4
5
6
10
17
This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussionHow are you all feeling about GOG's current overall "direction"?(243 posts)(243 posts)
(243 posts)