When it's a simple "Thumbs Up" and the median game is 81% thumbs up. 67% thumbs up is about 3 of every 4 games are rated better than yours. And this is also reflected in the pure lack of reviews which indicates a lack of sales. Meaning the handful of people who are interested in this game, who really must be hardcore fans of the genre to have even found it in the first place, 1 in every 3 give it a thumbs down. Poorly rated even among genre fans...

In GoG terms it's like saying a 2.5 star game on GoG is good because it got half the stars...

Everything is relative to the scale of the rating system. Are you really trying to tell me that Steam has 22,500 great games out of 30,000? Because they have at least 67% thumbs up?

What I'm saying is "Use Your Brain". GoG has about 1/10th the games available on Steam. If you have to select about 1 in every 10 games to bring to the catalog (or lets say 1 in 5 assuming half of them won't sell the game DRM-free), how do you select that 1 game out of every 5? Do you take a game that has been out 2 years and isn't selling well with below average reviews as that 1 in 5? Or do you find games that sell a lot of copies (like VNs) and that the user ratings are very high? Do you take a console port which was poorly reviewed? Or do you take a new game from a developer with a good track record that has a bit of real media hype?

As I said, you can look at most rejected games and see why they were likely rejected. Use your brain and ask yourself, looking at the available data, is this game in the top 20% of games that GoG can sell?

To all the bored do-gooders in this thread with too much leisure time to explain why it profits a niche store like GOG and its customers to reject games, i. e. to reject money: why does GOG maintains wishlists? In order to trick us that GOG staff cares about their customers' wishes?

Grimoire has accumulated 1092 votes, Aeon of Sands has accumulated 308 votes, Wizardry: Labyrinth of Losts Souls has accumulated 718 votes.

I enjoyed playing this game on my PS3. I didn't beat it and I can't give you much information. It has been a while. I will say that the music is kinda weird. Especially when you are drunk.

User ratings are deceiving in any rate, this particular metric (median 81%?) just shows it. First of all people interested in the game (niche/genre, dev fans...) are far more likely to buy, play and vote and of course those same people are also more likely to upvote since they already are invested in this special genre/niche/game/dev and more willing to ignore minor flaws.

So if I'm a fan of of the Call of Duty franchise/formula I will buy Call of Duty games and (unless they really screwed up) upvote them all. In case I got sick of those I will maybe downvote the last I bought and simply stop buying/voting...

However in the case of Grimoire I would read the figures differently. If those 67% positive are real (dunno, considering the drama with claimed fake downvotes) it would mean this niche game actually satisfied 2 out of 3 of the players - which could be realistic since this game is obviously "special interest" and no average mass market AAA gamer would probably look at it in the first place. If it had been promoted large to average gamers the score would likely be even lower. Hyped games get burned more easily as No Man's Sky showed (which IMO always has been a niche game in the first place but was hyped really big which added to all the "broken promises" drama). Or remember all the 1-star Amazon reviews when Spore came out with that horrible activation limit.

So... is that 67% good or bad. Well more people who bought and very likely played the game did like it than didn't like it. That's the plus. On the other hand, for a very niche game which a ... pain-resistant audience who are rather well informed about what their poison is, I would call it a disappointing result - not all bad, but for a game targeted at this special audience with so many years of development and tinkering I would have expected a "niche-blockbuster" with far better results in user ratings, even if the total number of copies sold is not that high.

The same observations can be made for GOG. I don't know what the average rating on GOG is, but I would guess it's well towards 4 simply because GOG sells a lot of indie games which only fans of the genre tend to buy and they are likely to like the game (if it's not broken). When I don't like rogue-likes I will low-rate the first game of the kind and then stay away from the genre. Whereas a fan of rogue-likes will probably rate their games between 3 (mediocre) and 5 (superb) which gives a middle of 4.

Now let's look at Daikatana: 2.7 seems horrible in comparison to an average about 4, but most of the reviews say "well, it's not that bad...". How come? I think Daikatana is a special case where the rating is actually realistic. It's basically an average game and the oldies here remember it this way. I don't think many buyers here have never heard of the game and the surrounding drama of the past. Many probably voted from their memories, and those who missed this back in the day and got it now out of curiosity or to complete their collections gave it a deserving "average" rating. Nobody thought he bought a great game and was bitterly disappointed. Nobody was hyped for it here on and voted 5 stars because they were easily impressed.
RWarehall explained this several times above. Me too. Too lazy to read?

Also votes != (full price) sales. Rather "Might pick this up when the price is right and I didn't get it elsewhere before". Esp. since wishlist entries are often created when a game is announced and not only when it's out.

No, I just don't take stock in some of the things he is saying. He is saying Gog would need to accept a ton more games to accept a few lie the game in Op, while that is not true. He is saying the games are cr*p, but that is not true for everyone.

And it doesn't likely cost that much to put them up or they wouldn't bother releasing all those "niche" sims/etc that sell a handful of copies.

