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Whatever Happened To Torchlight On Linux? UPDATED

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Torchlight came out for Linux in September of 2012 via Humble Indie Bundle 6. It has since been available for Linux users only in the Ubuntu Software Centre which hardly encompasses all Linux users.

After searching far and wide and only finding pondering forum posts with unanswered questions, I sent an email to [email protected] 20 days ago and another email 10 days ago, both of which have been ignored. I did stumble upon this, however:

BrianWPlease direct all Linux support inquiries to [email protected] if you purchased through the Humble Bundle or the Ubuntu Software Center.


Source.

Although not relevant to what the future of Torchlight on Linux may hold as it only deals with already made purchases, it does sound like Runic has and still is keeping its distance from Linux. Quite strange considering all the furore surrounding Linux and that the Linux client for Torchlight already exists and just needs to be made widely available. I am thinking the Humble Store, Steam, and hopefully GOG once it launches Linux support, but with Humble having done the port, I don't think sharing will be an option. Still, it wouldn't hurt to vote for GOG to add the Linux version of Torchlight to its repertoire.

In addition, Edward Rudd, the man who ported Torchlight to Linux, is available on Twitter.

I encourage all of you to send politely formulated messages to all of the above pieces of contact information to see if anything can be done on the matter. It sounds utterly ridiculous to ask someone to allow you to give them your money when all the work has seemingly already been done and it appears to be in their best interest, but that is what needs to be done apparently.

In a day and age where developers are bringing games to Linux natively years after they became available on Windows, new native Linux clients are being released when the games already had native Linux clients for years, or new native Linux clients hit the virtual shelves years after the games already launched on Linux as wrapjobs, it does beg the question why Runic wants to miss out here. Let us find out!

UPDATE: Edward Rudd has responded! Many thanks, Mr. Rudd!

outofordercc*LURK*.. Did someone mention me?

Dustforce will be available on Linux steam "soon"..

Torchlight has not been forgotten about either. It is on my todo list once another game mentioned here is goes into beta in the next week or so on Mac + Linux..
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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hardpenguin Jun 25, 2014
Quotepolitely formulated messages
That made me laugh in light of recent situation with Stanley Parable developer :D

There are still quite many Linux ports that are available only via Humble library (if you purchased them in Humble Bundle), Humble Store, Ubuntu Software Center, Gameolith or other source, but not on Steam. Torchlight is only one of them, there are also Braid, Lone Survivor, Dustforce, Wizorb, NightSky, BEEP, McPixel, No Time To Explain, Cortex Command (rework with new Linux port was announced for last two of mentioned). However, after some time and probably community influencing devs, we finally see LIMBO and Super Meat Boy, Broken Sword 1 and 2. I guess our voice can do good, if we don't threaten anybody, so let them hear us :D
BTRE Jun 25, 2014
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I'd very much enjoy it if the second game got ported, since I haven't played it yet. The devs don't really seem to care much and I don't know if badgering them will solve anything.
DrMcCoy Jun 25, 2014
Well, my "Missing Linux version" category in Steam currently holds these games:

Air Forte
Atom Zombie Smasher
The Binding of Isaac
BIT.TRIP RUNNER
Botanicula
Braid
Crayon Physics Deluxe
Dear Esther
Draw a Stickman: EPIC
Dustforce
Fieldrunners 2
Flotilla
Fractal: Make Blooms Not War
Greed Corp
Hack, Slash, Loot
Incredipede
Jamestomes
KRUNCH
Lone Survivor
Machinarium
McPixel
Metal Slug 3
NightSky
Offspring Fling!
Paper Sorcerer
Papo & Yo
Shadowgrounds
Shadowgrounds: Surivor
Shelter
Torchlight
Trine
Vessel
Windosill
Wizorb

As well as games that use AGS and could theoretical use the GNU/Linux build of AGS:
Blackwell Convergence
Blackwell Deception
Blackwell Legacy
Blackwell Unbound
Blackwell Epiphany
Primordia

Night Dive studios, who rereleased several old adventure games on Steam, some with ScummVM, some with DOSBox, have also rereleased The 11th Guest and Tex Murphy: Overseer, which both are Windows title (without ScummVM support) and therefore can't use DOSBox. They could maybe use a Wine bottle. Personally, I'd prefer if Night Dive would pay people to RE both The 11th Guest, as well as the whole Tex Murphy series, for ScummVM.

Then there's Cognition: An Erica Reed Thriller, which uses Unity 3 and has had promised Linux support (with no fixed date) since at least September last year. They're looking into upgrading to Unity 4.

Also, there's X2: The Threat, which, AFAIK, had a Linux port done way back when. Both the Mac OS X and the Linux ports were outsourced, though, and from what I've seen, Egosoft never really seemed to care for either of those.

Also, Divinity: Original Sin and Divinity: Dragon Command, which should have Linux support coming soon-ish, after the Divinity: Original Sin launch. And the new Tex Murphy game is also still waiting on Bink, it seems.

