It seems that you're using an outdated browser. Some things may not work as they should (or don't work at all).
We suggest you upgrade newer and better browser like: Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer or Opera

×
Community
General discussion (archive)Windows 7 Compatibility(14 posts)(14 posts)
(14 posts)
Pages:
1
This is my favourite topic
Posted June 22, 2009
Has GOG decided anything about Windows 7 compatibility? A large attraction with GOG is the promise of Vista compatibility, and I certainly understand that everything I have purchased to date is specifically represented as XP and Vista compatible, but Windows 7 is definitely shaping up to be a big release.
Our experience with the RC has been very solid indeed. Add in DirectX 11 compatibility, speed, new features, improved ... well, everything it would seem(!)... and it's shaping up to be the gaming platform of choice. So Win 7 compatibility is at this point an issue for purchases, which is why I'm wondering what the party line will be? [I have had few issues with Win 7 tests of GOG installs to date]
Along the same lines, what is the GOG position on 64-bit support? With XP 64-bit was an experiment, with Vista it was an RC, but Windows 7 could easily be the nail in the 32-bit coffin. 64-bit works for the majority of apps, and works well - it's time to switch. Formally speaking, backwards compatibility is Microsoft's problem. Realistically speaking, MS probably could care less about classics that don't move more copies of Halo, and we're still looking for a "GOG experience."
So generally, I'm just wondering if GOG is planning, evaluating, promising or what in regards to the upcoming platform changeover?
Posted June 22, 2009
Windows 7 isn't that much different to Vista or XP. The changes people keep talking about are way overexaggerated.
And besides, it's not even out yet. What Microsoft does from now until August (when it's released) can make the OS significantly different.
Posted June 22, 2009
I've yet to find a single game I can't run in Windows 7 RC 1. Playing Tex Murphy, Simon the Sorcerer, Original War, and Neighbor from Hell w/ zero issues.
I think if it runs of Vista it'll run on Windows 7 pretty much (if Windows 7 isn't even more compatible).
Posted June 22, 2009
avatar
Tec: Windows 7 could easily be the nail in the 32-bit coffin

It just about is. From what I've read it's the last 32-bit OS release they're doing. I've done limited testing and found that several of my GOG games work fine on 32-bit XP, Vista and on 64-bit Windows 7.
Posted June 22, 2009
avatar
michaelleung: Windows 7 isn't that much different to Vista or XP. The changes people keep talking about are way overexaggerated.
And besides, it's not even out yet. What Microsoft does from now until August (when it's released) can make the OS significantly different.

It's coming October 22 -- my understanding is it's been pretty much done since the release candidate, now we're at the finalizing stage, getting it ready for retail, etc (link)
To answer the question, GOG has previously stated they will be working to make sure the games are compatible with Win7 (can't seem to find the thread now, but I asked the question and that was their answer).
Post edited June 22, 2009 by chautemoc
Posted June 22, 2009
avatar
michaelleung: Windows 7 isn't that much different to Vista or XP. The changes people keep talking about are way overexaggerated.
And besides, it's not even out yet. What Microsoft does from now until August (when it's released) can make the OS significantly different.
avatar
chautemoc: It's coming October 22 -- my understanding is it's been pretty much done since the release candidate, now we're at the finalizing stage, getting it ready for retail, etc (link)

Indeed, I've been using the RC for about a month now and its not bad. I would not expect much of anything beyond security updates and maybe a little driver tweaking between now and the final release.
As for GOG support, the changes from Vista to 7 are mostly cosmetic... in that the basic functionality of the OS is not really any different, it just doesn't do quite as many stupid things as Vista does. I have yet to find a GOG game (or any other post-XP era game) that doesn't work on it yet. In fact, a few of my non-GOG games that did not work on Vista, but did on XP, now work fine in 7. So far, it looks like Win 7 will be to Vista what XP was to Win ME.
Post edited June 22, 2009 by cogadh
Posted June 22, 2009
avatar
Tec: Has GOG decided anything about Windows 7 compatibility?

