Recently, GOG added the Windows version of XCOM: Enemy Unknown to their store and since it has a Linux version on Steam, I reached out to the porter to see about their plans for the Linux version.
We've seen a lot of speculation in the past, with people wondering if Feral Interactive will ever get their Linux ports onto a store other than Steam. Here's their official stance, which they sent me this morning:
We don't have any plans to distribute our games through GoG. If this changes, we'll make announcements through our usual channels.
We can speculate all we like as to why they're not doing it, even if the decision does strike me as a little odd. Hopefully they will reevaluate this stance in future, considering it's not exactly a new game and the Linux port from 2014 isn't exactly new either.
A shame for everyone who prefers their games on GOG.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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Quoting: GuestBecause no, we don't agree, and you know it.
I don't see how we don't agree. You just said yourself that Feral don't want to spend resources on DRM-free releases anywhere, not just on GOG. So what does it matter then, if agreements with GOG had some bumps, if it's an issue with Feral to begin with? So no need for demagoguery, it's not helping the conversation.
Last edited by Shmerl on 18 June 2018 at 6:22 pm UTC
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Quoting: GuestYou are also stating it to be an issue with Feral, which is also bogus, as has been repeated before.
Whose issue is it then? The excuse of original publishers is not applicable in this case. And no need to pull it out of thin air, when Feral explicitly communicated more than once, that it's up to them to decide such things.
Last edited by Shmerl on 18 June 2018 at 6:31 pm UTC
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Quoting: GuestThese are the sorts of the questions that should be asked, should be discussed.
With whom exactly? Feral don't care to discuss it, they dodge this topic with "ask us if you want it" kind of stonewalling. It makes sense to discuss it with developers who actually have practical difficulties and are looking for ways to solve them. Feral isn't the case.
Last edited by Shmerl on 18 June 2018 at 6:32 pm UTC
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Quoting: GuestThey've stated GOG wasn't viable for them. And no, just because they want something on GOG doesn't mean GOG will accept it, so it quite literally cannot be entirely up to Feral.
GOG said as much, that it wasn't a problem on their end. GOG "isn't viable", but I don't see anything else that's viable (no DRM-free releases anywhere). Without all the euphemistic wording, it means they don't want to release in DRM-free fashion, because reasons.
Last edited by Shmerl on 18 June 2018 at 6:42 pm UTC
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Quoting: GuestWhat reasons might they be? If you're unwilling to discuss that, or put forward any ideas,
I find it futile to put out ideas for a stone wall. Again, who do you propose to discuss it with? Feral show zero interest in it. You only suggested what the problems could be (Steamworks lock-in and the like). Sure, these are solvable, but it's pointless if those who have those problems don't want to solve them.
May be Feral read these discussions, may be not - we get zero feedback and only answers like "ask us". We did, but that didn't do anything. Since they don't explain what their exact issues are, suggesting them how to solve them is going to be wasting their time as well as ours, indirectly it also shows that they don't want such suggestions or don't want to solve it to begin with.
Last edited by Shmerl on 18 June 2018 at 7:21 pm UTC
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Quoting: BeamboomQuoting: hummer010"user friendly" != "consumer friendly".
How do you define the difference?
User Friendly: Easy to use.
Consumer Friendly: Respects the rights of the consumer.
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I'm sorry for the people that would prefer GOG. I would have liked it too if their games would be available to a broader audience. That said I'm sure Feral did their numbers and this is what it is.
I could imagine that protecting their intellectual property is indeed a reason to not release on GOG, though I'm pretty sure that this is not the only one. Contracts with original publishers and mostly support costs come to my mind, I could also think of data collection, pushing updates, payment etc. Next to that we should not forget that they are primarily a Mac/OSX porting studio using Steam and Apple Store. Linux is more of a side business to them. I could imagine that they simply don't want to take the investment to establish an extra channel for the relatively few Linux purchases.
Me, having had a fantastic journey with Rise of the Tomb Raider and now looking forward to Life is Strange BTS.
PS: Actually I think Feral declines GOG because of
a) World domination comes with Valve
b) To really just annoy all the folks that often hijack the news posting here on GOL when a new Feral game is announced/released :)
I could imagine that protecting their intellectual property is indeed a reason to not release on GOG, though I'm pretty sure that this is not the only one. Contracts with original publishers and mostly support costs come to my mind, I could also think of data collection, pushing updates, payment etc. Next to that we should not forget that they are primarily a Mac/OSX porting studio using Steam and Apple Store. Linux is more of a side business to them. I could imagine that they simply don't want to take the investment to establish an extra channel for the relatively few Linux purchases.
Me, having had a fantastic journey with Rise of the Tomb Raider and now looking forward to Life is Strange BTS.
PS: Actually I think Feral declines GOG because of
a) World domination comes with Valve
b) To really just annoy all the folks that often hijack the news posting here on GOL when a new Feral game is announced/released :)
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Quoting: ShmerlConsumers can think that convenient violation of their rights is "friendly", as long as its convenient.
I'm sorry but this is just nonsense. You anti-DRM guys only do yourself a disfavour by acting like religious fanatics.
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/user-friendly
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Quoting: Beamboomhttps://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/user-friendly
QuoteIf something, especially something related to a computer, is user-friendly, it is simple for people to use:
DRM is aimed at making backups impossible or a hindrance (you need to break DRM first). So DRM isn't user friendly. It's kind of self explanatory, since DRM is an anti-user feature.
Last edited by Shmerl on 18 June 2018 at 7:58 pm UTC
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