'Pay What You Want' offer includes all platforms

A charity bundle offer of games for Mac, Windows and Linux called the Humble Frozenbyte Bundle is available on a "Pay What You Want" basis for a limited time, this time featuring games and games from indie developer Frozenbyte -- including their original hit game Shadowgrounds, the sequel Shadowgrounds: Survivor, the popular fantasy platformer Trine, a pre-order for a new game called Splot, and a Windows-only bonus of the never-completed prototype game Jack Claw.

The bundle benefits two charities: the Electronic Frontier Foundation, which fights for net neutrality and other freedom-of-speech issues on the internet; and Child's Play, a charity that uses gamers to help fund the purchase of toys and games for kids in hospitals around the US and other countries. The bundle has only been available for a few hours but has already sold over 61,000 bundles, raising $315,000 so far.

The "Pay What You Want" aspect of the bundle makes for some interesting statistics. As was the case during the last bundle, Windows users (so far)donate the least on average, followed by Mac users, with Linux users being the most generous (though also the smallest proportion of buyers). Purchasers have specific control over which charities get how much, and can also donate money to the HumbleBundle itself as well as Frozenbyte, the sole sponsor on this particular promotion.

Since Frozenbyte's games were all originally developed for Windows, the system requirements for Mac demand a very recent (Intel) model running 10.6 or higher (requirements vary per game). Shadowlands and Shadowlands: Survivor are debuting on the Linux and Mac platforms in this bundle, while Trine is debuting for Linux. The redemption codes will be available for redeeming on Steam, Onlive and Desura and are all DRM free.

Aside from the three full games, bundle buyers also get a pre-order on Frozenbyte's newest game, the physics-based puzzle adventure Splot (which will be sent to purchasers when completed). Cartoonish characters meander through a fairy wonderland to try and restore the stars to the sky. The other entry is an unfinished action platformer called Jack Claw, where players assume the role of the title character with his one extensible, super-strong claw arm as he rampages through town. The game was cancelled before final production, but purchasers on all platforms get access to the existing source code.

The promotion only runs for two weeks, ending on April 25th. The website features a live chat widget staffed by volunteers to answer any additional questions. Payments can be made through PayPal, Amazon Payments or Google Checkout.

By Electronista Staff