Here is how I look at it. GOG provides 3 main services for me. 1 is far more valuable than the other 2 (for me):
1) they sell DRM-free games at a super cheap price. I can download them and play all I want, not restrictions. This is the most valuable service of all - making this games available for me to legally own, DRM-Free.
2) They add value by adding extras like manuals, sound tracks, wall paper, etc. Fluff, but a nice free gift - and legal (as far as I know).
3) They provide a download service that allows you to redownload the game you purchased. Kind of like a file archiving service, but free with a nice interface.

#1 is why most people seem to buy here. #2 is nice, but probably not why you choose to buy from GOG. #3 is something you can do yourself. If GOG comes to a point where they are no longer allowed to sell a particular game, then they will pull it from sales, like everyone else. If the terms of the agreement to stop sales includes the stipulation that they are no longer allowed to host the past sales downloads, then they will pull it. Personally, I don't think they are getting paid much (if at all) ti host my download files and registration information tied to re-downloads. I would thing that it is possible that one day they might not offer the redownload service for life that they have now. I have downloaded and backed up *all* the games I purchased here, even the ones I have not played yet (like the JoWood games). They are doing everyone a favor by having a fire sale - lets usown the game legally, lets them make a buck, lets JoWood make a buck. win win win. Backup your stuff and quit complaining that they might not have a backup for you in the future - the redownloads is not the greater value here!

Joowood went bancrupt recently and will probably be closing business.
Does this in any kind have some impact on the Joowood games GoG does offer, will this games be still in the GoG catalogue?

This has been answered a few times. They might not be sold or even hosted anymore so it is good to back them up just in case. Enjoy.

It's funny, because the fact these games are NOT tied to services and that I can back them up and then own them forever is a major plus for me. For you it seems to be a negative... funny old world, isn't it?

In any case treat GOG games (and other DRM free downloads like indie games) the same as your MP3 collection: back it up and own it forever.

I don't know how this really works, but in my country, when company closes, the intellectual property laws are transffered further. Even when nobody will buy Jowood games, the rights of ownership are transfered EVEN TO single person, like lead programmist.

It's just a gog cause to find out who will get these rights and sign new agreement to sell them...

and these regulations are based on international law, and they are similiar in the whole Europe, i don't know how the things go in U.S.

To hell with it..bought the whole thing (already had a few). Crazy deal for sure.

Will be interesting to see what The Guild is about after all TheJoe's babbling.

Well, some games on GoG require additional individual keys for multiplayer, so this question makes sense after all.
It would be nice to see a reply form GoG regarding this, but I think they fear their support department will be overwhelmed with key requests.

Damm wasnt going to buy any of the last 2 games but then i went fro neighbours from hell and got panzer elite as well (was $4 dollars if i just went for neighbours alone) now i am glad i did neighbours from hell is a blast like the old spy v spy games of old.

Oh well it will be a sober weekend but least i will have some fun.

Some people that are not you or me might not do their backup (what can I say, people can be stupid that way) and the fact that some folks might pay for the game and then lose access to it later rubs my sensibilities the wrong way.

Heck, some people might do their backup, but then lose the copy through special circumstances (maybe they stored the DVDs in the house and then it when down in flames or something). That could happen to me.

Also, from an ideological stand point, I would like to see a move away from individual user disk storage entirely (for environmental concerns amongst other things).

In the past, I imaged a movie/music industry where user ownership of personal copies for various titles would be kept track of in large databases and content wouldn't be tied to a particular medium and available for life.

So, I'm sure you can understand my enthusiasm when I saw that my vision had come to life in the video game industry with the service GOG is providing.

However, such a vision is not possible in a world where copyright laws are fickle and copyright holders can revoke the access of legitimate buyers whenever for reasons that are not just.

Purchased. Hard to say no really at that price and fancied the Aquanox games for a while now.

You can't take the risk out of life entirely, but you can certainly strive to make it better and so you should (simply because you can and its a desirable outcome).

I don't think most distributors try enough to ensure that consumers have long term access to their purchased copy simply because it is not in their interest to do so.

Internet storage has its pitfalls (notably, account security), but in terms of disaster protection, redundant copies accross multiple servers sure beats storing everything in one location (your home).

Concerning companies shutting down...

Assuming that the company providing the service would be legally obligated to provide you an advance notice before shuting down everything, it would give you the time to do on-disk backups as necessary before the service shuts down.

Sure, and I bet the GOG team will try to do this in order to keep the games here. But the new IP owners are not obliged to sign another agreement with GOG. There's no guarantee that they'd have an interest in that. Maybe they do, maybe they don't. And if they don't GOG can't keep on selling the games in question (and maybe not even offer them for download anymore). That's why it's advised to buy any game you want now and make a backup of it, in case you don't want to run a risk. What you make of that advice, that's up to you.

Fuck it, I just bought the whole pack (excluding Dark Fall 1 + 2 which I already had). And I won't be backing up just yet. What's the world without a leap of faith every now and then?

Besides, if some new IP owner comes along and shuts down the games, I'm hoping someone else will put this out on the "alternative" areas (read: BitTorrent)

GOG couldn't force them to keep those games open for sale here, but that absolutely shouldn't influence that the rightful owners of said games have the options to download them whenever it pleases them.

Hell, I doubt that I downloaded more than 25% of the games that I bought here. :)