Posted March 21, 2015
Could you guys unbundle Silent Storm too?
Codz
New User
Registered: Jan 2012
From United States
EBToriginal
Perverse
Registered: Apr 2011
From United States
Posted March 21, 2015
Seriously GOG, can you explain how it's convenient for us as customers to download and install eight separate Leisure Suit Larry games over the previous all-in-one Greatest Hits .exe?
It doesn't even look good on the game shelf, as having games with the same box cover is confusing and looks tacky as hell.
I for one am less inclined to buy bundled games in this state, and sadly I'll have to dig up that old installer (which I have legal right to do so) from some crappy warez site because I didn't keep it backed up having assumed GOG would never change it for worse.
Guys, when companies make these kind of choices, it's up to us to call them on it - and this is absolute bullshit.
JaqFrost
Registered: Nov 2011
From Vietnam
Posted March 21, 2015
Sh! So far I'm fortunate enough to be minimally affected by this change, so please, don't mention any game I own. =P I don't want complete editions to be broken up into their constituent parts since nothing is subdivided into umbrella covers with separate installers.
Grargar
Insert cat to continue
Registered: Aug 2012
From Greece
Posted March 21, 2015
Servants of the Dark, along with Guardians of the Light, were combined into one expansion called [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disciples_II:_Dark_Prophecy#Expansion_packs.2C_releases_and_versions]Gallean's Return[/url].
mrkgnao
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HCZVCTO
Registered: Apr 2009
From United States
Posted March 21, 2015
mvscot
Game Hoarder
Registered: Sep 2010
From United Kingdom
Posted March 21, 2015
Does anyone know whether the original individual CD-ROM releases installed separate copies of the common parts of the games into separate game folders, or whether the installers made an attempt to share/update those?
I'm inclined to prefer that GOG do the minimum of re-packaging (since the more you try to change, the more likely you are to screw up), so if the original games installed this way, it's OK for GOG to do the same (but since GOG previously avoided multiple copies of shared components for Heroes Chronicles with their combined installer, I suspect they're just being lazy with their new packaging design).
Having said that, I think GOG installers should be designed to be somewhat aware of common dependencies (such as DOSBox, ScummVM) and share only one of each necessary version (one DOSBox 0.73, one DOSBox 0.74, etc.), at least as far as installation goes (most people probably want single-file downloads for each game, so the installer still needs to contain the duplicate components, though having an option for the downloader to fetch shared components separately might be nice, but not at the expense of the convenient single-file downloads).
The poorly-differentiated shortcut icons are one change that is borderline; I myself prefer to put up with the original, but recognisable, 16-colour icons of old games than to have a whole bunch of GOG-styled hi-colour icons I can't tell apart.
I'm inclined to prefer that GOG do the minimum of re-packaging (since the more you try to change, the more likely you are to screw up), so if the original games installed this way, it's OK for GOG to do the same (but since GOG previously avoided multiple copies of shared components for Heroes Chronicles with their combined installer, I suspect they're just being lazy with their new packaging design).
Having said that, I think GOG installers should be designed to be somewhat aware of common dependencies (such as DOSBox, ScummVM) and share only one of each necessary version (one DOSBox 0.73, one DOSBox 0.74, etc.), at least as far as installation goes (most people probably want single-file downloads for each game, so the installer still needs to contain the duplicate components, though having an option for the downloader to fetch shared components separately might be nice, but not at the expense of the convenient single-file downloads).
The poorly-differentiated shortcut icons are one change that is borderline; I myself prefer to put up with the original, but recognisable, 16-colour icons of old games than to have a whole bunch of GOG-styled hi-colour icons I can't tell apart.
mvscot
Game Hoarder
Registered: Sep 2010
From United Kingdom
Posted March 21, 2015
high rated
The lack of quality control shown and swathes of inconsistencies resulting from this unbundling effort (among other things) have certainly reduced the value of GOG games for me (i.e. the price I'm willing to pay).
Rather than having the re-assurance of obtaining the most definitive version of an older game available, convenient to install, I now face an uncertain and wasteful download experience.
That has to hurt GOG's bottom line.
Perhaps they should have tackled one game at a time and made the effort to design their download/install process efficiently and correctly. It's generally cheaper to get something right before you ship it than to fix or work around mistakes you release to production!
Rather than having the re-assurance of obtaining the most definitive version of an older game available, convenient to install, I now face an uncertain and wasteful download experience.
That has to hurt GOG's bottom line.
