GOG – Using Games to Make the World a Better Place

As y’all know, Worldbuilders is steadily growing into something much bigger than I ever dreamed.

Last year, for example, we had to design inventory software for all the books we were giving away as prizes. We’ve brought in competent, organized staff to replace my incompetent, disorganized self, and we started seeking out corporate sponsorships.

This year, companies have started to seek *us* out, looking to have superhero team-ups up for fundraising purposes. Big companies like GOG.com.

GOG is really cool. They sell games that you can download off the internet.

Boy, that doesn’t do the job of explaining how cool they are at *all.*

I think of GOG as the place that saves cool old games from the abyss. Looking through their stock, I see pretty much every game that I *loved* to play back in the day. Games I remember 10, even 20 years after I played them.

Games like the original Fallouts (Fallout 1 and 2, not Tactics.) The original Deus Ex. Arcanum. Anachronox. System Shock Two. King’s Quest. Planescape….

Looking through GOG’s inventory, you’ll see a huge piece of my childhood. You’ll see a lot of the games that made me *love* games. You’ll see games that helped make me the person I am today.

I’m guessing a lot of you with a history of gaming will feel the same way.

Oh, look at that. They have the Zork games too.

The original trilogy and a few of the follow-ups. Raw text badassery. Zork III was the first game that I ever played on my very first computer. It took me, quite literally, YEARS to solve. There was no internet back then, you figured shit out or you choked on your own frustration….

Zork_III_box_art

Oh god. It’s been thirty years since I played it.

But that’s exactly what I’m talking about. GOG has saved this beautiful old game from the dustbin of history. They even make sure it’s compatible with current operating systems. Want to play Zork III on Windows 8? Go right ahead. That’s what GOG does, and that’s why I love them.

Well, that’s *one* of the reasons I love them.

The other reason is that they’ve decided to include Worldbuilders in a fundraiser they’re running this week: from November 5th to November 12th.

There are two ways you can help bring in money to Worldbuilders.

1.  One is to simply sign up for an account on GOG.com.  When you sign up for a GOG account through our affiliate link (that was it), they will donate 10% of everything you purchase for the rest of the year to Worldbuilders.

You need some reccomendations? Just scroll up a bit, and you’ll see the begining of my list….

You owe it to yourself to try Zork if nothing else.  Seeing it there makes my fingers itch. I’m not even kiddling, half of my current problem-solving skills came from playing those early Infocom games. I learned to type so I could play that game….

2. The second way is to buy some games off of the Worldbuilders Fundraising Page on GOG’s website.

For the next week, you can pick three games from a selected list of GOG’s titles and it will only cost you five bucks.

You have to agree that’s a good deal. And even better, 100% of the money collected will come to Worldbuilders.  ALL of it. GOG will even pay for the transaction fees themselves, using their own money.

That means if you buy a $5 game, Worldbuilders will get $5.  Period.

The games that were chosen for Worldbuilders in particular are Driftmoon, The Whispered World, and Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee.  That said, on our page, your purchase comes to us on *all* of the games listed, so you could also get Walking Mars, Botanicula, Incredipede, Faster Than Light, Darwinia, and Pid.

Did I mention that Amanda loves Faster Than Light? She does. She told me to tell you that…

Be warned: this second option only lasts for a week.

So. There you go.

I really can’t stress enough how big an opportunity this is for Worldbuilders, folks. We stand a chance to raise some serious money on this one….

But only if we can get the word out. Would you mind helping me with that?

Thanks again, everyone. I’ll see some of you tonight in Barcelona.

 

This entry was posted in Worldbuilders. By Pat49 Responses

49 Comments

  1. Pieman
    Posted November 6, 2013 at 4:18 AM | Permalink

    The affiliate link doesn’t work – it says that the page doesn’t exist.

    Also, Pat – you rock

    • Brett
      Posted November 6, 2013 at 8:40 AM | Permalink

      Sorry–the links should work now!

      • Posted November 7, 2013 at 4:43 PM | Permalink

        Thanks Brett. I hate posting important things like this when I’m not home to tweak things myself….

      • alexverus
        Posted November 16, 2013 at 3:12 AM | Permalink

        Link not working again.

        • mattbme
          Posted November 20, 2013 at 9:42 AM | Permalink

          When I asked about the 404 error, GOG support replied:

          Unfortunately that part of our cooperation with Worldbuilders already ended as well.

