![GOG logo](https://zoftware-logo.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/download%20%281%29-1672077990529.png)
GOG
by GOG
by GOG
Profile Information Last updated on: 1 July 2024
Profile Information Last updated on: 1 July 2024
We help make selecting a software for your business effortless, economical and efficient.
by GOG
by GOG
Profile Information Last updated on: 1 July 2024
Profile Information Last updated on: 1 July 2024
GOG.com, a digital distribution platform, offers a curated selection of games and an optional gaming client. The typical implementation process for GOG software involves several steps:
1. Account Creation: Users need to create an account on GOG.com.
2. Client Installation (Optional): Users can download and install the GOG Galaxy client, which is optional but provides additional features such as automatic updates and cloud saves.
3. Game Purchase: Users browse the store, select games, and complete the purchase.
4. Game Download: Purchased games can be downloaded directly from the website or through the GOG Galaxy client.
5. Game Installation: Once downloaded, games are installed on the user's computer.
6. Game Launch: Users can launch and play the games either through the GOG Galaxy client or directly from their computer.
The time required for this process can vary. Account creation and client installation are typically quick, taking only a few minutes. The time to purchase, download, and install games depends on the size of the game and the user's internet speed. For smaller games, this can take a few minutes, while larger games may take several hours to download and install.
Yes, GOG software can be customized to fit specific business needs. Here are several data points that illustrate the customization capabilities:
GOG Galaxy SDK and API Customization
1. GOG Galaxy SDK:
- The GOG Galaxy SDK allows developers to integrate various online features such as achievements, leaderboards, multiplayer, and storage into their games. This SDK is compatible with the GOG Galaxy client and overlay, providing a seamless experience for users whether they are online or offline.
- The SDK ensures that games can function without the GOG Galaxy client, maintaining offline capabilities while enabling online features when the client is available.
2. Steam SDK Wrapper:
- The Steam SDK Wrapper (Beta) is designed to reduce the time needed to implement additional features on GOG. It intercepts Steam API calls and translates them into calls that can be understood by GOG backends, allowing developers to quickly adapt their Steam-based games for GOG.
3. Game Engines Integration:
- The GOG Galaxy SDK supports integration with popular game engines such as Unity3D, Unreal Engine 4, CRYENGINE, and Game Maker Studio 2. This support includes native plugins and wrappers, making it easier for developers to implement GOG Galaxy features in their games.
Community and Developer Tools
4. GOG Galaxy Integrations Python API:
- This Python library allows developers to build community integrations for various gaming platforms with GOG Galaxy 2.0. Each integration is a separate Python script that communicates with the main instance of GOG Galaxy 2.0, supporting features like importing owned games, detecting installed games, installing and launching games, and more[20].
5. Developer Portal:
- The GOG Developer Portal serves as a command center for managing builds and updates for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It provides tools for implementing SDK features, managing product settings, and publishing builds and updates[14].
Marketing and Customer Engagement
6. Email Marketing and Automation:
- GOG uses GetResponse for email marketing, which includes features like real-time tracking of click-throughs and open rates, customizable newsletters, and transactional emails. This platform helps GOG maintain continuous communication with their audience and optimize online marketing campaigns.
Customization Examples
7. Custom Library Views:
- GOG Galaxy 2.0 allows users to create custom library views by filtering, sorting, and tagging their games. This feature provides a high level of personalization for users managing their game libraries[13][19].
8. Integration with Multiple Platforms:
- GOG Galaxy 2.0 supports integrations with various gaming platforms, allowing users to combine multiple libraries into one unified catalog. This includes platforms like Steam, Origin, and the Epic Games Store, among others[13][19].
Legal and Compliance
9. Legal Notice for Integrations:
- Developers integrating applications or content with GOG Galaxy 2.0 must ensure that they have the necessary rights and comply with third-party licenses and applicable laws. This ensures that all customizations and integrations are legally sound.
