Indie Games on Linux (new Humble Bundle now available :)

[dogsolitude_uk]

Hi folks,

I'm new to these forums, and was surprised that there was no 'Games on Mint' section (or if there is, it's very well hidden!).

Since starting to use Mint more in depth over the last few weeks I've been really impressed by the way Independent games developers have been including Linux in their platforms. A couple of my favourite games (Braid, Minecraft and Amnesia) all have Linux-specific versions. Took me a little while to get sound out of some of them, but they run very well indeed on my installation, better than when I boot into Windows!

Anyway, I'm not sure what the rules about Spam and stuff are here, but I was chuffed to find in RockPaperShotgun that the latest HumbleIndieBundle (a sort of raise-money-for-charity thing where you pay what you like for a bundle of Indie games) includes Amnesia and Psychonauts! Psychonauts is an absolute classic... Also includes Bastion, Limbo and Sword and Sworcery too. Downloads are available in .deb, .targ.gz and .sh files. Ubuntu users get a big orange button that allows them to redeem their purchase in their store.

These aren't free, open-source games. I bought Amnesia and Psychonauts on Windows a year or so back. Amnesia scared the living bejesus out of me, and Psychonauts was great fun.

I'm currently downloading Amnesia now

Anyway, some questions:

1 - Do many of you in the Mint community play games, either native or through Wine? If so, how are you finding it?
2 - Would it be reasonable to suggest a Games section on the forum here, or am I sort of missing the point of these forums?

Apologies of this subject's a bit off-target, I'm sort of finding my feet here...

[xenopeek]

Ah, well my answer to 1 you already know What games I play on Linux are Linux native Indie games. Mostly from HumbleBundle, Desura or Indievania. There are lots of great games to enjoy.

As for answer to 2, let's see if this gains some support here and I'll discuss it with the admins.

[torturedutopian]

Yep, there should definitely be a games section

What I appreciate at the moment, is that Linux gets supported by more & more quality indie developers. Which I prefer over the support of a few big companies What channels I prefer at the moment are Gameolith (distro agnostic) and Humble Bundle. Desura / Ubuntu One kind of lock the user by forcing the use of a specific client or specific distro. Also there are many amazing games being community funded through kickstarter ATM (like wasteland 2, a new Leisure Suit Larry, a new adventure game by Tim Schaffer, etc.)

Regarding the latest Humble Bundle, did you guys manage to get Bastion running ? I get some errors (beginning by : Unhandled Exception: System.TypeInitializationException: An exception was thrown by the type initializer for OpenTK.Input.Mouse ---> System.DllNotFoundException: libXi). Using LMDE 64 bits.

Humble Bundle games are usually updated / fixed so we shouldn't worry too much, though.

[j-c32]

Regarding the latest Humble Bundle, did you guys manage to get Bastion running ? I get some errors (beginning by : Unhandled Exception: System.TypeInitializationException: An exception was thrown by the type initializer for OpenTK.Input.Mouse ---> System.DllNotFoundException: libXi). Using LMDE 64 bits.

With the same config, I've seen the same problem, and this has worked for me:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p= ... stcount=38

[dogsolitude_uk]

In haste (parents visiting this evening):

I got Amnesia working with the .deb file with no problems whatsoever: no different to installing in Windows, just a bit quicker.

Not tried Bastion yet, will do so over weekend and keep you posted

I'm a big fan of Indie games, and as mentioned in a previous post am very encouraged by the support Linux is receiving from HumbleBundle, Desura, Indievania etc. and was really pleased when I found that Braid, Darwinia etc. had native Linux versions. Not entirely sure about the wisdom/desirability of Ubuntu One-type systems. Steam has an offline mode, Desura games can run without client as well IIRC, but the idea that my license is tied to one distro/system doesn't appeal. I'd like to burn my .deb, .sh and .tar.gz files to a thumb drive or DVD for future use

Only problem I've had with any games so far on Linux has been sound with Eschalon, but solved using 'padsp' in launcher...

Oh, and just seen this:
Tiny and Big

Demo for Linux available Looks quite fun if you're into trashing things and cutting big bits of rock with lasers...

[Rehdon]

Can you use the Ubuntu Software Center under LM 12/3 to download and install the Humble Bundle games? On the Humble Bundle site you don't have debs for all the games.

Rehdon

[dogsolitude_uk]

Can you use the Ubuntu Software Center under LM 12/3 to download and install the Humble Bundle games? On the Humble Bundle site you don't have debs for all the games.

Rehdon

You don't need to use a .deb

Amnesia came as a .sh file. I downloaded it to somewhere handy, went into the command line and typed 'sudo sh Amnesia-whatever-the-rest-of-the-filename-was.sh' and it installed OK, giving me options regarding where to put it as well.