          Regards,
          Natalia
          GOG.com Support

  2. ShaneJ
    Posted November 6, 2013 at 4:20 AM | Permalink

    I actually came here to post a comment on the newest to point this out to people, only to find you already blogged about it. Made me laugh.

    I love this. I spend quite a bit of money as it is at GOG.com as it has all the games I remember from my childhood. So right now if I buy a few games like I was planning on, it will help out what has become one of my favorite charities. Amazing.

    • Posted November 6, 2013 at 9:25 AM | Permalink

      Woo!

      • ShaneJ
        Posted November 6, 2013 at 11:54 PM | Permalink

        I honestly went to purchase the new Batman game Arkham Origins the other day, but had just been online the night before looking at what your money can do through Worldbuilders and Heifer International and I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

        I just donated the money I was going to spend and borrowed the game from a co worker. Seemed a decent way to still be able to play the game I wanted and maybe make the world a little bit of a better place.

  3. TheEnigmaticT
    Posted November 6, 2013 at 7:01 AM | Permalink

    A quick note from me (I am a GOG.com marketingdroid–and also a reader of Kingkiller series, which is why we contacted Worldbuilders in the first place): if you want to sign up on GOG.com and have 10% of your purchases contribute to Worldbuilders for a year, go here. Then sign up. Then you’ll be good to go. :)

    • Jormungandr
      Posted November 6, 2013 at 8:35 AM | Permalink

      I am already a GOG member. Is there any way to change my existing account to donate 10% to worldbuilders for the rest of the year? It would definitely encourage me to buy some titles that I’m kind of on the fence about now. And I don’t want to have to hassle with two accounts. None of the games in the special $5 deal that I don’t already own appeal to me too much. It could be that this promotion just isn’t FOR me, in which case, no big deal. I just figured it wouldn’t hurt to ask.

      • TheEnigmaticT
        Posted November 6, 2013 at 8:48 AM | Permalink

        Sadly, no; we don’t have a way to reallocate an affiliate account.

        Also, we may be adding some more games tomorrow; if so, perhaps some of those will do for you.

  4. Marcus Cox
    Posted November 6, 2013 at 7:20 AM | Permalink

    I’m just a little stranger on the internet, but if someone is taking option two and wants a recommendation Oddworld Abe’s Oddysee is absolutely amazing.

  5. gryphia
    Posted November 6, 2013 at 7:49 AM | Permalink

    If we already have a GOG account is there any way to link that to worldbuilders so we can make use of the first option?

  6. AlistairM
    Posted November 6, 2013 at 7:55 AM | Permalink

    I remember trying to play Zork Nemisis when I was 12. Really creeped me out.

    Whilst I remember a few games fondly I think going back and doing them again might ruin them for me.

    • ryan7273
      Posted November 6, 2013 at 8:14 AM | Permalink

      Nemesis bears the same resemblance to the original trilogy as the I Robot movie does to the book.

      • AlistairM
        Posted November 6, 2013 at 9:18 AM | Permalink

        I looked it up on Wikipedia and its 12th in the series. So I thought that’d be the case.

        Not a nice game at all :S

    • ShaneJ
      Posted November 7, 2013 at 1:50 AM | Permalink

      Honestly I enjoy replaying these games as much now as I did in my childhood. Though I’ve been replaying Zork for months now. Its not the kind of game you can rush through. And I refuse to look anything up so its alot of trial and error on what the hell I’m trying to do.

  7. ali rahemtulla
    Posted November 6, 2013 at 7:56 AM | Permalink

    Hey Pat, thanks for coming to Lodnon yesterday! I’m the “Gandalf is not evil” guy. I know it must have seemed like a weird request, but it was legit. I can tell you the back story if you want.

  8. lenamoster
    Posted November 6, 2013 at 8:34 AM | Permalink

    Uh oh! The affiliate sign-up link is broken.

    Also, Arcanum!!! I am so going to buy that once the affiliate link is up and running :)

    • Brett
      Posted November 6, 2013 at 8:45 AM | Permalink

      Affiliate page should work–you’ll see all three charities listed, but our link registers a redirect from Worldbuilders, so you’re good to go!

      Please do let me know if it does or doesn’t work–Pat says he’s having some problems with the link, but it works for me…

  9. JeremyM
    Posted November 6, 2013 at 9:37 AM | Permalink

    So I never really had a chance to play many computer games growing up. Any recommendations from you all on which games would be fun to pick up?

