GOG.com Adds DRM-Free Movies; TV Coming

GOG.com announces the addition of DRM-free movie sales to their marketplace for good old games, offering films to either download or stream, providing two flicks for free to help test out their ability to deliver them. Besides the two freebies, all but one of their offerings are currently priced at $5.99, and though this is an introductory price for some titles, they say this is their main target price point going forward. They say most of the movies are full 1080p HD, though some are 720p, and they also offer a 576p format for the bandwidth constrained. Here's word on the program (extra credit for the George Harrison lyric reference), which will also eventually include television shows:
Our goal is to offer you cinema classics as well as some all-time favorite TV series with no DRM whatsoever, for you to download and keep on your hard drive or stream online whenever you feel like it. We talked to most of the big players in the movie industry and we often got a similar answer: "We love your ideas, but … we do not want to be the first ones. We will gladly follow, but until somebody else does it first, we do not want to take the risk". DRM-Free distribution is not a concept their lawyers would accept without hesitation. We kind of felt that would be the case and that it's gonna take patience and time to do it, to do it, to do it right. That's quite a journey ahead of us, but every gamer knows very well that great adventures start with one small step. So why not start with something that feels very familiar? We offer you a number of gaming and internet culture documentaries - all of them DRM-Free, very reasonably priced, and presenting some fascinating insight into topics close to a gamer's heart.
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25.
 
Re: GOG.com Adds DRM-Free Movies; TV Coming
Aug 28, 2014, 06:33
mag
25.
Re: GOG.com Adds DRM-Free Movies; TV Coming Aug 28, 2014, 06:33
Aug 28, 2014, 06:33
mag
 
walrus1 wrote on Aug 27, 2014, 21:07:
GOG has attempted to jump the shark here. I wouldn't be surprised if the shark ate them.

I doubt this represents a huge investment on their end. Worst case, it'll quietly go away, no harm. Best case, one day you won't have to deal with VUDU or whatever.
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No subject
Aug 28, 2014, 02:02
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No subject Aug 28, 2014, 02:02
Aug 28, 2014, 02:02
 
jdreyer wrote on Aug 27, 2014, 18:02:

http://store.steampowered.com/app/245550/
This I know now, but it's not exactly prominent is it? It doesn't have it's own category, it isn't in gaming, it isn't in software. Not under demo's...
--
"For every human problem,
there is a neat, simple solution;
and it is always wrong."
--H.L. Mencken
23.
 
Re: GOG.com Adds DRM-Free Movies; TV Coming
Aug 27, 2014, 21:07
23.
Re: GOG.com Adds DRM-Free Movies; TV Coming Aug 27, 2014, 21:07
Aug 27, 2014, 21:07
 
GOG has attempted to jump the shark here. I wouldn't be surprised if the shark ate them.
Avatar 57600
22.
 
Re: GOG.com Adds DRM-Free Movies; TV Coming
Aug 27, 2014, 20:52
22.
Re: GOG.com Adds DRM-Free Movies; TV Coming Aug 27, 2014, 20:52
Aug 27, 2014, 20:52
 
saluk wrote on Aug 27, 2014, 18:30:
Pretty sure they misjudged the demand here. I care a tiny bit about drm free movies. Back when you had to hack a dvd to play it on linux I cared a bit more. I hate what the drm does to the hardware of the film landscape a lot more than from the software side.

On the other hand, I've mostly given into the subscription model for movies+tv. Just out of convenience. I don't really care to own it. I've already watched a lot of these on netflix. I can see very few movies that I would want to own this way, but the prices aren't bad in general, pretty comparable to other digital film purchases.

But it just seems like a bad fit all around.

I think it would be huge if somebody could pull this off with theatrical movies and offer a choice of formats and qualities.
21.
 
Re: GOG.com Adds DRM-Free Movies; TV Coming
Aug 27, 2014, 20:17
21.
Re: GOG.com Adds DRM-Free Movies; TV Coming Aug 27, 2014, 20:17
Aug 27, 2014, 20:17
 
Creston wrote on Aug 27, 2014, 16:08:
While I'm all for DRM-free stuff, ... ,movie / dvd DRM has never bothered me.

Unlike, say, game DRM, which has made games actively unplayable at times.

So I'm not sure there's a huge demand for this?

I'm sorta the opposite. I'm fine with Steam DRM, because everything that runs any of my games also runs Steam, so it doesn't really limit my hardware choices. With DRM media files, it limits my choices for using the media. iTunes videos only work on Apple devices or Windows, most DVD or Blu-rays can't be legally ripped, kindle books don't work on competing readers, New 4k stores tied to specific TVs, etc.
20.
 
