That can look better if you have the necessary images replacing the icons like Mirror's Edge in that photo.
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GOG is now using adware-esque tactics to trick users into installing GOG Galaxy
- Thread starter Wowfunhappy
- Start date
That can look better if you have the necessary images replacing the icons like Mirror's Edge in that photo.
I've got my nice looking UI, so I'm good ¯\_(ツ_/¯
Is hidden somewhere in all that dead space?
https://abload.de/img/desktop23kj5b.png
I've got my nice looking UI, so I'm good ¯\_(ツ
Not to hijack the thread, but you seriously need to use TileIconifier.
ResourcefulStar
Neo Member
Such a dumb decision on part of GOG. People who like clients already use Galaxy. People who dislike clients won't use Galaxy no matter what. Measures like this won't convert anyone. They'll just frustrate people and cause them to waste time and bandwidth downloading clean installers if they get tricked.
SapientWolf
Trucker Sexologist
They have cloud save support now so I think Galaxy should be the default.
This isn't really aimed at either of those people because aside from a minor annoyance, those people will stick using GOG the way they do already. Nobody is going to stop buying from GOG because it takes an extra couple of clicks to get the regular installer.
This move is entirely aimed at new and infrequent users to drive them towards the store and increase the likelihood that they'll buy more things.
HungOverOnATues
Member
Let me back up. About a month ago, I purchased Rime on GOG. Here is what the download screen looked like:
Pretty simple, right? There's a big blue "TRY GOG GALAXY" button in the top left corner, so if you want to go the Galaxy route, it's pretty obvious where you need to click. For everyone else, the standard installers are conveniently divided into 4GB pieces.
Here is what that same download screen looks like today:
Did you spot the difference? I almost missed it. Pay attention to the fine print at the bottom.
Yes. The big bold text up top now says "GOG GALAXY GAME INSTALLERS" instead of "GAME INSTALLERS." Not sure why you're resorting to highlighting fine print to make a point.
It's not a surprise that they would default to the galaxy versions given that they offer additional functionality and would be more convenient for a lot of people. That's not to say that they shouldn't let you decide which download method you'd like to be the default on their site for those who prefer to download in their browser or by the GOG Downloader, but to compare it to adware is a bit of an overreaction.
Do the Galaxy installers even require an internet connection?
edit: I missed it before but my question was already answered on the first page, and they apparently do not.
I've got my nice looking UI, so I'm good ¯\_(ツ
then why did you post this monstrosity instead?
Shifty
Member
I've got my nice looking UI, so I'm good ¯\_(ツ
Accidental derail of the year.
doctorcdcs
Member
Karspankey
Banned
I've got my nice looking UI, so I'm good ¯\_(ツ
That's a real hell blade
get it cause xbox 360 and the blade dashboard harhar this joke is bad i am bad
Unbelievable. As they say, there really is a defense force for everything.
Yeah that doesn't look good at all. Also Utorrent, hmm....
I've got my nice looking UI, so I'm good ¯\_(ツ
Wowfunhappy
Member
This is probably GOG's reasoning, but I think it's extremely misguided. First, no one likes it when software is added without their consent. If you notice that a client called "GOG Galaxy" mysteriously appeared on your computer, is that going to make you think more or less highly of GOG as a brand?
More importantlyI am now not buying from GOG as my first choice. Sure, it's the only place I can buy a DRM Free version of Rime, so I guess in that scenario I'll continue choosing GOG. But for something like Gone Home, which has DRM Free builds on itch and Humble in addition to GOG, I'll go with Humble.
It isn't being added "without their consent" it explicitly says on the download page. The only people who would be impacted by this change at all are people who knew that the page used to default to the regular installers.
I think they're betting you're in the minority. They're probably right.
Karspankey
Banned
Ummm Utorrent doesn't automatically equal what you're thinking, bro. I have qBittorrent installed because I like to dload high quality videos from places like Gamersyde, who offer torrents for their videos.
Don't go accusing just because his desktop may not look good to you!
Hah sure. Was just wondering, stood out for me.
Head.spawn
Junior Member
Same here. Well, Tixati anyways.
ResourcefulStar
Neo Member
They're doing this to force the client on the parts of the existing userbase that refuse to install it. There's already a shiny blue Try GOG Galaxy button to get the attention of new users.
This doesn't do that though. Not until they remove the option to use regular installers. It's definitely more aimed at new users and directing them to the store to sell them more stuff. It's less that they're trying to force parts of their existing userbase into it, it's that they don't care if they do.
Why is this either/or? I think the Galaxy client has been great AND I use it to to download my games to a backup drive all the time.
