Torchlight came out for Linux in September of 2012 via Humble Indie Bundle 6. It has since been available for Linux users only in the Ubuntu Software Centre which hardly encompasses all Linux users.
After searching far and wide and only finding pondering forum posts with unanswered questions, I sent an email to [email protected] 20 days ago and another email 10 days ago, both of which have been ignored. I did stumble upon this, however:
Source.
Although not relevant to what the future of Torchlight on Linux may hold as it only deals with already made purchases, it does sound like Runic has and still is keeping its distance from Linux. Quite strange considering all the furore surrounding Linux and that the Linux client for Torchlight already exists and just needs to be made widely available. I am thinking the Humble Store, Steam, and hopefully GOG once it launches Linux support, but with Humble having done the port, I don't think sharing will be an option. Still, it wouldn't hurt to vote for GOG to add the Linux version of Torchlight to its repertoire.
In addition, Edward Rudd, the man who ported Torchlight to Linux, is available on Twitter.
I encourage all of you to send politely formulated messages to all of the above pieces of contact information to see if anything can be done on the matter. It sounds utterly ridiculous to ask someone to allow you to give them your money when all the work has seemingly already been done and it appears to be in their best interest, but that is what needs to be done apparently.
In a day and age where developers are bringing games to Linux natively years after they became available on Windows, new native Linux clients are being released when the games already had native Linux clients for years, or new native Linux clients hit the virtual shelves years after the games already launched on Linux as wrapjobs, it does beg the question why Runic wants to miss out here. Let us find out!
UPDATE: Edward Rudd has responded! Many thanks, Mr. Rudd!
After searching far and wide and only finding pondering forum posts with unanswered questions, I sent an email to [email protected] 20 days ago and another email 10 days ago, both of which have been ignored. I did stumble upon this, however:
BrianWPlease direct all Linux support inquiries to [email protected] if you purchased through the Humble Bundle or the Ubuntu Software Center.
Source.
Although not relevant to what the future of Torchlight on Linux may hold as it only deals with already made purchases, it does sound like Runic has and still is keeping its distance from Linux. Quite strange considering all the furore surrounding Linux and that the Linux client for Torchlight already exists and just needs to be made widely available. I am thinking the Humble Store, Steam, and hopefully GOG once it launches Linux support, but with Humble having done the port, I don't think sharing will be an option. Still, it wouldn't hurt to vote for GOG to add the Linux version of Torchlight to its repertoire.
In addition, Edward Rudd, the man who ported Torchlight to Linux, is available on Twitter.
I encourage all of you to send politely formulated messages to all of the above pieces of contact information to see if anything can be done on the matter. It sounds utterly ridiculous to ask someone to allow you to give them your money when all the work has seemingly already been done and it appears to be in their best interest, but that is what needs to be done apparently.
In a day and age where developers are bringing games to Linux natively years after they became available on Windows, new native Linux clients are being released when the games already had native Linux clients for years, or new native Linux clients hit the virtual shelves years after the games already launched on Linux as wrapjobs, it does beg the question why Runic wants to miss out here. Let us find out!
UPDATE: Edward Rudd has responded! Many thanks, Mr. Rudd!
outofordercc*LURK*.. Did someone mention me?Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Dustforce will be available on Linux steam "soon"..
Torchlight has not been forgotten about either. It is on my todo list once another game mentioned here is goes into beta in the next week or so on Mac + Linux..
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There are still quite many Linux ports that are available only via Humble library (if you purchased them in Humble Bundle), Humble Store, Ubuntu Software Center, Gameolith or other source, but not on Steam. Torchlight is only one of them, there are also Braid, Lone Survivor, Dustforce, Wizorb, NightSky, BEEP, McPixel, No Time To Explain, Cortex Command (rework with new Linux port was announced for last two of mentioned). However, after some time and probably community influencing devs, we finally see LIMBO and Super Meat Boy, Broken Sword 1 and 2. I guess our voice can do good, if we don't threaten anybody, so let them hear us :D
Air Forte
Atom Zombie Smasher
The Binding of Isaac
BIT.TRIP RUNNER
Botanicula
Braid
Crayon Physics Deluxe
Dear Esther
Draw a Stickman: EPIC
Dustforce
Fieldrunners 2
FlotillaFractal: Make Blooms Not War
Greed Corp
Hack, Slash, Loot
Incredipede
Jamestomes
KRUNCH
Lone Survivor
Machinarium
McPixel
Metal Slug 3
NightSky
Offspring Fling!
