By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close

Forums - Gaming - What does it even mean to “own” a video game?

BraLoD said:
Chrkeller said:

Buying games on GoG isn't a waste, but GoG doesn't have the same games.  Your foundation is wrong.  I am not going to argue this anymore.  Your entire statement is based on "if" GoG has the same games.. it doesn't.  

Buying games on GoG isn't a waste.  GoG is a waste because their selection simply isn't good enough, full stop.  

*If GoG had the same selection, I would buy only GoG and add said games to my Steam library*

But I don't see the point nor utility in debating ifs or buts.  

It's not if, it shares lots of games with Steam. The If is there to not need to go into specific games, it doesn't matter which game it is.

I never said it had the same selection.

I'm using the games shared as a base to disprove your absurd claim that GoG is a waste. Not even using the games GoG has that Steam does not. Or that it provides ownership while Steam does not. I don't even need to go there.

It wouldn't even matter if GoG only had like 100 games, it's not a waste, you can buy those games there, it's library being vastly inferior to Steam doesn't matter for this specific debate:

you. do. not. need. to. choose. only. one. of. them.

You are not losing access to your Steam games by buying others on GoG, you don't need to spend anything to be able to buy games on any of them, you can play games bought on both at the same PC you already have. Why would you claim such absurdity is the question.

Claiming it's a waste is so senseless it's hard to believe I have to read it.

You waste nothing by also using GoG.

That store that sells nothing I want is awesome!  

We good?  Lol.

Edit

Jokes aside, I would love to see GoG get a better selection and better timing.  FF7 Remake 3 years after Steam isn't going to work for me.  

Last edited by Chrkeller - 5 days ago

rtx 4090, 32 gb ram, i7-13700k

Switch 2

Around the Network

Original purpose of GOG is what it states in the name - Good Old Games. If you look at it from that perspective, it does it's job great, making those old games available and playable on modern hardware...and properly digitally owned.



HoloDust said:

Original purpose of GOG is what it states in the name - Good Old Games. If you look at it from that perspective, it does it's job great, making those old games available and playable on modern hardware...and properly digitally owned.

Agreed.  Hence my first post, where i said it was good for like RE original trilogy but worthless for new games.

My personal problem is, old games have roms readily available.

To be fair, GoG has newer games, just launched way after Steam.  If they can fix that, GoG would be pretty slick.  

Last edited by Chrkeller - 5 days ago

rtx 4090, 32 gb ram, i7-13700k

Switch 2

Chrkeller said:
BraLoD said:

It's not if, it shares lots of games with Steam. The If is there to not need to go into specific games, it doesn't matter which game it is.

I never said it had the same selection.

I'm using the games shared as a base to disprove your absurd claim that GoG is a waste. Not even using the games GoG has that Steam does not. Or that it provides ownership while Steam does not. I don't even need to go there.

It wouldn't even matter if GoG only had like 100 games, it's not a waste, you can buy those games there, it's library being vastly inferior to Steam doesn't matter for this specific debate:

you. do. not. need. to. choose. only. one. of. them.

You are not losing access to your Steam games by buying others on GoG, you don't need to spend anything to be able to buy games on any of them, you can play games bought on both at the same PC you already have. Why would you claim such absurdity is the question.

Claiming it's a waste is so senseless it's hard to believe I have to read it.

You waste nothing by also using GoG.

That store that sells nothing I want is awesome!  

We good?  Lol.

Edit

Jokes aside, I would love to see GoG get a better selection and better timing.  FF7 Remake 3 years after Steam isn't going to work for me.  

Is there no game on GoG that you own on Steam?

If that's the case, they do have, you just bought them elsewhere.

They are trying to get more newer games, but if people don't use their store publishers have no rush to release there, and it becomes a vicious cycle.

Square is more open to putting their games everywhere, they really should offer if there too.



I have yet to see a digital service that I would consider reliable (other than gog.com).  I'm still mad about the Virtual Console and Wiiware games I bought on the Wii.  Why can't I play these on the Switch.  I bought digital PS3 games, and they aren't automatically available on PS4. Why?  I find this unacceptable.  But the reality is that digital games aren't reliable at all.  You don't own them, and companies don't really care if you lose your gaming library.  In fact, they have more of a financial incentive to make you buy these same games all over again. 

Steam accounts seem more reliable than console digital accounts run by Nintendo or Sony.  However, game companies can and do go out of business.  They can also be purchased.  Never thought I'd see the day when a console maker would buy the largest third party company, but Microsoft bought Activision.  Who owns Call of Duty now?  (Not to mention countless other Activision IP.)  If Activision could get bought, then Steam could get bought.  If Atari and Sega can leave the console space, then Valve can leave the digital marketplace.  Your digital games are not safe.  

