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General discussionIs GOG dropping the ball with game updates?(52 posts)(52 posts)
(52 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted March 06, 2017
I don't think GOG ever had the ball to be honest.
Posted March 06, 2017
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clarry: AFAIK GOG doesn't really mess with file naming, not in new games anyway;
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timppu: GOG makes sure that there is certain coherent way the installers and their patches are named, and that they use the same format etc..
The installers are not files put out by the publisher. As far as I can tell they're produced by GOG, who are just creating their own files, instead of messing with others' files.

Humble Bundle installers are an example where it is left to the publshers to handle. The file naming are all over the place (there is no even seemingly coherent way the installers are named), as are the installer formats. Sometimes there is no installer at all, just a zip file which you uncompress manually and launch the exe file.
Right, I never proposed that model.

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clarry: They should not abandon the standalone installer. What they can do is improve the process (it can be more or less automated)
If it is that simple, why hasn't e.g. Humble Bundle set up such an automated system so that all their DRM-free installers would use similar naming conventions and similar installer formats? Why are they all over the place on HB?
They probably don't see the value in it. I doubt most gamers care.

It might even be that many publishers themselves would oppose the idea that they would have to follow certain GOG-rules for the standalone installers (naming etc. according to GOG's rules), instead of e.g sending GOG the same installer that they have already published on Humble Widgets or in a Humble Bundle. Many of them might feel it should be enough that they send GOG one set of files, in the "Galaxy format".
Again, I never proposed that publishers make their installers. In fact, I already said it could be all done in the Galaxy format, from which GOG can roll its own installer with whatever conventions they prefer.

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clarry: or hire more people to do it if they can't keep up otherwise.
It means more expenses, which means higher prices. How much more would you be willing to pay for you GOG games?
That is why my first proposal is to automate the process.

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clarry: If a publisher can directly lay out his files and updates in a format that works for Galaxy without middle men, then there is nothing to stop GOG from using an installer that isn't called "galaxy" but employs the same format. I can't see why you think this functionality would somehow have to be tied to Galaxy.
Are you saying that currently Galaxy downloads an installer and then (automatically) installs it? That's not how e.g. Steam works, it doesn't download an installer, but downloads the game files directly to the hard drive and then maybe some one-time script that sets up dependencies etc., possibly run when you run the actual game the first time.
No, I'm saying there is a format Galaxy works with. Galaxy is the installer, it must take in files and metadata in a specific format that enables it to do its job and install the game. There is no reason why there couldn't be another installer that employs the exact same format but isn't called Galaxy and is standalone.

I think what you are trying to suggest that there would be no actual standalone GOG installers anymore, but just e.g. a zipped file with all the game files in it, and some sort of script (taking care of dependencies, registery entries etc.) that the user runs after uncompressing the files manually to some game directory.
No, see above.

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clarry: I think if slow updates & missing stuff & all that don't get fixed soon enough, that will hurt GOG's bottom line more than the second-class treatment of SA installers would. And in the long term, that will have an effect on us all. Of course, if you're ok with GOG remaining the small niche boutique store forever, then maybe these effects are not so important.
I am pretty sure GOG knows much better than you or me what is beneficial to them. They have the real numbers, you are just guessing. E.g. the people suggesting GOG should never have started selling newer games but just old classics not sold anywhere else and blaa blaa blaa...
How did they get these numbers? Did they conduct an A/B test where they had an alternate GOG where updates were timely and all the relevant content & versions were there? It's a shame their RNG didn't pick me as a participant in that version of GOG. But, sure, I can just pretend that bad reputation is good for GOG's bottom line and that they aren't actually working on making updates faster. Or were you actually arguing anything?
Posted March 06, 2017
Well there is gog galaxy now.. I think we don't need to re-download the game on gog.. I just don't know I'm new here perhaps maybe..
Posted March 06, 2017
Look at to the Worms W.M.D , Steam version got tons of massive patches .
GOG version stuck at that one :S Worms W.M.D Christmas Patch Update! (19 December 2016)
Half of my library are like that . It's sad but we are in this situation .
Posted March 06, 2017
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Skysect: Look at to the Worms W.M.D , Steam version got tons of massive patches .
GOG version stuck at that one :S Worms W.M.D Christmas Patch Update! (19 December 2016)
Half of my library are like that . It's sad but we are in this situation .
Wasn't aware it was that widespread :/
Posted March 06, 2017
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fishbaits: It has what now?
Steam has levels that gog version doesn't?
Can't see what's missing according to descriptions.

£6.99 on steam, £8.09 on gog, so gog users are (again) paying more for a partial game?

As for the whole gog users being second class citizens in the updates/patches thing, it's about time gog put something in the contracts that said patches are to be released here at the same time as they are everywhere else, or at the very least within Nth amount of time (a couple of weeks max' or similar).

They want gog to get bigger, that won't happen if some of us have quit buying here because games get abandoned, patches never appear &/or steam versions get things that gog versions will never see.
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omega64: Levels based on Portal.
Hmm, no real need for those levels not to be here too, as they don't require Portal installed to get access.
I guess that part is just like the "Buy Nth from Best Buy & get a limited item, only available from here", but bad for business either way.
Posted March 07, 2017
Definitely not good publicity for this site.

https://www.gog.com/forum/general/psa_thinking_of_buying_party_hard_it_could_end_up_being_inferior_to_the_steam_version

Curious as to why they're allowed to do this once & release more games here, when first one is still lacking.
Post edited March 07, 2017 by fishbaits
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This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussionIs GOG dropping the ball with game updates?(52 posts)(52 posts)
(52 posts)