This is really annoying. 'Through the Woods' [Official Site], a very promising psychological horror is no longer coming to Linux and was only announced two weeks before release due to platform-specific technology.
Oh look, another Kickstarter where the developer has not only failed to deliver a Linux version, but they have only notified Kickstarter backers only two weeks before the full release of the game.
They have not said this publicly on their Kickstarter in an update, this was only sent in a private email to their backers which was shared with me today:
QuoteAntagonist says:
Hello, backers!
We have something to say here which we've been meaning to for a while and might disappoint a couple of you.
When we created this Kickstarter, we had the most noble intention of making a Mac and Linux version of Through the Woods. We managed to put together a Mac and Linux demo which we released, and everyone was very happy with it!
Sadly, as time went on, it became clear that if the game kept getting bigger, prettier and more demanding and complex as it was, that the Mac and Linux versions were going to suffer. Getting the game to run has become a major problem and as we've used new, platform-specific technology we can't directly port it over anymore like we've done in the past. It would mean sacrificing some of our most visible graphical features which has become a staple of our art style. Even without those features there are a million platform specific bugs for each version. We have two programmers who are already stretched to breaking getting the Windows build out the door by the 27th.
After release when we've seen how the game fares in the wild, we are looking at porting the game to different devices, consoles, etc. Hopefully we'll get you guys on Mac and Linux the rock solid build you deserve, but we can not make any promises.
For those of you who, understandably, feel that this becomes an issue, please email us at [email protected] with the subject 'Mac and Linux Build' and we'll see what we can do for you.
Thanks again for all your support, and our apologies for the disappointingly late news.
The boys at Antagonist
This is ridiculous, you cannot promise a Linux version on both Greenlight (promised here after initially being a maybe) and Kickstarter and then purposefully lock yourself into platform-specific technology that prevents a Linux version. This has really irked me. I know it listed Linux on the Kickstarter (including a link to the Linux demo), but sadly they changed the page when the game got funded and no platforms are even mentioned now.
It's worth noting, they did tell people this last month in a Steam post, but you wouldn't have seen that unless you were actually going looking for it (like I just did). I wonder why it took over a month from that Steam post, to actually notifying the people that funded them, that's a terrible effort at communication.
Yet another reminder of the trouble when it comes to backing crowdfunding. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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Quoting: Purple Library GuyQuoting: skryThey offered me a refund. Still, I'm really, really disappointed but let them keep that 15USD just because the game itself deserves it.I don't know what the game deserves, but the community deserves to at least have people who pull moves like that pay back the money. If nobody goes and gets their refund, the message is you can pull stunts like this and keep the cash. I think your sentiment is misplaced and would strongly hope that others will not "let them keep that 15USD".
It's all about personal preference. I think the game is worth the money and I probably would have backed it even without the promise of Linux version. They are offering refunds so I don't see a huge problem here, even though I do think it's a dick move from them. They can keep my money this time, but I doubt I'll be supporting them with their future endeavors. Regarding my sentiment, I paid for a game I want and that's all there is to it. Their actions, however, are the reason why I tipped Liam about this.
Anyway, judging by the few emails we exchanged, I don't think they did this on purpose. I got an impression that this is once again result from inexperienced developers promising something they do not quite understand what it means in practice. It's a small team, and at least they are still considering to make the port happen. Going after them with pitchforks and torches probably won't motivate them that much. Push them hard for answers, let them know how you feel about their actions and get the refund if you feel it necessary. That's all there is to it, no need for extra fanaticism.
Last edited by skry on 13 October 2016 at 7:39 pm UTC
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Perkeleen_Vittupää Oct 14, 2016
Quoting: BdMdesigNQuoting: PerkeleenVittupMy comment about piracy and Wine was censored off.
Yea my Suomi Friend, piracy is the wrong way.
Well, not 100% always and without exceptions. Many pieces of creation would be forever gone without piracy related file sharing for example. Here Antagonist just straight out lied and many from Linux community supported them for nothing at all..
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So it is true that they are using DirectX? Then it should not come as a suprice that Mac and Linux would not be supported, *and that it will never be in the future either*. That makes it sound that they never intended a Linux/Mac release ever, it sounds like a scam to get maximum publicity. Also, their excuse will have it so that Mac and Linux ain't viable gaming platforms ("Sadly, as time went on..."). Ehr, we have a portfolio of 2700+ diverse games to prove you wrong! Look into it and you'll find games that are a lot more graphics intensive and more beautiful than what you have to offer. The true issue here is YOU, get your tools right!
As I see it, if the game is suddenly not coming to Linux then my money is suddenly not coming to you either. I will support someone else instead and will recommend people to go buy something else. As simple as that.
Last edited by nakoyu on 16 October 2016 at 10:01 am UTC
As I see it, if the game is suddenly not coming to Linux then my money is suddenly not coming to you either. I will support someone else instead and will recommend people to go buy something else. As simple as that.
Last edited by nakoyu on 16 October 2016 at 10:01 am UTC
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Quoting: nakoyuSo it is true that they are using DirectX? Then it should not come as a suprice that Mac and Linux would not be supported, *and that it will never be in the future either*.
They had a working demo for Linux and Mac which was released the same time as public demo for Windows. I suspect their plan originally was to develop both DirectX and OpenGL renderers, and in the long run couldn't keep the OpenGL one up to speed with the DirectX one. The usual problem with maintaining two code paths.
Last edited by skry on 16 October 2016 at 2:14 pm UTC
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Honestly, I'm currently watching a Let's play of this game (and was just remembering that it was cancelled on Linux) and I do not understand where are "[their] most visible graphical features which has become a staple of [their] art style". The starting idea and the setting are interesting but IMHO the "art style" is generic and more close to a third person RPG like The Witcher 3 than a "horror" game with its own unique strong graphical atmosphere. I suppose that now I know why TW3 never came to Linux, it's only due to an incompatible art style. ^^
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