GOG aren't having the best of times recently, with details about their financial troubles painting a bleak picture, although it seems they have something of a plan. Later they announced some changes, including a tweak to what they mean by DRM free.
Now? They're attempting to go back to their roots, at least little, to woo customers back to their store with a small revival of "Good Old Games", what they were originally known as. The start of this is the addition of a Good Old Games tag, which GOG say will "showcase over 500 games that our Team has deemed iconic classics".
This is one reason I liked GOG originally, their commitment to bringing back and supporting old games, but they lost their way somewhat when trying to become just another store. Hopefully they will be doing more as time goes on to revive old games. Plenty of older games nowadays can run on Linux just fine through all sorts of open source game engines, and having an easy and legal place to get them for the data files is great.
To go along with this announcement, today they released the classic FPS, The Wheel of Time. GOG say this was done in cooperation with Nightdive Studios and that the "efforts and in-house expertise of GOG’s Tech Team the game received modern OS compatibility and hi-resolution support". Although, by modern OS, they only mean Windows specifically.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Some you may have missed, popular articles from the last month:
The comments on this article are closed.
[quote=Sputnik_tr_02]
Interesting, because GOG has regional pricing, Epic has regional pricing, but Steam does not. So, it benefits me to buy from GOG than Steam.
Quoting: GuestQuoting: damarrinIf they wanted to stay relevant with the Linux crowd. Which they don't.Regional pricing,
Interesting, because GOG has regional pricing, Epic has regional pricing, but Steam does not. So, it benefits me to buy from GOG than Steam.
0 Likes
After loki left the building, and no others were to take their place, GOG came and promised to relieve the biggest hurdle on playing licensed windows titles on linux: that fucking DRM that everyone hated.
As such I bought a lot on GOG.
Then Valve got a steam client that worked on linux.
And then they got games working on linux.
And then they threw everything they had on linux.
So yeah, Valve first, GOG next.
Valve is doing good, GOG is doing good. From the 2 Valve is doing better good than GOG.
But if the gog installers embedded in chimeraos lists more games on green (about all games I have on gog are not supported in the chimeraos GOG installer), I would start accidentally buying on GOG again.
Because throwing money on GOG is not bad. Throwing money on Valve however is currently better for the near future of gaming.
I actually have original linux games that I can't play anymore because the DRM requires me to mount the original CD (Shogo MAD ported by hyperion).
Both Valve and GOG prevent that from ever happening again.
As such I bought a lot on GOG.
Then Valve got a steam client that worked on linux.
And then they got games working on linux.
And then they threw everything they had on linux.
So yeah, Valve first, GOG next.
Valve is doing good, GOG is doing good. From the 2 Valve is doing better good than GOG.
But if the gog installers embedded in chimeraos lists more games on green (about all games I have on gog are not supported in the chimeraos GOG installer), I would start accidentally buying on GOG again.
Because throwing money on GOG is not bad. Throwing money on Valve however is currently better for the near future of gaming.
I actually have original linux games that I can't play anymore because the DRM requires me to mount the original CD (Shogo MAD ported by hyperion).
Both Valve and GOG prevent that from ever happening again.
2 Likes, Who?
Schattenspiegel Apr 6, 2022
The problem is the same as with the cyberpunk game - they kind of ruined their reputation over the last years.
- newer games that did not receive the same updates/dlc avaliable in other stores (this should never happen!)
- galaxy client exclusive features(multiplayer) and promotions while not offering a client for part of their customers
- making Linux feel users like third rate customers(no client, no native versions of games that have one in other stores) even though that is exactly the crowd that would have loudly sung their praises till kingdom come for a little support and the DRM free model alone.
Since only "old games" is a limited market and they can not reasonably compete with the Epic-giveaway-shop and Steam's features and vast catalogue, reputation and consumer friendliness could make them keep and expand their niche - but they would need to put in the extra effort.
- newer games that did not receive the same updates/dlc avaliable in other stores (this should never happen!)
- galaxy client exclusive features(multiplayer) and promotions while not offering a client for part of their customers
- making Linux feel users like third rate customers(no client, no native versions of games that have one in other stores) even though that is exactly the crowd that would have loudly sung their praises till kingdom come for a little support and the DRM free model alone.