Here are the additional costs associated with using GOG.com, including setup fees, maintenance, and support charges:
Setup Fees and Maintenance Costs
1. Non-Steam Version Maintenance:
- Developers have mentioned that maintaining a non-Steam version of their game for GOG can incur additional costs. This includes the effort and resources required to adapt and support the game on a different platform, which can be a significant factor for some developers.
Transaction and Foreign Fees
2. Foreign Transaction Fees:
- Users have reported that they often face foreign transaction fees when purchasing games on GOG.com. These fees are typically charged by the user's bank and can range from 20 to 60 cents per transaction. This is due to GOG being based in Europe, and some US banks charge a fee for international transactions.
- There is also mention of a 4%-5% discrepancy between the purchase price and the amount that clears at the bank, which could be attributed to foreign transaction fees or other banking charges.
3. Additional Fees for Local Currency Payments:
- Some users have experienced additional fees when paying in their local currency. GOG states that they only charge the amount shown in the cart, and any additional fees are likely due to the user's payment provider.
General Pricing and Sales
4. Game Prices:
- GOG.com offers games at various price points, typically ranging from $5 to $10 for older titles, with newer titles being more expensive. They also have frequent sales and promotions, which can significantly reduce the cost of games.
Support and Refund Policies
5. Customer Support and Refunds:
- GOG.com provides full customer support for all purchases and offers a money-back guarantee for the first 30 days if customers face unresolvable technical problems with a bought game. This policy was extended to offer a full refund up to 30 days after purchasing a product, even if it was downloaded, launched, and played.
Developer Costs
6. Revenue Split for Developers:
- For indie developers, GOG.com offers a typical 70/30 revenue split, meaning GOG takes 30% of the sale. There is also an option for an upfront payment to the developer, with GOG taking 40% of the sales until the upfront payment has been covered, after which the split reverts to 30%.
GOG.com offers a variety of training and support options to new users, ensuring a user-friendly experience enriched with additional customer benefits. Here are the key aspects of the training and support provided:
Training and Support Resources
1. Support Center:
- GOG.com has a comprehensive Support Center where users can find information on various topics, including how to buy games, how to gift games, and other common queries. This resource is designed to help users navigate the platform and resolve issues independently.
2. Customer Support:
- GOG.com prides itself on providing stellar customer support. The support team works in-house and is available round-the-clock to solve all game-related issues. Users can reach out for help via the GOG forums, social media, or direct contact with the GOG team.
3. Refund Policy:
- GOG.com offers a full refund policy within 30 days of purchase if a game does not work as expected. This policy is designed to ensure customer satisfaction and reduce the risk associated with purchasing games.
4. GOG Galaxy Client:
- The GOG Galaxy client, which is optional, provides additional features such as cloud saves, update roll-backs, and achievements. It also offers a convenient way to manage a cross-platform game library and stay in touch with friends. The client has been rebuilt to be better and faster, enhancing the user experience.
5. Community Support:
- GOG.com has an active community on platforms like Reddit, where users can share game codes, discount codes, and seek help from fellow gamers. This community-driven support can be particularly helpful for new users looking for tips and advice.
6. Forums:
- The GOG forums are a place where users can ask questions, share experiences, and get help from other community members. Topics range from game-specific queries to general platform usage, providing a wealth of information for new users.
Additional Customer Benefits
7. User-Friendly Platform:
- GOG.com is designed to be a gamer-friendly platform, focusing on delivering a user-friendly experience with additional customer benefits. This includes ensuring that all games are legitimate, thoroughly tested, and patched to run flawlessly on modern systems.
8. No DRM:
- GOG.com is committed to DRM-free gaming, meaning users are not locked out of titles they paid for and are not constantly asked to prove ownership. This approach respects the user's need to own games and provides a hassle-free gaming experience.
GOG.com implements several security measures to protect user data. Here are the key security practices and protocols in place:
Technical and Organizational Measures
1. Encryption:
- GOG.com uses secure encryption (SSL) to protect the confidentiality of every transaction. This ensures that data transmitted between users and the platform is encrypted and secure from interception.
2. Two-Step Login:
- GOG offers an optional but highly recommended two-step login process. This adds an additional layer of security to user accounts by requiring a second form of verification, typically a code sent to the user's mobile device, in addition to the password.
