Hello. I'm glad that I discovered GOG and made an account a short while ago. It really is a joy browsing through GOG whereas browsing through Steam is painful.

I'm just wondering how it's possible for GOG to give away free games with included manuals / soundtracks / comics / artwork through the store? GOG even has a 'FREE' tag to easily browse through all free games. I'm not talking about free-to-play online games, I'm talking about straight up completed games for free.

How and why are these games available for free?
What happened to their creators?
They don't even want a penny for this great content?

It really is a great thing, I'm just wondering how this is possible?

Thanks

One link to answer your question:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_commercial_video_games_released_as_freeware

Me too! I love how harmonious the design is, and it has a kind of symmetry that puts me at ease. *^_^*

To answer your question, GOG does have full permission to distribute every game that they host here, free or otherwise. They can't do it without that right, and will have to pull a game out once it comes to that point. In my opinion, while it seems counterintuitive to not collect profit for a game, sometimes it's more trouble than it's worth.

Because of all the paperwork to make sure all parties get properly compensated. The moment you start making money for something, you can be sure all your collaborators will suddenly come out of the woodwork, no matter how far away they seem to be, to remember to get their correct due of payment and rights, which can result in legal tangles.

Also, you will need to provide technical and customer support for a game, if you are still selling it, which is an expense in and out of-itself. So, if the creator finds the effort not worth the cost, it's perhaps a better idea to let everyone play the game fondly, and use the brand goodwill to advertise any future games that they will be selling.

I think GOG should make all freeware games on that list available here, eventually. Why not?
amirite?

That would incur costs for them and for that many games it will add up to something not quite insignificant.

but they really SHOULD have One Must Fall: 2097 as a freebie here

welcome to gog! may the trolls not devour you

keep an eye out for temporary free games that GOG gives, usually ending up to be a handful a year

oh and connect is also something to be aware of if you are coming from steam

While I do agree with you I am afraid that other people will have different idea on which freeware games SHOULD be here and we will end up with far too many. Warzone 2100 would be my pick for example

I second this! It's one of the best fighting video games ever made.

While there's a few games for free (probably around 12 you get immediately or can get immediately), most other free games are during specials/sales/events.

But there's tons of places to find free games that might not be covered by GoG. And then there's abandonware... Games that no longer have an owner or the company doesn't even care about anymore. (Xixit is a good example, love that game...)

I'll say all freeware classics high up on the wishlist (for me that's like games with over 300 votes) - stuff like (as mentioned) OMF2097, SimCity original, Railroad Tycoon (though this could be bundled with another RRTycoon2), Dreamweb, Halloween Harry, etc.

while I haven't played them all...

THE best