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Mr.Caine: Because the world is black and white.
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tinyE: Well in fairness, for canines it is.
But then, dogs also think that 15 years is a lifetime. Their view is unreliable.
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tinyE: Well in fairness, for canines it is.
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jamyskis: But then, dogs also think that 15 years is a lifetime. Their view is unreliable.
That and they like to smell each others shit.
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micktiegs_8: Don't Starve was given GOG updates until its last patch, which requires use of the updater that comes with the game.

Star Ruler 2 was given a GOG patch, and anything further needs the in-game updater.

The Arcen Games were GOG abandoned a long time ago, because he likes to bring out tiny updates for them... convenient for him I guess.
Thanks for this info.

I've now placed these games on my GOG Exception List - unfortunatley, I already had previously purchased all of them! This is the kind of info I wish was easier to know of up front, before purchase.
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mrkgnao: Installed it just now to test. I don't have Steam on my computer; never had.
Had no problem launching the game and beginning to play.
I did get a Windows alert that the game is requesting access to my network but I didn't allow it.
There is a Steam DLL among the game's files, but I don't see any reason to be alarmed by it or consider it DRM.
I've heard of this bug before. It's when the game is technically DRM-free, but still looks for Steam and starts it if it finds it. Basically, if you're testing it on a computer without Steam, this bug doesn't show up. It makes sense that the computers that GOG tested this on may not have had Steam on them.
i don't get it. what drm, ethan redux isn't released on gog yet.
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apehater: i don't get it. what drm, ethan redux isn't released on gog yet.
Actually it is... I just discovered it thanks to this thread, I had no idea it was either....

If you own the original you just need to follow the instruction posted earlier in this thread by "real.geizterfahr" to redem it

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real.geizterfahr: When you open the game on your shelf and click the "MORE" button, you'll find a point called "Serial Key". Click it and you'll get a (broken) link: HTTP://WWW.GOG.COM/REDEEM/12345678 Copy the 8-digit code at the end of the link, go to the redeem page, paste the code and redeem it. You'll now find The Vanishing of Ethan Carter Redux on your game shelf (the original game is still there).
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apehater: i don't get it. what drm, ethan redux isn't released on gog yet.
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Gersen: Actually it is... I just discovered it thanks to this thread, I had no idea it was either....
It's been reported in the "what did just update" thread five days ago.
Don't tell me that experienced goglodytes such as you do not follow the "what did just update" thread.
Post edited September 20, 2015 by mrkgnao
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Crosmando: Redux? I haven't seen this advertised on GOG, so do we just redownload the game to get this version?
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real.geizterfahr: When you open the game on your shelf and click the "MORE" button, you'll find a point called "Serial Key". Click it and you'll get a (broken) link: HTTP://WWW.GOG.COM/REDEEM/12345678 Copy the 8-digit code at the end of the link, go to the redeem page, paste the code and redeem it. You'll now find The Vanishing of Ethan Carter Redux on your game shelf (the original game is still there).
How come your post isn't high rated yet?

+1 for you! Thanks!
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Zrevnur: It can be a bug and it can be DRM at the same time.
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timppu: I don't know what your definition for DRM is, apparently any feature that could be considered annoying in some way?

I agree with this test to say whether a digital game has DRM in the practical sense:

If you have the game installer and any official updates on an external hard drive, can you install and play it on your PC which is without an internet connection, without having to use any unofficial cracks or workarounds?

If you can, then it isn't DRM. If you can't, then it is DRM. In the case of Ethan Carter, you can, so no DRM. Also, I have no problem calling those Steam games which can be freely moved to another PC and played there even without Steam installed DRM-free. They also pass that DRM litmus test.
How about cases like Defcon, which - if it manages to connect to the authentication server - will check whether the included key is valid or not, but works wonderfully if not allowed internet access. You don't mention that, but it is very similar to what people do with much pirated software (I know I did with the Adobe Creative Suite before I managed to buy it for a 80%-off deal) - stopping the software to connect to license-checking servers (by editing the hosts file) before entering a key because the local check is much more lenient.

