Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

SoylentNews is people

posted by CoolHand on Thursday May 07 2015, @11:57PM   Printer-friendly
from the games-games-gimme-games dept.

GOG have opened sign-ups for the open beta of their Galaxy digital game distribution platform, currently live on Windows and Mac OS X with a Linux version expected at some unspecified point in the future. The client allows for the purchase, download and launch of a broad selection of DRM-free titles, specializing in older games with the necessary emulation or compatibility baked into the installation. While comparisons with Steam, Uplay and Origin are inevitable, the DRM-free nature of GOG's offering is likely to be a major selling point for many. Almost all the features 'expected' of a digital game distribution platform are in place; chat, auto-updates, matchmaking, achievements and time tracking. Some are still in development, like in-game overlays, but others are somewhat unexpected; auto-updates are optional and will be capable of being rolled-back in the future, interoperability between Steam and GOG allows their clients to launch games from both of a user's libraries, and the entire platform is itself optional - with no plans to withdraw the DRM download service they already provide, GOG specifically state that "the [Galaxy] Client will never be mandatory".

I'm personally intrigued by the delays to the Linux client. Given that SteamOS is Debian based, that Valve have invited other digital download platforms to participate in the project and that there appears to be close integration between Steam and GOG libraries, could a SteamOS version of GOG's Galaxy be in the making here? It certainly makes sense, expanding the audience for GOG and the catalog for SteamOS, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see. With fingers crossed.

 
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
Display Options Threshold/Breakthrough Mark All as Read Mark All as Unread
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
  • (Score: 2) by DeathMonkey on Friday May 08 2015, @12:45AM

    by DeathMonkey (1380) on Friday May 08 2015, @12:45AM (#180124) Journal

    If it doesn't need to enforce DRM what possible purpose does a dedicated client serve that a simple website doesn't?
     
    And I'm speaking as a happy customer...

    Starting Score:    1  point
    Karma-Bonus Modifier   +1  

    Total Score:   2  
  • (Score: 5, Informative) by buswolley on Friday May 08 2015, @12:51AM

    by buswolley (848) on Friday May 08 2015, @12:51AM (#180127)

    "Almost all the features 'expected' of a digital game distribution platform are in place; chat, auto-updates, matchmaking, achievements and time tracking."

    --
    subicular junctures
    • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Friday May 08 2015, @03:24PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Friday May 08 2015, @03:24PM (#180330)

      These are things I would uncheck in the installer.

      My game distribution service needs to be reliable, but I don't care for them recording my chats, nor do I care about achievements.

      There are very few "achievements" in games that I care about, if you could call it that. I am still a fan of the high score, and special achievements should be more than a requirement in a new game.

      The first, and only achievement I can remember as having felt like I *DID* achieve something, was being one of the very first people to launch the gnome into space.

      I got that done on the second or third day the game was out. I read about it in an interview and decided that it was my calling in life at that moment. I did it on my first playthrough. And it was not simple; that little guy did not get a seat belt in the buggy... there was a lot of setting him down somewhere safe and then driving back to pick him up again. I don't even think there WAS an achievement at the time; I think that was added in later.

      As for auto updates, i am still quite upset that plants versus zombies erased the michael jackson zombie and replaced it with whatever they replaced it with. I did not ask to have my game modified in that way; I purchased the game with a set of features and they changed it without recourse. That is a trivial complaint, but if it was a retail game, I could have kept a version working the way I wanted... forever! But not anymore. Now, I can't even go back to play it how it used to be.

      Game emulation in the future will probably suck because none of this will have remained the same, and as a result it will not still will be what we remember.

  • (Score: 4, Insightful) by tibman on Friday May 08 2015, @01:44AM

    by tibman (134) Subscriber Badge on Friday May 08 2015, @01:44AM (#180144)

    Auto-updating is the best feature. It lets your participate in alpha/beta projects very easily. I'm loving Killing Floor 2 right now : )

    --
    SN won't survive on lurkers alone. Write comments.
    • (Score: 3, Interesting) by wantkitteh on Friday May 08 2015, @09:20AM

      by wantkitteh (3362) on Friday May 08 2015, @09:20AM (#180248) Homepage Journal

      I like their plan to implement update roll-backs. It's probably of limited utility for most, but in games where balance changes were made, it could be *ahem* useful.

