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General discussionIntroducing: GOG Galaxy, the DRM-Free online gaming platform(917 posts)(917 posts)
(917 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted June 06, 2014
Freedom of choice. Optional client. Cross-play. Coming soon to all gamers!

Earlier today (or was it yesterday for you?), during the [url=http://www.gog.com/news/cd_projekt_red_gogcom_summer_conference]CD Projekt RED and GOG.com’s Summer Conference we dropped the news about our next big step forward! GOG.com has always been home to more and more of the the best games in history (for Windows and Mac), both classic and new. Differing in shapes, flavors, and sizes they had one thing in common: they were mostly single-player, and our focus was mainly on the experience of a singular gamer. If that's your thing, nothing really will change. You can always enjoy your favorite games 100% DRM-free on GOG.com, with no need to activate your game online or remain connected to play your single-player title. Just like GOG.com has always been about.. But what if you want to play with your friends?

Today we are excited to announce GOG Galaxy, a truly gamer-friendly, 100% DRM-free online gaming platform that will finally provide the GOG.com community with the easy option to play together online. GOG Galaxy will allow you to share your achievements, stay in touch with your pals and get the updates for your games automatically. We've developed this technology to improve your GOG.com experience. We think GOG Galaxy really deserves your attention and we hope many of you will give it a try! But, here's the great thing: it is totally optional, so it's all up to you! If you do not want to play online, or use our optional client to access these features, then no worries, you will always be able to play the single-player mode 100% DRM-free, and download manually the latest updated version of your favorite title from our website. Now, for one more feature we call cross-play. We always believed in an open world for gamers, with no obligation to be tied to a specific platform or client; and this is why GOG Galaxy will allow gamers to play with their buddies who use Steam, without any need to use any 3rd party client or account, nothing, nada. We’re taking care of connecting GOG.com and Steam players, so just sit back, relax and give it a try.

See the outtake from the CD Projekt RED & GOG.com Summer Conference

Talking of which, we are proud to announce the soon-to-come launch of the beta phase for The Witcher Adventure Game, a faithful adaptation of the board game of the same title. It allows up to 4 players to play together, whether they use Steam or GOG.com. Cross-play at its finest! If you wanna get the chance to try it out, please visit and sign up to get in the queue for your beta access key. You can also simply take advantage of our amazing [url=http://www.gog.com/tw3]pre-order offer for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, which includes 2 beta access keys for he Witcher Aventure Game, delivered to you as soon as we start handing them out to public.

We believe GOG Galaxy has the power to provide the best of both worlds. Playing the single player mode of your favorite game, 100% DRM-free, while still having the OPTION to use our soon-to-come client for an enhanced experience (auto-patching, achievements, and much more) or play online with other GOG.com (and Steam) players if you so wish.

There will be more GOG Galaxy titles coming up this year, so stay tuned for more news and get the word around!
Post edited June 06, 2014 by G-Doc
Posted June 08, 2014
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JMich: Boycotting a game because it only uses Galaxy as network play is the same as boycotting one for only using Steamworks.

Or am I missing something in what you are trying to say?
You're close, although I didn't mention anything of boycotting. The point being though, Steamworks gets boycotted by DRM-Free proponents for a reason. And some of those reasons are just as present in a Multiplayer only version of it. You don't consider this counter to the whole 100% DRM-Free stance?

And 'It's that or nothing' was already used for Regional prices if I'm not mistaken, and even then there was already no reason that logic couldn't be applied to DRM as well, except that they said they would definitely hold on to that particular stance (even though 1 world one price had the same commitment originally)
Post edited June 08, 2014 by Pheace
Posted June 08, 2014
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Pheace: You don't consider this counter to the whole 100% DRM-Free stance?
In general? No, I don't consider it counter to the whole 100% DRM-Free stance.
There may be cases where something using Galaxy may not be considered DRM-Free, but I think that will be the exception, not the rule. I do believe most games developed with Galaxy in mind will behave more like Planetary Annihilation (see the followup survey thread) than Galcon Fusion, and thus be considered DRM-Free.

Who knows, maybe GOG also adds a clause that any game wishing to use GOG Galaxy must also include LAN support.
Posted June 08, 2014
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JMich: Who knows, maybe GOG also adds a clause that any game wishing to use GOG Galaxy must also include LAN support.
Who knows. I personally think GOG's going to have quite a hurdle getting devs to use Galaxy as it is with demanding a DRM-free single player variant, let alone if they start demanding LAN as well.