The games added recently here that don't sell well would dispute that theory that that is gog's reasoning for doing such rejections for every game.

And I apprecate that....but I still think the curation process could use a bit of work, to put it mildly.....not accept every game or most games, but just a few more here and there.

Maybe Gog gives them a bigger audience due to the features here or store loyalty? What do you think on that?

People could be manipulating that score...that is always a possibility,athough you could also be right. Some might like it, though, and they should be given a chance to buy and play such DRM free imo.

No, that would make the game average in such a case.

Also no on the last bit....obviously ratings can be flawed or manipulated.

You could perhaos use community input like in the past...that is always an option. And maybe link that with pre-orders(refundable if the game doesn't come here) so gauge interest?

No, I can see why you think they were rejected.....and I choose not to follow that 100%. Also "use your brain" implies you think i'm a bit of a dim bulb. :|

================================

This, yet some seem to like defending gog not bringing many games here for some reason, as if they like gog not making extra money or extra games being here for people who might want them only DRM free.

The wishlist shows there is interest(why else would people bother voting for games they wouldn't buy?) for some of them.

(Also I don't think they are bored do gooders but just people with differing takes, same as mine differs a bit from theirs)

The 1920s called, they want their gaslight back. You're the one making the claim that they ARE representative of GOG audience. Hence, the burden of proof on that is yours, not mine.

First, thank you for actually posting what resembles a type of evidence for your claim.

From that sample, it looks like GOG users really like RPGs, particularly the ones with a lot of content and a first-person blobber style one like Vaporum. And the infamous game Daikatana (which imo is a flawed gem, showing that quality is not entirely objective) has a MUCH lower score than those games.

Recently, GOG has released numerous retro FPS games. One, Hedon, was relentlessly criticized by a user or two within its own release thread. Is that indicative of overall audience sentiment, no, but it goes to show your "Rotten Tomatoes" system is not necessarily the law of the land.

An audience, even a niche audience, is not a hive mind. There are subsets of GOG users including those of us who even bother to use the forums, versus the broader userbase. The fact that over 1,000 people sought out the wishlist and voted for a game surely indicates strong interest within that set of people.

It is GOG's job as a business to satisfy customers at large, including those specific customers. As I said elsewhere, the constant chatter around Grimoire made it reasonable to have the game alone as a gesture of goodwill even if not profitable. To say nothing of other games potentially as "loss leader," which is a valid business model.

"Even" half, as if that is a realistic extreme? Developers and publishers hate DRM-free and will NOT give anything close to half! Have you seen the "DRM-free games on Scheme" list? Since you like numbers, feel free to count the number of games on there. I don't think it is even 1,000, let alone a number like 10,000. And if you don't count games already here, it may well end up being closer to 100, at least for bigger, more content-filled releases. GOG has to choose from what it CAN get, and imo should consider the voice of their audience to a degree.

The river called, it wants its red herring back. Surely you don't believe the users who want Grimoire and Wizardry here are demanding GOG accept every game that was rejected. Rather, they are demanding that GOG accepts THESE particular games in question. Full stop. Why is that so controversial?

Here's another example: I posted (honestly) in the unpopular opinion thread that I thought curation is good, but Grimoire should have been accepted while Opus Magnum stayed rejected. I have also said how I don't want the floodgates to open and have this place look like itch where (for me) it is like looking for a needle in a haystack trying to find the type of gaming experiences I truly want.

Why is it SO difficult to understand that not everyone is part of the majority? Take the (very Rotten Tomatoes-esque) Scheme system of "thumbs up, thumbs down" when it comes to rating games. Surely, you must realize that the games you're calling objectively bad, somehow aren't at "0%" i.e. "all thumbs down."

Oh, and one more addition:
Not everyone bothers with reviews. I am a GOG user, have never reviewed or rated a game with the stars. Ever. For me, and not exclusively me, there are other factors as to why a certain game is interesting or not, regardless of the reviews.

I like how you try to spin it they might not have said it but any other game rejected had the same generic response which was ''To Niche'' and you'll claim it wasn't the same while many have been rejected with that excuse and GOG could refute it simply by making a statement which they won't cause most likely this is a rightful assumption.

And the standard statement by you excusing GOG behavior cause what do you care as long as you can defend your masters at GOG while being a corporate shill. Keep making excuses cause that's all you keep doing there are plenty of games here broken or incomplete yet you like to ignore that fact cause that doesn't suit your narrative I already ready your garabge excuses in previous threads so spare me the PR talk.
He's a corporate Shill, he doesn't care what people want he only cares what suits him and makes excuses to defend GOG. Cause it seems, GOG can't comment for themselves while being the business behind these decisions.

After so many debates about this, we are still waiting for an actual reply from GOG themselves.

