The game's no longer for sale

[StrayFlan]

It says that it's just temporary because they're working on some updates. What do you think that will happen?

[Ifrit03]

wrace původně napsal:

They finished it at the March of 2021. SE just did not share it yet on gog and Steam.

A "downgrade" version of the game, with controller support but nothing else right?

[Maia]

march ended, so much for steam release

[Bitwolf]

A TLDR; for anyone just joining us.

Soul Reaver was removed from Steam due to the fact that GOG (Responsible for both the Steam port and GOG port) used a combo of two fan paches, an early version of wraces enhanced patch, and one converting the videos into the bink format. This violated the contract GOG had with Square, as they demanded GOG do all the work themselves, and I guess it took till march 2021 for them to notice.

As such, Square pulled the game from Steam and demanded GOG patch the game enterly themselves, using the original retail build as a base.

wrace has detialed what gog's patch is, and its not very good:

-Videos will be restored to the original venison release, EXACTLY AS IT WAS IN 1999 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVeTN2LoL-c

-Widescreen/new resolutions added

-Controller support, but only 10/12 buttons work, no vibration either

-60fps support

This is compared to his patch, which does all of that, adds vibration, makes L3 and R3 work, and even adds a new game plus mode, and options to skip cutscenes all without ass video quality.

GOG at one point offered to add a link to wrace's mod on the storefront, but this was dropped due to the GOG exe being modified, breaking the mod. wrace attempted to report issues and fixes to GOG, even granting them the mods source code. But was shot down by being told "Square wants it unmodified"

The GOG update went live that same month as the steam delisting in March 2021, with GOG’s “payment” for the update being that they would be allowed to sell it for 6 more months (September 2021) after which it would pulled from GOG as well.

The plan was for the game to relaunch on both platforms March 2022, along with a steam release of Blood omens 1. Both of these have been delayed however.

Along side this, Square Enix either on their own or with another studio is working on their own update to Soul reavers, with prominent community members being involved.

All this to stay that the dreamcast port is still more enhanced than the most patched pc version and nightdive *really* needs to get their hands on this one.

[Bitwolf]

Side note, beyond the better quality video was anything else added to the steam release of soul Reaver?

[Bitwolf]

That answers a lot, thanks, so some clarifications if you can

1. The reason for the removal of the steam version is not due to bink, (though they did add bink support via a fan mod made offical in the gog/steam verisons) but was because GOG violated their contract by adding an early version of your mod. (Side note, is the steam port we have now that same gog port, with your early mod included and all, or just the bink part?)

2. GOG has been denied by Square to use bink in the new version, because idk, square doesnt wanna deal with bink I guess even if they're leagally ok.

3. The new GOG version is on hold and further work is being done to it with fans as consultants, which is why its not out in march.

Think i got that all right, but clarification would be nice if you have the time, thank you.

[StrayFlan]

Man, this is too much trouble for two dead games that not even its owner wants to acknowledge. It's fine tho, I just want these bad boys to be available for future generations, I find it funny that's all.

[Bitwolf]

A N U B I S původně napsal:

Man, this is too much trouble for two dead games that not even its owner wants to acknowledge. It's fine tho, I just want these bad boys to be available for future generations, I find it funny that's all.

Yeah, but the history is interesting, funny how there was zero issues really till square got all pissy at gog.

[Bitwolf]

wrace původně napsal:

About other questions

2) "the new GOG version is on hold and further work is being done to it with fans as consultants, which is why its not out in march" - it is not new gog version (they finished with their version one year ago and obtained already their "money" for this update - the current version of SR1 was locked from the sales only on the Steam from the March of 2021 while it was not locked on gog up to September = during 6 months - only after that moment SR1 was locked from the sales on gog too), it is new SE version (or the version of ones who are used as new vendor for this task).

Jesus, so GOG actually got that awful update as you described out? And even then Square pulled the game from sale from GOG to do another update themselves? The hell was the point of making GOG go through all that just do do it themselves, jesus christ.

[Bitwolf]

Thanks for all your answers, I think my TLDR i posted is now accurate, at least it should be I hope.

[Corvo_Ex]

One question, if i have the original version on Steam...when the "new version" is released on Steam...my old version will be updated for Free?

[StrayFlan]

Corvo_Ex původně napsal:

One question, if i have the original version on Steam...when the "new version" is released on Steam...my old version will be updated for Free?

Yeah, dude. I don't see why it wouldn't

[ChainsawCommando]

SE outsourced to CDProjekt instead of Forever Entertainment (who they had remake Fear Effect and Front Mission for them)? That's odd since that isn't their go-to partner for this kind of thing.

Also wondering who'll port, remake or remaster the Valkyrie Profile games or Xenogears.

[QWEEDDY2]

There IS NO remakes (remaster is also a remake) in dev. Nothing odd.

[QWEEDDY2]

Yes. And thats why there no remakes-remasters. No officailly statment for that. Until that by default it is just update.
Also you post enough info that it just game update - nothing else than minor comp. patch. For now.
So nothing odd. For now...

Odd is why it took so long. GOG already put Blood Omen with original videos format, so same DX wrapper and thats all.
Is SR1 have same issues as BO1? There is need in additional exe fixing for BO1 to avoid it freezing on WinNT and current CPU (and slowdown game speed). Did SR1 - original clear one before wrace patches for old GOG release - have same issues?

wrace, isnt they already apply what it need and current GOG Galaxy private-branch build is working fine? If yes, its worked - what OS you have to test it?
By the way, they can broke Win7 compatiblity, and most likely WinXP. At least, they already drop WinXp support long ago with v3 offline installers (ones that no more used 2.x.x.x numeration) and drop Won7 support for GOG Galaxy since 1.2 update in 2019 (still 2.0 barely working).

[QWEEDDY2]

I read something but forget what OS you have and result of GOG new update.
So, there is still some issues to finally publish it (bug 🐛 critical as you say above) or they all just forget about that game and don't care about gamers?
Because your first post referring to private branch update was almost next to when it be delisted from Steam.
You don't have predictions when it be re-released? Or maybe never? No progress I guess.
For GOG side this is some kind of personal interest. For now publishers can make faster updates without GOG, but if it all on GOG side it can take huge time to happen...

As for 60 fps lock - isnt it should fix issues?

Zoom Platform drm-free old-games store have Strategy First games almost for half-year. But first few games from they catalog appear only month ago. And only few, while there is installers (private) for other games from this publisher. Making releases is almost one person work for Zoom store.
Although GOG is looks larger company - they have almost same situation with staff - it almost one person. For updates GOG can provide API for fast and half-auto updating - Galaxy and offline builds.
If it should be done manually and by GOG - it's one person job. Maybe few more for testing no-auto pushed updates. But make update...
And I think it same person who made GOG BO1 release. So he been busy.
Btw, BO1 version of GOG DX wrapper is updated, now included also input-wrapping and updated config tool.