30 achievements...which you can't complete...

Come on GOG, really?!

And why would you want to? These are patches with a name for emphasis, not remasters - they inherently make the game better... You'd rather play Cyberpunk v1.0?

Digital Foundry´s review of the Shadow Man Remastered.

You misunderstood me when I said rollback I meant rolling back to pre-directors cut/enhanced edition to the original game, not the patches... the only time anyone would want to roll back patches is to test and/or if your mods are broken.

Do they? Steam only has the remaster available right now. It may have just taken steam longer to remove it. But it's just the remaster available right now, no legacy version.

So not gog's fault then... Why does everyone assume gog is out to get them lol. as if gog has any control over these things, as if gog can magic goodies into games or force devs to make achievements or whatever dastardly crap they are accused of on a daily basis

Lure modules are designed to attract consumers with the false promise that they are receiving a reward that improves their lives, but all they are getting is a quick dopamine fix that quickly leads to addiction, and these sorts of mechanics saturate gaming and social media. If you don't have a problem with that then maybe you ought to ask yourself why that is.

That glass house you look down on others from is chocked full of that very same 'lure module' you speak of...

Are achievements part of game development, or marketing?

Depends really. if they are integrated into the game like in Fallout New Vegas, as an example. Then they fall more on the side of game development. Though still, arguably, a marketing thing. They are also often a non organic way of giving the player some rewards by telling the player what they have achieved in stead of allowing the player discover the game world in the same way as games with out achievements . If they are are central to the store front client they lean more towards marketing.
I think these reactionary posts are a counter to the equally reactionary posts that repeatedly crop up from some of the pro achievement crowd stating they will not support a developer for not including acheivments until they do so and talking about being treating like second class customers. A game is still the game with out the achievements and no less enjoyable or playable. :) I fall under the crowd of not caring one way or another about acheivments but admit that they can be fun and people do like them. I just never miss them or give them much attention.

I am here for the DRM free games and dont concern my self with galaxy too much. Maybe when it leaves beta they will make integrating acheivments more stream lined like they have done with updates. :)

The way I see it is Steam guaranties achievements because it is what they have implemented. That is their thing. GOG has DRM free games and stand alone installers. It is a fair trade off. I dont always expect acheivments here just like I dont always expect DRM free games at Steam.

I think a bigger criticism would be why some developers or publishers often delay rolling out updates far too long here on GOG.

True, and marketing becomes a bigger priority as companies seek to grow, yet few question the necessity for growth. What good is growth if the only way you can achieve it is by being unprincipled and predatory?

Maybe because I am not as paranoid as you are and maybe because I am much more tolerant. Addiction for achievements? Come on - you could as easily getting addicted to games or any other hobby.

So you are unfamiliar with the research behind loot boxes and other mechanisms that make games addictive, and how behavioral data collection allows companies like Google to accurately predict what people will do and when they will do it?

Brave New World is here and now, Marko.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIXhnWUmMvw

EVERY game and every hobby can make addictive - achievements are not changing the chemicals inside of your body so there is nothing in them that would make them, more addictive than any other challenge ... or even some chcocolate.

Regarding the tracking meachanisms of clients - as long it is optional, I can't see no harm here as well. If I don't like to be tracked at all, I will not use the client (or better even the internet). When I am using achievements, I am aware that I am using the client and I will accept the downsides as well. Nobody is forcing me to use them.

I would not worry any more about achievements than I would worry about me being a collector. There's not much I can do against it since it also is a sort of "addiction" - however it is completely harmless and nothing that makes me or my life more miserable ... the opposite is the fact. So yes, I don't see any problem at all.

Well, it should be clear to most people that today everything possible will be tracked or followed up for marketing reasons ... is there anybody who is thinking that the internet is a safe place to be?