Rip gog :( - Page 4

aimless · 09-23-2010, 09:55 AM

Sez you. Would you mind explaining what a "middle class consumer guilt trip" is and how it applies here?

I came to gaming late, can't tell one end of DOSbox from the other and have no time or inclination to figure out how to make these old games, that I would really like to play, run on my computer if I can even find them or get them at a reasonable price. GOG makes it possible for me to do it. Cheaply. DRM-free. Maybe you don't appreciate that but I do.

jamiehavok · 09-24-2010, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbman

I'm vindictive when it comes to businesses screwing with customers so I hope this stunt kills them.

I didn't use it much but certainly won't ever again. You can't act like a bunch of high school students, you have to act like a proffesional business.

These jokers seem to have something of an ego problem, which is rich given that they are glorified scrap merchants. This is a group of guys who have spied a chance to make money by taking obsolete product that is generally available for nothing and using the usual middle-class, consumer guilt trip to convince people to pay for it. I've never understood the beknighted praise heaped upon this vendor; they're small-time opportunists, nothing more.

Guys, these are games that no longer have any market, except with collectors. All they are doing is exploiting those collectors. Nothing noble, nothing other than business.

The product they are suplying obviously is not obsolete as people are buying it.

These games are not available for nothing, unless you get said games illegally. If you buy them off ebay for instance yes there is a chance they might be few bucks cheaper, (a small chance as generally sellers like to add on a bit of profit for shipping) then even if you are familiar with dosbox you've still got the chance of a bogus seller, your item not being delivered or being delivered in bad condition etc.

yes they have spied a chance to make money, good on them for spotting a gap in the market and going for it.

I agree they acted unproffesionally, they've appologised, every business makes bad decisions, we are human after all. I think people are over reacting just a tad. After a day it was obvious they'd be back with the updates they posted.

cbman · 09-25-2010, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aimless

Sez you. Would you mind explaining what a "middle class consumer guilt trip" is and how it applies here?

I came to gaming late, can't tell one end of DOSbox from the other and have no time or inclination to figure out how to make these old games, that I would really like to play, run on my computer if I can even find them or get them at a reasonable price. GOG makes it possible for me to do it. Cheaply. DRM-free. Maybe you don't appreciate that but I do.

And so you think they're your 'friends', your 'compadres'? You think they're offering a 'service' to you? Wrong. Public lavatories are a service. GOG is a business (a lousy one) and you are their targeted market.

Look up 'Free-ware' on the Internet. Much of the stuff they sell would have / could have / should have / already had (delete per personal belief) become this by now. These guys figured out a way to make money from them instead. I'm not knocking them for it but as I said, they're not your friends or your saviours. They're a business. But they seem to think they don't have to act like one.

Would people's reactions be the same if Amazon had done the same thing to them? What if a seller on e bay jerked you around in such a way? Would you be so forgiving?

Brand loyalty - a f%$£"&* horrible thing.

(I'm like you by the way - i've wrestled with DOS box unsuccesfully, have come to a lot of classic games late but you know, on the Internet, and forums like this one you will find a lot of very helpful people and advice on how to cope with these things - and equally there will be people who see profit in non-computer savvy folk like you and me. That's life. So if it's easiest for you then buy stuff from GOG - I have done in the past. That's not what I am criticizising; that would be ludicrous. My point is not to expect any less of a standard than you would expect from any other retailer. They are not owed 'loyalty' or any such nonsense from their customers. If they crap on you then for God's sake stand up for yourself instead of acting like a forgiving friend to these people you don't even know. That last bit is not aimed at anyone in particular, just at a general reaction I have perceived in all this)

These are my opinions. I'm expressing them.

Monolith · 09-25-2010, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbman

And so you think they're your 'friends', your 'compadres'? You think they're offering a 'service' to you? Wrong. Public lavatories are a service. GOG is a business (a lousy one) and you are their targeted market.

Look up 'Free-ware' on the Internet. Much of the stuff they sell would have / could have / should have / already had (delete per personal belief) become this by now. These guys figured out a way to make money from them instead. I'm not knocking them for it but as I said, they're not your friends or your saviours. They're a business. But they seem to think they don't have to act like one.

Would people's reactions be the same if Amazon had done the same thing to them? What if a seller on e bay jerked you around in such a way? Would you be so forgiving?

Brand loyalty - a f%$£"&* horrible thing.

(I'm like you by the way - i've wrestled with DOS box unsuccesfully, have come to a lot of classic games late but you know, on the Internet, and forums like this one you will find a lot of very helpful people and advice on how to cope with these things - and equally there will be people who see profit in non-computer savvy folk like you and me. That's life. So if it's easiest for you then buy stuff from GOG - I have done in the past. That's not what I am criticizising; that would be ludicrous. My point is not to expect any less of a standard than you would expect from any other retailer. They are not owed 'loyalty' or any such nonsense from their customers. If they crap on you then for God's sake stand up for yourself instead of acting like a forgiving friend to these people you don't even know. That last bit is not aimed at anyone in particular, just at a general reaction I have perceived in all this)

These are my opinions. I'm expressing them.

