There is an "ask me anything" going on in reddit-land right now with the folks from the current Humble Bundle, I decided to ask the question a lot of people have been wondering.
Source
A bit of a cocky answer, but it finally gives us some insight as to why we have delays in Linux titles or Linux titles coming out in a beta form.
Humble feel it would harm their reputation to ask a developer to sit out and wait for the next bundle for the sake of a Linux version.
I think it harms their reputation with Linux fans to have a game completely missing for the sake of what sounds like their ego's.
It certainly doesn't make me jump for joy at them even with multiple other titles, considering the "Humble Indie Bundle" is their last area for cross-platform, it seems completely against their own tagline to not push a game back if it doesn't have a Linux version ready.
Take their latest HIB11, their tagline is and I quote:
I can count five. Having one with only a Windows version doesn't count as a cross-platform game, or has the meaning of cross-platform changed recently?
I do very much appreciate Jeff taking the time to answer my question, and hope they do continue to be a force for Linux gaming. This is just to point out some things I find annoying, and from our comments section, so do you.
What do you think guys? Has this fixed the issue of games not appearing for you? Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
liamdaweParsap/Humble Team - Is there a reason HIB's are pushed out with Linux ports either missing or in beta, why can they not be pushed back to a later bundle which will inevitably come? It's not like HIB's will stop anytime soon.
Jeff Rosen. Humble Bundle CEOIt is important to remember that we are actually the reason that many games are ported to Linux. It is painful for us and our reputation among developers to convince someone to drop everything and port their game to Linux, or hire a Linux porter, or have us port it in house for them... and then despite good faith efforts on all parties, it just doesn't happen the exact right amount of time.
It really sucks to see a developer doing everything right, following all of our advice, and then be like "sorry... could you uh, go ahead and move to this other surprise bundle? Thaaaaanks."
We do indeed do this sometimes, and it really, really sucks. This might have already happened to one of the games in question already.
Source
A bit of a cocky answer, but it finally gives us some insight as to why we have delays in Linux titles or Linux titles coming out in a beta form.
Humble feel it would harm their reputation to ask a developer to sit out and wait for the next bundle for the sake of a Linux version.
I think it harms their reputation with Linux fans to have a game completely missing for the sake of what sounds like their ego's.
It certainly doesn't make me jump for joy at them even with multiple other titles, considering the "Humble Indie Bundle" is their last area for cross-platform, it seems completely against their own tagline to not push a game back if it doesn't have a Linux version ready.
Take their latest HIB11, their tagline is and I quote:
HIB11Get six incredible cross-platform games.
I can count five. Having one with only a Windows version doesn't count as a cross-platform game, or has the meaning of cross-platform changed recently?
I do very much appreciate Jeff taking the time to answer my question, and hope they do continue to be a force for Linux gaming. This is just to point out some things I find annoying, and from our comments section, so do you.
What do you think guys? Has this fixed the issue of games not appearing for you? Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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chill out; it's only 1 game. :)
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My main problem here is that all of Humble Bundles' previous forays into murky waters have always been met by the same people saying that "at least the Humble Indie Bundles will stay the same!"
A lot of people have either accepted or justified other questionable moves done by Humble Bundle by extolling the virtues of the magical "HIB" label. Well, now it appears that the "HIB" label is not the wondrous protective charm some might have hoped. It also has room for uncomfortable compromise.
I am actually not that bothered by the specific details involved in this particular instance; as long as the games do get ported it is not all that harmful. It is the trends involved that I find concerning.
A lot of people have either accepted or justified other questionable moves done by Humble Bundle by extolling the virtues of the magical "HIB" label. Well, now it appears that the "HIB" label is not the wondrous protective charm some might have hoped. It also has room for uncomfortable compromise.
I am actually not that bothered by the specific details involved in this particular instance; as long as the games do get ported it is not all that harmful. It is the trends involved that I find concerning.
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The problem comes from relying on Humble Bundle to push out Linux ports, now that we have Valve we won't really need to rely on the Humble Bundle nearly as much. But we should definitely be thankful for their help.
Heck if anything they're the reason ports of Braid, Meatboy, Binding Of Issac and other games exist today and for that I am really thankful. I can see why they may get frustrated with the Linux market, it's unreasonable to ask all these developers to make Linux ports, and their in house developers that help port these games to Linux can only do so much at once. Their business is growing at a much faster pace than Linux, while they can still accommodate Linux every once in a while with the Indie bundles, it is nearly impossible to do with the bigger bundles of big games.
And to be fair, I'm not exactly hurt by the fact that this one game won't have a port until later this year, at least that has been said for us and it honestly could've been worse for us Linux users. Linux will grow soon with the release of Steam Machines and the push of Valve but until that happens this kind of thing will continue, as long as we remain at about 2 - 4 % of the gaming market we will remain an after thought even if we donate a lot more money, because in the end we only make about 15 - 20 % of Indie Bundle Revenue usually, Windows generally makes over 60 % of that profit and if you're running a business you focus on your main source of profit, not your smallest source. I know that may sound mean but while the Humble Bundle was created as a charity it has changed to a business and now they need money to run what they do and get more games out there.
They can't wait everytime for ports to be in excellent condition and for there to even be ports, as long as ports come at a reasonable pace and these ports get maintained I'm relatively happy. I know that really Humble Bundle could only do so much for Linux and it looks like they've about capped at their potential for pushing Linux, so I can't really ask any more of them, I'm looking forward to see what Valve's push for Linux can do and where it will cap, they are a much bigger and official company that run a real business, so it definitely should be more interesting to see.