  • (Score: 3, Interesting) by vux984 on Friday May 08 2015, @02:02AM

    by vux984 (5045) on Friday May 08 2015, @02:02AM (#180147)

    I'm going to echo the other responses -- automatic updates is the big one for me. More for new/indie titles; but also for older titles; as GoG will add expansion packs and stuff for titles I own or fix issues etc. I log into gog all the time and see 'new or updated' next to titles in my library... its tedious, after steam to have to manually update stuff.

    The chat, and matchmaking and so forth makes putting together multiplayer easier. Its really a value add for buying on GoG (especially since pretty much anything on GoG can be pirated easily if you are so inclined... what with DRM free and all.) The steam interoperability stuff is also nice. I use steam... and one of the things I don't like is having my game libraries in different Siloes -- being able to easily see all my gog games on steam or vice versa is a cool feature.

    I look forward to trying it out. I've sometimes bought games on steam over gog in the past because multiplayer was simpler with steam matchmaking with friends... going to be interesting to see how this pans out.

    • (Score: 2) by jimshatt on Friday May 08 2015, @06:51AM

      by jimshatt (978) on Friday May 08 2015, @06:51AM (#180220) Journal
      How do you decide where to buy if a game is on both Steam and GoG?
      • (Score: 3, Insightful) by quadrox on Friday May 08 2015, @07:45AM

        by quadrox (315) on Friday May 08 2015, @07:45AM (#180230)

        You pick the place that doesn't have DRM, duh!

        Was that a serious question, or are you just trolling?

        • (Score: 2) by jimshatt on Friday May 08 2015, @08:34AM

          by jimshatt (978) on Friday May 08 2015, @08:34AM (#180240) Journal
          That was a serious question. I don't actually mind Steam's DRM (besides, a lot of games don't actually have DRM). I already have a large-ish Steam Library, so if I'm to buy something on GoG, or to switch entirely, I need a little more enticement. It has to be worth having two libraries alongside each other.
          I was looking more in the direction of ease-of-use, or better support for Linux, or faster updates (which is a new feature of GoG Galaxy, so that means no updates at all before?). I like Steam for its portability, the ability to download my games wherever and whenever I want. Along with some other features like Steam Workshop.
          • (Score: 3, Insightful) by jimshatt on Friday May 08 2015, @08:36AM

            by jimshatt (978) on Friday May 08 2015, @08:36AM (#180241) Journal
            Obviously, price matters too. With two competing platforms, you choose the one which has the game you want for the lowest price (on sale preferably).
          • (Score: 2) by quadrox on Friday May 08 2015, @09:25AM

            by quadrox (315) on Friday May 08 2015, @09:25AM (#180250)

            I mean this in the nices way possible, but to me you are part of the problem then.

            Careless/apathetic people like you are why we can't have nice things. DRM must be fought with tooth and nails wherever it spreads, when I buy a game/movie/book/whatever it's mine to do with as I please (except for infringing copyright of course). But DRM does not prevent copyright infringement (Still a lot of pirated content out there), but it SEVERELY hinders the legal and paying end user to use his product in full.

            Simple example with Steam: I have several games in my steam library - I want to play with one of them, my brother want's to borrow another one. In old days this was fully possible, and fully legal. Now I can't do it anymore, because I can only be logged in to Steam once.

            And by your acceptance of DRM you are restricting the rights of all users because companies see that "it's ok". Shame on you!

