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GOG renews its focus on classic games, starting with 'The Wheel of Time'
GOG wants to revive its reputation as a home for classic games, and it's starting by releasing 'The Wheel of Time' with support for modern PCs.
GOG's new refund policy lets you return a game even if you've played it
GOG is simplifying its refund process, making it easier to get your money back if you don't like a game you recently purchased. Moving forward, you have up to 30 days to refund any game, including ones you've already installed and played.
Weekend deals include GOG bundles, Shadow of Mordor, Wii U bundles, 3DS XLs
Should you be looking for a few good gaming deals, this weekend holds plenty of promise. For starters, Good Old Games is finishing off its Big Winter Sale with an encore offering of every daily bundle that was featured in the two-week sale. Deals focused on The Witcher, Rayman, Prince of Persia series and others can be had, with titles ranging in support for PC, Mac and Linux platforms. Flash deals and general discounts will also be offered until the sale's conclusion later today at 2pm GMT. If you're willing to deal with limited availability of physical goods, deals on several notable console games are also available to the swift; Among Amazon's batch of sales is Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor (Xbox One) for $27.99, Driveclub (PS4) for $34.99, Halo: The Master Chief Collection (Xbox One) for $44.99, The Last of Us: Remastered ($29.99), Forza Horizon 2 and Sunset Overdrive (Xbox One) for $39.99, and Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13 (Xbox 360, PS3) for $14.99. Xbox owners can also snatch up Destiny (Xbox 360) and Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (Xbox One) for $30 apiece from the Microsoft store. Lastly, leaked details concerning Target's weekly ad suggest that starting on Sunday, the retail chain will offer the 32 GB Wii U with Super Mario 3D World and Nintendo Land for $250. Shoppers should also be able to pick up a 3DS XL for $149.99. [Image: GOG]
GOG Big Fall Sale Finale: FTL, Fez, Sam And Max, Rogue Legacy
GOG.com kicked off its DRM-free Big Fall Sale Finale this morning, putting more than 700 games on sale until Tuesday, November 25. The sale is split into two 48-hour periods, the first a "recap of flash deals" that rapidly come and go, and a second period with the Big Fall Sale's daily bundles that starts on Sunday. Thrifty buyers may want to act fast, as some of the flash deals will expire within hours. The deals include Fez ($5), Rogue Legacy ($3), Deus Ex: Game of the Year Edition ($2.49), Pathologic ($2), System Shock 2 ($5), Rollercoaster Tycoon: Deluxe Edition ($3), FTL: Advanced Edition ($5) and the four primary Wing Commander games are $3 each, with the first two games bundled together. Sam & Max Save the World and Beyond Time and Space are $15 each, while The Devil's Playhouse is $17.49. OG.com also has deals on bundles starting today, such as the Fedora Deluxe Pack, a five-game Tex Murphy bundle that players can download at 80 percent off ($7.16). The digital games distributor is also offering a movie bundle for $8.45 that features five films, including The King of Arcades, Pixel Poetry and Minecraft: The Story of Mojang. [Image: GOG.com]
The Witcher Adventure Game's video tutorial explains the race for Victory Points
As is the case with most fantasy adventures, digital (and real-world) board game The Witcher Adventure Game gets complicated. Thankfully, series developer CD Projeket RED has put together the in-depth introduction above, which familiarizes would-be heroes with its card types, status ailments, battle system and general progression. While the tutorial is dense in useful information and examples, the simplified take is that two to four players race to finish main quests before their fellow players. Once a player's third main quest is completed, the game ends after one more turn from all other players. Glory is granted to whoever holds the most Victory Points at the end, a form of score earned by completing sidequests, investigating leads, besting monsters or performing other actions. The Witcher Adventure Game will let dice fly on PC, Mac, iOS and Android devices in 2014 and is currently available for pre-order at Good Old games for $8.99. A physical version from Fantasy Flight Games is also expected to ship later this month.