3. Data Protection Measures:
- GOG has implemented appropriate technical and organizational security measures designed to protect the security of any personal information they process. These measures are intended to prevent unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction of personal data.
Data Processing and Storage
4. Data Transfer and Storage:
- Personal data may be processed, stored, or transferred to the United States as part of the use of communication, project management, and content sharing tools by GOG. In such cases, GOG ensures an adequate level of protection for the data by relying on legally recognized data sharing grounds, such as standard EU contractual clauses.
5. Data Retention:
- Personal data is retained for the duration of the correspondence or activities resulting from the implementation of a contract or recruitment process. Additionally, data may be stored for a period of time resulting from applicable law or GOG's legitimate interest, such as for evidential purposes to secure or defend against claims.
Privacy and Compliance
6. Privacy Policy:
- GOG's privacy policy outlines the measures taken to protect personal data against unauthorized or unlawful processing. This includes the implementation of appropriate technical and organizational measures.
7. User Rights:
- Users have the right to access, rectify, delete, restrict the processing, transfer, and object to the processing of their personal data. They can also withdraw their consent to the processing of their personal data and lodge a complaint with the supervisory authority.
Community and User Guidance
8. User Guidance:
- GOG advises users not to share private data on public forums and provides a support center where users can ask questions and seek help from the community or GOG support staff.
Incident Response
9. Security Incident Handling:
- In response to security concerns raised by users, GOG conducts thorough analyses to identify and address any potential vulnerabilities. For instance, a detailed analysis was conducted following a reported security risk, and no vulnerabilities were identified according to their logs.
GOG.com releases updates for its games and the GOG Galaxy client with varying frequency, depending on the specific product and circumstances. Here are the key points regarding the frequency and management of updates:
Frequency of Updates
1. Game Updates:
- The frequency of game updates on GOG.com can vary significantly. Some users have expressed concerns that certain games do not receive updates as frequently on GOG as they do on other platforms like Steam. This inconsistency can be a point of frustration for users who prefer to have the latest versions of their games.
2. GOG Galaxy Client Updates:
- The GOG Galaxy client receives updates periodically. Users have reported that updates for the client can sometimes take a long time to complete, especially for large games like Cyberpunk 2077. There have been instances where updates introduced bugs, which required users to perform clean installations to resolve the issues.
Management of Updates
1. Automated Update Process:
- GOG Galaxy is designed to keep all GOG games up to date automatically if the user enables this feature. However, games from other platforms integrated into GOG Galaxy need to be updated through their respective platforms[10].
2. Changelog and Version History:
- GOG provides changelogs and version histories for games, which can be accessed on the GOG website and within the GOG Galaxy client. This allows users to see what changes or improvements have been made with each update[12]. Users have requested that these changelogs be more prominently displayed on game store pages to make it easier to track updates.
3. Handling Update Issues:
- GOG has a support system in place to help users resolve update issues. For example, if the GOG Galaxy client fails to update, users are advised to close all GOG Galaxy processes and perform a clean install if necessary. Additionally, GOG has streamlined the bug reporting process to address issues more efficiently.
4. Community Feedback:
- GOG actively listens to community feedback regarding updates and has implemented several improvements based on user suggestions. For instance, they have added features like the ability to view patch notes directly within the GOG Galaxy client and on the website[12].
5. Technical Issues and Outages:
- GOG has experienced technical issues affecting the downloading and updating of games, often due to outages with their storage and CDN providers. They communicate these issues to users and work on resolving them promptly.
GOG.com has a clear policy on data ownership and portability, which emphasizes user control and the ability to manage and transfer their data. Here are the key points regarding GOG's policy on data ownership and portability:
Data Ownership
1. User Ownership of Game Copies:
- GOG guarantees more ownership of game copies compared to other platforms like Steam. Users can download offline installers for their games, which means they can store and back up their games independently of the GOG platform. This ensures that users retain access to their games even if GOG were to shut down.
