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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.

 
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  • (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?

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  • (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.