In essence, we're working on it :)
It's just a question of timing, with release candidates and when the first service pack is released ;) We've done preliminary tests and we've found similar results to what others have found. We know we have to do more comprehensive testing with all the flavours of Windows 7 as well. As well as continuing to support XP and Vista as well.
Currently we're uncertain how immediate the update of installers will be after release of Windows 7 but it will be done.
Let's not forget that we'll be adding lots of games to GOG.com (lots of great things in the pipeline:))) whilst having to update existing games.
You asked about the 64-bit support -- we release games on GOG that we have done compatibility magic/tested on XP (32 & 64 bit) and the same goes for Vista (32 & 64 bit). We tend to have to do Vista compatibility magic to get some of the games to work on Vista eg. Silent Hunter 2 which when released will be Vista (32 & 64 bit) compatible.
Posted June 22, 2009
avatar
Oldski: Currently we're uncertain how immediate the update of installers will be after release of Windows 7 but it will be done.

Please consider implementing the feature request that shows when the installer was last updated. :)
Posted June 22, 2009
The only issue I have seen with GOG games I own on the Windows 7 RC (64-bit at that) is the Games Explorer entries not working correctly. The games themselves run flawlessly without even needing to set a compatibility mode or anything like that.
As for 64-bit, legacy compatibility issues have predominantly been with 16-bit installers or dependencies and 32-bit-only DRM drivers (none of which applies to GOG releases); there are very few purely 32-bit programs that refuse to run on 64-bit.
Now that the hardware side of things has been sorted out computer manufacturers like to show off by including a lot of RAM, so many Vista and most Windows 7 systems ship in 64-bit. Any products or companies that are not 64-bit-ready (hello GameTap!) will inevitably be forced off the market by consumer demand. In a couple of years from now, 64-bit support of new or re-released products won't be something you will ever need to consider asking about.
Posted June 22, 2009
I
avatar
Arkose: The only issue I have seen with GOG games I own on the Windows 7 RC (64-bit at that) is the Games Explorer entries not working correctly. The games themselves run flawlessly without even needing to set a compatibility mode or anything like that.

Yes, it seems inno setup doesn't supply built-in functionality for game explorer, if you look for it you can see that it isn't correct in vista either. Right-click a non-gog game (GFW or "legacy" game identified automatically by Windows) and you'll find a "hide this game" entry, it's not there on gog games and games you've added yourself by drag-and-drop. My guess is that the games aren't correctly registered as games (they show up as "undefined" in 7, not to mention the duplicate entries that Windows itself adds for some games, suggesting that some ID differs somewhere).
eDiTs: speling, Windows phone's handwriting recognition isn't as good as the old Apple Newton.
Post edited June 22, 2009 by Miaghstir
Posted June 23, 2009
AFAIK game publishers would have to register games with Microsoft to have it appear "normally" in the game explorer. I would have to check this with a programmer but I think we add our own large logo to the games explorer with some info/functionality.
Posted June 23, 2009
avatar
Oldski: AFAIK game publishers would have to register games with Microsoft to have it appear "normally" in the game explorer.

No registration is required; Microsoft includes all necessary tools in the DirectX SDK.
Games Explorer entries are defined by GDF data files created with the Game Definition File Editor. This editor can define all supported metadata, including Windows Experience Index recommendations and custom context menu items. The installer simply needs to pass the compiled file to the OS in the correct manner during installation for the game to show up as a proper Games Explorer entry (and override Windows' own recognition of that game, if any) and take similar steps when uninstalling. See Windows Games Explorer for Game Developers for more details.
I'm no programmer, but this all seems to be very straightforward.
Post edited June 23, 2009 by Arkose
Posted June 23, 2009
avatar
Arkose: No registration is required[..]

Yes, you're mostly right :)
Currently we're changing our installers to show properly under Games Explorer. It will take some time to upload and rebuild all our games, but eventually it will happen :)
As far as I know, all games released after 10th of June should appear in Game explorer w/o problems.
Best
Grah
Posted June 23, 2009
avatar
Grah: Currently we're changing our installers to show properly under Games Explorer.

Woot! At last I can use WGE fully, most of my games are GOGs.
Pages:
1
This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussion (archive)Windows 7 Compatibility(14 posts)(14 posts)
(14 posts)