Author Topic: Dev thoughts on gog.com?  (Read 5594 times)

Offline x4000

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Re: Dev thoughts on gog.com?
« Reply #30 on: March 28, 2012, 09:11:48 am »
No arguments from me on that.  Plus, as noted, whenever we do a new official build, we do a new installer, and then that installer gets sent out into the wild blue yonder of many sites around these here Interwebs.  If a meteor were to hit my house (and somehow also take out Amazon), and Arcen just immediately ceased to exist and so did I, the absolute worst thing that could happen would be that somebody might not be able to get the latest beta update of one of our games, and instead be stuck on the last official version.  Even that's pretty unlikely, though.
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Offline Volatar

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Re: Dev thoughts on gog.com?
« Reply #31 on: March 28, 2012, 10:31:40 am »
Is there any public access to the latest beta files outside of the automatic updater?

Offline x4000

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Re: Dev thoughts on gog.com?
« Reply #32 on: March 28, 2012, 10:32:42 am »
Yep, there's a url where the xml index of all the files are.
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Offline zebramatt

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Re: Dev thoughts on gog.com?
« Reply #33 on: March 28, 2012, 11:22:20 am »
If a meteor were to hit my house (and somehow also take out Amazon)... Even that's pretty unlikely, though.

You don't say!  ;)

Offline x4000

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Re: Dev thoughts on gog.com?
« Reply #34 on: March 28, 2012, 11:23:47 am »
"If life on North America is wiped out, my first concern will be to make sure I can still download all the games I ever bought."
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Offline Volatar

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Re: Dev thoughts on gog.com?
« Reply #35 on: March 28, 2012, 11:33:08 am »
"If life on North America is wiped out, my first concern will be to make sure I can still download all the games I ever bought."

Well, what else am I going to do in my bunker?  ;)

Offline x4000

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Re: Dev thoughts on gog.com?
« Reply #36 on: March 28, 2012, 11:35:19 am »
Teach your son languages, dancing, boxing, and so forth until he's 33, right?  Plus fish and basically drive your wife to catatonia... this assumes of course that you're Christopher Walken.
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Offline silverhound

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Re: Dev thoughts on gog.com?
« Reply #37 on: March 28, 2012, 12:25:57 pm »
I'd think preparing him for the future state the world will be in would be of more use to him.

That said, better stock up on crates or he's never going to be able to get out of those acid lakes when said time comes.  ;)

Offline Nodor

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Re: Dev thoughts on gog.com?
« Reply #38 on: March 28, 2012, 01:25:31 pm »
My thoughts on DRM:

If the level of DRM exceeds my desire to play said game, I will not play said game. In other words, DRM adds an additional cost to the price tag of a game.  Having to copy and paste a CD key is almost zero.  The new "always online" schemes w/limited installs, email activated acounts, mandatory social media links, and most other "you are data we must analyze" schema are not near zero.  In fact, I would argue some of them equate to thousands of dollars of inconvenience. 

People selling games have the right to decide what "effective" price point they are going to sell their games at.  The consumer can choose to purchase - or not to purchase at that effective price point.  In other words, people complaining about DRM are complaining about intangible "costs" - and beating up publishers on price.  If the game is not worth it once you include the DRM "cost", don't buy it.  But, if it's worth it because you are willing to pay the price for the game despite the DRM cost, then stop complaining and enjoy the game. 

If I lose my access due to DRM and need to repurchase, then I reevaluate the cost/benefit ratio.

Offline Volatar

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Re: Dev thoughts on gog.com?
« Reply #39 on: March 28, 2012, 01:58:25 pm »
Exactly.

Lets take Assassin's Creed II and its infamous always online DRM (yes, I know they removed it recently. Lets pretend its 2010 again). Without DRM I would consider the game worth $20 and buy it at that price point. With always online DRM I would consider the game worth $5.

Offline Dizzard

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Re: Dev thoughts on gog.com?
« Reply #40 on: March 28, 2012, 02:28:33 pm »
I was really looking forward to SimCity 5 coming out in 2013.

However it was just announced that you will be required to be online at all times to play. (and require origin to play it) Really starting to get annoyed with being told how and where I can play my game that I spent my own money on.

My eagerness to play the game was REALLY high (only bested by Guild Wars 2) but this news has put a serious dent in my desire to play it. Just not interested in dealing with it. No game is worth dealing with that.

It's one reason I'm getting quite fond of gog.com, my purchases feel more legitimate. I don't have to worry about my games falling into a black hole randomly for no good reason.

I've only had one time when I had major difficulties with DRM personally but it wasn't pleasant. It was when I was installing Dreamfall: The longest Journey. Gave me the most grief I've ever had trying to get a game to run.


« Last Edit: March 28, 2012, 02:33:56 pm by Dizzard »

Offline KingIsaacLinksr

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Re: Dev thoughts on gog.com?
« Reply #41 on: March 28, 2012, 04:52:38 pm »
I was really looking forward to SimCity 5 coming out in 2013.

However it was just announced that you will be required to be online at all times to play. (and require origin to play it) Really starting to get annoyed with being told how and where I can play my game that I spent my own money on.

My eagerness to play the game was REALLY high (only bested by Guild Wars 2) but this news has put a serious dent in my desire to play it. Just not interested in dealing with it. No game is worth dealing with that.

It's one reason I'm getting quite fond of gog.com, my purchases feel more legitimate. I don't have to worry about my games falling into a black hole randomly for no good reason.

I've only had one time when I had major difficulties with DRM personally but it wasn't pleasant. It was when I was installing Dreamfall: The longest Journey. Gave me the most grief I've ever had trying to get a game to run.

Same here, just heard the news about that game which is a tragedy.  But I have a standing boycott on Origin-"powered" games and that is one of them so no dice.  The DRM is just another stake in the heart of the game. 

I used to live where the internet was unreliable at best and DRM effectively kills games like these because of it.  Publishers need to drop it already.

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Offline KDR_11k

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Re: Dev thoughts on gog.com?
« Reply #42 on: March 29, 2012, 06:03:36 am »
Teach your son languages, dancing, boxing, and so forth until he's 33, right?

No way, first off is pickpocketing, then energy weapons. The third skill is up for debate.

Offline x4000

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Re: Dev thoughts on gog.com?
« Reply #43 on: March 29, 2012, 08:39:50 am »
But how will he ever woo Alicia Silverstone with those skills?
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Offline zebramatt

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Re: Dev thoughts on gog.com?
« Reply #44 on: March 29, 2012, 08:42:35 am »
But how will he ever woo Alicia Silverstone with those skills?

Rollerskates?