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SirPrimalform: What I don't understand or in any way support is the intention to bring regional pricing to the entire catalogue. What is the justification for this?
Likely due to once they've started with regional pricing on a select few titles, it'll be damned difficult convincing publishers to not introduce the same on the rest as well next time those contracts are up for renegotiation.
Post edited February 26, 2014 by Maighstir
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tinyE: I hope I don't get booted off the planet for asking this but what is the big deal?
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Lou: ^ I see this was four days ago - gotta say I agree.

With everything going on in this world GOG having to implement regional pricing while keeping the game DRM Free is so far down on the list it took me this long to even know they were doing it. Frankly if this is all there is to complain about you need to get out more or watch some news. If I want a game from GOG and the price is right for me then I buy it. GOG's DRM Free Policy is really the only thing I am interested in - If that ever changes I will immediately have a very large Steam Portfolio and while it would be sad to see that day, I wouldn't even complain about it then let alone start a boycott...
This is just one of many things I complain about. And it's the principle of the thing. The lack of regional pricing was one of the 'core principles' and I've seen too many companies turn to shit because of too many compromises. This is the beginning of the end and I will do what I can to resist.
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SirPrimalform: What I don't understand or in any way support is the intention to bring regional pricing to the entire catalogue. What is the justification for this?
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Maighstir: Likely due to once they've started with regional pricing on a select few titles, it'll be damned difficult convincing publishers to not introduce the same on the rest as well next time those contracts are up for renegotiation.
Probably. It's what happened when Humble went Steam only on one bundle.
Post edited February 26, 2014 by SirPrimalform
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SirPrimalform: Probably. It's what happened when Humble went Steam only on one bundle.
I'm just happy the main ("Humble Indie") bundles are still DRM-free and 3-OS even if Humble Weekly and others aren't necessarily so.
Post edited February 26, 2014 by Maighstir
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SirPrimalform: Probably. It's what happened when Humble went Steam only on one bundle.
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Maighstir: I'm just happy the main ("Humble Indie") bundles are still DRM-free and 3-OS even if Humble Weekly and others aren't necessarily so.
Mmm, but the really annoying thing is that a decent number of the games in the Steam only bundles *have a DRM-free version*. Humble is happy for the devs to go "...nahh, can't be bothered".
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SirPrimalform: Mmm, but the really annoying thing is that a decent number of the games in the Steam only bundles *have a DRM-free version*. Humble is happy for the devs to go "...nahh, can't be bothered".
Yeah, and therein the danger of making exceptions, the big guys you're making exceptions for (and others that notice you've made exceptions) will use said exceptions as leverage to impose more of them.
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crazy_dave: Nope, they won on the DRM-free part, they lost on trying to circumvent the regional pricing through GOG. They had to pay Namco-Bandai restitution on that and reimplement regional pricing on GOG upon which GOG made sure everyone knew that Eurozone customers (and other who were affected) got extra games to make up the price difference.
So then CD PROJEKT turns around and works with the same company that sued them on Witcher 3? BRILLIANT!
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crazy_dave: GOG is introducing regional pricing hoping that the AAA companies will come here - a lot of the "smaller" AAA companies are forced into distribution deals that include regional pricing (as CDPR was) and thus don't have a choice and the larger companies are the same distributors who insist on regional pricing for newer games. GOG is stating that a number of companies that have refused to sign with GOG have done so because of regional pricing issues rather than DRM issues. However, a number of companies also won't be happy that the regional pricing is unenforceable on GOG without DRM. Now I don't think that pressure will be enough for GOG to relent on DRM-free gaming, but I didn't think the pressure would be enough for them to relent on regional pricing either.
To hell with new "AAA" titles. Most of that crap is unimaginative and formulaic demonstration software for graphics cards. GOG can't be Steam and shouldn't, not just because I hate Steam, but because Steam is already Steam, and people come to GOG wanting other things than what Steam provides (classic games, ethical treatment.) I immediately felt shock and anger learning about this betrayal of trust and it was immediately evident that the decision was greedy and shortsighted, but the more I learn about it the more I am struck by just how idiotic it is, doing something that founders of the company warned other companies against in seminars that can be watched on YouTube... jaw-dropping.
Post edited February 26, 2014 by rawmilk905
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crazy_dave: Nope, they won on the DRM-free part, they lost on trying to circumvent the regional pricing through GOG. They had to pay Namco-Bandai restitution on that and reimplement regional pricing on GOG upon which GOG made sure everyone knew that Eurozone customers (and other who were affected) got extra games to make up the price difference.
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rawmilk905: So then CD PROJEKT turns around and works with the same company that sued them on Witcher 3? BRILLIANT!
Not a lot of choice - there aren't enough distributors, especially to reach certain areas with physical distribution and they pretty much all require regional pricing. I was surprised too when they first announced it, but after I thought about it, the surprise ... lessened. For instance I can think of the two of the biggest tech companies in the world who are each other's biggest competitor, sue each other constantly, and are still each other's biggest and important business partner because they need each other. You can probably guess specifically who I mean, but I keep it somewhat general because companies keeping business relationships they need despite lawsuits is quite common. I agree that it is mind-boggling to the likes of us, but it's a different mindset in business.

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crazy_dave: GOG is introducing regional pricing hoping that the AAA companies will come here - a lot of the "smaller" AAA companies are forced into distribution deals that include regional pricing (as CDPR was) and thus don't have a choice and the larger companies are the same distributors who insist on regional pricing for newer games. GOG is stating that a number of companies that have refused to sign with GOG have done so because of regional pricing issues rather than DRM issues. However, a number of companies also won't be happy that the regional pricing is unenforceable on GOG without DRM. Now I don't think that pressure will be enough for GOG to relent on DRM-free gaming, but I didn't think the pressure would be enough for them to relent on regional pricing either.
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rawmilk905: To hell with new "AAA" titles. Most of that crap is unimaginative and formulaic demonstration software for graphics cards. GOG can't be Steam and shouldn't, not just because I hate Steam, but because Steam is already Steam, and people come to GOG wanting other things than what Steam provides (classic games, ethical treatment.) I immediately felt shock and anger learning about this betrayal of trust and it was immediately evident that the decision was greedy and shortsighted, but the more I learn about it the more I am struck by just how idiotic it is, doing something that founders of the company warned other companies against in seminars that can be watched on YouTube... jaw-dropping.
Not disagreeing with you on that (though I stay from generalization such as a universal condemnation of a particular class of games by budget), just explaining what I think is thought process: GOG wants to grow while being a DRM-free crusader and bring DRM-free to AAA and otherwise larger budget games. However, they've had an easier time convincing some devs and publishers to go DRM-free than not sign contracts with physical distributors requiring flat pricing. They value DRM-free more, so they drop flat pricing.

The above is not to excuse, but explain. They can be rightfully criticized for this thinking, especially in the light of their own previous statements.
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crazy_dave: Not disagreeing with you on that (though I stay from generalization such as a universal condemnation of a particular class of games by budget), just explaining what I think is thought process: GOG wants to grow while being a DRM-free crusader and bring DRM-free to AAA and otherwise larger budget games. However, they've had an easier time convincing some devs and publishers to go DRM-free than not sign contracts with physical distributors requiring flat pricing. They value DRM-free more, so they drop flat pricing.

The above is not to excuse, but explain. They can be rightfully criticized for this thinking, especially in the light of their own previous statements.
I do appreciate the level-headed and sane clarification, crazy_dave.