Since only "old games" is a limited market and they can not reasonably compete with the Epic-giveaway-shop and Steam's features and vast catalogue, reputation and consumer friendliness could make them keep and expand their niche - but they would need to put in the extra effort.
8 Likes, Who?
I really enjoyed GOG for many years even before they supported Linux because I just wanted the files to use with engines and source port. When Linux support came it was great. At the time the only Linux binaries in DD stores was on Desura and then Steam then GOG which was a great time, IMO.
For me, GOG made a mistake making a client at all. I really feel they should have went to the browser based format similar to how XFire was or how Stadia is where ppl have friends and chat and see each other's libraries at the very least.
They could have, leveraging the DRM banner, ask the community for help or just go into the forums and thrown their hat in with users that were working on scripts, open source clients as an aside. Like no promises but we really like these projects...in the mean time our games are DRM FREE and offline - with the ones that do have online play being noted that you're on your own to get those up and running because getting them online is not our thing...
I don't know how well that message would have went but I feel like it would have cemented their ID better than what they are today.
In the end, I found it very difficult to use their store to find a linux native game to play that was not borked for a feature or what not. That amount of research needed to play a game kills my desire to purchase anything.
Been on itch.io since. I'm not comfortable with Steam. I'm OK with Stadia for online only games.
I hope GOG makes it but right now it's too much of a mess for me to sift through.
Last edited by Mezron on 7 April 2022 at 1:30 am UTC
For me, GOG made a mistake making a client at all. I really feel they should have went to the browser based format similar to how XFire was or how Stadia is where ppl have friends and chat and see each other's libraries at the very least.
They could have, leveraging the DRM banner, ask the community for help or just go into the forums and thrown their hat in with users that were working on scripts, open source clients as an aside. Like no promises but we really like these projects...in the mean time our games are DRM FREE and offline - with the ones that do have online play being noted that you're on your own to get those up and running because getting them online is not our thing...
I don't know how well that message would have went but I feel like it would have cemented their ID better than what they are today.
In the end, I found it very difficult to use their store to find a linux native game to play that was not borked for a feature or what not. That amount of research needed to play a game kills my desire to purchase anything.
Been on itch.io since. I'm not comfortable with Steam. I'm OK with Stadia for online only games.
I hope GOG makes it but right now it's too much of a mess for me to sift through.
Last edited by Mezron on 7 April 2022 at 1:30 am UTC
5 Likes, Who?
Quoting: GuestI quite enjoyed Wheel of Time, and was reminded of it recently from the "tv" series adaptation (which I also enjoyed). Not yet read any of the books. Safe to say that I'll be snagging that one. I know it doesn't have a native version, but for games that old I'm not exactly expecting it. That's what I use wine for.Had you read the books (it's the most epic saga I've ever read), you probably wouldn't have enjoyed the series. It's a horrible adaption, yet it seems like it might not come of as horrible without the reference. :D
So, don't read the books until you finished the series or just switch completely. But be aware it's a long saga (~20000 pages iirc) with very detailed descriptions.
2 Likes, Who?
Quoting: Liam DaweQuoting: damarrinWhen I click on "The Wheel of Time" link FF warns me of a potential security threat listing a adtraction domain. Not cool.Sounds like a plugin doing that? Get no issues here.
If you have Privacy Badger and uBlock Origin this happens. In my phone all the links does that.
1 Likes, Who?
slaapliedje Apr 7, 2022
Quoting: GuestWish someone would sell me James Bond 007: Nightfire and The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II.I still have my Battle for Middle Earth collection that has the two of them. I think the last time I tried them in Wine, they failed, and I believe that in Win10 they are broken.
1 Likes, Who?
slaapliedje Apr 7, 2022
Quoting: constHa, I read the first book, asked my friends how many books there were (at the time 7 was the answer) and I responded with "He is going to die before he finishes the story..."Quoting: GuestI quite enjoyed Wheel of Time, and was reminded of it recently from the "tv" series adaptation (which I also enjoyed). Not yet read any of the books. Safe to say that I'll be snagging that one. I know it doesn't have a native version, but for games that old I'm not exactly expecting it. That's what I use wine for.Had you read the books (it's the most epic saga I've ever read), you probably wouldn't have enjoyed the series. It's a horrible adaption, yet it seems like it might not come of as horrible without the reference. :D
So, don't read the books until you finished the series or just switch completely. But be aware it's a long saga (~20000 pages iirc) with very detailed descriptions.
