I don't see how that would be possible. If I do a fresh install of the OS on my computer, then what remains as an indicator for the game installers to not install Galaxy? Unless they save the setting online, then they'd have to connect to the Internet and check your account for the setting when running the game installer.

One thing along those lines that seems feasible is to offer different game installers from the website, both "without" and "with" Galaxy. In that way the option is chosen before downloading the game installer. A game installer could be saved away in a backup without a copy of a Galaxy installer taking up space, or with if that was desired. No special checkbox needed, no setting to save, no internet connection necessary to check for a setting when running the installer.

Though, it'd make a lot more sense to not make individual bundles of game+Galaxy, but instead provide Galaxy as a separate download. Or, combine the selected game(s) with Galaxy into one tar/compressed file on the server-side at that moment it is downloaded, but only if Galaxy is chosen at that point in time? Or maybe just a reminder on the purchase receipt page on the website to consider installing the newly purchase game from within Galaxy instead of downloading the game installer, and BTW if you don't have it already here's a link to Galaxy?

I mean, if I don't need a separate copy of Galaxy for each game, then don't package and don't offer to install Galaxy with each and every game. If one install of Galaxy is enough, then once is enough. If Galaxy is not required, then don't include it.

Somehow GOG just isn't seeming that caring about user interface and efficiency right now.

The Kramer is indeed the height of art. It takes a fine eye to appreciate it. He's an innocent orphan in the post-modern world.

Hmm. Isn't it that way, that you can also add your games, you installed before with the standalone installer, to Galaxy if you like? So why downloading the client with every standalone installer. That are additional 100 MBs per installer which go away from my internet data and harddrive volume.

Im using Galaxy, but only as download manager for downloading the standalone installers. When every standalone installer, I downloaded with Galaxy, contains the installer of Galaxy it's some kind of a paradox.

I've never used GOG Galaxy and I don't plan to. In addition, I don't like software which suggests some other software on my PC upon installation. It's annoying.

But in this case, I understand the decision. It's easier for a new customer not to search the site for the client but to be offered it with the installer. It's just comfortable.

Moreover, this has nothing to do with GOG neglecting their principles. They're still DRM-free, GOG Galaxy is still optional. Of course it would be better, if one would only have to opt-out once and the impact on the installer size should only be insignificant.

I don't really get the reason for this supposed "shitstorm".

This has been GOG's plan all along: it will cause a rift in the space-time continuum, which will allow them to bring their lord and master Cthulhu into our universe from the outer dark...

I just tried this using Galaxy default locations and didn't have this issue. I used a small game (Tyrian 2000), and downloaded the backup first to:

Program Files(x86) -> GOG Galaxy -> Games -> Tyrian 2000 -> !Downloads

Then I installed the game itself via Galaxy to:

Program Files(x86) -> GOG Galaxy -> Games -> Tyrian 2000

And the backup installer remained in !Downloads. If it is getting deleted for you, then please report that on mantis and provide your Galaxy logs.

Well, the shitstorm is precisely about the setup. I personally don't care about the bloat, although I know some are concerned about it as well. But it's the negative marketing aspect. Why set it up this way? Anyone already using Galaxy isn't going to need it to be a default in their offline installers - they already have Galaxy installed. Many of those DLing offline installers aren't the users that want Galaxy - so why make it the default to opt-in? Any new users have to go through multiple steps to get their off-line installers from the site, some of which offer Galaxy on the way - so they'd have plenty of opportunity to install it before even getting the installers downloaded - so again, why make it the default to opt-in?

There is no good customer-friendly or customer-respecting reason to set it up this way. And this behavior emulates that of malware/unwanted bloatware and is almost universally reviled. THAT's the reason for the shitstorm.

Easy: Because GOG seems to think that their userbase cannot really read or understand how to navigate on their site. So instead having a clear navigation concept they bring us installers with bloatware. Just think about every installer got on top 150 MB when the baddest case is on the hand. And it won't stay optional because this is just one cheap excuse. As I've said: The thread is going more and more silent now. People start thinking about that this cannot be that bad, cannot be that unnecessary and GOG won't stop with their principles. Tell you what: They literally piss on that for now! :-)

True, a fresh install wouldn't know about your preferences (yet).

