Linux Users Donate Twice As Much As Windows Users, On Average

sammyF70 writes "The Wolfire/Humble Indie Bundle real time statistics have been updated to show the average amount donated per platform. It looks like Linux users donate twice as much, on average, as Windows users. You can see some graphs on the Wolfire blog."

Comments

I wonder ...

[Archangel Michael]

If this is counting Window's Users "donations" to Microsoft, McAfee ....

Windows users already pay through the nose, so they don't have anything leftover to donate.

Re:I wonder ...

[hairyfeet]

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Now as for TFA, I'd have some questions before I'd believe their "results", for example-What percentage of those that donate don't list their OS? Does their game equally appeal to Windows users? How many Windows users have downloaded the game? does their product mainly appeal to those looking for free stuff?

I know that this is the first time I've ever heard of this bunch, and looking at their "games list" here I don't see anything that would really appeal to a Windows user. Lets be honest here folks, it isn't like Windows users are hurting for quality top notch games. From Good Old Games to Steam, from the Amazon bargain bin to the latest AAA titles, it isn't like Windows users have to scour the backwoods of the Internet for games. My guess is since there is less Linux games it is simply easier to get noticed on that platform, whereas we Windows gamers frankly have games coming out our ears and don't really look much at the indy stuff unless it makes a big splash like World of Goo.

Not surprising...

[maugle]

Linux has fewer games than Windows, so games would be more highly valued by Linux users than Windows users.

Re:Not surprising...

[Jurily]

The Windows donations still account for more than half.

Re:Not surprising...

[tonycheese]

Second theory: a much higher percentage of Windows users paid 1 cent for the games. Kids are less likely to have a more expensive Mac and Linux is much more likely to be installed on an adult's machine. (Might be a stupid theory, feel free to poke holes).
Similarly, we can't forget that the total raised includes donations to EFF and some other charities. It would make sense to me that Linux users are more likely to donate to EFF?

Re:Not surprising...

[pushing-robot]

Still, very nearly 50% of the money contributed is coming from OS X and Linux. Whether it's because those users are more affluent, more inclined to buy games, or just happy to support any development on their platform, the numbers show there's a substantial market to be tapped. Studies like this are exactly the thing marketing departments want to see.

And it couldn't have come at a better time: Steam's imminent release on OS X and Linux is about to make cross-platform development substantially easier. While it's hardly the Year of Gaming Linux, it would be nice to remember 2010 as the year we started chipping away at Microsoft's PC gaming monopoly.

Re:Not surprising...

[dangitman]

And what's the Windows marketshare on the desktop? Probably at least 100 times that of Linux. So, if charity were equal, you'd expect Windows users to cover at least 85% of donations.

That's not even counting people who buy while at work, on their office-supplied Windows machine, while intending to use the games on Mac or Linux. Or those who primarily use Linux or Mac, but dual-boot Windows to play games.

Re:Not surprising...

[RMingin]

Actually, as someone who actually BOUGHT the bundle in TFA, I'd like to make note that the OS reporting is voluntary, not linked to the OS running at purchase time, and done when you get the email, not when you're typing in your Paypal/CC info. I registered as Linux, as that's what I have on the most machines, and most care to use, but I probably spend most of my clock time on Windows, either at work (where Windows is mandated), or at home playing the ~50% of games I want to play that aren't available under Linux, or at least not cleanly/easily.

I'm looking forward to this hypothetical Linux Steam client, as it'll let me do more of my gaming on my OS of choice.

Bah.

[LurkerXXX]

I bought world of Goo through Steam for my windows machine and paid more than the average Linux user contributes more for the whole indie bundle. When folks 'contribute' through different sources, these number don't mean much.

And again, the world is a little nicer.

[History's Coming To]

Perhaps because when you feel like you've already got a bargain (infinite value for money on average), you're happy to chuck a few quid in. And can I just say, what a nice, simple, well laid out and advert-realistic that website from TFA is? When we all so often get complete wastes of cycles and eyeballs, that's a really nice website, and we should say so as loudly as we complain about bad ones.

Re:And again, the world is a little nicer.

[sznupi]

I like this new world, new kind of culture (yes, the elders would yell "the world is falling down!" anyway), ideas - for which people will pay, if they are worth anything. It's perhaps related to how, apparently, heavy p2p users actually buy a lot of music...only it's not so often from the major labels anymore (but often with "useless" nice physical addons, quite common in indie world).

Two different spheres, but in a way with converging ideas. Hey, RIAA would like us to believe that p2p users are thieves. And why would those hippie Linux users, wanting everything for free and loathing closed source software, pay more in this case?... (and when not being watched)

Hi, I'm a Linux

[spun]

PC: And I'm a PC

Linux: Whatcha doing, PC?

PC: Playing games.

Linux: Cool, which ones?

PC: All of them.

Re:Hi, I'm a Linux

[xlsior]

Or more typical:


Mac: Hi, I'm a Mac

PC: And I'm a PC

Mac: Whatcha doing, PC?

PC: Playing games.

Mac: Cool, can I play too?

PC: No.

Re:Hi, I'm a Linux

[Ethanol-fueled]

PC: "I've got a date with a hot chick tonight! We're going clubbing, what about you, Steve?"

Mac: "I've got a date with a hot guy tonight. We're going to see Rent."

PC: "Steve, you ol' tiger, you! What about you, Poindexter?"

Linux: "Aww..."

Re:Define major

[Mad Merlin]

From TFA: "...select games that support all three major desktop platforms: Mac, Windows, and Linux"

That's adorable.

Yeah, it's funny that they mentioned Mac/Windows at all. I mean, honestly, who uses those?

A: Because it breaks the flow of a message

[DNS-and-BIND]

Q: Why is starting a comment in the Subject: line incredibly rude?

Re:Hi, I'm a Virtual Machine.

[spun]

spun: Hi, I'm a spun
Anonymous Coward: And I'm an AC. Say, spun, whatcha doing?
spun: Making a joke
Anonymous Coward: Cool, can I make one?
spun: Evidently not.

No seriously

[TheVelvetFlamebait]

why is it rude?