I was just curious about how people approach buying games on GOG. It is pretty much my primary digital downloads source (I will only use Steam if I absolutely have to and if it is absurdly cheap). One problem I do have is that, being a collector, I have many of the games already, so I usually have to wait a while until something new comes up that I don't already have.

As a rule, I don't buy stuff on GOG that I already have. The lack of a CD check is not a compelling argument for me.

However, I do sometimes go crazy with the special offers if I only have the games in German (as with Vampire and Arcanum this weekend), or if the title in question has an expansion pack that I don't (like Gothic 2 or Freespace)

I did pick up a shedload of stuff from an Atari sale about a year ago, 30% of which I did happen to have in English, but the other 70% of the games I didn't have, and it would have been more expensive if I'd left the others out.

No, I don't do it. It would be a waste of time and money since I am not playing the games I already own anymore except one or two.

I wouldn't get Interstate '76 here if I were you for it's compatibility, it's notorious for being a badly tested mess that will barely work on modern systems (despite the community's best efforts, there are still some issues that cannot solved). Just check out the forum.

I'm a sucker for boxes, so If I can get my hands on a hard-copy, that's my priority.
GoG is great for the oldies that are either unavailable at all over here, or collector-level expensive. I suppose if I ever get collector-level income, it might work the other way - I might get boxed versions of the games I have here (hey, there's always hope).

The only game I have bought that I otherwise have immediate access to is Commandos 2, and I bought that as much for Commandos 3.

But I've also bought:
Games that are currently at one of my parent's - Unreal Tournament, Age of Wonders
Games that were broken, lent to friends years ago, or otherwise lost to time - Age of Wonders II, Baldur's Gate II, Constructor, The Settlers II, Tropico
Games I've played previously, but never owned - Broken Sword*, Broken Sword 2, Commandos

*I guess I had the iPhone version of Broken Sword DC prior to it coming to GOG, so I guess that's technically a second game I bought that I had immediate access to.

Yes, I do. Even when I can't play games now because lack of time..... Yes, it's sad, I know.

Bye.

If I have the burning desire to play it again, yeah - unless I already own multiple physical copies of the game (have extra discs for Arcanum, the two Fallouts, Planescape, Deus Ex, Heroes 3, Master of Orion 2). I am hesitant to open my boxed games since many of them are already aging and I'd like to keep them in their current condition as is without risking any further damage to their boxes and contents.

Overboard zealous I know, but since most of them go for $30-$40 on eBay, I refuse to take the chance. Guy's got to have some sort of a geek hobby.

I do, but only when they're on sale.
It's just easier than finding the discs and installing all the patches.

I haven't had a problem with getting any of my old CDs to install or run on Windows 7 (yet), but I do get annoyed lately by having to change disks. I never thought that would be a problem but after buying a few games here and not needing to insert a disk, I've become spoiled. I still haven't re-purchased any games, though, and doubt I'll start doing it.

I agree with the O. P. about Steam. I've bought a couple of games from them during their super-cheap sales, but I usually come away feeling ripped off.

Indeed I do

I have many games in my library that I already own boxed versions of, the convenience is well worth it

Of course....GOG also provides games who's boxes are extremely difficult to find and are very expensive (like planescape torment or Blood 2) something that I'm very greatful for

This. I installed WIndows 7 recently (and disabled UAC right away - what a spectacular pain in the ass) and have been astonished how many of my old games still work. A few notable exceptions have been Need for Speed Underground, Freespace 1 and Midtown Madness. Oddly enough, my GOG Freespace 1 doesn't work either.

Of course, the irony is that anything that requires or runs on DOS will work with almost absolute certainty under Win7, as you will be using DOSbox by necessity. I'm relying on Ubuntu and WINE to run older games that won't work under Win7.

I'm not a collector. Boxes/disks/manuals are just clutter to me and I'd love to replace them all with GOGs.

Simple disk checks are not simple. They're hackish and break compatibility. I find I'm much happier if I get NOCDs for everything. GOG saves me the trouble.

Yes, I actually do.

I bought a lot of games I already own on CD here, but mostly when on sale.

The Witcher is an exception as I have the retail collectors edition, a steam edition (bought during a sale) and I bought the GOG release last week too, just to support GOG. So now I have three copies of the same game...

But I blame GOG and their DRM free approach for this. I just can't resist supporting a customer friendly company. Maybe other companies could learn from this approach. Honest price + DRM free = sale.

I buy games I've already bought but have since lost. Fallout 2, Fallout Tactics, Planescape Torment, Baldur's Gate 1 and 2, Neverwinter Nights and Duke Nukem 3D are all games I bought once upon a time and have bought again on GOG. I did buy the GOG version of The Witcher after buying it off Amazon just because I couldn't wait for the Amazon one to arrive and it's so very cheap on GOG.