Still, even after a setting up a new OS (which is something that doesn't happen that often in my mind), only having to click "No" once would maybe be OK?

I'm not a tech-savvy person but I would imagine it basically being a user registry setting (that could be set from any installer or manually with regedit) that sets the default value of the “install galaxy” option, something like \HKEY_LOCAL_USER\Software\GOG.com\InstallGalaxyDefault.

Well, if you put it that way, it makes more sense. Guess I didn't really think about it.

But I understand that GOG wants to promote the use of Galaxy. Maybe it would be better, if they would add a big, visible download button on the main page or would add the installer automatically to everyone's accounts. Could be a compromise.

I think they should make Galaxy more visible on the main page. The way it is now, I wouldn't know about it if I were a new customer.
And I expect a much smaller solution than 150 MB, if they plan to implement this concept as it stands now.
Galaxy has to stay optional. If they violate this principle, a real shitstorm will begin. They would not be any different from Steam then.

"Optional"

"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."

Quit trying to force, trick, impress upon or otherwise suggest the Galaxy Client to those that want offline installers

Quit insulting our intellegence with your creative definition of "optional" in regards to your adware/bloatware/malware tactics in forcefully pushing Galaxy client

Stop trying to force so-called "optional" Galaxy client down our throats

Remove the so-called "optional" Galaxy client from any & all offline installers

I'm not going to repeat what has already been repeated dozens upon dozens of times in the previous 550 plus previous posts in this tread.

In the past if someone has continuedly insisted to inslut my intellegence by repeatedly trying to feed me what is obviously (male bovine feces) and/or makes it extremely obvious that they are only interested in me when they think they want something from me, but otherwise don't want to hear from me then I have made the decision to cut them out of my life and no longer deal with them. Doubly so if the party that is doing this is a for-profit company that wants me to patronize their business. This isn't idel boasting, bragging or threats. I haven't spoken to any of my so-called family for 3 years or any of my so-called friends for 2 years because I'm tired of this kind of stuff.

I've just totally emptied my wishlist of about 6 dozen games. I'm going to backup all my offline installers of my 557 games and 3 movies before I go to bed tomorrow. I have no futher plans to spend money with GOG. Whether or not my decision changes depends on whether or not GOG ceases and rolls back their actions that are obviously intended to force Galaxy upon those that are purposely trying to avoid Galaxy by making a conscious choice to download offline installers (the late or in some cases missing offline game patches, the disabling of online browser web notifications, the forced budling of Galaxy, etc...).

GOG, if you want me to totaly wash my hands of you then be honest enough to directly say so instead of attempting to feed me these Steaming piles of PR speak...

I don't mind Galaxy, or any other client, but I do not like stealth installs and I get very upset when I am tricked.
When Windows 10 was installed on my system secretly I spent all day trying to remove it and vowed never again to get Win10. My hope is you change your mind

I only read the first 100 messages and then the blue ones.

This is the worst (for me maybe the only bad) decision GOG has ever made. I absolutely hate that kind of nonsense. An extra installer hidden inside my offline game installer? I hated every part of that sentence.

I now have 514 games in my account. It wont be 515 for a while.

I think it's only going silent because everyone already had their say, and we're all pretty much in agreement. We're not arguing nd there's nothing left to say. There's only so many ways we can say "this sucks" and the reasons why have been explained numerous times. The PR nonsense GOG served us has been picked apart, and it wasn't even much of challenge. No point in constantly repeating ourselves.

Most of us, correct. People here are really pissed now and there you are right: Let's wait till Friday to see what exactly GOG has in mind. But it is interesting that no more details are transparent for the community by now, the list itself is not published using own toolsets - like GOG has enough .. the list can be even longer by now. Now what, GOG-Team? Being honest with us here? Or just some more lies? :)