    • Chris Morton
      Posted November 6, 2013 at 3:54 PM | Permalink

      I browsed quickly through most of the catalogue and the best thing I can tell you to go and get is the Ultima 7 package they have for like $6. I realize these aren’t the chosen three mentioned but these games at the time were the pinnacle of RPGs. Very open-world feeling that force you to ferret out the main quest plot.

  10. thefirstpancake
    Posted November 6, 2013 at 9:45 AM | Permalink

    Oh, man! They don’t have The Secret of Monkey Island. /= I’ve been trying to find the original version of that game for a long time. Anyway, it’s super cool that they’re doing this. Thanks, GOG!

    • Marcus Cox
      Posted November 6, 2013 at 10:10 AM | Permalink

      In case you weren’t aware in The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition you can switch to “Classic Mode” at any time. I’m pretty sure it’s on Steam, Xbox Live, Plastation Network and iOS.

      • khil1
        Posted November 6, 2013 at 12:48 PM | Permalink

        And its amazing, I love love love all the old Lucas Film games (and LucasArts)

  11. FollowYourMuse
    Posted November 6, 2013 at 10:29 AM | Permalink

    Signed up, and wow Zork! the first game I ever played, I have never been a “gamer” in the sense it is used today. but fondly remember hours spent with my brothers playing Zork.

  12. Posted November 6, 2013 at 10:49 AM | Permalink

    I never really thought I’d be disappointed I already had an account at GOG! LOL.
    Pretty awesome that they are contributing though, I really love their site as well, tons of good games. Since I only got into gaming in my adult years I’ve had a lot of fun trying out old games on there. They have great deals too so if you end up hating a game its not like you shelled out $60 dollars or some b.s.

    Anywho, off to buy some more games, I think I can spare $5.00 at the least, yesterday was payday.

  13. Mauro
    Posted November 6, 2013 at 11:02 AM | Permalink

    And if you have to purchase things other than games, but which can found on Amazon.com, they have a new program, too, called AmazonSmile.
    Just shop using the smile.amazon.com URL, choose the charity of your preference and 0.5% of all your purchases will go to that charity. I chose Worldbuilders Inc, from Stevens Point, WI.

    • Posted November 6, 2013 at 6:59 PM | Permalink

      Oh sweet, I shop online for just about everything, wish I’d known this.

      Too bad Ebay doesn’t have something like that, I shop their more.

      • Brett
        Posted November 7, 2013 at 12:42 PM | Permalink

        There are a few solutions. Worldbuilders is registered under eBay’s Giving Works project. If you are a seller on eBay, you can select a charity and give people the option to donate an extra dollar to your chosen nonprofit during the checkout process. You can also earmark a certain percentage of your final sale price for the charity.

        As far as shopping on eBay, I’m not sure how you as a buyer can do that. But when the fundraiser kicks off in December, Worldbuilders will be auctioning off some cool stuff every week through the beginning of February…

  14. Brian-H
    Posted November 6, 2013 at 3:33 PM | Permalink

    Oh my god. Pat, I both love you and hate you for introducing me to this.

  15. Damo
    Posted November 6, 2013 at 4:14 PM | Permalink

    Holy hell! Oddworld: Abe’s Odyssey is one of my favourite games of All Time. I played it to death, but never finished it. Abe was such a brilliant character and the game featured excellent puzzles (from memory, at least. I *was* only 10 or so when I last played it).

    I’m gonna get it. I’m gonna finish it. Great success.

  16. Crasac
    Posted November 6, 2013 at 4:35 PM | Permalink

    Defenitely get FTL. Its so good! Its so damn frustrating. Only took me about 30 tries to beat it on easy :/

  17. Mirell
    Posted November 6, 2013 at 5:36 PM | Permalink

    That’s really cool, Gog even has the first game I ever played, Myst and the sequel Riven for which I actually bought my first own PC so I could play it. I was a teenager then and fought constantly with my Mum because … yeah just because, I was a really angry teen. But these games were something my mom and I could do together, enjoy together, love together anyway. They were great games with wicked difficult puzzles and riddles.
    Even though you can’t buy these games with the donate-option, check them out! They are still beautiful and challenging games and you don’t have to kill anything ; )
    Oh, and by the way, Cyan-Worlds, the producer of these games have kickstarter-project running for a new game, “Obduction” Link

