Good Old Games Introducing Good New Early Access | MOUSE n JOYPAD

While Steam’s Early Access selections have come under some scrutiny, GOG.com is taking a new approach and introducing their own version of the idea. According to a press release from the site, Good Old Games will feature “hand-picked games in development that are still being crafted and refined.” The company hopes to build trust on incomplete games by offering a fourteen day refund policy, no questions asked.

“Our goal has always been to offer a selection of titles that are both excellent and worth your time,” says Piotr Karwowski, GOG.com’s Managing Director in a press release. “Nowadays, we’re seeing more games that are already great experiences while still in development. We want all gamers on GOG.com to have access to what these titles have to offer, but we want to get it right, carefully evaluating each and every game.”

One feature that is impressive with GOG’s new platform is “update rollback.” As Karwowski explains, “if a game update breaks something or introduces unwanted changes, GOG Galaxy lets you easily rollback to any previous version of your game while you wait for the fixes. As an added bonus, rollback actually stores historical snapshots throughout a game’s development – that means you can always revisit any point in the game’s history with a single click.”

The first five games for this new service is available right now, launching DRM-free, and they’re currently being sold with a 40% discount. More titles will be released in the future, based on the Community Wishlist and the most promising games. There are the descriptions from GOG.com for the five current games;

Starbound (Action-Adventure) – Starbound is an extraterrestrial sandbox adventure game in which you take on the role of a character who’s just fled from their home planet, only to find themselves lost in space with a damaged ship. Their only option is to beam down to the planet below and begin gathering the resources they need to repair their ship and set off to explore the vast, infinite universe…

 

 

Ashes of the Singularity (Real Time Strategy) – Take command of the resources of an entire world to build up massive armies, research new technologies and annihilate all those who stand in your way in this new, massive-scale real-time strategy game.

 

Project Zomboid (Action-Simulation) – Project Zomboid is an open-ended zombie-infested sandbox. It asks one simple question – how will you die? In the towns of Muldraugh and West Point, survivors must loot houses, build defences and do their utmost to delay their inevitable death day by day. No help is coming – their continued survival relies on their own cunning, luck and ability to evade a relentless horde.

 
TerraTech (Action-Building) – In TerraTech you design, construct and command a fleet of unique vehicles, as you battle your way to victory across the lawless frontiers of new alien worlds, in a quest for glory and profit. In the distant future, Earth’s natural resources have been depleted, and as an off-world prospector it’s your job to travel to alien planets and scour them for valuable materials. These can be refined and shipped back to Earth in return for cash, or crafted into new components to augment your fleet. The rarest resources unlock the best equipment, so expand your territory and capture enemy bases, to secure your position on each planet.

 

Curious Expeditions (Adventure-Strategy) – The Curious Expedition is a 19th century expedition roguelike in which you will venture on unprecedented expeditions to regions never seen before. Put on the pith helmet and khakis and make your way through a lush, procedurally generated world full of wonder and mystery. Visit and interact with local tribes that are unknown to mankind. Loot mysterious temple ruins to gain fame and treasure, but watch out for deadly traps and curses.

So, what do you think of GOG’s newest offerings, and is Early Access Games a good thing for the industry? Make sure you leave a comment below, and keep reading Mouse N Joypad for all of your gaming news.