Update: The developer posted in our comments, stating that Linux is now their most profitable platform and it's all going to charity.
The game 'Can't Drive This' [Steam] only recently came to Linux, and the developers have decided that 100% of October's revenue made from Linux sales will go to a penguin charity.
It's an amusing sounding game too, as the track is built by someone else as you're racing. Sounds challenging, and fun!
To qualify they ask that you buy the game from the Steam client on Linux, or from the Steam store in your browser on Linux to be 100% sure it's counted correctly. So, no buying it from other stores ;)
They also listed some reasons apart from money that developers should support Linux:
Find more info about it all here.
I think they might be my new favourite developer.
Sadly, I can't even spare the £6.99 for it right now due to a few big events coming up that require me to really save the pennies (thanks Ysblokje for picking me up a copy!), but I hope plenty of you will in my place with me posting it up!
The game 'Can't Drive This' [Steam] only recently came to Linux, and the developers have decided that 100% of October's revenue made from Linux sales will go to a penguin charity.
It's an amusing sounding game too, as the track is built by someone else as you're racing. Sounds challenging, and fun!
To qualify they ask that you buy the game from the Steam client on Linux, or from the Steam store in your browser on Linux to be 100% sure it's counted correctly. So, no buying it from other stores ;)
They also listed some reasons apart from money that developers should support Linux:
QuoteLinux is a free platform, supporting it is a good decision, morally
The Linux community is thankful for every Linux port you build and will talk about your game. There are also a lot of lists and databases that refer linux games, bringing you traffic and links to your website. The links to your website will increase the rankings of your game's website or landing page in search engines.
Linux users tend to be technically talented and might be able to give you very qualified feedback, and usually send you output logs and detailed information about their machines, in a support or feature request.
Find more info about it all here.
I think they might be my new favourite developer.
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Quoting: Mountain ManThis is a nice gesture, but wouldn't it have been interesting if they pledged to donate all sales from the most profitable platform rather than the traditionally least profitable?
Windows charity? :)
It wouldn't be much money from Windows either I think.
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Quoting: Psycic101What great, forward-thinking developers! I really like the concept of the game (when I read the previous article about it here on GoL) but thought I'd wait for it to be on sale. Needless to say, after this article, I just bought a copy. :D I want to buy a copy (for a friend) when October is over, so the developers also get some money. Question is, if I buy it on my Linux machine and gift it to my friend who then activates it on a Windows machine will it still count as a Linux purchase? Logic tells me yes, but I want to be sure XDWould be interested in that as well because logic tells me that this is not the case. Because of playtime within the first 1-2 weeks.
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Quoting: Guestit's a good marketing trick
This is how I see it as well. A cheap (economically) way to gain valuable attention.
It irks me.
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Hey guys,
Steve here, one of the devs if Can't Drive This. First of all, thank you so much for the article! It's great to see the Linux community appreciates our idea! :) Secondly, let me address some of your concerns.
Hope I could give you some insight on what's going on over here. :)
- Steve
Steve here, one of the devs if Can't Drive This. First of all, thank you so much for the article! It's great to see the Linux community appreciates our idea! :) Secondly, let me address some of your concerns.
QuoteI kinda hate being "lured" into feeling guilty for not buying itSorry about that! :D We're not trying to lure anybody into anything, and we're definitely not trying to make people feel guilty for not buying our games.
Quoteit's a good marketing trickYou're right, it is marketing. We're a game dev studio and we rely on people knowing about our games. But we felt like, if have to do marketing, we might as well save penguins and raise awareness for porting Linux games, while we're at it. By the way, so far we've gotten enough sales to adopt 7 penguins. ;)
Quotebut wouldn't it have been interesting if they pledged to donate all sales from the most profitable platform rather than the traditionally least profitable?We're a small indie studio with an Early Access game. We rely on at least some money coming in, to keep the wheels turning. That said, we decided to donate Linux sales, to raise awareness for Linux games. Many game developers don't port their games to Linux, because they feel it's not worth it. We wanted to prove them wrong. And thanks to our Save The Penguins initiative, Linux now is our most profitable platform! Linux sales are now more than double of Windows and Mac combined – all of which is going to charity. I think that sends a good message to the Linux community and developers alike.
QuoteA cheap (economically) way to gain valuable attentionI'm sorry you feel that way. We've decided to give away most of our revenue of an entire month, without knowing if we'd get anything in return. Best case scenario, penguins get saved and our game gains attention. Worst case scenario for us, penguins get saved. I'd say that's a win-win, but you're definitely entitled to say otherwise.
Quoteif I buy it on my Linux machine and gift it to my friend who then activates it on a Windows machine will it still count as a Linux purchase?It will! :) And thank you for the support!
Hope I could give you some insight on what's going on over here. :)
- Steve
15 Likes, Who?
Quoting: The CaptainYou're right, it is marketing. We're a game dev studio and we rely on people knowing about our games. But we felt like, if have to do marketing, we might as well save penguins and raise awareness for porting Linux games, while we're at it. By the way, so far we've gotten enough sales to adopt 7 penguins. ;)
Quoting: The CaptainWe're a small indie studio with an Early Access game. We rely on at least some money coming in, to keep the wheels turning. That said, we decided to donate Linux sales, to raise awareness for Linux games. Many game developers don't port their games to Linux, because they feel it's not worth it. We wanted to prove them wrong. And thanks to our Save The Penguins initiative, Linux now is our most profitable platform! Linux sales are now more than double of Windows and Mac combined – all of which is going to charity. I think that sends a good message to the Linux community and developers alike.
- Steve
Thanks alot for that post, Steve. This is great stuff. I've changed view - this is cool.
5 Likes, Who?
Quoting: GuestThis developer is smart, it's a good marketing trick. Liam, please do a follow up in November and let us know how many tuxes we saved.If I don't, remind me!
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Nice dev! I bought it. Not expecting too much from the game, but their marketing is praiseworthy.
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Cool initiative. I bought it.
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Neat game :) I picked up a copy too.
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