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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The comments on this article are closed.
Quoting: hummer010User Friendly: Easy to use.
Consumer Friendly: Respects the rights of the consumer.
And what do you believe are the rights of the consumers using Steam, that Steam prohibit them from?
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Quoting: ShmerlDRM is aimed at making backups impossible or a hindrance (you need to break DRM first).
Where do you get this from? Do you use Steam yourself? You can take as many backups of your game binaries as you like, just copy the data directories to an external disk. Then, if you feel like it just wipe your PC and reinstall the system and Steam client, and copy over those files. If you feel like it. Try, it works.
Only, you don't need to unless you want to save bandwidth, cause Steam is in effect a backup storage for all your Steam games. You simply need not worry about the executables at all - in many games you need not even worry about your save game files.
Quoting: ShmerlSo DRM isn't user friendly. It's kind of self explanatory, since DRM is an anti-user feature.
Why do you write this? This it just fanatic gibberish that only works when you preach to the choir! DRM is an anti PIRACY feature, and you know that bloody well. The perfect DRM system whould be a massive hindrance for pirates but transparent for the user. Now, like I reply above Steam is not the perfect DRM system but for most of us who use Steam we don't even notice the DRM part- that's how transparent it is. And it comes with a lot of feawtures that really do sweeten that deal. The "no backup needed" aspect as illustrated above is alone a reason enough to use their services.
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Quoting: BeamboomWhere do you get this from? Do you use Steam yourself? You can take as many backups of your game binaries as you like, just copy the data directories to an external disk.
Did you read the thread above? Feral games won't work if you do that. How is that not aimed at preventing back ups? Your option is only to find a game with DRM removed, or remove it yourself if you intend to back it up.
Quoting: BeamboomWhy do you write this? This it just fanatic gibberish that only works when you preach to the choir! DRM is an anti PIRACY feature
Nope, it isn't. It's anti-user feature. Think it through yourself, it's not a hard use case. Pirate will go and get the game from torrents with DRM removed (by some other more expert pirates). So DRM has no relevance to that pirate. Normal customer will buy the game with DRM, and will be bugged by not being able to back it up. So who is affected by it? You guessed, the paying user. Ergo, DRM is anti-user feature.
What's gibberish is claiming that DRM is there to prevent piracy.
Last edited by Shmerl on 18 June 2018 at 8:13 pm UTC
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Avehicle7887 Jun 18, 2018
Quoting: BeamboomAnd what do you believe are the rights of the consumers using Steam, that Steam prohibit them from?
In my opinion there's the most important thing - Ownership.
Games that require Steam running to play are more of a longtime lease than something you actually own. I buy my games DRM-Free because I can play them anytime and anywhere without depending on any service.
With that said I don't boycott Steam, I just use it to download games that can run without it. If all those Linux games on Steam would let me play without the client I would gladly buy them.
Quoting: Beamboomreinstall the system and Steam client, and copy over those files. If you feel like it. Try, it works.
That's your DRM at work right there, you can't just run the game straight away, instead you need to ask Steam permission if you can run it.
Look at it this way: You the customer, who paid honest money, have to prove that you bought the game.
Last edited by Avehicle7887 on 18 June 2018 at 8:20 pm UTC
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Quoting: jensNext to that we should not forget that they are primarily a Mac/OSX porting studio using Steam and Apple Store.They did not grace GOG with Mac port either. So, their descision is not based on OS popularity but on other factors.
Quoting: jensa) World domination comes with ValveValve's Word Domination, sure! :D
If/When Valve's Steam becomes the only Store That Matters, developers/publishers will consider 25% cut to be a damn good deal!
Quoting: jensb) 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 would consider myself honored! Yet, I think Feral is far more practical with these matters and does not take personal feelings of its employees/directors into account when money is concerned.
Last edited by Alm888 on 18 June 2018 at 8:24 pm UTC
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Anyone tried running the gog version using wine? All I want is to shoot an alien in the face without Gabe's spyware running in the background.
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Quoting: Alm888That was meant as a joke.Quoting: jensb) 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 would consider myself honored! Yet, I think Feral is far more practical with these matters and does not take personal feelings of its employees/directors into account when money is concerned.
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Quoting: jensThat was meant as a joke.Don't worry, the joke was appreciated! :P
P.S. I think, this thread actually needs more jokes as certain two habitues have put us (with our previous "battles" ) to shame. :D
Last edited by Alm888 on 18 June 2018 at 8:47 pm UTC
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Quoting: BeamboomQuoting: hummer010User Friendly: Easy to use.
Consumer Friendly: Respects the rights of the consumer.
And what do you believe are the rights of the consumers using Steam, that Steam prohibit them from?
The right to play my game, which I paid for, whenever, and where ever I want, without first asking for Steam's permission (ie. running the client). I know, there's "offline mode", but it is far from reliable.
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Regarding rights, most common violation of DRM is fair use, which DRM prevents. Other problems range from violating privacy and security to free speech. If the later sounds unexpected to you, consider that DRM is accompanied by anti-circumvention provisions (which in turn can violate civil rights).
Related: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_Speech_Flag
DRM proponents built a whole corrupt legal system, which has DRM at its core. Many forget about that when they accept such practice.
See https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2013/03/ustr-secret-copyright-agreements-worldwide
Last edited by Shmerl on 18 June 2018 at 9:38 pm UTC
Related: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_Speech_Flag
DRM proponents built a whole corrupt legal system, which has DRM at its core. Many forget about that when they accept such practice.
See https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2013/03/ustr-secret-copyright-agreements-worldwide
Last edited by Shmerl on 18 June 2018 at 9:38 pm UTC
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