Meanwhile I have all of these 30+ year old music CD's that I left in my car during extreme weather and they still play just fine.  And I treat my games much better than I treat my music CD's.  Physical media isn't 100% perfect, but I find it far more reliable than a digital marketplace.



Around the Network
BraLoD said:
Chrkeller said:

That store that sells nothing I want is awesome!  

We good?  Lol.

Edit

Jokes aside, I would love to see GoG get a better selection and better timing.  FF7 Remake 3 years after Steam isn't going to work for me.  

Is there no game on GoG that you own on Steam?

If that's the case, they do have, you just bought them elsewhere.

They are trying to get more newer games, but if people don't use their store publishers have no rush to release there, and it becomes a vicious cycle.

Square is more open to putting their games everywhere, they really should offer if there too.

There is quite a few, but release date is the challenge.  FF7 Remake was 3 years after Steam.  GoW was 2 years after Steam.  

Most games hit GoG after I've already purchased.  Or, said game still isnt on GOG.  

The idea is amazing, they just need to tighten things up to be a practical versus Steam, at least for me.

Edit

I checked out of curiosity, the last 4 games I bought are not on GoG.  The next two games I plan on buying (RE9 and MGS3 Delta) are not on GoG.  

Last edited by Chrkeller - 5 days ago

rtx 4090, 32 gb ram, i7-13700k

Switch 2

Chrkeller said:

GoG has a good awful selection and most of the games are old as crap, like the original Resident Evil trilogy.. which I can download roms from about 90 different websites. They dont have the new RE games.

GoG, is a waste IMO. A store is only as good as it's selection.

Games I feel are important and I want to keep I get on GOG. And while Steam has the superior selection, GOG has enough good games for me to play with my limited time. The real thing is the convinience Steam offers. That is unmatched. Also as a Linux gamer I have to say: Proton (Steams emulation) is amazing. So yes, I use both Steam and GOG, for different reasons.



3DS-FC: 4511-1768-7903 (Mii-Name: Mnementh), Nintendo-Network-ID: Mnementh, Switch: SW-7706-3819-9381 (Mnementh)

my greatest games: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

10 years greatest game event!

bets: [GTA6]

BraLoD said:

Sony could only brick my PS5 if I allowed that update to go through. And if they even released an update like that, they would be commiting a crime.

The thing is, no company like Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft, Sega, Ubisoft, Konami, etc could ever take the vast majority of my games away from me.

They could not take them away from you, but they can make it very inconvenient for you, if they shut down the update servers, the save game cloud and DLC access.

All games you reinstall (f. e. on a new PS5 or on PS6 or if your current PS5 needs a reset to factory settings due to broken/corrupt internal storage) would have to run as unpatched version with many flaws. If you can't transfer your save games from the old hardware anymore, you have to start every game from the beginning... goodbye gaming progress of dozens or hundred of hours per game. Even if you still have those save games from a backup, many of them won't be compatible to an unpatched game or if a previously installed DLC ain't available anymore. Maybe Sony shuts down its activation servers (or bans your PSN account and you can't connect your PSN account anymore for trophies and save games sync. 

Last edited by Conina - 5 days ago

BraLoD said:

Yes, GoG claims to sell you games and not licenses, and that's a way better model than Steam on PC.

https://support.gog.com/hc/en-us/articles/212632089-GOG-User-Agreement?product=gog

USING GOG SERVICES AND GOG CONTENT

2.1 We give you and other GOG users the personal right (known legally as a 'license') to use GOG services and to download, access and/or stream (depending on the content) and use GOG content. This license is for your personal use. We can stop or suspend this license in some situations, which are explained later on.

10. OWNERSHIP OF GOG SERVICES AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

10.1 GOG services including (but not limited to) their graphics, computer code, user interface, look and feel, audio, video, text, layout, databases, data and all other content, and all legal and exploitation rights regarding them are either owned by us or we license them from third parties. GOG content is owned by its developers/publishers and licensed by us. All rights are reserved except as we have explained in this Agreement. You may not use or exploit any part of the GOG services or GOG content except as explained in this Agreement.



HoloDust said:

Original purpose of GOG is what it states in the name - Good Old Games. If you look at it from that perspective, it does it's job great, making those old games available and playable on modern hardware...and properly digitally owned.

Yeah, I bought hundreds of old games on GOG and got hundreds of them on that platform via Amazon Prime Gaming.

Although they have a few new games, I mostly buy those on Steam. Patches for new games are released much earlier on Steam in most cases. Steam also has a better controller compatibility. Some GOG games I had to play via the Steam client ("add a Non-Steam game") to get proper gamepad controls.

The very few VR games they have are restricted to a few VR headsets and VR controllers. The flexibility, convenience and compatibility of SteamVR just isn't there.