No. You are 100% WRONG. They wouldn't become freeware. Why? because the original companies will continually battle against abandonware websites preventing the distribution of certain games. Sierra games are a great example of this. Same with Lucasarts. Because of this GOG was made, so we can actually get these games without torrenting or illegal means.

aimless · 09-25-2010, 04:40 PM

Okay, cbman, I think I see where you're coming from and we're really not so far apart. Speaking for myself, I didn't find their stunt amusing at all. The message first posted on the website was clear as mud concerning their intentions and left me wondering what the devil they did intend to do. Then after being left to stew for a while, the monks show up and let me know it was all in good fun. April Fool! Right.

The thing is, if you aren't particularly computer savvy, have most of your free time taken up by so many other things that you're too tired and probably brain-dead to try tackling DOSbox with or without help, and just want to relax for a while and play Sanitarium, say, or GK 1, GOG is the only game in town. That is, DRM-free, and, as monolith mentioned, legal, with cheap thrown in to make it sweeter.

So I agree, and maybe it's my age showing, that they pulled a stupid, unprofessional stunt. It made me sore. What's more, it made me wary. I'll buy if they have something I want but I won't ever trust them not to disappear again or forget their promise to remain DRM-free.

Brand loyalty? I don't think so. Pragmatism? More like it.

Giles Habibula · 09-26-2010, 06:39 AM

GOG has more balls than brains I think.

Stupid way to promote a site, and yet it might have worked. For every customer that swears to boycott them, they may have picked up five more who had never heard of them before.

Myself, I'll buy from them. But you can bet I'll also be downloading my games right away, and burning them to disk. It's the only way to be sure.

Like them or not, GOG is still the only legal DD site that supplies games totally DRM-free, and I'll put up with a lot of crap to buy games DRM-free.

Idrisguitar · 09-29-2010, 03:36 AM

im suprised at all the negativity, they were closed for a small amount of time.

probably the time they NEEDED in order to upgrade the site, and instead of putting a "maintenance" message up they pulled off a stunt that had EVERY gaming site on the web talking about it.

im a loyal gog.com customer and i wasn't annoyed. they clearly stated in the original message we could download all the games we bought. so they weren't leaving us hanging.

now they have relaunched, better site, more press, and that will hopefully mean more great games. i dont see the down side?

it may be unproffessional, but this is not microsoft, apple, or IBM, its an online startup who took a risk with a clever idea and built a great online community, and they were clever enough to think of something that would increase their exposure ten fold.

fair enough if you dont like being decieved, but really looking at it, in my opinion they have done very little damage, i have my account, my games i bought before, and now they will hopefully grow and i can buy more games from them (im hoping for grim fandango

)

GreyFuss · 09-29-2010, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Giles Habibula

Like them or not, GOG is still the only legal DD site that supplies games totally DRM-free, and I'll put up with a lot of crap to buy games DRM-free.

Not so Giles. I am a GOG member and I was going to buy/download Still Life from them when the (what I thought was) closing their door stunt was pulled. Jenny100 had mentioned the same dilemma and she went to http://www.dotemu.com/en and bought Still Life from them DRM free. I did the same and actually because of the rate of exchange got Still Life for about $1.50 cheaper than GOG. It ran perfectly without a hitch and I burned it to disk for a future play. So in these cases the stunt proved to have lost a couple of sales and put the competition in the limelight. I still will be a GOG fan but I now will be looking at DotEmu to see who is cheaper before buying again. So move over GOG, although they aren't as big as you or have as many games yet, because of your stunt I am now aware of another site to compete with you.

aimless · 10-02-2010, 11:04 PM

"im hoping for grim fandango"

The best game ever. I have it on disk but it would be nice to be able to play it without an installer. Lucas Arts is nuts for letting this masterpiece languish.

Giles Habibula · 10-03-2010, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreyFuss

Not so Giles. I am a GOG member and I was going to buy/download Still Life from them when the (what I thought was) closing their door stunt was pulled. Jenny100 had mentioned the same dilemma and she went to http://www.dotemu.com/en and bought Still Life from them DRM free.

Interesting. Thanks.
I see GamersGate also has some of their games DRM-free, so yeah, not the only game in town.

Crunchy in milk · 10-20-2010, 02:57 AM

http://www.gog.com/en/forum/general/...gog_beta_users

Jagged Alliance: Deadly Games for free if you where a member before 'the stunt'. Choice of another free game if you already owned the game and where a beta member.

GreyFuss · 10-20-2010, 08:32 AM

That deal might be fine for those members who enjoy that type of game but for the many others who don't the deal is useless.

mbtshoes2011 · 10-21-2010, 07:44 PM

I think that this will scare many people into ever trying downloadable game services. I will continue to use Steam myself, but there is always the risk.

zane · 11-20-2010, 11:56 AM

lol it was a smart (although devious) move. I saw a number of articles covering it at the time from major sites. It may seem like a cruel way to get publicity, but in the end it was harmless and definitely increased their exposure.

