Before GOG Galaxy was introduced, I've downloaded most of my GOG library using the old GOG downloader.

I've saved them in a hdd in case I want to play em again.

GOG Galaxy is interesting, and I intend to use it, but one problem is that do I really have to re-download my library again?

Or is there any features like offline installer or similar to Steam's backup features (or Steam discovery; it will recognize existing game installation) that I can use to install my game on Galaxy?

Because so far Galaxy don't recognize my installed GOG games.

And when I installed a game from my backup, (in its original form) Galaxy don't recognize it either, so it doesn't appear in Galaxy.

Halp?

If this feature isn't implemented in Galaxy yet, it should.

Nevermind, found it.

It's on the Plus sign next to the search field > "SCAN AND IMPORT FOLDERS"

But seems that I'll need to install all the games beforehand tho.

The old downloader still works you can get it here.
So far only for The Walking Dead Season 1 it's broken, most other games worked with it.

And don't forget, browser download still works fine, doesn't require any further install, isn't beta, and gives you the control over the files you download, what you do with them, and where you store/use them. Juxtapose that to some pointless achievements and social playing and its a no-brainer.

There are actually two different ways. One you just described, but it doesn't always work, the game needs to be installed from recent enough installer (at most year old or so) to be found this way.

Second way - find the game in your Galaxy library, and in details you will have option to select folder where the game is already installed. Take care to select exactly right folder if you try it. When you give it for example your c:\Games folder, it may eat anything it finds there that doesn't belong to the game you are trying to import - in other words, wipe all your installed games (not personal experience, but I saw few report that suggest such behaviour. It might be fixed already too, but I wouldn't risk it). Second "bug" - sometimes when imported this way it looks like it is downloading the whole game anew. You have to look at network trafic or firewall to see that downloaded amount doesn't match the game size, it's just the reporting that is wrong and only changed files are downloaded.

Steam got so popular because of those kind of features, plus the social aspect of it.

And well, the behemoth ridiculously popular free games collections (TF2, Dota 2, Warframe etc) exclusive to it apparently.

But still I'm looking forward to what the Galaxy client will bring. I'm liking GOG business model, no-DRM policy so far. Although it's highly unlikely AAA publisher will risk DRM-free for their flagship games.

Prolly GOG Galaxy will go into the social direction too sooner or later. The second way, so it's like the "steam discovery" feature?

Ah, ok, lets just become steam then, good idea.

Right. Because there's no middle ground of having a convenient working feature-rich client AND being good at customer service and providing DRM-free games.

And that is a bad thing, because?

We are at the middle ground now, how long that remains is debatable. Personally I would imagine 1-2 years before client becomes a requirement. Well, its not, if you like steam. Me I have no interest in client software, social gaming, achievements or anything else that either the client here or at steam offer. I am here to buy games which I play offline with no further interaction with any other system. As above though, how long this lasts for is debatable.

Because The Witcher 3 is an indie game right?

It is, as stated by GOG is optional.

For those who don't like it can just download the game.

For those who like it can install it. Me, in this case, like it.

And supposedly the client was to compete with Steam. So most likely social features will be implemented to Galaxy sooner or later.

See any games like Ark, Fallout 4, Grand Theft Auto V, Black Ops 3 or Mass Effect series released on GOG on launch date? I definitely don't.

Probably on future, but definitely not on launch date. DRM was implemented mainly to secure the launch date sales.

Witcher series were made by CDProjektRed, which is GOG's sister company. And it's a very bold move to have it DRM free on launch date. That is why I love CDProjektRed and GOG more than Steam.

Even tho my GOG library isn't comparable to my Steam's library by number. And that is only because most PC games are released on Steam.

But I'm very hopeful GOG can surpass Steam in popularity so that most publishers will go into the DRM free policy direction as well.

Sorry, no idea what steam discovery is, I never used Steam and I don't plan to.

The way you found is "here is a folder, guess what game I have installed there" - it requires some metadata that is installed only by recent installers to work. The second way allows you to specify that metadata yourself - "here is a folded with some files and they are from game X, import it and make it current".

Yep, that exactly what it is.

Anyway thanks. I'll dig up my gog games.

I'll let you know later whether this works or not later.

Cheers

"It is, as stated by GOG is optional." for now. However your later text - any of those games coming here at any point, or GOG becoming popular enough for developers to release day 1 no DRM, is never going to happen. I cannot state this enough, publishers are physically unable to release software without DRM nowadays. Even those that intend to have to go back an pull all these bits out.

Hence why your reply to me, and the second text is juxtapose, you wont get the big games here at release (or maybe not at all) without having DRM (through the client software), so make your choice on what you want.