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Way back in July of 2014, GMT Games partnered with Playdek and ran a successful Kickstarter for Twilight Struggle, a digital version of the board game that shares the same name. It promised Linux support, which still hasn't been delivered.

A user wrote in to ask us to find out what's going on, since the game released on Steam back in April of 2016 and there's still no sign of the Linux version.

The only time I can find an actual comment about the status of the Linux version, after searching through Kickstarter comments and updates, Steam forums posts and so on is one from April 2016 on the Steam forum, which read:

Yes. Linux is currently on the schedule after iOS/Android but before PS4.

I reached out to Playdek directly and they replied. Sadly, there's still no good news to share on this. Here's what they said:

We don't have a date for a Linux version to discuss right now, but we are looking into getting support for this platform with the publisher. We will update everyone when we do have firm information to share. As for the Kickstarter, there were very few backers who selected Linux as their reward platform, and those who did have either been migrated to another platform of their choice or been issued a refund. We do want to add Linux support for Twilight Struggle and other Playdek games in the future, so this is something we are actively pursuing. Thanks for reaching out.

Playdek

If you're going to run a Kickstarter, you are responsible for communicating clearly to everyone who gave you funding. Just because you have "very few" backers who specifically selected a platform, doesn't make it any better that communication has been poor for years.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Tags: Crowdfunding
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9 comments

Nezchan Aug 8, 2018
Oh yeah, Playdek! Those are the guys who mismanaged Unsung Story and frittered away all the Kickstarter money for it. They were consistently uncommunicative as to the status of the game and what work they were doing, abruptly changed the mechanics of the game without any consultation, and when they started running out of funds decided to try to make a quick knock-off mobile game to raise more. The new company that took over the project found that the design documents were a total mess and almost no useable work had been created.

Not surprised to see they continue to carry on business in that vein.
Nezchan Aug 8, 2018
Quoting: GuestAnyone with any shred of honor and dignity could see that.

Now, see, this was your first mistake. You're talking about Playdek.
shazzner Aug 8, 2018
Thanks for following up on this, to their credit the Android version of Twilight Struggle is good. I wouldn't bring this up if I wasn't excited for the prospect of Twilight Struggle on Linux.

For those unaware, Twilight Struggle, is the digital version of a very popular and highly rated boardgame by GMT Games. Paradox have stated that it's a direct inspiration for many of their highly rated games.
NotSoQT Aug 8, 2018
Stopped reading at "Playdek". :P

I only knew about the Unsung Story fiasco tho.
Nezchan Aug 8, 2018
Quoting: GuestI'd say cut them some slack, it's not like they raised more than 1 million dollars and then just basically went with "fuck you linux (and mac) users"...

No, they raised $660,126 and threw it down a hole with almost nothing to show for it and extremely little communication with backers. I'm confident that they would have said much the same thing if they came anywhere close to making a playable game, especially given that they're trying to twist their way out of a port for the one they did make.
Phlebiac Aug 9, 2018
Quoting: GuestI'd say cut them some slack, it's not like they raised more than 1 million dollars and then just basically went with "fuck you linux (and mac) users"...

At least KCD gave refunds (and it sounds like they did for this project also); there have been a few others that just ignore their obligations completely. Complaining to Kickstarter doesn't help either, unless there's lots of bad publicity.
adolson Aug 9, 2018
I buy a lot of digital board games these days. In fact, I mostly play board games compared to video games these days. I don't care about Playdek's past sins; if they start releasing Linux content, I'm in - at least for games I care about. Ascension on Linux would be nice. In the meantime, I see DIGIDICED is still supporting us, and they recently released Isle of Skye on Linux. Hopefully Handelabra will bring us Aeon's End and Spirit Island, as they did with One Deck Dungeon, Bottom of the 9th, and Sentinels of the Multiverse.
rkfg Aug 9, 2018
Yeah, KCD refunded the Linux pledges, they did a good damage control like true professionals. I wish they communicated a bit better on that issue but overall I and other Linux backers were satisfied. If you want a bad example of how to deceive the backers, take the latest Carmageddon. No Linux release, no communication, no refunds, nothing. The game is meh anyway so I don't care that much about this fraud.
Purple Library Guy Aug 9, 2018
I have one question about all this, as a naive non-developer. How hard can it be to port a board game to a computer in the first place, let alone from Windows to Linux?
I mean, simple set of rules, no AI, hardly any graphics requirements . . . you'd think it would be, like, a bit of scripting, a bit of art based on the existing game art, a few simple animations to make it look a little cool, and done. Even if you somehow had to do a complete rewrite because you're a total moron and wrote it in Visual Basic or some damn thing, I still don't see how it would be a huge task.
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