I'm sure this isn't the first time someone is bringing this up, but is GoG the only vendor still releasing actual games? You might remember the kind. The ones that you pay money for today, get to play today, and are actually fully functional experiences where the zombies can't walk through walls.

Because everywhere else all I've seen for a while now is pre-purchase this, and early access that. It basically feels like it's reached about as cartoonish a level of near absurdity as I could imagine it getting to.

At the moment yes. They have had surveys about alpha/beta etc access, with answers being in positive from the community in general, so you never know.

I do know somewhat know where you're coming from.
It's like how some companies abuse DLC. I hate that.

I've only one gripe with early access, is often it is TOO early, years go by and thouse we stop playing.
(has any steam early access game actualy left the early access state? maybe a large dev has or not) Exactly, or abuse with in-game mincro-transactions.

Don't get me started on those $49.99 and upwards micro-transactions.. >_<

I'm not totally against the idea, but it's like it's turned into some de facto standard, and that I'm not wild about. I'm not personally interested in burning out on a game before it's finished but whatever.

I will say the pre-purchase thing feels more like a play for suckers than early access. I guess you could say EA is about cashing in early and selling the illusion of privilege, but pre-purchase getting people to buy a game completely on faith in the screenshots and promises.

What if you get less than promised during an early access? What happens then?
I've never done an early access thing, but I know I would feel pretty suckered..

One of my main reasons why I shop mostly here. Sure, I go to Desura and Gamersgate once in a while, but here, I like the fact that GOG actually cares about what they are selling and not just tossing whatever crap that is thrown at them. I may not like all the games GOG sells (due to personal taste), but I trust what they are selling.

Well I don't think you are typically promised anything beyond maybe a copy of the full game once and IF it gets finished.

Starbound is still in early access mode, but it definitely looks like it's going to be a complete game. Whether it will be relatively bug-free on release is another question entirely.

I think its a fantastic business idea.
For decades devs payed people to test their games for bugs.
Now players throw their money at them eager to play alpha/beta versions...simply excellent.
Oh, but they can make the game better because of the input from so many gamers......sometimes...it all depends on the devs....or why is nearly every game still bugged at release? (There are exceptions like Planetary Annihilation were the devs react to the input)
But its getting better.
Why selling an finished product? Older gamers may remember them, games that had an ending.
Isn't it far more better (for their bank account) if they sell parts of the game as DLC?
Previously those parts were included in the game. But than the player had to wait longer for
the finished version. Now they pay the same as for a finished version and than pay again for the full
experience maybe even as a Day One DLC.

For micro transactions..how should they make money with F2P games? As long as they are not unbalancing
the game (P2W) its OK.

Pretty much why I've stopped paying full price for games.

+repping you for this thread and the slick Wyatt avatar. :)

I don't have much to add, I guess some days I feel tired of all these discussions, at least because most of the time some person barges in, trying to be a wise-ass, and opposing the views of the OP just to troll and get some attention. I agree with your sentiment, GOG is indeed a safe haven in the digital video game distribution frightening landscape. Saddens me to see people embracing ideals and policies based on bandwagon effects, and never stopping to think of better solutions, just because someone told them "this is going to be the future". GOG is here, more solid each day, showing us that the future doesn't necessarily have to be one of DRM, of distant companies and studios that crap all over the consumer, of huge corporate monopolies that lose touch with the players that sustain them.

Yes, I'm a stupid dreamer with a useless background in literature and philosophy, I don't understand much of "how the world works", at least not in terms of law and economics, which, apparently, are all that matters. Screw the people, right? Let's all become over-"rational"/"logical" drones (in a very twisted way, as if rationality and logic were limited to science, mathematics, logistics and the like), that accept everything without question, because "this is the future". It's a sad future, if we give up our basic rights in turn for superfluous consumables that last us a few hours or days, at best. I'm a useless dreamer, I acknowledge that, and I have utopic goals, but people like me have their place and purpose as well. I refuse a future in which gamers/citizens/consumers are paying for unfinished products that may never come to be, just to help studios do their work. Don't they have a QA department getting paid for that?! Why should we pay them to do the work of those who get paid to do it?! Are gamers that desperate to be part of something? Did it seriously came down to this while everyone shrugs their shoulders and thinks this is fine and "normal"? Holy crap... that's scary as hell.

Well, I got carried away, so... sorry. Just pretend this never happened and move on with your lives. And happy gaming. :P

I am the keeper of the Divine Key, and one that knows that the true path to the gods can be found in the library.