Wowfunhappy
Member
You're right, they aren't being forced, just tricked.
If this was about making life easier for new users, I can think of tons of better ways to go about it. The implementation GOG chose is horrible UX. So horrible that I can only imagine it was done on purpose.
HungOverOnATues
Member
I guess? It just doesn't bother me when they've stated what it is you're downloading at the top of the page and haven't actually removed the other installers. That said, I'm also coming at it from the perspective of someone who already knows what GOG Galaxy is. Thinking about it more and considering this:
it's a fair point if you were unfamiliar with GOG.
King Gilga
Member
I've got my nice looking UI, so I'm good ¯\_(ツ
There literally nothing nice about that UI, it's atrocious.
ResourcefulStar
Neo Member
Why isn't there an option to have the site default to classic installers? Don't tell me they just didn't think of adding it. They clearly chose not to implement it to get people to download and install Galaxy by accident once in a while, hoping they would eventually just give up and keep it.
drotahorror
Member
I was just about to ask what to use to change icons, now I know.
Letter of the law, spirit of the law, and all that.
Are they forcing it? Nope.
Is it somewhat shady and against the core ideas that GOG stood for? Yep.
They are well within their rights to push their client to their users. Nobody is saying they aren't. The issue lies with how the push is presented. They are turning the process around. Before, you had to opt in to using GOG Galaxy. Now you've got to opt out. They are making GOG Galaxy the default option, and making you jump through hoops to avoid installing it. That is, if you first catch the notice in the download page. And let's be honest, most people familiar with GOG won't read it because they are used to the system they've been using for years, and new users probably don't know what GOG Galaxy is to begin with.
They should just put two big buttons in the download page: Download Game and Download Game with GOG Galaxy. Click whichever you want. Problem solved.
Surely if anyone had the intent of pirating a game, they wouldn't bother to set up a GOG account, purchase it, download it, and then go through the refund process. They would just pirate it.
I've had similar trouble getting a refund from GOG for games that wouldn't work. It took days of back-and-forth via email before they would issue a refund, and felt like I was having to justify myself as being "not a pirate" to them, despite having 150+ games on my account.
I don't outright refuse to use GOG, but they're my last choice if the game is available DRM-free anywhere else.
I like what they sell (DRM-free old games) but any time I've had to deal with them beyond making a purchase it's been a bad experience.
I had always assumed that it was developer neglect rather than GOG themselves holding things up.
Either way, I agree that it's a bad idea to buy new games on GOG if you expect timely patches/support.
This isn't all they did.
They've updated all their games (presumably through the cloud save update) so that if you launch any GOG game through the start menu shortcut it launches galaxy first and then the game.
I only open galaxy once in a blue moon to auto download any patches that have hit, otherwise I don't leave it open. So now when I run a game (for example I've started a replay of Might & Magic VII, an old ass game) it launches Galaxy and then launches the game, adding like 5+ seconds to the process for no reason.
I can run the program manually by going to the folder and running the exe directly, but the start menu shortcuts are all changed.
I don't know what they are doing over there, but they seriously need to take a step back and reassess this shit.
They've updated all their games (presumably through the cloud save update) so that if you launch any GOG game through the start menu shortcut it launches galaxy first and then the game.
I only open galaxy once in a blue moon to auto download any patches that have hit, otherwise I don't leave it open. So now when I run a game (for example I've started a replay of Might & Magic VII, an old ass game) it launches Galaxy and then launches the game, adding like 5+ seconds to the process for no reason.
I can run the program manually by going to the folder and running the exe directly, but the start menu shortcuts are all changed.
I don't know what they are doing over there, but they seriously need to take a step back and reassess this shit.
I've got my nice looking UI, so I'm good ¯\_(ツ
80% of that screen is not in use
Random Human
They were trying to grab your prize. They work for the mercenary. The masked man.
.
Wowfunhappy
Member
I have no idea what the patch process is like for devs, but if there's an approval step it is delaying patches by days at most, not weeks/months.
In their defense, this may have been due to cloud saving, especially if the change was introduced alongside that feature. The client needs to capture and upload your save.
(Of course, it could also be because it makes you more likely to look through at the client and end up browsing the store and buying something—but I'd like to give them the benefit of the doubt, whether or not they still deserve it.)
flaxknuckles
Member
No GOG patches have to be approved but Galaxy patches go through immediately and the offline installers have to be updated by GOG themselves so it tales a while.
Random Human
They were trying to grab your prize. They work for the mercenary. The masked man.
.
autoduelist
Member
i actually like gog galaxy. I guess i understand the issue in the OP... but it just seems so... optional and benign.
