Humble Double Fine Bundle launches, we were right!

I think the notably high averages indicate that Humble's long time audiences and DF's hardcore fanbase are both at work, but some of the more opportunistic Humble contributors (who I speculate are the bulk that pull the averages down) are sitting this one out.

That is actually a very interesting point - the average purchase price does seem to be rather higher than for the mainstream Bundles with it currently being around $8.00.

And it is true that things like the Frozenbyte bundle did not earn that much - but to be fair the Bundles were much younger then (personally the Frozenbyte one was my personal favourite, although I have unfortunately gotten a little wary of Frozenbyte themselves due to the fact that we have not seen a DRM free release of Goblin Menace yet, and they have not responded to any of my inquires on the subject, but that is a story for another thread).

When it comes to how much the game's appeal, I must admit that I have mostly played only one or two titles from a Bundle and then never got around to the others. I have only played one game out of HIB3 for any length of time (Steel Storm) and only very briefly dabbled with two of the games from HIB2 (and one of them I did only because I had won the game previously from a contest). The Introversion Bundle I was generously gifted gave me hours upon hours of entertainment, but that was just me playing Dungeons of Dredmor. HIB5 and HIB6 actually have better track records for me, with me having spent a great deal of time with at least two games from each.

When it comes to this one, Stacking is actually the one I am looking forward to playing the most - to get into Costume Quest you probably need to get over the whole "I am playing a kiddie game" aversion and the charm of Brutal Legend is probably lessened if you really do not have any particular interest in heavy metal music from almost thirty years ago, but since I received the Bundle as a birthday gift, I will definitely see what fun can be had with them.

I think the notably high averages indicate that Humble's long time audiences and DF's hardcore fanbase are both at work, but some of the more opportunistic Humble contributors (who I speculate are the bulk that pull the averages down) are sitting this one out.

That is actually a very interesting point - the average purchase price does seem to be rather higher than for the mainstream Bundles with it currently being around $8.00.

This bundle, unlike others, has special offers, $35 for Broken Age and $70 for a exclusive T-shirt, that might have helped raise the price too.

I think the notably high averages indicate that Humble's long time audiences and DF's hardcore fanbase are both at work, but some of the more opportunistic Humble contributors (who I speculate are the bulk that pull the averages down) are sitting this one out.

That is actually a very interesting point - the average purchase price does seem to be rather higher than for the mainstream Bundles with it currently being around $8.00.

The cross platform average across all bundles that I've tracked is $6.49. Excluding the eBook bundle. This is the highest Mac OS has ever been, Linux is 1c behind its highest average (first Humble Indie Bundle), and Windows is a bit under a dollar away from its highest (Botanicula Debut).

It's possible that the additional price tiers are pushing the average up, but significantly lower purchase numbers compared to say, the most recent Android bundle suggest to me that it's more that low payers sitting this one out (though I guess that could be interpreted that lower price payers aren't interested in the bundle for just Pnauts, Stacking and Costume Quest).

And it is true that things like the Frozenbyte bundle did not earn that much - but to be fair the Bundles were much younger then (personally the Frozenbyte one was my personal favourite, although I have unfortunately gotten a little wary of Frozenbyte themselves due to the fact that we have not seen a DRM free release of Goblin Menace yet, and they have not responded to any of my inquires on the subject, but that is a story for another thread).

I'll agree that if the Frozenbyte bundle had happened today, it would have pulled much more attention that when it happened, but find it hard to believe that it would have been on par with the "Indie" bundles simply because there are people (with poor taste) out there who don't find FB's work appealing.

When it comes to this one, Stacking is actually the one I am looking forward to playing the most - to get into Costume Quest you probably need to get over the whole "I am playing a kiddie game" aversion and the charm of Brutal Legend is probably lessened if you really do not have any particular interest in heavy metal music from almost thirty years ago, but since I received the Bundle as a birthday gift, I will definitely see what fun can be had with them.

I imagine that Costume Quest is probably less appealing to audiences who don't celebrate Halloween (I gave it a try last night, and I feel like I'm missing out on a lot of references). Similarly, as you say, Brutal Legend is less accessible to people who aren't into heavy metal music/culture. Psychonauts (featured in a previous bundle) and Stacking (also the game that I'm most looking forward to spending time with) seem to be the most generally approachable titles in the bundle at the moment.

Stacking is very charming -- assuming I get around to the huge Brutal Legend download one of these days, I wish I had paid more for the bundle... but did have Psychonauts already and wasn't so sure about Costume Quest.

Stacking is very charming -- assuming I get around to the huge Brutal Legend download one of these days, I wish I had paid more for the bundle... but did have Psychonauts already and wasn't so sure about Costume Quest.

Well, if you really want to you can up how much you give after you have payed - just go to the page provided by your Humble key and play with the slider.

I'll agree that if the Frozenbyte bundle had happened today, it would have pulled much more attention that when it happened, but find it hard to believe that it would have been on par with the "Indie" bundles simply because there are people (with poor taste) out there who don't find FB's work appealing.

^_^

I imagine that Costume Quest is probably less appealing to audiences who don't celebrate Halloween (I gave it a try last night, and I feel like I'm missing out on a lot of references).

So Halloween has not reached Australia yet? Because I know the Brits have basically adopted it now and I have heard it is making inroads into New Zealand. Although, I would still understand not grasping the full cultural lore behind it. Maybe it has just not reached Tasmania.

I imagine that Costume Quest is probably less appealing to audiences who don't celebrate Halloween (I gave it a try last night, and I feel like I'm missing out on a lot of references).

So Halloween has not reached Australia yet? Because I know the Brits have basically adopted it now and I have heard it is making inroads into New Zealand. Although, I would still understand not grasping the full cultural lore behind it. Maybe it has just not reached Tasmania.

I'm not aware of it being A Thing anywhere in Australia (it certainly wasn't something that happened in Sydney when I was growing up)

The game itself is fun and cute, but I get the feeling that its target audience is people who fondly remember trick-or-treat... ing?

For what it's worth, in southern Europe Halloween has only been around for a few years and it's mainly an excuse for grown-ups to party and wear slutty costumes. In spite of this, and being aware that I must've missed out on quite a few things, I've enjoyed the game a lot. :)

Halloween has been in England since way before I was born and it's still just as popular now, always see kids out with their parents.

It would actually be interesting to see Halloween's adoption rate across the UK over time; one would suspect it would have been the English who would have adopted it before the others. Poor Guy Fawkes...

Here in Canada it has been around for ages, of course, due to its rather large presence to the south. Although, having it so late in the year is not a real advantage here in Siberia west, with there almost always being snow on the ground by late October. At least we had the sense to push Thanksgiving back.

Stacking is very charming -- assuming I get around to the huge Brutal Legend download one of these days, I wish I had paid more for the bundle... but did have Psychonauts already and wasn't so sure about Costume Quest.

Well, if you really want to you can up how much you give after you have payed - just go to the page provided by your Humble key and play with the slider.

Thanks, I never noticed the increase payment option. More than doubled it: assuming good things about Brutal Legend, though I haven't bothered to download it while still playing Stacking ;)

The over 8 GB download is also a little bit daunting.

It is worth it though.