BKGaming: True, but this is not exactly the first time we have heard this story from a dev either... need more info, but there is a precedent set here. While I think DRM Free definitely plays a role in keeping games from coming here, I think issues like this play a bigger role. I am not advocating for opening the flood gates, but there is no denying that Valve/Steam makes the process so much easier for developers by not playing the middle man. If I was developing a game I could see why a dev would just say hell with GOG and release only on Steam.
I think GOG needs to find a better balance here between automation and curation... a balance that Steam never even tried to achieve.
ReynardFox: Agreed, Steam's a cesspool and GOG is overly sanitized while still letting in some questionable germs... releases are far too few and far between and it's clear this boutique approach to curation is far too strict and If I'm being honest, feels like it's being driven both by placation of publishers with clout (Devolver etc) and the implicit or even explicit biases of those doing the work. There needs to be a better middle ground, there needs to be more obviously impartial, relaxed curation and GOG also seriously needs to pull it's finger out and learn to communicate better.
Also this game in question looks cute, I'd be interested in it if it was here.
Frankly I'm not even sure why they are still communicating over email in these matters, that feels like the 90's called saying "what the heck are you doing". Build a web portal, let any dev/publisher create an account and submit their games. Make this front and center with a link on the homepage. That doesn't mean every games has to be accepted but this should all be managed via a web portal. Then if the game is denied a human being can fill in a box as to why, which can then be sent to dev/pub's registered email and their portal account.
Even game uploads and all that can be handled via this portal making it easier to get your game on GOG. A dev can upload said game files as well as specify system requirements and all of that info which then someone from GOG can approve the request. Then everything is automated and the files automatically get uploaded to Galaxy or packed for the site.
GOG can even have a stipulation that say's uploaded games files must be uploaded 48 hours (or whatever) before release date if GOG still wants to manually test games for quality and DRM freeness, etc before being approved.
I've also felt curation should be stronger on new publishers/developers and more relaxed on publishers/developers already selling games here...
