Rise to Ruins [Steam, Official Site, itch.io], the rather excellent indie godlike village simulator is a favourite of mine and here's some information on how it's doing on Linux.
In terms of lifetime sales for the title on Steam, the developer shared these numbers:
- Windows: 90.36%
- Mac: 7.17%
- Linux: 2.47%
When we break it down a bit further, taking a look at just December 2017 for example, we get these numbers:
- Windows: 92.7%
- Mac: 5.45%
- Linux: 1.85%
While obviously small, the numbers are in-line with what we've seen a few times, it's also much higher than the currently reported Linux market share on the Steam Hardware Survey. This is a similar situation as seen with games like Maia, Helium Rain and Deep Sixed in regards to a higher share of Linux sales than developers might have expected.
What's interesting, is that the developer also shared the percentages per-platform of actual players who loaded it up during December, where Linux accounted for approximately 5.12%. The developer actually did a big release in December too, which can likely account for the extra attention, even so that's a healthy amount of Linux gamers remaining interested (which is good!).
As for their current thoughts on supporting Linux:
Still pretty much the same as before honestly. I mean, the blunt harsh truth is the 2-3% of sales really doesn't make much of a difference. But I still think we should be supporting the platform anyway, and it's not like it's that much extra work now a days to do it.
And, like I said before, if everyone supported Linux more people would switch over.
If you want to grab a copy, head over to Steam or itch.io.
Thank you to the developer Raymond Doerr for speaking to me! If you wish to have a chat about Linux sales of your games, email in any time or catch us on Twitter.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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The comments on this article are closed.
Quoting: LeopardWell, in contrast to you I'm not on some kind of crusade.Quoting: TheSHEEEPQuoteWhat's interesting, is that the developer also shared the percentages per-platform of actual players who loaded it up during December, where Linux accounted for approximately 5.12%.This is also something I thought about. Many people buy on platform A, then play on platform A, B or C - whatever they currently use.
I also buy the vast majority of games on Windows - since it is currently the platform I (have to :( ) use for work, then install and play them on linux whenever I get the chance.
You're just keep feeding Windows market. Good job.
Just doing what is more practical at the moment.
Last edited by TheSHEEEP on 27 February 2018 at 11:14 am UTC
1 Likes, Who?
Quoting: TheSHEEEPQuoting: LeopardWell, in contrast to you I'm not on some kind of crusade.Quoting: TheSHEEEPQuoteWhat's interesting, is that the developer also shared the percentages per-platform of actual players who loaded it up during December, where Linux accounted for approximately 5.12%.This is also something I thought about. Many people buy on platform A, then play on platform A, B or C - whatever they currently use.
I also buy the vast majority of games on Windows - since it is currently the platform I (have to :( ) use for work, then install and play them on linux whenever I get the chance.
You're just keep feeding Windows market. Good job.
Just doing what is more practical at the moment.
Then don't put sad faces on your message which looks like you care , in fact you're not.
0 Likes
Quoting: RutineQuoting: TheSHEEEPThis is also something I thought about. Many people buy on platform A, then play on platform A, B or C - whatever they currently use.
I also buy the vast majority of games on Windows - since it is currently the platform I (have to :( ) use for work, then install and play them on linux whenever I get the chance.
Quoting: TcheyI think i've read the buying plaeteforme doesn't matter much, it's more about where you play that actually count.
Quoting: LeopardNo , it is important. Especially if you buy them but get chance to touch them weeks later.
@Leopard could you please bring some reference about what you are saying? I think some time ago Liam posted a long article explaining how sales were computed for each platform, so that would confirm what @Tchey was saying. It depended on the first hours of play as far as I can remember but I'm not 100% sure as I could not find the article. But maybe in the meantime it counts as a sale for the platform it was bought in?
@Liam: Any chance you could enlighten us?
Quoting: LeopardYou're just keep feeding Windows market. Good job.
I'm sorry, but it seems a bit tragic when you say it that way. Maybe the guy, as he stated, didn't realize that he was having this effect. Plus, I don't think that's the thing that makes a big difference, some Linux guys computed as Windows if they buy on Windows. The problem is the overwhelming use of Windows on personal computers, and that is a structural problem, not an individual one.
