If you’re new to these parts, here’s how it works: for two weeks, you can pay whatever you want to get these DRM-free games on Mac, Windows, and Linux: the critically acclaimed action-RPG Torchlight; the rugged sci-fi action platformer Rochard; physics-based brick breaker Shatter; top down space combat sim Space Pirates and Zombies; and steampunk puzzle platformer Vessel. If you choose to pay more than the average price, you will also receive the incredible, frantic acrobatic platformer, Dustforce! Many of the games also come with their own soundtrack!
All the games can be optionally redeemed on Steam (if purchased for $1 or more) and the Ubuntu Software Centre! Purchasers can also choose to benefit the Child’s Play Charity and the Electronic Frontier Foundation, two awesome non-profits that are always working hard in the name of gamers worldwide. So far, the generous contributions of bundle buyers has added up to more than $6,700,000 for charity!
All six of these great games are having their Linux debut right here with us! (Please note that the finishing touches for Vessel’s Linux and Mac debut are still being completed and should be ready in 24-72 hours.) We’re also delighted to be launching the first native Unity game on Linux! The Unity game engine powers a number of amazing titles including Rochard, and their presence on Linux can only broaden the horizons for cross-platform gaming everywhere.
Getting these games and soundtracks on their own would cost upwards of $86, but we’re letting you set the price!
I loved this bundle. wish they had Desura keys tho...
Everybody does, my friend :-(
Agreed...
I was considering buying it, but after seeing it wasn't available on Desura, I didn't feel like bothering. A game manager is just too convenient (eg updates).
Damn, I was thinking about buying Rochard, Vessel, and maybe Torchlight directly from Desura, but none of them are available );
I say "maybe" on Torchlight because it seems kinda generic and I already have Elder Scrolls (4&5) and Guild Wars (1&2) among others to fill my RPG cravings.
I understand how you feel. I, too have been sorely disappointed at the loss of Desura key redemption on Humble Bundles. Unfortunately, from what I've read, Desura was basically being soaked for bandwidth with no compensation. One would have hoped that a fraction of the "Humble Tip" could have been passed on or something, but unfortunately I've heard nothing of that.
What makes me saddest is that not having key redemption also means that some of these games are not available for sale on Desura, either, especially after the promotion is over. Sometimes the Linux port becomes completely unavailable any other way (which then makes ongoing support highly suspect, like Meat Boy and Binding of Isaac).
As a Linux gamer, I'd still rather support the games somehow, rather than GW or Bethesda Softworks. Many of them do end up on Desura at some point, and if they do not, then maybe their sequels will come! One can hope, and also poke the developers to get on Desura :-)
I had already read about Desura basically being a free mirror. Would be nice if Humble Bundle and Desura could work out a deal where any games that were purchased via Humble Bundle, Humble Bundle would pay the bandwidth costs on them (they already do that for direct downloads from their site anyway). I'm not sure how Desura updates games, but if it's a delta type of thing, it would be cheaper for Humble Bundle to recommend Desura over direct downloads (though Bittorrent might be even better bandwidth wise).
I think part of what motivated me to buy HiB3 was because I was using Linux and it felt nice to have some native games (and they were rather creative games). Indie games aren't very common (or at least well known) and even less so for Linux, then there's the problem that a lot of Indie games aren't very good (I liked most of HiB3 btw). On the otherhand AAA games have high awareness (hype) and usally are of good quality (ignoring DRM). The problem for me was that I prefer to pay at least $5 per game I am getting, but I was only interested in a couple of the games and I wasn't even sure if I would like them, however being available on Desura might have been enough to push me to get the bundle (or just buy the two I was interested in directly from Desura...).
It's worth for Torchlight alone. I hope they will make Torchlight II for Linux platforms also.
I, like many others, started using Desura on the strength of the early HumbleBundles. While some may look on it as "free" hosting it did bring new users to Desura and some of them may stay and buy more games.
I think Desura should have looked upon it as promoting the platform which is something Desura needs.
They totally did exactly that, supposedly. I suspect that they were only driven to stop participating when the bandwidth costs began to actually threaten their actual operating budget. I doubt it was an easy decision, and there was probably a great deal of discussion (perhaps heated). Desura/ModDB/IndieDB have always stayed independent and gone their own way, to be able to survive. Unless I read otherwise, I'm going to continue to believe that this was another tough decision in that direction.
Though, I must admit that seeing Psychonauts on Desura would have been pretty amazing :-)