Shelter 2's first gameplay trailer says 'click this lynx'
Stockholm-based independent developer Might and Delight offered up its first gameplay trailer of Shelter 2 today, the studio's next PC exploration game. Found after the break, the video demonstrates the motherly lynx's survival and protection methods, including tracking down prey and cautiously trotting close to her cubs. The survival sequel features "more elaborate gameplay features than its predecessor," according to the game's site. Shelter 2 will add stamina as well as a greater variety of movement and killing abilities. Players will also be able to call their cubs to their side, carry them and encourage them to drink from streams. First announced in March, Shelter 2 is expected to launch on Steam, GOG and other digital platforms in February 2015 following its delay earlier this month. [Image: Might and Delight]
Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Father remake lands October 15
Revisiting Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers on modern platforms will become much simpler on October 15, when developers Pinkerton Road Studio and Phoenix Online Studios release a remake celebrating the adventure's 20th anniversary. PC and Mac users can prove their point-and-click prowess by pre-ordering at Steam, Good Old Games and Phoenix's online store in exchange for a soundtrack and a 15 percent discount, leaving their total at $17. When the Sins of the Fathers remake was initially estimated for a mid-2014 arrival, iOS and Android ports were also mentioned, but release dates for mobile versions were absent from Pinkerton's press release. Purists may be comforted with a reminder that Pinkerton Road Studio was launched by Gabriel Knight series creator Jane Jensen. [Image: Pinkerton Road]
Good Old Games discounts 35 games, delistings imminent
At the time of this writing, there's about a day left to pick over Good Old Games' recent promotion for PC, the Last Chance Special. There's more urgency to this sale than the allure of a good deal however – after the sale's conclusion on Monday at 12:00 a.m. EST, the Last Chance Special's 35-game catalog will be removed from GOG. With Jack Keane 2: The Fire Within carrying the special's highest price at $7.49 and the average ranging closer to $2.49, at least it won't strain your savings if you decide to splurge. The first two entries from the Spellforce, Desperados, Red Faction, Aquanox and Dark Fall series are up for grabs, as are Chaser, Alien Nations, The Penumbra Collection and plenty more. Check to see if the Last Chance Special has anything for your tastes, and if not, there's always a less-urgent sale on classic Activision titles like the Quest For Glory and King's Quest series. [Image: GOG]
Good Old Games glitch gave away free games in Linux sale
Getting a good deal in a sale is kind of the whole point, but clearing out a promotion's spread without spending a cent is pretty unheard of. Good Old Games users kicked off its Linux Launch promotion this week, but users that were quick to browse the sale discovered its offerings could be had for free. Members began posting in the GOG forums about a potential glitch, which has since been corrected. A day after the promotion had begun, a forum member posted an e-mail they received from GOG's support staff, which explained that the free games were obtainable "due to a small glitch on our end." While the email explained GOG would remove games the erroneously-free games from a customer's shelf if they so desired, it also stressed that "it's totally cool with [GOG]" if a user would prefer to keep them. Class acts then, all the way around. If you're interested in actually purchasing games from the sale, the Linux Launch promotion will last until 12 a.m. EST Tuesday. Don't Starve, Kentucky Route Zero and Sir, You Are Being Hunted are among the sale's offerings. [Image: Good Old Games]
GOG adds more than 50 Linux games, including many exclusives
DRM-free game distributor GOG.com has introduced support for Linux platforms, adding more than 50 Linux-compatible games to its online catalog. GOG's initial lineup hosts a number of exclusive Linux debuts for many featured games, including Pirates! Gold Plus, Flatout 2, and Rise of the Triad: Dark War. Today's rollout is the first stage in GOG's previously announced initiative that will bring more than 100 Linux games to the service by this fall. Other recent Linux-compatible additions to GOG's storefront include VVVVVV, Gods Will Be Watching, Kentucky Route Zero, Surgeon Simulator 2013, and SteamWorld Dig. Many classic games are currently discounted by up to 75% to commemorate GOG's Linux launch. [Image: GOG]
Good Old Games' summer sale offers daily, hourly reasons to stay inside
E3 2014 mostly showed us cool games to anticipate trying out at a later date, but if you want to get excited about stuff you can play right this minute, Good Old Games has kicked off its extensive summer sale. Both day-long and hourly deals will be offered on bundles and individual titles for the next few weeks, supplying discounts of up to 85 percent on daily sales and as much as 90 percent off of hourly prices. Even if the front page listings don't interest you, over 500 of GOG's catalog is "at least" 50 percent off, so put that GOG search bar to use and see if you can save some cash on your favorite classic. The press release also teases "more than a few giveaways," so it might be worth lurking around GOG's homepage and meticulously refreshing to check hourly deals and hunt for free games. [Image: GOG]