I just find it an incredibly strange thought that GOG of all places, might find itself under the DRM tag of games soon. And if the client is going to be a requirement for Multiplayer, that *is* what's going to happen.

So, in cases of Multiplayer matchmaking. A game designed for GOG Galaxy, assuming it requires you to run an account/client to play online, when do you not consider that DRM? If the game also supports LAN/Direct connections without Galaxy?
Post edited June 08, 2014 by Pheace
Posted June 08, 2014
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Diversion: It is DRM if a game in its original form allowed you to host multiplayer without using additional software and that ability is removed so that you MUST use Galaxy for multiplayer. As I said if that ability wasn't in the game to begin with it's another matter.
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JMich: So it's a hypothetical DRM, assuming they decide to remove present functionality in place of their own. Or more or less
"Damn you GOG for requiring me to use the client to play my single player games".
From my understanding of their statements so far, any current functionality of a game will remain the same even after Galaxy is released. Any functionality Galaxy adds will be in addition to current ones.
It does beg the question of what happens if a developer decides to only use Galaxy for matchmaking, but that is no different from a game where the developer decides to only use Steamworks (or GFWL, or Gamespy) for matchmaking.

So from what I understand of the Galaxy, I am glad to have the option of using 4 clicks instead of 6, especially since I don't see any DRM entering the equations.
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Pheace: So, your point is that GOG's already allowing it with some games, so why complain if they get their own client and actively encourage development of games with that kind of multiplayer portals?
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JMich: My point is that Galaxy is another matchmaking service, which the developer may choose to use or ignore. If a game is released with only Galaxy, it's no different from a game released only with GFWL, Gamespy or Steamworks functionality. If a game is released with Galaxy support, along with LAN, Direct Connect and Hot Seat support, it's (still) no different from a game released with LAN, Direct Connect, Hot Seat and Gamespy support.

Boycotting a game because it only uses Galaxy as network play is the same as boycotting one for only using Steamworks.

Or am I missing something in what you are trying to say?
No it's not hypotethical. Take MOO2 for example. It has great singleplayer as well as multiplayer, I want to retain the ability to play multiplayer with my friends without being dependant on additional software over which I have no control. They said their goal was to have Galaxy handle ALL multiplayer in the future. I read that as removing existing multiplayer support in favor of Galaxy but until I know more I can't be certain. If Galaxy is in addition to this I have no objections.

Again this is mostly concerning games older than 10 years.
Posted June 08, 2014
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Diversion: No it's not hypotethical. Take MOO2 for example. It has great singleplayer as well as multiplayer, I want to retain the ability to play multiplayer with my friends without being dependant on additional software over which I have no control. They said their goal was to have Galaxy handle ALL multiplayer in the future. I read that as removing existing multiplayer support in favor of Galaxy but until I know more I can't be certain. If Galaxy is in addition to this I have no objections.

Again this is mostly concerning games older than 10 years.
I think that was in reference to games that will require GOG Galaxy made by GOG/CDProject RED, not older games but I agree it would be worrying if they suddenly would require some authentication to play a game that old in some matchmaking scenario.
Posted June 08, 2014
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Diversion: It is DRM if a game in its original form allowed you to host multiplayer without using additional software and that ability is removed so that you MUST use Galaxy for multiplayer. As I said if that ability wasn't in the game to begin with it's another matter.
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JMich: So it's a hypothetical DRM, assuming they decide to remove present functionality in place of their own. Or more or less
"Damn you GOG for requiring me to use the client to play my single player games".
From my understanding of their statements so far, any current functionality of a game will remain the same even after Galaxy is released. Any functionality Galaxy adds will be in addition to current ones.
It does beg the question of what happens if a developer decides to only use Galaxy for matchmaking, but that is no different from a game where the developer decides to only use Steamworks (or GFWL, or Gamespy) for matchmaking.

So from what I understand of the Galaxy, I am glad to have the option of using 4 clicks instead of 6, especially since I don't see any DRM entering the equations.
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Pheace: So, your point is that GOG's already allowing it with some games, so why complain if they get their own client and actively encourage development of games with that kind of multiplayer portals?
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JMich: My point is that Galaxy is another matchmaking service, which the developer may choose to use or ignore. If a game is released with only Galaxy, it's no different from a game released only with GFWL, Gamespy or Steamworks functionality. If a game is released with Galaxy support, along with LAN, Direct Connect and Hot Seat support, it's (still) no different from a game released with LAN, Direct Connect, Hot Seat and Gamespy support.

