Getting GOG.com to support Linux

It's GOG, not GoodOldGames anymore.

Also, this has been up for months and while many other votes have came and gone, this has been widely ignored, not even a simple 'No'. From the posts on forums they said a few times they're focusing on more important issues (pushing out the new games I suppose), but never said anything directly about Linux.

I'd say this isn't going to happen this year. They will follow if Steam succeeds (so that's two or three more years in the least, before one can say whether it did) or if enough KickStarters they're working with get on Linux (so far they're working only with two, both are going to be on Linux).

Thanks for that I have amended it :)

I already sent them an email a few months back and their response about it was the usual: "We wish to provide quality service, and with the multiple distributions of Linux, cannot guarantee that."

Oh, that's such a bullshit response. Making a .tar with all the libs included and there's nothing to worry about. And making .deb and .rpm files from that is very easy and takes no more than 30 minutes per package. I could do it for them for a fraction of what an average wage is.

I do hope they change they're opinion. Especially since more than half their games already work (Dosbox, ScummVM) and they've got a couple native things (indie games, AAA games with official ports (what a weird time that was, the 00s), KickStarter games, Mono/.NET and so many more).

Well, I'm honestly just waiting for the Steam release, because it could be honestly a game changer with many of the online shops out there. That is, if they succeed (100k users in the first three months and I'd say it will be on the right track).

GOG always says that it would be too much effort and that the resources are not there but then when I discuss this with members of the Linux community, they seem to come up with simple solutions right there and then. Needless to say, I am not very knowledgeable on the subject, but when they make it sound so easy, what is holding GOG back?

Oh, look, what's this? GOL broke GOG! For the time being anyway. ;)


As a "good to know" note, a lot of GOG.com games are supported on PlayOnLinux. They have partnered up together to create a pretty neat thing: from PlayOnLinux, you can enter your GOG username and password and directly download and install your Windows games.
If you take a look at their news posts (http://www.playonlinux.com/en/news.html, you will see that a lot of new games are coming from GOG.

Basically, I as understand it, they would like to add Linux support but do not want to put the work in themselves. Sounds like a good opportunity for someone new to enter the industry to me; all you need to do is convince them to give you a low paying starter job just to try and prove the point and get some Linux games up there.

If only I was in Warsaw. They always say they never employ anyone remotely...

Most polish video-game makers don't care about games for Linux, because Windows is dominance in Poland. People in this country rarely buy games for Linux.

shmerl, a user on GOG, posted [URL='http://www.gog.com/en/forum/general/linux_support_on_gog/page1']this thread[/URL] in response to me posting a link to [URL='http://www.gamingonlinux.com/index.php?threads/getting-gog-com-to-support-linux.899']this piece[/URL] on the page that [URL='http://www.gog.com/en/wishlist/site/add_linux_versions_of_games']the request for adding Linux games to GOG[/URL] is on. GOG responded...

Sounds like no Linux support on GOG (despite that funny image "Linux support by 2012") ?? Btw, I have no idea how to get Steel Storm to GOG. Does anyone have contacts at GOG ? (yes, I am looking at you Mr. Banana ;) )

Have you tried their proper business mail? http://www.gog.com/en/support/contact/business

That page specifically states it's used for people wanting to sell their games on it, contact them there.

Sure, and I contacted them quite a few times. Having someone, who knows GOG guys, to ping them about SS:BR from Kot in Action would probably either get things going or get an idea why they never responded. It's all about who you know.

Try pinging TheEnigmaticT on their forums, he usually knows what to do. Although I'd say just bother them again via [URL='http://www.gog.com/en/support/contact/business']this link[/URL]. I'd start with the second. They've been taking 3 games on weekly lately, so they might get it out quicker (no more than one indie at a time though).

Sounds like no Linux support on GOG (despite that funny image "Linux support by 2012") ??

Yea, I find this to be most unfortunate. Considering how there are meant to be millions of Linux users, garnering thousands of additional votes shouldn't be too much to ask for, right? :( I hope that this mindset that GOG currently has can be changed in the near future. Relying on Valve to change GOG's mind will likely take too much time. Perhaps when enough gamers complain about buying a game and not getting all of its versions (Linux, Mac OS, and Windows), then GOG will change its mind?

There's a thread where a GOG team member said many of the bs (hard to support), but also that it's because the deals do not cover distributing on Linux which could cause some problems for them.

It's silly since a good 5% of the forums are Linux users there, seeking and providing help with the games, with a good set of lists (one was lost though a couple of months back, server-side accident they said - it was the most upvoted list quite funnily, before the new request system). I'd say a fine part of their community already consists of Linux users, and by supporting Linux they could gain what, at most twice that. I don't think it's worth it for them. Many already provide the support for the games unofficially, and that pretty much covers it. People will buy the old games either way. I'd love a nice package (whether a .tar, a .deb or an .rpm doesn't matter, since they're all easy to make), but they've stated their attitude (too hard to test at the moment and something about how those things quickly change and what not - I guess for a company that hasn't started with Linux yet it's a good reason, since they do not really know much. Especially since they apparently do not have many Linux enthusiasts on their team).

I'd say it all boils down to one thing though - contracts. Can't get around them, and who knows what some companies might do.

There's a thread where a GOG team member said many of the bs (hard to support), but also that it's because the deals do not cover distributing on Linux which could cause some problems for them.

It's silly since a good 5% of the forums are Linux users there, seeking and providing help with the games, with a good set of lists (one was lost though a couple of months back, server-side accident they said - it was the most upvoted list quite funnily, before the new request system). I'd say a fine part of their community already consists of Linux users, and by supporting Linux they could gain what, at most twice that. I don't think it's worth it for them. Many already provide the support for the games unofficially, and that pretty much covers it. People will buy the old games either way. I'd love a nice package (whether a .tar, a .deb or an .rpm doesn't matter, since they're all easy to make), but they've stated their attitude (too hard to test at the moment and something about how those things quickly change and what not - I guess for a company that hasn't started with Linux yet it's a good reason, since they do not really know much. Especially since they apparently do not have many Linux enthusiasts on their team).

I'd say it all boils down to one thing though - contracts. Can't get around them, and who knows what some companies might do.

I find that so incredibly unfortunate. How will GOG justify not being able to offer the Linux and Mac OS versions that many indie games come with these days? With the increased interest in Kickstarter and the Humble Bundle, does it make much sense? Even Steam is coming over now.

Contracts can be re-worked and new agreements can be made. The only thing is, they need a good reason to start on that. Desura has a couple of the games they have for Linux (via dosbox), so it obviously is possible - one could point them to this as proof that not much work is required. But if they're afraid of running into problems with their partners, they're going to need to be persuaded that this is indeed worth it.

But I honestly do no think they're going to even think about it properly until Steam either fails or succeeds.

Contracts can be re-worked and new agreements can be made. The only thing is, they need a good reason to start on that. Desura has a couple of the games they have for Linux (via dosbox), so it obviously is possible - one could point them to this as proof that not much work is required. But if they're afraid of running into problems with their partners, they're going to need to be persuaded that this is indeed worth it.

But I honestly do no think they're going to even think about it properly until Steam either fails or succeeds.

Well, as you seem far more fluent in the art of persuasion with regard to Linux, why not head over to GOG and do some talking there? My technical knowledge is too limited on this matter in my humble opinion.