GOG.com - WTF???

[BoberFett]

http://www.gog.com



Dear GOG users,

We have recently had to give serious thought to whether we could really keep GOG.com the way it is. We've debated on it for quite some time and, unfortunately, we've decided that GOG.com simply cannot remain in its current form.

We're very grateful for all support we've received from all of you in the past two years. Working on GOG.com was a great adventure for all of us and an unforgettable journey to the past, through the long and wonderful history of PC gaming.

This doesn't mean the idea behind GOG.com is gone forever. We're closing down the service and putting this era behind us as new challenges await.

On a technical note, this week we'll put in place a solution to allow everyone to re-download their games. Stay tuned to this page and follow us on Twitter and Facebook for updates.

All the best,
GOG.com Team

 

[thedosbox]

Well that sucks. I've kept a copy of the games I've purchased from them, but it's a shame their pre-configured for modern OS's, DRM-free, client software-free, approach to selling old games isn't continuing.

 

[fatpat268]

Yea, came as a complete surprise. A warning would've been nice. Hell they were still adding games and no indication that they were having problems.

 

[AtaruMoroboshi18]

Wow, that's a downer! I'm glad I've saved all the games I bought from them on my external hard-drive.

 

[wanderer27]

This is a prime example of my aversion to Digital Software only.

Never the less, I'm really disappointed by this. I've been looking at possibly picking up a few titles from them once I got some free time to play them.

I'm wondering if this maybe more of a Personnel problem than a business issue?

 

[Qbah]

Apparently it's a PR stunt They are going out of BETA.

http://polygamia.pl/Polygamia/1,107162,8397342,GOG_sie_zamyka__Raczej_nie.html

For those who can't read polish:

"Attention, a conference is scheduled for Wednesday September 22nd, late evening. A note about it will shortly show up on gog.com (please do not panic after reading the information that's there right now ). Please remember the conference is an on-line one, organized like that for the first time.

The conference details are closed and official information will be send out on Monday or Tuesday"

It's by Michal Kicinski from CDP (owners of gog.com).

I wouldn't worry too much tbh

 

[fatpat268]

Apparently it's a PR stunt They are going out of BETA.

http://polygamia.pl/Polygamia/1,107162,8397342,GOG_sie_zamyka__Raczej_nie.html

For those who can't read polish:

"Attention, a conference is scheduled for Wednesday September 22nd, late evening. A note about it will shortly show up on gog.com (please do not panic after reading the information that's there right now ). Please remember the conference is an on-line one, organized like that for the first time.

The conference details are closed and official information will be send out on Monday or Tuesday"

It's by Michal Kicinski from CDP (owners of gog.com).

I wouldn't worry too much tbh

If it is, what a crappy way to announce it.

 

[thedosbox]

This is a prime example of my aversion to Digital Software only.

Doesn't seem like you've been paying attention. Once you'd purchased a game from GOG, they gave you a download link that worked in a browser. Once downloaded, the file could be copied and installed on another machine or burnt to a disc. No "GOG client" necessary, no activation necessary. People who've saved their downloads can still install those games on another machine - even if GOG never returns.

Anyhow, their twitter feed has a worrying comment:

Sometimes it's really hard being DRM-free... hard to keep things the way they are and keep management and publishers happy

 

[Dorkenstein]

Here I was thinking that their business was going gang-busters, now they pull the rug out from under their customers with no warning?

This is the most idiotic press release from one of my most respected vendors EVER, even if it was just a (VERY) badly worded publicity message.

 

[EvilComputer92]

GOG was everything Steam should have been.

 

[thedosbox]

now they pull the rug out from under their customers with no warning?

How so? This doesn't affect the ability of existing purchases to be played or installed on other machines - so long as you saved the installer.

And they have noted that they're working on a way to allow existing purchases to be downloaded again in the future.

 

[Dorkenstein]

I was just referring to the possibility of them not letting people re-download purchased games, that is, IF they were indeed vanishing. It looks like that's not the case.

 

[Bateluer]

I hope this is just them leaving 'Beta' stages and not a complete close down.

 

[raystorm]

So judging by that pr statement this could just be an ultra lame pr stunt and they'll introduce a brand new GOG webpage and maybe a new client (like steam) to download all games? I guess we'll see but I hope it doesn't go away as I like what GOG is all about.

 

[coloumb]

Doesn't make sense - my gut feeling tells me the site was hacked.

 

[mundane]

..

 

[BladeVenom]

My suspicion - new client == DRM, not just a download manager, and possibly some personnel change.

But if they make it as bad as Steam, why would anyone use GOG over Steam?

 

[Pia]

At least they have already announced we are able to DL our existing stuff next week, so whatever the reason for this event I'm not going to be too pissed. Not even if it's marketing. If GoG reopens and DRM stays away, it will remain my #1 choice. Even the worst case of GoG closing and disappearing entirely doesn't have to leave the customer empty-handed like would happen with Steam and others, and moments like this really drive it home.

Best case, they become Good Games Period and also start selling some new games. That has always seemed like the missing piece. Any time the DRM is completely cracked on any new title, the developers might as well start selling the game without DRM. Without DRM I'd have no problem paying $40 for digital downloads of good games; with network activation and no guarantees of it being permanently unlocked at some point, I pay $10 max.

 

[Zenoth]

I'll be sure to back-up everything I bought from them, from the setup executable to the extra content of each games I own. I already do have back-ups of all that but I'll make back-ups of back-ups on other HDDs and DVDs, just in case. If they actually go down then it will be a truly sad day, I love GoG, I hope that they stay there and that they simply announced something very awkwardly and just poorly chose their wording.

 

[GoodRevrnd]

they really had to shut the whole page down to do this? they couldn't just but a news bulletin on the front page and leave everything else in place for a while? -.-

 

[Born2bwire]

Son of a bitch. I just had my laptop die on me and I need to redownload the games for my new laptop when it comes in today.

 

[videogames101]

Son of a bitch. I just had my laptop die on me and I need to redownload the games for my new laptop when it comes in today.

Learn to read.

"On a technical note, this week we'll put in place a solution to allow everyone to re-download their games. Stay tuned to this page and follow us on Twitter and Facebook for updates."

 

[BFG10K]

I hope this is some kind of marketing stunt and they return in their current form. Specifically, with no DRM.

Unfortunately I have no doubt their stuff is pirated, despite offering good games for cheap with no DRM (i.e. all the excuses pirates give to pirate current games). The fact is that some people will always be leeches and free-loaders, no matter what.

 

[Born2bwire]

Learn to read.

"On a technical note, this week we'll put in place a solution to allow everyone to re-download their games. Stay tuned to this page and follow us on Twitter and Facebook for updates."

But it isn't up now and the laptop comes today and I am spending the day working from home so that I can do a clean install and download all the software and games. Now I have to troll the site for the next week or so until they reopen it for downloading.

 

[Pia]

I hope this is some kind of marketing stunt and they return in their current form. Specifically, with no DRM.

Unfortunately I have no doubt their stuff is pirated, despite offering good games for cheap with no DRM (i.e. all the excuses pirates give to pirate current games). The fact is that some people will always be leeches and free-loaders, no matter what.

That does not constitute any kind of business justification for them to turn to DRM, though. They'd piss away their competitive advantage by doing that. Everything gets pirated regardless, and treating customers as criminals drives customers away.