Hey everyone,

some already assumed that GOG could get a DRM-system with the new GOG Galaxy. This of course is marked as completly optional for those who want extra functions and Multiplayer. But I recently bought The Witcher Adventure Game which gives you the possibility to connect with the internet or not. So far so okay. But then I received a bug and got this solution, which worked as described and not else.

http://www.gog.com/forum/the_witcher_adventure_game/chosing_cards_makes_the_game_impossible_to_move_on

It wouldn't be unusual to download the patch from my account as usual but this time I had to connect the game by itself with the internet to use a specific patch. Otherwise the game would be unplayable. No DRM-free use of this one. This is clear DRM and feels a lot like the DRM-stuff Ubisoft did with Far Cry 4 where the field of view was smallered and was only able to wide up with a patch.
Lot of people found that funny but that is just DRM and GOG mentions itself being free of it. Well, so far it isn't.

GOG should introduce DRM-free bugs.

Technically a game's online updater is not DRM. It's up to the user if he wants it to connect or not.

The way you describe the preblem, it works much like a DRM system though. Even if it doesn't log anything to the server, you need a connection in order to play.

I believe this isn't intended by GoG.

I suggest you to contact support about adding the hot fix patch to the users' accounts.

Thanks for sharing this. Please let us know about the outcome.

Does that mean you ignore all arguments?

It means that there's not enough space for a signature with arguments here. :-)

That is not DRM, it is just an hotfix delivered by an online updater... as long as they can provide the patch also from your usual account page (if not, ask the support), i see nothing wrong about that.

The game is pretty new, and i guess they thought it would be better to have the patch delivered automatically, so the bug is fixed as soon as possible... i'm pretty sure they will also eventually repackage the setup program as usual, so you can download the more recent version from the standard account page.

The patch neccessary to play the game is not available as a file or included in an updated installer?

I think RPGler has a very valid point here. The premise was the "optional Client", right? But that becomes kind of undermined with this.
In fact AI War works the exact same way. There are a few updates you can only get through the game-internal updater.

I can however see the reason. Usually when developers talk about the main advantages of DRM-Clients like Steam, it is centered around the fact how much easier it is to maintain game updates - i.e.: They do not need to compile new Installers or Patch-Packages. It is obvious that with GOG Galaxy wants to offer a similar experience.

That doesn't solve the issue, tho. While I can understand that not every little bug fix can or even should result in a new DRM-free installer, updated DRM-free builds should be provided in regular intervals.

But so far I have no doubt that this will happen soon as Galaxy is out of Alpha. GOG's main philosophy is to provide a DRM-free experience and I have full trust in them. I think, if anything, it is only a matter of time until the game builds are getting updated. As said, I can also see it is not necessary - even overkill - to provide new builds for each little hotfix as long as the normal installers will get updated eventually.

However of course I feel GOG should give a little statement about this to clarify the situation.

I was going to say the opposite, but to the extent that one must login to an online client in order to receive the most current patch, falls under the category of DRM to me. Lite DRM but DRM nonetheless.

And you do not need to be online to download the installer?

Without the existent of the client, you still have to be online to download the patch or the repackaged installer so I fail to see the difference

Unless they make it in such a way that without the client you cannot play the game, and your need to be online once a while to "activate" the client, I still think it is ok.

I'd say the logging in to the online client potentially classifies it as DRM. This is an additional step from just downloading the game from your account on GoG. If you consider the GoG account to be the store, with the Galaxy client as supposedly optional, the fact one has to use it to get the necessary patch makes it non-optional.

Nevermind, I just reread the opening post.

Maybe I'm reading the OP wrong, but I get the feeling s/he was saying you must connect to the internet EACH TIME to play with that patch.

If that's the case, then that is DRM. If I read it wrong, my apologies.

ADDED: In case people wonder where I got that crazy idea from, it's from the word phrase "use the patch" It reads like one must be connected to the internet to USE THAT PATCH, or THAT VERSION. The word "use" instead of apply or download reads like one must be connected in order to use that version of the game.

"It wouldn't be unusual to download the patch from my account as usual but this time I had to connect the game by itself with the internet to use a specific patch."

my bold
or it could be I'm reading it wrong or a translation problem from German to English.

The OP is essentially saying that the only way to get that hotfix is to do so through the game's autoupdater, but not through his account.