Re: GOG.com Adds DRM-Free Movies; TV Coming
Aug 27, 2014, 18:30
20.
Re: GOG.com Adds DRM-Free Movies; TV Coming Aug 27, 2014, 18:30
Aug 27, 2014, 18:30
 
Pretty sure they misjudged the demand here. I care a tiny bit about drm free movies. Back when you had to hack a dvd to play it on linux I cared a bit more. I hate what the drm does to the hardware of the film landscape a lot more than from the software side.

On the other hand, I've mostly given into the subscription model for movies+tv. Just out of convenience. I don't really care to own it. I've already watched a lot of these on netflix. I can see very few movies that I would want to own this way, but the prices aren't bad in general, pretty comparable to other digital film purchases.

But it just seems like a bad fit all around.
19.
 
Re: GOG.com Adds DRM-Free Movies; TV Coming
Aug 27, 2014, 18:03
19.
Re: GOG.com Adds DRM-Free Movies; TV Coming Aug 27, 2014, 18:03
Aug 27, 2014, 18:03
 
Price is about twice what an impulse purchase would be for me. Maybe I'll consider it if they're on sale.
If Russia stops fighting, the war ends. If Ukraine stops fighting, Ukraine ends. Slava Ukraini!
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18.
 
Re: GOG.com Adds DRM-Free Movies; TV Coming
Aug 27, 2014, 18:02
18.
Re: GOG.com Adds DRM-Free Movies; TV Coming Aug 27, 2014, 18:02
Aug 27, 2014, 18:02
 
Mashiki Amiketo wrote on Aug 27, 2014, 16:32:
Hyatus wrote on Aug 27, 2014, 13:19:
How did they beat Steam to the punch?
Steam has movies as well(granted, not DRM-free).

Really? It's actually news to me that steam has movies. And I've been in the beta program for the last 6 years, and this is the first time that I've even heard of it.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/245550/
If Russia stops fighting, the war ends. If Ukraine stops fighting, Ukraine ends. Slava Ukraini!
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17.
 
Re: GOG.com Adds DRM-Free Movies; TV Coming
Aug 27, 2014, 17:18
17.
Re: GOG.com Adds DRM-Free Movies; TV Coming Aug 27, 2014, 17:18
Aug 27, 2014, 17:18
 
Ugh, gog.com, you silly fools. I hope this turns out for the best but you probably just got yourself targeted by a dark cabal of MPAA monsters who never rarely come up from their subterranean lair, except to destroy websites that might threaten their empire.

Also, one would think the current selection of films should be WAY cheaper... ?
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16.
 
No subject
Aug 27, 2014, 16:32
16.
No subject Aug 27, 2014, 16:32
Aug 27, 2014, 16:32
 
Hyatus wrote on Aug 27, 2014, 13:19:
How did they beat Steam to the punch?
Steam has movies as well(granted, not DRM-free).

Really? It's actually news to me that steam has movies. And I've been in the beta program for the last 6 years, and this is the first time that I've even heard of it.
--
"For every human problem,
there is a neat, simple solution;
and it is always wrong."
--H.L. Mencken
15.
 
Re: GOG.com Adds DRM-Free Movies; TV Coming
Aug 27, 2014, 16:11
15.
Re: GOG.com Adds DRM-Free Movies; TV Coming Aug 27, 2014, 16:11
Aug 27, 2014, 16:11
 
Hyatus wrote on Aug 27, 2014, 15:53:
They're tough to find. It's better to look for them by tag:
Movie

Thanks for the link, strange stuff, its almost like an afterthought. Valve said they're going to do Movies and TV series but so far I haven't seen anything on it. Valve in general has a lot of projects up in the air, I wonder whats going on over there. Steambox, various video game iterations, SteamOS, etc.
Avatar 51617
14.
 
Re: GOG.com Adds DRM-Free Movies; TV Coming
Aug 27, 2014, 16:08
14.
Re: GOG.com Adds DRM-Free Movies; TV Coming Aug 27, 2014, 16:08
Aug 27, 2014, 16:08
 
While I'm all for DRM-free stuff, I have to say that other than the irritating FBI "OMG PIRACY KILLS CHILDREN!" warning (which can often still be skipped over on a PS3), movie / dvd DRM has never bothered me.

Unlike, say, game DRM, which has made games actively unplayable at times.

So I'm not sure there's a huge demand for this?
Avatar 15604
13.
 
