Most of us are drawn to GOG because of the games, the absence of DRM and the community of like minded gamers.
Now, even DLC has it's own DRM, many saying they will "buy it anyway". DRM is slowly become the norm and acceptable to some gamers . . . some couldn't care less. Since we are still buying it, it's almost certain they will continue to develop and use it.
After corporations have game distribution locked down completely (nearly there already). . . will they turn their attention to GOG and attempt to eliminate the last uncontrolled source of DRM free games . . . our last refuge??
In short, how long before GOG disappears?
Just curious about what gamers think about the possibility life without GOG . . . =^ )

'Uncontrolled'? You're talking like GOG is some kind of rogue, warez site who cracked DRM-laden games and distributed them illegally... >_>

By that, I mean uncontrolled from the corporate point of view, a source they don't control. GOG is not rogue or warez nor did I mean to insinuate that it is.

While corporations are big and scary, they're not going to come stop GOG from offering us games. GOG is convincing as many organizations as they can that they should sell games through this site, and based on the unrelenting releases (while some of them may be boring at times, they are at least pretty consistent) I don't see GOG going anywhere soon. As long as we keep giving them business and the word keeps spreading about DRM-free stuff, there's no immediate danger of losing this resource.

I agree, what prompted the question was the realization that GOG has become my ONLY source for games. I simply don't buy anything, anywhere with DRM.
I wondered where I could find the same quality, trust and community that is offered here. I don't believe corporations can stop GOG but maybe a corporate buy out or take over would be possible. Maybe offer more money for the site than anyone could refuse.
Just wondered what others would do if GOG did cease to exist for whatever reason.

Personally, I think the opposite is actually true: GOG is teaching these big publishers that they don't need to burden their games with DRM in order to produce legitimate sales, they just need to give gamers a better value for their purchase and they will want to pay for games. Let's face it, every game GOG sells could probably be found on some warez/abandonware site or bittorrent long before GOG even existed, yet we all still chose to buy the games here, rather than pirate it. I honestly don't believe that is because everyone here had some kind of attack of conscience, it's simply because what GOG offers is worth the money spent. That is a reality most publishers are slowly waking up to, but they are still stumbling their way into it. They will continue to make mistakes like putting DRM into DLC, but as long as GOG continues to be successful and we as gamers can hold it up as an example of what they should strive for, they will eventually learn... well, except maybe Bobby Kotick.

Knowing that the game is free of viruses, spy-ware, Trojans etc. is just one of many reasons to buy games here. The price is right and no down side.
Edit: As far as I know, this is the only place you can get DRM free games, all other digital distributions are wrapped in some form of DRM. I can think of no other source like GOG.
=^ )

It's because these 'big evil corporations' support GOG that the site even exists at all. What publishers are concerned with are the sales within the first few months. After that they're not so concerned about how well their games sell. That's why you usually see a reduction in DRM from companies such as THQ after their games have hit their sales targets.

Starkrtun Here on Public PC:
To True Navagon, the Publishers usually strip or remove all DRM after some time. NWN2 (Atari) The Witcher (CD Projeckt?) and many many others kill DRM after the games been out. Some even release drm free versions inside there retail release (Fallout 3) and others just drop a patch or link to a auto hex editor to strip the DRM from there EXE's
Its a great busniess model to DRM the crap out of your game at first and strip the Online Auth, the call homes, the limited installs out after a year or so to prevent pirating. I support the idea and have no issues with CD Checks or serials thouse do just fine IMO.

I guess that is my question, as such, can they survive as this unique source for games.
I was surprised when I realized GOG was my primary source for games . . . and . . . I had no alternate that could compare on any level.

I think it is that uniqueness that give them a survival advantage. It's when other services pop up offering their entire library in DRM free form that we have to worry about GOG's survival. Of course if that were to happen then it becomes a good thing for us, since competition always benefits the consumer in the end.

I agree, don't mind CD Checks or Serials, it's the rootkits and such that get me going.
If NWN2, The Witcher or Fallout 3 were offered on GOG, I would buy them, I trust GOG to sell DRM free games.
If you are on Amazon or holding a game in your hand at Wal-Mart or BestBuy . . . you have no idea as to what DRM is included, you can find out with some effort but maybe not before you have SecuROM re-installed . . . again. Maybe if the DRM was clearly stated on the box / website they could build some trust. I would love to see "THIS GAME CONTAINS NO DRM" in bold letters . . . =^ )
Edit: Course if you have re-installed SecuROM, you have opened the game and you own it.

Which is why I like the laws for the consumers where I live. If you buy a software (may it be a game or whatever) and that software causes damages or install another software (like DRM) and that there was no warning on the box, you get enough ground for a refund. Simply saying "An online connection is required for authentification" isn't enough because it doesn't warn the consumer enough.

I like the idea and wish they would go further with requiring the type / ver of DRM to be plainly marked on the box. CD check, I would buy it.
Another reason I value GOG so much, I trust them, I don't even think about DRM when I purchase a game here and also why I would be upset if they were no longer. I have bought more games in the past year than I have in the past 5 yrs . . . they have earned my trust.