EDIT: Flotilla never existed on Linux. My bad.
Nezchan Jun 25, 2014
I can add Avadon 2 to the "needs linux" list. I bought it shortly before I switched to Linux and haven't been able to play it since. Apparently the first game was ported by a volunteer, and they had problems because nobody knew how to provide support, so apparently they're iffy about doing it again.

To be honest, I'd rather see Torchlight 2 than the original on Linux. But you go with what you've got I guess.
FutureSuture Jun 25, 2014
Quoting: KelsTo be honest, I'd rather see Torchlight 2 than the original on Linux. But you go with what you've got I guess.
That is the thing, though; Torchlight is already on Linux. It just needs to be made more widely available. Torchlight 2 would be a whole lot more effort. I, too, want to see the latter on Linux, but saying you want one rather than the other when the other is so much closer to a reality (or already a reality) seems illogical.
DLX Jun 25, 2014
The developers of "Draw a Stickman: Epic" seem to be new to Linux going by this topic (4th post):

http://monogame.codeplex.com/discussions/448257


I think someone who knows more about Mono needs to volunteer to help them getting a more standard setup for Steam distribution like the other mono games on Steam.
DrMcCoy Jun 25, 2014
Well, I for one know absolutely nothing about Mono, I'm afraid.
sobkas Jun 25, 2014
Quoting: DrMcCoyWell, my "Missing Linux version" category in Steam currently holds these games:

Air Forte
Atom Zombie Smasher
The Binding of Isaac
BIT.TRIP RUNNER
Botanicula
Braid
Crayon Physics Deluxe
Dear Esther
Draw a Stickman: EPIC
Dustforce
Fieldrunners 2
Flotilla
Fractal: Make Blooms Not War
Greed Corp
Hack, Slash, Loot
Incredipede
Jamestomes
KRUNCH
Lone Survivor
Machinarium
McPixel
Metal Slug 3
NightSky
Offspring Fling!
Paper Sorcerer
Papo & Yo
Shadowgrounds
Shadowgrounds: Surivor
Shelter
Torchlight
Trine
Vessel
Windosill
Wizorb

As well as games that use AGS and could theoretical use the GNU/Linux build of AGS:
Blackwell Convergence
Blackwell Deception
Blackwell Legacy
Blackwell Unbound
Blackwell Epiphany
Primordia

Night Dive studios, who rereleased several old adventure games on Steam, some with ScummVM, some with DOSBox, have also rereleased The 11th Guest and Tex Murphy: Overseer, which both are Windows title (without ScummVM support) and therefore can't use DOSBox. They could maybe use a Wine bottle. Personally, I'd prefer if Night Dive would pay people to RE both The 11th Guest, as well as the whole Tex Murphy series, for ScummVM.

Then there's Cognition: An Erica Reed Thriller, which uses Unity 3 and has had promised Linux support (with no fixed date) since at least September last year. They're looking into upgrading to Unity 4.

Also, there's X2: The Threat, which, AFAIK, had a Linux port done way back when. Both the Mac OS X and the Linux ports were outsourced, though, and from what I've seen, Egosoft never really seemed to care for either of those.

Also, Divinity: Original Sin and Divinity: Dragon Command, which should have Linux support coming soon-ish, after the Divinity: Original Sin launch. And the new Tex Murphy game is also still waiting on Bink, it seems.

I would be very happy if there was a bigger article about it. This deserves more attention. Also Indie Game: The movie doesn't have a working Linux support.
Disharmonic Jun 25, 2014
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Quoting: DrMcCoyThen there's Cognition: An Erica Reed Thriller, which uses Unity 3 and has had promised Linux support (with no fixed date) since at least September last year. They're looking into upgrading to Unity 4.

Also, there's X2: The Threat, which, AFAIK, had a Linux port done way back when. Both the Mac OS X and the Linux ports were outsourced, though, and from what I've seen, Egosoft never really seemed to care for either of those.

Also, Divinity: Original Sin and Divinity: Dragon Command, which should have Linux support coming soon-ish, after the Divinity: Original Sin launch. And the new Tex Murphy game is also still waiting on Bink, it seems.
Well in a recent Moebius backer update it was mentioned Phoenix Online Studious apparently upgraded to Unity 4(the Cognition devs/ Moebious contractors), but they are still figuring out some bugs caused by the upgrade. Also the X2 port was done by LGP and published separately(like all their ports). I wouldn't really expect to see a new X2 port tbh
sobkas Jun 25, 2014
Quoting: DLXThe developers of "Draw a Stickman: Epic" seem to be new to Linux going by this topic (4th post):

http://monogame.codeplex.com/discussions/448257


I think someone who knows more about Mono needs to volunteer to help them getting a more standard setup for Steam distribution like the other mono games on Steam.
try @flibitijibibo
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