Quoting: ShmerlAnd specialized config files - that's normal. They can simply adjust those for each OS (since there is a difference between Windows and POSIX  path syntax for example), and it should be quite enough to run the game with distros' emulators.

Which would be very complex and increase the chance for error, limit the amount of distributions it will work on, and give GoG less control for little user benefit. There is simply no need to make one emulator install fit all, especially as far as GoG is concerned.

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Quoting: ShmerlDo you mean they distribute modified DosBox and ScummVM? I'm not aware of that. None of the DOS games I got from GOG so far had any problems running in stock DosBox and ScummVM. It's not an indicator of course, since I have just a small subset of their games. But sure, if they need a modified emulator - the only way is to ship it with the game. On the other hand, why can't they submit their patches upstream in such cases?

I am not referring to specific code modifications to either of the emulators (if there were code modifications that were not released they would be in violation of the GPL) but specific tweaks to the emulators configurations and specific parameters that affect how they are launched, many of which can not be done globally for all games. These are necessary but not very flexible parts of many of their products.

Quoting: ShmerlI'm not grateful for them proliferating any DRM on Linux. I'm grateful that they increase interest in Linux as a platform for developers. Credit should go where it's due. And criticism where it is due as well.

Indeed.

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Quoting: SilviuIt's like complaining that you have to log on GOG's site to be able to download games.

What is at issue is the fact that Steam sells DRM enabled games and can be a DRM platform in of itself, not that all of the games it sells have DRM. And both of these issues don't apply to GoG.

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Quoting: ShmerlAnyone who doesn't accept DRM. As simple as that. And it's a lot of Linux user for your reference. I'm simply not going to use Steam while they have any bit of DRM involved.

Well, I can agree with that. ;)

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Quoting: ShmerlWhich is rather silly and is caused by the lack of any packaging system on Windows. On Linux they have no need to package DosBox and ScummVM for each DOS game - it's pointless, they can use distro's emualtors and ship only config files.

It is not silly, it makes the games much easier to maintain for GoG and run on a much wider range of systems. Tying a commercial application into a variety of distribution's package management systems is a pain in the ass, and is not worth the effort for something which is not a dynamic free software project which are easier to package and allow the distributions themselves to do most of the work. Dosbox and ScummVM may be free, but the GoG products and modifications are not, and they should be treated just the same as any other proprietary application. 

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Quoting:  BumadarI don't see this obsession to have games installed via rpm/deb, many of the humble bundle games use the .bin installer and that one works just fine, GoG could easily make a standard installer for their games using those as a basis. Its just another excuse as many said here.

They DO have their own custom standard installer already for their Mac and Windows games. And the guy who believes that distributing commercial games on Linux is so difficult because of dependency and administration issues is prattling on about a problem which has been solved since Loki. Besides, GoG games do not tie into one central Dosbox install when they sell their games anyway, but ship with a custom configured executable with each game purchase. Can you imagine the trouble that would cause if it did? Just because Linux has a packaging system does not mean you need to do that level of dependent insanity.

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The trend from shareware to demos about twelve to fifteen years ago is what killed the entire concept, probably. There is a distinction, and I think the original shareware model might be better for indies than a demo system is. That being said, while I did play some after I stated using Desura, I really have not spent much time with demos recently. Most games I have bought within the past few years have been because they surprised me in a bundle or a sale, in which case you just grab them without thinking about it too much. And I must say I have not had all that much trouble getting my games running, so that really has not been a big part of my purchasing consideration.

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I know next to nothing about NWN, but why not try the liflg installers? These guys are so awesome they are actually updating games professionally now: http://liflg.org/?catid=6&gameid=65 [External Link]

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Quoting: KristianAny recommendations as far as the modder friendly + cross platform combo goes?

The Modder friendly part is actually the tricky part, as engines like Unity are fairly terrible for it (probably because the engine itself is in many ways a giant mod tool). But I could probably spend a whole lifetime playing through the Lugaru custom campaigns. :P

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This one I am definitely going to keep watching, especially since it mentions Prey as an inspiration.

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