Dear Mindy: GOG Galaxy
With the advent of digital distribution in the gaming industry a number of companies have supplied digital distribution platforms for gaming products. GOG Galaxy is one of the more recent additions to this developing market and, unlike the other platforms which grew out of a gaming company seeking a way to more efficiently provide their products to consumers, GOG Galaxy springs from a dedicated retail company that specialized in releasing digital gaming content.
GOG, or Good Old Games as it was first called, was launched in 2008 with the goal of providing digital, updated copies of old games without any digital rights management schemes. Since then GOG has expanded to become one of the primary parties in the digital distribution market. Consumers create a user profile on gog.com for free. The profile allows them to setup payment information and provides a library where their gaming purchases are stored and can be downloaded to any computer the consumer desires.
GOG Galaxy continues this service as a fully fledged personalized distribution platform. Customers can browse games, edit their profile settings, and link their library to the computer that Galaxy is installed on. Galaxy is an optional add-on for subscribers and is not required to access the GOG website or the subscriber’s game library. The platform is currently available for Microsoft Windows and macOS with a Linux compatible version currently in development.
Once downloaded and installed Galaxy will automatically be linked to the user’s profile and game library after the user has signed into Galaxy with their GOG profile. The interface is fairly simple in terms of tabs and menu options and it uses drop-down buttons liberally. The game library and the GOG store feature prominently and include a search function for quick access to any game title.
Users can utilize Galaxy to install newly purchased games and games already listed in the user’s library. To interface with the computer Galaxy must run a synchronization check on all game files in the registry, including games that have already been downloaded directly from GOG’s website. This is also the method Galaxy uses to recognize Steam games for its crossover feature, an option that allows owners of game titles on Steam to add the game to their GOG library for free.
Galaxy is very simple and easy to utilize; these aspects are both a benefit and a hindrance to its functionality. It serves GOG’s primary intent to link GOG users and provide store and library access. However as a networking platform its does little beyond allowing GOG users to establish a Friend connection and connect for multiplayer purposes. Galaxy has nothing in the way of community forums or producer update pages.
It is important to take this fact with a grain of salt as GOG is first and foremost an online store. Unlike Steam and Battle.net, which aim to not only provide games but to facilitate the utilization and networking of those games, GOG is a provider of existing gaming titles and its primary business is to sell items. In this matter Galaxy serves its purpose admirably, providing quick and easy access to GOG’s listings and allowing for easy purchase and rapid acquisition of gaming titles.
One thing to note is Galaxy’s download functionality. Galaxy is evidently able to access servers with greater ease than Steam and boasts a much faster download ratio with the user’s connection. However Galaxy offers very few options for active downloads, for example downloads cannot be paused or queued, only started or aborted, and users will need to manage their activity on Galaxy to avoid interference with other online programs.
As an extension of GOG’s site, GOG Galaxy performs admirably and its very easy to access and utilize its core functions. At this point there is little beyond its storage and retail purposes that Galaxy can adequately perform. Granted, GOG may not need or want Galaxy to be anything more than a personalized store interface and that’s not unreasonable for them. Yet Galaxy is not needed for gamers to access and enjoy the good old games of the past; and if GOG expects it to enter the realm of dedicated game distribution and networking platforms then it has a long way to go.
Dear Mindy: Origin
Since the success of Valve’s Steam Client in revolutionizing the gaming industry’s distribution and marketing methods many major game providers have developed their own online platforms for supplying clients with products, support, and community. Origin is Electronic Arts’ digital distribution platform and one of the primary digital outlets for EA games and digital products.
Origin began life as EA Downloader which was released by EA in 2005. It would transition between various iterations such as EA Link and EA Download Manager, with each new version adding additional features and capabilities. These older versions provided both an online store for EA products as well as a profile management system and update source for digital products and hard copies. Origin was released in 2011 and combined all the elements of previous EA online services.
Like its competitors and equivalents, Origin features the staples of a modern digital gaming client system such as a friends list, a profile with achievements and avatar customization, a games library, store access, and automated support for currently owned games. Any game in the user’s library is available for download any number of times from Origin. Like Steam and Battle.net, product keys can be used to redeem physical copies of certain EA produced games; however if the game is already installed on the user’s computer the code cannot be redeemed even if the user does not intend to download the game.
At this point Origin only supplies titles owned and/or developed by EA. Origin can be accessed on PCs and recently on mobile devices but is not currently available for consoles. It is currently unknown if EA plans to include titles from other producers in its store selection. EA has specifically stated that Origin is a competitor with Steam so it is highly possible that Origin will eventually become a digital marketplace.
It’s worth noting that an Origin installation and account are required for more recent EA titles, primarily those released within the last few years, even if they are bought on disc or another form of third party distribution. Origin itself is a free service and can be utilized in offline mode if the user saves his or her login information in online mode first. Games installed from a disc do not need to be synchronized with Origin to run their single player and LAN functions. However they do need to be registered on Origin to receive updates, access multiplayer servers, and communicate with other players in-game.
Origin provides all the services necessary to play and enjoy the games it provides. It’s only glaring downside is that it is a first and foremost a store. Navigation is heavily weighted towards the store; and community interaction, such as forums and community posts, is limited. Games listed inside the user’s library are effectively placeholders and do not have their own pages, in contrast with Steam or Battle.net which have dedicated displays for each game. Purchasing and accessing games on Origin is quick and easy but any utility related to the account’s interaction with those games is minimal. Support is also lacking for older games with newer products receiving most of the attention as far as deals, advertisements, and FAQ posts are concerned.