    • Posted November 6, 2013 at 6:58 PM | Permalink

      Oh wow, thanks for this info.
      I never really played games as a kid, but Myst is close to my heart because my dad spent AGES playing that game. I still remember the day he beat that game, we got to have Ice Cream, at the actual Ice Cream shop, it was fucking amazing.
      He still has the original game in the box.
      After that I got really into “helping” him play games, by which I mean he played games while I shouted ridiculous and probably annoying things for him to do until I fell asleep or was distracted by dinner.
      Original Tomb Raider was another one I had a ton of fun with Lara Croft was my hero for a long time. *sigh*

  18. MahadiSilsmentor
    Posted November 6, 2013 at 9:58 PM | Permalink

    I realize this is late but I looked over the tweets and I thought you were you–nobody else even mentioned babies and I saw your interview at comic con…lol.

  19. RegistrationIsStupid
    Posted November 7, 2013 at 5:04 AM | Permalink

    Nice 16 bugs for 10 retro games, and all go to Worldbuilders … I say: shut up and take my money!

    And already 8 out of 10 top sellers/all genres are Worldbuilder titles ;) n1

  20. Aughra
    Posted November 7, 2013 at 2:58 PM | Permalink

    As a relatively younger gamer in reference to some of the intriguing titles listed, ‘Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee’ was an after-school special that engrossed my brother & I for hours at a time on the station of play. Indeed, I must check out some of these other “time-wasters”, as my parents would so routinely observe.

  21. sandibd
    Posted November 7, 2013 at 4:37 PM | Permalink

    I will talk about Patrick Rothfuss and the Kingkiller Chronicles to anyone and everyone who will listen. The list of new fans I am bringing into the fold is always growing. Today, as I was discussing the NOTW Kickstarter with someone, I learned that her family are long time Heifer International supporters. Instead of Christmas presents, some members of their family give goats and cows in the person’s name to Heifer Intl. What a great way to segue the conversation into a chat about Worldbuilders. What a great way to say “If you know anyone who is a big reader, look on The Tinker’s Pack because money from that site supports Worldbuilders. So, Pat..I am using my powers for good not evil. :)

  22. Posted November 8, 2013 at 2:53 PM | Permalink

    Okay, I got Incredipede as one of my games….seriously cannot stop playing it or laughing. Easily worth an entire $5.00 by itself.

    • pacifist
      Posted November 8, 2013 at 5:53 PM | Permalink

      I agree. Watching little Quozzle flail about madly just because you put one muscle in the wrong place is priceless.

      • Posted November 8, 2013 at 6:06 PM | Permalink

        Yah, I must admit, that watching Quozzle’s eyeball flop into the dirt repeatedly brings me a sick amount of joy…..

        You know you got a good game when failure is just as enjoyable as accomplishment.

  23. Rahl
    Posted November 11, 2013 at 6:46 AM | Permalink

    Faster than Light is easily one of my fave games of the year!
    Easy pickup n play for 5 mins or 3hrs.

  24. shainaed
    Posted November 12, 2013 at 10:59 AM | Permalink

    Is the Worldbuilders Fundraising Page offer over already? I keep getting a 404 when I try to go to the page. I thought it would go until tomorrow, but maybe I missed it. :/

  25. guessingo
    Posted November 12, 2013 at 11:17 AM | Permalink

    GOG gives a few games away for free. They were giving away Ultima 4 for a while. I bought Wizardry 8 and got The Witcher for free with it. Great deal.

    That is a very good site with cheap games that work.

  26. GOTA
    Posted November 12, 2013 at 1:56 PM | Permalink

    It’s pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a grue

    Those simple words scared the crap out of me at 10 years old. I didn’t know what a Grue was or even what Zork was but 1 step into the dark without a lamp and I was hooked. I actually bought the Zork trilogy and other Infocom classics like Deadline and Suspended from GOG. They replaced my DOS copies from some mid 90s boxed set that no longer worked. I just wish I could get my kids into them the same way I was. Hopefully Infocom doesn’t die out when we old farts do.

  27. Posted November 12, 2013 at 7:38 PM | Permalink

    Pat – you rock! So does your blog and same goes for your books!

  28. Regueiras
    Posted November 13, 2013 at 4:09 PM | Permalink

    Hey Pat, don’t know if your interested or into Myst and Riven from Cyan, but they are working on an all new game called “Obduction”, here’s the link for you to check it out. http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cyaninc/obduction

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