10-20-2010, 08:32 AM	#72
GreyFuss Grue Master Last Online: 05-12-2012 04:50 PM Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: GreyFuss Castle Posts: 237	That deal might be fine for those members who enjoy that type of game but for the many others who don't the deal is useless. __________________ "Don't Hate Me Because I am Beautiful....There Are Many Other Reasons. " http://home.earthlink.net/~greyfuss/

09-23-2010, 09:55 AM	#61
aimless lost in rubacava Last Online: 04-22-2012 07:28 PM Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 322	Sez you. Would you mind explaining what a "middle class consumer guilt trip" is and how it applies here? I came to gaming late, can't tell one end of DOSbox from the other and have no time or inclination to figure out how to make these old games, that I would really like to play, run on my computer if I can even find them or get them at a reasonable price. GOG makes it possible for me to do it. Cheaply. DRM-free. Maybe you don't appreciate that but I do.

09-25-2010, 04:40 PM	#65
aimless lost in rubacava Last Online: 04-22-2012 07:28 PM Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 322	Okay, cbman, I think I see where you're coming from and we're really not so far apart. Speaking for myself, I didn't find their stunt amusing at all. The message first posted on the website was clear as mud concerning their intentions and left me wondering what the devil they did intend to do. Then after being left to stew for a while, the monks show up and let me know it was all in good fun. April Fool! Right. The thing is, if you aren't particularly computer savvy, have most of your free time taken up by so many other things that you're too tired and probably brain-dead to try tackling DOSbox with or without help, and just want to relax for a while and play Sanitarium, say, or GK 1, GOG is the only game in town. That is, DRM-free, and, as monolith mentioned, legal, with cheap thrown in to make it sweeter. So I agree, and maybe it's my age showing, that they pulled a stupid, unprofessional stunt. It made me sore. What's more, it made me wary. I'll buy if they have something I want but I won't ever trust them not to disappear again or forget their promise to remain DRM-free. Brand loyalty? I don't think so. Pragmatism? More like it.

09-26-2010, 06:39 AM	#66
Giles Habibula Member Last Online: 10-21-2015 08:14 PM Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Bismarck, North Dakota USA Posts: 30	GOG has more balls than brains I think. Stupid way to promote a site, and yet it might have worked. For every customer that swears to boycott them, they may have picked up five more who had never heard of them before. Myself, I'll buy from them. But you can bet I'll also be downloading my games right away, and burning them to disk. It's the only way to be sure. Like them or not, GOG is still the only legal DD site that supplies games totally DRM-free, and I'll put up with a lot of crap to buy games DRM-free.

09-29-2010, 03:36 AM	#67
Idrisguitar Senior Member Last Online: 05-13-2012 11:30 AM Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 222	im suprised at all the negativity, they were closed for a small amount of time. probably the time they NEEDED in order to upgrade the site, and instead of putting a "maintenance" message up they pulled off a stunt that had EVERY gaming site on the web talking about it. im a loyal gog.com customer and i wasn't annoyed. they clearly stated in the original message we could download all the games we bought. so they weren't leaving us hanging. now they have relaunched, better site, more press, and that will hopefully mean more great games. i dont see the down side? it may be unproffessional, but this is not microsoft, apple, or IBM, its an online startup who took a risk with a clever idea and built a great online community, and they were clever enough to think of something that would increase their exposure ten fold. fair enough if you dont like being decieved, but really looking at it, in my opinion they have done very little damage, i have my account, my games i bought before, and now they will hopefully grow and i can buy more games from them (im hoping for grim fandango )

10-02-2010, 11:04 PM	#69
aimless lost in rubacava Last Online: 04-22-2012 07:28 PM Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 322	"im hoping for grim fandango" The best game ever. I have it on disk but it would be nice to be able to play it without an installer. Lucas Arts is nuts for letting this masterpiece languish.

10-20-2010, 02:57 AM	#71
Crunchy in milk delusions of adequacy Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 1,403	http://www.gog.com/en/forum/general/...gog_beta_users Jagged Alliance: Deadly Games for free if you where a member before 'the stunt'. Choice of another free game if you already owned the game and where a beta member.

10-21-2010, 07:44 PM	#73
mbtshoes2011 Junior Member Last Online: 10-21-2010 07:46 PM Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 2	I think that this will scare many people into ever trying downloadable game services. I will continue to use Steam myself, but there is always the risk.

11-20-2010, 11:56 AM	#74
zane Schattenjäger Last Online: 07-27-2015 11:56 PM Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 572	lol it was a smart (although devious) move. I saw a number of articles covering it at the time from major sites. It may seem like a cruel way to get publicity, but in the end it was harmless and definitely increased their exposure.