So let me get this straight, are games being bundled with galaxy now? I thought from the other thread that they would continue to provide standalone installers without galaxy?

Currently, nothing has changed.

It is time to backup everything you bought here.

Thanks, that is ok for now then, although there really isn't anything to buy at the mo, but that is a differs story.

I'm not a fan of this sort of thing either but in fairness your talking about a product offering a 3rd party service that has nothing to do with the product your using... it's not quite the same thing as a company automatically including an additional free service that is offered by that service/company you are already using.

At-least not in my view... sure the tactics are similar but people are generally more inclined to accept additional services offered by something they are already agreeing to over a 3rd party service that they had not agreed to whatsoever. There are plenty of examples of this.

Now having said that, I do agree it would be better for all involved if the default was unchecked... seeing as I don't think what GOG thinks is a problem is as big of a problem as they seem to think it is. Just my 2 cents on this issue.

Agreed, but on the other hand, the only two valid reasons for downloading an offline installer I can think of is either that you don't want to use Galaxy at all, or that you are downloading the installer through Galaxy for backup purposes. Neither scenario would benefit from Galaxy being included in the offline installer in any way, shape or form.

As such, it can be assumed, even more so than with the 3rd party "additives" to other installers, that nobody who runs this installer will want the included extra "service".

Apart from that, Java and Flash have one installer each (well, there are a couple of different versions, but you get the idea). GOG has on the order of 2000 installers. With their latest plan of maintaining two separate sets of installers, one with Galaxy, one without, that makes it about 4000 installers they have to maintain. As a developer, I can only say that even with fully automated processes, that is going to be a nightmare. And the more resources GOG has to spend internally, the more those expenses will be pushed onto us, the customers.

Mind you, I'm not advocating the OPs "solution". As others have mentioned, the forum users make up a vanishingly small percentage of GOG's customers, the rest of which are blissfully unaware of this whole thing, and probably mostly don't care either. Even if all the forum users banded together in a boycott (which isn't going to happen), the difference to GOG's bottom line would most likely be negligible.

Download the installer to install on your desktop, travel laptop and office computer, since you are able to game at different places and wish to use cloud saves so you don't need to go through the hassle of copying saves between 3 locations? Preparing for a LAN party so you buy a few gift codes for your friends while you pass around the usb with the installer so you can sit down and play without everyone needing to download the game?
Not to mention preparing your "To install after setting up new computer" usb stick.

Yes, all of the above are edge cases.

Not really. If you ask me they handled that rather badly and their move backwards doesn't look as good as if they would have thought about both (all) sets of users already before.

So I don't think they went out of their way really.

This will always be true... as I said "could have and perhaps should have been handled better". That doesn't mean they aren't at least trying to find a middle ground, like providing classic installers as the expense of more work (even if we probably both agree this isn't the best solution).

I was giving them a tiny bit of credit, perhaps more than they deserve but some non the less.

I agree with you, but the best way for a Galaxy User to this scenario is getting the Galaxy Installer and saving the game folder on an usb stick. Then importing it (while having internet access) and get some coffee or ice cream or just doing something else. Most comfortable way when installing on a new comp or transfering from laptop to desktop.

And in all of the above scenarios, provided I was interested in using Galaxy, I'd download the separate Galaxy installer (you know, the actual installer for Galaxy only). I think most others would too.

This seems an odd thing to say, seeing as we recently managed to win a small concession from GOG.

I find it very sad that so many people in this world are uncomfortable being empowered.
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The stench of BS is so thick you could cut it with a knife. (not referring to you, JMich)

Referring to me then? Or to GOG?

Darn, I thought this thread was going to have some actual, useful information in it.

Just Internet slacktivism.

I am disappoint.