But how is this GOG's fault? I assume that with "always on" services the same thing is happening, only without your consent and on their timetable. All you're saved from is doing the uninstall/reinstall step yourself. Sorta like when I start the Xbox to stream a movie, only to discover I have to wait twenty minutes for the "install this or fuck off" mandatory patch is done, even if I'm not using a damn thing the patch addresses.

I'll stick with how GOG does it, thanks.

he is trying to say that it is your fault (the Problem Exist Between Keyboard And Chair)....

But does this happen often even with other games? Only for GOG or even Steam versions (maybe it reinstalls everything too!).

Agree with the OP. It's the second most important reason why I don't buy new games on GOG (the first is the price ^^').

Also (and this applies to old games as well) some kind of changelog for the updates would be nice. Sometimes GOG releases a separate patch, but more often than not they just update the main installer without even notifying what the changes actually are, and I'm not keen of redownloading and reinstalling the whole game without even knowing why.

They have been making changelogs for a little while now. You have the check the game's specific forum.

example: http://www.gog.com/forum/rise_of_the_triad_series/rise_of_the_triad_2013_patch_13_is_available_for_download

I have no issue with GOG's method, I prefer to have maximum control over what / when a game is updated. I dislike the idea of a client updating my games but if I preferred that method I would buy from Steam when ever possible.

I agree with OP (as some may know from before...) and if gOg is ever going to start looking into alpha / beta games, then it needs to improve. It is fine for older games which hardly need any updates (and minor fixes if there are any), but for alphas there is normaly a frequent and quick turnaround for patches, and I do not see it working. Even in Desura (which has client with auto-updates) there have been devs complaining due to the slow turn-around of patches due to staff refusing to release them before they are checked in every way.

(I have had alpha games on Desura which are 1 and 2 patches behind other distribution methods (like BMT Micro or direct from dev))

I quite understand it and feels like devs often don't want to bother themself with GOG update releases much as it is maybe harder process for them.
But this happens on Steam too sometimes. Don't know how it is with current Shadow Warrior patch but I saw several times in past when Steam redownoladed several gigabytes (up to whole game) to update game with new minor patch. So it happens there too only it does so itself. It can be good in that it doesn't bother you so much, but it also forces its update onto you, making you spend your bandwith on it.
I.e. if it happens both here and on GOG and you just want to play game, you have to wait until patch is downloaded on Steam to play at all, while on GOG you can play it unpatched while you can download the patch in the meantime or after you are done playing.
Yeah, I can't really imagine right now how would be GOG able to handle alpha or beta games either and there is good reason why thinks like Divinity: Original Sin alpha is only available on Steam while it will be available here at release.

This was one of my biggest complaints with steam. Back when I had it installed regularly I had a 3 mbit connection and opening it even if it was just closed for a few days could create a painfully slow experience. My connection is better now but not by much (8mbit) so it would still take a while if I had all my games installed and left it closed a while.

I can see for multiplayer games it can be annoying to patch if you play them frequently. For single player games though I don't see the point of staying up to date constantly unless it is to fix some technical issue.

I would like to see GOG add a "Last updated" flag on your shelf so you can see what has changed since a certain date, but the overall process isn't that bad for a store selling DRM free games.

I'm saying that I too have installed modern games from GOG and had no issue with patching, so I'm wondering if you're going about this the wrong way.

I'm content with GOG's method but I wish they made available earlier releases.

I dislike auto-patchers.

I disagree. I actually bought Shadow Warrior here instead of the Humble Store in part because of GOG's patching system (the other reasons being to show clear support for DRM-free games and to be able to further reward the devs if they eventually make a native Linux version). Unless it has changed very recently there are no patches at all on the Humble Store; every update means having to redownload the entire game.

Anyway: I don't really blame GOG for this.

Firstly, GOG has to wait for the developers to send them the updated files and it seems that devs often take a while to send updates to GOG after uploading them to Steam, resulting in Steam users typically ending up with patches before even GOG themselves have the updated files.

Secondly, GOG has to then put together and test a patch; this process takes time. This differs from Steam where (AFAIK) the updates become available for download through the Steam client soon after they've been uploaded by the devs (as there is no patch building or testing involved). "Frequent" is a bit of an overstatement I think. This has only happened twice so far and both times it was because the updates involved were so large that they deemed it more appropriate to just update the main installer. This kind of thing has happened in the past with Steam too, by the way.

I think part of the issue is GOG only providing the base installer + latest update (which has to work on all prior versions since the current base installer), however the alternative would mean ending up with having to download and install a string of patches after a while to get a fully updated game which would arguably be even more hassle. They *could* provide two sets of patches, but then that would mean a lot of extra work building and testing them. I have no idea what you're talking about here; I have had Shadow Warrior since release and I've not once had to uninstall and reinstall to apply any of the updates. Even when they replaced the main installer.

sorry to but in and not to derail the thread, but I find it strange that you bought the game in one of the only stores who do not support linux to reward devs making a linux version?

They currently do not make a Linux version nor do they have any plans to, so I decided to buy it here to support them for releasing it DRM-free. Should they eventually make a Linux version then I will buy it again from the Humble Store to support them for that (I don't think a Linux version of SW2013 is likely to happen though).

And sometimes, a new patch breaks more than it fixes.