            • (Score: 3, Interesting) by jimshatt on Friday May 08 2015, @11:17AM

              by jimshatt (978) on Friday May 08 2015, @11:17AM (#180272) Journal
              You raise a valid point, and a very specific one. If enough users raise this very point to Valve, then hopefully they will listen. That doesn't mean that Steam in its entirety isn't useful.
              What if Steam enabled you to loan specific titles to specific family members (i.e. Steam accounts) so you could both play at the same time as long as it's not the same title? Or do you think it's intrinsically impossible to have a working DRM implementation? I hate DRM as much as the next guy or gal, but mostly because I've never seen DRM that actually managed my rights without restricting my freedom. But I think some level of pragmatism is allowed.
              • (Score: 2) by quadrox on Friday May 08 2015, @12:02PM

                by quadrox (315) on Friday May 08 2015, @12:02PM (#180284)

                The problem is that DRM is never going to do what it should do - Completely stop pirates, and give legal users full access. There are just too many use cases where an external observer cannot determine if it's a legal or an illegal transaction. Something as simple taking backup copies for personal use (as backup!), transcoding for a different device, etc.. You can never determine from the outside if this is a legal action (for personal use), or an illegal distribution action. It can never work.

                Thus DRM will ALWAYS restrict legal users from legal use cases, or it will have to be so horribly broken to be even more futile than it is today.

                And even if you could do it - I just don't want to have to ask for permission every time I want to legally use my product. The very concept is extremely degrading/disgusting to me. I paid money, I get to do what I want. It's nobodys business, and I fucking well don't have to ask for any fucking permission. Seriously.

            • (Score: 1) by Moru on Friday May 08 2015, @01:35PM

              by Moru (1248) on Friday May 08 2015, @01:35PM (#180305)

              This is because you can't own things on Steam. You have only rented the title, it's not yours to borrow to your brother.

              • (Score: 2) by quadrox on Friday May 08 2015, @02:23PM

                by quadrox (315) on Friday May 08 2015, @02:23PM (#180318)

                Although steam will do anything it can to make you believe you are buying something, you are absolutely right. At best you are renting your content, and they reserve the right to take it away from you at any time whatsoever for any reason whatsoever. No money back!

                This is exactly why you should choose GOG over the abomination is Steam.

                I do have some Steam titles, but those are from before I realized just how big of a clusterfuck Steam is.

      • (Score: 2) by vux984 on Saturday May 09 2015, @09:43PM

        by vux984 (5045) on Saturday May 09 2015, @09:43PM (#180869)

        How do you decide where to buy if a game is on both Steam and GoG?

        Let me add a 3rd platform first. HumbleBundle store/bundles.

        Those are (were?) my first choice if it was on all 3, the same price, and they had it DRM free there. That was the best of both worlds. DRM free + ability to use game on steam. Win!
        GoG Galaxy looks like it might bring some parity to that. I'll need to investigate it more.

        Plus I'm pretty price sensitive; and won't pay a lot more just to have it in one store vs the other. So I have quite few things on Steam that I'd have preferred to have gotten on GoG, except that they were 75%-90%+ off on steam. Buying steam keys through humblebundles where there isn't a DRM free download on humble bundle is part of that.

        But... given a title on both GoG and Steam, but not on HumbleBundle with a DRM free download, and at the same price:

        It it was single player or primarily single player (or I was really only interested in it for single player) I would choose GoG.
        If it was multiplayer I might choose Steam. But I can't actually think of very many games that are on both that would qualify here. But its something I certainly consider.

        Things like chat... I"m logged into steam / skype etc even when I play gog games so its not like I'm missing out anything there. And I don't really think I want to embrace gog galaxy as yet another place to maintain yet another friends list etc... be awesome if the chat was cross platform between them though; but i doubt it is. Havent' had a chance to look at it yet as I was traveling this week.

        Things like acheivements... I pay some small amount of attention to them... if I'm at 9/10 I'll look at what I'd have to do to get 10/10 and if it's super easy (unlikely) or might be a fun diversion I'll do it. (i took the gnome to the rocket in half life for the acheivement... but I don't put a lot of value in them...I don't care what other people have or the social/competitive ness of it and it would never sway my decision between stores. But still i think its cool GoG's got them now.

        Steamworkshop would be the only other big discriminating factor that might sway me to steam over gog.