Hi all, I'm sure this question has been asked before but I couldn't find it in the search engine. Where does my money go? Does any of my money go to the developers?

The money goes to whoever owns the rights to the game. So if the original developer still owns the game then they will get it, if not that its normally a publisher that payed for the rights that get the money.

The main reason I am asking is because I just bought BG2. I really respect Bioware for their unique and well-done games (mostly, I'm looking at you Dragon Age 2) and I would sleep better at night knowing a portion of my contribution to GOG has gone to them. I choose to buy my games here as opposed to Steam or, god forbid, EA Origins because I feel as though GOG supports that unique and creative streak in games that is becoming more and more rare these days. It would really be the icing on the cake if I could see what portion of my dollar goes to the good guys.

But GOG still gets a portion of that cash, just so we're clear. I mean, it's not like GOG is a non-profit.

I thought it was something along those lines. Do you know what percentage goes where? Is there a pie chart somewhere in the GOG FAQs that I have missed or is it all on an individual basis?

GOG is better than those because YOU own it free and clear - no DRM; I doubt Steam or the others can claim that.

Naturally, I would hardly expect it to be pro bono.

No. They're all made like this.

Gog doesn't talk about its business arrangements. So no luck finding out who gets paid what and on what deal. I know wizards of the coast must get a cut because they own the dnd licence and I would guess atari must get something as well. If bioware gets any of it or not would be down to the contracts they signed when making the game.

It would be nice if the original developers of games got the money from the game they made 10 years in the future, but if they don't its down to them. They are the ones that signed the contracts in the first place.

I wouldn't let it put you off buying games from here and some games like divine divinity still sees the money go to the original developers.

If you buy a game from GOG, some of your money goes to keeping GOG running

Some goes to the people who hold the rights to the games

The majority goes to their weekly drinking sessions, hence why it is near impossible to get a response over the weekend and also why there is not a monday release (too hung over)

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It would be nice if the original developers of games got the money from the game they made 10 years in the future, but if they don't its down to them. They are the ones that signed the contracts in the first place.
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Exactly.

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I wouldn't let it put you off buying games from here and some games like divine divinity still sees the money go to the original developers.
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No, of course not. Divinity is still a great game and worthy to be played, honor the developers with enjoyment if you can't do so with money.

Yes, at least if you buy Witcher 1-2 from GoG.

it depends on game.

For example Age of Wonders series came to GOG after they signed Triumph Studios.

So probably everything goes to the developers.

Same for Oddworld Inhabitants (Oddworld's series).

Some games made by Ubisoft (Beyond Good and Evil, Chessmaster 9000, Driver, Rayman series, Prince of Persia SoT, XIII)

Another World, Unreal series, Seven Kingdoms series, Restaurant Empire, Capitalism series.


And more.

But I think you are taking it too serious - after all, developers received their payment already - when thye signed the deal with publisher. Or they still get their share (%).

Sorry for reviving a topic, but I was wondering - I bought Fallout 2 on gog.com, does Bethesda get any money from it since they own the rights now?

Actually, the game you bought from GOG was still licensed from interplay, so they get the money. And if GOG isn't getting a Deal with Bethesda, GOG will lose Fallout by the end of 2012 (?).

But we don't even know what deals GOG made. Maybe they just paid one big pile of money and can keep all the profits from selling.

In any rate, the developer just about never gets money from sales. Development contracts are like contractors. They get paid their wages and nothing more. Unless the dev is publishing on its own, which is happening more and more.