Even if multiple games weren't highly rated the wishlist should stil count and show what people want and which games they should bring here and even that seems to get ignored because of some agenda which seems more than just curated. Indie Shoot-em up gets release but many Japanese ones get rejected without explanation other than ''Too Niche'' sure looks like an agenda or else the indie shoot em should also be rejected for being ''Too Niche''

We are aware you just a corporate shill making excuses for a company that won't be upfront about it.
We believe in choice all you care about is shouting the party line like some communist.

Also, get your brain examined cause I never said anything about '' user ratings can be manipulated'' you just spinning that bullshit yourself. you're just using ratings as an excuse for some vague explanation Like I said if we are wrong GOG could just make a statement on the true intent behind the rejection not the vague garbage that you like to spout.

Funny how you always crying when people call GOG out on the fact of rejecting these games with the ''Too Niche'' label instead of letting people have a choice and voicing their discontent but when you a corporate shill you get offended by a company getting criticized for its choices.

You don't care about choice, you instead care about crying until mommy wants to buy you the toy you want. You act like you are 5. This game was likely rejected because it was poorly received even when it was new on the PS3. it was never a classic. It was never considered particularly good. And a PC release years later doesn't make a mediocre game any better.

For how many months do you think you are "entitled" to cry about this game, or Grimoire or any of the other not very good games you keep espousing about? How many stupid idiotic threads do you guys have to start or bump to whine and cry about a decision that anyone with half a brain can understand?

But clearly concepts such as "logic" are beyond the likes of you and "gimme mama, gimme"...

I like how triggered you get when you are called out. I guess you have this delusional notion that you get to dictate which games are good. I'm not crying out I'm just calling out GOG's double standard when it comes to games released but that seems to trigger you, but that's the standard reaction when a corporate shill is called out for being one.

You're reaction to my last post seems more like a 4yo crying out on wanting to be right while having no actual facts but is just spinning a theory why it is rejected you have as little proof as we have cause GOG never made an official statement but corporate shills will make up excuses.

Keep crying corporate shill cause nobody gonna buy your corporate shill excuses.

You and this bizarre clown explain nothing. You invent excuses and theorise in walls of text why GOG rejects games = rejects money, that is all you do.


Thank you very much for clarifying the most obvious thing. At the least votes represent a purchase intention by the voters to buy a particular game on this DRM free store, nothing else.

You are an idiot. I clearly explained the problems with these games. You counter with name calling and tomfoolery.

Fact: Was Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls poorly received on the PS3? YES
Fact: Is a console port going to make it better? NO

And both of you self-centered fools act like vote brigading = 100% paying customers when GoG and anyone with an IQ over 50 would realise it doesn't...

I just love it when total assholes like you claim "no actual facts" when you have brought diddly shit to the table. Keep crying 4-year old...

You mean you're unwilling to see things from other POV on the issue...that is ok, but please don't try to label it as others being "too dumb" and you the only smart one.

Also so you claim the wishlist isn't representative of the "true" interests of Gog yet somehow your touted examples DID show the true interests of steam/etc?

Personal insults....a great sign one's ideas are to be listened to and valued.

========================

First off you shouldn't use insults yourself as it only harms your argument. Second, just ignore him if he bothers you. I tried reasoning with him, but he seems to have a healthy case of cognitive dissonance going on.
=========================

Says the one who is also calling people names and also unwilling to consider other ideas on this, leading people to get upset when basically called dumb or blind by yourself.

You yourself said games with 67% score didnt deserve to be here based on an also easily manipulated metric/rating system.....so you're willing to use figures when they support your argument but cast them aside when others bring them up?

And yet more personal insults.....which only make you seem stubborn and unwilling to think on other viewpoints. I am at least willing to consider some of your viewpoints....are you willing to consider some of ours and not shut them down right out of the gate?
===================================
Forgot to add: Look, I am willing to conceded SOME of those games might not sell to a high level here, but they should at least be given the chance....and if Gog had pre orders for more such games they could gauge interest and only bring the ones here that people want the most(out of games they don't know whether to keep or toss)....at least we should have the ability to buy such, don't you think?

How fucking stupid are you?

How many times does it need to be explained when a totally middle-of-the-road game receives a 81% user score, a game receiving 67% sucks in comparison to that average mediocre game. But you are so dumb that you you keep acting as if 67% is a good score somehow...

I can't help stupid...

The fact is the Wishlist has been made meaningless because the same fools complaining about every not so great game getting rejected, uses the Wishlist to vote them up. Making the Wishlist a trash fire of a poll. You want an example of clear manipulation, our Wishlist is the prime example because of your actions. Because of you people, GoG doesn't trust it and for good reason...

GoG sees what you are doing and that is why they take certain entries with a big grain of salt. Unless you think they are blind to the 3 threads a month of complaints and brigading from the same half dozen people...

You talk about "other POV", what point of view is that? That GoG should change their mind on every rejection they make because 6 users complain about every rejection? That is a stupid self-serving point of view...

Maybe you are talking about 67% is greater than 50% so GoG should add every game on Steam that has more than 50% likes? Or in other words, almost the entire catalog...

Again, I can't help stupid...