Posted October 06, 2024
Pulsar222: What can we, as consumers and customers, do to get companies to release games here?
(1) A GoFundMe to get a pool of money to 'persuade' the companies to release?
(2) A Change.org post showing people are interested in having these games for sale on GOG?
(3) There's license issues I understand, but surely if we show we're willing to put money in their pockets for these games, surely they'd be interested in that.
(1) So, paying companies to offer us something, which we then still will have to pay for? (1) A GoFundMe to get a pool of money to 'persuade' the companies to release?
(2) A Change.org post showing people are interested in having these games for sale on GOG?
(3) There's license issues I understand, but surely if we show we're willing to put money in their pockets for these games, surely they'd be interested in that.
- How about: no?
(2) Man, I remember, when "Change.org" stood for attempts to raise awareness towards actual social issues and hopefully get decision makers to act on these issues.
I guess, that has changed, huh!?
(3) Yes. Sometimes there are license issues. Not always, mind you.
And while, of course (!), everyone likes making money, sometimes, people just don't like to hand over something, in a form, that has no restrictions (here: DRM) attached to it.
The people who own the rights, may see a DRM-free release as: "well, if we hand over our (easy to copy) digital product just so, then everyone can simply duplicate it for their friends and family...and where's our profit then?"
Apart from the above, and especially in case of very old games, another point may enter the equation: they simply don't recognize a high enough market interest, to promise a satisfactory amount of revenue.
A few posts further down someone mentioned "a threshold" that needs to be reached (the person proposed 500 people, willing to invest money, as that threshold) to make companies rethink their stance.
Look, even if we would be willing to shill out 'today's full prices for new releases' for these old games (I definitely wouldn't, btw), 500 x $50 to $70 is still "only" 25k to 35k.
Now, I put the only in " ", because 25k to 35k may be a lot for you and me, but these companies probably spend that (and more) on their legal departments already, before the first signature is put on a watertight contract with GOG.
Edit: typo
Post edited October 06, 2024 by BreOl72