2. DRM-Free Games:
- All games on GOG are DRM-free, meaning that once a game is downloaded, it is not tied to the GOG platform. Users can install and play their games without needing to verify ownership through an online service, which enhances the sense of ownership.
Data Portability
3. Right to Data Portability:
- GOG's privacy policy states that users have the right to data portability. This means users can request a copy of their personal data in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format. This allows users to transfer their data to another service if they choose to do so.
4. Access and Transfer of Personal Data:
- Users are entitled to access their personal data, rectify it, delete it, restrict its processing, and transfer it. This ensures that users have control over their personal information and can move it as needed.
5. Data Retention and Transfer:
- GOG retains personal data for the duration of the correspondence or activities resulting from the implementation of a contract. Data may also be stored for a period required by applicable law or GOG's legitimate interest. Personal data may be processed, stored, or transferred to the United States, with GOG ensuring an adequate level of protection through legally recognized data sharing grounds, such as standard EU contractual clauses.
Practical Implications
6. Offline Installers:
- By providing offline installers, GOG allows users to download and store their games on external storage devices. This means that users are not dependent on the GOG platform to access their games, which is a significant aspect of data portability and ownership.
7. Community and User Guidance:
- GOG encourages users to download and back up their DRM-free content. If users do not download their content and GOG disappears, it is the user's responsibility to preserve their data. This policy underscores the importance of user action in maintaining data portability.
The terms for scaling up or down as organizational needs change can be understood through various perspectives, including strategic, operational, and regulatory considerations. Here are the key points derived from the provided sources:
Strategic Considerations
1. Mindset and Organizational Design:
- Scaling an organization requires a shift in mindset and organizational design. Founders and executives need to adapt new structures such as specialization and processes to manage increased scale effectively. This involves being mindful of the company's true growth rate and avoiding premature adoption of scaling processes, which can make the organization heavy and sluggish.
2. Evidence-Based Scaling:
- Effective scaling should be evidence-based, involving a top-down process that is guided by strategic decisions and supported by robust knowledge management systems. This approach ensures that scaling efforts are aligned with the organization's goals and capabilities.
Operational Considerations
3. Communication and Knowledge Management:
- As organizations scale, communication becomes a critical challenge. Implementing integrated knowledge management systems that support bottom-up, lateral, and top-down communication can help in managing the complexities of scaling. This includes mechanisms like newsletters, printed guidelines, and multimedia resources to disseminate information and foster system learning.
4. Data Security and Management:
- Scaling down involves reducing the amount of data retained to only what is necessary for business operations. This principle of "scaling down" helps in minimizing risks associated with data breaches and ensures that sensitive information is not kept longer than needed.
Regulatory Considerations
5. Size-Contingent Regulations:
- Regulatory frameworks can impact the ability of firms to scale. For instance, size-contingent regulations that impose additional burdens on firms when they reach a certain size can act as obstacles to growth. Evidence from countries like France and Italy shows that such regulations can discourage firms from expanding beyond specific thresholds.
6. Policy Support for Scalers:
- Policymakers can support scaling by addressing market or policy failures that hinder the growth of specific types of scalers. Targeted support policies can help firms maintain and consolidate their new scale, contributing to sustained and resilient growth.
Practical Implications
7. Adaptation and Flexibility:
- Organizations need to be flexible and adaptable when scaling up or down. This involves being brutally honest about the organization's growth trajectory and making necessary adjustments to avoid over-preparation or under-preparation. Effective delegation and reducing involvement in operational decisions can enhance scalability.
8. Knowledge Management Systems:
- Implementing robust knowledge management systems, like those used in the Ghana Essential Health Interventions Program (GEHIP), can facilitate scaling by integrating research operations with routine management and communication processes. This approach supports systems strengthening and ensures that scaling efforts are informed by practical insights and best practices.
The terms and conditions for contract renewal and cancellation for GOG.com are outlined in their User Agreement and other related documents. Here are the key points:
Contract Renewal
1. Automatic Renewal:
- GOG.com does not explicitly mention automatic renewal for user accounts or subscriptions in the provided sources. However, the general practice for digital platforms is that any ongoing services or subscriptions may renew automatically unless canceled by the user.
