Topic: GOG site redesign, movies, fair pricing...but not all is good

[idolminds]

GOG.com got a fresh new look. In addition they started selling DRM-free movies! It's obviously not going to be big hollywood new releases but its stuff like Indie Game: The Movie, 100 Yen: The Japanese Arcade Experience, and the Minecraft documentary. Lots of gaming related things like that. Two of them are available for free so you can check them out, you can download them in various resolutions or stream from the site.

The Fair Price Package is nice for people in other regions buying games.

The Fair Price Package applies to all of the titles which we couldn't include in our standard pricing scheme. If you end up paying more for a game than its standard US Dollar price, we'll refund you the difference out of our own pocket. The refunded value will be added to your account in Store Credit in the currency of your purchase. That's right, no more gift codes, you'll be getting Store Credit that you can use to purchase anything on GOG.com or partially pay for an item that's more expensive. More choice, ease of use, and less limitations!

But in sad news, something happened that publisher Nordic didn't like (probably the regional pricing thing) so they are pulling their games from GOG. 35 of them, which is a big blow to the catalog. They are running a last chance sale on these titles so you can add them to your account before they are gone for good. Amnesia, Penumbra, Gothic 2 and 3, Spellforce series, Full Spectrum Warrior series, Painkiller, The Guild games. Jack Keane 2! What will we ever do without that one? Anyway pretty decent discounts on all of them if you want to grab a few before they are gone.

[Xessive]

As a proponent of fair-pricing, Nordic can suck it.

Power to GOG.com.

[idolminds]

What I don't understand is what do they have a problem with? GOG will still offer regional pricing, but the user will be refunded store credit out of GOGs own pocket for titles that make use of it. Nordic would still get the same money.

[scottws]

What I don't understand is what do they have a problem with? GOG will still offer regional pricing, but the user will be refunded store credit out of GOGs own pocket for titles that make use of it. Nordic would still get the same money.

...assuming that is the reason Nordic is removing its catalog.  We aren't sure, are we?

If it is the reason, perhaps they don't like it because they see it as one of the first attacks in a campaign that may eventually lead to regional pricing being a thing of the past.

[idolminds]

Interestingly this was apparently the original wording at the bottom of the news post, as quoted into the GOG forums by users.

Unfortunately, we need to drop some titles from our classic catalog, as we currently have no way to keep their pricing in line with our standards. In such cases, we always do our best to give you an advance warning and a last chance to purchase such games - preferably with a considerable discount. Check this news post to find out which titles are being removed from our catalog, when will it happen, and what parting discounts for them do we currently offer.

So it does seem the pricing is the problem. Another thread has noted that a number of games have had regional price updates to go along with todays update.

1954 Alcatraz
Always Sometimes Monsters
Amnesia: A Machine For Pigs
Blackguards Special Edition
Blackguards: Untold Legends DLC
The Book of Unwritten Tales
The Book of Unwritten Tales: The Critter Chronicles
Broken Age
Broken Sword 5
Dark Eye: Chains of Satinav
Deponia 3
Gods Will be Watching (likewise the Special Edition)
Gomo
Guacamelee! Gold Edition
Luftrausers
Memoria
The Night of the Rabbit
OlliOlli
The Raven - Legacy of a Master Thief
Shadow Warrior (2013)
Space Run: Fast and Safe Delivery
Tales From Space: Mutant Blobs Attack
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter - Special Edition
The Whispered World: Special Edition

People in the US won't notice the difference, though.

[Xessive]

Nordic must have been majorly benefiting off regional pricing schemes to make such a fuss about it.

EA and Ubisoft are pretty bad with regional pricing, particularly when it comes to evaluating currency. Lately, games have become more expensive here e.g. a $60 game sells for $75 with official retailers, so I've been obliged to find alternatives like an underground vendor or I'll generally resort to purchasing from the US directly (either through Amazon or a friend will pick a game up for me). I am so grateful region is not an issue with PC games (unless it's a game by Blizzard) unlike the ridiculous crap I'm enduring with the PS4.

GOG.com's initiative to alleviate unfair pricing is a welcome change to the current trend.

GreenManGaming have tried some measures as well but when a publisher shoves they back down. They often try to bring as many titles as possible to as many players as they can.

[scottws]

Is there an opportunity for abuse by the publishers that sell games through GOG.com?  Since GOG.com is paying for the difference out-of-pocket, couldn't the publishers just elevate their regional prices and fleece GOG.com?

[Xessive]

Is there an opportunity for abuse by the publishers that sell games through GOG.com?  Since GOG.com is paying for the difference out-of-pocket, couldn't the publishers just elevate their regional prices and fleece GOG.com?

I suppose that is possible but I reckon GOG will negotiate with them, worst case they might just cut that publisher.

I doubt a publisher would risk it unless they have already consigned to leave GOG.com and figured they may as well get a few bucks on the way out.

Overall, I think it's in the best interest of all parties to have DRM-free games digitally distributed on GOG.com.

[MysterD]

Overall, I think it's in the best interest of all parties to have DRM-free games digitally distributed on GOG.com.

Problem is - GOG.com is NOT the leader in digital distribution.
For better and/or for worse, Steam is the leader.

Also, this move by Nordic - this could make them A LOT of money they wouldn't get otherwise. If there's a sudden sales-boom b/c of a perceived notion of "OMG, some Nordic games are leaving GOG for good - BUY NOW for DRM-FREE versions!", I wouldn't be surprised if Nordic change their mind and decides at a much later date, "Well - we did well w/ that game-exodus publicity stunt on GoG. Let's get these games back on GOG!"

EDIT:
I'd personally love for more titles to be in the DRM-FREE World of GOG.

And I think when games at least get very old, it'd be in dev's + pub's best interest to put them DRM-FREE on GOG. This would be especially true to get gamers who had DRM-riddled version that never got their DRM patched-out (Riddick: Dark Athena, I'm looking at you) and add some of those slick GOG extras (avatars, wallpapers, soundtracks, digital art books, and any other cool stuff you can think of). Stuff like that - that can push some sales. This way, more $ for dev's and pub's - and it's entirely possible gamers could get at least double-dipped on here, for the same bloody game they already own...whether it's to get a DRM-FREE versions, just to get some extra goodies, just to have the game digitally, and/or whatever reason you can dream up.

And of course, gamers who never bought a DRM-laced version of something - well, their patience would be rewarded by buying a DRM-FREE version on GOG.