Once parents have disappeared, I'll be downloading and installing the rest

I've installed .tar.gz files before now, but found that a bit hit and miss: I'm not sure if there's a 'best' way fo doing them - I really ought to find out! Still a bit new to all this. Up til now I've been opening them and dumping the contents into a convenient folder and running whatever's in them. This doesn't result in menu entries and launchers being created though.

[bimsebasse]

Can you use the Ubuntu Software Center under LM 12/3 to download and install the Humble Bundle games? On the Humble Bundle site you don't have debs for all the games.

Rehdon

Yes, I used USC to download the bundle but it's not been a great experience so far as I'm still waiting for two of the games to become available

[Rehdon]

@dogsolitude_uk: I think I can install it fine from a tar.gz archive, but usually I like to have software installed via debs to be able to track everything. What you write is interesting, though, because the options wrt install location are nice (I already have a crammed root partition >.<), I wonder if the deb package allows for that.

@bimsebasse: thanks for the infor, guess I have to install the USC first? which is the name of the package? don't seem to have it available already (ofc correct me if I'm wrong, might well be part of the standard LM install and I can't find it in the Mint menu .

Rehdon

[bimsebasse]

Try my Mint 12 guide to install USC in Mint, it might work in Maya as well - give me a holler if it doesn't: viewtopic.php?f=42&t=86813

[bimsebasse]

As for answer to 2, let's see if this gains some support here and I'll discuss it with the admins.

Might be one of those build-it-and-they-will-come things

[dogsolitude_uk]

@dogsolitude_uk: I think I can install it fine from a tar.gz archive, but usually I like to have software installed via debs to be able to track everything. What you write is interesting, though, because the options wrt install location are nice (I already have a crammed root partition >.<), I wonder if the deb package allows for that.

Rehdon

Amen to that: I feel happier just clicking on a .deb file, if only because I usually end up with little icons and entries in the correct place. Amnesia's .sh file set everything up nicely too.

When I set up Eschalon I&II i just had .tar.gz files, and wasn't entirely sure what to do: I just ended up double-clicking on the icon to see what it did, and found myself extracting an executable, some .pak files a .pdf instruction manual and that was about it. I slung the lot into /opt/, and it works, but I had to create a launcher, add 'padsp' to the beginning of the launcher to get sound out of it, and find a suitable icon for it as well. All rather messy, and I'm wondering if I missed something very obvious.

Might be one of those build-it-and-they-will-come things

One of the first things I looked for when I can here was a games section I personally think it will be useful, for example it would be handy to discuss Mint-specific issues with installing games, graphics drivers, sound, Wine etc, as well as new releases and broader subjects too (such as the petition on GOG.com for more Linux games, the alleged forthcoming release of Steam on Linux etc.) The Ubuntu forums have a bit for games, which seems quite lively.

Naturally though if the forum has a games section added, it would be up to us to 'feed it' and keep it lively. I'm not suggesting it should become RockPaperShotgun Mk II, but if it just rolls over and dies due to disuse that might give a bad impression about Mint to a casual user.

[Rehdon]

Try my Mint 12 guide to install USC in Mint, it might work in Maya as well - give me a holler if it doesn't: viewtopic.php?f=42&t=86813

Doh, could have moved my ass and look for software-center in Synaptic ... >_<

Thank you anyway, and BTW had forgotten about that nice page with tricks and tips, there are lots of "10 things to do after you have installed Ubuntu/Fedora" howtos, but LM is not as well served it seems. This is what I could find (for MATE, not Cinnamon, unfortunately):

10 things to do after installing Linux Mint 13
http://www.linuxandlife.com/2012/05/10- ... linux.html

Rehdon

[torturedutopian]

Regarding the latest Humble Bundle, did you guys manage to get Bastion running ? I get some errors (beginning by : Unhandled Exception: System.TypeInitializationException: An exception was thrown by the type initializer for OpenTK.Input.Mouse ---> System.DllNotFoundException: libXi). Using LMDE 64 bits.

With the same config, I've seen the same problem, and this has worked for me:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p= ... stcount=38

Thanks ! That fixed it for me ! Wonder why this is necessary though, hope it'll get fixed

[antikythera]

Just bought a copy of Titan Attacks! by Puppy Games. It is a decent homage to Space Invaders. I came across a review of it on Softpedia last night and downloaded the demo. Hooked after the first game having played the original Space Invaders. There are 100 levels of action and a reasonable selection of powerups and twists on the old game to bring it bang up to date and keep it fun to play. It runs in Java so you need either Sun or OpenJDK installed to play it.

Review and screenshots: http://www.softpedia.com/reviews/linux/ ... 3019.shtml

Publisher site for download and purchase options: http://www.puppygames.net/titan-attacks/

[xenopeek]

Thanks antikythera! Awesome game, buying it now