We got a little bummed yesterday that people were pirating a games bundle released for charity. Let’s put that behind us today, and instead focus on the positive aspects of said bundle. Like the fact it’s made over $US1 million.
Yes, since its release last week, Wolfire’s Humble Indie Bundle has been bought by 118,810 people, with a total of $US1,080,964 being spent on the pack. Now, not all of that goes to charity: Wolfire points out that $US334,646 will be split between the Electronic Frontier Foundation and Child’s Play, the remainder to be divided between the game’s developers.
The charitable donations will no doubt garner the most headlines, and rightly so, but I’m actually more impressed with a $US650,000 pay day for those indie devs (it works out to be just over $US150,000 each).
To mark the occassion, the pack has also gone “open source”, with the code for every title bar World of Goo set to be laid bare for all the internet to see/play with.
Humble Indie Bundle [Wolfire]
Jeff Pearce
Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at 3:48 PMI bought it, and am very happy I did. :)
Ross Moir
Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at 4:00 PMThis is a great pick-me-up after the dissapointment that was yesterday’s article about the pirates.
While it would have been nice ot see a bit more og to the charities, i’m sure this will encourage other indie devs to consider selling their games in a similar manner.
Old_Skool_Gamer
Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at 4:18 PMAs far as I know World Of Goo is the only one that’s NOT going “open source”.
Great result though. Maybe these indie developers getting an extra 150 grand in their kitty will encourage them to make more quality games.
Stone
Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at 4:28 PMI bought it but nominated that my entire purchase price go towards the developers so I’m not displeased with how much or little the charities scored. For me the use of the charities was a cleaver strategy the independent developers used to get them mainstream media attention.
I doubt either charity will balk at their allocation and believe the developers deserve the lions share.
Jeff Pearce
Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at 5:53 PMI wish Child’s Play would update their website with their proceeds.
AndyN
Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at 7:04 PMThe blame pirates but actually how many of those pirates ended up liking the games and actually paid money for them?
And also how many wouldn;t have bought it anyways, so to just blame pirates for loss revenue is stupid.
If anything, piracy actually helped the charity by spreading word of mouth to those that may have not even heard of it if they were;nt pirates in the first place.
David Wildgoose
Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at 7:08 PMWhat a curious world you live in.
RocK_M
Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at 7:44 PMROFLMAO
I can only shake my head and just laugh it off every time some person takes the audacity to use the “it’s publicity” or “its a demo” excuse for piracy… even more so if its in the same paragraph.
Mate get real =P Everybody who pirates KNOWS thats a load of rubbish and i’d be surprised if even 1% of these “publicity/demo” copies get translated to actual sales =P
Snacuum
Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at 9:02 PMYou’re implying that a pirate would never consort with those who are not also pirates? That there is no physical way that somebody who pirated a game could tell somebody of their opinions of the game to somebody else and that somebody else may then purchase the game if it sounded like what they would enjoy?
I’m not saying that it is a valid excuse, but to write-off AndyN’s comments is also ignorant.
On one side we have “Dirty Pirates” the other side, “White Knights.”
Old_Skool_Gamer
Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at 11:20 PMWhile your theory is possible it is highly unlikely. It would be more likely to go like this.
Pirate: “Downloaded these games last night, and man they’re awesome. You should try them out”.
Non-Pirate: “Sweet, Where’d you get them”.
Pirate: “oh here’s the link”. or “I can make a copy for you”.
David Brady
Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at 8:06 PMI grabbed bad company 2 for pc first and then paid for it for PS3 =/
there is lots of others but maybe i’m part of a minority who rewards developers.
Chuloopa
Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at 8:49 PMAbsolutely fantastic stuff – i’m glad to have contributed to that – even if only in a small way…