lowyhong: So for those of you who use GamersGate, how is it compared to GOG? Is it as hassle free? Is support good? Is the online activation DRM for installing games troublesome? Is there no other way to circumvent the need for an Internet connection when installing the game?
I hate to say it, but it some ways (especially support) GamersGate is better than GOG. Contact GG support during the week and you will see a response (an actual response*, not a cookie cutter response like Steam) within 24 to 48 hours.
Downloading games and installing them, is for the most part, dead easy. The GG downloader works nicely and can now be paused/stopped (and resumed at a later date). Once downloading is complete the setup file will launch immediately (but you'll be prompted to actually perform the install just as if you're installing from DVD). When the setup finishes you'll be prompted by the downloader as to what to do with the downloaded files -- delete, keep or run setup again. So backing up is dead easy too =)
There is simple activation on the GG downloader itself (which you'll only see if you run the downloader sometime after you downloaded it (it'll prompt for username/password) if you run it as soon as you download it, you'll not see that prompt. Each game has it's own downloader file.
Any game specific DRM/online activation will, naturally, depend on the game. But if you look in the temporary gamersgate folder once the setup screen is displayed, you'll be able to find the setup.exe file and copy it to another location. Do that, then copy it back once installation is complete and you'll remove the need to use the GG launcher for that game. You can then also delete the "launch" file (which is the setup.exe in its encrypted form). So if a game is DRM free, that's how remove the need to be connected to the net.
Note, that won't work for all games though and it'll be trial and error to see if it does work.
In the regards of activation limits, if you run out, don't ask the publisher for more. Ask GamersGate support and they'll sort you out -- probably faster than going to the publisher. GG believe that once you buy a game, it's yours for good. And when they get the chance to suggest a DRM method, they will now urge publishers to go DRM free.
Also, if you ever wind up with duplicate copies of games, you won't lose the duplicate (like Steam) it'll remain in your account and you can ask support to move it to someone else's account if you so wish.
* Not counting the initial automated response that tells you they got your email.
Oh, on the subject of refunds, I've never even tried asking GG for one, but on the few occasions where I've been really annoyed with problems due to their system (such as horribly slow download speeds -- now fixed since they expanded the regions that can use the US based servers), or inane regional restrictions they've offered me free games as a form of compensation.
They also tend to listen to customer suggestions. There are a few features on GG now as a result of feedback I've given them =)
