Are GOG.com About To Support Linux?

so it says desktop, but then they want "Network experience, especially HTTP", so personally I would take the "desktop" with a grane of salt and maybe they running internal linux servers for their builds/forums/website etc. etc.
to much wishful thinking I fear, BUT I hope your right none the less :)

It seems that even when I state "pure speculation" people still compare my articles to Phoronix :(, maybe I need to make a massive banner stating "this could be completely untrue".

One user in the GOG forum already speculated on this, saying that Linux games, streaming of games to the desktop, or Linux servers could be meant. Another was quick to shoot him down regarding two of the options.

The Linux requirement could mean everything: [...] streaming of Games to the desktop, Linux servers...

Both are unlikely, streaming goes quite heavily against their no-DRM stance, and developing server applications makes little use for "Experience in developing rich desktop applications heavily oriented on excellent UX."

Source. I remain hopeful. Thanks for posting this piece, Liam!

It seems that even when I state "pure speculation" people still compare my articles to Phoronix :(, maybe I need to make a massive banner stating "this could be completely untrue".

where did I compare your article with a phoronix article ? all I said was that the desktop might be taken with a grain of salt as it also ask for a network/http which are not desktop related (for good old games).  For the rest I hope your right but I feel its just wishful thinking.  

If that upsets you and you feel I compare you with phoronix well then not sure what to say

It seems that even when I state "pure speculation" people still compare my articles to Phoronix :(, maybe I need to make a massive banner stating "this could be completely untrue".

where did I compare your article with a phoronix article ? all I said was that the desktop might be taken with a grain of salt as it also ask for a network/http which are not desktop related (for good old games).  For the rest I hope your right but I feel its just wishful thinking.  

If that upsets you and you feel I compare you with phoronix well then not sure what to say

That wasn't aimed at you so don't worry, was generalising at people who do it.

They want a great UX for server software their staff has to use because they care about their staff. Seems pretty obvious to me, like I said on their forums they will support Linux when pigs fly in a frozen hell with a church in it.

They want a great UX for server software their staff has to use because they care about their staff. Seems pretty obvious to me, like I said on their forums they will support Linux when pigs fly in a frozen hell with a church in it.

I honestly hope you are wrong.

I think gog.com would be great for Linux.

Some people speculate GoG must hate Linux or else they would have already taken some of the easy steps for dosbox/scumvm support, so at least this is evidence against this theory. I don't think very many Microsoft job reqs asked for Linux experience before they sort of came to grips with the fact they would have to co-exist with Open Source. Probably there is a different reason for zero linux support at GoG so far; not understanding exactly what the hang-up is makes it hard to guess whether it will be overcome any time soon. Like Liam I hope so, since anti-DRM goes very well with Linux, and GoG has been consistent about being a DRM-free alternative unlike certain other wavering companies; they would be a good ally if only they could get over this mysterious hang-up.

They want a great UX for server software their staff has to use because they care about their staff. Seems pretty obvious to me, like I said on their forums they will support Linux when pigs fly in a frozen hell with a church in it.

I honestly hope you are wrong.

I think gog.com would be great for Linux.

Couldn't get a better match than GOG. But they have a blindspot as far as rational decision making about Linux goes. Linux isn't getting a fair chance from GOG. They have different standards for arguments pro-Linux support than they have for arguments against. Any and all arguments against no matter how absurd will be considered a huge obstacle, while no argument for support will be considered good enough, no matter how good they may be.

This position was noted a while ago on GOG forums. It's a good indicator, but it's hard to speculate what it means time wise. It can take them a while to start supporting Linux. And GOG said in the past that they are interested and "looking at it". So this open position isn't surprising.

They want a great UX for server software their staff has to use because they care about their staff. Seems pretty obvious to me, like I said on their forums they will support Linux when pigs fly in a frozen hell with a church in it.

I honestly hope you are wrong.

I think gog.com would be great for Linux.

Couldn't get a better match than GOG. But they have a blindspot as far as rational decision making about Linux goes. Linux isn't getting a fair chance from GOG. They have different standards for arguments pro-Linux support than they have for arguments against. Any and all arguments against no matter how absurd will be considered a huge obstacle, while no argument for support will be considered good enough, no matter how good they may be.

Well, they argumented pretty reasonable. Infact, I love linux, but supporting linux (especially binary) is a mess.