Contract Cancellation
2. User Agreement Termination:
- Users can terminate their agreement with GOG.com by ceasing to use GOG services and content. If users disagree with any changes to the User Agreement, they must stop using GOG services[11].
3. Breach of Agreement:
- GOG.com reserves the right to terminate or suspend user accounts if users breach the terms of the User Agreement. This includes violations of the GOG Code of Conduct or other policies[11].
4. Refund Policy:
- GOG.com offers a voluntary refund policy that allows users to request a refund within 30 days of purchase, even if the game has been downloaded, launched, and played. This policy is designed to be customer-friendly and does not have strict playtime restrictions, unlike some other platforms[12].
5. Refund Process:
- To apply for a refund, users must contact GOG's Customer Support Team within 30 days of purchase. Refunds can be processed either to the user's GOG wallet or back to the original payment method, depending on the user's preference and the specifics of the transaction.
6. Early Access Games:
- The refund policy for Early Access games is the same as for other games: users can request a refund within 30 days, no questions asked. This policy acknowledges that Early Access games are unfinished software and may not meet user expectations[14].
Additional Terms
7. Changes to the Agreement:
- GOG.com may change the User Agreement for legal reasons or to reflect changes in GOG services or content. Users will be notified of these changes via email and the updated agreement will be posted online. The changes become binding after a reasonable period, typically 30 days, unless the user contacts GOG with specific concerns[11].
8. Legal Jurisdiction:
- Any legal questions or claims regarding the User Agreement are subject to Cypriot law and jurisdiction for users in the EU and rest of the world (excluding the USA), and Californian law and jurisdiction for users in the USA[11].
Practical Implications
9. User Responsibility:
- Users are responsible for complying with the terms of the User Agreement and other policies. Failure to do so can result in account suspension or termination. Users are also encouraged to respect the refund policy and not abuse it by requesting an unreasonable number of refunds[10][12].
GOG.com adheres to several compliance standards to ensure the protection of user data and the integrity of its services. Here are the key compliance standards and practices that GOG.com follows:
GDPR Compliance
1. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):
- GOG.com complies with the GDPR, which is a regulation in EU law on data protection and privacy for all individuals within the European Union and the European Economic Area. This involves being responsible for personal data used in connection with GOG services and ensuring that data processing activities are lawful, fair, and transparent.
Data Protection and Privacy
2. Privacy Policy:
- GOG.com has a detailed privacy policy that outlines how personal data is collected, used, and protected. The policy ensures that GOG complies with applicable data protection laws and provides users with rights regarding their personal data, such as access, rectification, deletion, and portability.
3. Data Security Measures:
- GOG implements appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect personal data against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. This includes the use of secure encryption (SSL) for transactions and the option for two-step login for enhanced account security.
User Agreement and Licensing
4. User Agreement Compliance:
- Users of GOG services must comply with the GOG User Agreement, which includes terms related to the use of GOG software, content, and services. This agreement ensures that users adhere to the platform's rules and guidelines, contributing to a secure and compliant environment.
5. Third-Party License Compliance:
- GOG ensures that any third-party licenses and other requirements are met. This includes compliance with the terms set by game developers and publishers whose games are distributed on the GOG platform.
Transparency and Data Portability
6. Data Portability:
- GOG.com supports data portability, allowing users to request a copy of their personal data in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format. This enables users to transfer their data to another service if they choose to do so.
7. Transparency in Data Handling:
- GOG Galaxy 2.0, the optional gaming client, is designed to be transparent about the data it imports from connected platforms. Users are informed about what data is imported, and GOG does not share any data with third parties. Additionally, once a platform is disconnected from GOG Galaxy 2.0, all imported data is removed from GOG's servers.
Community and User Feedback
8. Community-Driven Integrations:
- GOG encourages community involvement in creating open-source integrations for GOG Galaxy 2.0. This approach ensures that the community can contribute to the platform's development while maintaining transparency and compliance with data handling practices.
By GOG