Collector wrote: ↑Fri Nov 09, 2018 1:27 pm
It would be nothing for them to include both and given how large many of their games are the added size of including both DOSBox and SVM would be rather trivial. While my preference leans heavily in favor of DOSBox, sometimes SVM can be the best answer. I include both SVM and DOSBox with my KQ6 installer and use DOSBox for the DOS version and SVM for the Windows version for the high-res dialog portraits. Games where there essentially no differences between the two I see little need for anything other than DOSBox.
Using ScummVM for titles where the Windows versions have improvements makes sense, but for the rest, I agree that DOSBox is preferable.
Hopefully they will update their installers again to include both options at some stage.
"It is better to know some of the questions than all of the answers" - James Thurber
Semi-Happy Partygoer wrote: ↑Fri Nov 09, 2018 3:11 am
I also wish they wouldn't do away with their old installers after making updates, especially if said updates involve switching from DOSBox to ScummVM. I know GOG is all about making these games as accessible and user-friendly as possible, but making both options available might be a good idea.
I agree and brought this up on their forum not too long ago (inspired by you telling me the ScummVM save games are not compatible in most cases); and someone replied with a good idea. That if they do use ScummVM installers, why not still include all the original files, so if someone wants the option of using DOSBox themselves, that it'd still be a valid option.
The main differences between the three downloading options on GOG are as follows:
1. Website - You click and download any game you own straight from your library.
The one problem with this method is that many larger games are broken up into a lot of smaller files (sometimes dozens) so you'll have to download each one and it can get a little ridiculous, especially if you want to download more than one game. If you're only downloading a single game and/or the game's file size is small, then it's not a problem.
The benefit? No additional software, period.
2. GOG Downloader - Similar to downloading off the website, it lets you queue up multiple games to download and will keep downloading even if you close your browser.
I usually use the GOG Downloader as it's a very stable and fast way to download multiple games as a single EXE, regardless of the game's file size.
Normally, the GOG Downloader loads up on startup, but you can turn that off (like you can with Steam and most programs).
3. GOG Galaxy - You can both download games from here and perform automatic updates.
The only reason I use GOG Galaxy at all is to update games. It's a lot easier using it to update games as it'll do ALL of them for you and it'll alert you if an update is available. The alternative is to seek out and frequently check for updates in each game you have installed and manually download a patch or new game file. If you only have a couple of games installed or they're old titles (none of the Sierra games, for instance, are receiving any updates) then GOG Galaxy isn't of much use in my opinion.
I would avoid downloading games using GOG Galaxy. In my experience (and the experiences of many others who've complained on GOG's community boards) the download speeds are much slower using GOG Galaxy than either downloading from the website or using the GOG Downloader. Fortunately, you can still use GOG Galaxy to update your games, regardless of how you downloaded them.
GOG Galaxy normally loads at startup, but like the GOG Downloader, you can turn that off.
I believe I heard that some Sierra games did receive an update that moves them from DOSBox to ScummVM. I don't know if this also means a removal of some files from the game directories but if it does it's doubly sad. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.
DeadPoolX wrote: ↑Sat Nov 17, 2018 4:51 pm
I just might. I'm really sick of Facebook and how politicized everything becomes, regardless of the topic.
Word. I'd love to see social networks die and people return to the comfy cozy homes that are internet forums. Or at least some kind of exodus. That'd be amazing. I can't stand social networks. It used to just be a place to keep in touch with people you knew or your family (that's what I got it for). Now everyone and their dog is on there talking to people they don't know and conversations, understandings, and beliefs that were always kept within cliques and loose or close-knit social circles has bled into the mass internet population as one giant melting pot and whatever it's cooking doesn't smell very good. I don't think it's been a good thing.
MusicallyInspired wrote: ↑Sun Nov 18, 2018 12:02 am
Word. I'd love to see social networks die and people return to the comfy cozy homes that are internet forums. Or at least some kind of exodus. That'd be amazing. I can't stand social networks. It used to just be a place to keep in touch with people you knew or your family (that's what I got it for). Now everyone and their dog is on there talking to people they don't know and conversations, understandings, and beliefs that were always kept within cliques and loose or close-knit social circles has bled into the mass internet population as one giant melting pot and whatever it's cooking doesn't smell very good. I don't think it's been a good thing.