Boycotting a game because it only uses Galaxy as network play is the same as boycotting one for only using Steamworks.

Or am I missing something in what you are trying to say?
You're probably missing the part where playing the singleplayer part of a GOG game doesn't require an internet verification or active connection, which is the issue I have with every other service out there. I don't care if I can't play multiplayer without internet (obviously I can't), but I want to have full access to my singleplayer content even if I'm without internet and being able to install and play on another PC without having to go through the whole Steam crap. Which is why I'm using GOG in the first place. The moment GOG becomes a Steam copy is the moment I tableflip and run.

So you get an extra matchmaking service, so what? If it goes under, chances are the games will be moved to another service, like it's now happening with many GFWL titles, but that's up to the developer. A number of titles for example are not going to be transferred or there's still no announcement about it. If you want to complain to someone about that, you need to complain to the developer in question, not Microsoft. If Galaxy died, the same applies to GOG.

Not sure why people must care about anything else than their games being DRM-free.
Posted June 08, 2014
It us not obvious that you can not play multiplayer without an internet connection there is such a thing as LAN.
Post edited June 08, 2014 by Kristian
Posted June 08, 2014
Very cool! Love you GOG, but I'm afraid I have ditched windows for linux and will never be back. This means I haven't been able to support you guys for a while, as all your titles are windows and mac only. I know wine works, a bit. My question is, will GOG Galaxy have a linux client?
Posted June 08, 2014
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Diversion: No it's not hypotethical. Take MOO2 for example. It has great singleplayer as well as multiplayer, I want to retain the ability to play multiplayer with my friends without being dependant on additional software over which I have no control. They said their goal was to have Galaxy handle ALL multiplayer in the future. I read that as removing existing multiplayer support in favor of Galaxy but until I know more I can't be certain. If Galaxy is in addition to this I have no objections.

Again this is mostly concerning games older than 10 years.
I think it is extremely unlikely that GOG will strip direct IP connections from old games - or any features that games already have. GOG doesn't have source code access of (most?) games sold through the store. It'd be a massive amount of work / time investment to crop something out of a game without source code access (and, likewise, even WITH source code access) and it'd be an investment for no financial gain. It wouldn't make any sense, whatsoever, to do this.
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npalsensei: If Galaxy died, the same applies to GOG.
Unless - as is requested elsewhere - GOG releases Galaxy as an open-source client. If they do that they'd really score a home run with this.
Post edited June 08, 2014 by Mnemon
Posted June 08, 2014
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Pheace: So, in cases of Multiplayer matchmaking. A game designed for GOG Galaxy, assuming it requires you to run an account/client to play online, when do you not consider that DRM? If the game also supports LAN/Direct connections without Galaxy?
You did make a thread asking about that, right? Let me answer again.
If in X years I can install said game to an isolated PC in a bunker, and be able to play the game, that game is DRM-Free. Add an isolated LAN and the ability to play in said LAN (assuming I have one copy per player), and the game is also DRM-Free for multiplayer, no matter what other stuff it may have.
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Diversion: They said their goal was to have Galaxy handle ALL multiplayer in the future.
The quote was that they hope to have all GOG games support Galaxy, which I read as having it in addition to current methods. So it remains a hypothetical question of "Why would they remove current functionality?".
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npalsensei: You're probably missing the part where playing the singleplayer part of a GOG game doesn't require an internet verification or active connection, which is the issue I have with every other service out there. I don't care if I can't play multiplayer without internet (obviously I can't), but I want to have full access to my singleplayer content even if I'm without internet and being able to install and play on another PC without having to go through the whole Steam crap.
You will be happy to know then that singleplayer doesn't care about either the client or internet connectivity. You will still be able to play your singleplayer games while disconnected from the internet, and probably a few, if not all multiplayer games as well.
DRM-Free is not going away.
Post edited June 08, 2014 by JMich
Posted June 08, 2014
- A client is required for the Social Platform.
(an optional feature some goggers been asking for)

- A client is required for Competitive Multiplayer.
(Rankings, Match History, Lobby, Refereeing, etc require an online profile and client)

- But Is a client required for casual play, or play 'tween friends and guilds??
(If player no want social nor public-lobby, player ought be able to Direct IP.)
.

i support a Gog Galaxy where gamers fire up the MP options from in-game, and THEN decide if they wish to engage the Client in order to join a public arcade, or to compete in sanctioned rankings, etc. Or, play'a may bypass all that and connect directly with others -no client.
Post edited June 08, 2014 by WhiteElk
Posted June 08, 2014
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WhiteElk: - But Is a client required for casual play, or play 'tween friends and guilds??
(If player no want social nor public-lobby, player ought be able to Direct IP Connect.)
Game dependent I'd say. If the game supported those before, it should still support them after Galaxy compatibility. If a game didn't support them, it still won't.
As for newer ones, it depends on how the developer codes them.
GOG Galaxy should only be adding options, not removing them.
Posted June 08, 2014
I find it odd, even if understandable, that people are instantly jumping the DRM Def-con 3 button.