Liam, you need to forget about Phoronix. A good portion of your comments here and elsewhere seem to mention that site, and I think you're doing yourself a disservice. Phoronix is a shit site, especially when it comes to gaming news, and it looks terrible in general if you ask me. Just do what you do best. As someone who recently found this site, I can say it's the best one currently on the web when it comes to the topic at hand, and I think anyone else can see that plainly. No need to be preemptively defensive or on the offensive. Let the other guy fade into obscurity - or at least let your readers be the ones to naturally defend your honor if/when needed.

Yeah nevermind Phoronix Liam, It's not worth the grey hairs. =p Even though I know it burns you up the way they don't give proper credit, It burns me up too.

As for this, I'm thinking Servers. But the throw off from that is "multi-platform desktop software". After that "experienced by millions of users every month" which begs the question: Where is this multi-platform software? Note the present tense.

Could they possibly be talking about Steam or Desura?. Those distribution platforms match up with the language noted here. Perhaps they are planning to release some of their wares to Steam or Desura?.

FYI: GOG is going to be recruiting on GDC.

Perhaps they are planning to release some of their wares to Steam or Desura?.

I got a feeling they are planning to create a better distribution service which offers incremental updates, to compete with Steam in the convenience aspect. Though I'm sure they'll do it in a way that won't compromise DRM free part of it. I.e. they'll still ship standalone installers / patches and whatever.

FYI: GOG is going to be recruiting on GDC.

This is linked at the bottom of the article, it's the source ;)

FYI: GOG is going to be recruiting on GDC.

This is linked at the bottom of the article, it's the source ;)

Ah, missed that link :)

They want a great UX for server software their staff has to use because they care about their staff. Seems pretty obvious to me, like I said on their forums they will support Linux when pigs fly in a frozen hell with a church in it.

Ouch! You sound pretty unhappy with GOG. Since you're so convinced that they'll never support Linux, may I ask what your motivation is to still stick around that place?

It seems that even when I state "pure speculation" people still compare my articles to Phoronix :(, maybe I need to make a massive banner stating "this could be completely untrue".

The Could in the title is enough warning. :)


And I myself believe that GOG has not supported Linux yet for the same reasons many developers haven’t: the overwhelming amount of distributions. I think it would be best if GOG focused on the basic .sh approach with the dependencies for all major distributions listed on the download page (debian, Ubuntu, arch, etc.). That way they could minimize support to making sure you have the dependencies installed rather than maintaining 50,000 different builds for every distro under the sun.

They want a great UX for server software their staff has to use because they care about their staff. Seems pretty obvious to me, like I said on their forums they will support Linux when pigs fly in a frozen hell with a church in it.

Ouch! You sound pretty unhappy with GOG. Since you're so convinced that they'll never support Linux, may I ask what your motivation is to still stick around that place?

Well I am not really unhappy with GOG. I have more than 400 games on their after all. That would be a pretty weird way to demonstrate being unhappy about them! I would LOVE if they would support Linux. But that is basically their only negative at all. If they added Linux support (and maybe a few other things such as an optional client and proper forum software) they would basically be THE best digital distributor on the face of the planet. 

But unlike say Humble Bundle Inc they have NEVER claimed to be Linux/cross platform supporters. They have made the same kind of promises so the situation is different. As someone who has to use Windows I can't really boycott something JUST because Linux support is lacking, in particular it would be hard to boycott a company that does so much good. 

Just look at what they did with The Witcher 2 Enhanced Edition. Also they support mod tools. I am a huge advocate for mod tools. So for reasons like that I would say that the GOG situation is complicated. But overall I still very much consider them good guys. I just have some pessimistic tendencies and I am going overboard NOT to get too excited. 

Call it 3D Realms forums regular syndrome if you want... all those years hearing magazines hype their next cover followed by people in the DNF forums starting threads speculating that it wold be DNF(Which I ended up enjoying as one of only three FPS games I have completed from beginning to end(What can I say, I suck as a gamer), the others being Quake 1 and Bioshock Infinite).

I am on a mission to keep my personal excitement levels down, way way way down.

Edit:

For the record: I am perfectly happy with GOL, including this article. It is nothing like Phoronix. I enjoy GOL as a site and a community immensely.

Edit2:

My motto basically is: "Always expect the worst thing you can imagine, then stretch your imagination beyond the breaking point to envision an even worse scenario and except that instead. Reality will probably still be far worse than you excepted".

Your exam? Expect to fail it. Your friends and family? Expect them to die. Your job? Expect to be fired. You get the picture. 

Edit3:

If you haven't noticed I am prone to exaggeration and hyperbole but I stand by my basic message. It is how I live my life.

It would be very good!