Don't want to see articles from a certain category? When logged in, go to your User Settings and adjust your feed in the Content Preferences section where you can block tags!
We do often include affiliate links to earn us some pennies. See more here.

Skullgirls Developers Detail What's Going On With The Linux Port

By - | Views: 23,130
tagline-image
The Skullgirls developers have finally written up an official blog post on the status of the Linux port.

A couple of notes from it:
QuoteSome have misinterpreted our inclusion of a free download of the Linux port for campaign backers at the $30 tier and above upon its completion as a promise that we, Lab Zero, would handle its development. However, it was included as a backer reward only – one that we hope we’ll still be able to deliver with the help and support of volunteers willing to work on it.

The above misconception regarding the Linux port has also led some people to believe that we are soliciting volunteers to do work on a port that we promised we would do ourselves, which is also untrue. We strongly believe in due pay for work done, and wish we could pay someone appropriate wages to port the game to Linux, but we simply don’t have the budget for that.

I take issue with things like this as if you're going to include something as a backer reward on your official crowdfunding page then that does suggest you are helping to fund the port.
Putting it on your official page with no intention of officially doing it seems more than a bit backwards.

Not only that, but their official tweet sounded pretty official:

#Skullgirls is coming to #Linux! Support us and get a download code and more characters! http://t.co/642MqVir91

Skullgirls (@Skullgirls) March 15, 2013

That tweet certainly seems like it's drawing in Linux users to help fund it no?

QuoteWhy is the Linux port a volunteer effort? Didn't you make over $800,000 in your crowdfunding campaign?
The Linux port started as a volunteer effort because someone approached us volunteering to do the port. The extra money raised beyond our initial $150,000 goal went to more content for the game and not to ports. That means none of the extra money raised went to the PC port either.

If you think that’s enough money to develop all of the extra content we promised, and produce all of the rewards for campaign backers, and still fund a proper port paying proper programmer salaries, then we don’t know what to tell you.


I still think that they had more than enough money to fund the port properly, but this is how it's going down now. Considering before the crowdfunding campaign began the game was already available for sale, and the campaign was only for DLC with massive over-funding I still struggle to see why they couldn't afford a Linux port. Do voice-overs and character models really take that much money to create?
This is coming from someone with no experience on the developer/business side of things, but still they didn't communicate it very well until now, and that was mainly the problem.
EDIT: They have noted in our comments that the extra funding went right back into their stretch-goals for more content.

It took ~18 months for them to come out with this. Why is it so hard for even indie developers to be open and honest with customers who help fund them? I just don't understand it at all, and we on Linux seem to be on the receiving end of this rather a lot. 7 Days To Die anyone?

It's another reason why I tell people not to buy a game until a developer confirms a Linux version exists, and why I don't personally fund anything using crowdfunding any more.

My pessimism aside: In the end I just hope the volunteers can come together and bring a Linux version out, as the game does look fantastic. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
0 Likes
About the author -
author picture
I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly came back to check on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. Find me on Mastodon.
See more from me
The comments on this article are closed.
48 comments
Page: 1/5»
  Go to:

zimplex1 Sep 16, 2014
I wouldn't be surprised if all that extra money went to paying everyone more money (not saying that's bad), but if it only took 150k to get the dlc... then they could have done a lot more useful things for the game with the extra money.
ElectricPrism Sep 16, 2014
To my knowledge Sound, Art & Video Assets are in no way locked into a platform.

Most game developers wrap methods & functions that access dependency libraries to a local API to make porting greatly simplified. It just sounds to me like their code is a trashy piece of evolved procedural code instead of pre-designed modular masterpiece.

If Linux developers ported Unreal Engine in 24 hours then seriously, how hard would it be in the hands of someone competent? Take a $75,000 Yearly Programmer Salary and divide it by 12, if a programmer had 1 month to complete the port it would only cost $6,250 wages.

They're telling us that out of the $828,000 they made they're unwilling to pay $6,250 to port to Linux? How sad.
micmon Sep 16, 2014
This is ridiculous. And it is very sad that a****** developers like these destroy crowdfunding :(
seven Sep 16, 2014
i trust this ppl as far as i can throw them
EKRboi Sep 16, 2014
WOW! That is one of the shadiest things I have ever read. I wouldn't even take a free steam key for this game now. Not that I was interested in one in the first place, but this just seals that deal. Greedy bastards.
kozec Sep 16, 2014
How is anyone supposed to volunteer into porting? Did they released source code or something?
Kiibakun Sep 16, 2014
There is more information in the last pages of this thread: http://steamcommunity.com/app/245170/discussions/0/846962626943190654/#p1
sev Sep 16, 2014
So, they advertised a Linux port but didn't actually mean that they would do the port, and yet they also say they don't want volunteers because they believe the port should be paid for? This makes no sense.

The backers at $30 and above should contact indiegogo and file a complaint. Between the tweets and the explicit promise of a Linux port on their own crowdfunding page, this is fraud.
render Sep 16, 2014
Quoting: zimplex1I wouldn't be surprised if all that extra money went to paying everyone more money (not saying that's bad), but if it only took 150k to get the dlc... then they could have done a lot more useful things for the game with the extra money.

What we did with all of that extra money is put it toward making more content, which is readily apparent on [url=indiegogo.com/projects/keep-skullgirls-growing/]our Indiegogo page[/url].
render Sep 16, 2014
Quoting: sevSo, they advertised a Linux port but didn't actually mean that they would do the port, and yet they also say they don't want volunteers because they believe the port should be paid for? This makes no sense.

The backers at $30 and above should contact indiegogo and file a complaint. Between the tweets and the explicit promise of a Linux port on their own crowdfunding page, this is fraud.

We didn't say we don't want volunteers. We have some very skilled volunteers working on the port right now. What we said in that post was that we don't have the funds to pay for a port. We wish we did, because we know porting a game is difficult work, and we would want people to be paid for that work.
While you're here, please consider supporting GamingOnLinux on:

Reward Tiers: Patreon. Plain Donations: PayPal.

This ensures all of our main content remains totally free for everyone! Patreon supporters can also remove all adverts and sponsors! Supporting us helps bring good, fresh content. Without your continued support, we simply could not continue!

You can find even more ways to support us on this dedicated page any time. If you already are, thank you!
The comments on this article are closed.