Perhaps they should have tackled one game at a time and made the effort to design their download/install process efficiently and correctly. It's generally cheaper to get something right before you ship it than to fix or work around mistakes you release to production!
de_Monteynard
Technologist
Registered: Jul 2010
From Slovenia
Posted March 21, 2015
Amen to that! This has been my overriding argument during this whole mess. GOG prides itself by making thing easy for the consumer and by providing the definitive version of classic games. I imagine many more threads will pop up with OP along the lines: "I bought my favourite childhood game, but it doesn't contain the feature(s) I remember. I want my money back!"
Owozifa
New User
Registered: Dec 2008
From United States
waxthetrip
New User
Registered: May 2011
From Finland
Posted March 21, 2015
At least don't separate for example original and VGA releases (like Leisure Suit Larry). Looks really stupid in my library. Otherwise this is nice update (more games in my library) :D
deshadow52
Sacred Sucks
Registered: Sep 2010
From Canada
Posted March 21, 2015
Following your many requests and in connection with preparing game libraries better for GOG Galaxy, we’re going to be starting what we’re calling unbundling games.
This means that multiple games that are bundled as one “product” (for instance: Tomb Raider 1+2+3) will no longer appear as one title on your game shelf, but rather - be split into individual items. This means more convenient downloads, smaller downloads if you just want to get one game, better representation of the games on your shelf, and being able to toggle installing and auto-updating titles from such a bundle in GOG Galaxy individually (should you decide use the client in the future once it's released).
Such bundles won't be unbundled in the store, so no price changes will happen - it's just a different way to display them on your shelf, which will make things easier for you and future software.
In the first "run" of such unbundlings - tomorrow - we'll take on two shelved items: Alien Breed + Tower Assault and American McGee's Grimm. Starting next Tuesday, we'll move on to unbundling all games in our library and this process will take a week. Before this process ends, you may still see some items on your shelf stay in bundles, but don't worry, their time will come as well and your game shelf will be neat once again. :)
If you have any questions, feel free to ask and we'll do our best to answer them. We’re also awaiting your feedback in terms of how unbundling went for your games - we’ll be following this thread, so keep us informed of any issues!
[EDIT] full list of games: HERE
sanscript
Choose τ over π
Registered: Jul 2011
From Norway
Posted March 21, 2015
Like the concept, however, it is a mess as it stands now.
Often I like to middleclick on the name just to check the game card, but that doesn't work on games that have been separated. (with games that have been removed from the catalog, that I understand)
Also not keeping them bundled in the same post on the right is asking for 'angry gamers and organization nazis' :-D
Often I like to middleclick on the name just to check the game card, but that doesn't work on games that have been separated. (with games that have been removed from the catalog, that I understand)
Also not keeping them bundled in the same post on the right is asking for 'angry gamers and organization nazis' :-D
Post edited March 21, 2015 by sanscript
stg83
Homo Ludens
Registered: Nov 2013
From Pakistan
Posted March 21, 2015
Sadly that is nothing new and has been the modus operandi of GOG for well over year now. Instead of asking for feedback from the customers beforehand they just make a decision like this that affects all of us while later on scrambling to deal with the mostly negative consequences. Then we have radio silence from GOG on all these issues caused by such improvements.
Green_Hilltop
Jungle Pirate
Registered: Sep 2011
From Czech Republic
Posted March 21, 2015
I like having the different art and being able to arrange a series together, especially when you've got a lot more of the original box art in use. I like the way Might and Magic looks. I don't know why Swords of Xeen is separate from Worlds of Xeen when you stuck 4 and 5 together as it was. Seems like you might as well just roll all of them together then.
But man how awful anything with the same art is. Quest for Glory 1-5...if you're just going to use the same picture as the bundle five times I'd rather it just be a bundle.
Also a bunch are in the wrong order and with similar covers it's very confusing. Police Quest on mine goes 2, 3, 4, 1 for some reason. No to mention confusion with different versions like Leisure Suit Larry 1 Original/VGA.
There are good ideas, but I guess I'm still ultimately rather it be the other way given this end result.
Same goes for Police Quest. I hope that GOG will update all incorrect covers with the right ones and make the games sit on the shelf in the right order (why does MM unbundle in the corect order while Police Quest goes 2, 3, 4, 1? QFG I think also is not organized by the release date for some reason).
Post edited March 21, 2015 by Green_Hilltop
tonywar93
New User
Registered: Dec 2013
From Italy
Posted March 21, 2015
You should fix the images for "Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation" (TLR) and "Tomb Raider: Chronicles":
- "TLR" has the same image as "Tomb Raider 3" with a different background;
- "Chronicles" has the image from "TLR".
- "TLR" has the same image as "Tomb Raider 3" with a different background;
- "Chronicles" has the image from "TLR".