Buying a new video game can sometimes be a painful experience because the purchase can often feel unwarranted. This is especially the case with content created by small, unknown companies like Machinarium and Botanicula developer Amanita Design. Some of these games turn out to be fantastic but unfortunately don't receive the recognition they deserve. There has to be a way to get these guys' names out in the open and be able to feel good about paying for their goods at the same time, right?
Enter Humble Bundle, Inc., periodically providing the best selling indie titles to the Android, PC, Mac and Linux gaming communities completely DRM free. For as little as a penny, it has never been so easy to support game creators and charity all while feeling rewarded with a substantial amount of content. But seeing as part, or all if chosen, of the proceeds go either directly to the developers or to the Child's Play Charity and the Electronic Frontier Foundation, only a dick would pay such a low price.
The Humble Indie Bundle is back for round five now, and arguably its best one yet with a lineup of four great games including: Amnesia: The Dark Descent, a survival horror title from Frictional Games, Double Fine Productions' oldie-but-goodie Psychonauts (originally on Playstation 2 and Xbox), Playdead's puzzle-platformer Limbo, and Capybara Games' iOS original Superbrothers: Sword and Sworcery EP.
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Now, there will be those people who take advantage of the setup and only pay a cent, so Humble usually adds extra content to the mix for those who pay more. In the current bundle, if at least a dollar is contributed, steam codes and soundtracks to all of the games are available. Also up for grabs is the phenomenal action-rpg, Bastion by Supergiant Games, to anyone who gives more than the average amount for their platform of choice. It shows in the numbers just how excellent and successful this business model is. According to the Humble Bumble statistics page, of all the bundles that have been put out so far there have been 2,295,648 purchases for a total of $13,422,831.06. Even if this number was split in half, that is a lot of money going towards charity and developers.
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It is important to remember that video games aren't just for entertainment, but are also a work of art. Not only is Humble Bundle a great way for small indie developers to get their names' out into the world and showcase their masterpieces, it is also nice to be able to warrant the purchase of a new game knowing that all of the money is going towards a good cause and not into the giant pockets of Half Life 3 main antagonist and Valve Corporation co-founder and managing director Gabe Newell.