Plumpbiscuit
Member
I don't really see the problem, you can still access the classic installers and it isn't like they are forcing you to install the client. They want to entice people into trying their client.
I was kind of on GOGs side until:
I just hate it when installers try to sneak in extra stuff; Adobe/Oracle are especially notorious for trying to include bloatware.
I enjoy Galaxy for the auto-updates and cloud saves but they should be clearer on including or not including it in the installers.
I just hate it when installers try to sneak in extra stuff; Adobe/Oracle are especially notorious for trying to include bloatware.
I enjoy Galaxy for the auto-updates and cloud saves but they should be clearer on including or not including it in the installers.
HungOverOnATues
Member
Yeah... I think I'm coming around on this. My initial reaction was one of "whatever" largely since I'm already used to having to go out of my way to for GOG Downloader links, so for classic installers to be treated the same way I kind of just took as more of a failure of UI design rather than anything more than that.
Agreed.
Black_Stride
do not tempt fate do not contrain Wonder Woman's thighs do not do not
Wowfunhappy
Member
Not entice, trick. There is a clear line between those two. A mobile game that says "download this other app to get 500 in-game currency for free" is offering an enticement, sleazy as it is.
Heck, if you buy a game via Steam's web interface, after you complete the check out process, a message comes up saying (paraphrasing) "You'll need Steam to play your game, click here to download Steam." Now, granted, Valve does not give you a choice, which sucks, but at least they are up front about what is about to happen.
GOG, on the other hand, is very clearly attempting to trick users—to install something on their machine without their knowledge. Unless you look carefully at the download page, or check the installer's option menu, you would never know that Galaxy is included. And if you've used GOG previously, why would you ever look at those things? I should be able to trust GOG to ask for my consent before putting something on my machine.
I agree with the OP. The change goes against what GoG stands for.
That's hideous.
I've got my nice looking UI, so I'm good ¯\_(ツ
I've got my nice looking UI, so I'm good ¯\_(ツ
I hope you were sarcastic, but otherwise let me be the six hundredth guy to point out that this UI is a worse eyesore than the current XB1 dash. And that's saying something.
Wowfunhappy
Member
Patches appear on the download screen below the other parts of the installer. So, if Rime had a patch it would be at the bottom of the list.
They usually update the installer itself in addition to creating a standalone patch, which is nice. It's not immediate though.
Flying Toaster
Member
I've got my nice looking UI, so I'm good ¯\_(ツ
If you remove the far left set and put sticks on the left and right one she has sunglasses! That is what you were going for correct?
The design could definitely be better. I didn't even realize that they had two different types of installers now and with the "Try Galaxy" button being very highlighted it kind of seems weird that they have more links beyond that one for getting the client. I can see the point of them having bundled installers too but it's a bit confusing and could be clearer.
I don't really think it's malicious by design though, more like something they overlooked. Trying a few games in my library it seems that it's just as likely that the classic game installer links will be highlighted when opening the downloads page, as the GOG Client installer links. It's also not just the fine print that clarifies which link it is, but the download header. Since like I said I didn't know that they now have bundled links I could have downloaded the wrong files maybe once before learning that lesson, and what would be their gain in being malicious about it? It's not like they're making money for every person who installs the client so at best they're frustrating some users.
It would be good if they remembered your settings (or that you could check your preference in a browser) but this to me just looks like a UI aspect they overlooked.
Edit: I would even call it bad design because I assume their intent is for new users to get the client when buying a game (it's novice friendly so that makes sense to me), but then they're just as likely to get the client-free links if downloading from that page. They could improve this a lot by as suggested in this thread replace the "Try Galaxy" button with two going to the bundled and classic installers respectively, without hiding any option in a submenu.
I don't really think it's malicious by design though, more like something they overlooked. Trying a few games in my library it seems that it's just as likely that the classic game installer links will be highlighted when opening the downloads page, as the GOG Client installer links. It's also not just the fine print that clarifies which link it is, but the download header. Since like I said I didn't know that they now have bundled links I could have downloaded the wrong files maybe once before learning that lesson, and what would be their gain in being malicious about it? It's not like they're making money for every person who installs the client so at best they're frustrating some users.
It would be good if they remembered your settings (or that you could check your preference in a browser) but this to me just looks like a UI aspect they overlooked.
Edit: I would even call it bad design because I assume their intent is for new users to get the client when buying a game (it's novice friendly so that makes sense to me), but then they're just as likely to get the client-free links if downloading from that page. They could improve this a lot by as suggested in this thread replace the "Try Galaxy" button with two going to the bundled and classic installers respectively, without hiding any option in a submenu.