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For those of you who do not yet know, GOG's Galaxy is akin to Valve's Steam, with a few differences.

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Moving on, this is what Destro had to say when answering what Galaxy's launch date is.

DestoThere is no such thing as release date for Galaxy because Galaxy is not a single feature that we can just release and say "done" but an ecosystem of features. That's also why the date is so vague. Other reason would be that we prefer to underpromise than underdeliver :)

Coming back to your question - I'd break it down into few parts

First, some of the Galaxy features were available in closed multiplayer beta of The Witcher Adventure Game (networking & backend, matchmaking, lobbies, in-game chat). FYI, we've sent over 150.000 beta keys as of today and while we will be soon concluding this beta, there will be many more Galaxy-powered games like that coming, one of them in the very coming weeks ramping up into many more in the months after (way over 40 devs have access to our SDK but here we're depending on developer release schedule).

Then there is also a Galaxy Client - some parts of it, like auto-updating, were already available in mentioned The Witcher Adventure Game, and the full app supporting entire library is also coming but keep in mind this is not a small task - all our games are being rebuild to offer installation and updating via Client while also keeping their standalone installers, which creation we'd like to automate as well rather than making the whole pipeline an overkill. Then, many other features - like achievements for example - also depend on having Galaxy powered game that supports them in the first place. And as you'd expect different games then require different features.

Finally - many other features which will be later needed to power other stuff are actually already released on GOG - good example here are Galaxy accounts system, which all of you are now using... maybe some of you noticed this when we've launched new login and signup forums. It sounds like no big deal but there are many dependencies here - friends system is just one example which is also linked to achievements somewhat, which might require some overlay which in turn depends on a Client.


Encouraging? Or not so much? What this means to me is that there is still plenty of time to vote for GOG to make Galaxy open source! Make it so, folks! Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Tags: GOG, Upcoming
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31 comments
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Imants Oct 8, 2014
We have steam allredy why do we even need Galaxy?
Speedster Oct 8, 2014
Galaxy would be an alternative for those who prefer buying games from GOG over Steam. Those who don't already buy games from GOG are not likely to care.
Xpander Oct 8, 2014
We have steam allredy why do we even need Galaxy?

competition is always needed.
Monopoly is never good!
FutureSuture Oct 8, 2014
We have steam allredy why do we even need Galaxy?
Oh, you do not, as Galaxy is completely optional, unlike Steam.
Pinguino Oct 8, 2014
...and I've just learned it's pronounced "G.O.G." instead of "gog".
Blob Oct 8, 2014
We have steam allredy why do we even need Galaxy?

DRM-free?
Imants Oct 8, 2014
We have steam allredy why do we even need Galaxy?
DRM-free?

I never saw DRM-free as selling point. I had a lot games in CD-s which was DRM-free as they do not ask CD-key. By now I have lent (and never got back :(), lost or broke most of them so I do not see any point in CD-s or DVD-s now. And I do not see any point in DRM-free digital games never have problems with steam even when my Internet connection went down I could play most of them. I only hate heavy DRM which directly annoys me. I myself could care less about hidden DRM-s if they are not directly affecting me.
Teodosio Oct 8, 2014
We have steam allredy why do we even need Galaxy?

Competition is always good.
Steam monopoly scares me.
Xpander Oct 8, 2014
I don’t agree that competition is good or needed, but yes I do agree that monopolies are bad.

without competition there is monopoly

nothing forces to improve or innovate if theres no competition
Shmerl Oct 8, 2014
I never saw DRM-free as selling point.

And a lot of Linux users see it as a selling point and never buy games with DRM or use DRMed services. And GOG is targeted for such users.

I don’t agree that competition is good or needed, but yes I do agree that monopolies are bad.

Competition to Steam is needed double fold, because they tend to promote lock-in, and many developers fall prey to this when they make Steamworks mandatory to run their games (not for the DRM sake, but for example because they use some network features from it). Lock-in is very bad, and the only way to reduce it is stronger competition.
Imants Oct 8, 2014
I never saw DRM-free as selling point.
And a lot of Linux users see it as a selling point and never buy games with DRM or use DRMed services. And GOG is targeted for such users.

Maybe some people need this feature but I do not see DRM-free is main selling point to many people (btw I do not hate drm-free services). Thats why I do not see how this could even a little make steam less monopoly. If I would see a game on steam and on galaxy I would buy it in steam because I trust steam. And I don't think that many people will choose galaxy over steam because it is DRM-free. Galaxy will need to do more.

Only good point of galaxy which I see for now is that it will contain much less (if any) crappy games.
Maelrane Oct 8, 2014
Could we stop arguing about personal (!) preferences and opinions and "what ifs"? We will see how it will turn out eventually, no need to use your crystal balls :p

I, for one, do dislike DRM. The only of my hobbies I accept DRM actually is gaming and the only drm-platform I allow is Steam as I never had a single complaint with it.

