Why are a game's install files discouragingly labeled as 'back up files' instead of 'main files' or just 'files', and why is the first thing you see, when you want to install a game, a big, tasty blue button that includes their 'optional' client?

Here's where I get into pure speculation/conspiracy territory, so dont take me too seriously.

Initially, one would think this is just a shift in perception but that's not what a new visitor will think, because we live in an age where everything is made easy for us and the big shinny buttons are effectively the 'get things done' buttons. Its all that's needed for the average user to know to get what he wants (like animals in a farm which is the state of humans in 2018), and GoG knows this.
Now, I liked Witcher 3 but CDPR even then proved to be great psychologists because they also knew to take advantage of the DLC/micropayments scandals that were becoming rampant in games in 2014-15 by releasing some free dlc and a note with every copy of Witcher 3 detailing that they are 'for the gamer', which solidified CDPR as very consumer friendly and beloved in the hearts and minds of gamers worldwide. Oh yes, those free haircuts weren't totally out of kindness.

Do you still believe GoG isnt a DRM store like Steam?
Do you still believe CDPR are the 'good guys'?

This again?

It's that way because that is what the majority of customers want and need. They don't care about back ups, offline installations or even DRM, most of them want games that are downloaded and installed in one click because that's what Steam has accustomed them to.

I can't be bothered to repeat the rest of the arguments, so here's some further reading on the topic;

https://www.gog.com/forum/general/forcing_galaxy_at_this_moment_is_a_terrible_idea

https://www.gog.com/forum/general/shoving_gog_galaxy_in_our_face

The first one particularly went round and round on why they do it and whether it's DRM or not (spoiler; it's not) but it boils down to what I said above. People want things easy, those of us who care beyond that know what we're doing enough to click the right buttons and make the right choices for ourselves.

what do YOU think?

For as long as offline DRM-free installers remain available, then yes. I can understand why some don't like the name change from "classic installers" to "backup installers", but really, they've been made more visible not less by putting them underneath the blue Install Galaxy button compared to previously being hidden inside the "more" sub-menu. That design change result in being able to download them with 1-click vs the previous 3x clicks, so that's definitely better, not worse.

Fair enough but also to warn that thats how 'not thinking' and 'love for authority' start.
GoG are a business, so its in their interest to sell you stuff you dont need for max profit and that can only happen if they invade your privacy, if you start to trust them, which is the conspiratory goal of the shiny blue button.

Would a shiny blue button lie to you?

Will "Get your tin-foil hat off!"-like answer from a blue arrive?

  

Er, somehow this doesn't seem like a real Question thread... But whatever.

The name "classic installers" is actually more worrisome. The term "classic" is perfect for phasing out a product, like Classic MacOS (a.k.a. MacOS 9). Or classic rock music, or classic country music, each of which get played less and less on the radio stations. Well, less and less variety from previous eras, and more from current era. So I'm glad they stopped calling them classic.

The phrase "backup installers" is actually more accurate. The latest installers are available from GOG's website, but only when the website is available. Downloading an installer means that later it might not be the latest version when compared to the version on GOG's website. When the downloaded installer is an earlier version (because the installer on GOG's website has been updated), then the downloaded installer is a backup of a previous version.

Furthermore, what if the GOG website isn't available? For example, perhaps you don't have an internet connection at the moment, for whatever reason. In that case, if you had downloaded the installers at an earlier time, then those installers you have are backups of the installers you can't currently access on the GOG website. They are available while the main source is unavailable.

Just like if your hard drive died and you had to restore from a backup from another hard drive.

As such, "backup installers" are the most appropriate and accurate term for the installers, as for any digital software purchase. Not to mention, the name encourages people to not rely on GOG is the only source of their purchases, but instead to actually make a backup of their purchases. With computers, that's the responsible approach, always have a external copy.

EDIT: Oh, and I'm assuming Galaxy doesn't provide backup installers. I mean, if a game is uninstalled, does Galaxy keep the installer or delete it, too? So, declaring them as backup installers is probably also pointing out what Galaxy does not provide, one of Galaxy's deficiencies. And therefore to not depend on Galaxy as a means of backing up installers.

What if thats what (((they))) want you to think.

It does provide backup installers. It provides the same installers the site does. But it's default way of downloading is like Steam, files directly to the hard-drive.

https://i.imgur.com/O1Qg2RS.png

Nice! The picture gives me the impression there is an installer somewhere.

But what if you uninstall? Does Galaxy keep the installer? And then automatically compare the version with the game installer online to determine whether it needs to download a newer version when requested to install again?

Or is the installer deleted when the game is uninstalled? In that case, it only keeps backups of what is installed?

Backup installers are handled seperate to Galaxy, but you can download them with Galaxy. Like you could with the GOG Downloader.

If you install games the default way, ie like Steam there is no installer. The games are downloaded and extracted directly to your hard-drive. If you unistall the game, the game files are removed.

However, you can go to the "Backups & Goodies" section in Galaxy and download the backup installer. Galaxy will not automatically install the game using this installer. You have to manually install the game as if you got the installer from the web site, by running the exe file. You can tell Galaxy to download the backup installer anywhere you want to keep backups.

Once the game is installed using the backup installer, Galaxy can detect the files and automatically add the game (depending how old the installer is) or you can manually import the game into Galaxy. After this Galaxy will verify or repair the files if needed.

The installer will be kept regardless if you uninstall the game or not. Same as if you installed the game using the installer downloaded from the website.

Again... people there are more important battles to fight to make GOG better.

is there nothing in life that is worth your time? This seems to be getting a bit petty.