I get that people are worried constantly about DRM and holding onto the hopes that GoG never falls prey to it, but where are people pulling their fears from with this announcement?

They offer a completely 100% optional avenue for games, and people start to worry that its going to ruin GoG and the consumers games that they bought / will buy. They specifically stated that nothing will affect the single player aspect of the game, which has always been GoG's main priority. Multiplayer support has only been a very recent endeavor by GoG, and people are walking around like its been around for as long as the wheel.

We had a big event/poll months back in regards to GoG taking a stance on getting games that have multiplayer/DLC features onto GoG, and improving the already available games with these features. Its a quandary that as soon as GoG starts to give real headroom into what the people were asking...that pitchforks start showing up.

How many people would enjoy a better MP experience of games like Duke Nukem 3D, Moo, TA, any old dial up co-op / multiplayer.... if it had a matchmaking system similar to Xfire , Mplayer, Heat, etc. ? How many people cling to 3rd party programs like Hamachi so that they can actually connect to other players for games? Galaxy is forming this bridge for players, similar to all the previous clients. The difference between this and clients like Steam, Origin, Etc. was that they were created initially as a function to cater their proprietary games and function as stores. It wasnt made to connect players to eachother, which is Galaxy's intent like previous multiplayer clients.

Theres a big stigma with "extra" software to use for games...but its really unfounded most of the time. Who complains about needing Direct X installed to play their game? or Net 4.0 ? Or visual studio. These all function in fundamental similar ways, and can be considered a form of "DRM" by some, however silly it is.

Until entirety of games can only be run by using a client (both single, multi, fundamentals of a game, etc.), its a far cry to call anything DRM in so much that youve now lost control.
Posted June 08, 2014
I'm sold on the concept, but I'd have to actually see the client in action to form an opinion about it.

As for people that are unhappy/worried about this, remember: it won't affect your GOG experience one whit. And it is a very desirable feature for people who like a Steam-like client, which means that GOG.com will attract a larger crowd, enabling them to be more convincing for those hard to get publishers.

You all know that GOG.com is the bastion of DRM-free gaming. That won't ever be taken away from us. Let's see where this client goes. ;)
Posted June 08, 2014
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Pheace: So, in cases of Multiplayer matchmaking. A game designed for GOG Galaxy, assuming it requires you to run an account/client to play online, when do you not consider that DRM? If the game also supports LAN/Direct connections without Galaxy?
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JMich: You did make a thread asking about that, right? Let me answer again.
If in X years I can install said game to an isolated PC in a bunker, and be able to play the game, that game is DRM-Free. Add an isolated LAN and the ability to play in said LAN (assuming I have one copy per player), and the game is also DRM-Free for multiplayer, no matter what other stuff it may have.
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Diversion: They said their goal was to have Galaxy handle ALL multiplayer in the future.
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JMich: The quote was that they hope to have all GOG games support Galaxy, which I read as having it in addition to current methods. So it remains a hypothetical question of "Why would they remove current functionality?".
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npalsensei: You're probably missing the part where playing the singleplayer part of a GOG game doesn't require an internet verification or active connection, which is the issue I have with every other service out there. I don't care if I can't play multiplayer without internet (obviously I can't), but I want to have full access to my singleplayer content even if I'm without internet and being able to install and play on another PC without having to go through the whole Steam crap.
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JMich: You will be happy to know then that singleplayer doesn't care about either the client or internet connectivity. You will still be able to play your singleplayer games while disconnected from the internet, and probably a few, if not all multiplayer games as well.
DRM-Free is not going away.
Singleplayer isn't the issue. If the game supported direct IP play before Galaxy then it should do so afterwards as well. That might very well be the case but if they want to avoid misunderstandings they should be clearer on this part.
Post edited June 08, 2014 by Diversion
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This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussionIntroducing: GOG Galaxy, the DRM-Free online gaming platform(917 posts)(917 posts)
(917 posts)