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Why is gog still considered to be in a beta stage? It seems like a more complete website than most complete ones. When will it be officially out of the beta stage? What do the creators want to do before it is considered done?
to be in compliance with web 2.0
To quote from the About Us page:
Why the site is still in beta version?
As every self-respected website, in the era of Web 2.0, we have to carry out the beta for at least a year before we can launch the site. Unless you will act briefly and send us your feedback asap, we might think of launching the site earlier.

As google demonstrated, I think it's sensible for a company to hang around a while in a stable, beta state before officially launching. When the official announcement is made, it would be great for GOG if every gamer could find at least a couple of great games they'd like (and this gets more true every month).
When it launches, people should be able to ask their gamer friends about it, and have at least a few of them go "it's great, I bought a few games from them while they were in beta".
Seems like a bit of a fad that Google has started. Launch publicly for all intents and purposes, but remain in "beta" as a CYA measure in case anything doesn't work quite right. Rather silly, in my opinion, but it doesn't really affect things in any meaningful way so folks can go ahead and claim they're still in alpha for all I care.
It is kinda silly, I agree...
I reckon anyone who's going to care about this site knows about it by now, so I don't imagine having an official launch is going to do much in the way of attracting more customers.
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TheKreep: It is kinda silly, I agree...
I reckon anyone who's going to care about this site knows about it by now

I disagree. I was told about the site by a guy in a game store, back when it was still in closed beta. All the places I've seen references to GOG on the net since then, have been through links from, yes, you guessed it, the GOG forum. So if I hadn't happened to wander into that shop on that day (which was in a town in the other end of the country), I most likely still wouldn't know about GOG. I bet there are plenty like me out there.
Post edited January 04, 2009 by Wishbone
Well, I heard about it from 1up.com, so I think it IS getting some pretty widespread coverage.
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TheKreep: Well, I heard about it from 1up.com, so I think it IS getting some pretty widespread coverage.

Oh sure, sure. But I don't read any of those sites that have been linked to here. I'm sure there are many more who don't either. So yes, the coverage is pretty widespread, but it's not complete. But then, I don't think you can get "complete" without posters and TV spots in all target countries ;-)
As for the site's beta status, a lot of it does have to do with the fact that GOG fully admits that it is still under heavy development and is in no way complete. There is the major site update that still hasn't happened yet, plus some other things that the GOG guys have hinted at throughout the forums (wishlist enhancements, improving the downloader, etc.). Until the site itself gets to a more complete state, it must continue to be considered a beta.
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TheKreep: Well, I heard about it from 1up.com, so I think it IS getting some pretty widespread coverage.
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Wishbone: Oh sure, sure. But I don't read any of those sites that have been linked to here. I'm sure there are many more who don't either. So yes, the coverage is pretty widespread, but it's not complete. But then, I don't think you can get "complete" without posters and TV spots in all target countries ;-)

And do you think that having the site officially out of beta status is going to initiate all that?
Seems like an awful lot of money to spend on such a niche service :P
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Wishbone: Oh sure, sure. But I don't read any of those sites that have been linked to here. I'm sure there are many more who don't either. So yes, the coverage is pretty widespread, but it's not complete. But then, I don't think you can get "complete" without posters and TV spots in all target countries ;-)
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TheKreep: And do you think that having the site officially out of beta status is going to initiate all that?
Seems like an awful lot of money to spend on such a niche service :P

Oh, no no no... You misunderstand me, but going back and reading again, I can see why you did. I quoted too much of what you wrote. I was only meant to be the first part. I've corrected it now, please look again.
So no, I don't think an official "launch" will make any difference. All I was saying was that I don't think that everyone who has a potential interest in GOG already know about it. It would be awful if they did. That would mean no new GOG customers ever again. :-(
Not necessarily.
I'm sure there are a LOT of people who are waiting for more games in the catalogue.
'cause let's face it, quite a substantial amount of the catalogue at the moment is filler...
GOG will be in beta status until they'll improve the Wishlist... :D
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Kola256: GOG will be in beta status until they'll improve the Wishlist... :D

Hehe, ain't that the truth... ;-) The forum too, for that matter. But all in all, the beta status is a matter of when GOG decide to be "no longer in beta", that's pretty much all there is to it.
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Wishbone: Hehe, ain't that the truth... ;-) The forum too, for that matter. But all in all, the beta status is a matter of when GOG decide to be "no longer in beta", that's pretty much all there is to it.

Pretty much the case although we'll try to stop being in beta as soon as we are able.
There's still plenty that we want to do, in terms of features (where the beta sign is most handy) and in terms of expanding our games catalogue :)
Post edited January 05, 2009 by Oldski