Posted October 19, 2019
joelandsonja: I understand the need to have a backup should GOG shut down, but I would still much rather use Galaxy for my day to day gaming needs. I do agree that it could be a problem if GOG closes down and Galaxy becomes irrelevant, but I think GOG will likely make their software fully capable of adding games to a library without the use of an internet connection (verifying games that have already been installed).
The problem is, for someone like timppu who has +1,750 games, a mere 30 days warning (if that) of a shutdown isn't long enough to download installers, so it makes sense to get into the habit of "backing up as you go" which considering you need to download to play anyway, is as effortless as copy a few files over to a NAS / backup drive. And even without any GOG shutdown it's very much in GOG's interest to continue to provide offline installers due to who the real competition is for wanting DRM-Free offline installers of old games for long-term preservation - not "they'll have no choice but to use Galaxy" or "I'll go to Steam then", but rather "Abandonware" sites (who do give direct file access to the originals). It really isn't in GOG's interest to drive people back to those just to get the normal original game that isn't locked to any client. As mentioned, I don't hate Galaxy or wish to change the minds of those who love it, but I am wary of the "slippery slope" effect in the event that it becomes too popular (and thus eventually compulsory).
^ To add games to Galaxy 100% offline without the net and perform hash check verification, wouldn't Galaxy need to have a local database of hashes of every file in every release version of every game ever released on GOG which would massively bloat it out even more? It also sounds like something that can be easily broken by for example, a mod that gets released "post GOG" that alters the file hashes (so Galaxy throws up "corrupt installation" error messages on future "scans"). It's just another point of failure and to me another example of the "make-work" (solving problems that never needed to to exist in the first place) of trying to use online clients for offline archival purposes.
Post edited October 19, 2019 by AB2012