BroscienceEngineer: What if instead of envisioning it as some DRM hell, Galaxy is going to increase game subforum visibility and activity? You know, the thing the dead forums need...? That way we don't have to go over to Steam forums to ask questions and discuss games when it should be GOG's forums and community that does that?

mastyer-kenobi: How did they lie. the company said the following: We will not force companies to decide to never use any online components. It be wrong to order developers to use only Lan connections and direct file management for multiplayer and user-created content. It be wrong to deny competitive games the ability to validate matches or have them on central server hosting. GoG has said it be wrong to order every game that wants to sell GoG that they can never have any subscriber bonuses of any kind. They realize that playing hard-ball absolutes when their competition doesn't do that is not going to be viable. They can compromise by saying it needs to run and run as advertised.

Now Hitman released in a state that was, on paper, perfectly in line with that. The problem is they not only lied about the things locked behind DRM, so much of it was removed and what was remove so important, the game was non-functional in it's original design. But you'd have to dig into the game a little to know that. And GoG's moderation and negotiation can't be expected to know the long history of every game and all potential pitfall. I cant demand "you should have known how the original game worked and played the game before putting it on the store," it be unreasonable. Even if they did play it, 50/50 they actually recognize and understand it.

But as you said, the people here are great, and were willing to explain in detail what the problem is and make clear this was not okay. GoG depends on us to keep this up and stay vigilant, because no human on earth is capable of checking every game that comes out and understanding game design enough to recognize proper DRM. I hope to continue to be able to be part of that, because it's worth doing.

kai2: I agree with YongYea...

... if GOG can get IOI to "unlock" the game from its DRM...

... this GOG version would be the BEST version of the game available.

I own it on PS4 and Steam...

... and would much rather have a DRM-free "GOG copy."

MysterD: And while I'm at it - I'd love for MMO's (like say The Secret World) to later be re-worked to work properly offline (with bot support, re-done content, offline play, etc).

Sarafan: They're usually quite blank when it comes to content in comparison to single player RPGs.

Sarafan: This I don't fully understand. Why play an MMORPG game offline, when there's plenty of other better RPGs that are dedicated solely to single player? I understand that you want to preserve these games, but the experience of playing MMORPGs offline is quite poor. They're usually quite blank when it comes to content in comparison to single player RPGs. They're main strength is the online feature. I'm not talking here of course that MMORPGs are bad games in overall, but they just focus on different things and are not suitable for offline play. It's in their DNA.

joppo: Hm, between my work PC dying and my being offline for the weekend I absolutely lost this latest development, so even if I am late to the party I gotta say I am somewhat relieved that this company still can listen to its customers.

lolplatypus: God, wouldn't that be amazing. It's almost like a very confused single player RPG anyways.

.Keys: Some MMORPGs have great story and good quests. It's coompletely acceptable for some of them to be played as a singleplayer experience in a pure offline environment. Some, even, have difficulty options that can be adjusted for solo play.

Some examples: TERA, Dragon's Nest, Vindictus.

I used to play those three games solo all the time years ago.
I wish we could get an offline version of those three games, as they're incredible, story and gameplay-wise.

MacCraigus: I fixed it for you :-)

"This I fully understand.
Why play an MMORPG game offline, when there's little fun in griefing NPCs?
I understand that you want to enjoy your online immersion, but the experience
for griefers playing MMORPGs offline is quite poor.
NPCs are usually quite blank when it comes to reacting.
The griefers main strength is taking pleasure from others online enjoyment.
I'm not talking here of course that griefers are bad people in overall,
but they just focus on different things and are not suitable for offline play.
It's in their DNA."

NOT to say you are a griefer either - I just couldnt resist your DNA reference and where it lead my train of thought.

MysterD's POV resonates with me (I prefer bots to randoms) but of course as you say, without (good) human interaction, MMORPGs do lose some appeal.

Mind you, bots dont teabag, although the day someone programs them to is the day I will shoot coffee out my nose laughing (followed by looking through the settings to turn that feature off).

rjbuffchix: Did they listen to customers? I'm not sure we have evidence of that, actually. As others have suggested, it seems to me the combination of (deservedly) 1-star reviews in a huge quantity, and wider media attention, is what made the difference in this game being removed. As you're aware, "old-school-minded" users like us have been vociferous with legitimate gripes about other DRM/DRM-like schemes on GOG and not only do they not do anything, they go the opposite direction and put stuff like preloads and cosmetics behind a Galaxy authentication wall.

rjbuffchix: Did they listen to customers? I'm not sure we have evidence of that, actually. As others have suggested, it seems to me the combination of (deservedly) 1-star reviews in a huge quantity, and wider media attention, is what made the difference in this game being removed. As you're aware, "old-school-minded" users like us have been vociferous with legitimate gripes about other DRM/DRM-like schemes on GOG and not only do they not do anything, they go the opposite direction and put stuff like preloads and cosmetics behind a Galaxy authentication wall.

StrongSoldier: Most of gog users are not old school and we are in favor of removing hitman from the store.

The problem is that this is not enough. Hitman must return without drm, otherwise all this makes little sense.