Humble Bundle Loses What Makes Itself Special With THQ Bundle

1up - The launch of the latest Humble Indie Bundle yesterday was an unusual one. Rather than being met with the usual reaction -- people spreading the word, maybe some praise being bestowed for a strong selection of games -- this particular one instead prompted complaints that the Humble Bundle has lost its way. That's because it consists of games published by THQ, a company which, despite its ongoing financial troubles, is far larger than those we normally see featured in these bundles. While I don't find the situation quite as egregious as others do, I do think this is a step in the wrong direction.

[kwyjibo]

What people want are great games at great prices. That's what makes it special.

Humble Bundle has done it again with the THQ Bundle.

[SilentNegotiator]

I pay a dollar to charity and get a bunch of games. No complaints here.

It is disappointing that they aren't DRM-free, though. You're practically giving them away for $1, can you really be THAT worried about piracy at the point that you're selling a bundle of games for a few pennies each?

[grailly]

I don't think DRM is a box you tick when you sell a game. It would have been work to take the DRM out of the game.

[SilentNegotiator]

STEAM is the DRM. Not a heavily programmed part of the game.

[indubitably]

This was the first Humble Bundle I bought, and I went 75-25% THQ, off the top, respectively.

[8bitHero]

wah wah. it was a great bundle. hope they have more like the THQ one.

[Fatty]

You could still give your entire donation to charity, so I don't think they've really lost what makes them who they are. While I do mostly associate them with indie games, to me they're about getting a great deal and giving to charity in the process.

[doctorstrange]

It made money for charity, and it helped keep a publisher who is on the ropes. Stop complaining.

[dennett316]

All the whining about DRM was ridiculous.....it's fucking Steam. Yes, technically DRM, but millions of people use it every day with no issue.
Suddenly it's a Humble bundle spin-off, that means it's something to complain about.

Hell no, a bunch of great games for a small price, and I gave it all to charity.

[HenryFord]

Also - a lot of the indie games sold before in the humble bundle used Steam as well...

[NexGen]

While I am glad money goes to charity, the draw for me was big name games instead of indie garbage.

[grailly]

nice profile picture

[r40k213]

I disagree that Humble Bundle has "lost it's way." From the very beginning Humble Bundle was about developers bringing games together with the "humble offer" that you pay whatever you want for those games, and that money goes to charity. Who cares if the games aren't all made by indie devs? The point is to raise money for charities. The day Humble Bundle stops giving to charities is the day you can say they have "lost their way."

[GREW50ME]

Good bye, indie humble bundle. Hello, big-name cookie cutter trash!

[MartinB105]

No Linux versions = No sale.

[Nakiro]

Reading some comments here makes me ashamed to be a gamer. It's unfortunate some people can't appreciate the Humble Bundle for what it is, also the fact that average is only $5 is pretty messed up as well considering the money mostly goes to the charity.

[MartinB105]

I usually pay more than a fair amount for the bundles - in more than one case, I've even paid MORE than the games were claimed to be worth - but a bundle like this one that I can't even play is absolutely useless to me.

[PirateThom]

It's a value thing for a lot of people as well though.

A lot of the games in the bundle are old. I'm not saying that's an excuse but, if you want people to donate a fair amount, it's better to give them an incentive, especially given the anonymous nature of the internet.

In any case, it's made over $3.6m and there's still 6 days to go. Most of the bundles make way less than that and, in fact, the average amount is on par with most other bundles amywway. Only Humble Bundle V has made more money than this one and it had Limbo, Amnesia, Super Meat Boy, Braid and Psychonauts... still only $8.53 average. I think you need to look at the totals more than the average.

[sonicsidewinder]

Totally disagree. In keeping with all the good humble bundle delivers offers when you buy indie games, the THQ offer took it a step further by boosting an ailing companies stocks.

For the most part, i like THQ. They house Relic which is a company that needs to stay making games!

[Bladesfist]

You guys do know THQ is having serious financial trouble, this was a good move by them http://www.pcgamer.com/2012...