Vertical Drop Heroes HD generates battles on May 20
Life as a roguelike protagonist must be bleak - being born into adulthood without experiencing birthday parties, fighting increasingly brutal waves of enemies until their lone-warrior efforts are finally stomped out of existence ... it can't really be fulfilling. Maybe you can spare your Hero from the same fleeting fate in Vertical Drop Heroes HD, a randomly-generated roguelike due for PC and Mac on May 20. Players will have 20 traits, 15 abilities and powers and 16 weapons to arm Heroes with, but anyone overwhelmed by Vertical Drop Heroes' mounting challenge can rope in a teammate via split screen or network-based co-op. What are you fighting for beyond a few more minutes of life for your Hero? The related press release teases the "truth behind the game," which conveniently lays beyond conquering the final boss. Vertical Drop Heroes will cost $5 when it arrives on Good Old Games, Humble Store and Green Man Gaming. It's also currently up for vote on Steam Greenlight. [Image: Nerdook Productions]
GOG.com adds enhanced Mac, language support to select games
Good Old Games added more titles to its Mac library this week, boosting its RPG selection with a few classic titles. Mac-compatible versions of Baldur's Gate: The Original Saga, Baldur's Gate 2 Complete, Icewind Dale Complete, Icewind Dale 2 Complete and Planescape: Torment are now available for $9.99 apiece. Those looking for something a little cheaper could also consider the newly-added The Temple of Elemental Evil for $5.99. If you'd like more chances to play games in something other than English, GOG has also added language packs to a range of titles, most commonly offering French, German, Russian and Polish in its additions. The games previously listed in this post now offer at least three languages other than English, but you can check the full list of added languages for the new D&D-themed selection as well as games like Tropico Reloaded and Rollercoaster Tycoon 2: Deluxe. [Image: GOG]
GOG.com to bring classic games to Linux
GOG.com (aka Good Old Games) has announced plans to bring some portion of its catalogue of classic PC and Mac video games to the increasingly well-supported Linux platform. Though not immediately available, this morning's announcement claims that GOG will enter the Linux market at some point this Fall. "We're initially going to be launching our Linux support on GOG.com with the full GOG.com treatment for Ubuntu and Mint," the announcement stated. "That means that right now, we're hammering away at testing games on a variety of configurations, training up our teams on Linux-speak, and generally getting geared up for a big kick-off in the fall with at least 100 Linux games ready for you to play." Among those 100 are games already available to Linux, but the announcement claims that GOG.com will also play host to "a variety of classics that are, for the first time, officially supported and maintained by a storefront like ours." Unfortunately, the announcement offers no specifics on exactly which games we might see available on Linux. Not out of malice or subterfuge, but because the team working on Linux support hasn't yet nailed down which games it will be working on. Presumably we'll hear more about the full slate of games on offer as we move closer to the program's launch this Fall. [Image: Linux.org]
Good Old Games retracts proposed regional pricing structure
Remember Good Old Games' plans to implement regional pricing for future titles? Well for the most part, that's not happening anymore - after extensive feedback from its userbase, GOG has reaffirmed its commitment to offer the same price to all of its customers. That means GOG users worldwide will still be able to purchase games at the same price as US customers. GOG insists it will "adamantly continue to fight for games with flat worldwide pricing," but if such a deal can't be struck with publishers, GOG will reimburse users. For now, that involves "$5.99 and $9.99 game codes," but reimbursement will eventually be given in store credit to be used toward any purchase. GOG says this will apply to "every single game where we do not have flat pricing," including the to-be-released Age of Wonders 3, Divinity: Original Sin and The Witcher 3. While local currencies will still be introduced for regions that don't use the US dollar, users will be able to pick whether they want to pay with USD or their region's respective currency. GOG's switch off of regional pricing may delay or prevent the addition of certain games to its catalog, but the company says it will "remain true to its values and will keep on offering you the best of DRM-free gaming." [Image: GOG]
Pre-order Blackwell Epiphany for April 24, become a medium
