First, want to let you know, if you haven't seen it yet, the list view in the catalog is back. We're just adding some polishing to this option, and fixing the fact that after reload the view gets back to grid view, but other than that you can now browse all games as a list - no autoplay videos, and titles are visible without hovering over tiles.
lolplatypus: If the feature has been problematic behind the scenes, it is understandable that you're looking for a replacement. Keep in mind, though, that the positive aspects of GOGMixes went beyond games discoverability, but things like the Second Class Customer mix also dealt with some unfortunate shortfalls of GOG, for example patch situation with certain titles. The fact that there is, to my knowledge, no way to check a game's version in the store, doesn't help here.
This is just one example for GOGMixes covering very valuable information that went beyond simple discoverability issues and which would have to be addressed to somewhat restore the appeal that GOGMixes had.
In other words: I appreciate the wish to remedy the lack of mixes, but it needs to be pointed out that something like the Curated Collections would
not be a 1:1 replacement.
When it comes to GOGMixes, and especially the one you're mentioning here, I think the revamped reviews could serve as a good place to inform other users if a game lacks a patch/update/feature.
lolplatypus: That's great to read. Just something I want to point out:
The problem with the news at the bottom is the lack of immediate visibility. News should be something that's digestible at a glance when it comes to the front page. The bottom is bad for this, because it's out of the way. However, since it can be reached with the press of a key, it's not the worst position, either. Ideally don't bury the news somewhere in the middle where we'd be forced to hunt for them with the scroll wheel.
As said before, we have a few ideas on how to change the featuring this section, but we're not ready to discuss that just yet. Will keep you posted.
lolplatypus: I have to admit I don't get this. It's a problem with data caps, it cannot be avoided while checking a game's title or store page, and it's a mess with keyboard driven browsers. I can understand, if some of these gripes are seen as minor, but what's the point? I just don't understand, what's the upside? You're linking to trailer that's not meant for a thumbnail view. Half the time I can't see shit. This isn't helping anyone. On the contrary: in the two szenarios where these are unavoidable I am either
a) looking at something with a ton of entries made up of different editions or DLC, thus I either already own the game or clearly interested and try to find the proper version, but then get the same tiny trailer (imagine this with Stelaris) half a dozen times while sorting through it.
b) or am about to go to the game's page, where that same trailer is available to me, if I want to watch it.
I get that sometimes you come up with a feature you're really proud of and that becomes an important part of your vision for the project, but there's barely any use of this and most responses in this thread very clearly hate it. I think there was one guy who actually liked it.
It just strikes me as a really strange hill to die on.
We hear you. For now, it won't change, but this one is on our radar for sure.
I'm not taking this personal, nor I take it as a "hostile or disrespectful" manner. I've been here for long enough to know and appreciate all the things you've done over here. The changes are happening, and maybe not in the timeframe you consider reasonable, but I do hope we can win you back with everything that we have planned for the future.
HypersomniacLive: Forgive me for being a tad pedantic - this thread was never in need of any reviving; users didn't magically start liking the 'new' GOG, nor stopped discussing the issues. The last post before yours was from yesterday, hardly an indication that the thread was dead as you make it sound.
True, but the posts just before that were from Nov. 28, which makes them on this lively forum a bit outdated.
HypersomniacLive: Better late than never, I guess.
More than a year ago, GOG had a few users over at their offices in Warsaw. The problematic and mostly lacking communication was one of the topics discussed, and from what those users shared here, GOG seemed interested and prepared to actively work on improving things on this front.
Fast-forward to today, and nothing has changed as here you are apologising and telling us that this post of yours is the first step towards fixing communication. After two months of users commenting and giving feedback on the problems the site revamp introduced. While GOG remained silent.
I'm sorry to say that I don't believe anything will ever change on this front. Experience says that GOG shows up and makes an announcement/statement
after the numbers show that its users aren't all talk and no action; in this specific case, I'll go on a limb and say that the previous two big(ger) sales didn't go as hoped/expected, and concern about the next one coming up (Winter sale) going the same way has something to do with the timing and content of this response.
You may think that I'm being unfair and (too) cynical, but this is far from our first rodeo, and so far the score isn't in your favor. So yes, I'm being cynical, and changing my view on this requires quite some hard and consistent work on GOG's part. I may not even be alone in this.
That's fair, and I understand why you're being cynical. I hope we can prove we can do better, and things can change.
HypersomniacLive: I guess we'll have to wait and see what the part I highlighted entails, but, seeing what sort of changes the anniversary revamp brought, and the recent bug with the nav-bar hiding the settings part of the forum, the initial reaction is feeling some dread.
Some of the changes are happening now (list view) and in the upcoming days, so I'm sure we'll get your feedback on these.
As to the nav-bar bug, what do you have in mind?
HypersomniacLive: Since it seems that GOG has decided which things will remain as they are, it'd be appreciated if you shared that list with us. I understand that GOG would like to avoid a possible shitstorm at the eves of the big Winter sale, but beating around the bush, after two months of silence, makes this attempt at restoring two-way communication feel less sincere.
There is no list. Things that won't change (and are important by you) were mentioned in my post - support for IE11 and older versions of browsers or bringing back GOGMixes in the old form. As for auto-play, I mentioned that this won't be changed, because currently we're not working on such change. But yes, we do hear you and understand it's one of the biggest issues you have, so it won't be left unnoticed.
EDIT for some typos
