Goodaltgamer: strange.....
Indeed it is.
The installation and game had admin rights set (I have Win7 Pro), and there were no flags, problems, false positives, or anything blocked with my AV (Avira), so the only issue is the online connection the game starts every time it's launched.
I shouldn't have to fart around with my internet connection, or unplug it, just to play "offline" rather than the game connecting "online" when I want to play. It's just as bad as DRM and I'm surprised GoG allowed it.
Clearly this save issue isn't isolated, looking at the OP who started this thread, and in other forums I've read through.
For now, it'll stay off my system until there's an update on GoG patching the issue, or adding multiple "offline" save slots, or at least a settings option to disable "online" features and connectivity for the game.
Sadly, I just don't have the time to mess around with game files and attempt workarounds, as you have, Goodaltgamer
When I kick back and relax with some gaming entertainment, I'd just like it to work as intended. If I spend a couple of hours playing Tempest, I'd like to keep my progress. Not lose it every time and have to restart from scratch, because it then makes me feel I've wasted good time I could have spent playing another game that actually works.
I do appreciate your interest as a fellow gamer, but lately it just seems that indie productions released on GoG just aren't as well supported as elsewhere, if at all. It's not the first indie game I've had problems with, which has taken many months to resolve, or has never been resolved, and the problems are always due to a poorly released product.
It just seems to be a very mixed bag with indie games releases here. Some have been completely (or almost) flawless releases that put leading developers to shame, whilst others are utterly broken and simply not fit for sale. When the latter happens, it's hugely frustrating and I'm always tempted to seek a refund from GoG, although I never do in the end. But I do wish they would push these indie developers to provide a cleaner product, and to support them better on the GoG platform.