Like everything EA touches Origin takes a popular concept and puts its own spin on it with rather mixed results. Origin features all the services necessary for acquiring and using EA products and connecting with the community of EA gamers. However on the flip-side Origin is heavily geared towards EA’s marketing and sacrifices its community development for customer interaction with the online store. It’s high quality and no doubt sufficient for EA’s purposes, but Origin will certainly have to be optimized to better support and reflect the gamer culture before it can truly equal its competitors.
Dear Mindy: Battle.net
Many of the online retail and digital distribution clients for PC games started life as a tool for publishers to easily provide games to customers around the globe. The success and popularity of this distribution, and subsequently marketing, medium has led to most of these clients becoming general distribution and host services still under their parent companies but now offering thousands of titles from many different developers. Battle.net, Blizzard Entertainment’s online gaming service and digital distribution platform and the first online gaming service incorporated into company games, has not diversified and has remained an exclusive outlet for Blizzard’s PC games.
In its original iteration Battle.net provided little beyond listings and chatting. Since then it has expanded to host online games, provide matchmaking and tournament ranking, and account management for players’ online profiles. In 2009 Blizzard upgraded Battle.net to support its new generation of titles. Since the upgrade all Blizzard games now require a Battle.net account. Any Blizzard games purchased after 2009 automatically prompt the player to create a Battle.net account after installation. An account can also be created at the Battle.net website.
Creating a Battle.net account consists of making a login username and password. Once the account has been created and the client downloaded this will be the username and password the player uses for all Blizzard games. Blizzard games, when accessed directly instead of through the Battle.net client, have their own login screens but all use the player’s Battle.net username and password.
Battle.net’s origins as an online gaming support service make the software particularly suited to online gaming services such as match-making, in-game networking, and the release and implementation of patches and downloadable content. Players who do not necessarily own the same game can become acquainted and chat with each other as long as they both have a Blizzard account. Each Blizzard game has its own homepage interface on the Battle.net client where updates and advertisements from Blizzard are listed and downloads can be managed and implemented.
To date six Blizzard titles can be purchased and are managed on Battle.net. Older Blizzard games have their own version of Battle.net known as Battle.net Classic which continues to host multiplayer matches and provide patch downloads but otherwise does not provide digital distribution. Any games that were originally purchased as CD/DVD can be integrated into the player’s Battle.net online account and interface and will be supported in the same way as completely digital products. Like all successful digital distribution platforms Battle.net does not require a subscription or charge fees for usage.
Since Battle.net only supplies and supports Blizzard games it should not be viewed as a competitor to other digital distribution clients like Steam or GamersGate but more as a business exclusive niche. Blizzard does not sell its games through other digital distributors so Battle.net is the only digital source for all current Blizzard titles.
Dear Mindy: Steam and the Steam Client
With the digital age in full swing it should be no surprise to any of us that the digital distribution of computer and console games has not only become a major part of the industry but also a preferred part for the emerging and existing gaming communities alike. There are several digital download platforms providing the gaming community with quick, 100% digital access to games but Steam, the platform developed by Valve Corporation and released in 2003, is by far the biggest and most well known.
Steam itself is completely digital and shares features with online matchmaking, online stores, blog forums, and cloud databases, and even wiki pages. Steam is available to computer and Playstation users and requires an active internet connection for most of its features; although games with single player modes can be accessed and played offline.
The services the Steam Client provides can be grouped into three broad categories: Steam provides a game library, a place to purchase those games, and a forum and profile system where a gamer can meet and communicate with other gamers. The Steam Client itself is the interface through which gamers access Steam’s services. Newcomers to Steam create an account online, then download the Steam Client onto their desktop. Through the Steam Client gamers can browse the store for new releases, sales, and of course view Steam’s ever increasing library of games.
Games purchased through Steam and added to the gamer’s profile and can be downloaded onto any computer that the gamer installs the Steam Client onto. A library keeps track of all purchased games, installed or otherwise, and Steam automatically downloads patches and updates to all installed games (these settings can be changed by the gamer). Gamers can also access guides, forum discussions, and downloadable content (DLC) for their games through the Steam Client.
Perhaps one of Steam’s best features is the ability for gamers to find friends who also use Steam. ‘Friends’ can view each other’s profiles, send messages through a simple instant messaging system, and receive updates on what games their friends are currently playing. Steam’s invite system allows multiplayer between friends to be seamlessly and swiftly initiated.
Although Steam is managed by a game company with its own products, Steam offers thousands of titles, including several main franchise such as Elder Scrolls, Half-Life, and Fallout. A select few titles already owned in CD/DVD format can be unlocked by their owners who then receive the digital versions for free. Purchases on Steam are facilitated through a number of options such as the Steam Wallet, Paypal, and direct credit and debit card transfers. Gamers receive a digital receipt and the game is added to their library to be downloaded at their convenience.
Dear Mindy: The basics of the gaming community
Greetings all; this is the introductory post for a special series of features highlighting the basics of the gaming community, specifically tools that facilitate online gaming and interaction as well as basic conventions that influence gaming life. Most readers will no doubt be familiar with most if not all of these elements, and that’s not only fine but good for all of us gamers. The information in our following Dear Mindy articles is primarily for those new to gaming or at least to the major online aspects of it.
For everyone not familiar with programs like Steam and Origins or services such as Mumble and Battlenet it is my objective to inform and assist you with these posts. If you find this helpful in any way please refer your burgeoning gamer friends to the information presented here that they too may experience the myriad options available to gamers of all levels and preferences.