Focus on especially part , which message i quoted was also in that kind of situation.
Steam won't wait forever to count your sale until you get hands on it.
Guarenteed way is buying on Linux or if you set your preferences as SteamOS+Linux on Steam Client buying via app.
0 Likes
Quoting: LeopardYou're ridiculously bad at guessing people's motivations, thoughts and reasonings and should steer far away from ever, ever trying it again.Quoting: TheSHEEEPQuoting: LeopardWell, in contrast to you I'm not on some kind of crusade.Quoting: TheSHEEEPQuoteWhat's interesting, is that the developer also shared the percentages per-platform of actual players who loaded it up during December, where Linux accounted for approximately 5.12%.This is also something I thought about. Many people buy on platform A, then play on platform A, B or C - whatever they currently use.
I also buy the vast majority of games on Windows - since it is currently the platform I (have to :( ) use for work, then install and play them on linux whenever I get the chance.
You're just keep feeding Windows market. Good job.
Just doing what is more practical at the moment.
Then don't put sad faces on your message which looks like you care , in fact you're not.
0 Likes
Quoting: TheSHEEEPQuoting: LeopardYou're ridiculously bad at guessing people's motivations, thoughts and reasonings and should steer far away from ever, ever trying it again.Quoting: TheSHEEEPQuoting: LeopardWell, in contrast to you I'm not on some kind of crusade.Quoting: TheSHEEEPQuoteWhat's interesting, is that the developer also shared the percentages per-platform of actual players who loaded it up during December, where Linux accounted for approximately 5.12%.This is also something I thought about. Many people buy on platform A, then play on platform A, B or C - whatever they currently use.
I also buy the vast majority of games on Windows - since it is currently the platform I (have to :( ) use for work, then install and play them on linux whenever I get the chance.
You're just keep feeding Windows market. Good job.
Just doing what is more practical at the moment.
Then don't put sad faces on your message which looks like you care , in fact you're not.
Let me ask you: What is your motivation , thought and reasoning at this particular situation?
Enlight me
0 Likes
Remember to keep it cool, there's absolutely no need for any kind of platform elitism here and we don't like it.
While true it's better if you buy your games on Linux directly and install them and play them on Linux first, we still have a lot of dual-booting user testing the waters of Linux. Don't become a zealot and put them off.
While true it's better if you buy your games on Linux directly and install them and play them on Linux first, we still have a lot of dual-booting user testing the waters of Linux. Don't become a zealot and put them off.
7 Likes, Who?
I finally bought the game on Itch.io (in fact i forgot i had) and it seems pretty nice and complex.
0 Likes
QuoteBut I still think we should be supporting the platform anyway, and it's not like it's that much extra work now a days to do it.This is the kind of developer we need right now. People willing to work on making things available on Linux out of principle even though it's not an attractive market, making it easier for end users to switch to the OS, thus in time making it a more attractive market for those companies that will only be enticed by hard numbers. Kudos to him.
And, like I said before, if everyone supported Linux more people would switch over.
4 Likes, Who?
Quoting: scaineStill in EA, so another great game I'm waiting to actually release, so I can buy. I do make an occasional exception though...
The rule I use is: "is the game, in the state it's in right now, worth the asking price?"
The answer is frequently "yes". Many of these "early access" titles are more coherent and stable than many actually released games.
The game improving over time is just a bonus.
2 Likes, Who?
Quoting: liamdaweRemember to keep it cool, there's absolutely no need for any kind of platform elitism here and we don't like it.
While true it's better if you buy your games on Linux directly and install them and play them on Linux first, we still have a lot of dual-booting user testing the waters of Linux. Don't become a zealot and put them off.
Well , we're talking on a game Linux sale numbers and then when i talk about feeding Windows instead of Linux , then making sad faces in the message while one simply does not care ; suddenly you call it a zealous move.
I think sharing sale numbers and talking about it is a zealous move in the first place. We should talk about how well did this game sold on every platform , not especially on Linux.
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