Tales of the Rampant Coyote

Adventures in Indie Gaming!

GOG Galaxy?

Posted by Rampant Coyote on June 6, 2014

I know, all we need is another game client, right?

GOG.COM seems to be going a different direction with their upcoming GOG Galaxy client, though. It’s billing itself as an “optional client” with no DRM and no online activation required. Which is pretty how the Desura client works, so that’s not completely unprecedented. It sounds like it will allow (optional) online profiles, which enable achievement unlocking and the ability to communicate with friends online – whichever features you wish to enable. The client will – if you choose – allow automatic updating of games.

So far, so standard, other than the piecemeal enabling of features with an emphasis on no online requirements. There’s an interesting feature they are calling “cross-play” which will be interesting to see how it pans out. The idea is that they want compatibility in multiplayer games so that all players can play together regardless of which client or service they are using. Honestly, I don’t play that many multiplayer games anymore, so I really don’t know how much of a problem that is.

I was very much against having yet another game client a couple of years ago. But now I have a crapload of games from GOG.COM (more than I have in Steam, actually…),and having automatic updates might be kinda handy. Depending on how they pull it off, I’ve warmed up to the idea.

For indie games, I still like to buy direct, but that sometimes requires me to have enough familiarity with the developer that I feel I can email them if there’s a problem. Really, there are so many indies out there that nowadays that are unknowns, don’t have much of a web-presence, or don’t even want people to buy direct, so that’s happening for me a lot less.

Beyond that, nowadays, GOG.COM tends to be my “preferred provider” – mainly for the DRM-free aspect, and the fun bonus items that come with many games (mainly wallpaper and soundtracks, or the rare but awesome design documents). Desura is where I go to get the weird, unusual, niche stuff that can’t win the massive popularity / marketing contests required to get on Steam. Or through some bundles (like Indie Royale).  I “only” go to Steam for the rare new AAA releases that I indulge in, or for the steeply discounted sales. Or through a bundle that provides Steam keys. Which has been enough to make my Steam library swell up by over a hundred games this last year, so those aren’t exactly tough restrictions…

Origin is only there because it was forced on me, and I turn the client off if I’m not playing the game in question. UPlay is kinda the same way… it’s there for Might & Magic X and Rocksmith 2014, and that’s it. I can’t remember the last time I ran the Gamestop client.

I still don’t feel great about having a bunch of clients on all the time. But at least this new one sounds unobtrusive…  Now, if they REALLY wanted to impress me, they could start emulating the multiplayer servers for the old games they sell (which no longer work in multiplayer because the servers have been shut down). THAT would be cool… although a probably a crapload of work for a pretty small audience.


Filed Under: Biz - Comments: 3 Comments to Read



  • McTeddy said,

    I’m actually looking forward to this. I’ve often had the issue “Buy this on steam for convenience or buy it on GoG because I know it’ll work.”

    To hell with Steam for my classic gaming needs! I’ll happily install GoGs client.

    And if they emulate old servers I will love them forever.

  • Xian said,

    I would use their client if they take the things I like about Steam such as the automatic updates. One feature I like about Steam is it shows the hours played, so I hope they implement that feature. I just like to see how long it took me to beat a game.

    I do the same with Origin and Uplay – only run them when required while Steam is running all the time. Of course that makes using Uplay and Origin even more a PITA since every time I start them I have to wait and wait for updates.

  • ShadowTiger said,

    I only have steam and I will avoid galaxy for now. I try to have as few programs installed as possible. I love it when apps are standalone.

    Unfortunatley many companies use steam because it acts as DRM so i don’t see it going away any time soon.

    One thing I am looking forward to is all GOG games installed in the same directory.

    I have 3 slightly different named GOG folders depending on when I purchased/installed the game. yuck.

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