For those who have some time to spare, Noclip have done an interesting documentary on how game store GOG came to be.
While not specifically Linux gaming related, this sort of behind the scenes information is always really quite interesting to watch, especially for those who haven't really followed it too closely.
This isn't just someone speaking over gameplay clips constantly, they actually have people from GOG in it and it's really well done presented overall.
Direct Link
GOG have done a lot of good work for gamers and since they bring some classics back with Linux support, thanks to the power of software like DOSBox, ScummVM and so on I like them rather a lot. While playing classic titles may not be something everyone likes, I do think having access to them so easily and getting support too is an important mark for Linux gaming.
Hey GOG, if you're reading, let's get Galaxy on Linux soon eh?
Quoting: Alm888Quoting: PhlebiacThat hardly seems fair, considering they go to the effort of packaging games with MojoSetup.Even MojoSetup was not developed by them but by Ryan C. Gordon AKA "Icculus".
Needless to say, they are pathetic even at this. Constantly they delay Linux versions of games for inexplicable reasons (when reached, developers usually say they mailed Linux version to GOG long ago but have not got any response since then) or sometimes even allow developers to outright skip Linux updates (hello, "Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun", "Sudden Strike 4" and "This War of Mine"! ).
Quoting: PhlebiacI can say that a small level of animosity towards GOG is justified, as they declined to support Linux at all multiple times before finally doing so, well after Valve did so with Steam.What was in the past was in the past. Water under the bridge. Let's speak about current matters.
Quoting: PhlebiacBut "zero-effort" is a bit of a slap in the face to the guy who is slaving away over there, testing and packaging on and for Linux.Over the years GOG employees have said multiple times GOG has very limited resources ant their top brass thinks these resources should be spent elsewhere (like the site redesign, including recent one with another GOG Galaxy advertisement at the footer or "Library" ). The real "slap in the face" to all Linux users is the "In Progress" plaque on the wishlist entry for Galaxy on Linux sitting there for (how many? three?) years when we all know (and have been told so) it is not in the works. Not now, not "in the foreseeable future", as GOG likes to put it.
But most importantly, this news has absolutely nothing to do with Linux! At all!
I think main reason for lack of Linux interest stems from their parent company CDPR and the events that happened after Witcher 2 port. They are basically Anti Linux at the moment.
There is an interview on Boiling Steam with Peter Mulholland (Ex Virtual Programming Dev) that explains some of the reasons behind that. When he is asked about possibility of Cyperpunk 2077 port he says this:
"Personally, I think no. The Linux bridges have been burnt for CDPR. I could be wrong, but I really can’t see it happening."
It is really sad but lets hope everyone learns their lessons about being nice to each other.
Quoting: Sputnik_tr_02I think main reason for lack of Linux interest stems from their parent company CDPR and the events that happened after Witcher 2 port. They are basically Anti Linux at the moment.There are several errors in all of this:
- CDPR is not GOG's parent company. They are both parts of CDProjekt but independent from each other and CDPR is in no position to tell GOG what it should and should not do;
- All of this "Linux Haters" cool story comes from a single person -- Peter Mulholland AKA "Jaycee" (or something like this), who is, as you said, "Virtual Programming" ex-employee and who has been spreading all of this non-stop on different news resources including this site (but adds this is just his own views, not VP or CDPR's policy);
- All of the "not in a foreseeable future" on the GOG's part was prior to CDPR's Linux fiasco.
I think, neither "Witcher II" in particular nor CDPR (or Virtual Programming) has nothing to do with GOG's "Zero Effort" policy. GOG added Linux versions of games only under pressure from Steam™ (no so) shortly after Valve opened its store for Linux. Have Valve not done that, we would not see any Linux support from GOG at all.
Quoting: Sputnik_tr_02It is really sad but lets hope everyone learns their lessons about being nice to each other.If there is any lesson to learn it is that one should not fall victim to Stockholm Syndrome and begin praising her/his offender for not being too mean.
Quoting: Alm888Quoting: Sputnik_tr_02I think main reason for lack of Linux interest stems from their parent company CDPR and the events that happened after Witcher 2 port. They are basically Anti Linux at the moment.There are several errors in all of this:
- CDPR is not GOG's parent company. They are both parts of CDProjekt but independent from each other and CDPR is in no position to tell GOG what it should and should not do;
- All of this "Linux Haters" cool story comes from a single person -- Peter Mulholland AKA "Jaycee" (or something like this), who is, as you said, "Virtual Programming" ex-employee and who has been spreading all of this non-stop on different news resources including this site (but adds this is just his own views, not VP or CDPR's policy);
- All of the "not in a foreseeable future" on the GOG's part was prior to CDPR's Linux fiasco.
I think, neither "Witcher II" in particular nor CDPR (or Virtual Programming) has nothing to do with GOG's "Zero Effort" policy. GOG added Linux versions of games only under pressure from Steam™ (no so) shortly after Valve opened its store for Linux. Have Valve not done that, we would not see any Linux support from GOG at all.
Quoting: Sputnik_tr_02It is really sad but lets hope everyone learns their lessons about being nice to each other.If there is any lesson to learn it is that one should not fall victim to Stockholm Syndrome and begin praising her/his offender for not being too mean.
Perhaps what you say is true and there is a completely different reason for zero effort on GOG's part, you clearly have more insight about the matter than i do. However, allow me to disagree about one thing; how is it being nice when responding to a bad game port is an example to Stockholm Syndrome? That was what i meant in the last sentence. English is not my native language so some things may get lost in the translation. That being said, Witcher 2 debacle may not have any effect on GOG's decisions like you said but i believe it definitely plays a part in why we won't be getting any CDPR games on Linux. At least that is how it seems when i look the matter.
Quoting: Alm888Even MojoSetup was not developed by them but by Ryan C. Gordon AKA "Icculus"
Sure, but there's still effort to package up software using it.
Quoting: Alm888Needless to say, they are pathetic even at this. Constantly they delay Linux versions of games for inexplicable reasons (when reached, developers usually say they mailed Linux version to GOG long ago but have not got any response since then) or sometimes even allow developers to outright skip Linux updates (hello, "Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun", "Sudden Strike 4" and "This War of Mine"! ).
It would be great if they did more / faster, etc. sure. But at least they do some QA instead of throwing up broken stuff, which happens a lot on Steam.
Quoting: Alm888Over the years GOG employees have said multiple times GOG has very limited resources ant their top brass thinks these resources should be spent elsewhere
Good or bad, that is how businesses operate. Would you prefer that they "stop pretending" and just give up on supporting Linux altogether? I wouldn't.
Quoting: Alm888The real "slap in the face" to all Linux users is the "In Progress" plaque on the wishlist entry for Galaxy on Linux sitting there for (how many? three?) years when we all know (and have been told so) it is not in the works.
No disagreement with you on that.
Quoting: Alm888But most importantly, this news has absolutely nothing to do with Linux! At all!
Just speaking for myself, but I found it much more interesting than the "x available in Snap package!" stories.
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