[Scummvm-devel] GOG.com affiliate program vs dotemu.com

[John Willis]

My 2 pence,

> As you may saw, I removed GOG.com links from our sites once they
> announced themselves as dead (I know, there is one leftover at the bottom
> of scummvm.org yet).
> 
> Now it is appeared to be a PR stunt, thus there is a potential for the
links to
> be readded. Still there is another factor which I need your opinion on.
> 
> GOG.com stopped to donate any money since December (their last transfer
> was in fact in February, but the sum implies that it is just for one
month, and
> previous transfer was marked as for November). That is, basically we're
> getting nothing from the program for the last 9 months, while giving them
> fair amount of sales.
> 
> Not that we're for money, we have more than we spend, but there is a
> question of honest and open relationships. The guys just keep ignoring our
> mails.
> 
> So, what do you think, should we readd the links?

No, in my view by re-adding the links we give the implication that there is
a mutually beneficial relationship between the ScummVM team and GoG.
I really don't think that is the case (they are not keeping up there end of
the deal) and there also seems to be some ill feeling in the team about how
they are conducing themselves as a company. 

It does not seem that this is something we want to be closely associated
with.
 
> Also there is another offer, now from dotemu.com, a similar service
> offering DRM-free games, sometimes with use of ScummVM. They offer us
> also an affiliation program in exchange of linking to them.
> 
> Should we do that? Are there any opinions?
> 
> Currently we use money for games (let me remind you that every team
> member is entitled to request buying any games or hardware which will be
> used for ScummVM development), renewing and purchasing IDA and Hex-
> Rays licenses, and also during last 2 years we were sending one extra
> attendee to GSoC Mentor Summit. Again, every team member is free to
> request books from us.

I don't see any issue trying out an affiliation scheme with another provider
of games. 
To be honest if it does not work out we should be quick to drop the
affiliation.

The other suggestions about publicising the 'Where can I buy games' WiKi
page a little better are very valid. 

By all means list GoG and DotEmu links there (and others) with a caveat that
'ScummVM does not recommend any individual supplier of games and this list
is for reference purposes only'.

Cheers,

John