I haven't inteded as insult, sorry if it came across that way. What I meant was that I know you're intelligent enough but clearly don't have a good day.

And everything you are saying is 100% correct. The problem with the internet is that people will pick apart your statement and take things out of context and then come at you with it.

IF the game only updates through the updater program that is DRM, the same as Impulse. IF the patches are also released separately then it's not DRM. We don't know one way or the other yet, so of course people are going to speculate. Makes complete sense.

How about taking out your internal hard drive with the game installed and connecting it into the transaction computer as the #1 boot device? That's an option too, as long as there is none of that system authentication stuff. This would also make sure stuff like possible changes in different folders/registry would be applied properly.

So what is stopping you from taking a hard drive to your friend and installing patch there? Or obtaining modified files of the patch from someone else - surely, people are able enough to look at the damn creation date. Not a DRM scheme I assure you.
Well... Yeah, sure. It's even more hassle-y, but what the hell, capable person can install HDD/change BIOS settings in 10 minutes

What does that have to do with anything. It's not "the internet" you would need access to, it's CDP's servers. If the only way to update is through their launcher then it relies on their servers working and providing said patch. That's DRM.

I am sure they will release the patches on their own, so it's probably a pointless debate, but restricting access to possibly critical updates is indeed DRM.

The biggest issue with the whole "No access to the servers" thing AND DRM is that you cannot back-up your game and be able to play it in a few years after that - however, GoG always provides download link to the newest version of the product and even if it didn't, you would have a possibility to back-up an already updated product.

Therefore, it's hardly DRM, it's just a decision of developer team of certain way of doing things. This is sort of like calling system requirements a DRM scheme, since it's just a system requirement and you need to download every patch just once - I'm quite damn sure it'll be on their servers once they release it, and that is it. You can then proceed to upload your updated files to any on-line or off-line storage device you wish in case of possible CD-project servers failure, and ... That is it, really. It doesn't restrict you in any way whatsoever, it only makes the process of backing the game up slightly more difficult.

You know why I am into this argument in the first place? The moment Witcher 2 comes out with autoupdater and you keep being stubborn and keep saying it is indeed a DRM everywhere, someone inevitably will get offended by the whole idea of autoupdater, and a bunch of kids will suddenly start giving Witcher 2 0 ranking because of some weird reason, just like they did it with Portal 2. I know you ARE stubborn and need to be against everyone no matter what, but just ... don't. Please. (I know we are on the internets so I need to add: This is not an insult, it's a statement. You are stubborn and you always go against the flow. These two aren't necessarily bad personality traits. I am NOT insulting you.)

I think StingingVelvet's point is that if you're required to register your copy of the game with a CD key in order to get patches, then CDPR are just pulling a Stardock by saying the game is DRM free.

Stardock does a very similar thing: they say their games are DRM free, but you can't update them unless you DL the Impulse client and register a serial code. It's disingenuous at best to suggest something like this isn't DRM, no matter how mild it may be. Granted, you don't need to DL a client to update The Witcher 2, but other than that, I see the method as no different than Stardock's approach.

The root of the argument is that even the GOG version will require you to use a serial key in order to be able to update through the Updater on the game (and all indications so far are that this will be the only way to update the game).

I could be a bit fuzzled here, as I've got several different threads open on the same subject, so sorry if I've mixed some up.

From THE WITCHER 2 FAQ UPDATE – APRIL 2011:

WHY SHOULD I REGISTER MY COPY?
Registration of legally purchased copies is completely optional. To make the process as user-friendly as possible, the same key is used for both installation and registration.

Anyone who chooses to register will receive various bonuses (English and Polish language packs, free future DLC and more), and additional promotional materials such as bonus songs.

Registered users will also receive automatic notifications of updates via the game launcher. In addition, this will be the only way to update the product – patches will not be available as separate files, making it impossible to update illegal copies of the game in this manner.

As near as I can tell, that applies to the "regular" version of TW2, not the GOG version.

During the Spring Conference it's been said that gog buyers will receive the serial code as well, though it was only explicitly mentioned as needed to get future DLC. Seems unlikely to me that they may provide us special stand alone patches only for the gog version, but you never know.

Anyway, I guess we'll know in a couple of days, when the gog.com people get back to work.

If the GoG version that players still need to update online without a standalone patch for future updates then basically it defies the purpose of a DRM free version other than marketing gimmick. If that's the case i would rather purchase the retail CE version.

Sorry for asking again but appreciate any official from GoG could answer this:

Q. I really dislike any of the 5 titles offered for me when i pre-ordered TW2 Digital Premium Edition. Is it possible to choose another title?

Thanks

I'm in agreement with Wishbone, StingingVelvet, Coelocanth, and archaven here. If the updater is the ONLY way to ever have a patched version of the game, it's got DRM, plain and simple.

Personally, I find this eerily similar to underhanded bullshit Stardock pulled with Sins of a Solar empire... I still have some faith that CDProjekt will update the GOG version of The Witcher 2 on it's game page with each new patch, but, at the same time, this has me slightly worried, and it's hardly as convenient to redownload the entire game rather than a standalone patch... This also brings into question how the DLC files, if there will be any, will be handled in the long run...