2 Likes, Who?
Clearing up about trackers and privacy following some comments earlier on this article:
The article's link to "The Wheel of Time" looks like this:
https://af.gog.com/game/the_wheel_of_time?as=1636858786
My understanding is that this is an affiliate link, i.e. It is a way for the GOL website to gain favour and/or financial support from the seller website.
Once a person clicks on that link, then it redirects instantly to a advert tracker link, which looks like this:
https://track.adtraction.com/t/t?a=1578845458&as=1636858786&t=2&tk=1&url=http://www.gog.com/game/the_wheel_of_time
With uBlock Origin as the blocking technology, it pops up a page offering choices - Do you wish to go through the tracking link, do you wish to block adtraction website permanently, or other options?
The eventual end-point, where the link ends up is here:
http://www.gog.com/game/the_wheel_of_time
Privacy advocates would prefer to go straight to the end-point, and not through the tracking bit in the middle.
It's the usual thing with stuff like this:
- Do you not visit the link at all?
- Do you purposefully jump to the end-point avoiding the tracking bit? (i.e. Cutting and Pasting the url to manually dodge the tracker)
- Do you grit your teeth and accept the tracking "this time" because it possibly helps out GOL?
- Noting that you could always "clear your cookies" afterwards so that this tracker cannot follow you around the internet (A good idea, methinks!)
- Most normies aren't even aware that the tracker stage is there.
I'd add that GOL does a good job of not putting Adverts all over the GOL website. In my opinion it is worth considering supporting GOL over Patreon, to help fund the site. If you do not support GOL with contributions, then accepting affiliate links (and then deleting the cookies afterwards) is a helpful alternative.
Last edited by g000h on 7 April 2022 at 5:22 am UTC
The article's link to "The Wheel of Time" looks like this:
https://af.gog.com/game/the_wheel_of_time?as=1636858786
My understanding is that this is an affiliate link, i.e. It is a way for the GOL website to gain favour and/or financial support from the seller website.
Once a person clicks on that link, then it redirects instantly to a advert tracker link, which looks like this:
https://track.adtraction.com/t/t?a=1578845458&as=1636858786&t=2&tk=1&url=http://www.gog.com/game/the_wheel_of_time
With uBlock Origin as the blocking technology, it pops up a page offering choices - Do you wish to go through the tracking link, do you wish to block adtraction website permanently, or other options?
The eventual end-point, where the link ends up is here:
http://www.gog.com/game/the_wheel_of_time
Privacy advocates would prefer to go straight to the end-point, and not through the tracking bit in the middle.
It's the usual thing with stuff like this:
- Do you not visit the link at all?
- Do you purposefully jump to the end-point avoiding the tracking bit? (i.e. Cutting and Pasting the url to manually dodge the tracker)
- Do you grit your teeth and accept the tracking "this time" because it possibly helps out GOL?
- Noting that you could always "clear your cookies" afterwards so that this tracker cannot follow you around the internet (A good idea, methinks!)
- Most normies aren't even aware that the tracker stage is there.
I'd add that GOL does a good job of not putting Adverts all over the GOL website. In my opinion it is worth considering supporting GOL over Patreon, to help fund the site. If you do not support GOL with contributions, then accepting affiliate links (and then deleting the cookies afterwards) is a helpful alternative.
Last edited by g000h on 7 April 2022 at 5:22 am UTC
3 Likes, Who?
Quoting: slaapliedjeQuoting: GuestWish someone would sell me James Bond 007: Nightfire and The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II.I still have my Battle for Middle Earth collection that has the two of them. I think the last time I tried them in Wine, they failed, and I believe that in Win10 they are broken.
Well , not sure i won't get a ban from Liam , but i know for a fact there are torrents with whole collection working fine on Win 10.
0 Likes
Patreon
PayPal
See more from me