Still I buy my games on GOG and in the Humble Shop as well and in Desura and if Galaxy launches I will try it out.

I've never been a loyal customer, and why should I? I earn my money hard!
pb Oct 8, 2014
My dream console: SteamOS + GOG Galaxy + UAE + some easy runner for older games in Dosbox and Wine (hopefully I'll be able to just hook them to the GOG client - I know I can already do it in Steam, but I experienced some problems with that, like executing a game in a loop after quitting). GOG just *needs* to make an easy client to run and update games, in its current state it's too far from being comfortable.
HadBabits Oct 8, 2014
I haven't really bought much from GOG, since there's not much of a selection. I was hoping to see Dungeon Keeper or the Thief series, but no sight of them yet. Right now I think Humble Store is the best DRM-Free game shop for Linux, especially since they usually come with Steam keys.

without competition there is monopoly

nothing forces to improve or innovate if theres no competition
You’re wrong.

Stan, please don't call people out as being wrong without at least explaining why you feel that way; otherwise you're not really contributing to the conversation. I'm actually quite interested in why you don't seem to like competition. As long as it's fair, I think competition is really good for consumers. It means that they have a choice, and that services like Steam have to keep improving if they want to keep their customers from migrating to pastures new. After all, that's why I left Windows for Linux in the first place :)
JOndra91 Oct 8, 2014
Competition is always good.
Steam monopoly scares me.

Well, Steam's monopoly isn't bad (now). Valve cares about gamers and especially linux gamers should be thankful. You know, for the propagating linux as gaming platform.

Another thing is using mesh organization structure (no bosses nor hierarchy), so I it less prone to becoming evil.

Although the Steam is basically sort of DRM, it is at least working DRM which doesn't harm paying customers (unlike Uplay).

On the other side, Steam isn't perfect either. It won't let you download standalone installer and sometimes it's slow.

I'm actually looking forward for GOG Galaxy. Competition is good in most cases and let's hope it will be it and both services and customers will gain from it.
flesk Oct 8, 2014
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I haven't really bought much from GOG, since there's not much of a selection. I was hoping to see Dungeon Keeper or the Thief series, but no sight of them yet.

Do you mean these games?

http://www.gog.com/game/dungeon_keeper
http://www.gog.com/game/dungeon_keeper_2
http://www.gog.com/game/thief_gold
http://www.gog.com/game/thief_2_the_metal_age
http://www.gog.com/game/thief_3
Guest Oct 8, 2014
DRM can be pretty insidious. It fscked up my Windows installation years ago, and I'm sure it's still doing the same things today. I have the right to run my software once I've bought it, and making me jump through unecessary hoops to get to the functionality I paid for is treating me like I've done something wrong just by putting the disc in, or downloading the installer. A key is alright, Steam's own DRM is very fair in comparison to others, but Steam allows other companies to put in additional DRM, which can be much more invasive.

http://www.defectivebydesign.org/faq

"If I can still run my game, it doesn't matter." Well, it mattered to me, and others. It may only be a matter of time until it happens to you. And if Steam suddenly goes away, where will your games be? At least I can get a hard copy from GOG to save for however long I wish, no authentication needed to play it.
HadBabits Oct 9, 2014
I haven't really bought much from GOG, since there's not much of a selection. I was hoping to see Dungeon Keeper or the Thief series, but no sight of them yet.
Do you mean these games?

http://www.gog.com/game/dungeon_keeper
http://www.gog.com/game/dungeon_keeper_2
http://www.gog.com/game/thief_gold
http://www.gog.com/game/thief_2_the_metal_age
http://www.gog.com/game/thief_3

Well, yes, but for Linux :P
JIghtuse Oct 9, 2014
I'm disappointed. Talking that DRM-free is nothing on Linux gaming site is really strange. Do you folks never see Starforce? Some other crappy services? DRM is always about limitations. "You cannot get file directly, you must use our Downloader(R)(TM)". "What, you want to watch Dr.Who? Get out, your country is not supported!"
DRM-free products advocates freedom, and it's brilliant. I always buy games at Humble Bundle or GOG, even if they cheaper on Steam, even as a student. GOG <3
Xpander Oct 9, 2014
Well it’s obvious that "nothing forces to improve or innovate if theres no competition" is nonsense. I can write a tool and I will want to improve that tool to make my life better (and/or have fun in the process). There is no competition involved.

The other one "without competition there is monopoly" is maybe more debatable, but I’ll just say "without competition there is cooperation". That’s one possibility, anyway.

well we were talking about steam and the like. Not about your personal programs that you really want to improve for yourself. but if there is no similar tool around you, you might even not come up to some innovations for it.

i can put it in a different wording (sry english is not my native)

from the user standpoint competition is forcing to improve and innovate. i dont see whats wrong with that.


your tool to make your life better doesnt really apply for this kind of business
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