My dad purchased a game on the same day I purchased two copies (one for myself and one for my son).

When we tried to play the multiplayer game, it was slightly more difficult to get connected via multiplayer than we expected. The game must be played in single player, then after a while multiplayer can be joined, but I guess it's random who joins you or something. I didn't really look in to it after seeing how complex it was to play multiplayer.

My dad requested a refund and received it.

I requested a refund and was told no.

Is there a reason for the different responses?

There are 3 refund options:
Option 1) The InDev option. You've bought an InDev game, and decide you didn't really like it. You can ask for a refund within 14 days of purchasing, no questions asked.
Option 2) The "Right of Withdrawal" option. You bought a game, didn't download it, and decide to return it within 30 days of purchasing. As long as no files were downloaded, the refund should be approved.
Option 3) The "Serious issues" option. You bought a game, and encountered serious trouble getting it to run. You contacted support within 30 days of purchasing, support did their best to help you get the game running, but it proved impossible. Support will refund you.

The most likely case here is option 2, and assuming you are in the same area, could it be that one person downloaded the installers and installed them on all 3 machines? Thus your father's account hadn't downloaded any files, thus the refund request was approved, while you had downloaded the files (for all 3 people playing), thus the request was denied.

P.S. Do mention the game, people may know how to set up proper multiplayer matches for it.

They surely must have given you a reason.
Did they simply say "no"?
If you downloaded the installer/extras, you won't get money back just for having difficulties with multiplayer.
Otherwise, other people could use lame excuses (not saying it's your case) to get money back and have a new, completely free game in their computer.

We are not in the same location. He downloaded and installed his version. My son and I downloaded and installed our own versions. We all started the game, realized there was no multiplayer option (because single player has to be played first), we exited the game and played something else.

Prior to this my son played for a few minutes in single player mode to try and acquant himself with the game mechanics.

It's not that we don't understand how to "setup multiplayer," it's that we have to play single player mode first. This isn't explained anywhere on the game page. Craft the World is the game. The game is labeled as multiplayer, but single player game play is required before multiplayer can be used. Had this been explained in the game description, I wouldn't have purchased two copies. Here is what they said: It's not that multiplayer doesn't work, it's that we have to play single player mode first. We didn't buy the game to play single player.

The key point, regardless of why we requested a refund, is that my dad received a refund and we didn't. What's the reason for the different responses?

Additionally, there's no way to know that single player must be played first, without actually installing the game.

Well it's not entirely gOg's fault.
Had you watched some Let's Plays, or read reviews, you would've known about that.
There's a lot of them in the internet, you just had to take some time and search.

I don't understand your question. I'm supposed to watch people play the game before playing it? I watched the GOG game play video, then purchased.

It is completely GOG's fault that I received a different response than my dad in relation to receiving a refund.

Not really, it's pretty much yours. It does have what's offered, you didn't bother to look up any info. AND downloaded AND played the game I don't see you getting a refund here.

I never played the game. I installed it, started it, found that multiplayer wasn't an option until after playing single player and quit the game. I guess it's my fault that I didn't know the game menu/options before buying the game? The options that I couldn't have known would be an issue without actually having the game installed?

I guess I'm to blame for reading "multiplayer" and thinking multplayer was how every other game I've played in 25 years of gaming. SIlly me. I should have known "multiplayer" meant "multiplayer after you play in single player mode for a while, then randomly get paired with people." Lesson learned I guess.

If you don't see me getting a refund, why did my dad receive one?

Either way, Craft the World is a worthless pile.

Played, started, same thing. The point remains. You can back that up, complain, expect a refund and get a completely free game. And yes, it's your fault, it's about the same thing as crossing the street without looking both ways, then complain that it's a drivers fault for hitting you.

"Craft the World" is one of the best games in here.

I can see why the OP is upset but he is really trying hard to kill all of our empathy here.

As far as playing SP, it takes 20 minutes, maybe 30 to get what you need to build a MP Portal at which point the sky is yours. As far as who joins, about that part I know nothing about.

When a vehicle strikes a pedestrian, the driver is at fault. That's how traffic laws work. Good luck convincing a jury otherwise.

I regret posting about this issue.

I don't understand why you are saying Galaxy is a requirement. I never disputed that and used Galaxy.

I didn't know I needed to check with Steam to see if multiplayer meant multiplayer, or "multiplayer after single player is played for a while."

It was still your own stupidity that caused you to get hit. Just like it's your own stupidity in this issue.

I'm sorry that you feel I'm stupid. I'm just confused as to why GOG issued a refund to my dad and not to me, considering we have exactly the same situations.
Fair enough. Unfortunately, my dad, my son and I don't Skype either other and game every Sunday so we can play single player games for 30 minutes before playing multiplayer.

I'm sure it's a great single player game, but as a multiplayer game, I'm not impressed.

To be honest I think people are overreacting to your post and blaming the victim here. If you and your father did the exact same thing, which it sounds like all 3 of you did from your posts, assuming there isn't some other detail that we are missing then you all should receive the same level of support. Keep in mind that support can make mistakes sometimes, and that each of you may have gotten different support people each of whom may have had to assess the situation independently and may have made different decisions after. If one person handled all 3 and made different decisions for each of you then that would be strange.

Instead of jumping to conclusions though without knowing why (which it sounds like you want to know why), GOG support is generally quite friendly and helpful, simply contact them again and let them know the full story in detail even if you already have - state that 3 copies of the game were bought, all 3 players did the same thing, your father requested and got a refund, and you requested a refund also and did not and this is discrepancy is unsatisfactory. Request that they give you the same level of support that your father got, or that they explain to you what is uniquely different between his support situation and your own.

If there are no differences between the support requests then it is entirely reasonable to expect an explanation and/or request equal treatment IMHO, regardless of what other users think about it, or wish to blame the victim. You wont get a solution here in the forum, just a combination of good and/or bad advice, and maybe some other feedback/criticism/etc. Your best bet is to re-communicate with GOG support. If possible, get the name of the support person your father dealt with (it's in the emails he received) as well as yoru own, carbon copy them all or mention all of their names in communications so that all the parties at GOG which were involved can have lunch together and unify their support game plan.

Hope this helps your situation, let us know how you fare.