Hey as a person who likes Galaxy and also has a degree in computer information systems... I take offence to that. :P

We make/use software to make things more convenient or to lower the boundaries on entry, otherwise we would not make it to begin with. I wonder if some people felt that way when humans created the wheel? To hell with those puny humans that can't carry heavy loads on their back. Weaklings. xD

Oh, there's plenty of tech-savvy people who like it for the features and convenience, I just sort of made a "premature strike" so to speak because, in my experience, most peoples' argument is "Just download the installers, you don't need some handholding piece of crap to do it for you!".

I'm just messing with you. But yea those people are illogical... there I said it. xD.

Exactly. Whittle down "optional" to the point that it's a meaningless distinction, and in that they have succeeded, I think.
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How many more bottom feeders does this world need, Zeo?

I consider those who employ opt-out marketing to be less than human, and would not wish their company on even the lowest of animals.

What this really demonstrates is that GOG found a niche where they could start up a successful business. That was what attracted us DRM-free proponents in the first place and that was what made us stay. But, as they grew and more people joined the ranks, fewer and fewer of them were the types that were attracted here by the original concept and ideals of Good Old Games.

Now, with the much, much bigger user-base GOG has, we're just the loud minority. And GOG has come to realize that. They've figured that in order to compete with the 800 pound Steam gorilla, they have to become a hefty Steam-like gorilla. And if that means there's some collateral damage on the way to becoming that bigger behemoth, then so be it.

It's business. And there comes a point when a business gets big enough that they no longer have to cater to the niche/fringe customer. I saw this with Stardock. I saw this with BioWare. And now I'm seeing this with GOG.

Bottom line is, those of us that were attracted here by GOG's original concept and ideals are casualties of GOG's success. And we're expendable. Because there's simply not enough of us that give a shit about what GOG originally represented. The vast majority of users don't care.

No, I don't mean you. I mean those who think the end justifies the means.
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Apathy will be the death of humanity -- assuming that isn't already the case.

Ah, noted.

GOG forum, always cry babies. >_<

Who'll be crying when the pirates have the last laugh? >_<

Pirares will also have the option to install Galaxy. ;)
Also I don't get the hate. They are not bundling Galaxy with the installers only an option to download it. Yes, the default opt-in isn't a nice move for those who want to opt out because they will need to make an extra step, but besides that it's not a problem imho. Also installers probably won't grow by more than a few hundred KB.
I didn't wanted it, but grew accustomed to it, especially since they started selling newer games. Auto-updates are nice most of the time, and cloud saves is a great thing also.

While I understand many of your concerns, OP, Richlind and others, I have say that I think you guys are still worrying and getting upset over something that will as it has in the past, turns out to be nothing. But since I am the last one to say "No you cannot complain or vent about this" so I wont say, at least its fair to show gog how you think about it, opinion after all is important.

still you guys are worrying over nothing.

I hope you all have a good day/night.

also I love you all.

They could please both groups if they really want. Like, Big button to install galaxy on the page, every game is installed through the galaxy for the mainstream normal user. Additional instructions for these less hasty?

For us, DRM free folks, installers as was before in the game page. Or they could at least include the installer without galaxy? Or they can release the original game files without dosbox, as we ask them for so long.


But no, they have to throw the DRM free folks who would detest the client software in first place out.

Sigh.

As others have pointed out, downloading an offline installer *is* opting out, and GOG knows this perfectly fucking well.

The fact that they're unwilling to be honest about what they're doing tells me that GOG is a fly-by-night outfit on par with G2A, and I don't do business with G2A.

Capisce?