Re: GOG.com Adds DRM-Free Movies; TV Coming
Aug 27, 2014, 16:08
13.
Re: GOG.com Adds DRM-Free Movies; TV Coming Aug 27, 2014, 16:08
Aug 27, 2014, 16:08
 
Hyatus wrote on Aug 27, 2014, 13:19:
How did they beat Steam to the punch?
Steam has movies as well(granted, not DRM-free).
Exactly.

This announcement is incredibly underwhelming when you look at the available titles. Valve's upcoming TV and movies will almost certainly be a lot more credible. I like GOG but it's going to have to do a lot more to become mainstream.
"The price of freedom is eternal vigilance."
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12.
 
Re: GOG.com Adds DRM-Free Movies; TV Coming
Aug 27, 2014, 15:53
12.
Re: GOG.com Adds DRM-Free Movies; TV Coming Aug 27, 2014, 15:53
Aug 27, 2014, 15:53
 
Verno wrote on Aug 27, 2014, 15:17:
Even just browsing the web store there is no category for them unless I'm just overlooking it.

They're tough to find. It's better to look for them by tag:
Movie
11.
 
Re: GOG.com Adds DRM-Free Movies; TV Coming
Aug 27, 2014, 15:49
11.
Re: GOG.com Adds DRM-Free Movies; TV Coming Aug 27, 2014, 15:49
Aug 27, 2014, 15:49
 
Perhaps the worst collection of movies assembled, we'll have to see where this goes.
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10.
 
Re: GOG.com Adds DRM-Free Movies; TV Coming
Aug 27, 2014, 15:17
10.
Re: GOG.com Adds DRM-Free Movies; TV Coming Aug 27, 2014, 15:17
Aug 27, 2014, 15:17
 
Kajetan wrote on Aug 27, 2014, 14:17:
Hyatus wrote on Aug 27, 2014, 13:19:
How did they beat Steam to the punch?
Steam has movies as well(granted, not DRM-free).
Movies are not very prominently featured on Steam. I guess many Steam customers are not aware of them at all.

I knew they were planning to do it but I didn't see any official implementation yet for movies, tv series, etc. There's a spot for the music player, a VR mode toggle and all that but I don't see anything related to movies. Are they just randomly tossed into the database? Even just browsing the web store there is no category for them unless I'm just overlooking it.
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9.
 
Re: GOG.com Adds DRM-Free Movies; TV Coming
Aug 27, 2014, 14:55
9.
Re: GOG.com Adds DRM-Free Movies; TV Coming Aug 27, 2014, 14:55
Aug 27, 2014, 14:55
 
Julio wrote on Aug 27, 2014, 14:21:
Great idea, the current movie selection sucks. Hopefully we see increased selection in the future and I'm in for sure.

Well I certainly wish them the best in their endeavor, but knowing how much the MPAA loves its DRM it's going to be tough for them to get good movies.
8.
 
Re: GOG.com Adds DRM-Free Movies; TV Coming
Aug 27, 2014, 14:21
8.
Re: GOG.com Adds DRM-Free Movies; TV Coming Aug 27, 2014, 14:21
Aug 27, 2014, 14:21
 
Great idea, the current movie selection sucks. Hopefully we see increased selection in the future and I'm in for sure.
7.
 
Re: GOG.com Adds DRM-Free Movies; TV Coming
Aug 27, 2014, 14:17
7.
Re: GOG.com Adds DRM-Free Movies; TV Coming Aug 27, 2014, 14:17
Aug 27, 2014, 14:17
 
Hyatus wrote on Aug 27, 2014, 13:19:
How did they beat Steam to the punch?
Steam has movies as well(granted, not DRM-free).
Movies are not very prominently featured on Steam. I guess many Steam customers are not aware of them at all.
6.
 
Re: GOG.com Adds DRM-Free Movies; TV Coming
Aug 27, 2014, 13:52
6.
Re: GOG.com Adds DRM-Free Movies; TV Coming Aug 27, 2014, 13:52
Aug 27, 2014, 13:52
 
The selection on there is limited right now but there's some good stuff. Once Upon Atari is an old documentary and it shows but it's a fascinating look into that company. I actually own it on DVD and bought it again as I think this is the only way to get digitally right now. I highly recommend it. Playing Columbine is also good, as is The Story of Minecraft. Indie Game: The Movie is good, though if you hate Phil Fish, there are many things in that film that will reinforce it. There's a decent amount of manufactured drama in it but it's still a good watch. I'm very excited to see that catalogue grow, especially as I'm a big fan of a lot of independent documentaries which regularly come and go from Netflix.
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