Pre-orders are now available for Blackwell Epiphany, the finale of Wadjet Eye Games' adventure-driven Blackwell series due out on April 24. Aside from a DRM-free download of Blackwell Epiphany, pre-ordering will grant buyers a redeemable Steam key, access to exclusive videos featuring the game's voice actors and series creator Dave Gilbert, an invitation to a private livestreaming of Epiphany's launch party, and the game's soundtrack. If you're a bit behind or haven't started the Blackwell series in the first place, the story follows Rosa Blackwell as she copes with the recent death of her aunt, which grants her an odd form of inheritance. After her aunt's death, a ghostly figure straight out of the '30s, Joey Mallone, appears to her and explains that he's been accompanying members of the Blackwell family for a few generations now. With the passing of Rosa's aunt, she's next in line to inherit a ghostly sidekick. Naturally, the duo go on to solve mysteries together, using Rosa's abilities as a medium to communicate with the dead to piece together narratives. Their search for answers and efforts to help the deceased find peace have extended through four previous games, but Epiphany's press release teases that their work bears a "price," which Rosa and Joey will presumably discover in the finale. Blackwell's preceding episodes can be bought from GOG's Blackwell Bundle for $14.99, or purchased directly from Wadjet Eye Games for $4.99-$9.99 apiece. The developer also plans to port the Blackwell series over to iOS, but the adventure has yet to appear on the App Store. [Image: WadjetEye Games]
GOG to use regional pricing for three upcoming games
Good Old Games has shared plans to implement regional pricing for three upcoming titles due in the "next couple of months." The DRM-free digital distribution service explained that the addition is part of efforts to get more preorder options and launch day releases from publishers, in contrast to their expansive offering of retro games. The post is unable to state which titles these pricing options will be available for due to non-disclosure agreements, but it describes them as a strategy game and two RPGs. The post notes GOG's plans for these games are similar to its adjusted Witcher 2 prices in the US, UK, European Union and Australian markets. It will be interesting to see if users will be able to sidestep regional censorship or higher prices with these future titles by buying from another region - Australian Witcher 2 fans were able to do both after GOG stopped basing a user's region off of their IP address. [Image: Good Old Games]
GOG.com members raised $1.9 million during 2013 charity event
Digital distributor Good Old Games announced that it raised $1.9 million for the World Wildlife Fund, Worldbuilders, and Gaming for Good during last year's Charity Promo, an event that offered a lineup of standout indie games in return for charitable donations. Ten studios took part in the promotion, waiving their cut of royalties for games sold during the fundraiser. During the course of the event, buyers received digital copies of three featured games after donating $5 or more to one of GOG's three chosen charities. Participants included Introversion, Subset Games, Tiger Style Games, Amanita Design, Instant Kingdom, Northway Games, Digital Game Factory, Might & Delight, Daedalic, and Oddworld.
Today's deals on Good Old Games, FIFA 14, Gran Turismo 6 and Steam
Today is your last chance to take advantage of Good Old Gaming's Winter Sale, with most of its catalog available for 50 percent off or more. Highlights include the Complete Wing Commander bundle for $11.92, a Sci-Fi Combat Sims bundle that includes Descent 1 - 3 for $10.94, and the Fantasy Through History bundle that offers Torchlight and more for $11.35. Steam's ninth day of sales offers Torchlight 2 for $4.99, Deadpool for $9.99, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons for $4.49 and Saints Row 4 for $19.99. If you're feeling charitable, you can grab SR4's Child's Play Pack for $1.19, which dresses your president in Digital Dino or Robochimp outfits. Deep Silver will donate all of the involved proceeds to Child's Play. Console gamers aren't left out of the post-holiday savings, either - Amazon is offering the PS3 racer Gran Turismo 6 for $39.99 today. PS3 and Xbox 360 copies of FIFA 14 are also $34.99, with PC downloads going for $29.99. Lastly, Square Enix's mobile sale is on until January 5, offering deals on mobile ports of classics like Secret of Mana for $3.99 on iOS, The World Ends With You for $8.99 on iOS, and all kinds of Final Fantasy games for iOS and Android.
Good Old Games now offers money back guarantee for games you can't run
For all the convenience digital games sales have brought us, they've come at the cost of the return policy. Buy a downloadable title you don't like? Tough noogies, kid - no take-backs. Well, unless you bought from Good Old Games. To help stem customer concern that a given title might not run on their computer, GOG has implemented a new money back guarantee that promises a full refund for any unplayable game. The caveat, of course, is you have to try: the team's support group pledges to do everything in its power to get its catalog's game running on your computer. If it can't, you get your cash back. Easy. Perhaps more notable, is the 14-day return policy it's attaching to any PC game the user hasn't downloaded. Sure, two weeks of leeway is kind of a standard, but for digital distribution services it's also a little unprecedented. Steam only offers refunds on pre-orders, and only if the request is processed before the game is released. Origin's policy is a little more forgiving, and gives gamers 24 hours (after a game is first launched) to let buyers remorse set in, or up to a week if the game is unplayed. Comparatively, 14 days almost seems generous. It's not a groundbreaking reform of digital purchase refunds, but at least it's a start - check out the company's announcement video after the break.