Paper Sorcerer
Papo & Yo
Shadowgrounds
Shadowgrounds: Surivor
Shelter
Torchlight
Trine
Vessel
Windosill
Wizorb
As well as games that use AGS and could theoretical use the GNU/Linux build of AGS:
Blackwell Convergence
Blackwell Deception
Blackwell Legacy
Blackwell Unbound
Blackwell Epiphany
Primordia
Night Dive studios, who rereleased several old adventure games on Steam, some with ScummVM, some with DOSBox, have also rereleased The 11th Guest and Tex Murphy: Overseer, which both are Windows title (without ScummVM support) and therefore can't use DOSBox. They could maybe use a Wine bottle. Personally, I'd prefer if Night Dive would pay people to RE both The 11th Guest, as well as the whole Tex Murphy series, for ScummVM.
Then there's Cognition: An Erica Reed Thriller, which uses Unity 3 and has had promised Linux support (with no fixed date) since at least September last year. They're looking into upgrading to Unity 4.
Also, there's X2: The Threat, which, AFAIK, had a Linux port done way back when. Both the Mac OS X and the Linux ports were outsourced, though, and from what I've seen, Egosoft never really seemed to care for either of those.
Also, Divinity: Original Sin and Divinity: Dragon Command, which should have Linux support coming soon-ish, after the Divinity: Original Sin launch. And the new Tex Murphy game is also still waiting on Bink, it seems.
EDIT: Flotilla never existed on Linux. My bad.
To be honest, I'd rather see Torchlight 2 than the original on Linux. But you go with what you've got I guess.
http://monogame.codeplex.com/discussions/448257
I think someone who knows more about Mono needs to volunteer to help them getting a more standard setup for Steam distribution like the other mono games on Steam.
I would be very happy if there was a bigger article about it. This deserves more attention. Also Indie Game: The movie doesn't have a working Linux support.
Oh, I didn't realize those were one and the same.
Well, yes, I don't expect a new port, but I would have liked it if Egosoft would support the old port (and the Mac OS X one as well).
As much as I love what Humble Bundle, icculus et al. are doing, I'm always a bit weary when I hear that a port has been outsourced, because that increases the likelyhood of it becoming a separate fork and unsupported.
Relatedly, the Giana Sisters devs stated (on the Steam forums, a few days ago) that their promised Linux port has been outsourced as well, since they themselves are busy with Dieselstörmers. I just hope that goes well.
Then I lost the saves after some formating / distro hopping / new pc and didn't play again, but I liked it a lot!
I got it in one of the HB in the past, so I have it, but it's not possible to buy it there now.
See how many are listed as publishers: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torchlight
Are Runic alone who decide what versions can be sold?
Having them on record saying "This publisher messed up" is probably not something that would make them look good. :P
But yes, Humble Bundle not having gotten further distribution rights (for whatever reason) is very probably why it's not in the Humble store.
Yeah, it's really getting to me how there's quite a few games out there with Linux versions which haven't been put on Steam. I could add a few more to that list. It's quite strange that a developer would port a game then not upload it where 80% of sales are made, it's like they're trying not to make money.
In the case of Trine it will be upgraded to the engine of trine 2 and it will come to Linux.
http://steamcommunity.com/games/Trine/announcements/detail/1711680838650906965
Its weird no one here had talked about it yet.
But that list is very interesting to keep in mind.
Dustforce will be available on Linux steam "soon"..
Torchlight has not been forgotten about either. It is on my todo list once another game mentioned here is goes into beta in the next week or so on Mac + Linux..