I couldn't agree more. Maia and I were just talking about this earlier tonight, in fact.
The likes of Facebook are not a good place for any kind of discussion. The limitations of the size of post, linking options, formatting etc. are not conducive to such conversations. Features such as simple quoting facilitate the logic of threads. Many social media sites allow for little more than drive-by quips, which seems to bring out the worst in people. One last thing is they are not good in archival terms. While the active part of these forums is mostly just community interaction, it does have technical information that can be used as reference. On social media such topics get buried and forgotten, nearly impossible to find again.
I too would love to see a return to traditional forums. The only thing that I would miss is the contact with the likes of the old sierra devs, who were rarely on the fan forums.
MusicallyInspired wrote: ↑Sun Nov 18, 2018 12:02 am
I believe I heard that some Sierra games did receive an update that moves them from DOSBox to ScummVM. I don't know if this also means a removal of some files from the game directories but if it does it's doubly sad. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.
I haven't downloaded any new versions in quite a while, but I believe GoG does now include the original executable and DOSBox necessary files in a separate folder within games that they've set up through ScummVM - at least they do for some titles, perhaps not all.
They didn't used to. The original files for the three Kyrandia games only had the data necessary to run them through ScummVM. Again, I'm not sure if those installers have been updated or not.
I primarily use the resources from my hard copies; I only bought most of the GoG versions as backups and/or to support the games. So I can't say for certain how they do things nowadays. My previous experience indicates a lack of consistency, so what's true for one title won't necessarily be the case for others.
"It is better to know some of the questions than all of the answers" - James Thurber
DeadPoolX wrote: ↑Sat Nov 17, 2018 4:51 pm
I just might. I'm really sick of Facebook and how politicized everything becomes, regardless of the topic.
Perfect! Your presence here would be a very welcomed return!
DeadPoolX wrote: ↑Sun Nov 18, 2018 7:21 am
I couldn't agree more. Maia and I were just talking about this earlier tonight, in fact.
Drag her back over here too!
MusicallyInspired wrote: ↑Sun Nov 18, 2018 12:02 am
I believe I heard that some Sierra games did receive an update that moves them from DOSBox to ScummVM. I don't know if this also means a removal of some files from the game directories but if it does it's doubly sad. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.
It does. I confirmed that with Leisure Suit Larry 1 EGA from GOG. It just has a few files and ScummVM.
MusicallyInspired wrote: ↑Sun Nov 18, 2018 12:02 am
Word. I'd love to see social networks die and people return to the comfy cozy homes that are internet forums. Or at least some kind of exodus. That'd be amazing. I can't stand social networks. It used to just be a place to keep in touch with people you knew or your family (that's what I got it for).
Agreed.
MusicallyInspired wrote: ↑Sun Nov 18, 2018 12:02 am
Now everyone and their dog is on there
Collector wrote: ↑Sun Nov 18, 2018 10:19 am
I too would love to see a return to traditional forums. The only thing that I would miss is the contact with the likes of the old sierra devs, who were rarely on the fan forums.
^ This. It is nice being able to interact with Al, Christy, Lori, Corey, etc.
Collector wrote: ↑Sun Nov 18, 2018 10:19 am
The likes of Facebook are not a good place for any kind of discussion. The limitations of the size of post, linking options, formatting etc. are not conducive to such conversations. [...] Many social media sites allow for little more than drive-by quips, which seems to bring out the worst in people.
I mostly use Facebook as an easy all-in-one location for local (and sometimes international) news and it works well... or at least it would if it weren't for the people.
Facebook is like a global clubhouse for the rude, cruel, ignorant, intolerant, and obnoxiously loud. It's as if they took all the negative aspects you could ever find from message boards, reduce or remove any oversight or moderation, and give people virtually free reign over everything and anything.
In short, it's the digital form of Mos Eisley, where Obi-Wan Kenobi's quote from ANH still holds: "You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy."
Wow! It looks like I haven't missed anything by not having FB. Yikes.
Coming back to the thread topic (Steam and GOG) - This article from Lifehacker summarises the good, the bad, and the ugly about them both. It's from early 2016, though... any idea if it's still accurate?