On a side note I miss the days of iD supporting us, please come back iD Software, we miss you. :(
Heck if anything they're the reason ports of Braid, Meatboy, Binding Of Issac and other games exist today and for that I am really thankful. I can see why they may get frustrated with the Linux market, it's unreasonable to ask all these developers to make Linux ports, and their in house developers that help port these games to Linux can only do so much at once. Their business is growing at a much faster pace than Linux, while they can still accommodate Linux every once in a while with the Indie bundles, it is nearly impossible to do with the bigger bundles of big games.
And to be fair, I'm not exactly hurt by the fact that this one game won't have a port until later this year, at least that has been said for us and it honestly could've been worse for us Linux users. Linux will grow soon with the release of Steam Machines and the push of Valve but until that happens this kind of thing will continue, as long as we remain at about 2 - 4 % of the gaming market we will remain an after thought even if we donate a lot more money, because in the end we only make about 15 - 20 % of Indie Bundle Revenue usually, Windows generally makes over 60 % of that profit and if you're running a business you focus on your main source of profit, not your smallest source. I know that may sound mean but while the Humble Bundle was created as a charity it has changed to a business and now they need money to run what they do and get more games out there.
They can't wait everytime for ports to be in excellent condition and for there to even be ports, as long as ports come at a reasonable pace and these ports get maintained I'm relatively happy. I know that really Humble Bundle could only do so much for Linux and it looks like they've about capped at their potential for pushing Linux, so I can't really ask any more of them, I'm looking forward to see what Valve's push for Linux can do and where it will cap, they are a much bigger and official company that run a real business, so it definitely should be more interesting to see.
On a side note I miss the days of iD supporting us, please come back iD Software, we miss you. :(
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Quoting: JebrilOn a side note I miss the days of iD supporting us, please come back iD Software, we miss you. :(
you mean Bethesda ?....
http://kotaku.com/tag/doom-4
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I somewhat Agree with this Editorial.
But we also have to take into account that Humble bundle now has more competitors in the form of "indie Royale", "Indie Gala" , "bundle stars", etc.
None of the prior make "multiplatform" a priority (But they have been including more linux games lately, which is a good thing). So in my eyes the HIB still gives the most incentive for linux ports and EXPOSURE of the platform.
Bundles are not going anywhere, they will keep playing a key part (for both devs and consumers) and as time goes by things will get better for us, as more and more devs become multiplatform conscious from the start and even adopt linux as a platform they can use regularly.
But we also have to take into account that Humble bundle now has more competitors in the form of "indie Royale", "Indie Gala" , "bundle stars", etc.
None of the prior make "multiplatform" a priority (But they have been including more linux games lately, which is a good thing). So in my eyes the HIB still gives the most incentive for linux ports and EXPOSURE of the platform.
Bundles are not going anywhere, they will keep playing a key part (for both devs and consumers) and as time goes by things will get better for us, as more and more devs become multiplatform conscious from the start and even adopt linux as a platform they can use regularly.
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FutureSuture Feb 22, 2014
It is strange how Humble is wavering with the advent of SteamOS and the Steam Machines drawing ever closer. What is Humble thinking by doing this now of all times?
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Quoting: Jebrilports of Braid
Which is still not on Steam.
In fact, I have 3 dozens of games in my "Missing Linux version" category in my Steam library. All games that have working GNU/Linux versions, but not on Steam for some reason.
Quoting: JebrilI'm not exactly hurt by the fact that this one game won't have a port until later this year, at least that has been said for us
Let's recap that next year, okay? Because I still don't believe that Linux port of Giana Sisters will ever come.
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I think what HIB is trying to accomplish isn't easy yet, they're still going against the current after all this time. I'd like to see many of you leading the HIB and see what you'd get, maybe more maybe less. Anyway, being a customer that wants what he pays for, I just give money for games with ports already out so they're loosing some money by being late.
Steam is getting a lot of praise here, and the others get a lot of criticism like this. I'd say a lot of games on Steam are there thanks to HIB, Unity, and individuals pushing for it, like the porters, Ryan and others. Valve's interest in GNU/Linux is totally selfish compared to those others that are really pushing, IMHO.
While I think HIB could do better and I will push for that, I wouldn't be too hard but rather have a lot of respect for what they do.
Steam is getting a lot of praise here, and the others get a lot of criticism like this. I'd say a lot of games on Steam are there thanks to HIB, Unity, and individuals pushing for it, like the porters, Ryan and others. Valve's interest in GNU/Linux is totally selfish compared to those others that are really pushing, IMHO.
While I think HIB could do better and I will push for that, I wouldn't be too hard but rather have a lot of respect for what they do.
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There doesn't seem to be lot of the humble spirit left in these Humble Bundles. How the cross-platform requirement can be painful for Humble Bundle and their reputation when it once was one of the main points of the whole thing.
I'm thankful for their work and impact on the business. I just feel that these recent bundles haven't been as fun as they should be for everyone involved.
I'm thankful for their work and impact on the business. I just feel that these recent bundles haven't been as fun as they should be for everyone involved.
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Quoting: AnonymousQuoting: alexThunderHas anyone get Splot yet? ;-)Quoting: SilviuI think you need some relaxing tea :PAgreed :) As long these ports aren't delayed for several years, I'm fine with it.
I think good games don't age. And there are other games to play in the meantime.
Will Vessel be complete someday?
Remember Dungeon Defenders!
And Remember the ***** wine ports like LIMBO.
HIB does a gret job for us. But sometimes I think, that they don't love their linux custumers very much.
"Remember Dungeon Defenders!"
I have remembered for months and months and months, and talked to icculus about the version being incorrect... bugs with gamepads and local players joining, seg faults etc. he said it will get done... at some point... might be a few years tho at this pace.
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