Ethan The Vanishing of Ethan Carter I can give a pass if it simply launches Steam as a side effect but doesn't actually try to do a licence check anywhere.
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mrkgnao: It's been reported in the "what did just update" thread five days ago.
Don't tell me that experienced goglodytes such as you do not follow the "what did just update" thread.
I check that one every once in a while, but don't remember to do it every day.
Post edited September 20, 2015 by Maighstir
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micktiegs_8: Don't Starve was given GOG updates until its last patch, which requires use of the updater that comes with the game.

Star Ruler 2 was given a GOG patch, and anything further needs the in-game updater.

The Arcen Games were GOG abandoned a long time ago, because he likes to bring out tiny updates for them... convenient for him I guess.
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Martek: Thanks for this info.

I've now placed these games on my GOG Exception List - unfortunatley, I already had previously purchased all of them! This is the kind of info I wish was easier to know of up front, before purchase.
I'm pretty sure you can still move all of the updated files around where you see fit. It works for the Arcen games, I'm just not sure about the other two yet. It's not as neat and tidy as having a GOG installer, but it works in the end :)
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Zrevnur: ...
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Maighstir: How about cases like Defcon
I was first going to write a long answer, but my earlier answer to the Defcon DRM still works I guess:

http://www.gog.com/forum/general/defcons_drm_is_still_active_support_doesnt_give_a_crap/post65

So in short: yes it can be called DRM, but in practice it doesn't cause the issue which for me is the reason to avoid DRM.

Anyway, apparently GOG/publisher has fixed even that, or was the Linux version still pending...
Post edited September 21, 2015 by timppu
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Tormentfan: So we've already had the Defcon thing where we're finding out some rather unsavoury things regarding GOG's supposed DRM-free releases.. a universal key tied to a server? REALLY? In what universe is that DRM-FREE? But now we have a second case.. The Vanishing of Ethan Carter Redux when run opens Steam and won't run without the Steam .dlls.

What's going on GOG?.. I may have accepted 'mistake' (although it's a bad one considering that you go over the releases to supposedly to make sure the games comply with your policies!) it you hadn't been so damned shady with the above key issue.. YOU MUST HAVE KNOWN THAT'S NOT ANY KIND OF DEFINITION OF DRM-FREE ANY OF US WHO USE YOUR SITE WOULD EXPECT.. but now this happens.

I'm not entirely sure what to think.. are you making unreasonable mistakes considering the policies you've built your name on, or is this some kind of stealth policy change/definition of DRM switcheroo you're trying to sneak by us in increments?

It's bad enough that your comments shifted focus of the Defcon issue to the fact that it was 'an old key' which still doesn't deal with the actual issue in the least.. but you've stayed away from any comment at all on the Redux issue?

I buy from this site for one reason, and one reason only, I don't want DRM OF ANY SHAPE OR FORM in my gaming purchases and this has been your very public policy (up to now?).. If you are unable to stick to your existing policy or have any intention of changing said policy, then please make a public state about it so I can make a better informed opinion as to where I am willing to purchase.
Hi,
We always perform checks whether the game connects with Steam. If it does, before release, we return the master to the developer and ask them for a fix. We are currently trying to find a way to reproduce this issue on our testlab and no luck...

Therefore I need some additional info:

1) Where have you installed the game?
2) Do you have the steam version of EC installed on your hard drive?
3) Have you mixed the installation locations of GOG and Steam versions of EC, if the answer above is true?
4) Could you post the contents of the game main directory?
5) Could you tell us how, exactly, step by step, you installed the game? The more specific the answer, the better.

If it is indeed a bug on our side we will fix this asap.
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timppu: Anyway, apparently GOG/publisher has fixed even that, or was the Linux version still pending...
Yeah, they mentioned having fixed it, I haven't heard it confirmed yet though.
I just installed this game and apart from a windows firewall prompt to allow access to the network, which I blocked, it ran without any problems, I saw no mention of the Steam client.
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Maighstir: Yeah, they mentioned having fixed it, I haven't heard it confirmed yet though.
They mentioned having fixed the Linux version?